Thailand 4.0

MNCs in the News-2018-03-16

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reports small growth in inward foreign direct investment (FDI), albeit with significant growth in high-tech inward FDI (IFDI). United States (US) President Donald Trump likely to impose USD $60 billion of tariffs on Chinese goods to punish Beijing for forcing American companies to transfer technology. China's financing for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) energy projects slows significantly in 2017. Chinese report that BRI projects are delivering living standard and work improvements to locals. Panasonic starts mass production of hybrid car batteries in China as Beijing's push for electric vehicles is expected to boost demand. JFTC raids Amazon's Japanese headquarters over suspicions that online retailing giant violated anti-trust regulations. Two Korean builders win order for a USD $740 million smart hospital project in Singapore. Kumho workers stage strike in protest of foreign ownership as Qingdao Doublestar acquires struggling South Korean tire company. Jokowi states that survey reveals that Indonesia ranks second when it comes to the world's attractive countries for investors. China has stated its intent to help fund and build what could become Indonesia's longest bridge. Honeywell repeats commitment to bring investment to and cooperate with Thailand given its plans fit the government's Thailand 4.0 vision. Mercedes-Benz and Thai JV partner to invest $123 million to build EV batteries in Thailand. Vietnamese authorities to review large foreign investment projects in the wake of withdrawal of USD $3.2 billion refinery and petrochemical project. Binh Duong province (Vietnam) grants 15 investment certificates for foreign firms investing in the region.

MNCs in the News-2018-01-12

China moving to make Free Trade Zones (FTZs) freer. China punishes Marriott over survey that lists Hong Kong, Macao, and Tibet as independent countries. Apple’s iCloud darkens as it transfers the service to a Chinese company that will operate it and keep all data in China. French Finance Minister welcomes Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in France provided it is not “looting.” President Donald Trump’s pressure seems to have driven Toyota and Mazda to select Alabama for USD $1.6 billion production facility. NEC acquires Northgate Public Services for USD $640 million following the British government’s promotion of digitalization. South Korea’s state-operated Korean Development Bank sets price floor on sale of struggling construction firm Daewoo Engineering & Construction. Hyundai invests in Singapore’s Grab in effort to expand in Southeast Asia and reduce reliance on the tumultuous China market. Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance to reevaluate investment attraction programs after no companies applied in 2017. Jakarta and Freeport-McMoRan seek to resolve by June a host of operational issues that plague the future of Grasberg mine. Nissan shortlists Thailand as possible location for Asia-Pacific EV manufacturing facility due to Thai investment incentives. Thai Minister says Chinese investment into country’s rubber plantations must be carefully considered and not impact local farmers. Johor Sultan invests USD $100 million in Sri Lanka’s first pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. New policy decree by Hanoi allows foreign enterprises to provide logistics services in Vietnam. Several of Vietnam’s efforts to divest state-owned enterprises at the end of 2017 did not catch much investor attention.

MNCs in the News-2018-01-08

Chinese drug approval authorities likely to approve several blockbuster foreign drugs in 2018. Hyundai Motor Group faces declining sales growth in 2018 in large part due to political and economic challenges in China. China State-Owned Assets Supervision and Advisory Commission (SASAC) to issue new guidelines to improve behavior of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in various areas. United States (US) Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) concerns leads China’s Ant Financial and US MoneyGram to terminate the former’s acquisition of the latter. Japan’s Toshiba Corp sells floundering US nuclear business Westinghouse, which went bankrupt after regulations and other factors stalled many of its projects, to Canada’s Brookfield. US legal process for Takata Corp.’s US unit coming to completion, which should allow company to make payouts to claimants who suffered from Takata’s faulty airbags. Korea urges US policy makers to reconsider the US International Trade Commission's recommended special tariff on imported Korean washers. Lotte Group struggling to shed its politically troubled Chinese hypermarket chain after talks with Thai conglomerate failed to produce agreeable sale price. Indonesia’s state-owned energy company Pentamina took back control of Indonesia’s largest oil and gas block helping Jakarta to expand its control over domestic energy production. Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board launches several measures to spur 10 to 14 percent year on year growth in FDI. Thailand’s Board of Investment expects FDI into its EEC to continue to grow as new EEC policies are implemented and foreign companies become familiar with EEC requirements. Chinese FDI into Malaysia is expected to move out of infrastructure and property development and into new sectors due to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Japanese Ambassador touts that Japanese firms have a good chance to win Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project. Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has set a new deadline for long delayed Chinese-funded Cat Linh rail project

MNCs in the News-2017-11-03

The door partly closes on North Korean businesses in China as Beijing tightens sanctions. Analysis reveals Springer Nature has been blocking access to articles in China. Consultancy report highlights expectations of greater Chinese outward investment over the next 12 months with the Belt and Road Initiative anticipated to be a key causal force. The Philippines secures USD $6 billion in Japanese investments after President Duterte’s official visit to Japan. Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. to build crane manufacturing plant in Indonesia’s Batam Island free trade zone to take advantage of incentives. South Korean government hopes to prepare host of large-scale investments in China to be announced during upcoming China-South Korea summit. South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to decide upon approval of LG Display’s politically sensitive proposed multibillion-dollar OLED production facility investment in China. Indonesia’s FDI shows good growth in the third quarter. Indonesia’s Finance Minister challenges stigmas associated with Chinese investment. Central Group and JD.com announce USD $528 million open system online marketplace JV that links to government’s 4.0 initiative. Thailand’s state-owned PTT Exploration and Production booked another impairment charge due to its delay in moving ahead with investment on its Canadian Mariana Oil Sands project. In its annual report, the Malaysian government stresses positive impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative for the country and the region. Japanese ODA programs increasingly attracting Japanese investors to Vietnam. Vietnam expects USD $30 billion FDI by end of 2017 with majority of investment coming from APEC countries.

MNCs in the News-2017-09-22

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) promises measures to create a better environment for foreign direct investment (FDI). China courts foreign investment in its energy sector to advance its reform initiatives. European Union (EU) Chamber of Commerce in China releases position paper detailing many areas of concern among its members about China’s policies towards inward FDI (IFDI). Chinese expresses concern about possible implications of proposed EU wide investment screening scheme. Toshiba selects consortium to take over its politically contentious USD $21 billion semiconductor business. Prime Minister May visits Japan as Japanese firms become more hesitant about continued investment in Britain due to Brexit’s slow and uncertain progress. Economic and security concerns prompt Korea’s Industry Ministry to review investment plans by South Korean semiconductor and display companies seeking expansion in China. State-owned Korea Electric Corp. represents South Korea in a bid to build Saudi Arabia’s first nuclear energy plant. Indonesia’s demand for steel is expected to rise substantially within the decade, triggering calls to improve investment conditions for steel producers. Foreign investment in Indonesian startups reaches USD $3 billion so far this year with Chinese FDI patterns shaped by government initiatives. New Thai Digital Park proposed, opening new potential vistas for foreign investors. Sumitomo Corporation starts construction third industrial park in Vietnam with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister calling for best possible conditions for investors. With central government support, Hanwha Techwin to open first of three Vietnamese aircraft engine parts factories early next year.

MNCs in the News-2017-06-23

China’s State Council announces that 27 restrictions relating to foreign direct investment (FDI) in its free-trade zones have been eliminated. China’s non-financial outward FDI (OFDI) plunges by almost 53 percent for the first five months of the year year-over-year (YOY). Chinese legal experts suggest new international legal mechanisms may be needed to deal with disputes involving Chinese OFDI. China’s Huadian, a state-owned enterprises (SOE), and Russia’s TGC-2 announce nearly $600 million joint venture power project has come online. After years of decline because of political tensions Japanese companies now more willing to invest in China. Survey shows Japanese firms willing to increase investment in Thailand especially in Eastern Economic Corridor. Samsung Electronics Co. about to finalize talks on expanding its US production facilities, a move motivated by Donald Trump’s election. Jakarta promises more easing of rules to increase foreign investment. PGN, Indonesia’s National Gas company, plans to make Batam Indonesia a center of natural gas supplies and a “paradise” for energy investors. Malaysia Digital Economy Corp welcomes Japanese ICT firms to use Malaysia as a stepping-stone for entering the Southeast Asian market. Malaysia’s Construction Industry Development Board to participate in bidding process for Indian railway stations’ makeover.

MNCs in the News-2017-06-16

American and other trade unions shake and flip over potential risks to McDonald’s workers after the firm sells its self-owned China stores to Citic and Carlyle Group. United States (US) moving to strengthen review processes to encompass Chinese investment through mechanisms that are not yet subject to Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review processes. Responding to news that US is striving to tighten the CFIUS review process, China calls on the US to avoiding politicizing “commercial takeovers.” Canyon Bridge files for third time for CFIUS review of its deal with Lattice Semiconductor. Thailand’s government may loosen licensing requirements for Chinese engineers working on Thai-Sino railway to the consternation of local engineer associations. Japan’s Maritime Air Systems and Technologies (MAST) show offers Tokyo venue to boost military sales with Southeast Asia. Japanese firms carefully evaluate business relations and assets in Qatar following country’s crisis. China blacklists 24 South Korean companies following continued anger over THAAD system. Daewoo Engineering and Lotte Engineering & Construction each sign MOU with Laos’s Petroleum Trading Lao Public Co for infrastructure projects. Indonesian government invites Chinese investors to participate in railway construction project in Bali. CAT Telecom infrastructure development plans continue to drive Thailand to be Greater Mekong Subregion’s digital hub. Lawsuit alleges money misappropriated from Malaysian state fund was used to finance USD $2.2 billion acquisition of US energy firm. Malaysian Minister announces that Malaysian companies will continue to invest in Indonesia. Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister encourages businesses from both countries to foster their investment partnership. Vietnam has come up with a new decree to deal with transfer pricing by multinational corporations.