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Questions linger after consortium led by a presidential advisor and backed by China Telecom was selected as third telco provider; move towards energy exploration in disputed waters could trigger backlash. Last year’s provisional selection of a third telco operator in the Philippines sent more mixed signals about opportunities for investment in what has been one … Continue reading Philippines: Telecom and energy deals send disquieting signals
Two recent bills – one on special economic zones (SEZs) and the other on cyber-security – which were discussed by Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA) in June, generated widespread public interest and nation-wide protests. This latest round of unrest is indicative of heightened political and social activism in Vietnam. However, Access Asia has held a long-time … Continue reading Vietnam: Two new bills spark protests, but wide-spread unrest unlikely
Summary: The dissolution of Cambodia’s only credible opposition party on 16 November has heightened the risk of political and social instability in the run-up to next year’s general elections, yet the move will likely have limited economic implications over the short term. The threat of sanctions by Western countries will likely not be heeded, while … Continue reading Cambodia: The dissolution of the CNRP and implications for foreign investment
The recent violence that has swept the northern townships of Myanmar’s Rakhine state driving an exodus of over half a million Rohingya Muslims into neighboring Bangladesh in little more than one month has created a humanitarian catastrophe of daunting proportions. Unfolding on the religious and cultural fault-line between South and Southeast Asia, it is a … Continue reading Myanmar/Rakhine Security Assessment
Access Asia is seeking a Vietnam-based writer familiar with the business and political environment of Vietnam. The candidate must be a native English speaker (likely from an English speaking country or being an overseas Vietnamese.) Please send your CV and cover letter to info@accessasiaconsulting.com.
Over the past several years, Access Asia has noted several types of problems in supply chains of multinational corporations operating in the region that can cause reputational problems, raise costs, and potentially lead to legal problems with regulatory authorities. Some of the challenges include tax evasion and collusion with customs officials, illegal drugs and counterfeit … Continue reading Supply Chain Risks in Southeast Asia
For years, it has been a complicated and time consuming process for a company to protect its intellectual property (IP) in Myanmar. Consumers in urban shopping centers or rural markets can purchase a wide variety of counterfeit products that are openly sold throughout Myanmar. Counterfeit international whisky brands such as Johnnie Walker are sold as … Continue reading Brand Protection in Myanmar: What can be done to safeguard Intellectual Property rights?
Country Services Vietnam Due diligence investigations Corporate investigations (fraud, corruption, business disputes) IP Infringement Security reporting and assessments Business intelligence gathering Market-entry risk assessments Corporate record retrieval Litigation checks Credit checks Financial records Bankruptcy checks Credit checks Criminal record checks Local language media research Surveillance Cambodia Due diligence investigations Corporate investigations (fraud, corruption, business disputes) … Continue reading Access Asia’s List of Services for 2017
Trade-based money laundering (TBML) in Southeast Asia has been on the rise in recent years, driven by a confluence of factors including robust economic growth, a relatively weak regulatory environment (with the key exception of Singapore,) corruption issues, and the presence of sophisticated transnational criminal networks. These factors, as well as political, socio-economic and cultural … Continue reading Trade-Based Money Laundering in Southeast Asia: Risks, Trends and Mitigation Measures
Foreign Direct Investment continues to flow into Vietnam at a buoyant pace, underscoring the country’s investment attractiveness spurred by a booming domestic economy, political stability, credit growth, and progress in state-sector reforms. Hanoi Beer shares soar on stock listing debut One of the key investment highlights of October that Access Asia has been closely following … Continue reading Vietnam Investment Update: November 2016