Reid Kirchenbauer

China’s New Silk Road Will Benefit These Countries Most

China’s New Silk Road Will Benefit These Countries Most

Last updated April 6th, 2022.   Beijing is gathering worldwide support for China's New Silk Road, setting aside over US$100 billion to build massive infrastructure projects that will connect Asia to Europe. Also referred to as the "Belt and Road Initiative" this...

Top Asian Currencies: What Are the Strongest?

Top Asian Currencies: What Are the Strongest?

Last updated April 10th, 2022.   Asia is home to a greater number of currencies than any continent on the planet. Over fifty of them, to be a bit more precise.  Because of this, Forex traders - along with investors merely wanting to diversify their portfolio into...

Can AEC 2015 Manage its Problems?

Can AEC 2015 Manage its Problems?

Last updated May 14th, 2019.   The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC 2015) arrived recently. Yet the difficulties of creating a single market of over 600 million people makes investors concerned about the economic bloc and its future. Here's a quick overview if you...

Phone Makers Rush to Open Indonesia Factories

Phone Makers Rush to Open Indonesia Factories

Last updated June 15th, 2019. Indonesia is one of the world's largest phone makers. And they're quickly becoming one of the biggest consumers of phones too. eMarketer says the country will have over 100 million active monthly smartphone users before 2021, making...

How Foreign Businesses Expand into Myanmar

How Foreign Businesses Expand into Myanmar

Last updated August 25th, 2018.   Businesses are practically tripping over themselves to expand into Myanmar as the nation opens up to foreign investors. Economists predict Myanmar's foreign direct investment will increase by 70%, jumping by US$7 billion over the...

Vietnam Foreign Property Ownership is Now Possible

Vietnam Foreign Property Ownership is Now Possible

Last updated January 27th, 2021.   Back in 2016, lawmakers approved a measure that removed many, even if not all, barriers on foreign property ownership in Vietnam. The move, among a few other recent ones, aims to raise investment from both companies and...

ASEAN High Speed Rail Transforms Laos Economy

ASEAN High Speed Rail Transforms Laos Economy

Last updated October 22nd, 2019.   Laos will see massive economic gains from an ASEAN high speed rail system that will soon link Thailand with China. The new railway will connect the southern Chinese city of Kunming to Bangkok, passing by the much smaller Laotian...

Low Oil Prices: Huge Threat to Malaysia Economy

Low Oil Prices: Huge Threat to Malaysia Economy

Last updated November 16th, 2018.   Falling commodity prices remain a huge problem for the Malaysia economy, Southeast Asia’s third biggest. Some of the country’s major exports such as palm oil, tin, and crude oil are hovering near four-year lows. The Bloomberg...

This Country Will Have the Youngest Population in Asia

This Country Will Have the Youngest Population in Asia

Last updated November 1st, 2022.   A report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts the Philippines will soon have the youngest population in Asia. They recommend that the country diversify its key services and manufacturing sectors, enhance workforce...

Thai Businesses Invest in Myanmar: Yet Risks Remain

Thai Businesses Invest in Myanmar: Yet Risks Remain

Last updated March 2nd, 2020.   Companies in Thailand are starting to invest in Myanmar once again as political fears subside. Thailand's total outward FDI into Myanmar’s emerging economy amounted to over US$15 billion last year. This amount is the second largest...