The government has announced a ban on 59 China-sourced apps, including TikTok, WeChat, Helo, Weibo, Kwai, SHAREit, UC Browser, UC News, Club Factory, Clash of Kings and Cam Scanner. More
In a bid to counter the worst economic effects of the coronavirus crisis, the government has further opened up eight of the country’s key state-run industries to the private sector – coal mining; mineral mining; defence production; civil aviation; electricity distribution; social infrastructure; aerospace; and atomic energy. More
The government has launched a US$266 billion economic stimulus package – said to equate to 10% of the country’s GDP – in a bid to mitigate the worst effects of the coronavirus outbreak. More
The U.S. Senate on 4 December approved by unanimous consent the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, which reflects the upper chamber’s interest in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition to authorising bi-lateral and multi-lateral trade negotiations with Indo-Pacific nations, the legislation would encourage a robust U.S. commercial presence throughout the Indo-Pacific region to promote U.S. exports and additional trade facilitation efforts. More
The Global Markets unit within the DOC’s International Trade Administration will hold a roundtable on 12 December and will accept input from interested parties by 4 January on government programmes to inform the catalysation of U.S. private sector participation in commercial opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region in energy, infrastructure, and information and communications technology. More
India’s retail landscape has been subject to the disruptive forces of e-commerce in recent years, with the emergence of e-tailers posing big challenges to brick-and-mortar retailers. While the eyewear market in India has also been similarly affected, retailers in the organised sector are getting increasingly inclined to pursue an online-offline strategy, while the unorganised sector continues to place their attention on rendering personalised, professional services to neighbourhood customers. More
While India’s fast-changing retail landscape appears dynamic, in particular the sharp discounts offered by top e-tailers, the bulk of sales are still transacted in bricks-and-mortar stores, including numerous neighbourhood, or ‘kirana’, stores. Hong Kong companies considering the Indian retail market should take note of new trends of physical store retailers upping online investment, while pursuing an online-offline strategy to maximise sales in the face of the e-tailer challenge. More
