https://www.scmp.com/rss/516699/feed Sonja Cheung is editorial director at the Asia Business Council. Her journalism background spans over a decade at The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires and Bloomberg News. She holds a BA (Hons) in Classics from University College London, and a Master’s in Chinese Studies from SOAS University of London. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi starting his third term, it is crucial that he follows through with his commitment to transform India into one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. To do so, he must prioritise raising the country’s female labour force participation, which remains alarmingly low. Traditional conservative social norms have historically limited Indian women’s participation in paid employment by restricting their mobility and autonomy. Concerns about safety,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3265752/india-needs-women-workforce-fully-tap-economic-potential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3265752/india-needs-women-workforce-fully-tap-economic-potential?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:30:09 +0000 China’s status as the world’s top commercial power is being tested amid an economic slowdown and demographic shifts. Its sheer size, infrastructure and government efforts to move the country to a consumption-driven economy provide a strong foundation, but Asia’s other emerging markets – particularly India – are poised to challenge China’s top spot. India’s consumer market is witnessing a remarkable acceleration fuelled by a rise in middle- to high-income households. The country’s per capita... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3259056/why-india-could-soon-dethrone-china-worlds-top-consumer-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3259056/why-india-could-soon-dethrone-china-worlds-top-consumer-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Apr 2024 21:30:09 +0000 As the global landscape shifts towards a greener and more equitable future, sustainable practices are increasingly in the spotlight. Some developed nations have been swifter to pivot and incorporate these critical values into their economic and social frameworks. Now, many of Asia’s burgeoning economies need to play catch up or risk being left behind in global trade. Many Asian countries have relatively more lenient carbon emission rules compared to stricter standards in Western nations, making... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3255504/asian-economies-must-go-green-keep-their-competitive-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3255504/asian-economies-must-go-green-keep-their-competitive-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:30:31 +0000 We will soon usher in the Year of the Dragon, marking a unique time for expanding relationships, harnessing new ideas and moving forward, sentiments that will reverberate halfway across the world in Africa. The continent has long had robust economic ties with China, but now faces a critical juncture as the latter’s economy softens. Africa needs to diversify and solidify existing relationships with other global partners, including the United States, to buffer itself from China’s changing economic... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248568/chinas-economy-slows-africa-stands-critical-juncture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248568/chinas-economy-slows-africa-stands-critical-juncture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jan 2024 11:30:14 +0000 The US attempt to pull away from China in the electric vehicle (EV) race is like navigating a road trip without a map, given the vast expanse of China’s routes through the critical minerals supply chain that is essential for EV battery production. While the US is striving for enough “Made in America” EV batteries and is taking steps to reduce its dependency on Chinese-sourced critical minerals, its efforts need to be more assertive. China stands at the forefront of the world’s critical minerals... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3241156/overtake-china-ev-market-us-needs-step-hard-accelerator?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3241156/overtake-china-ev-market-us-needs-step-hard-accelerator?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Nov 2023 07:30:18 +0000 Like a motorbike that weaves its way through the crowded streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has navigated into the fast lane and established itself as an indispensable bridge between China and the United States, emerging as a key player at the centre of the supply chain between the global juggernauts. And with more US companies exiting China yet keen to maintain a presence in Asia, its strategic significance is set to grow. The Southeast Asian economy is an unintended beneficiary of US moves... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3234851/sweet-smell-vietnams-durian-export-success-shows-chinas-regional-influence-cannot-be-ignored?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3234851/sweet-smell-vietnams-durian-export-success-shows-chinas-regional-influence-cannot-be-ignored?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Sep 2023 07:30:13 +0000