Ok Tedi Mining : The Heart of Papua New Guinea
We take an in-depth look into the Ok Tedi mine, its operations within Papua New Guinea and speak with executives to delve deeper into the organisation.
Terumo Asia Holdings : Making Medtech
The healthcare sector has been centre stage throughout this challenging pandemic period. We spoke to Terumo about its legacy, current operations, and future plans in the medtech sphere.
Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
Indian Industry Leaders A key player within the Indian machinery manufacturing industry, we spoke to Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery about the sector in the wake of COVID-19, and what it takes to stay ahead Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Joshua Mann India is synonymous with large-scale industry. The vibrant country provides substantial and various resources across the world, from refined petroleum, cars, machinery parts and metals, to chemicals, cotton and rice. Within the manufacturing sector, construction equipment production is one of India’s key provisions. Despite the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for construction equipment has been gradually recovering over the past six months. The industry witnessed a 20 percent year-over-year (YoY) volume growth in the second quarter of 2020, followed by double digit growth in October and November of the same year. And presently, with the implementation of COVID-19 vaccines across India, business and customer confidence has improved in all sectors allowing for a faster overall revival of the industry. “In the present, the outlook for the construction equipment industry remains positive on the back of robust infrastructure investment by the Indian government,” begins Sandeep Singh, Managing Director of Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Private Limited. “Highway construction and awards for the period of April to December of FY21 have increased by 12 percent and 110 percent respectively. In December of 2020 alone, 1560 kilometres of highways were constructed; an increase of approximately 60 percent YoY. These are exciting times, and it…
PICSA Group
Building Papua New GuineaThe PICSA Group has been a concrete fixture in Papua New Guinea’s construction sector for over 50 years. Executive Director Partha Sarathy talks expansion, diversification, and supporting the local community Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Ryan Gray Construction in Papua New Guinea is on the rise. Located in the eastern part of the world’s second largest island, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a land rich with natural resources. This diverse landscape has an active geological history that provides plentiful raw materials, aiding the country’s dominant mineral exports. PNG’s construction sector is intrinsically linked to the islands’ extractive industries, which accounted for approximately 28 percent of GDP in 2019 and as such represents a significant contribution to the country’s economy. The construction sector itself enjoyed a peak in 2012, when construction activity accounted for 0.9 percent of real GDP growth – a boom that was heavily influenced by the country’s flagship liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. The sector has historically faced significant challenges, including project delays resulting from a heavy reliance on imported materials and foreign exchange (forex) shortages. Construction activity in PNG has also been hampered by the limited availability of land for development and insufficient human capital. For Partha Sarathy, Executive Director at the PICSA Group, navigating challenges and overcoming hurdles are all part of the job. “It’s the challenge that brings the best in people,” Sarathy comments, in reference to the difficult trading environment that the sector faces within the complicated context of PNG’s economy. “PNG’s economy is highly resource dependent, which makes it more cyclical than other comparable…
NRY Architects
Building 2021Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malaysian construction industry continues to weather the storm. We spoke to NRY Architects about the firm’s various projects and the latest innovations in the industry Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Ryan Gray The construction industry is the backbone and spearhead of the Malaysian economy. The sector’s heyday occurred during the 1990s economic boom that saw the construction of MYR billions of mega-development projects, such as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) terminal building, and Petronas Twin Towers/Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). This industry momentum has spurred forward into the 21st century with the construction of many infrastructure and megaprojects such as new double-track railroads, storm water-smart transport tunnels, and the Second Penang Bridge. The construction industry was doing fairly well despite the setbacks in the last few years mainly contributed by political uncertainties, amongst other factors which have generally impacted the Malaysian economy. However, the general economic slowdown did not stop investors and the general public from investing in construction industries and the property market. In the face of the pandemic, Malaysian construction is one of the key economic sectors that are severely impacted. “As the COVID-19 outbreak unfolded it was a huge blow to all industries,” begins Alis Marlinna, COO of NRY Architects. “The construction industry is among those badly affected as construction activities were stopped during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in the first and second quarter of 2020. The most significant impacts were caused mainly by the restrictions imposed under the MCO, which had consequently led…
Global Technology Group
Answering Digital Demand With Myanmar’s population becoming increasingly digitalised, we speak to Global Technology Group about the company at the centre of digital connection and communication provision Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki The Asian technology sphere is a booming market. Even without the rapid growth in the incorporation of digital products and services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, technological implementation and innovation has become a substantial space in pan-Asian industry. In Myanmar, inter-connectivity, digital services and telecommunications are quickly growing to envelop the everyday lives and work of the people in large urban centres. In total, approximately 30 percent of the population in Myanmar had access to the internet in 2019; a huge rise from the one percent in 2011. Yet despite this, challenges arise when companies aim to maximise digital connection nationally. “The country’s internet and telecommunication laws have always been very outdated, and so that makes it difficult for local private companies to operate,” says U Thein Than Toe, CEO of Global Technology Group. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact it has caused on everyone’s lives, the internet is essential for the individual household. Mobile penetration rates have soared, however household broadband penetration is low due to the sudden explosive rise in internet usage. From a national perspective, we need to encourage and empower our companies to fulfil customer requirements en-mass.” Global Technology Group was founded by three friends as a small training school in 2002. At the beginning the company provided networking services for organisations and businesses but has evolved a great deal…
Business in China
We examine China; a country that has been dominated by manufacturing for the past four decades, and explore the current state of play within the world’s most populous country.
JustKitchen
We talk to Kent Wu, COO of JustKitchen, about the company’s all-encompassing method of business in the Asian food and beverage industry Writer: Marcus Kääpä During this challenging period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the food and beverage industry has been turned upside-down. Companies and businesses across the globe have slowed and even completely halted in a hibernating state to endure the unique and trying past year. Several businesses have also adapted to maximise their opportunities during this new way of working and living, such as turning to digital orders and home deliveries. Despite COVID-19 negatively impacting countries for extended lengths of time, Taiwan has returned to a semi-normality fairly quickly. Because of the swift adherence to the notion of a national lockdown (that was a voluntary lockdown with restrictions on travel rather than government mandated), this smooth transition to combat the virus has limited the negative effects for Taiwan compared to many other countries that have, and still are, facing challenges. In light of this, Taiwan has already reached a level of post-pandemic normality that spells promise for sectors across the nation. While many companies have had to shift and adapt to new methods of operation, JustKitchen has been able to provide its high quality and professional services to a multitude of customers. “JustKitchen is essentially an operator with its own brands. We create our own in-house brands that appeal to a wide cross section of tastes and are able to deliver very high-quality meals through our network of kitchens,” explains Kent Wu, COO of the company. Kent had always been…
The Edtech Revolution
The global pandemic put digital learning in the spotlight and the education technology boom ensued, with Asian companies leading the way. And the market is showing no signs of slowing down.
Restructuring Tourism in Asia Pacific
Shining a light on the seismic impact of the pandemic on Asia Pacific’s tourism sector, the recalibration of the travel market and the potential for digitalisation expected to drive economic recovery.
