International News
PwC Slapped with Record USD 62.2m Fine and Six-Month Ban Over Evergrande Audit Failures
PwC Zhong Tian, the China arm of the global accounting giant, has been fined a record USD 62.2 million and banned from auditing for six months for its failure to identify financial misstatements in China Evergrande Group’s accounts between 2018 and 2020. The penalties, the most severe imposed on an audit firm in China, are […]
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Vietnam Ranks as Southeast Asia’s Least Transparent Real Estate Market
Vietnam’s real estate market has been ranked as the least transparent in Southeast Asia, placing 49th out of 89 countries and territories in JLL’s 2024 Global Real Estate Transparency Index. The report places Vietnam behind regional peers Singapore (13th), Thailand (32nd), Malaysia (33rd), Indonesia (40th), and the Philippines (45th) in terms of transparency, highlighting key […]
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Indonesia Eyes Cambodian Rice Producers to Boost National Food Security
Indonesia’s state-owned food logistics company Bulog is exploring a plan to acquire rice producers in Cambodia to secure domestic rice supply amid declining local production. Indonesia’s rice production has faced setbacks, with national output decreasing by 1.39% to 31.10 million tons in 2023 from 31.54 million tons in 2022, according to data from Statistics Indonesia, […]
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Japan Tops Asia’s Real Estate Transparency Rankings with Focus on Sustainability
Japan has been ranked as the most transparent real estate market in Asia, securing the 11th position globally in terms of sustainability and operational clarity, according to a report by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) published on 5 September 2024. This evaluation considers factors such as access to real estate market data, transparency of processes, and […]
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South Korea & Japan Lead Indo-Pacific Supply Chain Crisis Response Initiative
In a significant move to safeguard the Indo-Pacific region’s supply chains, South Korea and Japan have taken the lead in establishing a crisis response network under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Announced by the South Korean government on 20 August, this network aims to ensure that member nations maintain access to vital supplies during emergencies, […]
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AI Revolutionises Real Estate: Navigating the Transformation & Mitigating Risks
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the real estate industry, introducing both unprecedented opportunities and significant risks. From reshaping marketing strategies to streamlining underwriting processes, AI is revolutionising every aspect of real estate—commercial, industrial, residential, and beyond. This critical transformation was discussed in detail by experts Peter D. Ballance, Jared Wachtler, and James Gatto published […]
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India Secures Fifth Spot in Asia Pacific Real Estate with US$3bn in Cross-Border Investments
India has emerged as the fifth largest recipient of cross-border real estate investments in the Asia Pacific region, attracting US$3 billion in the first half of 2024. This substantial inflow of global capital, constituting 9% of the region’s total investment volume, underscores India’s growing prominence in the international real estate market, according to Businesstoday, published […]
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Foreign Investors Turn Cautious as China’s Real Estate Market Faces Challenges
Amid growing uncertainty in China’s real estate market, foreign investors are becoming increasingly selective, with many shying away from commercial properties, according to Asia.nikkei dated 05 August 2024. In the first half of 2024, cross-border deals in China’s commercial real estate sector dropped by 13% year-on-year, totalling US$3.3 billion. This downturn reflects broader concerns about […]
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ASEAN-China Trade Surpasses US$500bn in First Seven Months of 2024
In the first seven months of 2024, trade between ASEAN and China surged to an impressive 3.92 trillion yuan (US$546.6 billion), marking a 10.5 % year-on-year increase, according to statistics from the Chinese Customs Administration released by Cambodia’s Ministry of Information on 9 August 2024. This remarkable growth underscores the deepening economic ties between the […]
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Indonesia Attracts US$123 Million in One Year with Golden Visa Strategy
Indonesia’s new “golden visa” policy has successfully attracted US$123 million in foreign investment within its first year. This initiative launched to entice foreign investors and businessmen to stay in the country for five to 10 years, has already issued nearly 300 permits since its pilot in August last year. The government aims to reach 1,000 […]
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