Control Risks

When emerging markets stop growing: Bangladesh and COVID-19

Bangladesh has come a long way in the past decade, achieving record growth that has averaged between 6-8% in the past five years. This has made Bangladesh something of a darling amongst foreign investors comfortable with frontier markets. However, the competence of its unique government, which is effectively styled after one sole leader – Sheikh Hasina (who will turn 73 this year) – is being tested by the COVID-19 crisis. Like many emerging economies in Asia, the country is reliant on just a few sectors, which has left it particularly vulnerable to COVID-19-related economic shocks, and this is beginning to result in some signs of social unrest due to mass layoffs of workers. Dane Chamorro is joined by Reema Bhattacharya, Control Risks Analyst for South Asia, to discuss the outlook for Bangladesh in the months and years ahead.

COVID-19: How data analytics can help businesses in crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen governments and organisations turn to data for their decision-making like never before, reflecting not only the increased prevalence of data, but also the speed at which leaders have come to understand how to harness its power. But numbers alone can be misleading. Dane Chamorro chats to Allanna Rigby, our data analytics lead in the Asia Pacific region, about how COVID-19 is the “limelight crisis” for data scientists, and how data has helped businesses navigate the pandemic's trickiest challenges – including supply chain breakdowns, labour availability issues, and spotting corporate wrongdoing.

 

COVID-19: Vietnam’s formula for investment growth

If there has been a winner in South-East Asia in terms of foreign investment over the last five years, it is undoubtedly Vietnam. The country’s economy has grown quickly, driven in part by healthy levels of manufacturing investment. Even in terms of the COVID-19 crisis, Vietnam so far appears to have emerged strong and organised, especially compared with many of its regional peers. Dane Chamorro chats to Linh Nguyen, a leading consultant on Vietnam, about the benefits and risks for businesses operating in the country.

Business ethics during an economic downturn

Dane Chamorro chats to Andrew Macintosh, who leads Control Risks’ Asia Pacific forensics and investigations practice. Fraud and corporate malfeasance typically rises during periods of economic fragility, and Dane and Andrew discuss how business can avoid problems such as asset loss, IP theft, and wrongdoing by employees.

COVID-19: How COVID-19 has changed China’s operating environment

Dane Chamorro and Kent Kedl – two of our partners based in Singapore and Shanghai – discuss China, its growth prospects in the wake of COVID-19, and how what happens in China will affect global supply chains. 

COVID-19: Opportunities and obstacles for Asian markets

Dane Chamorro and Steve Wilford, two of our partners based in Singapore, discuss the opportunities and obstacles in key Asian markets as businesses reopen after months of lockdown. This is the first in a regular series of podcasts exploring the impact of COVID-19 on this vital region.

RiskMap Podcast: The Brexit verdict, Nigeria's challenges, and China's new development bank

In this edition we discuss Britain's vote in favor of leaving the EU; economic challenges and an upsurge in violence in Nigeria; and the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. 

RiskMap Podcast: North Korean saber rattling, the refugee crisis in Europe, and Puerto Rico's default risk

In this edition of our look ahead at the coming two weeks in the global business landscape, we discuss the nuclear threat from North Korea, the sociopolitical tensions and supply chain risks at play in Europe's refugee crisis, and the potential global financial impact of Puerto Rico defaulting on its debt.

RiskMap Podcast: We look ahead to the coming year and discuss some of the key themes addressed in our RiskMap 2016.

RiskMap Podcast: Asia’s New Bank, Parsing the Iran Deal, and Greece’s Struggles

The coming weeks will see the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank take shape amid irresistible appetites for investing in Asia, efforts to promote the Iran nuclear deal continue with a mix of caution and optimism, and Greece’s negotiations with the EuroZone remain precarious. Hosted by Charles Hecker and Michael Moran.

RiskMap Podcast: Ukraine back from the brink, Sri Lanka’s India pivot, and US budget battles

A new ceasefire in Ukraine has little hope of sticking, Sri Lanka’s new president visits Delhi, and what businesses should watch for in the coming US budget debate. Hosted by Charles Hecker and Michael Moran.

RiskMap Podcast: Nigeria’s Election and the View From Asia

The final two weeks of Nigeria’s election bring considerable uncertainty to Africa’s largest economy. Meanwhile, Asian investors look abroad for opportunities, focusing on Africa, the Middle East and Indonesia. Hosted by Michael Moran and Charles Hecker.

RiskMap 2014: Bangladesh Outlook

Jan Zalewski, lead analyst for Control Risks, looks ahead to what we can expect in Bangladesh throughout 2014.

East Asia 2013: Key Issues

Jake Stratton, Director of Global Risk Analysis talks to Andrew Gilholm, Head of Asia Pacific Analysis team at Control Risks about the key issues that we see today and going forward in East Asia.

RiskMap 2013: Asia's Growth Markets

Dane Chamorro, Director of Control Risks analysis team in Asia assesses the prospects for business in 2013 in four key investment destinations in the region: China, India, Indonesia and the newest market for investors, Myanmar.