Featured

The recent turmoil on China’s stock markets and the authorities’ attempts to intervene raise questions about the continued appetite for allowing market forces to prevail China’s stock market crash in the recent weeks shows the dangers of investing in a market that is heavily manipulated by the government, lacks transparency and whose fundamentals are unknown. The government machinery and media worked tirelessly to promote bullish behaviour by openly encouraging retail investors to buy more shares. And people did invest as if the bull run would never end. The government campaign resulted in 40m new stock accounts between June 2014 and June 2015 and the Shanghai Composite Index went up by 150% in the same period. When the market crashed, the government tried to manipulate the market again by pumping more than $200bn into stocks to stop the rout, only to see the futility of its efforts. The government is now left red faced. China’s leaders have viewed the rising stock market, erroneously, as a sign of the country’s economic might and a necessary manifestation of their growing global influence. A falling stock market therefore is perceived a sign of political weakness. This explains why the government panicked over the crash and started an extraordinary rescue operation. Short selling was capped. Pension funds were ordered to buy more stocks. Initial public offerings were suspended to limit the supply of shares and the central bank created funds for brokers to buy shares. Companies’ major shareholders were barred from selling their stocks for six month and companies were ordered to buy their own shares. Nothing worked. Stock market crash highlights a lack of freedom and transparency There are some intriguing facts: even though the stock market lost almost one third of its value over a short period weeks, it was still 80 per […]

This is an important gateway for the growth and use of lasers and optoelectronics in the electronics industry in India. Lasers are used in industry in a huge variety of applications. These applications can be divided between those that involve the processing of materials and all other applications. Materials processing includes cutting, drilling, welding, etc., and generally involves the use of high-powered lasers. The process flow in semiconductor manufacturing is commonly divided into the front-end and the back-end section. The front-end production line contains all processes for forming integrated circuits (ICs) directly on silicon wafers. Typical steps are dispositioning, patterning, removal, doping and activation plus several inspection steps. Here, lasers are used for selectively patterning of a thin film by mask projection instead of direct laser ablation. The semiconductor and electronics industry reported constant growth over the past 40 years in India, characterised by high competition, declining profit margins and intensive R&D efforts to offer smaller and faster products. The semiconductor and electronics industry globally is being driven by the rising demand for IT hardware, office automation products and consumer electronics products such as mobile phones and automotive products. LASER World of PHOTNICS INDIA 2015 is one such platform that offers its exhibitors the exposure to the application of laser in various industries, electronics and semiconductor production being one of them. Poised to impact modern life with much more innovation, this industry is offering new possibilities in nano-sciences, biotechnology, medical sciences, electro-mechanical devices, photonics, remote sensing, etc. Bhupinder Singh, CMO and Member of the Management Board, MMI India says: “We are happy to bring the precision world of laser technology to the northern region. We are confident that the exhibitors and visitors will have an opportunity to interact on the subject and it will be a common platform for professionals […]

With just 3 months leading up to the inaugural 4 in 1 exhibition swop – Shanghai World of Packaging, up to now, has more than 600 companies in the packaging industry from Germany, the United States, Japan, Turkey, Korea, China and other countries and regions who have confirmed their participation. Organised by Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd, Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co Ltd, and China Center for Food and Drug International Exchange (CCFDIE), SWOP will take place from 17 – 20 November, 2015 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), PR China. PacPro Asia 2015 is one of the 4 professional exhibitions of SWOP – Shanghai World of Packaging. It will showcase cutting-edge machinery and process technologies for all kinds of packaging solutions, including materials such as paper, plastics, metals, glass, wood, ceramics and textiles. This year, swop cooperates with the “Packaging Family” to present the “Packaging Material Zone” at PacPro Asia. It is an excellent opportunity for end-users to experience the latest achievements in packaging materials. The new zone sets a star studded debut, with nearly 200 leading companies joining to display their latest technologies and developments, including Shanghai Packaging and Paper (Group) Co. Ltd, Jielong Printing, F. S. Korea, HCT, Fedrigoni etc. One of the biggest household appliances manufacturers in the world Haier will also be bringing their packaging suppliers to the zone! swop 2015 will not just showcase a wide range of packaging machinery, materials and process technologies, but also presents as an ideal platform for knowledge sharing. The organizers have linked up with renowned media and associations to host different conferences and seminars with speakers covering hot topics in the field of packaging. Conferences and Seminars include: . Haier’s supply chain management new model . Future of packaging from the needs of brands . ISPE-CCFDIE China Conference (Autumn) . China […]

Hong Kong, 2 Sep 2015 – Vitafoods Asia, the only event dedicated to the nutraceutical, functional food and beverages, and dietary supplement industries in Asia, today welcomed trade professionals to the innovation-packed exhibition and conference at the AsiaWorld-Expo. Over the two-day event, visitors from across the region have access to the latest ingredients and raw materials from more than 150 international exhibiting companies, as well as a plethora of complimentary and paid learning opportunities. In the past four years, Vitafoods Asia has flourished to become a focal point for the Asia Pacific market, with industry professionals acknowledging it as a launch pad for new ideas and a conduit for business and knowledge-exchange. Mr Chris Lee, Portfolio Director of Vitafoods Events, said, “The industry is expectant as it congregates here each time and the positive vibe is obvious across the show floor. This year, regulatory changes in the region suggest greater prospects in growth for the functional food and supplement markets. Based on the activity we’ve seen today, the show is reinforcing its status as the preferred platform with the best business and learning opportunities.” Regulatory Updates in the Region: ASEAN, China & Japan In Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) has undergone enhancements over the years, which saw the easing of Rules of Origin (ROO) compliance and administration. By 2015, ASEAN member states are obliged to eliminate tariffs on over 99% of all products traded within the region, according preferential tariff treatment to goods originating from ASEAN countries and facilitating increased intra-ASEAN trade. This implies a simpler, quicker process for companies looking to obtain tariff savings, as ASEAN continues to streamline its documents and certification procedures for the AFTA. Elsewhere in China and Japan, regulatory changes in dietary reference intakes and health claims give the Omega-3 industry a […]

Earlier this year, the Chinese People’s Congress was told the growth target would be 7% but that “deep-seated problems in the country’s economy are becoming more obvious.” Since then, predicted growth rates have dropped considerably. McKinsey Institute authors Luis Enriquez, Sven Smit and Jonathan Ablett have produced four economic scenarios for the next 10 years, ranging from high to stalled growth, in a paper, Shifting Tides. They explain the three main sets of forces at work and how policy responses will dictate various outcomes. The first set is today’s economic stimulus policies and the shifting energy markets. The next set of forces are more underlying and less immediate – the demographic effects of urbanisation and ageing. Finally, there are technological innovation and global connectivity, both of which are uncertain and variable in their effects. The first set of forces are most obvious in the lack of economic demand despite the stimulation of low interest rates from loose monetary and fiscal policies, as well as low oil prices. The next forces produce longer-term issues, such as rising debt loads, ageing populations, reduced workforces and inadequate or outmoded infrastructure. The third forces of technological innovation and globalisation have resulted in a divergence rather than a convergence of the world’s major economies. Overcoming weak demand The International Monetary Fund estimates that production in the 10 largest advanced economies was 2% below potential in 2014. Many governments and central banks responded with fiscal and monetary stimulus programmes that fostered the low real-interest-rate environments that have endured for over five years. As a result, all increased rather than reduced their overall debt levels – in some cases, by more than 50%. Persistently low interest rates encourage investors to search for yield and safety, creating the preconditions for asset bubbles and further volatility in international financial […]

The four-day event, which runs from December 3rd-6th 2015, will take place at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center in Istanbul and is considered the most significant and extensive meeting of the plastics industry in Turkey and Eurasia. Now in its 25th year, Plast Eurasia Istanbul 2015 is ready to break records. Plast Eurasia Istanbul 2014 brought together the industry’s leading professionals and 1,067 companies and company representatives from 41 countries across a 98,000 m sq exhibition area indoor. A total of 43,756 industry professionals visited show last year. In 2015, there is scope for growth, as the exhibition area has been extended from 98,000 to 120,000 m sq, and in the first six months of the year 80 per cent of exhibition space has been already sold. Aiming to outstrip last year’s success, Plast Eurasia organisers have been implementing a decisive marketing strategy to capture the imaginations of exhibitors and visitors both at home and overseas. Industry professionals from target regions have also been kept informed about the fair through 11 offices in Turkey, six overseas offices and representatives operating in over 30 countries. The fair has been also been widely publicised across a range of media, from websites and magazines, to a successful outing at Plast 2015 in Milan, Italy in May. As a result of marketing activities implemented by Tüyap and supporter organizations, over 50,000 professionals are expected to visit the fair. Organised annually by Tüyap in cooperation with PAGEV (Turkish Plastics Industry Foundation), Plast Eurasia Istanbul will take place from December 3rd-6th, 2015 in Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center. For further information, please visit us: www.plasteurasia.com

Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, is focussing on Myanmar as its next strategic market in Southeast Asia. Rockwell Automation appointed MINs Control Systems Solution Co., Ltd. (MCSS) as its first Recognized System Integrator for Myanmar to meet industrial automation demand by machine builders and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), as well as end users, seeking smart, safe and sustainable solutions for improved productivity and profitability. “Within Southeast Asia, we strive to build solid partnerships with local companies as part of our commitment to provide superior value to customers. MCSS has a reputation as a reliable systems integrator and is partnering with us across many Process industries including petrochemicals, oil and gas, waste and water treatment, mining and cement,” said Bob Buttermore, Regional Director, Southeast Asia, Rockwell Automation. “Combining our company’s industrial automation technology with MCSS’ in-depth market knowledge and expertise, we will add measureable value to our customers by supporting their existing investments, as well as helping them plan future projects for optimised return on investment.” “We have been eyeing Myanmar to add to Rockwell Automation’s other Southeast Asia markets of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. We are pleased that the time is now right for us to move in and capitalise on its robust economic growth and investment-friendly environment. Since manufacturing constitutes about 20 per cent of the country’s GDP, with oil and gas, construction, infrastructure and consumer packaged goods being important sectors, Myanmar is a natural expansion market for us. By leveraging MCSS’ vast capabilities and experience, Rockwell Automation can now establish a foothold in Myanmar for our industrial automation technologies,” added Chris Marshall, Market Access Director, Southeast Asia, Rockwell Automation.