Grant Dennis Obstacles for ASEAN and Vietnam Fifty years after its establishment, the ASEAN has become one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic regions in the world. The region is still expected to outperform average global growth and is estimated to expand by 5.3 per cent in 2018, led by emerging economies such as Vietnam, which is projected to grow by 6.9 per cent, according to the Economic Outlook by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). However, new technologies such as the Internet of Things, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) could threaten this growth story in the longer term – unless ASEAN markets start preparing themselves for the shift. The ASEAN’s core value proposition, low labour costs, will fade away over the coming decades, as protectionist sentiments and new technologies rise. These factors will keep more production within the shores of the developed parts of the world. Moreover, there is still a gap … [Read more...] about Keeping your business ahead in the digital age
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When it comes to e-cigs, Big Tobacco is concerned for your health
The health warning on a MarkTen electronic cigarette package is 116 words long. That's much longer than the warnings on traditional cigarette packs in the United States. Nicotine, the e-cigarette warning says, is "addictive and habit-forming, and it is very toxic by inhalation, in contact with the skin, or if swallowed." It is not intended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, or people ... who take medicine for depression or asthma. "Nicotine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure and cause dizziness, nausea and stomach pain," says MarkTen, a leading brand in the United States. The ingredients can be "poisonous." MarkTen's parent company Altria, maker of Marlboro cigarettes, said the language seemed appropriate. There is no required health warning on electronic cigarettes in the United States, so "we had to do what we thought was right," said a spokesman for Altria Client Services. The company's frankness about the perils of nicotine dates back to the late 1990s, when … [Read more...] about When it comes to e-cigs, Big Tobacco is concerned for your health
Fun Apps for your Father’s Day
The time of the year has come where we celebrate fatherhood and thank the man that has supported you all the way -Father's Day! If you're going on an adventure, bring along the Jack of Tools so that you'll have everything need right in your pocket. To top it off, reading his new favorite book will always be enjoyable on his Kindle App, specially designed for Windows 8. But that's not all; built-in apps like SkyDrive will allow him to share his favorite photos and moments with family and friends. Everything's set on this special day just for him. Happy Father's Day! APP HIGHLIGHTS App Platforms Price Description SkyDrive Windows 8 / Windows Phone 8 Free Open up a world of cloud storage to your dad by installing the SkyDrive app for Windows Phone. SkyDrive is the place to store your files so you can access them from virtually any device. Windows Phone has built-in access to SkyDrive right from the Office and Pictures hubs. It can also automatically … [Read more...] about Fun Apps for your Father’s Day
When your business name is same as a porn website’s
When a business owner contacted the Agency for Business Registration to register his company's legal name as Chín Tầng Mây (nine levels of clouds) Co Ltd, he was rejected because a porn website currently bears that name. The agency said it has also rejected the name registration application of another business owner, who wished to name his company as Le Quy Don Co Ltd. Le Quy Don was a renowned philosopher, poet, and government official who lived in the 18th century. Under the law, business name should not represent the name of great people. However, as the business contacted the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for verification, it was replied that there is currently no ground to determine that Le Quy Don is a great man. There are yet numerous other cases in which businesses have failed to register their legal names at their wish as the agencies in charge deem those names controversial and violating the Law on business registration. Controversial cases A lawyer … [Read more...] about When your business name is same as a porn website’s
Getting ahead with savvy payment management
Visa’s country manager Lorijon Bacchi, Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos shares views on how to simplify financial management so businesses can concentrate on the growth of their business. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of local economies, particularly in Asia-Pacific region. Across the region, SMEs account for around 90 per cent of all businesses and employ as much as 60 per cent of the workforce. Research also shows that Vietnam is a large SME market with more than 600,000 small and medium sized entities to date where inter-provincial trade is very common, for example, between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. A constantly changing and competitive region, the uncertain global economy and the increasing globalisation of businesses and customers present SMEs with new issues, including having to drive greater efficiency and productivity, and scaling to grow and change the company. Financial control and flexibility aided with good payment management can help … [Read more...] about Getting ahead with savvy payment management