Southeast asian studies

FILE PHOTO: Vendors load sugarcane onto a vehicle at a wholesale market in Kolkata, India, Oct 9, 2018. (Reuters) The world’s food problem is already severe as prices jump and protectionism flares but, a food security expert says there’s a good chance governments can stop it from getting way worse if they heed a lesson from the crisis in 2008: don’t panic. With a gauge of global prices already at a record following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a spate of nations have moved to curb exports in crops from wheat and sugar to cooking oils, exacerbating security risks for the rest of the world. Bad weather is a concern, too. Still, while wheat, corn and soy have soared, rice, a staple for more than 3 billion people, has so far been more stable. If nations do not panic or start hoarding, they can stop the current crisis from becoming a rerun of the one in 2008, when rice prices soared to put the region’s food security at serious risk, according to Peter Timmer, Professor Emeritus at … [Read more...] about Food crisis can be contained if Asia remembers not to panic: expert

F or many of this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia: The Arts list honorees, style and sustainability go hand in hand. Some have even seen opportunity in building businesses catering to environmentally conscious Gen-Z consumers. Best friends Evangeline Titilas and Samantha Lorking-Tanner cofounded fashion label With Jéan in 2017. Sold exclusively online and shipped globally in biodegradable packaging, With Jéan was born after the duo were inspired to build a fashion brand committed to ethical and sustainable production, initially investing A$3,000 ($2,200) each. The label doesn’t follow a typical fashion calendar, launching six to seven drops comprising 10 to 15 pieces per year, thereby minimizing wastage by not overproducing. With Jéan’s youthful apparels also enjoy a cult following among 456,000 Instagramers and its new styles often sell out in minutes. Seen on celebrities including Bella Hadid, Jenna Dewan and Emily Ratajkowski, its designs have been … [Read more...] about 30 Under 30 2022: Meet The Up-And-Coming Designers And Fashion Brands From Asia Pacific

K evin Zhang is accelerating the expansion of his Singapore-headquartered logistics startup Inteluck across Southeast Asia, having established a foothold in the Philippines in the past eight years. Originally from China, Zhang started his tech-driven logistics company back in 2014 after traveling to the Philippines to evaluate an investment opportunity his family was considering. While his family didn’t pursue the investment, Zhang saw a business opportunity in the archipelago’s fragmented logistics industry. Today, he is among this year's Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honorees in the Industry, Manufacturing & Energy category who are using technology to improve various industries, including the logistics and supply chain sector, which has been booming during the Covid-19 online-ordering surge. Inteluck initially provided solutions to help logistics companies track their fleet of vehicles. It later started supplying refrigerated trucks to deliver cakes for Filipino … [Read more...] about The 30 Under 30 Asia 2022 Entrepreneurs Transforming The Booming Logistics Industry

CANNES (France): The Iskandar Malaysia Studios (IMS), a premier destination for filmed entertainment production in Southeast Asia, welcomes foreign production companies to increase film production activities in Malaysia. Its chief executive officer Rashid Karim said from the capacity point of view, IMS was extremely well equipped to undertake several productions concurrently. "For example, we have had a situation where we have six clients on the lot at the same time, and it was big production. So yes, we are ready for increased activity and we do have lot capacity currently and hopefully in the near future as we see more demand. "We have also started preliminary plans to introduce more facilities beyond just the standing sets, but more stages for example and more workshop spaces," he told Malaysian journalists here. He said IMS studios were spread over 20.23 hectares, including 2.43 hectares designated for building more structures, buildings and sets for clients. So far, about … [Read more...] about Iskandar Malaysia Studios ready to host more film shooting from foreign companies

W hen it comes to consumer technology , Asia’s Forbes 30 Under 30 young entrepreneurs are on the forefront of developing new apps–from those for edtech t0 dating. Interest in Web3 apps is also increasing and these entrepreneurs are catering to that as well. Anticipating the rise of the metaverse, 27-year-old Risa Feng cofounded BUD in 2019 to enhance the new social experiences. Users of this free app can create and exchange 3D content, such as cuddly avatars and objects, in a drag-and-drop fashion. They can also make friends, chat with each other and start online battles in a recently added survivor mode. Following the app’s launch last October, Feng quickly rolled out BUD in app stores around the world. She declines to disclose active user numbers, but the app was downloaded 12.5 million times from Google Play and Apple’s App Stores worldwide, according to analytics platform Sensor Tower. “From text to pictures then to videos, every generation has its … [Read more...] about 30 Under 30 Asia: From Edtech To The Metaverse, Meet The Young Entrepreneurs Innovating In Consumer Technology