JUST because there is a lot of optimism over Asean's growth prospects "doesn't guarantee results", said Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Khiang. The ability of Asean to fully realise its potential depends on "maintaining regional stability, keeping markets open, taking on pro-growth policies, and strengthening our efforts at integration", he emphasised at the Asean Business Club Forum on Monday. He noted that with 2015 fast approaching, Asean countries have made steady progress in realising the Asean Economic Community, which aims to create a single market and production base across the region with minimal barriers to trade and investment. Virtually all goods in Asean already move throughout the region tariff-free, he pointed out. Stronger rules have been set up to protect investments in Asean, and more seamless customs procedures will soon become possible, thanks to harmonised Asean-wide trade facilitation initiatives.
2014-09-12"The AEC 2015 journey will not be the end of the road for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," and its member countries are now working next phase of regional trade and economic integration, according to Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry. During a speech at the ASEAN Business Club Forum on September 8 in Singapore, Lim noted that, "with 2015 fast approaching, ASEAN countries have made steady progress in realizing the ASEAN Economic Community. Virtually all goods in ASEAN already move throughout the region tariff-free." ASEAN-6 countries – comprising Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – eliminated tariffs on 99.65 percent of tariff lines, with effect from January 1, 2010, while ASEAN's newer members – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam – reduced tariffs on 98.86 percent of their tariff lines to the 0-5 percent tariff range in 2010, and are expected to eliminate tariffs on these goods by 2015, with flexibility for a few import duty lines until 2018. The focus is now, he said, on harmonizing ASEAN-wide trade facilitation initiatives, by, for example, eliminating non-tariff barriers, but that discussions were now beginning on how ASEAN should develop and deepen its economic inter-dependence further after 2015. In addition, he confirmed that "integration does not just stop at ASEAN's borders. The ongoing negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are a defining point in our endeavor towards deeper integration beyond the region." RCEP will bring ASEAN and its six current FTA partners – China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand – into a single comprehensive trade agreement, and link a third of the world's gross domestic product and 45 percent of the world's population. The RCEP, he added, "is aimed at setting open, simple, and flexible trade rules for businesses to operate easily in, in order to further integrate ASEAN into the global value chain." Furthermore, he continued, "while they may signal a shift in trade and economic gravity away from ASEAN, the ongoing negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the trilateral China-Japan-South Korea FTA, and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the United States (US) and European Union (EU), are significant regional integration efforts and offer the prospect of still larger integration with ASEAN." "Together with the TPP, the RCEP could provide a possible pathway to a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, which, if realized, would be an unprecedented boost to economic interconnectivity." In notes to his speech, it was commented that, with a market of 600m people and an average annual gross domestic product growth rate of 6 percent in the decade from 2002 to 2012, ASEAN was already the seventh largest economy in the world and the third largest in Asia in 2013, at USD2.3 trillion. A Deloitte study recently projected that five of the top 15 manufacturing locations in the world will be in ASEAN by 2018, and, by 2050, ASEAN is also projected to be the fourth-largest economy in the world (after the EU, US and China). http://www.tax-news.com/news/Singapore_Plugs_ASEAN_Trade_Integration____65778.html
2014-09-09Five prestigious accolades were presented at the 2014 Retail Asia Expo Gala Dinner held on Tuesday at the Chancellor Room, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, presented the China Daily Asia Pacific Retail Leadership Award to Hui Xian Asset Management Ltd (Beijing Oriental Plaza). The Life Time Achievement Award was awarded to Dr William Fung Kwok-lun, group chairman of Li & Fung Ltd, a Hong Kong headquartered multinational group recognized as the world’s leader in consumer goods design, development, sourcing and distribution. The Community Retailers Award was presented to Whiskers N Paws - a natural pet supplies provider; the Small Business Retailer of the Year was awarded to A Day with Poet — a men’s fashion boutique; and Industry Super Retailer of the Year was received by HKT — a premier Hong Kong telecommunications service provider. The three-day Retail Asia Expo 2014, which opened on Tuesday, is an annual trade show and conference catering to retailers in the Asia Pacific region. China Daily is also hosting a discussion panel at the Expo today (Wednesday) on “Strategies for the Next Generation of Retailing in Asia”. joonsan@chinadailyhk.com http://www.chinadailyasia.com/hknews/2014-06/11/content_15139899.html
2014-06-11Keeping up with Asia’s shoppers Consumers in Asia are increasingly knowledgeable, demanding and technologically savvy, and expect the brands they follow to meet their specific and increasingly sophisticated needs. Speaking in Hong Kong on June 11 during a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable, a group of luxury brand executives and e-commerce experts made it abundantly clear the region’s consumers cannot be treated as an afterthought or reached using strategies recycled from other markets. Brands and companies that forget this simple reality do so at their peril, experts said at the event, titled Strategies for the Next Generation of Retailing in Asia. “If you are coming into Asia, one of the things we keep telling people, is stop assuming that Asia is homogeneous,” said Edge Zarrella, clients and innovation partner at KPMG in Hong Kong. “You have to target the specific consumer that you are after.” Zarrella works with clients to develop innovative online strategies and find better ways to use the huge amounts of data that online retailing produces on the needs of customers. The roundtable was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of the third annual Omni-Channel Retailing Conference. During the conference, KPMG released a report, of which Zarrella was one of the lead authors, on the rapid growth of e-commerce in China. The global consultancy firm reached out to 10,200 luxury consumers across the country. The report found that online interactions continue to grow; social media drives more sales of luxury goods; and the most important motivation for online Chinese consumers is still the search for better deals. The market for online retailing is large enough that some companies are using it as their only outlet for goods. Among them is Glamour Sales China, a company that sells luxury goods online at lower prices. Glamour Sales was part of the KPMG survey and its CEO, Thibault Villet, participated in the roundtable. The future, he said, is bright for companies that can reach enough consumers and can put in place the physical logistics infrastructure to reach them quickly and efficiently. “Nowadays, consumers are the champions. Consumers have access to information. Consumers are looking online for information and they have multiple options to purchase,” said Villet. And that means brands have to reach out to consumers more than they ever have before, not only with innovative products but with an appealing shopping experience. “We are not only selling products or experiences but we are also storytellers,” Villet said. “We can’t just sell the product as we did before.” One approach that is increasingly popular, he said, is the use of special edition crossover products between multiple brands, or between brands and celebrities. And in the luxury product space, which is increasingly driven by online sales and online communication between the brand and the consumer, brands rely on cachet more than in just about any other sector. Discounts may not be the best way to maintain that cachet. On the contrary, said Raphael le Masne de Chermont, executive chairman of Shanghai Tang, which has positioned itself as the first Chinese luxury lifestyle brand. Innovation is certainly key to growth going forward, but that innovation has to be balanced with tradition and a certain amount of inaccessibility. “One of the most important things will be to keep up prices,” said de Chermont. “Luxury is about dreams. If you devalue the dream, there is no more dream,” he said. “Look at Rolex. Rolex is cash.” Keeping prices up is just part of the growth equation. To grow sustainably, brands have to be profitable. And in today’s market, particularly in the shopping hotspot of Hong Kong, profitability often requires careful balancing of growth and strategy between physical and online retail. Shanghai Tang uses e-commerce as another boutique, one with growing prospects. “Everything goes very fast but at least in the next five years we are going to have a very fast growth of e-commerce,” said de Chermont. “It is an interesting battle on profitability … particularly in Hong Kong.” The main challenge in Hong Kong is the cost of retail space. This is something Shanghai Tang had to contend with when it moved out of its long-time flagship store in the Pedder Building in the upscale Central district. The space was taken over by US fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch for a monthly rent of HK$10 million ($1.3 million). That price was simply unsustainable, de Chermont said. But in the challenge of moving the store, which Shanghai Tang did by April 2012 just down the street, there is also an opportunity. “That was the best lesson I have taken in my business life, losing our flagship store,” he said. “But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger … We have totally reshaped our brand.” The future, said de Chermont, will see brands focus on online retailing and a few strategically placed locations where they can make the best use of the increasingly high rents they have to pay. Keeping up with Asia’s shoppers Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief at China Daily Asia Pacific, addresses the audience. Digital boom The need for more efficient sales channels that reach out to more consumers was made clear in Hong Kong through April when retail sales fell more than 9 percent, in large part due to a drop in purchases by visitors from the Chinese mainland. “Hong Kong’s retail sector has long been one of the pillars of our city’s economy,” said Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief, China Daily Asia Pacific. He said Hong Kong’s retail sector had suffered recently, with the biggest drop recorded in luxury goods, such as jewelry and watches. “A sudden and dramatic drop in retail sales could set up a chain reaction in Hong Kong,” he added. But there is a ray of hope in the projected growth of more than 4 percent in retail sales over the next year in Hong Kong and more than 10 percent in the Chinese mainland. Much of the growth is likely to be driven by the growing popularity of online retail, said Zhou. Consumers in the mainland, particularly those that don’t have easy access to physical outlets, are particularly attracted to online shopping, he said. Companies like Alibaba or 360buy.com are reshaping the future of Chinese retailing. “A digitally powered commercial experience is now reshaping the future of Chinese retail practices and the Chinese business model could set an example for the rest of the world,” said Zhou. But innovation has to be nurtured and risks have to be addressed, such as payment risk and the potential for fraud. Another issue, especially for luxury goods, is meeting the demands of consumers. The Chinese consumer is demanding and is getting more demanding every year. Women are shopping more, and they know what they want, said Jacqlyne Li, senior regional travel retail manager at Bally GC Retail. But profits may not be immediate. “You have to be realistic on the return on investment. Some brands say, ‘we need a return on investment in a year’. Three years might be too long but a year is (too short),” said Li. But there are profits to be had and sales to be made to ever-more-savvy Chinese and Asian consumers. The trick is to reach them, not just physically but through increasingly clever online retailing strategies that target the local consumers in each and every market. http://www.chinadailyasia.com/asiaweekly/2014-06/13/content_15140717.html
2014-06-116月11日- 香港,「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」今日上午在香港會議展覽中心舉辦題為「亞洲新世代零售策略」的專題研討會,探討亞洲零售業的發展趨勢及致勝策略,重點討論了電商時代下零售業面臨的機遇和挑戰, 吸引了逾200名來自亞洲各地區零售業的高管人員參與。此論壇是在「2014亞洲零售博覽會」期間,中國日報亞太分社與「全渠道零售論壇」聯合舉辦的。 中國日報亞太分社社長兼總編輯周立先生在致歡迎辭時提到隨著阿裡巴巴、京東商城等電子商城在中國的蓬勃發展,線上購物的趨勢將變革亞洲乃至整個世界零售業的未來。 本屆研討會邀請到了魅力惠中國首席執行官韋奕博先生;畢馬威中國客戶諮詢和創新事務合夥人查瑋亮先生;上海灘行政主席雷富逸先生及巴利(Bally)區域免稅零售業務總監李瑞冰女士參與討論。 韋奕博先生認為線上交易盛行的今天,不能再用以前的方式做買賣,而要關注不同亞洲客戶和不同產品間的相關性與聯繫性。因而,分化市場、定位目標群體是零售業致勝的關鍵。 查瑋亮先生也認同零售商應改變觀念,不能再設想亞洲客戶的需求都是一樣的,而應細化市場,利用強大的電商網路資源去適應變革,滿足特定客戶的獨特需求。 雷富逸先生強調零售商在進軍一個市場時必須做到機智、靈活地選址,最重要的是不能因為市場在打價格戰就降價。“因為奢侈品是一個夢想,千萬不要去打碎這個夢想。” 雷富逸先生補充道。 李瑞冰女士則對機場購物的前景充滿信心。但與此同時,她也意識到機場購物面臨登機時間受限,網上購物替代實體店等挑戰。不過她亦期待著網購新體驗等挑戰,因為只有挑戰才會帶來不斷的進步。 擁有全球44%人口的亞洲新興市場在電子商務催生零售業變革的腳步下,不斷調整並挖掘新的商機。這也標誌著亞洲零售業已經學會適應變革,直面新時代的新挑戰。 關中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平臺,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。 (http://www.cdroundtable.com)
2014-06-1111 June 2014 – Hong Kong, China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable today held the co-branded panel with Omni-Channel Retailing Conference themed: “Strategies for the Next Generation of Retailing in Asia” at 11:20am-12:20pm in the Chancellor Room, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It also marked our cooperation for the second consecutive year with the organizer. Omni-Channel Retailing Conference is a parallel session under Retail Asia Expo, which is an annual trade show and conference that caters to retailers in the whole Asia Pacific region. Home to about 44% of the world’s population, Asia’s emerging markets boost macro trends that would delight any retailer. According to market data, 30% of the world’s retail growth through 2017 will come from Asia’s emerging markets. Growth in digital sales continues to outpace sales growth in stores that generate the new generation of retailing in recent years. This panel examined the mega trends of the retail industry in Asia that redefines the next generation retail consumers. It also identified the winning strategies for brands, channels, technology, media and key stakeholders along the industry value chain to boost potential partnership among industry players. This panel attracted over 200 CEOs, senior executives, and market leaders from the retail industry across Asia. Mr. Zhou Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific opened the session highlighting Hong Kong as a vigorous part in China’s retailing development. Mr. Zhou also welcomed distinguished speakers including Mr. Raphael le Masne de Chermont, Executive Chairman, Shanghai Tang; Mr. Edge Zarella, Clients and Innovation Partner, KPMG; Mr. Thibult Villet, CEO, Glamour Sales China; Ms. Jacqlyne Li, Senior Regional Travel Retail Manager, Bally GC Retail Co., Ltd. About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, other Asian countries and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across the Asia Pacific. (http://www.cdroundtable.com)
2014-06-11The day after Asia emerged as the largest film market outside of North America, a group of industry experts gathered in Hong Kong to discuss the future of the industry. On the agenda were issues including how a new generation of filmmakers can overcome challenges, ride the wave of growth and reach larger audiences both at home and internationally. According to numbers released by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) on March 25, box office revenues in Asia reached $35.9 billion in 2013, surpassing all other regions outside of North America. Consumer spending linked to the film industry in Asia is now the largest in the world outside North America, said Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief at China Daily Asia Pacific, at the opening of the latest China Daily Leadership Roundtable on March 26. Titled “The Next Generation Film Industry in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities”, the event brought together a group of filmmakers, producers and top-tier industry stakeholders at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event is co-organized by China Daily Asia Pacific and the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART). “Films from China, South Korea, India and many other Asian nations not only continue to appeal to local audiences but are growing in popularity around the world as well,” said Zhou. “Complex regulations and censorship can be a great hindrance for many films … But where there is a challenge there is also an opportunity.” The reality is that films from across the region are increasingly popular with audiences around the world. The Chinese mainland and South Korea are producing more films than ever before, even if the industries in places like Hong Kong and the Philippines have lost some of their luster. Outside of the United States and Canada, China had the largest market with revenues of $3.6 billion, about a third higher than a year earlier. The Chinese market was dominated by domestic films, which accounted for about 71 percent of total revenue across the 18,000-plus movie screens throughout the country, a rise of about 5,100 screens in a single year. Japan was the second-largest market, earning $2.4 billion. Other Asian markets in the top 10 included India with $1.5 billion and South Korea with $1.4 billion. “There is incredible growth from this region,” said Edward Neubronner, senior vice-president and regional operations officer for the Asia Pacific at MPAA. One of his favorite markets in the region at the moment is Malaysia, a market where filmmakers are increasingly active, new screens are opening up and production values are improving. “As the market grows, the local industry grows,” said Neubronner. The highest-grossing films around the world are still made in Hollywood, however. Asian films, for the time being, are increasingly successful as a group and in their domestic markets but are not the biggest earners individually. Asian filmmakers have some other issues to contend with, a key one being access to films. In some countries, notably Indonesia, there are very few screens compared to the size of the population, said Neubronner. More screens would invariably lead to a larger and more productive domestic film industry. A second concern is content theft, which remains quite prominent across the region. Nevertheless, an optimistic view was palpable among the speakers. But that, said one successful South Korean producer, may be a cause for concern. “When everybody becomes very optimistic ... I become a little bit worried,” said Joo-ick Lee, executive producer and CEO at Boram Entertainment in South Korea. “It reminds me of what happened 30 years ago in Japan.” Back then, a number of Japanese conglomerates were investing heavily in Hollywood. But now, said Lee, Japan’s film industry has pulled back to its domestic market. Virtually no Japanese movies now reach outside the country’s borders. On the other hand, the film industry in South Korea is making ever-increasing forays into other regional markets. In particular, South Korean filmmakers are looking to China for a much larger market with deep pockets and plenty of consumers. To ensure long-term and sustainable growth, a steady flow of high-quality products is key, said Lee. “Nobody can deny that the China market is growing. But we should focus more on how we can make high-quality products instead of how quickly we can proceed,” he said. Another market in Asia Pacific beginning to step out of the shadows is Thailand. One film last year broke box office records in the country. Pee Mak Phra Khanong, a ghost comedy, earned as much as $30 million in Thailand last year, said Kong Rithdee, a film writer at the Bangkok Post. To put this in context, the international hit Iron Man 3 earned about $10 million there. But in this industry, as in most others, not everyone comes out a winner. The film business in Hong Kong, for example, has lost out to the growth in the Chinese mainland. “The Hong Kong film industry continues to decline,” said Cheung Chi-sing, vice-chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers. Most of the major movies released in the last few years are co-productions with producers on the mainland. Less than 30 films made in Hong Kong last year were filmed locally, and they were all small productions. This trend is driven by the fact that on the mainland there are three categories of movies including domestic movies and imported movies. Films made in Hong Kong are considered imported movies and have less access to the mainland market. By contrast, coproductions and content filmed on the mainland may have greater access to screens and the market. But, warned the veteran industry players, Chinese growth involves some issues that need to be considered. For example, said Cheung, in the past couple of years, the number of screens has grown faster than the industry, which means that earnings per screen is lower and it is increasingly hard to make money as profit margins drop. At the end of the day, the question that producers need to ask themselves as they invest in films is: Where are the greatest opportunities? “There is no doubt that in the future, the Asian region will be the biggest box office market. It will surpass North America in a couple of years,” said Liz Shackleton, Asia editor at Screen International, a UK industry magazine. “But the future is about partnership and collaboration. Asia doesn’t want to be just a market. It wants to be a content producer.” http://www.chinadailyasia.com/asiaweekly/2014-03/28/content_15127758.html
2014-03-31For many years, the mission statement of Hong Kong’s Filmart was to introduce the world to China’s rising film industry. But anyone who’s ever read a framed mission statement in a corporate foyer knows, writing something down doesn’t automatically make it true. However, the Hong Kong Trade and Development Corporation and other organisations that help stage the four-day trade show have done more than wax lyrical. They’ve put years into laying the ground, and after years of what looked like empty rhetoric (and quite a bit of hard work), 2014 saw Filmart’s mission not only come true, but become an unqualified success. China produces around 700 films per year, though only about 200 of those are actually released. What foreigners hope to get out of the booming Chinese film industry is the opportunity to participate in co-productions. Unlike most foreign films, such as Hollywood hits like Titanic 3D which have to be considered by China’s strict quota system that only allows distribution for a handful of non-Chinese films, co-productions by virtue of their Chinese financing bypass the quota. Everyone wants a part of the action and hence films like Iron Man 3 where Chinese stars like Fan Bingbing are sutured into the film to merchandise Western blockbusters to Chinese audiences. The record increase of over 6,500 visitors to Filmart and the wider spread of countries staging pavilions is testimony to the rising international interest. Italy joined up last year, the Russians were the major new recruits this year and China, Japan, Korea and France increase the size of their pavilions every year. Korean film producer Lee Joo-ick knows how Filmart feels about the event’s delayed success. “Ten years ago,” when Lee began working on Chinese/Korean co-productions, “people said there was no future in it. Now they tell me I was right.” With a long list of Chinese-related features to his credit (Together, Seven Swords), Lee nevertheless warns about becoming too enthusiastic about the Chinese boom. In Korea, we liken things that heat up very quickly to an aluminium kettle. Like an aluminium kettle, the Chinese film industry heated up very quickly and it could cool down very quickly too.” Lee reminds people about the era when Japanese corporations like Sony were buying up Hollywood studios like Columbia. When Japan’s bubble economy burst, it unravelled very quickly. Lee’s ultimate warning when it comes to film producing is that unless, the Chinese film industry and those who foreigners who wish to capitalise on it, are mindful of quality, an audience – local and international – will turn their back on it, no matter what the volume is. For Hong Kongers, the boom of China’s film industry is a double-edged sword. Vice Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Film-makers, Cheung Chi-sing, points out that on the one hand, stars and technicians nurtured by Hong Kong’s film industry have increased revenue and work opportunities since the local industry took a pre-Handover nosedive in the early 1990s. The problem with the Hong Kong to mainland braindrain is that the local industry is losing its independence both culturally and politically. (Parallels with Australia and the US are worth noting.) “Because of the difficulty of financing films in Hong Kong without Mainland Chinese money, less than 20 percent of films are locally funded.” Cheung says. “On the whole, I don’t like to talk about Hong Kong’s film industry. It’s too depressing.” Cheung also points out that the oft-quoted statistic about 10 movie screens being constructed in China every two days may also be overly optimistic. “It fails to take into account the fact that China’s box office growth is not keeping pace with the building of screens. In other words, the more screens being built in China, the more likely it is that the profits will decrease not increase.” Cheung believes that when other factors came into play – such as real estate value and competition from other entertainment platforms – as well as general maintenance costs, that if China’s film industry hits an unforeseen slump, the whole industry could be in for a shock. Chen Bin, Vice President of china production company, DMG Entertainment is however, unrepentantly upbeat. He believes that even if there is brief slump in China box office, cinemas will not disappear and that any production slump would be filled by the 500 odd Mainland films that currently do not receive a commercial release in China. Statistically, it seems inevitable that China will increasingly dominate international movie screens one day, but the Chinese need to nurture their own industry for international – not just Mandarin speaking – audiences. While Chen celebrated the references to acupuncture in Iron Man 3, the film is still essentially American and won’t do anything to cause a spike in feng shui classes in Nebraska. If the Chinese film industry is not careful, stars like Fan Bingbing getting cameos will remain second banana while Hollywood stars will stay the main attraction. Hong Kongers do more than passively take a cut as money change hands at Filmart. One of Filmart’s major sidebars is the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Fund, generally known as HAF. The competition had 23 projects in contention, from over 300 submissions from across Asia this year. But even when Hong Kong wins it loses it seems. When it was announced that celebrated local actress Carrie Ng (City on Fire and Hong Kong Film Festival’s 2014 opening night film Aberdeen; pictured) had won the top prize at HAF for her project Angel Whispers, many visitors looked askance. To some, the idea of one of the city’s top stars winning a $HKD150,000 (around $AUS21,000) was like middle-class welfare. But the reality is that while the big money stayed local, most prizes went to a variety of other Asian countries and regions, including Taiwan (Private Eyes to be directed by Chang Jung-chi, The Solitary Pier, to be directed by Jack Shih), the Chinese mainland (Love is Speaking, to be directed by Shu Haolun) and Afghanistan (Hip Hop Kabul, a documentary to be directed by Fazila Amiri). For a market derided as a local show, where nothing of significance happens because it is situated between Berlin and Cannes, Hong Kong’s Filmart has given former naysayers reason to investigate. What once seemed a futile effort to position itself between emerging and established film industry giants is now vital. Filmart was right about its role all along. The stars (and the producers) have truly come into alignment. *The story has been edited by China Daily Asia Pacific
2014-03-31中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇與第十八屆香港國際影視展聯合推出的“亞洲電影業新世代:挑戰與機遇”專題研討會今天舉行。研討會構建了一個多元化的對話平臺,邀請了多位電影産業的專業人士到場,共同探討亞洲電影發展的戰略、趨勢、機遇以及各國之間的合作。 中國日報亞太分社社長兼總編輯周立在研討會歡迎辭中提到,當今的亞洲電影,已經不僅僅實現了商業上的成功,更演變成為亞洲的文化符號。亞洲電影的未來發展,仍然需要面對一些挑戰,比如世界電影市場中觀眾的文化品位差異,以及各個國家地區在電影審查規則制度上有所不同。他認為:“哪裏有挑戰,哪裏就有機遇。創意將為塑造未來更為活躍的電影産業做好先行軍,而我們亦期待一個‘亞洲好萊塢’的崛起。”
2014-03-27International film professionals gather at China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable to discuss the road ahead for the Asian film industry 26 Mar 2014 – Hong Kong, China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is pleased to co-organize with Hong Kong Trade & Development Council again to present a themed conference: “The Next Generation Film Industry in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities” at the 18th edition of the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FILMART) today between 10:00am and 12:00 noon in Hall 1, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable panel provides a platform for significant speakers in the movie industry from across the region to discuss the strategies, trends and opportunities for the Asian film industry as well as the cooperation between countries. Speakers include Mr. Adolfo Alix JR, Film Director, Philippines; Mr. Cheung Chi Sing, Vice Chairman, Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, HKSAR, China; Mr. Edward B. Neubronner, Senior Vice President & Regional Operations Officer, Asia Pacific, Motion Picture Association International, U.S.A.; Ms. Liz Shackleton, Asia Editor, Screen International, U.K.; Mr. Chen Bin, Senior Vice President, DMG Entertainment and Media Group, China; Mr. Kong Rithdee, Filmmaker & Film Writer, The Bangkok Post, Thailand; Mr. Joo-ick Lee, Executive Producer & CEO, Boram Entertainment Inc, Korea. As Mr. Zhou Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific said in his welcome address, Asian movies nowadays are not just a commercial success but also a powerful symbol of Asian culture. He agreed that there are challenges ahead for the Asian movie industry due to different cultural tastes, regulation and censorship diversities, but he was also convinced that “where there is a challenge, there is always an opportunity. Creativity will pave the way for an even more dynamic industry in future - an ‘Asian Hollywood’.” Regarding the business model between west and east nowadays, Ms. Liz Shackleton believed "there is a growing realization in the West that in the future it's not just a case that we are selling movies to China and Asia. The future is all about partnership and collaboration." The Korean film producer Mr. Joo-ick Lee, who is known for specializing in multi-national co-productions, considered a bright future of Asian movie industry, but pointed out that “we should focus more on how to make better quality products instead of how quickly we should proceed.” And Mr. Chen Bin suggested that the filmmakers “should be morally and ethically qualified and it is only in this way that you can make box office grade so you can go to the top of the box office earnings.” About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, Asian and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia. (http://www.cdroundtable.com)
2014-03-26Panelists share insights on prospect of AEC, infrastructure and investment At a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable on Tuesday, panelists shared their insights on the economic development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the prospect of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), infrastructure construction and mutual investment between ASEAN and China. Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia-Pacific, in his welcome speech at the roundtable, said ASEAN, which groups 600 million people, is one of the most powerful bodies in Asia. “It is no exaggeration to say that the much-awaited emergence of the ASEAN Economic Community will further strengthen this unique body, pulling together the economic threads of all 10 members while setting still loftier goals that will soon be within its grasp,” he said. At the 12th ASEAN Summit, held in Cebu, the Philippines on Jan 13, 2007, some countries suggested the creation of the AEC and set 2015 as the target for its establishment. The 10 members of AEC are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. “Today, ASEAN has the AEC blueprint that aims to narrow the development gap using collective commitment to transform ASEAN into a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy,” Zhou told the roundtable. “But sadly not all of ASEAN’s member countries were, shall I say, ‘born equal with one another’. Some suffer from disparities in such fields as socio-economic matters; some are still overcoming problems like under-privileged communities living in remote areas,” he said. To counter these deficiencies, Zhou said, what should be done is to achieve an eventual economic convergence, which means creating a level playing field for all member countries — although it might take patience to achieve the goal. Ngurah Swajaya, ambassador and permanent representative of Indonesia to ASEAN, said: “The AEC will be introduced into a world pillar (by end of 2015), but it faces three main delays. “They include slow ratification of some protocols, lack of alignment of regional initiatives, and, a lack of political commitment,” the ambassador said. However, “last year, ASEAN members agreed to re-double efforts to achieve the AEC target,” he said, adding that members would continue to work together beyond 2015. Another speaker Anthony Wu, director of the Bauhinia Foundation Research Center in Hong Kong, noted that there was a big mismatch between the people — labor and talent — and the AEC. But Wu said he hoped there could be better use of talented people to tackle the ASEAN market instead of just focusing on the US and European markets. “If they (AEC and ASEAN) could work together, as the market is seeing an increase in the middle class, this could give rise to one market, and even one Asian currency,” he said. Other speakers at the Roundtable were Roy Kuan, managing partner of Asia, CVC Capital Partners; Li Yao, CEO of China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund; Sinthya Roesly, president director of Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund; Xiao Geng, vice-president of research, Fung Global Institute; and Michael Yeoh, co-founder and CEO of Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute. joonsan@chinadailyhk.com
2014-01-15Leading panelists discuss ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)opportunities Seven panelists share their insights on AEC, business opportunities, challenges and strategic partnerships at the Asian Financial Forum - China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable co-branded workshop 14 January, 2014, Hong Kong – Major business opportunities, challenges and strategic partnerships between China and ASEAN with the upcoming AEC by the end of 2015 were highlighted and discussed at the Asian Financial Forum - China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable co-branded workshop held on Tuesday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable panel event was co-organized with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for the third year. The new Chineseleadership attaches great importance to the cooperation and development with ASEAN nations, and has proposed plans to set up an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as well as “2 plus 7 Collaborative Framework” during their state visits to ASEAN countries. Under the theme of “Strategic Opportunities with the Upcoming ASEAN Economic Community”, this forum focused on political and economic hot issues, discussing fervently the challenges and opportunities that AEC will bring to China and ASEAN nations. ASEAN nations, with a population of over 600 million, enjoy great development opportunities. However, they still suffer from disparities in such fields as socio-economic matters. To counter these deficiencies, the AEC Blueprint aims at achieving the eventual economic convergence that will create a level playing field for all member countries, said Zhou Li, the Chairman of this forum and the publisher & Editor-in-Chief, in his welcome address. We are glad to have H.E. AmbNgurahSWAJAYA, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN, Indonesia; Mr. Anthony WU, Standing Committee Member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee & Director, Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre, Hong Kong SAR, China; Mr. Roy KUAN, Managing Partner, Asia, CVC Asia Pacific Limited, Hong Kong SAR, China; Dr. LI Yao, Chief Executive Officer, China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund, China; Ms. Sinthya ROESLY, President Director, Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund, Indonesia;Dr. XIAO Geng, Vice President of Research, Fung Global Institute, Hong Kong SAR, China; Tan Sri Dr. Michael YEOH, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), Malaysia as distinguished panelists for this year. To strengthen the cooperation between China and ASEAN nations is important for addressing the problem of trade, investment and tourism imbalance, said SWAJAYA. He pointed out that the increase of ASEAN’s exports to China showed the bilateral trade still had much room to grow. In addition, he added, the ASEAN’s foreign direct investment (FDI) into China far surpassed China’s FDI into ASEAN. Furthermore, the total number of Chinese Tourists visiting ASEAN countries is less than 10%. Therefore, SWAJAYA expects the intensifying bilateral cooperative relationship will benefit the whole development of AEC. ROESLY said her own country Indonesia was an example for the intensification of infrastructure establishment to further attract foreign investors. The Vice President of Research XIAO Gengsaid at the forum that free trade played a key role in driving economic development. In Xiao’s view, free trade helps the creation of values, including the value of human capitals and infrastructure, etc. Moreover, Hong Kong, as a free trade port, will play a positive role to the development of AEC. The forum also talked about the opportunities and challenges that AEC will bring to China. On top of that, this forum covered the topic of strategic changes to business and investment environment because of AEC. Additionally, this forum offered a platform for an in-depth discussion covering numerous fields including banking, finance, insurance, infrastructure, logistics and tourism as well as about grasping business opportunities. Over 220 elites and professionals from financial, business and academic sectors participated in this top forum. About China DailyAsia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, other Asian countries and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia Pacific. (www.cdroundtable.com) PDF Download: attach/pdf/AFF14012014/Immediate%20Release_AFF%20-%20China%20Daily%20Workshop%20on%20Jan%2014.pdf
2014-01-14JUST because there is a lot of optimism over Asean's growth prospects "doesn't guarantee results", said Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Khiang. The ability of Asean to fully realise its potential depends on "maintaining regional stability, keeping markets open, taking on pro-growth policies, and strengthening our efforts at integration", he emphasised at the Asean Business Club Forum on Monday. He noted that with 2015 fast approaching, Asean countries have made steady progress in realising the Asean Economic Community, which aims to create a single market and production base across the region with minimal barriers to trade and investment. Virtually all goods in Asean already move throughout the region tariff-free, he pointed out. Stronger rules have been set up to protect investments in Asean, and more seamless customs procedures will soon become possible, thanks to harmonised Asean-wide trade facilitation initiatives.
2014-09-12"The AEC 2015 journey will not be the end of the road for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," and its member countries are now working next phase of regional trade and economic integration, according to Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry. During a speech at the ASEAN Business Club Forum on September 8 in Singapore, Lim noted that, "with 2015 fast approaching, ASEAN countries have made steady progress in realizing the ASEAN Economic Community. Virtually all goods in ASEAN already move throughout the region tariff-free." ASEAN-6 countries – comprising Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – eliminated tariffs on 99.65 percent of tariff lines, with effect from January 1, 2010, while ASEAN's newer members – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam – reduced tariffs on 98.86 percent of their tariff lines to the 0-5 percent tariff range in 2010, and are expected to eliminate tariffs on these goods by 2015, with flexibility for a few import duty lines until 2018. The focus is now, he said, on harmonizing ASEAN-wide trade facilitation initiatives, by, for example, eliminating non-tariff barriers, but that discussions were now beginning on how ASEAN should develop and deepen its economic inter-dependence further after 2015. In addition, he confirmed that "integration does not just stop at ASEAN's borders. The ongoing negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are a defining point in our endeavor towards deeper integration beyond the region." RCEP will bring ASEAN and its six current FTA partners – China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand – into a single comprehensive trade agreement, and link a third of the world's gross domestic product and 45 percent of the world's population. The RCEP, he added, "is aimed at setting open, simple, and flexible trade rules for businesses to operate easily in, in order to further integrate ASEAN into the global value chain." Furthermore, he continued, "while they may signal a shift in trade and economic gravity away from ASEAN, the ongoing negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the trilateral China-Japan-South Korea FTA, and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the United States (US) and European Union (EU), are significant regional integration efforts and offer the prospect of still larger integration with ASEAN." "Together with the TPP, the RCEP could provide a possible pathway to a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, which, if realized, would be an unprecedented boost to economic interconnectivity." In notes to his speech, it was commented that, with a market of 600m people and an average annual gross domestic product growth rate of 6 percent in the decade from 2002 to 2012, ASEAN was already the seventh largest economy in the world and the third largest in Asia in 2013, at USD2.3 trillion. A Deloitte study recently projected that five of the top 15 manufacturing locations in the world will be in ASEAN by 2018, and, by 2050, ASEAN is also projected to be the fourth-largest economy in the world (after the EU, US and China). http://www.tax-news.com/news/Singapore_Plugs_ASEAN_Trade_Integration____65778.html
2014-09-09Five prestigious accolades were presented at the 2014 Retail Asia Expo Gala Dinner held on Tuesday at the Chancellor Room, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, presented the China Daily Asia Pacific Retail Leadership Award to Hui Xian Asset Management Ltd (Beijing Oriental Plaza). The Life Time Achievement Award was awarded to Dr William Fung Kwok-lun, group chairman of Li & Fung Ltd, a Hong Kong headquartered multinational group recognized as the world’s leader in consumer goods design, development, sourcing and distribution. The Community Retailers Award was presented to Whiskers N Paws - a natural pet supplies provider; the Small Business Retailer of the Year was awarded to A Day with Poet — a men’s fashion boutique; and Industry Super Retailer of the Year was received by HKT — a premier Hong Kong telecommunications service provider. The three-day Retail Asia Expo 2014, which opened on Tuesday, is an annual trade show and conference catering to retailers in the Asia Pacific region. China Daily is also hosting a discussion panel at the Expo today (Wednesday) on “Strategies for the Next Generation of Retailing in Asia”. joonsan@chinadailyhk.com http://www.chinadailyasia.com/hknews/2014-06/11/content_15139899.html
2014-06-11Keeping up with Asia’s shoppers Consumers in Asia are increasingly knowledgeable, demanding and technologically savvy, and expect the brands they follow to meet their specific and increasingly sophisticated needs. Speaking in Hong Kong on June 11 during a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable, a group of luxury brand executives and e-commerce experts made it abundantly clear the region’s consumers cannot be treated as an afterthought or reached using strategies recycled from other markets. Brands and companies that forget this simple reality do so at their peril, experts said at the event, titled Strategies for the Next Generation of Retailing in Asia. “If you are coming into Asia, one of the things we keep telling people, is stop assuming that Asia is homogeneous,” said Edge Zarrella, clients and innovation partner at KPMG in Hong Kong. “You have to target the specific consumer that you are after.” Zarrella works with clients to develop innovative online strategies and find better ways to use the huge amounts of data that online retailing produces on the needs of customers. The roundtable was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of the third annual Omni-Channel Retailing Conference. During the conference, KPMG released a report, of which Zarrella was one of the lead authors, on the rapid growth of e-commerce in China. The global consultancy firm reached out to 10,200 luxury consumers across the country. The report found that online interactions continue to grow; social media drives more sales of luxury goods; and the most important motivation for online Chinese consumers is still the search for better deals. The market for online retailing is large enough that some companies are using it as their only outlet for goods. Among them is Glamour Sales China, a company that sells luxury goods online at lower prices. Glamour Sales was part of the KPMG survey and its CEO, Thibault Villet, participated in the roundtable. The future, he said, is bright for companies that can reach enough consumers and can put in place the physical logistics infrastructure to reach them quickly and efficiently. “Nowadays, consumers are the champions. Consumers have access to information. Consumers are looking online for information and they have multiple options to purchase,” said Villet. And that means brands have to reach out to consumers more than they ever have before, not only with innovative products but with an appealing shopping experience. “We are not only selling products or experiences but we are also storytellers,” Villet said. “We can’t just sell the product as we did before.” One approach that is increasingly popular, he said, is the use of special edition crossover products between multiple brands, or between brands and celebrities. And in the luxury product space, which is increasingly driven by online sales and online communication between the brand and the consumer, brands rely on cachet more than in just about any other sector. Discounts may not be the best way to maintain that cachet. On the contrary, said Raphael le Masne de Chermont, executive chairman of Shanghai Tang, which has positioned itself as the first Chinese luxury lifestyle brand. Innovation is certainly key to growth going forward, but that innovation has to be balanced with tradition and a certain amount of inaccessibility. “One of the most important things will be to keep up prices,” said de Chermont. “Luxury is about dreams. If you devalue the dream, there is no more dream,” he said. “Look at Rolex. Rolex is cash.” Keeping prices up is just part of the growth equation. To grow sustainably, brands have to be profitable. And in today’s market, particularly in the shopping hotspot of Hong Kong, profitability often requires careful balancing of growth and strategy between physical and online retail. Shanghai Tang uses e-commerce as another boutique, one with growing prospects. “Everything goes very fast but at least in the next five years we are going to have a very fast growth of e-commerce,” said de Chermont. “It is an interesting battle on profitability … particularly in Hong Kong.” The main challenge in Hong Kong is the cost of retail space. This is something Shanghai Tang had to contend with when it moved out of its long-time flagship store in the Pedder Building in the upscale Central district. The space was taken over by US fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch for a monthly rent of HK$10 million ($1.3 million). That price was simply unsustainable, de Chermont said. But in the challenge of moving the store, which Shanghai Tang did by April 2012 just down the street, there is also an opportunity. “That was the best lesson I have taken in my business life, losing our flagship store,” he said. “But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger … We have totally reshaped our brand.” The future, said de Chermont, will see brands focus on online retailing and a few strategically placed locations where they can make the best use of the increasingly high rents they have to pay. Keeping up with Asia’s shoppers Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief at China Daily Asia Pacific, addresses the audience. Digital boom The need for more efficient sales channels that reach out to more consumers was made clear in Hong Kong through April when retail sales fell more than 9 percent, in large part due to a drop in purchases by visitors from the Chinese mainland. “Hong Kong’s retail sector has long been one of the pillars of our city’s economy,” said Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief, China Daily Asia Pacific. He said Hong Kong’s retail sector had suffered recently, with the biggest drop recorded in luxury goods, such as jewelry and watches. “A sudden and dramatic drop in retail sales could set up a chain reaction in Hong Kong,” he added. But there is a ray of hope in the projected growth of more than 4 percent in retail sales over the next year in Hong Kong and more than 10 percent in the Chinese mainland. Much of the growth is likely to be driven by the growing popularity of online retail, said Zhou. Consumers in the mainland, particularly those that don’t have easy access to physical outlets, are particularly attracted to online shopping, he said. Companies like Alibaba or 360buy.com are reshaping the future of Chinese retailing. “A digitally powered commercial experience is now reshaping the future of Chinese retail practices and the Chinese business model could set an example for the rest of the world,” said Zhou. But innovation has to be nurtured and risks have to be addressed, such as payment risk and the potential for fraud. Another issue, especially for luxury goods, is meeting the demands of consumers. The Chinese consumer is demanding and is getting more demanding every year. Women are shopping more, and they know what they want, said Jacqlyne Li, senior regional travel retail manager at Bally GC Retail. But profits may not be immediate. “You have to be realistic on the return on investment. Some brands say, ‘we need a return on investment in a year’. Three years might be too long but a year is (too short),” said Li. But there are profits to be had and sales to be made to ever-more-savvy Chinese and Asian consumers. The trick is to reach them, not just physically but through increasingly clever online retailing strategies that target the local consumers in each and every market. http://www.chinadailyasia.com/asiaweekly/2014-06/13/content_15140717.html
2014-06-116月11日- 香港,「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」今日上午在香港會議展覽中心舉辦題為「亞洲新世代零售策略」的專題研討會,探討亞洲零售業的發展趨勢及致勝策略,重點討論了電商時代下零售業面臨的機遇和挑戰, 吸引了逾200名來自亞洲各地區零售業的高管人員參與。此論壇是在「2014亞洲零售博覽會」期間,中國日報亞太分社與「全渠道零售論壇」聯合舉辦的。 中國日報亞太分社社長兼總編輯周立先生在致歡迎辭時提到隨著阿裡巴巴、京東商城等電子商城在中國的蓬勃發展,線上購物的趨勢將變革亞洲乃至整個世界零售業的未來。 本屆研討會邀請到了魅力惠中國首席執行官韋奕博先生;畢馬威中國客戶諮詢和創新事務合夥人查瑋亮先生;上海灘行政主席雷富逸先生及巴利(Bally)區域免稅零售業務總監李瑞冰女士參與討論。 韋奕博先生認為線上交易盛行的今天,不能再用以前的方式做買賣,而要關注不同亞洲客戶和不同產品間的相關性與聯繫性。因而,分化市場、定位目標群體是零售業致勝的關鍵。 查瑋亮先生也認同零售商應改變觀念,不能再設想亞洲客戶的需求都是一樣的,而應細化市場,利用強大的電商網路資源去適應變革,滿足特定客戶的獨特需求。 雷富逸先生強調零售商在進軍一個市場時必須做到機智、靈活地選址,最重要的是不能因為市場在打價格戰就降價。“因為奢侈品是一個夢想,千萬不要去打碎這個夢想。” 雷富逸先生補充道。 李瑞冰女士則對機場購物的前景充滿信心。但與此同時,她也意識到機場購物面臨登機時間受限,網上購物替代實體店等挑戰。不過她亦期待著網購新體驗等挑戰,因為只有挑戰才會帶來不斷的進步。 擁有全球44%人口的亞洲新興市場在電子商務催生零售業變革的腳步下,不斷調整並挖掘新的商機。這也標誌著亞洲零售業已經學會適應變革,直面新時代的新挑戰。 關中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平臺,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。 (http://www.cdroundtable.com)
2014-06-1111 June 2014 – Hong Kong, China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable today held the co-branded panel with Omni-Channel Retailing Conference themed: “Strategies for the Next Generation of Retailing in Asia” at 11:20am-12:20pm in the Chancellor Room, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It also marked our cooperation for the second consecutive year with the organizer. Omni-Channel Retailing Conference is a parallel session under Retail Asia Expo, which is an annual trade show and conference that caters to retailers in the whole Asia Pacific region. Home to about 44% of the world’s population, Asia’s emerging markets boost macro trends that would delight any retailer. According to market data, 30% of the world’s retail growth through 2017 will come from Asia’s emerging markets. Growth in digital sales continues to outpace sales growth in stores that generate the new generation of retailing in recent years. This panel examined the mega trends of the retail industry in Asia that redefines the next generation retail consumers. It also identified the winning strategies for brands, channels, technology, media and key stakeholders along the industry value chain to boost potential partnership among industry players. This panel attracted over 200 CEOs, senior executives, and market leaders from the retail industry across Asia. Mr. Zhou Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific opened the session highlighting Hong Kong as a vigorous part in China’s retailing development. Mr. Zhou also welcomed distinguished speakers including Mr. Raphael le Masne de Chermont, Executive Chairman, Shanghai Tang; Mr. Edge Zarella, Clients and Innovation Partner, KPMG; Mr. Thibult Villet, CEO, Glamour Sales China; Ms. Jacqlyne Li, Senior Regional Travel Retail Manager, Bally GC Retail Co., Ltd. About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, other Asian countries and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across the Asia Pacific. (http://www.cdroundtable.com)
2014-06-11The day after Asia emerged as the largest film market outside of North America, a group of industry experts gathered in Hong Kong to discuss the future of the industry. On the agenda were issues including how a new generation of filmmakers can overcome challenges, ride the wave of growth and reach larger audiences both at home and internationally. According to numbers released by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) on March 25, box office revenues in Asia reached $35.9 billion in 2013, surpassing all other regions outside of North America. Consumer spending linked to the film industry in Asia is now the largest in the world outside North America, said Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief at China Daily Asia Pacific, at the opening of the latest China Daily Leadership Roundtable on March 26. Titled “The Next Generation Film Industry in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities”, the event brought together a group of filmmakers, producers and top-tier industry stakeholders at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event is co-organized by China Daily Asia Pacific and the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART). “Films from China, South Korea, India and many other Asian nations not only continue to appeal to local audiences but are growing in popularity around the world as well,” said Zhou. “Complex regulations and censorship can be a great hindrance for many films … But where there is a challenge there is also an opportunity.” The reality is that films from across the region are increasingly popular with audiences around the world. The Chinese mainland and South Korea are producing more films than ever before, even if the industries in places like Hong Kong and the Philippines have lost some of their luster. Outside of the United States and Canada, China had the largest market with revenues of $3.6 billion, about a third higher than a year earlier. The Chinese market was dominated by domestic films, which accounted for about 71 percent of total revenue across the 18,000-plus movie screens throughout the country, a rise of about 5,100 screens in a single year. Japan was the second-largest market, earning $2.4 billion. Other Asian markets in the top 10 included India with $1.5 billion and South Korea with $1.4 billion. “There is incredible growth from this region,” said Edward Neubronner, senior vice-president and regional operations officer for the Asia Pacific at MPAA. One of his favorite markets in the region at the moment is Malaysia, a market where filmmakers are increasingly active, new screens are opening up and production values are improving. “As the market grows, the local industry grows,” said Neubronner. The highest-grossing films around the world are still made in Hollywood, however. Asian films, for the time being, are increasingly successful as a group and in their domestic markets but are not the biggest earners individually. Asian filmmakers have some other issues to contend with, a key one being access to films. In some countries, notably Indonesia, there are very few screens compared to the size of the population, said Neubronner. More screens would invariably lead to a larger and more productive domestic film industry. A second concern is content theft, which remains quite prominent across the region. Nevertheless, an optimistic view was palpable among the speakers. But that, said one successful South Korean producer, may be a cause for concern. “When everybody becomes very optimistic ... I become a little bit worried,” said Joo-ick Lee, executive producer and CEO at Boram Entertainment in South Korea. “It reminds me of what happened 30 years ago in Japan.” Back then, a number of Japanese conglomerates were investing heavily in Hollywood. But now, said Lee, Japan’s film industry has pulled back to its domestic market. Virtually no Japanese movies now reach outside the country’s borders. On the other hand, the film industry in South Korea is making ever-increasing forays into other regional markets. In particular, South Korean filmmakers are looking to China for a much larger market with deep pockets and plenty of consumers. To ensure long-term and sustainable growth, a steady flow of high-quality products is key, said Lee. “Nobody can deny that the China market is growing. But we should focus more on how we can make high-quality products instead of how quickly we can proceed,” he said. Another market in Asia Pacific beginning to step out of the shadows is Thailand. One film last year broke box office records in the country. Pee Mak Phra Khanong, a ghost comedy, earned as much as $30 million in Thailand last year, said Kong Rithdee, a film writer at the Bangkok Post. To put this in context, the international hit Iron Man 3 earned about $10 million there. But in this industry, as in most others, not everyone comes out a winner. The film business in Hong Kong, for example, has lost out to the growth in the Chinese mainland. “The Hong Kong film industry continues to decline,” said Cheung Chi-sing, vice-chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers. Most of the major movies released in the last few years are co-productions with producers on the mainland. Less than 30 films made in Hong Kong last year were filmed locally, and they were all small productions. This trend is driven by the fact that on the mainland there are three categories of movies including domestic movies and imported movies. Films made in Hong Kong are considered imported movies and have less access to the mainland market. By contrast, coproductions and content filmed on the mainland may have greater access to screens and the market. But, warned the veteran industry players, Chinese growth involves some issues that need to be considered. For example, said Cheung, in the past couple of years, the number of screens has grown faster than the industry, which means that earnings per screen is lower and it is increasingly hard to make money as profit margins drop. At the end of the day, the question that producers need to ask themselves as they invest in films is: Where are the greatest opportunities? “There is no doubt that in the future, the Asian region will be the biggest box office market. It will surpass North America in a couple of years,” said Liz Shackleton, Asia editor at Screen International, a UK industry magazine. “But the future is about partnership and collaboration. Asia doesn’t want to be just a market. It wants to be a content producer.” http://www.chinadailyasia.com/asiaweekly/2014-03/28/content_15127758.html
2014-03-31For many years, the mission statement of Hong Kong’s Filmart was to introduce the world to China’s rising film industry. But anyone who’s ever read a framed mission statement in a corporate foyer knows, writing something down doesn’t automatically make it true. However, the Hong Kong Trade and Development Corporation and other organisations that help stage the four-day trade show have done more than wax lyrical. They’ve put years into laying the ground, and after years of what looked like empty rhetoric (and quite a bit of hard work), 2014 saw Filmart’s mission not only come true, but become an unqualified success. China produces around 700 films per year, though only about 200 of those are actually released. What foreigners hope to get out of the booming Chinese film industry is the opportunity to participate in co-productions. Unlike most foreign films, such as Hollywood hits like Titanic 3D which have to be considered by China’s strict quota system that only allows distribution for a handful of non-Chinese films, co-productions by virtue of their Chinese financing bypass the quota. Everyone wants a part of the action and hence films like Iron Man 3 where Chinese stars like Fan Bingbing are sutured into the film to merchandise Western blockbusters to Chinese audiences. The record increase of over 6,500 visitors to Filmart and the wider spread of countries staging pavilions is testimony to the rising international interest. Italy joined up last year, the Russians were the major new recruits this year and China, Japan, Korea and France increase the size of their pavilions every year. Korean film producer Lee Joo-ick knows how Filmart feels about the event’s delayed success. “Ten years ago,” when Lee began working on Chinese/Korean co-productions, “people said there was no future in it. Now they tell me I was right.” With a long list of Chinese-related features to his credit (Together, Seven Swords), Lee nevertheless warns about becoming too enthusiastic about the Chinese boom. In Korea, we liken things that heat up very quickly to an aluminium kettle. Like an aluminium kettle, the Chinese film industry heated up very quickly and it could cool down very quickly too.” Lee reminds people about the era when Japanese corporations like Sony were buying up Hollywood studios like Columbia. When Japan’s bubble economy burst, it unravelled very quickly. Lee’s ultimate warning when it comes to film producing is that unless, the Chinese film industry and those who foreigners who wish to capitalise on it, are mindful of quality, an audience – local and international – will turn their back on it, no matter what the volume is. For Hong Kongers, the boom of China’s film industry is a double-edged sword. Vice Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Film-makers, Cheung Chi-sing, points out that on the one hand, stars and technicians nurtured by Hong Kong’s film industry have increased revenue and work opportunities since the local industry took a pre-Handover nosedive in the early 1990s. The problem with the Hong Kong to mainland braindrain is that the local industry is losing its independence both culturally and politically. (Parallels with Australia and the US are worth noting.) “Because of the difficulty of financing films in Hong Kong without Mainland Chinese money, less than 20 percent of films are locally funded.” Cheung says. “On the whole, I don’t like to talk about Hong Kong’s film industry. It’s too depressing.” Cheung also points out that the oft-quoted statistic about 10 movie screens being constructed in China every two days may also be overly optimistic. “It fails to take into account the fact that China’s box office growth is not keeping pace with the building of screens. In other words, the more screens being built in China, the more likely it is that the profits will decrease not increase.” Cheung believes that when other factors came into play – such as real estate value and competition from other entertainment platforms – as well as general maintenance costs, that if China’s film industry hits an unforeseen slump, the whole industry could be in for a shock. Chen Bin, Vice President of china production company, DMG Entertainment is however, unrepentantly upbeat. He believes that even if there is brief slump in China box office, cinemas will not disappear and that any production slump would be filled by the 500 odd Mainland films that currently do not receive a commercial release in China. Statistically, it seems inevitable that China will increasingly dominate international movie screens one day, but the Chinese need to nurture their own industry for international – not just Mandarin speaking – audiences. While Chen celebrated the references to acupuncture in Iron Man 3, the film is still essentially American and won’t do anything to cause a spike in feng shui classes in Nebraska. If the Chinese film industry is not careful, stars like Fan Bingbing getting cameos will remain second banana while Hollywood stars will stay the main attraction. Hong Kongers do more than passively take a cut as money change hands at Filmart. One of Filmart’s major sidebars is the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Fund, generally known as HAF. The competition had 23 projects in contention, from over 300 submissions from across Asia this year. But even when Hong Kong wins it loses it seems. When it was announced that celebrated local actress Carrie Ng (City on Fire and Hong Kong Film Festival’s 2014 opening night film Aberdeen; pictured) had won the top prize at HAF for her project Angel Whispers, many visitors looked askance. To some, the idea of one of the city’s top stars winning a $HKD150,000 (around $AUS21,000) was like middle-class welfare. But the reality is that while the big money stayed local, most prizes went to a variety of other Asian countries and regions, including Taiwan (Private Eyes to be directed by Chang Jung-chi, The Solitary Pier, to be directed by Jack Shih), the Chinese mainland (Love is Speaking, to be directed by Shu Haolun) and Afghanistan (Hip Hop Kabul, a documentary to be directed by Fazila Amiri). For a market derided as a local show, where nothing of significance happens because it is situated between Berlin and Cannes, Hong Kong’s Filmart has given former naysayers reason to investigate. What once seemed a futile effort to position itself between emerging and established film industry giants is now vital. Filmart was right about its role all along. The stars (and the producers) have truly come into alignment. *The story has been edited by China Daily Asia Pacific
2014-03-31中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇與第十八屆香港國際影視展聯合推出的“亞洲電影業新世代:挑戰與機遇”專題研討會今天舉行。研討會構建了一個多元化的對話平臺,邀請了多位電影産業的專業人士到場,共同探討亞洲電影發展的戰略、趨勢、機遇以及各國之間的合作。 中國日報亞太分社社長兼總編輯周立在研討會歡迎辭中提到,當今的亞洲電影,已經不僅僅實現了商業上的成功,更演變成為亞洲的文化符號。亞洲電影的未來發展,仍然需要面對一些挑戰,比如世界電影市場中觀眾的文化品位差異,以及各個國家地區在電影審查規則制度上有所不同。他認為:“哪裏有挑戰,哪裏就有機遇。創意將為塑造未來更為活躍的電影産業做好先行軍,而我們亦期待一個‘亞洲好萊塢’的崛起。”
2014-03-27International film professionals gather at China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable to discuss the road ahead for the Asian film industry 26 Mar 2014 – Hong Kong, China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is pleased to co-organize with Hong Kong Trade & Development Council again to present a themed conference: “The Next Generation Film Industry in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities” at the 18th edition of the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FILMART) today between 10:00am and 12:00 noon in Hall 1, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable panel provides a platform for significant speakers in the movie industry from across the region to discuss the strategies, trends and opportunities for the Asian film industry as well as the cooperation between countries. Speakers include Mr. Adolfo Alix JR, Film Director, Philippines; Mr. Cheung Chi Sing, Vice Chairman, Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, HKSAR, China; Mr. Edward B. Neubronner, Senior Vice President & Regional Operations Officer, Asia Pacific, Motion Picture Association International, U.S.A.; Ms. Liz Shackleton, Asia Editor, Screen International, U.K.; Mr. Chen Bin, Senior Vice President, DMG Entertainment and Media Group, China; Mr. Kong Rithdee, Filmmaker & Film Writer, The Bangkok Post, Thailand; Mr. Joo-ick Lee, Executive Producer & CEO, Boram Entertainment Inc, Korea. As Mr. Zhou Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific said in his welcome address, Asian movies nowadays are not just a commercial success but also a powerful symbol of Asian culture. He agreed that there are challenges ahead for the Asian movie industry due to different cultural tastes, regulation and censorship diversities, but he was also convinced that “where there is a challenge, there is always an opportunity. Creativity will pave the way for an even more dynamic industry in future - an ‘Asian Hollywood’.” Regarding the business model between west and east nowadays, Ms. Liz Shackleton believed "there is a growing realization in the West that in the future it's not just a case that we are selling movies to China and Asia. The future is all about partnership and collaboration." The Korean film producer Mr. Joo-ick Lee, who is known for specializing in multi-national co-productions, considered a bright future of Asian movie industry, but pointed out that “we should focus more on how to make better quality products instead of how quickly we should proceed.” And Mr. Chen Bin suggested that the filmmakers “should be morally and ethically qualified and it is only in this way that you can make box office grade so you can go to the top of the box office earnings.” About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, Asian and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia. (http://www.cdroundtable.com)
2014-03-26Panelists share insights on prospect of AEC, infrastructure and investment At a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable on Tuesday, panelists shared their insights on the economic development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the prospect of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), infrastructure construction and mutual investment between ASEAN and China. Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia-Pacific, in his welcome speech at the roundtable, said ASEAN, which groups 600 million people, is one of the most powerful bodies in Asia. “It is no exaggeration to say that the much-awaited emergence of the ASEAN Economic Community will further strengthen this unique body, pulling together the economic threads of all 10 members while setting still loftier goals that will soon be within its grasp,” he said. At the 12th ASEAN Summit, held in Cebu, the Philippines on Jan 13, 2007, some countries suggested the creation of the AEC and set 2015 as the target for its establishment. The 10 members of AEC are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. “Today, ASEAN has the AEC blueprint that aims to narrow the development gap using collective commitment to transform ASEAN into a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy,” Zhou told the roundtable. “But sadly not all of ASEAN’s member countries were, shall I say, ‘born equal with one another’. Some suffer from disparities in such fields as socio-economic matters; some are still overcoming problems like under-privileged communities living in remote areas,” he said. To counter these deficiencies, Zhou said, what should be done is to achieve an eventual economic convergence, which means creating a level playing field for all member countries — although it might take patience to achieve the goal. Ngurah Swajaya, ambassador and permanent representative of Indonesia to ASEAN, said: “The AEC will be introduced into a world pillar (by end of 2015), but it faces three main delays. “They include slow ratification of some protocols, lack of alignment of regional initiatives, and, a lack of political commitment,” the ambassador said. However, “last year, ASEAN members agreed to re-double efforts to achieve the AEC target,” he said, adding that members would continue to work together beyond 2015. Another speaker Anthony Wu, director of the Bauhinia Foundation Research Center in Hong Kong, noted that there was a big mismatch between the people — labor and talent — and the AEC. But Wu said he hoped there could be better use of talented people to tackle the ASEAN market instead of just focusing on the US and European markets. “If they (AEC and ASEAN) could work together, as the market is seeing an increase in the middle class, this could give rise to one market, and even one Asian currency,” he said. Other speakers at the Roundtable were Roy Kuan, managing partner of Asia, CVC Capital Partners; Li Yao, CEO of China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund; Sinthya Roesly, president director of Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund; Xiao Geng, vice-president of research, Fung Global Institute; and Michael Yeoh, co-founder and CEO of Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute. joonsan@chinadailyhk.com
2014-01-15Leading panelists discuss ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)opportunities Seven panelists share their insights on AEC, business opportunities, challenges and strategic partnerships at the Asian Financial Forum - China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable co-branded workshop 14 January, 2014, Hong Kong – Major business opportunities, challenges and strategic partnerships between China and ASEAN with the upcoming AEC by the end of 2015 were highlighted and discussed at the Asian Financial Forum - China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable co-branded workshop held on Tuesday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable panel event was co-organized with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for the third year. The new Chineseleadership attaches great importance to the cooperation and development with ASEAN nations, and has proposed plans to set up an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as well as “2 plus 7 Collaborative Framework” during their state visits to ASEAN countries. Under the theme of “Strategic Opportunities with the Upcoming ASEAN Economic Community”, this forum focused on political and economic hot issues, discussing fervently the challenges and opportunities that AEC will bring to China and ASEAN nations. ASEAN nations, with a population of over 600 million, enjoy great development opportunities. However, they still suffer from disparities in such fields as socio-economic matters. To counter these deficiencies, the AEC Blueprint aims at achieving the eventual economic convergence that will create a level playing field for all member countries, said Zhou Li, the Chairman of this forum and the publisher & Editor-in-Chief, in his welcome address. We are glad to have H.E. AmbNgurahSWAJAYA, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN, Indonesia; Mr. Anthony WU, Standing Committee Member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee & Director, Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre, Hong Kong SAR, China; Mr. Roy KUAN, Managing Partner, Asia, CVC Asia Pacific Limited, Hong Kong SAR, China; Dr. LI Yao, Chief Executive Officer, China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund, China; Ms. Sinthya ROESLY, President Director, Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund, Indonesia;Dr. XIAO Geng, Vice President of Research, Fung Global Institute, Hong Kong SAR, China; Tan Sri Dr. Michael YEOH, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), Malaysia as distinguished panelists for this year. To strengthen the cooperation between China and ASEAN nations is important for addressing the problem of trade, investment and tourism imbalance, said SWAJAYA. He pointed out that the increase of ASEAN’s exports to China showed the bilateral trade still had much room to grow. In addition, he added, the ASEAN’s foreign direct investment (FDI) into China far surpassed China’s FDI into ASEAN. Furthermore, the total number of Chinese Tourists visiting ASEAN countries is less than 10%. Therefore, SWAJAYA expects the intensifying bilateral cooperative relationship will benefit the whole development of AEC. ROESLY said her own country Indonesia was an example for the intensification of infrastructure establishment to further attract foreign investors. The Vice President of Research XIAO Gengsaid at the forum that free trade played a key role in driving economic development. In Xiao’s view, free trade helps the creation of values, including the value of human capitals and infrastructure, etc. Moreover, Hong Kong, as a free trade port, will play a positive role to the development of AEC. The forum also talked about the opportunities and challenges that AEC will bring to China. On top of that, this forum covered the topic of strategic changes to business and investment environment because of AEC. Additionally, this forum offered a platform for an in-depth discussion covering numerous fields including banking, finance, insurance, infrastructure, logistics and tourism as well as about grasping business opportunities. Over 220 elites and professionals from financial, business and academic sectors participated in this top forum. About China DailyAsia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, other Asian countries and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia Pacific. (www.cdroundtable.com) PDF Download: attach/pdf/AFF14012014/Immediate%20Release_AFF%20-%20China%20Daily%20Workshop%20on%20Jan%2014.pdf
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