Asia Street
Know the Street. Know the people. Know Asia.
Welcome to BGA’s Asia Street blog, where you’ll find commentary and analysis from our people on the ground.
Introductory letter from CEO and President Ernie Bower
Welcome letter
In depth Covid-19 anlaysis.
C-19 Analysis
Spotlighting ideas from the company’s top minds on key developments.
Big Ideas
Featured interviews and articles from the BGA team.
BGA in the News
What to Watch in India’s 2022 State Elections
January 25, 2022
BGA’s India team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote a piece on India’s upcoming state elections. The update addressed the context for the development and implications for clients…
What Lies Ahead in the Indo-Pacific Finance Sector in 2022
January 20, 2022
BGA’s Finance Team, led by Senior Director Chi-Jia Tschang, released the first 2022 iteration of the company’s sector calendar to clients January 20. BGA’s sector calendars contain a carefully curated list of upcoming signposts critical for company planning throughout 2022…
India’s New Pandemic Surge Sparks Restrictions
January 12, 2022
BGA’s India team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote a piece on the new wave of COVID-19 cases brought on by the omicron variant…
2022 Indo-Pacific Health Calendar Kicks Off Amid Covid-19 Uncertainty
January 11, 2022
BGA’s Health Care Team, led by Senior Director Tiffany Ma, released the January iteration of the company’s sector calendar to clients on January 11. BGA’s sector calendars contain a carefully curated list…
Omicron Indo-Pacific Surge Sparks New Fears
January 6, 2022
BGA’s teams across the Indo-Pacific provided ground input for the latest iteration of BGA’s COVID-19 Indo-Pacific series. The update, released January 6, included insights on the impact of the omicron variant surge and implications for companies…
India’s Shifting Farm Protest Dynamics Belie More Complex Realities
December 17, 2021
BGA’s India team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote a piece on the suspension of India’s farmer protests. The update addressed the more complex realities…
BGA Quad Views: Emerging Technologies in the Spotlight with New Dialogue
December 3, 2021
BGA’s teams from the Australia, India, Japan and the United States wrote a cross-border update on perspectives regarding emerging technologies from the countries that make up the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue…
Modi Reinforces India’s Commitments at G-20 and COP26 Summits
November 4, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote an update to clients on the India’s engagements…
What the 2021 APEC Summit Achieved
November 14, 2021
Ambassador C. Lawrence Greenwood wrote an update to clients on the accomplishments of the latest round of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) meetings. The update addressed the context…
China’s Climate Challenge Offers Green Opportunities for Companies
November 4, 2021
The BGA China team wrote an update for clients on the mix of opportunities and challenges in China’s climate space. The update explored the impact of climate change…
Japan’s Kishida Faces Further Tests Ahead After LDP Election Victory
November 1, 2021
The BGA Japan team, led by Managing Director Kiyoaki Aburaki, wrote an update to clients on Japan’s latest election. The update addressed what poll results meant for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida…
Indian Finance Minister’s US Tour Highlights Investment Opportunities
October 20, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote an update to clients on the Indian finance minister’s recent trip to the United States. The update examined the context…
Cambodia’s New Law Spotlights Sectoral Areas to Watch for Business
October 18, 2021
The BGA Cambodia Team, led by Managing Director Bora Chhay and Advisor Sophea Ros, wrote an update for clients on the new law on public-private partnerships…
What Australia’s Evolving Tech Landscape Means for Companies
October 14, 2021
BGA’s Australia team, led by Managing Director Fergus Hanson, wrote a client update on Australia’s evolving tech policy landscape…
Taiwan’s President Reinforces Unity and Self-Determination Message in National Day Address
October 12, 2021
BGA’s Taiwan team, led by Rupert Hammond-Chambers, penned an update to clients on Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s National Day address. The update examined some of the key points…
Why the New Hong Kong Chief Executive Policy Address Matters
October 7, 2021
BGA Senior Director Chi-Jia Tschang wrote an update to clients on the new policy address by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam. The update examined the context for the development…
New Data Protection Act Could Reshape Bangladesh Business Landscape
September 30, 2021
BGA Bangladesh Country Director K.M. Imran Al-Amin wrote an update to clients on reports regarding the country’s new data protection act. The update examined the context…
What Japan’s New Prime Minister Means for Business
September 29, 2021
Fumio Kishida won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election on September 29. He will be chosen by the Diet on October 4 to be Japan’s 100th prime minister…
China’s Expanding Regulatory Crackdown
September 26, 2021
China has been experiencing a regulatory crackdown in the past few months that stretches to almost every sector. At least 14 crackdowns are underway on business sectors and individuals as of September…
Why India’s Expanding PLI Schemes Matter
September 21, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote an update to clients on India’s expanding Production Linked Initiative (PLI) scheme. The update examined the context for the development, its significance as well as implications for businesses…
New Trilateral Indo-Pacific Security Partnership Takes Shape with AUKUS Announcement
September 17, 2021
BGA’s Australia team, led by Managing Director Fergus Hanson, wrote an update to clients on the newly announced…
New US-India Clean Energy Finance Initiative in Spotlight
September 15, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote an update to clients on U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry’s recent visit to India. The update addressed the context behind the trip, the subjects of discussions between the two sides and potential implications for companies…
Why the China-Cambodia Trade Pact Matters
September 13, 2021
The BGA Cambodia Team, led by Managing Director Bora Chhay and Advisor Sophea Ros, wrote an update for clients on the legislative approval of the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement. The update addressed the background to the pact, its significance and the implications for clients…
India Charts V-Shaped Recovery Despite Second Covid-19 Wave
September 10, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote an update to clients on India’s evolving economic prospects. The update examined the context for the development…
Tensions Escalate Between Myanmar’s Shadow Government and Ruling Military Junta
September 8, 2021
BGA’s Myanmar team wrote an update to clients on the continued tug of war between the ruling military junta government and the parallel National Unity Government that continues to take shape…
Covid-19’s Impact on Political Stability in the Indo-Pacific
September 6, 2021
It is not only people who are at risk of perishing due to Covid-19; governments across the Indo-Pacific are under threat as well. Constituents’ perceptions of how their government has managed Covid-19 will either lift or sink many administrations between now and the end of 2022. The near-term impact of this phenomenon will bend the curve of political risk and disruption around the region…
What Does Malaysia’s New Prime Minister Mean for the Country’s Future?
September 3, 2021
The BGA Japan team, led by Managing Director Kiyoaki Aburaki, penned a client update following the announcement by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that he would not run for his party’s next election. The update examined the context for his decision…
Taiwan’s Coming Digital Regulatory Regime
September 1, 2021
The BGA Taiwan team, led by Managing Director Rupert Hammond-Chambers, wrote a recent client update on some forthcoming developments in Taiwan’s digital domain. The update addressed some of the upcoming issues for businesses and policymakers to watch in Taiwan’s coming digital regulatory regime…
What Does Malaysia’s New Prime Minister Mean for the Country’s Future?
August 21, 2021
The BGA Malaysia team, led by Managing Director Hazree Mohd Turee, penned a client update on the naming of Ismail Sabri Yaakob as Malaysia’s new prime minister which took place August 20. The update examined the background behind the leadership change and the return to power of the United Malay National Organization…
When Will Japan’s Next Election Be Held?
August 19, 2021
The BGA Japan team, led by Managing Director Kiyoaki Aburaki, wrote an update to clients on the timing of Japan’s next election. The update addressed how the timing of polls hangs in the balance as the ruling party, led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, confronts rising criticism amid a pandemic surge…
Why Cambodia’s New Investment Law Matters
August 17, 2021
The BGA Cambodia team, led by Bora Chhay, wrote an update to clients on Cambodia’s new investment law. The update addressed the background behind the new law and its potential implications….
India’s First Data Privacy Law Confronts Further Delay
August 6, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, wrote an update to clients on the delay confronting India’s first data privacy law. The update examined the context for the development, its significance as well as implications for businesses…
Tense China-US Talks Reveal Challenge of Kickstarting Cooperation
August 3, 2021
The BGA China team wrote an update for clients on the first vice-ministerial U.S.-China diplomatic engagement since President Joe Biden took office, which took place last month in Tianjin. The update spotlighted…
What to Watch in South Asia: Geopolitical Outlook and Business Implications
July 29, 2021
BowerGroupAsia participated in a July 27 discussion with the U.S.-India Business Council and U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council on what businesses should watch in South Asia…
Nepal’s Politics Enters a New Chapter
July 20, 2021
BGA Senior Advisor Sujeev Shakya wrote an update to clients regarding the recent political developments in Nepal. The update addressed changes involving the newly appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, the country’s broader domestic and foreign policy environment and the implications for companies…
Sri Lanka’s Rising Economic Woes
July 14, 2021
BGA Senior Advisor Chullante Jayasuriya wrote an update to clients on the recent economic situation in Sri Lanka. The update addressed some of the key challenges facing the country as the economy approaches a crisis level and some signposts for clients and other interested stakeholders to watch…
Australia Navigates Lingering Pandemic Challenges
July 12, 2021
BGA’s Australia team, led by Managing Director Fergus Hanson, wrote an update to clients on recent political, economic and business developments in Australia. The update addressed the ongoing pandemic and the implications for the current government and businesses…
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Confronts Deepening Leadership Challenge
July 9, 2021
BGA’s Malaysia team led by Managing Director Hazree Mohd Turee, wrote an update to clients on recent political developments in Malaysia. The update addressed the withdrawal of support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from Malaysia’s biggest political party…
Why India’s New Cabinet Reshuffle Matters
July 8, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, recently wrote an update to clients on India’s latest cabinet reshuffle. The update addressed some of the key changes as well as the potential implications for clients and other relevant stakeholders…
Why Bangladesh’s New Budget Matters
July 2, 2021
BGA’s Bangladesh team wrote an update to clients on the country’s new budget approved on June 29. The update addressed the context for the budget as well as potential consequences for companies and other relevant stakeholders…
Myanmar’s Post-Coup Foreign Relations Outlook
June 29, 2021
BGA’s Myanmar team wrote an update to clients on the country’s evolving approach to the world following the February coup. The update addressed various aspects including changes in foreign relations, international economic policy and the implications for companies…
What China’s new Anti-Sanctions Law Could Mean for Companies
June 22, 2021
BGA’s China team wrote an update to clients on China’s new anti-sanctions law passed on June 10. The update addressed the significance of the development as well as its potential implications for foreign companies…
New Australia Deputy Prime Minister Spotlights Mounting Climate Tensions
June 21, 2021
BGA’s Australia team, led by Managing Director Fergus Hanson, wrote an update to clients on the election of the outspoken Barnaby Joyce as the leader of the National Party of Australia, Australia’s junior coalition government partner under current Prime Minister…
New APEC Trade Meetings Signal Future Multilateral Priorities
June 17, 2021
BGA Senior Advisor Ambassador Larry Greenwood recently wrote an update to clients on APEC and the multilateral trade agenda. The update included insights gleaned from officials and other stakeholders following meetings by senior officials in May and June…
Semiconductors, Supply Chains and Techno-Nationalism
June 15, 2021
BGA Senior Advisor Alex Capri released a report on actions the United States is taking to revitalize its semiconductor industry. The report, published with the Hinrich Foundation, looks at a series of measures Washington is considering in the context of the broader conversation on supply chains and techno-nationalism, leveraging Capri’s over three decades…
India’s Post Pandemic Priorities: Geopolitical and Economic Outlook
June 9, 2021
On June 7, BGA hosted a virtual briefing featuring BGA India Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava and Advisor Pramit Pal Chaudhuri. The briefing, which took place on June 7, addressed both the ongoing Covid-19 situation in India as well as…
Indonesia’s Covid-19 Vaccination Race
June 7, 2021
BGA Indonesia Deputy Managing Director Alisha Sulisto published a paper on Indonesia’s ongoing Covid-19 vaccine rollout. The publication, which was released by the Perth USAsia Center, detailed Jakarta’s efforts to inoculate its population amid the wider regional context of the pandemic and other domestic priorities it has…
The Future of Malaysia’s Politics and Economic Recovery
June 3, 2021
On June 1, BGA held a virtual briefing featuring BGA Malaysia Managing Director Hazree Mohd Turee. The discussion, which took place on June 1, was focused on the future of Malaysia’s politics and the direction of its economic recovery…
Australia-New Zealand Summit Meeting Spotlights Canberra’s Business and Economic Outlook
June 1, 2021
BGA’s Australia team, led by Managing Director Fergus Hanson, wrote an update to clients on developments in Australia’s economic and business outlook…
US and India Should Expand the Quad to Drive Public-Private Partnership
May 25, 2021
BGA President and CEO Ernie Bower and BGA India Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava wrote an op-ed on how the United States and India can leverage the Quad for public-private partnership. The piece was published in Hindustan Times on May 25…
What the US-South Korea White House Summit Could Mean for Business
May 13, 2021
BGA’s South Korea team, led by Managing Director B.J. Kim, wrote an update to clients previewing the upcoming U.S.-South Korea White House summit meeting. The update explored the potential agenda items as well as some of the economic and business implications…
China’s Ambivalence About the Myanmar Coup
May 10, 2021
BGA Head of Research Murray Hiebert wrote a piece for 9DASHLINE regarding China’s view of the February Myanmar coup that continues to raise questions about the country’s future. The article, which was published on May 7, addressed Beijing’s interests in the country…
Australia’s Upcoming Budget to Bring Business Benefits Amid Looming Polls
May 4, 2021
BGA’s Australia team, led by Managing Director Fergus Hanson, wrote an update to clients on the Australian government’s upcoming budget. The update addressed the potential measures that could be announced and the implications for companies…
India’s New State Election Outcomes Spotlight Business Opportunities
May 2, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, recently wrote an update to clients on the results of recent state elections held in India. The polls held significance not just for the states where they took place…
What Singapore’s New Cabinet Reshuffle Means
April 27, 2021
BGA Singapore Senior Director Nydia Ngiow wrote an update to clients on the country’s cabinet reshuffle on April 23. The update explored the significance of the reshuffle and its implications for the evolution of Singapore’s politics and economic development.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled his new Cabinet line-up on April 23…
Why Australia’s Strengthened Cybersecurity Measures Matter
April 23, 2021
BGA’s Australia team, led by Managing Director Fergus Hanson, wrote an update to clients on the recent series of cybersecurity measures adopted by the government. The update addressed the impact of the measures as well as what they could mean for companies and other stakeholders…
U.S.-Japan Alliance Gets a Boost with Suga-Biden Summit
April 20, 2021
BGA Japan Managing Director Kiyoaki Aburaki wrote an update to clients on visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to the United States from April 15 to 17. The update explored the significance of Suga’s White House meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden…
What Lies Ahead for India Amid its Massive New Covid Wave?
April 19, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, recently wrote an update to clients on the implications of India’s new wave of Covid-19 cases. While the exact economic and political consequences…
What Australia’s Energy Policies Mean for Business
April 12, 2021
BGA Australia Deputy Managing Director Michael McNeill wrote an update to clients on what the energy policies of the government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison mean for business. The update delved into Australia’s approach to energy and climate issue, some of the key areas of focus for Morrison’s government and key upcoming developments for companies to watch…
Bangladesh Post-Golden Jubilee Outlook Clouded by New Covid-19 Outbreak
April 9, 2021
The BGA Bangladesh team led by Country Director Imran Al-Amin wrote an update to clients about Bangladesh’s political and economic outlook after the country commemorated its 50th anniversary since independence and the birth centenary of the father of the nation…
What Does Cambodia’s New Covid-19 Decree Mean?
April 6, 2021
The BGA Cambodia Team, led by Managing Director Bora Chhay, recently wrote an update to clients about the implications of Cambodia’s Covid-19 subdecree. The subdecree…
India’s Historic Technology Hub Opportunity
April 4, 2021
BGA senior advisor Alex Capri published a recent report exploring India’s opportunity to position itself as a 21st century technology hub. The report was released on March 31 by the Hinrich Foundation, an organization that seeks to advance sustainable global trade…
Navigating Global Supply Chain Shifts: Implications for the Philippines
March 30, 2021
The following is an edited version of written remarks delivered by BGA President and CEO Ernie Bower to a virtual roundtable organized by the Stratbase-ADR Institute entitled…
Advancing India-US Defense Relations in the Biden Era
March 28, 2021
The BGA India Team, led by Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava, recently wrote an update to clients about the implications of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to India. The visit, which occurred from March 19-21, came shortly after the first summit of the…
The Paradox of Australia-PNG Relations
March 25, 2021
In the wake of a spike in Covid-19 cases in Papua New Guinea in March, BGA Senior Adviser Ian Kemish wrote a recent commentary reflecting on what he equated to “a dam” that “has been breached” what it says about Australia’s relations with PNG…
Sri Lanka’s Path to Post-Pandemic Recovery
March 21, 2021
BGA Sri Lanka Senior Advisor Chullante Jayasuriya recently wrote a forecast for the country for clients looking ahead to the rest of 2021. The forecast, published March 21, focused on the manifold challenges the country faces domestically, including in addressing the current coronavirus pandemic, as well as its future prospects…
Thailand’s Murky Political and Economic Failure
March 17, 2021
As part of BGA’s analysis of developments on the ground in Thailand, the BGA Thailand team headed by Managing Director Art Siripant outlined the contours of the current political and economic situation in the country for clients earlier this month. The analysis, following a recent court order on previous street protests that rocked the country in 2013 and 2014…
What Myanmar’s Post-Coup Future Means for Companies
March 10, 2021
Amid the escalation of violence in Myanmar’s post-coup future, BGA Myanmar’s team, led by Acting Managing Director Judy Ko, has been closely monitoring what the unfolding events mean for the country as well as the implications for companies. While…
US Chip Supply Challenge is a Case for Strong Taiwan Ties
March 5, 2021
BGA Taiwan Managing Director Rupert Hammond-Chambers wrote a recent commentary in The Wall Street Journal on the computer chip supply issue experienced by American auto makers and how the challenge is a case for stronger ties with Taiwan…
February 25, 2021
In a press conference on February 25, the Indian government announced the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. The rules represent the latest effort by the government to regulate…
How Myanmar’s Civil Disobedience Movement Matters
February 16, 2021
Since a military coup was staged on February 1, BGA’s Myanmar team, led by Acting Managing Director Judo Ko, has been closely monitoring the situation and updating our clients. One consistent theme in our updates has been the focus on the domestic opposition in Myanmar, which bears careful watching in terms of how it affects the military’s actions…
The Significance of India’s New Budget
February 5, 2021
As part of BGA’s analysis of political economic developments on the ground from India, BGA India Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava outlined the contours of the country’s new budget presented to the Parliament by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 for clients earlier this month. The budget is one of the key economic developments watched by observers with regard to the world’s fifth-largest economy…
Reinforcing the Pillars of the U.S.-Thailand Alliance
January 19, 2021
BGA Senior Director Desmond Walton recently participated in a January 19 event on understanding Thailand’s protest movement. The event, hosted by the think tank U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), featured a range of perspectives on the dynamics underlying the protests that have been rocking the Southeast Asian state and how the U.S. government…
Unlocking the Potential of India’s Space Sector
December 16, 2020
On December 15, BGA Managing Director India Ratan Shrivastava (pictured on the bottom right of the screenshot) participated in a discussion on unlocking India’s potential in the space sector. The conversation, hosted by one of India’s largest broadcasting organizations, featured a conversation…
Southeast Asia’s Post-Covid Future
November 17, 2020
On November 16, 2020, BGA Indonesia Deputy Managing Director Alisha Sulisto (pictured on the boom center of the screenshot) participated in a virtual conference with the Perth USAsia Centre think tank known as the Western Australia-ASEAN Trade and Investment Dialogue…
“Out of the Shadows: Cybersecurity in Australia and the Indo-Pacific”
October 26, 2020
Last month, BGA Singapore Managing Director James Carouso – previously a senior advisor at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and deputy chief of mission and chargé d’ affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Australia – participated in an Australian Chamber event featuring a video conference with Minister for Defense Linda Reynolds. The event delved into the cyber challenge for Australia and how the…
“The Philippines’ Quest for South China Sea Justice in Perspective.“
September 16, 2020
On September 16, BGA co-hosted a virtual event with the Stratbase Albert Del Rosario Institute (ADRi), an independent international and strategic research organization, on China’s role in Southeast Asia tied to the launch of a new book on the subject by Head of Research Murray Hiebert. The event…
