An important lesson from the Covid-19 pandemic is that trade needs to be balanced between economic gains and the environmental and social needs. Disruptions in global supply chains due to the pandemic have exposed economic vulnerabilities, and these vulnerabilities are further worsened by poor environmental resource management and lack of proper safeguards for workers on the domestic front. Economic gains should therefore not be the sole purpose of trade.
In turn, economic gains from trade do not reflect the readiness of countries for sustainable trade. A good example is Vietnam. Having captured the gains of supply chain diversification, Vietnam, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is poised to mark more growth post-pandemic than any other major Southeast Asian nation. Despite the positive economic outlook for Vietnam, the recent 2020 Sustainable Trade Index (STI) revealed that Vietnam has regressed on the environmental and social pillars relative to the other economies.
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MAKING THE RIGHT PIVOT TO ADAPT TO CHANGING TIMES
The arrival of the pandemic has disrupted industries both globally and nationwide. Much like its peers, the property industry was left to face an unprecedented number of shifts and along with the shifts, came the impact as well.
THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2020
In an unprecedented year, businesses faced both struggles and opportunities in the midst of a pandemic. With more focus on digitalisation, the business community have found themselves in a shift that is changing the way Malaysian consumers behave with technology, requiring a more seamless and effective experience.
OFFERING USERS A SMOOTHER DRIVE
As a car enthusiast, Gim Teck Yew is constantly looking into changing and with newer models entering the market more often, he found selling his old cars a hassle.
MAKING THE SUSTAINABLE CHOICE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Sustainability has been at the forefront of business discussions in recent years, making it an unavoidable topic that every business needs to be aware of as we preserve our world for future generations in everything we do for our people, planet and community.
LEVERAGE INTERNET PENETRATION TO EXPAND E-COMMERCE MARKET
Sofea Azahar is Research Analyst at EMIR Research, a think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
EXIM BANK CONTINUES TO BE PREFERRED TRADE FINANCIER FOR GLOBAL BUSINESSES
Despite the challenging Covid-19 situation and decline in oil prices, Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank) continues to be the preferred trade financier and advisor of global businesses, as it finds ways to lend its support to Malaysian businesses by financing their cross-border projects.
DRIVING DIGITAL RECOVERY THROUGH SMES
BusinessToday speaks to Facebook Malaysia’s Country Director, Nicole Tan on the importance of SMEs leveraging digital tools to expand their offerings and why platforms like Facebook hold the responsibility in helping the community
E-PEDAGOGY: STIMULATING THE PHYSICAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE USING EDTECH
Schools across the Asia Pacific were caught off guard and unprepared when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
A RAY OF LIGHT IN 2021...?
No one would have thought that the economy this year is going to be in recession although I have been toying with such an idea since 2018. Back then, the yield curve inversion in the US Treasury markets really caught my attention.
Mental Health And The Effects On The Economy
Jamari Mohtar and Tam Mei Si are part of the research team of EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
Sewing Hope
It wasn’t in my power to mend a broken heart, but I sent needle and thread, with chocolates for good measure
BANJO MAN
This Marine veteran was tormented by memories of the Vietnam War. Learn how music was his salvation
MANH HUYNH
At the intersection of traditional Japanese tattooing and your favorite childhood cartoons, you’ll find artist Manh Hunyn. Born and raised in Vietnam, Hunyn developed a passion for continuing the legacy of Japanese tattooing but with his own unique flair. By incorporating beloved cartoon characters into traditional motifs, Hunyn has taken the centuries-old art into a new frontier. In Hunyn’s universe, Tom of “Tom and Jerry” has ditched the self-destructive cycle of humiliation at the hands of a mischievous mouse for an irezumi bodysuit and a life spent shooting hoops. Through the combination of his fertile imagination and impeccable skill, anything is possible in Hunyn’s world.
MADE IN AMERICA
Bringing manufacturing back from overseas sounds great, but it's not easy
Walking in Wenatchee
What? Her walk? Yes, and the sights and people she sees are soul-enriching
Veterans Needs for the motorcycle community
“22 Veterans a day are committing suicide and one of the key indicating factors is the lack of connectivity”
The Memento
I stepped back from the wall to admire my new shadow box. I’d just had it framed.
RONIN TACTICS IS ON A MISSION
TU LAM SHARES HIS INNER WARRIOR WITH HIS STUDENTS.
‘Squeezed Between Two Giants'
Vietnam once looked like one of the few winners in the U.S.-China trade war. Now it’s bracing for trouble
HANOI'S RISE
Vietnam’s capital brims with a youthful, optimistic energy as the country ’s economy surges ahead