NNA Business News Headlines

September 18

Quality Myanmar coffee to hit Japan’s Muji shelves soon Mitsubishi Electric to supply gear for Indian subway cars Dito picks US cybersecurity providers to ease China-spying fears

September 17

Prestige starts medical support for Japanese expats in Thailand CP Foods to build on China swine business after merger

September 16

Japan's Infocom invests in Singapore care job matching app operator Japan lends 50 billion yen to Philippines for disaster, health crisis response Covid-19 crisis spells boom in pet food across Asia

September 15

Sumitomo Life Insurance to make fresh investment in Singlife Kura Sushi Asia to start Taiwan OTC trading, eyeing regional expansion

September 14

Japan's Orix to invest $980 mil. in India's leading green energy firm India pushes for electric cooking to reduce gas import bill

September 11

MediaTek to make more chips for popular Chromebook Sumitomo sets up Vietnam arm for electronics manufacturing services

September 10

Pandemic automation forces Philippine outsourced workers to up their game J-Power to sell stake in Taiwan Chiahui Power to Asia Cement Indian startups feature donkey milk in pampering products, dairy uses being explored

September 9

Japan trader Jalux begins condo management business in Thailand Marelli deepens alliance with Wipro to stay ahead as auto supplier

September 8

Kansai Electric Power to develop gas power plants with Indonesia's Medco Japan trader Jalux begins condo management business in Thailand

September 7

KLab to develop Kumamon online game with Chinese firm First stretch of Metro Manila subway may open in December 2021

September 4

Mitsubishi to supply elevators, escalators to Lao parliament Philippines won't stop infrastructure projects with Chinese involvement despite US blacklisting Philippine jobless rate falls to 10 percent, giving hope for rebound

September 3

Daiwa House to open new logistics complex in Malaysia India bans 118 more Chinese apps as border tensions escalate

September 2

Red Lobster restaurants come under more Asian control led by Thai Union Luxury goods-buying service Nanboya opens Singapore outlet

September 1

Thai operator to open 7-Eleven stores in Laos under 30-year deal Hankyu Hanshin Express opens new logistics center in Malaysia India posts worst GDP contraction, only agriculture thrives

August 31

Philippine airport project faces uncertainty as U.S. targets Beijing-owned companies Reliance buys Future Group units for $3.2 bil. to be major retailer Japan's Kubota opens 1st overseas test farm in Thailand

August 28

Thailand’s True Digital expands to Vietnam in regional growth Japanese contractor Kajima building hub in Singapore Japan’s K.R.S. to acquire 4 arms of Indonesian cold chain group for $62 mil. Sharp buys Japan Display plant as it eyes next-generation display

August 27

Yamaha Motor begins pesticide-spraying service in Thailand Japan SHO-BOND, Thai partner to start JV to meet aging infrastructure needs in Southeast Asia

August 26

NEC selling unmanned hotel check-in system in Southeast Asia India’s e-commerce firm Flipkart plans to fully electrify its logistics fleet by 2030 Indian bank to use satellite data as tool for evaluating agricultural loans Japanese chocolate maker Fuji Oil to sell off India unit to UAE-based IFFCO Group

August 25

NEC, Lawson to start experiment on store-based use of digital technologies in Indonesia Apple's adoption of mini LED sparks boom time for Taiwan suppliers

August 24

Japanese casual apparel retailer ANAP to enter Philippines Surge in India’s exports to China, some Asian countries

August 21

Toyota launches car-leasing service in India Japan’s Scala allies with ACE Data Systems in education, agriculture business in Myanmar Commercial vehicle makers in India face $800 mil. loss as pandemic exacerbates demand woes

August 20

Japanese drug maker ASKA to buy 24.9% share in Vietnam’s Hataphar Skylark to open 1st dining outlet in Malaysia Japan’s Miura increases gas-fired boiler output in China

August 19

Mitsubishi UFJ offers finance to hospital chain operator in Indonesia Tractors ride out of COVID crisis to buck India auto downtrend India’s Reliance Industries acquires local pharma business for $83 mil.

August 14

Shell shuts down Philippine refinery to convert it into import terminal China's Midea to produce Toshiba brand electronics in India India allows 2- and 3-wheel electric vehicles to be sold without pre-installed batteries to help boost sales

August 13

Bayer, Temasek set up joint venture to innovate for vertical vegetable farming Consultancy Nippon Koei wins Dhaka metro engineering deal

August 12

Daihatsu Motor sells 554 cars during 1-hour virtual sales event in Indonesia Toll road builder Nexco Central to win Philippines contract Japan’s Looop promoting solar energy for corporate users in Thailand Hon Hai to have split U.S., China supply chains as it bounces back in Q2

August 11

India bans import of 101 weapon systems to boost local production MUFG, Liquidity Capital to form JV in Singapore, launch an $80-mil fund for startups Nissan Motor to sell controlling stake in joint Indonesian sales unit India’s Hero Cycles aims to leverage ties with Yamaha, Mitsui to promote e-cycle sales overseas Thailand’s Eastern Power invests over $16 mil. in 2 Vietnam wind farms Kiyoken, maker of railway station boxed lunches, opens 1st overseas shop in Taipei

August 7

India to set up Japanese industrial township in Assam to further boost economic ties Nippon Electric Glass to boost medical container output in Malaysia Nissan to end sales of two models via Tan Chong Motor in Vietnam Penta-Ocean wins 2 Singapore contracts worth $277 mil.

August 6

Correct: Japan’s Plus teams up with China’s Deli in office furniture market Toyota launches its 1st hybrid car in Vietnam Japan’s Oji to build new corrugated container plant in Malaysia Maruti Suzuki expands service network to drive growth in India Unicharm India suffers $152 mil. loss from factory fire Philippines plunges into recession after Q2 GDP fell 16.5%

August 5

Thailand’s Indorama Ventures buys PET recycling facilities in Poland Japan’s Plus teams up with China’s Deli in office furniture market Sankyu to build logistics center in Malaysian free zone to serve Asia

August 4

Bank of Yokohama opens Singapore branch to focus on Asia Japan online gift service firm giftee invests in Malaysian startup AdEasy Thailand’s Banpu buys Vietnam wind farm, expanding renewable business Japanese curry house operator Ichibanya opens 1st restaurant in India

August 3

Japan Lawson speeds up expansion in China, opening stores in Hebei, Hainan Japanese candy-making firm Fujiya to build biscuit plant in China Japanese fabric maker Komatsu Matere to set up sales subsidiary in China Mitsui Fudosan enters serviced apartment business in Thailand Japan’s Aeon Mall to open shopping complex in Myanmar in 2023 Philippine capital, nearby areas to return to stricter lockdown as virus cases top 100,000 Automobile, FMCG sectors in India see signs of revival after lockdown eased

July 31

Aichi Steel, part of Toyota, turns Chinese magnet-processing unit into subsidiary in bid for market share Panasonic ending photovoltaic partnership deal with GS Solar (China) as collaboration stalls Japan cafe chain Pronto to debut in Taiwan in Aug.
Mizuho Bank seals comprehensive alliance deal with Thailand’s TISCO Financial Group
Showa Aluminum Can inaugurates 3rd Vietnam plant near Ho Chi Minh City Messaging app provider Line’s Thai food unit raises $110 million to merge with restaurant platform Reliance Jio Q1 profit jumps 3-fold to $336 mil., subscribers surge to nearly 400 mil.
Correct: Coronavirus spreads Thai entertainment to online platforms

July 30

Myanmar to create special economic zone in Mon State to attract foreign investors Japanese travel agency H.I.S. to offer free tours -- online Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan, Taiwan’s Far Eastern New Century to recycle plastic bottles Japan's Solaria hotel in Bangkok named alternative quarantine base Nippon Koei, Singapore’s Surbana Jurong to engage in sustainable urban development Oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan’s 2nd lubricant plant in China starts operation Sharp to establish 8K super hi-vision R&D venture with Chinese partner Philippine’s PLDT unit Smart Communications launches commercial 5G mobile network services

July 29

Marubeni acquires Indonesian tire retail chain operator Muginoho takes over Taiwan franchisee to expand Beard Papa's chain Amata, Sinotech to build industrial city in Thailand with more investors Singapore’s CapitaLand begins construction of its 3rd IT park in Chennai, India Toyota forecasts Philippine car market to shrink around 40% in 2020 on virus outbreak

July 28

Pokemon opens Shanghai unit to capitalize on popularity in China Soybean paste maker Hanamaruki Foods to expand sales of shio koji seasoning in China Nihon M&A Center opens Kuala Lumpur office to promote cross-border services Duterte threatens to take over Philippine telecos if they don't buck up USI Shanghai to invest $200 mil. to produce electronics in Hai Phong for export
Pokemon opens Shanghai unit to capitalize on strong popularity in China
Average pay raises by Japanese firms in Singapore to fall to 11-year low: poll Coronavirus spreads Thai entertainment to online platforms

July 27

Travel agency H.I.S. starts selling hygiene home electronics in Thailand 3 Japanese trading houses get approval for natural gas-fired mega power plant in Myanmar Ayala, Marubeni to build solar power plant in Philippines
Japanese udon noodle chain Marugame Seimen ends franchise operation in Thailand
Singapore’s Senoko Energy opens clean energy trading platform Mitsui Fudosan wins bid to build recreation-intensive mall in Taiwan India slaps more restrictions on Chinese businesses amid soured ties Japanese engineering firm Taikisha taking over Indian clean room panel maker

July 22

Car seat fabric maker Tsuyatomo forms JV with Myanmar state-run firm SMBC joins blockchain platforms Contour, Komgo for trade finance Panasonic Homes, Sojitz launch sales of smart town housing units near Jakarta Philippine conglomerate Ayala to develop 140,000-kw solar farm in India Japanese realtor Shinoken starts 2nd serviced apartment in Indonesia Sumitomo Rubber Industries to get subsidy from Japan, double glove output in Malaysia Chinese logistics firm Best expanding parcel delivery networks in Thailand Cloud service provider WiAdvance, Microsoft to jointly create AI solutions Hitachi to test automated mega excavator in Australian mine

July 21

Honda invests $530 mil. in China EV battery maker CATL Japan’s Don Don Donki discount store chain to open two shops in Malaysia in 2021
Consumers in India drive shift to hygiene products, digital payment amid pandemic
Chinese tool maker Hangzhou Great Star expanding Vietnam output to mitigate trade row impact
Hitachi Construction Machinery to test automated mega excavator in Australian mine
China, Cambodia strike free trade deal, aim to sign within this year
Japan helps apparel firm make protective clothing in Vietnam Consumer research firm Intage partners with Singaporean image analyzer to help retailers, producers Toba's new subsidiary to serve Japanese manufacturers moving to Vietnam Wistron to sell iPhone assembly units to China’s Luxshare for $472 mil.

July 20

Mitsubishi undertaking its 1st detached house project in Indonesia Medical gear maker Nipro buys Indian dialysis facility operator D.med Medical Service Di-Nikko Engineering to make automotive electronics with Shenzhen partner Sumitomo Mitsui Construction wins office tower work in Bangkok from Siam Motors Group Japanese housing equipment maker Hashimoto Sogyo opens Thai sales unit Mitsubishi UFJ Lease and Finance to acquire 49% stake in VietinBank Leasing

July 17

Japanese hygiene product maker Saraya takes over Indian peer Japan’s Don Don Donki discount store chain to open 1st Malaysian shop in KL Japan’s Meiji to build dairy, sweet plant in China’s Guangzhou A boost for Nissin logistics with halal certification for Singapore warehouse
Office appliance maker Nakabayashi teams up with Thailand’s BG Float Glass in producing dimming glass
NYK Line acquires 15% stake in Vietnamese tugboat operator to expand in fast-growing market JERA’s Indian renewable energy partner to enter solar cell, module manufacturing Japan’s Ferrotec to nearly double wafer recycling capacity in China

July 16

Chinese economy grows 3.2% on year in Apr-June, up from -6.8% in Jan-Mar
Japan’s Daiwa House, Australia’s Lendlease to develop $ 374 million high-rise project in New York Kyocera to install 2 solar-powered micro-grids in central Myanmar Indian IT giant Wipro to take over IVIA Servicos de Informatica of Brazil 80% of Japanese firms in Hong Kong air concern about new security law Philippine capital may return to strict lockdown if coronavirus continues to surge Thailand’s commercial banks set up food business platforms to facilitate deliveries Thai state-backed Ratch Group teams up with Vietnamese conglomerate Geleximco in energy projects China’s Haier sets 15% sales rise target in Indonesia despite COVID-19 outbreak Semiconductor giant TSMC raises 2020 capex to $17 bil. on strong 5G, high-performance computing demand Philippine media giant ABS-CBN to retrench workers after government shutdown

July 15

Google invests $4.5 bil. in Jio Platforms, 5G-ready smartphone for masses in India ADK Connect brings sophisticated advertising to Indonesia, Singapore in Asia expansion
Indian new car sales plunge 80% on year in Apr.-June on nationwide lockdown
Indian motorcycle sales recover to 1 mil. units from zero in April
Yangon’s 2nd airport project restarts, aided by Japan
Japanese printing firm Sanko Sangyo to stop Vietnam sales, Thai plant due to blow from COVID-19 Taiwan's Cathay Financial to acquire majority stake in Indonesian bank: report Thailand's CRG invests 500 mil. baht in cloud kitchen services Indonesia’s manufacturing PMI falls to record low in April-June on pandemic

July 14

Singapore economy contacts 12.6% on year in Apr.-June quarter on pandemic
Drug maker Shionogi, Ping An Insurance of China to invest $466 mil. in JVs Mitsui Fudosan to open its 1st overseas hotel in Taiwan in Aug. Uniqlo opens online store in Philippines as lockdown drags on Chemical trader Nagase opens regional food ingredient lab in Singapore Samsung launches its 1st locally made 4G smart Galaxy Watch in India Update 1: Ayala to list Philippines’ first REIT in Aug.

July 13

Alphabet's Google to invest $10 billion in India Hitachi wins order of transformers for 400 locomotives in India
Sales of major Japanese carmakers in Indonesia in June more than tripled from May
Ayala to list Philippines’ first REIT in Aug. Japan’s IPS increases capital in Singapore subsidiary to launch marine cable service Thailand replaces China as top tire exporter to India Major Japanese carmakers’ June sales in Indonesia more than triple from May Qualcomm invests in Jio Platforms to support 5G push in India Honda acquires 1% stake in China’s automotive battery maker CATL

July 10

Tokyu Construction to buy Singapore design firm in 1st overseas M&A Kyoto-based cafe %Arabica debuts in Thailand Yokogawa Electric to invest in fund of funds to collaborate with Indian startups Tokyo Century launches fixed-rate, flexible car-leasing service in Thailand Nippon Paint enters personal protective equipment market in India amid COVID-19 pandemic Toyota’s Corolla Cross SUV makes global debut in Thailand Philippines woos other investors for airport facelift after consortium fails

July 8

Aeon Mall to open office-mall complex in Hanoi in late 2022 NTT Data, LeapThought NZ to help digitize construction sector in Singapore Women’s footwear vender Amagasa entering Indonesian e-commerce market Japan’s PHC takes over Singapore’s SciMed to boost life sciences biz in Asia
Japan’s food packing, weighing equipment maker Ishida opens tech lab in Bangkok
Japanese building automation equipment maker Azbil to ramp up output in China
Japan’s Premium Group to enter Philippines used car inspection business Gulf Energy invests in Germany's wind farm, eyes expansion Japan’s Goyo Food Industry to produce frozen cakes in Thailand Air Liquide Far Eastern building more Taiwan plants, riding on semiconductor boom

July 7

Half of Japanese expats in Asia seek early easing of COVID-19 entry rules: NNA poll
Japanese LPG vender Tokai to buy 45% stake each in 2 arms of Vietnam’s Petro Center Hotel Nikko Hai Phong to open Aug. 1 on Vietnam’s successful anti-virus fight Japanese mobility data firm SmartDrive opens subsidiary in Malaysia
NEC completes Japan-Guam-Australia submarine cable to serve bandwidth growth
PE investment in India plunges to its lowest since 2017 Slow recovery for Malaysian mall REITS, 15% retail shops to close down Thai firm’s orders for rubber gloves soar on global COVID-19 pandemic

July 6

Panasonic to increase IoT software staffing in China, a prized market: Kyodo Japan restaurant chain Ootoya to re-enter China with new Taiwanese partner
Chinese logistics firm Best enters Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore to expand in SE Asia
Toyota, Honda, Nissan see recovery in China sales after COVID-19 plunge Danish VC Novo opening Singapore office to boost life science investment in Asia
Malaysia national oil firm Petronas to invest in renewable energy startup SOLS Energy
Thailand's Gulf Energy invests $200 mil. in Vietnam wind projects Foxconn Industrial Internet buying big stake in Digital China Software for $79 mil.

July 3

Nearly half of Japan firms in Asia expect recovery in 2nd half of 2020: NNA poll Hankyu Hanshin Properties buys stake in Japan-Singapore distribution warehouse JV in Vietnam Mitsubishi Estate joins Lendlease’s high-rise housing project in Sydney Maruti Suzuki India’s sales pick up in slow recovery for car makers Honda to continue Indonesia car plant suspension till end of July Japanese, Singaporean firms to launch sterilizer robots in fight against COVID-19 Intel Capital buys small stake in India’s Jio Platforms

July 2

Japan apparel maker Stripe International quits China as part of restructuring campaign
Japan’s Kioxia buys solid state storage business of Taiwan’s Lite-On
Sharp to buy Taiwan cosmetics retailer Mirada to launch fashion, lifestyle e-platform Santen Pharmaceutical invests in Singapore startup Plano for myopia collaboration
Hino Motors launches online store on Indonesia e-commerce site Tokopedia
Japanese coil maker Sagami Elec to double automotive parts output in Indonesia Japan lends Philippines 50 bil. yen for coronavirus response Dr. Reddy’s, Global Response Aid join Fujifilm to push Avigan for COVID-19 treatment Business sentiment among Japan firms in Thailand worst in 35 years
Austria-based Hon Hai affiliate buys Slovenian ICT company Iskratel for $42 mil.

July 1

Sharp builds its 5th solar power plant in Vietnam with 45,000-kw capacity
Japan’s Rakuten Mobile launches Singapore unit for global sale of virtualized network tech Sino-Japanese automotive joint venture starts building EV factory project in China Japan's Marugame Seimen chain opens 4 delivery outlets in Indonesia
Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile launch 5G services
Online sales jumped 150% for Thailand's Index furniture chain Dexcom picks Malaysia to produce diabetes care systems as demand soars Lockdowned shoppers flock to price comparison iPrice platform Chinese apps banned, import delays hit Indian industries Electronics assembler Hon Hai to spend millions on worker accommodation in Vietnam: report Japan insurer Tokyo Marine & Nichido launches remote loss prevention service amid pandemic

June 24

Taiwan’s Tatung allies with Sojitz, Shikoku Electric in solar power projects Rohm opens electric vehicle technology R&D base with Shanghai partner Ricoh to commence global multiple function printer hub in Dongguan, China Daihatsu Motor to sell foreign-made vehicles in Japan for 1st time Nomura to sell brokerage JV stake to Philippines’ largest commercial bank E-sellers supplying to Indian government must mention product origin amid anti-China fervour Thailand's Eastern Power buys 2 Vietnam wind-power projects Yoma Bank, Mastercard team up to accelerate Myanmar’s digital economy

June 23

Most Japanese firms in Philippines restart operations: survey Machinery trader Maruka to quit India on slumping automotive demand Nezas Holdings to open Toyota dealership in Yangon on July 1 Panel maker JOLED seals 30 bil. yen production deal with TCL China Star Optoelectronics Will Philippine plan to tax digital services rescue or hurt pandemic-savaged economy? Thai digital wallet startup raises $80 mil. from Toyota financier, other Japanese investors Consumer electronics assembler Hon Hai bets on AI, digital transformation Siam Piwat Simon opens first Siam Premium Outlets center near airport

June 22

50% of customers back to reopened Aeon outlets in Indonesia after easing of lockdown
Tosoh forms fuel-efficient tire material JV in S. Korea with Namhae Chemical Osaka Gas entering industrial gas market in Vietnam Japanese optoelectronics maker Techno Horizon to acquire Singapore-based AV dealer Japan’s Maruka to open factory automation system unit in Indonesia A third of Indian MSMEs closing as demand plunges Correct: Japanese razor products maker Kai sees surging sales in India amid pandemic Taiwan's Epistar, Lextar set up holding firm to fight competition as LEDs boom
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