Insights

APAC remains the most dynamic region in the world in 2018. Expected to grow by 5.5% this year, the region is set to account for almost two-thirds of global growth, with strong GDP projections of 5.6% continuing into 2019. Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR) also signifies sustained business leader optimism in the region. Net optimism sits at net 55% in Q2 2018, up 27pp from Q2 2017. ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a particularly bright spot. At net 64%, business optimism in ASEAN has reached a record high against healthy projected growth of more than 5% each year between now and 2022.

Towards the end of last year, I had the opportunity to attend our global conference in Vancouver and was honoured to listen to one of the gurus sharing a great deal of information around unconscious bias and why it’s important to be “bias aware”. It’s not easy, but when the concept is learnt and understood, it allows us to pause and think before we make any judgement or decision.

With 2019 now well underway, distinct themes are beginning to emerge that are likely to shape global economic developments for the remainder of the year. Amid likely slowdowns within some of the major world economies, developing regions such as ASEAN will have a golden opportunity to take the initiative. The question is whether key countries such as Thailand will make the necessary adjustments in order to capitalise on their good fortune.

In this article, we explain how taxpayers could leverage on Advance Pricing Agreements (“APAs”) to guard against the uncertainties of tax compliance in an era of increasingly complex tax rules.

There may be a storm brewing in some of the world’s largest economies as businesses come to terms with a skilled worker shortage. Are technology and mobility two options for businesses struggling to find talent?

A single Standard (TFRS 15) replaces IAS 18, IAS 11 and the numerous revenue-related Interpretations. It provides a single, principles-based framework that should improve comparability of revenue recognition across entities and industries, also filling in many of the existing gaps in the current TFRS revenue guidance (like multiple element arrangements and guidance on warranties). Finally, the new Standard will close the current disclosure gap.

Keeping pace with a fast-moving economy means continually re-investing profits to fund future growth. Although many companies struggle to access the liquidity needed to enable timely investment, a proactive approach to working capital management can free up significant untapped cash within any business, providing a platform for longer term, sustainable growth.

Thailand’s push toward its 4.0 economic model gained a lot of momentum in 2018, as the government made investments and policy changes in countless areas to smooth the way for business. The way forward is clear on most fronts, and the next decade is sure to be an exciting one for Thailand and the advanced manufacturing and digital economy that is well on its way.

Francesca Lagerberg, Grant Thornton International’s global leader – network capabilities, has been heading up our Women in business reports for 15 years. She reveals the progress she has seen, and what more needs to happen.

South East Asia is a bright spot in the global economy. The outlook for the region is sustained, healthy growth of more than 5% per year between now and 2022.(i) Against this backdrop, business sentiment has hit a new high. We explore what is driving this positivity and find that infrastructure emerges as a source of real opportunity for ASEAN firms in the coming years. At the same time, however, concerns over climate change loom large. Greater cooperation will be key to overcoming these environmental risks.

In any competitive sphere, there is a natural tendency for different players to cluster towards the middle. Through a combination of traditional practice, human nature, common sense, imperfect foresight, talent competition and a host of other shared qualities, there may be little – particularly in mature industries – to separate one company from another at an organisational level.

Culture and technology around the world are rapidly progressing, and the only clear prediction we can make about the future is that change will continue to occur at every level of society. Most businesses have realised that they must follow these changes to keep up with the new world – and others have decided to actually become leaders and drive the change further forward.

Given the slowing rate of economic growth, businesses across Asia Pacific (APAC) region have an appetite for automation. In this article we explore where that support is strongest, and why. We find that amid the rich opportunities, risks are present in the automation revolution. Businesses and policymakers should confront these challenges now, to avoid hampering future growth prospects.

In an ever-increasing integrated global economy, businesses have been establishing their footprints in various locations across the continents. These so-called “multi-national corporations” or “MNCs” have sophisticated supply chains and business platforms comprising of dozens, if not, hundreds of entities, all of which are directly or indirectly related to one another. Under this corporate umbrella, the affiliates would trade and transact with one another.

When attending a job interview, it is essential to dress well, show up on time, demonstrate good humour and likability, and create a memorable experience for the person you are sitting down with. These simple concepts are well understood throughout the world of job-seekers – but often ignored by HR managers and/or hiring managers themselves.

A recent Grant Thornton survey of over 300 senior executives found that 89% believe the CFO of the future will require much stronger data analytics skills – and fully 75% plan to upgrade their personal data analytics skills in the coming year.