Each week Frontier Strategy Group’s global team shares their view on key media stories, and what the implications are for businesses that operate in emerging markets. For more information about how to contact our analysts, send us an email.
Athanasia Kokkinogeni on “How a $1.4 Million Contract Loss Shows Cost of No-Deal Brexit“
“Businesses have started to feel the risk of Hard Brexit (no deal) and pro-actively plan for it to safeguard their business operations ahead of March 2019. Businesses are accelerating investing in contingency planning to build the buffers necessary especially for their supply chains, because the no deal scenario remains possible. Review our ‘How to Build your Brexit Plan’ for planning guidelines.“
Link to article | Read More of Athanasia’s Commentary | Have a Question for Athanasia?
William Attwell on “China’s President Xi pledges another $60 billion for Africa“
“Xi’s announcement comes amid the latest Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, currently being hosted in Beijing. Much of the funding will take the form of “tied” financing, which benefits Chinese contractors in the awarding of large public-sector projects in SSA. Western MNCs can counteract this competition by working more closely with their home governments’ financing bodies.“
Link to article | Read More of William’s Commentary | Have a Question for William?
Josef Jelinek on “US-China trade war prompts rethink on supply chains“
“The escalating US-China trade war is pushing China-based manufacturers and their US clients to rethink the complex and extensive supply chains that bind the world’s two biggest economies together. Companies are considering a range of options from relocating parts of their supply chain, increasing localization, moving up the value chain, and raising costs for customers.“
Link to article | Read More of Josef’s Commentary | Have a Question for Josef?
Dalia Naguib on “Algerian government postpones lifting subsidies and cancels fuel price hike“
“The Algerian government’s decision to postpone subsidy cuts and cancel new fees and taxes in 2019 is a move to contain social discontent over rising costs ahead of April’s presidential elections. However, maintaining the high subsidy bill and limiting revenue expansion will put the government in a weak fiscal position to raise procurement spending, limiting growth in demand for MNCs’ products“
Link to article | Read More of Dalia’s Commentary | Have a Question for Dalia?
Danyi Yang on “Is China’s first tax cut in 7 years too little, too late to boost consumer spending?”
“Companies should prepare themselves for China’s new individual income tax, which is set to be implemented starting 2019, with the rise of income tax threshold from 3500 to 5000 yuan taking effect on Oct 1, 2018. The tax amendment enforces stricter criteria of global income collection for resident taxpayers and is expected to reduce tax revenue by 320 billion yuan per year to boost consumption.“
Link to article | Read More of Danyi’s Commentary | Have a Question for Danyi?
Martin Belchev on “Tensions in PSD : Mayor Gabriela Firea asked for the resignation of Interior Minister Carmen Dan“
“Tensions within the Romanian ruling party, the Social Democrats (PSD), continue to rise, as Bucharest Mayor Gabriela Firea, a member of the PSD herself, asked for the resignation of the Interior Minister and criticized party leader Liviu Dragnea. The Mayor remains relatively popular and her statements can cause new political rifts within the government, exacerbating ongoing policy uncertainty.“
Link to article | Read More of Martin’s Commentary | Have a Question for Martin?