Strategy

Sri Mulyani Indrawati has been a mainstay in the role for the majority of the last two decades; Indonesia has also recently issued a A$800m Kangaroo bond.

Jai Sharma is succeeding Preeti Gupta Mohanty, who is set to take over as senior vice president – finance, international operations.

Amit Baraskar, vice president & head of treasury at Thomas Cook India Group, shared insights into the company’s renewed focus on mid-office controls, automation, and workshops, with CorporateTreasurer.

Private sector firms raised their headcounts for the first time in three months, however shipping delays have seen suppliers' delivery times lengthened.

Toll Group’s executive chairman Thomas Knudsen told CT about the freight firm's plans to step up investment in Asia, where shifting trade corridors, rising middle-class consumption, and a push toward decarbonisation are rewriting the rules of logistics.

CFO Patrick Chan discussed with CT the key reasons behind the improved half-year results for the Hong Kong-based environmental firm, as well as key strategies around cost control and cash management.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed with another court's verdict that most of the tariffs are illegal; however the tariffs, including 50% on many Indian goods, will stay in place until October 14 to allow an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Postal services across Asia Pacific are dealing with the fallout from the removal of so-called US ‘de minimis’ tariff exemption from small packages below the value of $800 sent to the US; also this week, 50% tariffs on many goods being sent from India to the US have started.

The sustainability linked financing covers greenfield and operational assets across Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, and involved a consortium of 60 banks. The financing comes after Blackstone and CPPIB's acquisition of the group last year.

The softening jobs market in the US could see the US Fed act in September; however inflation pressure from tariffs are a concern.

Surveys show Hong Kong's SMEs facing rising costs, late payments, a tight credit stance from banks, and tariffs, despite an overall economic recovery in the SAR; bad weather has also been an issue this summer.

Ebanx sees opportunities in a young, tech savvy population in Southeast Asia; it is also the first Brazilian company to receive a Major Payment Institution licence in Singapore.