Southeast Asia’s internet economy to exceed $240b by 2025: study

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Southeast Asia’s internet economy to exceed $240b by 2025: study

Reuters, Singapore

Southeast Asia’s internet economy is expected to exceed $240 billion by 2025, a joint study by Google and Temasek Holdings showed, a fifth more than previously estimated, as more consumers use their smartphones to go online.

The study, first published in 2016, encompasses ride-hailing, e-commerce, online travel and online media. The latest report released on Monday adds new sectors such as online food delivery, as well as subscription music and video on demand.

It estimated that the gross merchandise value (GMV) of the region’s internet economy has reached $72 billion in 2018, rising 37 percent from the year earlier.

The GMV of e-commerce in the region will exceed $23 billion in 2018, the report said, and rise more than four times to exceed $100 billion by 2025, helped by increased consumer trust.

It credited e-commerce companies – Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s Lazada, Sea Ltd’s Shopee, and Indonesia’s Tokopedia – for helping develop the sector.

The report estimated that the GMV of the competitive ride hailing sector, with the addition of online food delivery, has reached $7.7 billion in 2018.

“Powered by the ambitions of Go-Jek and Grab to become Southeast Asia’s ‘everyday apps’, we project that ride hailing will reach almost $30 billion by 2025,” the Google-Temasek study said.

Both Alphabet Inc’s Google and Singapore state investor Temasek have invested in Go-Jek. Temasek-backed Vertex Ventures is an early investor in Grab.

The Indonesian internet economy is forecast to grow to $100 billion by 2025, accounting for $4 of every $10 spent in the region, the report said.

It added that 2018 was on track to be a record year for fundraising for the region’s internet economy companies, with $9.1 billion raised in the first half of the year, nearly as much as in all of 2017.

The research covers Southeast Asia’s six largest economies -Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The growth is being boosted by the world’s most engaged internet users, of whom more than 90 percent connect to the web through their smartphones, it said.

The report said the increasing availability of affordable smartphones and the rollout of faster and more reliable mobile telecommunication services were supporting Southeast Asia’s growing internet user base.

DSE turnover rises 44pc

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DSE turnover rises 44pc

Star Business Report

Turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange jumped 44 percent yesterday riding on stocks of a group of 10 companies that solely contributed around 31 percent of the total turnover.

Industry experts also attributed the rise to the stocks of Saiham Textile and Saiham Cotton, which attracted a total of Tk 74.34 crore, almost 10 times higher than their regular turnover.

Some Tk 250.19 crore of the day’s total turnover of Tk 803.05 crore—up from Tk 556.54 crore on Sunday—came from Saiham Textile, Intech Limited, United Power, Kattali Textile, Saiham Cotton, Khulna Power, Monno Ceramic, Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals, BBS Cables and SK Trims.

“It is not the business growth of the 10 companies that fuel the turnover. Rumours played the main role here,” said a top official of a merchant bank, preferring anonymity.

“This is not a good sign.”

“It may hamper their investment, but the good thing is turnover is rising, which means investors have liquid money and confidence,” he said. The key index of the Dhaka stocks remained almost the same as the benchmark index of the DSE, DSEX, rose 1.04 points or 0.01 percent to close the day at 5,257.10 yesterday.

Saiham Textile was the top traded stock with 93.16 lakh shares worth Tk 53.67 crore changing hands.

Among the major sectors, food increased 0.5 percent, pharmaceuticals 0.4 percent and energy 0.2 percent while engineering fell 0.1 percent, bank 0.2 percent, NBFI 0.9 percent and telecom 1.4 percent.

IT Consultants was the day’s best performer with a 9.98 percent gain while BBS Cables was the biggest loser, shedding 10 percent.

Losers outnumbered gainers by 157 to 126, while 52 securities remained unchanged.

The key index of the port city bourse also rose by 7.03 points, finishing the day at 9,781.64.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange traded 1.01 crore shares and mutual fund units worth Tk 31.98 crore.

Modern retail growing at 15pc a year

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Modern retail growing at 15pc a year

Star Business Report

Modern retail, which replaces traditional grocery shops, has been growing at 15 percent a year since 2014 in Bangladesh riding on changing consumer behavior, said a top official of Nielson, a leading global market researcher.

In 2018 the total turnover is estimated to be Tk 2,180 crore, up from Tk 1,342 crore in 2014.

“Modern trade will emerge stronger,” said Diptanshu Ray, market leader for Nielson’s South Asia East region, at a retail congress organised by the Bangladesh Brand Forum (BBF) at the capital’s Le Méridien hotel.

Ray presented a keynote on ‘What’s next in modern retail’ at the event ‘Bangladesh Retail Congress 2018’, which was attended by 350 professionals.

Bangladesh’s largest retail chain Shwapno presented the congress along with Lotto. The Daily Star is the strategic partner of the initiative to shape modern retail in the country.

Discussants pointed out the changing behaviours of consumers following the advent and growth of e-commerce, advancement of technology, rising health awareness and consciousness about quality products and services.

Population growth, increased urbanisation and rising income, particularly the growing middleclass population in the country, have been driving the growth of consumerism in Bangladesh, which is expected to be the 26th largest economy in the world by 2030.

“The promises are real,” Ray said, adding that higher incomes are leading to greater spending in the economy. Each year for the next decade, the annual income of about 20 lakh additional Bangladeshis will reach $5,000 or more.

Consumer’s rising purchasing power is increasing the demand for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), generating $3.1 billion in FMCG sales.

“And, it is growing,” Ray said.

Even in this landscape, traditional trade, which accounts for 98 percent of total retail sales, will evolve and continue to dominate.

But modern retail, which expanded over the last two decades, will grow in the days to come.

“Modern trade is growing and gaining share in Asia.  Convenience is the fastest growing format across Asian markets,” he said, adding that changing priorities of shoppers would facilitate modern trade.

Some 51 percent of the shoppers like a wide range of product categories. Some 73 percent would not mind paying little more for higher quality, according to Ray.

Expansion of e-commerce will also contribute to the reshaping of retail.

“Bangladesh is poised to be an e-commerce player on the world FMCG stage, in spite of its relatively nascent entry.”

The Nielson official also touched on shoppers’ behaviour.

“Shoppers are highly price aware and sensitive to price changes,” Ray said, adding that shoppers are becoming more brand loyal and less store loyal for promotions.

Retail interface is changing, where established behaviours are being disrupted and new business models are emerging, said Prachi Tiwari, engagement director of Landor, in another keynote session.

“Shopping experience is becoming increasingly mobile first.  Mobile technologies will increasingly influence every stage of the customer’s shopping journey.”

Approximately 71 percent of the consumers are now trawling websites to find the best price.

“Consumers demand instant gratification, want the right product, right price, and right away. They are also more savvy and well-informed about products in the market.”

Conscious consumerism is on the rise, according to Tiwari.

“We have to ensure that customers’ experience is at the best level when they are in our stores,” said Mohammed Tareque Aziz, dean of College of Business Administration of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology. 

Shopping is a source of recreation for many in Bangladesh owing to lack of options, said Rezaul Kabir, chief operating officer of clothing retailer Sailo.

And, customers keep in mind the service they receive from sales associates, he said.

Payment through digital channel is increasing but for that to flourish more very good mobile network support is needed, he added.

Many refrain from making payment through bank cards for fear of fraud, said Mohammad Ashraful Islam, chief operating officer of Aarong.

The retail scenario will change in the next 10 years, said Arafatur Rahman, head of marketing of Pran-RFL.

At the inaugural session of the event, Sohel Tanvir Khan, business director of ACI Logistics, and Shariful Islam, founder and managing director of BBF, spoke among others.

More women joining labour force: ILO

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More women joining labour force: ILO

Star Business Report

Female participation in Bangladesh’s labour force has increased to 36.3 percent in 2017 from 33.2 percent in 2016 thanks to the flourishing garment industry, according to a report of the International Labour Organisation.

The participation of male workers in the labour force also increased slightly to 80.7 percent in 2017 from 79.4 percent in 2016.

So overall, labour force participation in Bangladesh in 2017 increased to 58.3 percent from 56.1 percent, the ILO report released said.

Female workforce participation steadily grew between 2010 and 2017 because of the higher growth of the garment sector, said the report titled ‘Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2018’.

Although the participation of women workers in the labour force was low in South Asian nations, the ratios of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have held steady or increased over time.

Beyond national differences, trends vary across rural and urban areas and among women with high educational attainment and poorly educated women.

All the Southern Asian countries show low female labour force participation ratios (LFPRs) with the exception of Nepal, which stands out with a high rate of 79.3 percent in 2008, the last year of its latest Labour Force Survey.

In contrast, India’s female LFPR was 26.2 percent in 2011–12, down from 32.6 percent in 2004–05, despite the country’s strong economic growth.

Many potential causes have been identified for the limitations of women’s access to the labour market in South Asian countries.

The main drivers of the decline are increased enrolment of young women in secondary schools, rising household incomes, lack of suitable employment opportunities for women in the non-farm sector and measurement issues, according to the report.

A fifth driver can be added, which is the absence of child care options.

“Such factors are frequently noted as those that are somehow quantifiable, unlike areas of social norms, which are difficult to put into words, let alone measure.”

“That said, what is clear is that attitudes matter and that social norms are an important factor — if not the most important factor — behind the low female LFPRs in Southern Asia.” The acceptability of women working outside the home to women in the Southern Asian countries comes out well below other countries in the region and the world at large.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, 41 percent and 52 percent of the women respectively stated they considered it unacceptable for women to have paid work outside the home, even if they desired it.

Many surveyed women did not find it acceptable for women to work outside the home. “Pushing for more female labour force participation will remain an uphill battle in the region as long as women are not pushing for it,” the report added.

Listed textile, garment firms’ profits edge up

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Listed textile, garment firms’ profits edge up

Star Business Report

Most of the listed textile, knitting and garment companies saw their earnings per share (EPS) creep up in the first quarter of the current financial year (2018-19) thanks to higher export growth.

Of the 53 listed companies, 30 saw their EPS — an indicator of profitability — rise between the months of July and September, while 17 saw theirs decline, according to data from the Dhaka Stock Exchange. One company’s EPS stayed the same.

The garment sector’s exports soared during the quarter, so most of the companies’ profits rose, said Siddiqur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

“Buyers from many countries are coming to Bangladesh as our remediation programme is almost complete.”

Garment shipments increased 14.66 percent, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

The export growth may continue in the coming months if the business environment remains favourable, said Rahman, also the managing director of Sterling Denims. DSE data shows some of the textile companies saw a decline in their EPS during the quarter, while some of them even fell into losses.

The price of cotton had soared in the international market but the yarn price did not rise in the local market, said Md Abdullah Bokhari, chairman of Alhaj Textile.

Cotton price varied from 77 to 90 cents in the July-September quarter, according to Business Insider.  Just few months earlier, in November 2017, it was 70 cents.

“Moreover, the utility bill rose, so we had to incur losses.”

Since Alhaj Textile does not export it was most affected, he added.

Alhaj Textile’s EPS stood at Tk 0.13 in the negative in the first quarter, in contrast to Tk 0.21 a year earlier.

Anlima Yarn, another textile company, saw its EPS sink to a negative territory: it stood at Tk 0.03 in the negative.

Mozaffor Hossain Spinning Mills also saw a negative EPS of Tk 0.12, which was Tk 0.29 a year earlier.

Cheap labour continues to draw Japanese investment

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Cheap labour continues to draw Japanese investment

Refayet Ullah Mirdha

The devastating terrorist attack in Dhaka in July 2016 that killed seven Japanese citizens could not dampen the Far East nation’s attraction towards Bangladesh when it comes to trade and investment.

Since 2016, 24 new Japanese companies came to Bangladesh to take the tally to 269, according to data from the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) in Dhaka.

Low wage and low cost of production are the main reasons for coming to Bangladesh, according to Daisuke Arai, country representative of Jetro, an organisation of the Japanese government that works to promote trade and investment with the rest of the world.

“In China the cost of production is four times higher than that in Bangladesh. Definitely, Bangladesh is a very competitive country for investment compared to other countries,” he told a group of journalists at his office in Dhaka yesterday.

Bangladesh is one of the major destinations although Japanese entrepreneurs are investing in Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar in areas of textile, IT and infrastructure.

So far, the amount of Japanese investment in Bangladesh by private companies is $326 million. However, the amount is much higher if the investments made by Japanese automobile giant Honda and Japan Tobacco are included.

In August this year, Japan Tobacco Inc agreed to purchase local Akij Group’s tobacco business for $1.5 billion, which is the single largest FDI in Bangladesh’s private sector so far.

Last week, Honda inaugurated its lone manufacturing plant at Munshiganj that it set up with state-owned Bangladesh Steel Engineering Corporation for Tk 230 crore.

If the amount of Japan state sponsored investment through Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) in different projects is included the amount is even bigger.

So far, the Japanese government has committed $12 billion as ODA and has already released $7 billion of the sum.

Many more Japanese investors are waiting to relocate their investment to Bangladesh because of the Japanese government’s “China plus one” policy that was adopted in 2008 to reduce overdependence on China, especially for electronics and apparel items.

“We always advise them to invest in Bangladesh,” he said, adding that a lot of the work orders for apparel were shifted to the country from China.

Land acquisition for the special economic zone for Japanese investors has been completed, said Arai, also the president of the Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI).

A company is scheduled to develop the land to get it ready for operation from December 2020. Arai went on to call for an end to customs and taxation harassment in Bangladesh, which the Japanese investors often complain about.

The problems listed by the Japanese companies in Bangladesh include difficulty in local procurement of raw materials and parts, inadequate logistics and infrastructure, difficulty in quality control and shortage of power.

Bangladesh has the longest lead-time in the seaways from Bangladesh to Japan compared to other Asian nations.

Currently, a vessel from Bangladesh requires 20.4 days to reach Japan, whereas it requires 5.8 days from Taiwan, 7.3 days from Vietnam, 9.5 days from Cambodia, 12.3 days from India and 14.6 days from Myanmar.

Even by air the lead time is the highest from Bangladesh. On an average it takes 8.7 days from Bangladesh to reach Japan, whereas from Myanmar it takes 5.3 days, India 4.7 days, Vietnam 3.1 days and from Cambodia 3.3 days.

Not just investment inflow Japan has also turned into the largest export destination for Bangladesh among the Asian nations.

Japan is the only country in Asia to which the exports crossed the $1 billion mark in the last three consecutive fiscal years.

Export earnings from Japan rose 11.73 percent to $1.13 billion last fiscal year, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau. Of the amount $846.73 million — which is 74.8 percent — came from garment shipments.

Bangladesh has a lot of opportunities to send its skilled and semi-skilled workers to the Far East nation as the Japanese government has recently taken a decision to recruit foreign workers for five years with the opportunity to renew for another five years, Arai added.

Improve ease of doing business to attract more FDI

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Improve ease of doing business to attract more FDI

ICCB suggests

Star Business Desk

Bangladesh should make all-out efforts to improve its position in the Ease of Doing Business index of the World Bank in order to attract more FDI, a leading chamber said yesterday.

In order to plug the investment shortfall for its infrastructure needs, the country has to explore alternative sources of funding, the International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB) shared the info in the editorial of the current News Bulletin (July-Sept 2018) released yesterday.

Desired investment is not flowing into the country because of the absence of an appropriate investment environment caused by insufficient infrastructure, port congestion and poor transportation facilities, according to experts.

FDI is only moving forward because of the reinvestment of current investments, the chamber said.

Bangladesh is likely to be one of the biggest movers in the global gross domestic product (GDP) in 2030 as predicted by HSBC’s global report titled “The World in 2030”, ICCB said.

The country is going to become the 26th largest economy in the world from the current 42nd position followed by the Philippines, Pakistan, Vietnam and Malaysia, according to the report.

The brand value of Bangladesh is also rising as the country has ranked 39th in the global brand value index 2018 reflecting its socioeconomic vivacity. Bangladesh has a brand value of $257 billion, up 24 percent from last year, according to the London-based Brand Finance’s ‘Nation Brands 2018’ report.

Bangladesh economy has kept up an impressive annual average growth rate of more than 6 percent over the last 10 years and has been having increased GDP over the last couple of years.

It is believed that Bangladesh could have easily achieved 8 percent plus growth by controlling the project implementation time, which would automatically minimise the project cost, the ICCB said.

For about a decade, private investment to GDP ratio has been stuck at 21-23 percent. But according to the country’s growth ambitions, the ratio has to be about 35 percent.

A number of Asean countries have achieved higher GDP as their investment to GDP ratio has been in the range of 35-45 percent.

Early implementation of the “One-Stop Service” will hopefully help the country attract higher FDI, the chamber said.

A number of US companies are seriously considering relocating their operations from China in view of the current trade war between China and the US.

Bangladesh should be able to capitalise on this situation, the chamber said.

FDI picking up, but slowly

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FDI picking up, but slowly

AKM Zamir Uddin

Foreign direct investment in Bangladesh rose only 5.11 percent in fiscal 2017-18 from a year earlier — the progress being slow because of inadequate infrastructure and poor ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index.

Bangladesh ranked 176 out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index this year, the lowest ranking for a South Asian nation.

Last fiscal year, net FDI stood at $2.58 billion in contrast to $2.45 billion a year earlier, according to the central bank.

FDI flow has been maintaining a rising trend in recent years but it was not up to the mark given the GDP size, said AB Mirza Azizul Islam, a former finance adviser to a caretaker government.

The country’s FDI to GDP ratio has been hovering below 1 percent for long but its peers like Vietnam, China, India and Cambodia have more than 2 percent, he said.

“Foreign businesses place great importance on the Ease of Doing Business ranking before taking an investment decision.”

Bangladesh is yet to become an investment destination for foreigners due to its poor governance, unavailability of energy supply, infrastructure deficits, corruption, political uncertainty and concerns over security, Islam said. The power sector saw the highest inflows in fiscal 2017-18 of $589 million, followed by textile at $459 million and banking at $321 million.

Last fiscal year, $506 million flew in from China, $373 million from the UK, $191 million from Hong Kong, $171 million from the US, $158 million from Singapore, $135 from Norway and $125 million from South Korea.

The central bank calculates the FDI in three categories: equity, reinvestment of earnings and intra-company loan.

Last fiscal year, equity capital or new investment came down 39 percent to $615 million.

The declining flow of equity capital is a matter of concern for the country’s FDI as it is a pivotal element among the three categories, said a Bangladesh Bank official.  

Reinvestment of earnings by existing foreign companies remained almost unchanged at $1,253.44 million.

The development indicated that the foreign companies had repatriated their profit abroad instead of investing them in the country, said a central bank official. 

The FDI, however, posted a significant jump in intra-company loans last fiscal year: it rose 3.65 times year-on-year to $712 million.

Narayanganj to get electric train service

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Narayanganj to get electric train service

Star Business Report

The government has taken up a project to introduce electric train service in Narayanganj under a public-private partnership with Singapore.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the chair yesterday approved the local government division’s proposal to reduce the district’s traffic congestion.

Nasima Begum, additional secretary to the cabinet division, told reporters afterwards that 388 cities around the world used the transport system.

She said 23 kilometres of the rail line will be set up in two parts, one covering 11 kilometres from Nitaiganj via Chashara to Signboard and another 12 kilometres from Chittagong road to Panchabati.

She also said the interchange station or the place allowing passengers to change routes would be at Chashara. Bangladesh and Singapore have already signed a government-to-government agreement and the cost and other issues would be determined following a feasibility study.

The cabinet committee also approved a proposal for importing two lakh tonnes of urea fertiliser from the United Arab Emirates under a state-to-state arrangement.

After the economic affairs committee meeting, the purchase committee held a meet on a proposal for the food ministry to purchase 1.85 crore pieces of hessian bags from Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation.

The price for every hessian bag has been fixed at Tk 54.

The committee also approved an additional cost for the construction of a coastal embankment in Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chattogram. Originally Tk 1,124 crore was allocated for the project, and now with the additional cost, Tk 1,631 crore in total has been okayed.

The committee also approved another proposal for the purchase of equipment for gantry cranes at Chattogram container terminal at a cost of Tk 61 crore.

Besides, it also approved a proposal for floating fresh tender under the learning and earning project of the information and communication technology division. The main aim of the project is to organise training programmes for young learners in 64 districts.

Japan’s Honda opens motorcycle plant

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Japan’s Honda opens motorcycle plant

Farhana Mirza and Jagaran Chakma

Japan automobile giant Honda yesterday inaugurated its motorcycles manufacturing plant in Bangladesh, in what can be viewed as a watershed moment for the country’s industrial capabilities.

The plant, which was set up for Tk 230 crore on 25 acres of land in the Abdul Monem Economic Zone (AMEZ) in Munshiganj, will help save foreign currency and make motor bikes more affordable.

“We will hit the market with the ‘Made-in-Bangladesh’ Honda bike,” said Shah Muhammad Ashequr Rahman, head of finance and commercial of Bangladesh Honda Private Limited (BHL), a joint venture between Honda and state-owned Bangladesh Steel Engineering Corporation (BSEC).

The plant will have an initial annual production capacity of 100,000 units a year. By 2021, the production capacity will expand to 200,000 units a year, according to BHL, which has been marketing Honda brand bikes in Bangladesh for the last several decades.

It plant will make seven models of Honda motor cycles: Dream Neo 110, LIVO 110, CB Shine125, CB Trigger 150, CB Hornet 160R, and CBR150R.

Rahman declined to specify the prices of locally made Honda two-wheelers, but said they would not be more than those of the existing bikes.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, who inaugurated the plant, said he expects Bangladesh’s customers would get world-class motor cycles at a reasonable price.

So far, Tk 1,500 crore has been invested for the development of motorcycle industry in Bangladesh.

“Hundreds of jobs were created thanks to the investment,” he said.

Honda’s move to start local manufacturing comes at a time when the motor cycle market is fast expanding, spurred by price cuts brought about by a slash in supplementary duty on the import of the two-wheeler’s components and a surge in ride-sharing services in Dhaka and Chittagong.

The National Board of Revenue slashed the SD by 25 percentage points to 20 percent in fiscal 2016-17 to encourage local assembly and subsequent manufacturing.

The government also framed the National Motorcycle Industry Development Policy 2018 with a view to diversifying the country’s manufacturing and export and creating jobs.

Today, on average 1,000 units of two-wheelers are sold every day in Bangladesh as the demand is surging for the mobility it provides in the congestion-ridden urban life. The number was around 550 five years earlier, said industry operators.

Yuichiro Ishii, managing director and chief executive officer of BHL, expects the motor cycle industry in Bangladesh to expand and contribute to the national economy by generating more jobs and developing a skilled workforce.

The plant will also facilitate technology transfer, encourage the growth of a parts supplying industry and attract more direct foreign investment, he added.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Mrinal Kanti Das, both lawmakers; Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, chairman of the NBR; Paban Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority; Muhammad Abdullah, youth and sports secretary; Hiroyasu Izumi, ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh; Noriaki Abe, operating officer for motor cycle operations of Honda Motor Co Ltd; and Masayuki Igarashi, president and CEO of Asian Honda Motor Co Ltd, were present.