Indonesia’s Omnibus Law: New Provisions on Indonesia’s Trade Sector

1. The Indonesian government issued Government Regulation 29 of 2021 (GR 29/2021) in early 2021, an implementing regulation to the Omnibus Law and which makes changes on issues of trade, particularly in areas such as the distribution of goods, exports, and imports, and the activities of foreign investment companies in the retail sector, among others.

2. The government also introduced several implementing regulations to GR 29/2021, in the form of Ministry of Trade Regulation 24 of 2021 (MOT Reg 24/2021) and Ministry of Trade Regulation 17 of 2021 (MOT Reg 17/2021) which sets out the framework for the distribution of goods and the facilitation of import and export activities.

3. Companies engaged in the direct distribution of goods also require a business identification number and must meet the following criteria:
- Holds an exclusive distribution right for the products;
- Has adopted a code of conduct;
- Has a marketing plan;
- Sells directly to consumers via a marketing network approved by the sellers; and
- Recruits direct sellers.

4. Manufacturers are prohibited from distributing goods directly to consumers unless these manufacturers are classified as micro and small businesses.

Indonesia’s Omnibus Law: Provisions on Special Economic Zones

1. Indonesia’s Government Regulation No. 40 of 2021 (GR 40/2021) aims to implement the latest provisions for special economic zones (SEZ) in the country.

2. GR 40/2021 highlights the various tax incentives to attract foreign investors into operating in an SEZ. These include reductions in corporate income tax (CIT), the non-collection of value-added tax (VAT), and import duty exemptions.

3. With 12 operational SEZs in the country and another six currently in the developmental phase, Indonesia seeks to stimulate economic dynamism through investments in its economic zones.

4. Furthermore, these SEZs are spread throughout the archipelago to help address regional imbalances in economic development. For instance, Java island accounts for 60 percent of the population — making it the world’s most populous island — and 58 percent of total GDP.

The impact of BEPS on tax incentives in Hong Kong SAR

 1. As of November 4 2021, 137 out of 141 member jurisdictions of the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework on BEPS (IF) have agreed to the statement issued by the IF on October 8 2021, which set out the building blocks and key rates for pillar one and pillar two of the BEPS 2.0 reform.  

2. Many jurisdictions across the ASPAC region, including Hong Kong SAR, offer a range of tax incentives to attract business and investment. However, the introduction of a global minimum tax of 15% under pillar two raises questions as to the appeal and future of such tax incentives. 

3. The global minimum tax may reduce the effectiveness of tax incentives and disincentivise jurisdictions to introduce tax concessions if another jurisdiction can claw back that benefit.  

Ericsson IndustryLab Report Predicts Manufacturing Transformation & Enterprise Dematerialization By 2030

1. The latest Ericsson IndustryLab Future of Enterprises report predicts widespread transformation of manufacturing enterprises in the coming years, including a rapid rise in ICT-enabled production tools such as augmented reality, exoskeletons and remote control.

2. The series of reports also predicts dematerialized enterprises expect to leverage cloud and mobile technology to become more productive and sustainable by 2030.

Product Spotlight - The Basics of Pressure Transducers

1. A pressure transducer is a sensor used to measure pressure. Depending on where you put it and how you connect it, a pressure transducer can tell you the pressure in a pipe or tank, the weight of an object, or even the depth of fluid above it. Most industrial pressure transducers are made of two technical parts, a transducer and a transmitter, inside a third, equally important part, the housing.

2. A transducer converts a physical action--often a vibration--into an electrical signal. Microphones and the pickups on an electric guitar, which both convert sound waves into electrical signals, are transducers. Pressure transducers, then, convert pressure--air pressure, fluid pressure, oil pressure, etc.--into electrical signals.

Global Minimum Tax (FAQ) - Part 2 - Jurisdiction, Industries & Tax Incentives

 1. On 10 July, the G20 endorsed the key components of the two pillar approach to international tax reform that was recently endorsed by 131 countries and jurisdictions, constituting the vast majority of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework (IF) on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). Each of the two pillars addresses a separate concern.

2. Pillar One targets the largest multi-national groups focussing initially on those with EUR20 billion of consolidated revenue or more and net profits in excess of 10% (profit before tax/revenue) and will require them to pay tax in the locations where their customers and users are located. A formulaic approach will be used to allocate a percentage of profits between each jurisdiction. Pillar One should effectively require in scope multinationals to pay at least some tax in the markets they interact with. 

3. Pillar Two, the key components of which are commonly referred to as the "Global Minimum Tax" or "GloBE" and which is the focus of this FAQ, introduces a minimum effective tax rate of at least 15%, calculated based on a specific ruleset. Groups with an effective tax rate below the minimum in any particular jurisdiction would be required to pay top-up tax to their head office location. The tax would be applied to groups with revenue of EUR750 million or more, making it far more widely applicable than Pillar One.

4. The Global Minimum Tax attempts to limit tax competition by introducing a globally uniform floor, below which the effect of low tax rates or fiscal policy measures would be largely obviated.

Product Spotlight - Future of Printed Circuit Boards

1. Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) today are tiny, multilayered, complex systems that hardly resemble their earliest ancestors. They're also produced at a much higher and more efficient rate than ever before thanks to sophisticated design software and manufacturing processes. Even 10 years ago, microvias, HDI and FPGAs were only seen in the most expensive designs, yet are now readily available to designers worldwide.

2. As technology and consumer demand grows and develops, however, so must PCBs. As the basis of all electronic devices, PCBs feel intense pressure for development and growth. With consumers pushing for slimmer and faster devices, and with industries seeking improved functionality, the PCB must continue developing into the future.

3. While modern PCBs are produced at incredible rates with astounding complexity, there is always room for development. Whether it's in the shape of the PCB itself or the accessories attached directly to the board, consumers are continuously pushing for new and different PCBs and PCB functions.

4. There's also plenty of room to grow in the manufacturing process itself as increased PCB complexity introduces new challenges for manufacturing companies. That's why most predictions for the printed circuit board's future focus strongly on the following areas.

Global Minimum Tax (FAQ) - Part 1 - IIR, UTPR, STTR, Rules, Affected Parties

 1. On 10 July, the G20 endorsed the key components of the two pillar approach to international tax reform that was recently endorsed by 131 countries and jurisdictions, constituting the vast majority of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework (IF) on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). Each of the two pillars addresses a separate concern.

2. Pillar One targets the largest multi-national groups focussing initially on those with EUR20 billion of consolidated revenue or more and net profits in excess of 10% (profit before tax/revenue) and will require them to pay tax in the locations where their customers and users are located. A formulaic approach will be used to allocate a percentage of profits between each jurisdiction. Pillar One should effectively require in scope multinationals to pay at least some tax in the markets they interact with. 

3. Pillar Two, the key components of which are commonly referred to as the "Global Minimum Tax" or "GloBE" and which is the focus of this FAQ, introduces a minimum effective tax rate of at least 15%, calculated based on a specific ruleset. Groups with an effective tax rate below the minimum in any particular jurisdiction would be required to pay top-up tax to their head office location. The tax would be applied to groups with revenue of EUR750 million or more, making it far more widely applicable than Pillar One.

4. The Global Minimum Tax attempts to limit tax competition by introducing a globally uniform floor, below which the effect of low tax rates or fiscal policy measures would be largely obviated.

Rail-Served Warehouse

1. Railroads are nothing new in the US. They were one of the first ways of moving cargo from place to place. The United States has one of the largest freight networks in the entire world. 

2. If you’re looking to boost your company’s revenue, save money and improve the efficiency of what you do, it’s time to consider a rail-served warehouse in your future.

How US Businesses Can Access the East Asian US$25 Trillion RCEP Free Trade Market Agreement via Existing Agreements

1. China has ratified the much-anticipated Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement and said that it hopes other members will ratify the deal for it to take effect from January 1, 2022. That is just five months from now.  

2. The RCEP free trade agreement (FTA) includes China, Japan, South Korea, the ASEAN nations of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam together with Australia and New Zealand.  

3. For US businesses and investors, the RCEP’s sheer size makes it significant. Participating economies account for 29 percent of global GDP and about 30 percent of the world’s population. This equates to a market value of close to US$25 trillion and a total consumer base of about 2.5 billion, of whom an estimated 1 billion are middle-class consumers. 

4. The primary aim of the RCEP is to establish a comprehensive economic partnership – building on existing bilateral ASEAN agreements within the region with its FTA partners. It will be guided by a common set of rules and standards, including lowered trade barriers, streamlined processes, and improved market access. For investors, RCEP delivers substantial new trade and investment opportunities within the participating countries and forms Asia’s largest trade bloc to date. 

5. The RCEP agreement includes 20 chapters covering many of the articles typically found in a free trade agreement. Notably, it makes significant strides by harmonizing the rules of origin and strengthening IP measures.

Opportunities in Malaysia’s Rubber Glove Industry

1. The onset of COVID-19 has increased the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). This will continue to rise, and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that some 89 million medical masks, along with 76 million examination gloves and 1.6 million medical goggles are needed each month to respond to the pandemic.

2. This upsurge in demand for PPE presents many scalable opportunities in Malaysia’s rubber glove industry, especially as the government has introduced new incentives for businesses. The country already supplies 65 percent of the world market for rubber gloves (300 billion pieces) and recording 52.7 billion ringgit (US$12.7 billion) worth of glove exports in 2020. This makes the products a key driver behind Malaysia’s resilient exports during a year in which global demand for the country’s resource-based and traditional manufacturing was adversely affected by the pandemic.

Product Spotlight - Radar and Ultrasonic Sensors - Differences & Complementary Technologies

1. There is a tendency to pit ultrasonic level sensors and radar level sensors against one another when in reality each sensor has advantages and disadvantages that give each sensor its own place.

2. We will look at the differences in how these two technologies work and will cover the applications each sensor is best suited for.

Relocating Manufacturing

1. United States is still a manufacturing powerhouse in many sectors, but it surprises many people that a huge number of everyday basic items have to be imported. 

2. The current pandemic-related shortages have fueled calls from political leaders of both parties for U.S. manufacturers to start producing critical supplies domestically. And long before the pandemic, President Trump was pushing U.S. companies to bring back production from overseas.

3. The issue is complex and defies easy solutions. The challenge lies in a combination of how modern supply networks are structured and the operational metrics applied to manufacturers. 

4. Taken together, the United States and other advanced industrial economies have evolved a highly efficient and productive product manufacturing-and-delivery system that provides them with a cornucopia of products at relatively low costs. But inherent in that system are dependencies and expectations that the pandemic has called into question.

Product Spotlight - How Ohm's Law Affects Level Sensors & Pressure Transducers

1. Occasionally, we hear puzzling tales of sensors that just won’t work, even though troubleshooting measures confirm the sensor is operational. If this ever happens to you, it’s worth taking a look at the cable between the sensor and your control system input.

2. There are two forces at play that need to be managed: resistance and noise. The effects of each are critical to receiving your sensor’s signal. One is just a part of the equation, while the other is a persistent threat. Let’s take a look at resistance, and deal with noise as we go along.

Achieving Win-Win Spin-Offs

1. Corporate spin-off can liberate a parent company and a divested business unit from capital and bureaucratic constraints, so they can pursue strategies they couldn’t otherwise. Yet their fates often remain linked. 

2. For a spin-off to truly succeed, both ParentCo and SpinCo (and their investors) should end up in a place better than the one where they started. Indeed,  empirical research suggests that spin-offs outperform by supporting the long-term growth and value-creation opportunities of both entities.

3. Getting to a win–win outcome is often easier said than done, however. Business leaders run into roadblocks when they make critical decisions about the structure of the arrangements between ParentCo and SpinCo and the execution of the spin-off itself—for instance, defining its scope, allocating talent and resources across both entities, and dealing with capital and stranded costs.

4. Four factors critical for achieving win–win spin-offs: a quick transition toward growth, operational excellence, leadership time and attention, and culture and talent.

Servitization of Machine by Manufacturers Generating New Revenue Stream

1. The manufacturing industry has continually embraced concepts that increased its ability to innovate and meet its customers' changing needs or requirements. 

2. Adopting digital transformation- solutions to implement Industrie 4.0 business models is one example of the importance manufacturers place on optimizing traditional processes to improve productivity. 

3. Likewise, servitization of the machine offers manufacturers a pathway to generate a constant revenue stream over decades.

Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) Impact on Hong Kong SAR & Malaysia

1. On July 1 2021, 130 countries approved a statement providing a framework for reform of the international tax rules. These countries are members of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS (IF), comprising 139 countries. 

2. The statement sets forth the key terms for an agreement of a two-pillar approach to reforms and calls for a comprehensive agreement by the October 2021 G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, with changes coming into effect in 2023.  

3. Pillar one of the agreement is a significant departure from the standard international tax rules of the last 100 years, which largely require a physical presence in a country before that country has a right to tax. 

4. Pillar two secures an unprecedented agreement on a global minimum level of taxation which has the effect of stipulating a floor for tax competition among jurisdictions.

5. The Multilateral Instrument (“MLI”) was signed in June 2017 by more than 70 jurisdictions, and represents one of the most important changes to-date to cross-border tax norms. Malaysia became a signatory to the MLI on 24 January 2018; and ratified the MLI on 4 August 2020 when the Malaysian MLI Order was gazetted. On 18 February 2021, Malaysia deposited the instrument of ratification with the OECD; and the MLI entered into force for Malaysia on 1 June 2021. 

Spin-offs, Start-ups & Cooperation Models in Germany

1. Germany’s start-up scene is in a state of flux: a new generation of business founders is emerging who have many things in common – they pursue research and development as a matter of course, use digital technologies and launch businesses that they want to see expand in the future. These young start-ups develop technologies for medical product innovations, new forms of mobility or applied artificial intelligence.

2. One such young and innovative company is the multi-award-winning start-up ArtiMinds Robotics. ArtiMinds has developed software that allows industrial robots to be programmed quickly and intuitively: the robot copies human movements and learns how to react flexibly to problems. It can then reliably solve even complex tasks.

3. An idea that is as brilliant as it is convincing, this has been a real success story. A 2013 spin-off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has evolved into a technology company employing over 60 people and supplying the world market from its Karlsruhe base.

Shanghai's Initiatives, Incentives and Measures in Lingang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ)

1. China’s central government has offered tax incentives, greater autonomy in local legislation and more administrative power to liberalise the capital markets in Shanghai, as Beijing envisions building Pudong into a “brilliant pearl” of a strong socialist country.

2. The document is being seen by city officials and the business community as a grand blueprint for Shanghai’s development until 2050.

OECD's Pillar 1 And Pillar 2 Solution to Address the Tax Challenges

1. On October 12, 2020, the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released “blueprints” of proposed solutions to address tax challenges arising from the accelerating digitalization and globalization of the world economy.

2. The Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 OECD blueprints focus on nexus and profit allocations, in addition to base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) challenges.

Philippines launches FIST Act for Banks and Financial Institutions

1. On February 16, 2021, the Philippines government issued the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act to facilitate banks and financial institutions (FIs) to dispose of their non-performing assets (NPAs) and non-performing loans (NPLs) through transfers to FIST Corporations (FISTC).

2. The FIST Act is among the government’s priority legislation to strengthen the financial sector and enable banks and financial institutions to extend credit to more sectors and thus stimulating much-needed economic growth. 

3. FISTC are asset management firms similar to special purpose vehicles and have been given the power to collect, dispose of, manage, and operate NPAs acquired from FIs under the FIST Act.

4. Through this measure, the government expects that the recovery of these financial institutions would spill over to other affected sectors of the community and help keep the economy afloat.

Consumer Insights & Trends Affecting Your Business

1. Euromonitor International has identified five key consumer insights from the results of its Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey. The survey was fielded to over 40,000 respondents in 40 countries worldwide in early 2021.

2.Consumers are demanding that companies care beyond revenue; they no longer perceive businesses as profit-driven entities. Protecting the health and interest of society and the planet is the new expectation, in order to Build Back Better. Companies should help reshape the world in a more sustainable way, leading a shift from a volume- to a value-driven economy and turning the tide on social inequity and environmental damage.

3. Global consumers are more focused on value, emotional wellbeing and hybrid lifestyles across the physical and digital worlds. Companies that can respond and align to these needs will be better placed to succeed and grow. With lessons learnt from the pandemic and the global recession, it is vital to prevent future shocks and disruption to your business.

Impact from Indonesia's ban on Nickel Ore Export

1. Nickel prices skyrocketed on the expectations of a shortage on the global market provoked by the increase in demand that outpaces the supply growth. The rebound in the steel industry and rising electric vehicle manufacturing drive nickel consumption. 

2. Indonesia, the largest nickel ore producer worldwide, banned exports of the ore and thus achieved a record output of refined nickel. 

3. Indonesia, the leading global producer of nickel ore, reduced its volume of mine production from 853К to 760К tonnes, banned the export of unprocessed nickel ore and increased the refined nickel production to 636K tonnes. 

4. According to World Bank, the average nickel price in the first half of 2021 reached $17,489 per tonne, which was 27% higher than the 2020’s average price of $13,787 per tonne.

5. Rising demand from the recovering steel industry and from emerging electric car manufacturing provokes the price rally, while the supply is expected to be insufficient in the immediate term due to a decrease in the mined output.

Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Pilot Program & Public-Private Partnership Housing Development

1. A new Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Pilot Program to support community-driven projects that promote healthy, affordable, and accessible development near transit. The pilot program supports the implementation of the City of Chicago’s recently adopted ETOD Policy Plan.  

2. Three-part ETOD plan was developed over the last two years to foster more equitable transit-oriented development citywide. The plan’s goals include driving investment in transit-oriented projects on the South, West, and Southwest sides while also preventing displacement and promoting affordability in the North and Northwest sides of the city.  

REITs in China & Philippines

1. Singapore is currently leading the trading of REITs in Southeast Asia,as the country has established itself as a hub for these companies for two decades with over 42 listed REITs.

2. Although the Singaporean REITs market suffered an initial blow because of the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak, it has recently reopened to resume global expansion. 

3. Another Southeast Asian country with an established REIT market is Indonesia, which currently has three listed REITs. Its REIT industry is obviously still very young compared to Singapore’s, as Indonesian legislators have yet to attract more entities by offering attractive investments.

4. Although the Singaporean REITs market suffered an initial blow because of the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak, it has recently reopened to resume global expansion. Another Southeast Asian country with an established REIT market is Indonesia, which currently has three listed REITs. Its REIT industry is obviously still very young compared to Singapore’s, as Indonesian legislators have yet to attract more entities by offering attractive investments.

Hard costs v soft costs, Front-loaded costs in Project Management

1. The term ‘front-loaded’ refers to costs that are applied disproportionately to elements of the work that take place early on during a project or part of a project.

2. There are a wide variety of different construction costs that must be built into a project’s budget. Many of these can be divided into two categories; hard costs and soft costs.

Asian Nations & China Plus One’ Strategy

1. In Q2 2021, the China-U.S. trade war and the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the need for companies to diversify supply chains outside of China.

2. This has given rise to the “China plus one” strategy, in which multinational firms are moving to other countries, in addition to China. Some Asian countries have put forward plans to attract overseas investment as companies look for another center of production or distribution. 

3. These include Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, which have introduced preferential policies for overseas firms investing in the country.

Electric Vehicle & Charging Station Market Analysis and Forecast

1. The Global Electric Vehicle Market size is projected to grow from 4,093 thousand units in 2021 to 34,756 thousand units by 2030, at a CAGR of 26.8%.

2. Factors such as growing demand for low emission commuting and governments supporting long range, zero emission vehicles through subsidies & tax rebates have compelled the manufacturers to provide electric vehicles around the world.

3. This has led to a growing demand for electric vehicles in the market. Countries around the world have set up targets for emission reductions according to their own capacity.

4. This has led to a growing demand for electric vehicles in the market. Countries around the world have set up targets for emission reductions according to their own capacity.

5. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to experience steady growth owing to the high demand for lower cost-efficient and low-emission vehicles, while the North American and European market is fast-growing markets due to the government initiatives and growing high-performance Passenger vehicle segment. 

6. However, the low presence of EV charging stations and hydrogen fuel stations, higher costs involved in initial investments, and performance constraints could hamper the growth of the global electric vehicle market.

IOT Security Issues & Software Implementation

1. IoT (Internet of Things) is a relatively new concept for companies of all industries. IoT software integrates with critical business systems (e.g., ordering systems, robotics, scheduling, and more) to enhance the execution of related tasks.

2. The main idea is to reduce operational costs while collecting and analyzing data so that processes can be optimized and goals can be achieved. All too often, what starts out as a simple task evolves into a number of challenges that must be overcome to reach the desired result.

3. About 60% of enterprises are already implementing IoT, but only 30% are ready to say they’ve done so successfully. Most business executives are not yet able to appreciate the value of implementing IoT software because its benefits don’t begin to bear fruit for some time after implementation. 

4. By focusing on reducing operating costs, companies often miss out on IoT’s ability to solve consumer problems. And while IoT software impacts efficiency, customer satisfaction and productivity in the long run, the gap between understanding why to use IoT and the real value of putting its innovation into practice is a common reason for enterprises being slow-adopters.

WEF's Global Lighthouse Network & Insights from Companies

1. The global manufacturing community is lagging behind in its adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. 

2. More than 70% of companies are still stuck in “pilot purgatory”, while only a select group of leading manufacturers are able to deploy advanced manufacturing at scale, generating new value and customer experiences within the factory or across value chains. 

3. To close this gap and accelerate a more comprehensive and inclusive adoption of advanced technologies in manufacturing, the World Economic Forum’s Shaping the Future of Advanced Manufacturing and Production platform has set up the Global Lighthouse Network. 

4. This community of manufacturers shows leadership in using Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to transform factories, value chains and business models, for compelling financial and operational returns. 

5. To date, 90 manufacturing Lighthouses have been identified from different industry sectors, including 3 Sustainability Lighthouses. 

6. They have embarked on a joint learning journey, partnering on collaborative projects, developing insights and incubating new potential partnerships.

7. The Weichai Power Company, a powertrain, vehicle and construction machinery producer in China, is an E2E Lighthouse that has achieved technology-enabled connectivity across multiple functions. 

Knowledge Management for Manufacturers

1. Many operations already have systems in place to manage their tangible knowledge; that’s reports, presentations, papers etc. However, they often overlook the knowledge and experience of their people. 

2. A highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce is often a company’s most valuable and unique asset, so shouldn’t something be done something to safeguard this knowledge as well?

3. But effective knowledge management is often easier said than done – and this fact has been detrimental to the progress of many organizations. This is especially true for those in manufacturing industries, including general manufacturing, information technology, telecoms, chemicals and consumer goods. 

4. In such companies, an aging workforce and largely manual processes have inhibited the effective transfer of knowledge and caused a massive skills gap to emerge. And this has hobbled one of the greatest economic drivers in the U.S.

5. Here’s how to implement knowledge management in industries across the board to close the skills gap, save money and bring your organization into the future.

Funds to Support Planning Efforts and a more Equitable, Just, & Inclusive Transportation System

 1. In the United States, The Federal Transit Administration (FTA)  announced the availability of approximately $10 million in competitive grant funds through FTA's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning.

2. FTA says the funds will support comprehensive planning efforts that help connect communities, improve access to public transportation and affordable housing, combat climate change, advance environmental justice, and promote equitable delivery of benefits to underserved communities. 

Considerations for a Rail-Served Industrial Property

1. Developers who are looking to build rail-served industrial parks must consider a few questions.

2. Does it make sense to provide freight rail service to this development and is there a market for it? What must be accounted for when it comes to logistics, internal and external operations, cost and design?

3. After determining the facility type, identify the transportation access the site will require. Is the site near a major highway, port or inland port? Is there existing access to rail onsite?

4. The Transportation Research Board(TRB)’s National Cooperative Freight Research Program study recommends the goals of delivering goods with speed and accuracy that meets or exceeds the competitive standards in the market and establishing a set of logistics costs that are as low as possible within the delivery standards. In other words, the site’s location should help lessen operating time and monetary commitments.

Malaysia listed among top ten in global logistics ranking

1. In February 2021, Malaysia has been named among the top ten attractive nations to logistics providers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, air cargo carriers and distributors.

2. Freight forwarding and contract logistics provider Agility said Asia-Pacific nations led all emerging market regions with China, India and Indonesia being the world’s top emerging markets in the 12th annual Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, a broad gauge of competitiveness based on logistics strength and business fundamentals.

3. The Index ranks 50 countries by factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, air cargo carriers and distributors.

Artificial Intelligence Growth, Adoption & Development in Asia

1. There has been a rapid increase in the adoption and development of artificial intelligence across the globe. Business platforms are depending on AI for better growth, efficiency, and digital transformation. 

2. Cutting-edge technologies like 5G will escalate the use cases of AI across industries. According to McKinsey Global Survey 2020, 50% of respondents reported that their companies have adopted AI in at least one business function.

3. The global leaders in AI adoption, research, and development include Asian countries like China, Singapore, and Japan. 

Major Leading & Lagging Economic Indicators

1. Paying attention to economic indicators can give you an idea of where the economy is headed so you can plan your finances and even your career accordingly.

2. There are two types of indicators you need to be aware of:

3. Leading indicators often change prior to large economic adjustments and, as such, can be used to predict future trends.

4. Lagging indicators, however, reflect the economy’s historical performance and changes to these are only identifiable after an economic trend or pattern has already been established.

Product Spotlight - Fully Foldable Solar Cells & Existing Issues with Flexible Solar Cells

1. Flexible solar panels are another category of foldable devices receiving lots of scientific attention. And while many advances are being made, researchers have been having a challenging time making the panels fully foldable (repeatedly bend without breaking) until now.

2. Engineers at Korea’s Pusan National University created fully foldable prototype solar cells. Such panels would simplify storage and transportation and integration into everyday devices like cars, windows, phones, and clothing.

3. While flexible solar cells do exist, their bend is limited, like a card; If they bend any further, they break. A genuinely efficient foldable conductor can withstand the pressure of turning within a tiny radius while maintaining its integrity and function. That’s what the Korean engineers found.

4. Unlike merely flexible electronics, foldable devices are subject to much harsher deformations, with folding radii as small as 0.5 mm. This is not possible with conventional ultra-thin glass substrates and metal oxide transparent conductors, which can be made flexible but never fully foldable.

Product Spotlight - Float Switches In The Food and Beverage Industry

1. Float switches are used for point-level detection and are commonly used to control other devices such as alarms and pumps when a liquid level rises or falls to a specific point. 

2. Float Switches are used in a variety of industries and applications including applications in food and beverage, water and wastewater, and chemical industries.

3. Below are examples of food and beverage industry applications Float Switches are used in.

2021 Manufacturing Trends

1. It’s time to turn our attention away from Industry 4.0 and toward Industry 5.0. Where the fourth industrial revolution focused on using technology to optimize the means of production, the fifth is all about connecting man and machine — that is, collaboration between humans and smart systems.

2. Depending on who you ask, Industry 5.0 is either on the immediate horizon, or it’s already here, its arrival accelerated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Regardless which viewpoint you subscribe to, there can be no doubt that manufacturers must continue to embrace change in order stay ahead of competitors and win market share in an ever-evolving industry. Those who wish to not just survive, but thrive, must leverage the latest technologies and trends.

Ifo Business Climate Survey & Index

 1. The Ifo Business Climate Survey is a leading indicator of German economic activity, compiled by the Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research. 

2. The ifo Business Climate Index is a highly-regarded early indicator of economic developments in Germany published on a monthly basis. Detailed results of the ifo Business Survey are published in the ifo Konjunkturperspektiven (in German).

Implementing Transit-Oriented Development

1. Pursuing TOD is a core requirement for cities to achieve a significant modal shift away from reliance on private vehicles. It requires long-term vision and investment. Cities as diverse as Portland, Cape Town, Curitiba, Tokyo and Stockholm are leading the way, and this is how cities can join them.

Thailand Develops Eastern Corridor with Deep-water Port, LNG Terminal &, Industrial Port Development

1. The EEC is part of the government's strategy to move Thailand towards a high-tech economy.

2. The area spans a combined 30,000 rai of land in the provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao to accommodate investments in targeted industries, focusing largely on advanced technology.

Steel & Magnet Wire Market & Forecast

1. The global steel wire market size is projected to grow from USD 93.2 billion in 2020 to USD 124.7 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.0%. The steel wire industry is growing due to the rise in demand for steel wires from various applications, globally. The demand for steel wire is expected to decline in 2020 due to COVID-19. However, the end of lockdown and recovery in the end-use industries will stimulate the demand during the forecast period. 

2. The global magnet wire market size is projected to grow from USD 32.7 billion in 2021 to USD 41.8 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 5.0%. The magnet wire market is growing due to the rise in the demand from wind electrical & electronics, industrial, infrastructure, and transportation industries. Growing tax incentives along with government stimulus packages are fuelling the growth of magnet wire market across the world.

Measuring Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) & its application & challenges

1. At its most basic, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a simple calculation that can be the foundation of great process analysis. It is used to evaluate one machine, one station, or an entire factory. 

2. It’s understandable by operations, engineers and executive management, and it can guide real-time and long-term process improvements.

Withholding Tax

 1. Withholding tax is an amount withheld by the party making payment (payer) on income earned by a non-resident (payee) and paid to the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia.

2. 'Payer' refers to an individual/body other than individual carrying on a business in Malaysia. He is required to withhold tax on payments for services rendered/technical advice/rental or other payments made under any agreement for the use of any moveable property and paid to a -resident payee.

3. 'Payee' refers to a non-resident individual/body other than individual in Malaysia who receives the above payments.

Key Metrics To Track Industry 4.0

 1. The following are the most valuable types of metrics for managing manufacturing operations today:

- Financial metrics that are based on real-time data monitoring from the shop floor 
- Customer responsiveness and satisfaction metrics
- Supplier and product quality metrics
- Efficiency-based metrics
- New Product Development & Introduction (NPDI) time-to-market performance

2. Operations teams are also designing their smart factory IT and Operations Technology (OT) systems to capture real-time data when possible on the following types of metrics:

- Asset and maintenance metrics including preventative metrics
- Inventory management, turns, and velocity
- Compliance metrics

3. The following are the valuable metrics to manufacturers as they plan, pilot, and launch smart factories.

Product Spotlight - bio-based additives (Estolide)

1. Biosynthetic® Technologies announced the launch of their new product line of novel additives for the metalworking fluids (MWF) market called Biocea™. 

2. Biosynthetic Technologies has developed a revolutionary new class of high-performance bio-based additives for the use in metalworking fluids, called Biocea. 

3. These novel sustainable additives use the patented estolide technology and are biobased, biodegradable, non-bioaccumulative, and non-toxic. 

4. Biocea additives leverage Biosynthetic Technologies’ proprietary estolide technology for high demanding water soluble, synthetic, and conventional oil additive applications. 

Product Spotlight - Glass-filled polyamide AKA Nylon

1. Glass-filled polymer (or glass-filled plastic), is a mouldable composite material. It comprises short glass fibers in a matrix of a polymer material. It is used to manufacture a wide range of structural components by injection or compression moulding.

2. It is an ideal glass alternative that offers design flexibility, chemical, durability, and chemical and shatter resistance.