Press Releases from Spire Research and Consulting (132 total)
Leadership Succession in Spire
In this planned leadership succession, Rio Funayama will assume the position of CEO of Spire. Jeffrey Bahar and Japnit Singh will each assume the position of joint COO and will extend their current executive leadership functions with respect to Spire’s operations. Go Sakano will assume the role of CFO of Spire.
November 1, 2021, Singapore – The Spire Research and Consulting Group and its parent company Yamada Consulting Group Co., Ltd…
Spire expands global footprint with inaugural venture into the MENA region
Spire Research and Consulting, leading provider of business research and consulting, and a group company of the TSE Listed Yamada Consulting Group, has expanded its global footprint to the markets in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The company has entered into a joint venture (JV) with United Arab Emirates (UAE) headquartered ZASK Associates, a leading provider of business and strategy consulting to companies in the MENA region.
The new company,…
Spire speaks on Cloud computing and IoT at the GATES Indonesia ICT Channel Summi …
Spire was honored to participate in the GATES Indonesia ICT Channel Summit, 2019 as Research Partner. The Summit was held on 18-20 June, in Bali. Albertus Edy Rianto, Senior Manager and Astri Welmien Tompodung, Senior Consultant, Spire Indonesia, shared their insights on the rise of Cloud computing and the internet of things (IoT) in Indonesia's business landscape.
The speakers discussed how, through the continued technological advancement, ICT is becoming a general…
Will compost turn out to be the magic mineral for African agriculture?
Introducing phosphorous back in African soil is important as it helps plants in early life to build root systems.
80 per cent of phosphate reserves are controlled by five countries. Morocco has 75 per cent of the global reserves. After an 800 per cent price hike in 2008, phosphate rock has become costly.
An alternative option is compost. Compost not only provides phosphorous and other nutrients but can also restore the soil…
Digital banking in Singapore
What will be the impact of digital banks in Singapore? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights in Business Times – Singapore.
More and more countries worldwide are issuing full bank licenses to digital-only banks. The competition from digital banks is being seen as a favorable development for the consumer.
Digital banks with fewer physical branches and Automated Teller Machines to maintain could incur lower costs…
Spire talks about political risks facing business in ASEAN
On 25th April, Spire, Yamada Consulting Group (YCG) and SPEEDA jointly organized a breakfast seminar in Singapore to share insights about the political risks that businesses face in ASEAN in a year of multiple elections. The panelists were Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, MS. Khor YU Leng, Research Director, Southeast Asia Segi Enam Advisors Pte. Ltd and Mr. Takashi Kawabata, Lead Asia Economist, Uzabase Asia…
Will Indonesia’s new government be favorable for Economic growth?
Mr. Joko’s likely victory in the Presidential elections of Indonesia would mean improved competitiveness through continued economic reforms.
He would probably continue working on attracting direct foreign investment, build infrastructure, continue civil service reform, promote special economic zones and for locally sourced commodities nurture value added processing.
Mr. Joko’s second term would also be beneficial for Indonesia’s ICT startup sector.
However the pace of the economic reforms may be slow, owing to the…
Will the tech sector create new employment opportunities for persons with disabi …
One billion people, or 15 per cent of the world’s population, are people with disabilities.
The employment rate of working age Americans with disabilities in 2016 was 36 per cent, versus 79 per cent for those without disabilities.
Tech giants are in favor of employing people with autism because of their ability to focus on details and identify patterns useful for cyber-security.
Will the tech sector create new employment opportunities for persons with…
Spire talks about key trends in Asia’s Franchise Industry
Spire was honored to participate at the 26th International Franchise and Exhibition , Malaysia, 2019. The event was held on 6th April in Kuala Lumpur. Jeffrey Bahar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Spire Research and Consulting group, shared insights on key trends in franchise industries in the Asia.
Bahar discussed key trends in three sectors suitable for franchising, namely pre-school education, facilities management and laundry services.
Global cleaning services are expected…
Will emerging countries dominate the pool of global megacities in future?
In 2017, 26 megacities were in emerging economies, compared to 7 in developed economies. There are likely to be 48 megacities with populations above 10 million by 2035.
By 2020, Greater Jakarta is predicted to be home to 36 million people, making it the biggest megacity of all.
War torn Baghdad, with a population of 10 million, may soon join the ranks of the world’s megacities.
African cities Dar es Salam and Luanda…
Will 3D printing enable the construction of permanent facilities on the moon?
On January 3, 2019, China became the first nation to land a probe on the far side of the moon.
A rover was released to perform experiments in the Von Karman Crater, located in the South Pole-Aitken Basin.
With the assistance of 3D printing technology, lunar facilities might be constructed there.
Can permanent research bases for human beings be built on the moon?
Spire Research and Consulting was established in 2000 to address a…
Spire talks about emerging Tech Retail trends in ASEAN
Spire was honored to participate at the GATES Consumer Channel Summit, Southeast Asia, 2019. The Summit was held on 20-22 March, in Bangkok. Hafidz Omar, Thailand Country Manager at Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights on key trends in consumer tech and challenges encountered in ASEAN.
Omar discussed how the IOT (Internet of Things) is impacting the retail industry in ASEAN countries. He also discussed the growth opportunities in geofencing,…
Will Africa become the latest global aviation hot-spot?
According to a survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), USD1 billion in annual GDP and 155,000 jobs will be created if 12 important African nations increased their air connectivity.
By 2035, with the right policy changes, an extra 192 million passengers a year will be travelling to and from African destinations, up from roughly 100 million now.
Will policy changes spark an aviation boom in Africa?
Spire Research and Consulting…
The Francophone BPO sector is lifting Madagascar’s economic growth
Madagascar’s BPO sector serving the Francophone world has flourished in the last 15 years, thanks to e-commerce and Artificial Intelligence.
French language skills combined with high speed internet availability as well as good quality and low cost human resources has attracted investors.
Madagascar’s BPO sector has help boost the rising middle class in a society where 75 per cent of the people still live on less than USD2 a day.
Will Madagascar’s Francophone…
Spire Client Entertainment Night March 2019
Spire Singapore hosted its first Client Entertainment Night of the year. Clients, business associates and partners joined the Spire team for the dinner reception followed by the movie screening of “Captain Marvel”- the much awaited movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise.
The movie’s main plot revolves around how Carol Danvers, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, becomes one of the heroes of the galaxy. And how she also joins Starforce,…
State of ride hailing services in Indonesia
As the popularity and convenience of ride hailing services increases in Indonesia, two players have emerged in the forefront. Within Southeast Asia, Grab has emerged as the largest online ride hailing service and Go-Jek is its competitor, an Indonesian Unicorn start-up. Apart from providing food delivery services, fraud is a systematic issue both players need to address. These were the findings from a survey conducted by Spire Research and Consulting…
What is the biggest risk event in 2019?
As the world adopts digitization in every sphere of life, is cybersecurity the biggest risk frontier facing world economies? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights in Business Times – Singapore.
World economies are ready to adopt technological advancements but the downside is a possible cyberattack on IT systems across any country. These could cripple governmental, financial, healthcare and other systems.
A cyberattack could come from…
Do Asian universities have room to rise in the global tertiary education ranks?
In the World University Rankings list, 21 out of the top 100 universities are based in Asia with Japan and China as the top contributors.
Graduates from Asian universities have also risen in employability according to the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019.
60% of the world’s population is in Asia but only 21% of the top 100 ranked universities are Asian. However, Asian universities are making investments and forging partnerships to keep…
Can India sustain its dependence on oil?
By 2035, India’s oil consumption will double from 7 Billion Barrels per day. Other nations are shifting towards alternative energy sources.
India will contribute a third of the global growth in oil consumption in the next 15 years, and is set to replace China as the largest driver of oil demand growth.
The country is becoming one of the largest oil consumers and is also home to some of the most polluted…
Spire talks about business opportunities and challenges in Indonesia at NUS Alum …
Spire was honoured to participate at the Navigating Japan-Indonesia Investment, Business and Market Culture meet. The interactive session was held on 11 December, 2018 in Jakarta at the National University of Singapore campus. Jeffrey Bahar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Spire Research and Consulting group, shared insights on business opportunities in Indonesia for Japanese companies, focusing on successful case studies and challenges.
Bahar discussed business opportunities and navigating challenges for…
Spire talks about Vietnam’s emerging ICT sector
Spire was honored to participate at the GATES Vietnam ICT Reseller Channel Summit 2018 as a Research Partner. The Summit was held on 4-6 December, 2018 in Vietnam. Japnit Singh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights on Vietnam’s booming ICT sector, focusing on market trends and growth strategies.
Singh discussed the digital landscape in Vietnam for e-commerce, e-payments and government policies for Information and Communications…
Asian airports are world beaters
According to a customer survey by Skytrax, four out of the five best airports in the world are in Asia. These five includes Singapore’s Changi Airport, Incheon International Airport (Korea), Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) and Hong Kong International Airport.
These airports are destinations in themselves as they offer a complete experience in terms of services, entertainment, retail and comfort.
Asian authorities are realizing that the airport is the thing that makes the…
Spire’s CSR activity with SCS beneficiaries at the River Safari
Spire Singapore collaborated with the Singapore Children’s Society (SCS) on its CSR activity for the eighth consecutive year. The beneficiaries took part in fun and engaging activities.
Spire Singapore took beneficiaries of the Singapore Children’s Society to an excursion to the River Safari at the Singapore Zoo. Children explored wildlife living within the great river eco-systems of the world, from the Mississippi to the Mekong
Children watched the alligator gar and the…
Ethiopia’s strategic cooperation with China
Over the past decade, Ethiopia has experienced an average economic growth rate of about 10%. Ethiopia is expected to grow by 8.5% in 2018, topping China’s projected growth of 6.5%.
In recent times, the Ethiopian government has abandoned its 1970’s Communist ideology and put in place some basic reforms. They went on to build sturdy infrastructure and launch a successful industrial policy, calling to mind China’s own development pathway.
The Chinese have…
Spire Client Entertainment Night November 2018
Spire Singapore hosted its second Client Entertainment Night of the year. Our business associates and partners joined us for a dinner reception followed by the movie screening of Walt Disney Studios’ Christmas classic “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” – inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale.
The movie’s main plot revolves around a key that the story’s protagonist Clara (Mackenzie Foy) needs to unlock a box with that holds a gift from…
China leads the way in gaming landscape
The share of mobile games in China rose from 12% in 2011 to 63% in 2017. Will China become a global leader in mobile gaming? Lin Tianran, Senior Consultant at Spire Research and Consulting, shared her viewpoint in China Daily – Asia Weekly section on 3 September 2018.
China established its presence on the global gaming stage by winning the first Esports championship in Jakarta at the 18th Asian Games. Esports…
India pushes Electric Vehicles
The Indian government’s recent tweaking of the licensing policy for Electric Vehicles (EV) promises to address the infrastructure obstacle holding back the sector.
The setting up of EV charging stations by the government would no longer require a license from the Ministry, paving the way for the faster construction of these stations.
Earlier this year, Ola – the cab firm – initiated ‘Mission: Electric’ with plans to put 10,000 electric auto-rickshaws and…
Esports in China emerges as a booming market
China accounted for 15% of the USD660 million professional Esports market in 2017. Can China cash in on this booming market before other players jump on the bandwagon? Spire’s viewpoint on Asia’s e-gaming landscape was cited in China Daily – Asia Weekly.
Esports – sporting activity built around public performances of electronic game-play – is a booming industry world-wide. In comparison to other sports, Esports training does not require an actual…
Breaking gender rules through video-gaming
Computer games have traditionally been developed with men in mind. Sadia Bashir from Pakistan is breaking with this tradition. She is the owner of PixelArt Games Academy and a member of Forbes’ 30 under 30 for Asia 2018.
Working towards bridging the gap between industry demand and education by providing training in video game development, Sadia has been in the field since she was 13 years old.
Intel is also working towards…
Game markets: Asia and China
In recent years, the Asia Pacific gaming industry has attracted the attention of investors, developers and analysts. Within Asia, Japan, South Korea and China are the leading markets. The Asia Pacific remains the largest games market and is expected to reach USD71.4 billion in revenue, with a spectacular 39 per cent growth in 2018. By 2021, domestic market revenue in China is poised to increase from USD27 billion to USD35…
China’s New Silk Road Initiative - An integrated trade strategy for the 21st c …
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), announced in 2013, is not only China’s most ambitious global infrastructure project but also one of the largest ever attempted anywhere. It aims to develop a free trade zone and improve global connectivity across the Eurasian landmass. With an estimated investment of USD4 to 8 trillion and affecting over 70 countries, can China successfully connect all these economies together?
What is China’s BRI?
The BRI mega…
Innovation in agriculture – Meeting global food security needs
The origins of agriculture
Agriculture is derived from the late-Latin word Agricultura with ‘agri’ depicting land and ‘cultura’ meaning cultivation. Starting out as hunter-gatherers, humans have gradually learned to settle in fertile places for farming and later, started domesticating animals.
The Fertile Crescent of the Middle East, which we now refer to as Egypt, Turkey, Israel and Iraq, is known as the earliest site of farming.
While it is not without its detractors,…
The Philippines – Asia’s next economic powerhouse?
The Philippines is emerging as one of Asia’s most dynamic economies, with a forecasted growth rate of 6.9 per cent in 2018 driven by investment and private consumption. The economy recorded growth of over 6 per cent in 2017, for the sixth straight year, thanks to buoyant government spending, exports and a recovery in the agricultural sector. Will this Southeast Asian tiger be able to maintain its momentum?
A growing economy
While…
Pets emerging as a growth industry in Asia
Asia’s burgeoning pet care industry is making its mark, with pet expenditure set to reach USD21 billion by 2022. Spire’s viewpoint on industry growth was cited in the South China Morning Post’s news portal.
Pet owners increasingly treat their pets like family members. This has led to burgeoning spending on pet care. Companies are commercializing a variety of services and products to cater to the growing Asian fascination with pets.
Rising disposable…
Spire chosen as Official Research Partner to the Challenge Iskandar Puteri triat …
Spire Research and Consulting was honored to be appointed as the Official Research Partner for the Challenge Iskandar Puteri triathlon – a Challenge family sports event that covers 41 full and half triathlons in 21 countries. The event was held between 14-16 September 2018 at Puteri Harbour Marina, Malaysia.
Spire Malaysia conducted online and face-to-face surveys with 262 participants of the triathlon along with 50 supporters.
The surveys collected information about their…
The air purifying power of 500 trees
Taking green buildings to the next level, an eco-friendly building is now visible in the posh area of West SoHo in Manhattan, New York. The first of its kind luxury building has 25 storeys with air purification mechanisms.
The façade is painted with Pureti, a water-based treatment that transforms contaminants in the air into oxidizing agents.
This treatment purifies the air like 500 trees, removing the equivalent of 2,000 cars from the…
Disney eyes India’s market through Fox Star India deal
Disney and 21st Century Fox are hoping to close a deal that will lead to Disney acquiring Fox’s Star India Network, adding more than 700 million people to its global audience.
Fox expects to increase Star India’s operating profits to USD1 billion by 2020. Disney is also counting on India’s smart phone boom to push mobile entertainment content.
Will Disney succeed in India’s entertainment market?
Spire Research and Consulting was established in 2000…
Walmart nails deal with Flipkart
In the e-commerce sector’s biggest deal yet, retail giant Walmart paid USD16 billion to acquire a 77% stake in Flipkart – one of India’s most successful e-tailers.
With India’s e-commerce sector set to grow four times by 2023, Walmart is looking at supporting Flipkart’s ambition to become a publicly-listed subsidiary in the future.
However, the revenue growth rate for Flipkart in 2016-17 was only 29%, a far cry from the 50% growth…
Spire explains market opportunities in Australia for Malaysian franchisors
Australians are increasingly dining out. As much as two thirds of the population (over 14 years of age) dine out at least once a month. To put this into perspective, the average personal consumption stands at around USD11 for fast food, USD7-10 for casual dining and USD 5-10 for snacks or desserts.
1,089 business franchisors ply their trade in Australia, of which 10% are foreign brands and 90% local brands.
Industries with…
Confidence key to Singapore’s success
Can Singapore cultivate a culture of confidence as it turns 53? Leon Perera, CEO of Spire Research and Consulting shared his insights in The Business Times – Views from the Top section on 6 August 2018 on Singapore’s future.
As Singapore ushers in another year of independence, more confidence needs to be instilled. Intelligent risk-taking will be key to the next phase of Singapore’s development.
Perera highlighted that familiarity with past successes…
CPTPP signed by eleven Asia Pacific countries
With the sudden pull-out of the USA from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) last year, the deal was eventually signed by the eleven remaining Asia-Pacific countries and renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The current CPTPP members account for more than 13% of the global economy – covering approximately 500 million people and USD10 trillion in GDP.
The CPTPP is expected to lift economic growth among Asian member countries…
Fancy a ride across Norway’s underwater floating tunnel
The 1,190 fjords along Norway’s coast take travel time to a new level, with several ferry crossings and a tiring 21 hour ride.
Therefore, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) proposed the world’s first underwater floating tunnel costing an expected USD25 billion. Submerged in the Norwegian Sea, the tunnel would be similar in to other tunnels – but operate 66 feet below the surface.
Will underwater infrastructure revolutionize travel?
Spire Research and Consulting…
Spire holds seminar for Japanese firms on Indian e-commerce
On 17 July 2018, Spire Research and Consulting organized a seminar with the Yamada Consulting Group (YCG) and Uzabase Inc (owners of the SPEEDA platform). The target audience was Japanese companies in Singapore. Saurabh Sharma (Country Director of Spire India), Eiji Asano (Head of YCG Vietnam) and Rahul Saigal (a senior executive at an Indian marketing agency), shared their insights on India’s economy and consumer behavior trends.
The speakers discussed changes…
FIFA World Cup 2018 holds lessons for successful team building
The FIFA World Cup 2018 is widely seen as one of the best World Cups in recent memory, with many surprises and goals aplenty. One talking point was the role of teamwork as opposed to just superstar talent. What lessons can businesses learn from the beautiful game? Leon Perera, CEO of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his thoughts in The Business Times – Views from the Top section on 23…
Is a Korean peace treaty on the cards?
The historical and unprecedented meeting between the two leaders of Korea is a monumental development. Can both leaders use this opportunity enhance geo-political stability and open up new economic development possibilities? Leon Perera, CEO of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his thoughts in The Business Times – Views from the Top section on 7 May 2018.
Marking a remarkable change, the unprecedented meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas underlines…
Microsoft supports Asia’s renewable energy industry
Microsoft has signed its first solar power agreement with Atria Power in India to purchase 3 megawatts (MW) of solar-powered electricity at its new office in Bangalore, India.
This ensures that 80% of the building’s projected electricity requirement is met but through supporting the local clean energy industry.
Encouraging initiatives like this will help India fulfil its Paris Agreement obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The deal comes a week after the announcement…
Africa’s aviation sector opens up
When the African Union (AU) launched the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) in January this year, it finally opened up Africa’s skies. 23 signatories on board, though another 32 AU members are yet to sign on.
SAATM’s launch is a part of AU’s Africa 2063 project, which is a commitment to intra-continent development. If a common regulatory framework is put into place, this could benefit intra-continental travellers immensely, thus boosting…
Spire talks about retail trends at International Franchise Conference 2018
Spire Research and Consulting group’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Bahar was honored to be a guest speaker at the International Franchise Conference 2018. The conference was held on 21 April 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, organized by the Malaysian Franchise Association.
Jeffrey Bahar shared insights on the growth of the regional retail industry, focusing on key trends and the attractiveness of various emerging markets across Asia.
With global retail sales set to…
India among the world’s top compact SUV markets
India overtook Japan in 2017 as the third largest manufacturer of compact SUVs.
Big players such as Renault, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford Motor, Hyundai Motor, Maruti Suzuki and other SUV manufacturers sold 457,698 compact SUVs in 2017 – over four times the unit sales in 2015, at 107,634.
While 2016 saw shrinking sales for this vehicle category in China and the USA, sales in India grew nearly 50% from 307,365 units in…
Eqyptian Israeli gas deal to boost bilateral trade
A USD15 billion deal has been announced between Israel and Egypt to export natural gas. Israel’s Delek Group has signed an agreement to supply 64 billion cubic meters of gas in a span of ten years to Egypt’s Dolphinus Holdings.
The deal is considered a milestone ever since the 1979 peace accord, bringing Egypt a step closer to becoming a regional energy hub.
However, the transportation of natural gas from Israel to…