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James Guild

James Guild

The Diplomat

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Why Grab Wants to Acquire Indonesia’s GoTo for $7 Billion

If successful, the deal will create a ride-hailing and delivery giant that would dominate Southeast Asian markets.

previous day 2

The Diplomat

James Guild

US Private Equity Is Making Interesting Moves in the Indo-Pacific

Have recent acquisitions by major U.S. firms been made on the basis of commercial considerations, or is there a geopolitical motive at play?

25.03.2025 30

The Diplomat

James Guild

Are Investors Pulling Out of Southeast Asia?

ACross the region, international markets are responding to the growing level of uncertainty and risk in the global economy.

19.03.2025 9

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Scandal at Indonesia’s State-Owned Energy Firm Pertamina, Explained

Five oil executives have been arrested for importing fuel at inflated prices. What explains the timing?

11.03.2025 20

The Diplomat

James Guild

Singapore’s Budget 2025, Explained

Above-target tax revenues have pushed the city-state back into fiscal surplus for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

05.03.2025 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad Is Going Private

When is privatization not really privatization?

25.02.2025 8

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Sovereign Wealth Funds Are All the Rage in Southeast Asia

In an uncertain global climate, the state is playing a more assertive role in financial and capital markets.

19.02.2025 8

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Financial Scandal at Indonesian Tech Unicorn eFishery, Explained

The agritech firm's troubles reflect some of the broader challenges facing Indonesia's nascent tech sector.

14.02.2025 5

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, Explained

The project is intended to bring together Malaysia's land and labor with Singaporean finance and investment.

31.01.2025 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Indonesia is Blocking Apple From Selling the iPhone 16

Middle powers with rapidly growing economies feel they have more bargaining power than they once did – and some are not afraid to use it.

21.01.2025 9

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Return of Malaysia’s Government Investment Funds

Whatever momentum there once was for getting the state out of the economy has seemingly stalled.

15.01.2025 30

The Diplomat

James Guild

What Indonesia’s 2025 Budget Tells Us About Prabowo’s Fiscal Outlook

As one of his final acts before leaving office, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo signed into law the national budget for 2025. This...

07.01.2025 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Economic Nationalism Was the Biggest Story of 2024 in Southeast Asia

2024 was an eventful year in ASEAN. Clean energy had its ups and downs across the region, tourism and travel continued their slow recovery toward...

31.12.2024 9

The Diplomat

James Guild

With Indonesia’s XL Axiata-Smartfren Merger, Telecom Consolidation Marches on 

The wireless telecom business is not an easy one to be in. It requires huge investments in physical infrastructure as well as large outlays for...

20.12.2024 40

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Taxman Cometh in Southeast Asia

The last several years have seen a raft of tax increases across Southeast Asia. Singapore has raised its Goods and Services Tax (GST) twice in the...

12.12.2024 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

What’s the Deal with COP29?

The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), a U.N.-led forum for international stakeholders to meet and negotiate on climate policy, drew to a...

05.12.2024 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Thailand Plans to Stretch the National Budget in 2025

In 2023, a newly elected government in Thailand made big promises to deliver more direct benefits to the people. The signature program was a...

29.11.2024 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

Indonesia’s PLN and the Clean Energy Conundrum

The state-owned utility has allowed private companies to expand the country's generating capacity, but it may take a different approach with solar.

20.11.2024 3

The Diplomat

James Guild

What’s in Malaysia’s 2025 Budget?

The country continues to make attempts to reduce its heavy reliance on petroleum-related revenues.

14.11.2024 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Financial Struggles at Indonesian Textile Giant Sritex, Explained

The garment manufacturer is struggling with a heavy debt burden, a slump in demand, and a flood of inexpensive imports.

08.11.2024 2

The Diplomat

James Guild

Southeast Asia’s Semiconductor Play

Integrated circuits are acquiring ever greater currency as a geopolitical flashpoint, and this is creating a window of opportunity for countries...

03.11.2024 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Philippines’ 2025 Budget, Explained

The expanded budget confirms the Marcos administration's commitment to financing scaled up public spending by borrowing and running deficits.

29.10.2024 3

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Indonesia is Blocking Chinese E-Commerce App Temu

Jakarta has a long track record of leveraging market access in order to gain concessions from foreign companies.

23.10.2024 10

The Diplomat

James Guild

The EUDR Hints at the Limits of Market Access as Leverage

The relative decline in the size of the European economy has given exporters less demanding alternatives for the exports.

15.10.2024 3

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Political Economy of Cinema in Thailand

Like other parts of the country's economy, the Thai film industry has been based on attracting foreign investment and producing exports.

01.10.2024 9

The Diplomat

James Guild

Is Indonesia’s Middle Class Really Shrinking?

Given the lack of universal definitions, measuring a country's middle-class can be a complicated business.

24.09.2024 6

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Rise of VietJet, Explained

The Vietnamese budget carrier has announced the acquisition of a $7.4 billion fleet of Airbus widebody aircraft.

19.09.2024 3

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Ace Hardware Is ‘Leaving’ Indonesia

The country's retail market is not as weak as the move might suggest.

10.09.2024 2

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Indonesia’s Antam Wants to Acquire a Chinese Nickel Smelter

Jakarta has successfully encouraged foreign firms to invest in nickel processing facilities in the country. Now its own firms are looking for a...

06.09.2024 5

The Diplomat

James Guild

What is the Tatak Pinoy Act?

The Philippines wants to push into more advanced manufacturing activities, but the current state of the global economy will pose challenges.

29.08.2024 2

The Diplomat

James Guild

The Geopolitics of the AIIB’s $5 Billion Investment Pledge to Vietnam

The agreement suggests that the development bank, and its main backer China, is willing to finance infrastructure in Vietnam at concessional rates.

20.08.2024 3

The Diplomat

James Guild

Pertamina and Petronas Both Had Good Years in 2023, But For Different Reasons

The contrast between the two state-owned oil firms reveals interesting differences in the political economies of Malaysia and Indonesia.

13.08.2024 2

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why Japanese Investment in Southeast Asian LNG is Surging

As the use of liquefied natural gas in Japan has declined, the country's major gas players have pivoted toward investments in other markets.

07.08.2024 2

The Diplomat

James Guild

Why the Philippines Chose to Privatize Its Largest Airport

Once again, Manila has demonstrated its willingness to turn vital national infrastructure over to the private sector.

31.07.2024 3

The Diplomat

James Guild