Episode 8 of Asia Forward podcast is out!
In this episode, host @ledysimarmata speaks with Vicky Nguyen, NBC news anchor & chief consumer investigative correspondent, and the author of “Boat Baby”. We talked about her family’s journey from Vietnam to the United States, growing up as Vietnamese-American, and building a career in TV journalism. We also talked about why Southeast Asian representation in media matters for Americans.
Watch the full conversation of Vicky Nguyen and @ledysimarmata on YouTube, Spotify and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #VickyNguyen #BoatBaby #media #Vietnam #SoutheastAsia #business
While much of the world is still cautious about AI, Indonesian MSMEs are embracing it. “MSMEs look at AI as their friend,” says Lishia Erza Budiman of the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO).
For many entrepreneurs, AI-powered tools are helping them do more with less, from marketing and research to product development and business growth.
Watch the full conversation between Budiman and our host @ledysimarmata on YouTube, Spotify, and AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #SMEs #MSMEs #smallbusiness #Indonesia #APINDO #entrepreneurship #innovation #EconomicGrowth #AI #artificialintelligence
Women have a significant role in Indonesian SMEs, so significant that in fact, it might even be an understatement.
Asia Forward’s host @ledysimarmata and Lishia Erza Budiman of the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) highlights the “why” and the “how” in the latest episode of Asia Forward podcast.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube, Spotify and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #SMEs #MSMEs #smallbusiness #Indonesia #APINDO #entrepreneurship #innovation #EconomicGrowth #women #womenentrepreneur
Our after-hours at the shop looked a little different today, we taped a new episode of @asiaforward (!!) ☕🎙️
We talked all about specialty coffee, the culture, the coffee industry, Indonesian coffee, and what it means to build bridges in the chains that connect people through coffee.
Stay tuned for the episode release!
#WashingtonDC #DCCoffee #AsiaForward #DUADC #WomenOwnedBusiness
You’ve heard of unicorns, but have you met the “zebras?”
In Episode 7 of Asia Forward, Lishia Erza Budiman of the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) explains why some Indonesia’s most resilient businesses may not be the fast-growing “unicorns,” but “zebras” that grow steadily while staying connected with their communities. that grow steadily, stay profitable, and remain connected to their communities.
And, why is Indonesia becoming a place where zebra companies thrive?
Watch the full conversation between Budiman and our host @ledysimarmata on YouTube, Spotify and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #SMEs #MSMEs #smallbusiness #Indonesia #APINDO #entrepreneurship #ZebraCompanies #Zebras #Startup #SustainableBusiness #EmergingMarkets
SMEs are central to Indonesia’s economy, 99% of businesses and contributing more than 60% of GDP.
Their strength lies in their resilience, according to Lishia Ezra Budiman, committee chair for SME capacity building and inclusive economy at the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO).
Operating in a fast-changing environment, Indonesian SMEs continue to adapt and innovate across a wide range of sectors, well beyond food and fashion.
Watch the full conversation between Budiman and our host @ledysimarmata on YouTube, Spotify and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #SMEs #MSMEs #smallbusiness #Indonesia #APINDO #entrepreneurship #innovation #EconomicGrowth #GDP
The latest episode of Asia Forward Podcast is out!
In this episode, host @ledysimarmata speaks with Lishia Erza Budiman, committee chair for SME capacity building and inclusive economy at the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) on how Indonesia’s SMEs are shaping the country’s economic future and where the opportunities lie for global business.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube, Spotify and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #SMEs #MSMEs #smallbusiness #Indonesia #APINDO
Not all rare earths are created equal.
When China restricted exports, it focused on heavy rare earths, - the ones the U.S. can’t easily replace.
These elements power the ultra-strong magnets used in defense tech, clean energy, and everyday devices. And right now, China produces 93% of them.
So what does that mean for global supply chains?
Watch the full conversation with Dr. Gracelin Baskaran, Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and our host Ei Thant Sin on YouTube, Spotify, and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #CriticalMinerals #RareEarths #SupplyChains #Geopolitics
The U.S. used to be the top producer of rare earths in the world until the 1980s. When the Cold War ended, the U.S. sold off 97% of its defense stockpile.
So when China restricted rare earths exports to the U.S., “they didn’t only restrict rare earths to the U.S.—they restricted rare earths to the entire world,” said Dr. Gracelin Baskaran.
What happened after China’s restriction?
Watch the full conversation with Dr. Gracelin Baskaran, Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and our host Ei Thant Sin on YouTube, Spotify, and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #CriticalMinerals #RareEarths #SupplyChains #Geopolitics #SoutheastAsia #China #US
As critical minerals become central to the global supply chains, clean energy and advanced manufacturing, Southeast Asia is drawing growing interest from U.S. businesses and policymakers.
Indonesia’s rapid growth in nickel production has reshaped global markets, while Malaysia is emerging as a rare earth processing hub. Countries such as Vietnam and Myanmar also hold significant potential, though investment, infrastructure and political stability continue to affect development across the region.
Watch the full conversation on Southeast Asia’s role in critical minerals global supply chain with Dr. Gracelin Baskaran, Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and our host Ei Thant Sin on YouTube, Spotify and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #CriticalMinerals #RareEarths #SupplyChains #Geopolitics #SouthestAsia
“Rare earths are in everything from your motor to your seat belt to your door to your steering wheel.”
According to Dr. Gracelin Baskaran, when China restricted supply, the impact was immediate: “Even our auto manufacturers from Japan, Suzuki to Ford in Chicago actually had to pause manufacturing.”
Now, Southeast Asia is emerging as a critical player, home to key deposits andnew processing hubs like in Malaysia.
Watch the full conversation with Dr. Gracelin Baskaran and our host Ei Thant Sin on YouTube, Spotify and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #CriticalMinerals #RareEarths #SupplyChains #Geopolitics #SoutheastAsia
During a conversation with Asia Forward’s host Ei Thant Sin, Dr. Gracelin Baskaran said that rare earths aren’t actually rare. But the real challenge isn’t finding them, it’s making them usable. From locating deposits dense enough to mine to the complex process of separating them from rock, that’s where things get difficult.
While rare earths are mined around the world, most of the processing capacity is concentrated in China, which shapes the global supply chain in a big way.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube, Spotify and our website AsiaForward.org. Links in bio.
#AsiaForward #CriticalMinerals #RareEarths #SupplyChains #Geopolitics
