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Showing posts with the label Spirethoughts

Egyptian-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 Egypt is a challenge given the security risks. Will the Egypt-Israel gas export deal usher in a relationship of bonhomie and economic co-operation? For more information, click here .

Singapore signs a free trade pact with Sri Lanka

Singapore and Sri Lanka signed the first modern and comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) earlier this year. This is expected to boost commerce, trade and investments between the two island nations. Sri Lanka is Singapore’s 36th-largest trading partner with bilateral trade amounting to SGD2.7 billion in 2017. Singapore’s top imports from Sri Lanka include fuel oils, clothing accessories, perfumes, wheat flour and motor spirit, while Singapore’s exports to Sri Lanka include gold and jewelry, diesel fuel and petroleum oil, to name a few. Will companies take advantage of the Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/singapore-signs-a-free-trade-pact-with-sri-lanka/

Free access to vending machines for the homeless

A 24/7 accessible vending machine was launched at Nottingham, United Kingdom for homeless people to access free food, snacks, clothing and other sanitary items. Local homeless shelters issue special cards with access to the machines. Action Hunger – the charity group behind the initiative – also aims to install such machines in New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles. This will do away with limited accessibility and operating hours of shelters. Can vending machines provide bare necessities to the homeless? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/free-access-to-vending-machines-for-the-homeless/

Biodynamic farming in India

India is probably one of the places where the principles of biodynamic farming, which began in Germany over 90 years ago, are still socially accepted and in practice. Biodynamic practices focus on planting and harvesting of crops according to a calendar based on the positions of the moon and stars. This relates well to the popular affinity for astrology in India. SARG Vikas Samiti has been promoting biodynamic agricultural practices in India with an affiliation with over 50,000 farmers. Biodynamic farming practices are being used to salvage damaged soil, with the intended outcome being improved crop yields. Can biodynamic farming practices help resolve Indian farmers’ agriculture woes? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/biodynamic-farming-in-india/

India and Japan’s strategic alliance

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to work on an open Indo-Pacific region strategy with cooperation in infrastructure development and maritime security. The Japanese government will pump in more investment into high-quality railway and road network projects. Can a strategic alliance between Japan and India help in maintaining a stable regional balance of power, given the current stance of the US? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/india-and-japans-strategic-alliance/

New transport systems in Asian cities to curb traffic congestion

Traffic congestion in densely population Asian cities is nothing new. To address this growing menace, emerging Asian economies continue to invest heavily in new transport infrastructure in cities like Jakarta, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City. For instance, Manila suffered annual economic losses of USD18 million due to road congestion. According to a recent study, Southeast Asian emerging states under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – excluding Laos, Brunei and Singapore – need an investment of USD147 billion each year in infrastructure through 2020 to maintain growth momentum. Will new infrastructure and traffic management technology address traffic congestion in emerging Asian economies? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/new-transport-systems-in-asian-cities-to-curb-traffic-congestion/

Raking in the moolah through moon mining

Does anyone own the moon? Or other planets for that matter? The prospect of mining on the moon and other celestial bodies is fast becoming a reality. In 2018, Moon Express, based in Florida, aims to be the first private entity to put a small robotic lander on the moon with an investment of approximately USD1.85 million to set up an operations room and an engineering laboratory with a firings test stand for spacecraft engines. Private space exploration is picking up. Due to ambiguities in the Outer Space Treaty, it is not clear who can profit from such business opportunities. Such ventures could exploit the fact that no international treaties apply laws to the moon. Will governments allow private space exploration and the mining of moons and planets? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/raking-in-the-moolah-through-moon-mining/

Real time vision for the visually impaired

What if the visually impaired could actually ‘see’ their surroundings? Aira, a San Diego-based company, has developed smart glasses equipped with a camera which sends live video stream to a remote agent who then narrates what they see in real time over the phone for the visually impaired user. Just like an audio description of life, the visually impaired can now hope to experience life around in all its sensory glory. Can smart technology unlock visual sensory experiences for the visually impaired? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/real-time-vision-for-the-visually-impaired/

China’s booming camel milk industry

Xianjiang Wang Yuan Camel Milk Co Ltd is one of the crucial players responsible for China’s camel milk boom. The company maintains over 20,000 milking camels in Fuhai. No longer just a ship of the desert, the milk of the camel has become sought-after for its perceived medicinal and “beauty” value. Wang Yuan has over 500 outlets across the country, located in every province in China except Tibet. Wang Yuan’s revenues have grown to USD34 million in 2016 – a 15% increase over 2015. The company recently added a USD13 million research and development extension to its factory in Fuhai, and a new factory in Inner Mongolia has kick-started trial operations. Will camel milk production become a viable industry across the globe? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/chinas-booming-camel-milk-industry/

Future of fresh in supermarkets

Can you imagine a life minus the hassle of chopping vegetables for cooking? A new concept of vegetable butchers in supermarkets in the U.S. is gaining popularity, providing shoppers’ quick alternatives for fresh produces that include deli, bakery, meat and seafood as well as produce sections. The compound annual growth rates, from 2011 to 2015 for value-added vegetables was 15%. These include vegetable trays, snacking vegetables, side dish vegetables as well as meal-prep vegetables. Will the concept of vegetable butchers pick up pace globally? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/future-of-fresh-in-supermarkets/

Cashing in on the cow economy

A startup in India aims to sell cow based products. Based in Mumbai, Cowpathy uses ingredients such as manure, clarified butter (ghee) and urine among others to make consumer products with high medicinal properties. The company sells over 48,000 units of soaps that contain gooseberries, cow manure, lavender powder and orange peel. These are shipped out every month across 13 countries, including the US. Will the use of animal by-products revolutionize the consumer goods industry in time to come? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/cashing-in-on-the-cow-economy/

Prison ankle bracelets are all the rage in Brazil

With about 622,000 inmates, Brazil is home to Latin America’s largest and the world’s fourth largest prison population. Around 32,000 criminals sport one of the many types of ankle bracelets being used. Many others are on a waiting list. The authorities estimate that they can save anywhere from USD12,000 to USD 72,000 a year for every tagged inmate removed from prison. Will ankle bracelets allow more prison inmates to serve their sentences from home? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/prison-ankle-bracelets-are-all-the-rage-in-brazil/

Cold coffee cannibalizing cold drinks

The price of coffee is set to reach a record high by 2018, which is why coffee shops are hoarding coffee beans to meet consumer demand. While sales of hot coffee fell by 3% due to rising summer temperatures, cold coffee market sales were up by 80% over the previous year. It takes about 0.2 kilograms of beans to brew a gallon of hot coffee, while cold coffee takes only a pound. Production shortages in Vietnam and Brazil along with crop issues in Colombia are likely to raise prices for coffee beans this year, further fueling the trend towards cold coffee. Will most consumers start to consume their coffee cold? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/cold-coffee-cannibalizing-cold-drinks/

London spearheads Europe’s largest infrastructure project

Flagged off in 2012, the London cross rail project aims to achieve better connectivity within the UK. Deemed to be Europe’s largest infrastructure overhaul, the project aims to increase railway capacity by 10%. The project is expected to come on stream in December 2018. It will have 10 new stops, create 55,000 full time jobs, increase employment of female engineers as well as reach out to young students through various Crossrail programs for engineers. Will the UK’s rail overhaul help to buffer the impact of Brexit? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/london-spearheads-europes-largest-infrastructure-project/

Self-driven ships make a wave

By 2018 there will be fewer container trucks plying Norwegian roads, as Norwegian shipping company Yara is planning to launch unmanned ships to transport cargo between the countries biggest ports. The first such vessel – Yara Brikeland – is set to launch in 2019 and will be initially manned. By 2020, it will run autonomously, resulting in around 40,000 trucks being taken off the roads. Will unmanned ships shake up the maritime industry? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/self-driven-ships-make-a-wave/

Japan and EU revive trade deal

The Japan and the European Union (EU) have formally agreed on the outlines of a free trade deal. The two crucial sectors affected will be the automotive sector for the EU and the agri-food sector for Japan. The deal, which has already been agreed on in-principle, will take about 15 years to take effect. This Japan-EU trade deal is being touted as a strategic partnership that will boost co-operation not only in trade but also in other areas of policy such as climate change reforms. What will be the global implications of the Japan-EU trade deal? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/japan-and-eu-revive-trade-deal/

Fabric cutting technology to help nab criminals

Researchers at the University of Santa Cruz do Sul in Brazil and University of Technology Sydney have developed a stabbing machine to help forensic scientists study cuts in fabrics. Criminologists are often unable to recreate how stab wounds happened, since each cut will be unique. This new machine provides consistency while cutting through fabrics, thus making the analysis of textile damage a science. Can fabric cutting technology help solve crimes? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/fabric-cutting-technology-to-help-nab-criminals/

India’s novel tea café industry

Quirky chai cafés in India like Chaayos are now replacing the dominance of Coffee shops like Starbucks, Barista and most notably Café Coffee Day. Established in 2012, Chaayos boasts of close to 40 stores and hopes to expand to 75 outlets by mid-2018. Owned by Sunshine Teahouse, Chaayos has opened stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh. Bengaluru based Chaipoint and Mumbai based Tea-trails are the local competitors in the market. Unlike Chaipoint which has 94 stores so far, Chaayos invests in repeat customers. A 24/7 store in Gurugram and 7am stores to serve breakfast are their top-selling retail models. What brands and retail models will come to dominate India’s chai café industry? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/indias-novel-tea-cafe-industry/

Cross-border e-commerce comes with safety risks

High volume online shopping makes it difficult for US regulators to keep track of overseas manufactured items, effectively putting customers at risk. E-commerce has enabled popular products such as fidget spinners and vaping machines to win huge numbers customers without the help of any big brands. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) took a year to put new safety standards on hover boards after it entered US markets. Five months later, ten hover boards were recalled as their lithium ion battery packs were likely to catch fire or explode without warning. Should buyers beware or can cross-border e-commerce be made safe for consumers? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/cross-border-e-commerce-comes-with-safety-risks/

Thailand bets on biodegradable plastic

Thailand has adopted new methods in material sciences, by making biodegradable plastic with sugarcane feedstock at an investment of USD100 million. Thailand’s vast reserves of eco waste from its world-class agricultural industry are also being turned into bio gas for powering turbines . Will Thailand use agricultural waste products to create new green industries? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/thailand-bets-on-biodegradable-plastic/