The Knowledge to Decide

As Sri Lanka experiences demographic shifts – by 2021, 16.7% of the population could be aged 60 or above – the life insurance market is booming. The nation’s average economic growth stands at a brisk 6.2% since the end of the bitter civil war in 2009, with services and manufacturing leading the way. As Sri Lankans live longer, demand is surging for insurance products such as endowment and pension policies, with retirement planning taking a front seat. Will insurance continue to be one of Sri Lanka’s sunrise industries? For further information, click here.

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 .

Japanese women are increasingly pursuing professional aspirations but are being held back by rigid social norms that discourage mothers from working. However, as Japan realizes the important contribution that women can make to employment and innovation, social norms may be slowly changing. Is there a pathway to gender parity in Japan’s workplace? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his thoughts on Huffington Post, Japan – a globally acclaimed news portal. Only 10% of senior managerial positions are occupied by women, which is low when compared to comparable figures for the United States (42%) and France (38%). As in many other countries, women in Japan are often made to choose between their professional and personal lives in a way that men are not. Work-life balance is hard to sustain when they single-handedly take care of household responsibilities. Perera opined that Japan needs to overcome its societal norms about gender so as to b...

Thailand has been beset by continuous political tension since 2008. And now, anti-government protestors vow to “shut down” Bangkok. But the protests have not derailed foreign direct investment or economic growth. Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his thoughts on the outlook for Thailand’s economy in China Daily – Asia Weekly. Despite the on-going political unrest, Thailand’s economy continues to grow steadily. One of the drivers of this growth is foreign direct investment. The Thai Board of Investment, one of the region’s most respected investment boards, has managed to maintain investor confidence thus far. However, adverse impacts have been felt on Thailand’s stock market, currency and inbound tourism during this period of intense political strife. Perera shared that the Thai tourist industry has been hit by flight and tour cancellations. Having said that, other key sectors such as chemicals, automotives, information and communica...