Katsuji Nakazawa is a Tokyo-based senior staff and editorial writer at Nikkei. He spent seven years in China as a correspondent and later as China bureau chief and was the 2014 recipient of the Vaughn-Ueda International Journalist prize.
Indonesian superapp GoTo targets profit growth but wary of oil price surge
JAKARTA -- Indonesian ride-hailing and food delivery provider GoTo Group's new CEO expressed concern Wednesday that prolonged high crude oil prices stemming from the Middle East conflict will have "an adverse impact" on its business, even while projecting sustained growth in profitability.
Bhutan seeks economic revival with special city backed by bitcoin mining
NEW DELHI -- The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan -- once known as the kingdom of happiness but now mired in a severe outflow of young talent -- is betting on a special administrative region (SAR) project underpinned by a state-led bitcoin mining effort.
China eyes oil reserve expansion as Iran conflict creates supply risk
GUANGZHOU -- China plans to increase its oil reserves, adding and expanding national storage bases as uncertainty grows over energy security following the recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.
Iran war hits Europe-Asia airfreight as Doha and Dubai limit flights
TOKYO -- The war in Iran has dealt a blow to global airfreight services, with disruptions at hub airports in the Middle East hampering shipments of goods from clothing to pharmaceuticals between Asia and Europe.
Indonesian superapp GoTo eyes profit growth but wary of oil price surge
JAKARTA -- Indonesian ride-hailing and food delivery provider GoTo Group's new CEO expressed concern Wednesday that prolonged high crude oil prices stemming from the Middle East conflict will have "an adverse impact" on its business, even while projecting sustained growth in profitability.
Iran war sparks helium supply concerns for South Korea chip sector
SEOUL/TAIPEI -- The Middle East crisis is casting a pall over Asia's chip supply chain as concerns mount that the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz could drag on, making it difficult for South Korea and Taiwan to procure helium, liquefied natural gas and other resources.
Japan to release oil reserve as early as Monday in response to Iran tension
TOKYO -- Japan will unilaterally release its oil reserves as early as next Monday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday, as the conflict in the Middle East threatens the country's supplies.
Thailand's Banpu Power plans $90m energy storage project in US
BANGKOK -- Banpu Power, the electricity generation arm of Thai coal miner Banpu, plans to invest $90 million in a battery energy storage system in the U.S. state of Texas, anticipating demand from data centers, which are expanding rapidly there.
Exclusive: Asian executives flag rising supply chain risks from Iran war
TAIPEI -- Asian industries from petrochemicals to shipping to technology are increasingly at risk of disruption as the U.S.-Iran war disrupts shipments of key raw materials through the Strait of Hormuz, executives are warning.