As the coronavirus pandemic frames our new normal, one thing is clear if nothing else – logistics, the commercial activity of transporting goods to customers, had risen to the position of being the key enabler for the digital future. As is, that trend is racing towards us faster than ever before. 

The impact of the US-China trade war on the supply chain has been a drag on the short and medium-term outlook for the global logistics sector. However, in the wake of worldwide lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus had shifted again to the long-term prospects of logistics as its importance becomes even more apparent. 

Jakarta, May 18, 2020 – According to Bloomberg's latest capital markets league table data, Indonesia saw 26 initial public offerings (IPOs) launched in the first four months of 2020, the most among exchanges in South East Asia. This number compares to six in Singapore and eight in Malaysia. 

Despite the large number of IPOs launched, the equity capital market (IPOs and additional offerings) was relatively small in terms of value raised. The average size of each offering was US$ 10 million, a 74% drop from the average offering size of US$ 36 million in the same period last year. A total of US$ 272 million was raised via the equity capital market from January through April 2020, compared to US$ 550 million in the same period last year. By run rate, this will result in the lowest amount of equity capital raised in the last 10 years, since 2009. In the last five years, there have only been six additional equity offerings by Indonesian companies, (three in 2019 alone) which raised approximately US$ 1.1 billion. 

PETALING JAYA, 13 May 2020 – The country is finally moving towards a period of economic recovery as most businesses resumed operations following the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) on 4 May. According to KPMG’s latest report entitled Digital Banking: The Inclusive Agenda, in a post-COVID-19 world, the financial services sector will be a key driver of economic recovery and growth. In particular, the stage is set for digital banking to thrive.

Adrian Lee, Head of Financial Services at KPMG in Malaysia, observed how the changing socio-economic landscape has altered customers’ money management and spending patterns as well as the way businesses are run. For both individuals and businesses, mode of payments and channels of financial management will also change.

Following the relaxation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) by the Malaysian Government, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia will officially resume its business with stringent health and safety protocols in place following approval given by the government.

Dr Claus Weidner, CEO and President of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia said “The safety of our customers are paramount to us and we will continue to closely monitor the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia to ensure adequate safety and precautionary measures are in place at our premises. As we adapt to the new normal, we will be introducing many new digital approaches in the business with the first being the Mercedes-Benz virtual showroom. Customers can now view their desired vehicles from the comfort of their own homes and gear themselves up for an immersive virtual test drive experience.”