News

Airbus has announced that its Chief of Procurement, Juergen Westermeier, will assume leadership of the company’s operations in India and South Asia, effective 1 September. The internal appointment was communicated via a company memo reviewed by Reuters. A successor for the procurement role has yet to be named, with the memo stating that the position remains “subject to further notice.” Airbus has declined to comment publicly on the internal reshuffle. The leadership transition comes amid ongoing challenges for the European aerospace giant as it continues to grapple with persistent supply chain disruptions. These issues, rooted in labour shortages and reduced industrial capacity following the COVID-19 pandemic, have hampered the company’s ability to maintain consistent production and delivery schedules. Recent performance indicators underscore the pressure Airbus is facing. Aircraft deliveries in May fell by 4 per cent compared to the previous month, contributing to a year-to-date decline of 5 per cent. Airbus has set an ambitious target of delivering 820 aircraft by the end of 2025, representing a 7 per cent increase over previous figures. Achieving this will require a significant ramp-up in output over the coming months. Analyst Rob Morris, Head of Consultancy at Cirium Ascend, noted via LinkedIn that production of Airbus’s A320neo family trailed Boeing’s 737 MAX in May for the first time since August 2019, based on the number of first flights. Airbus did not comment on monthly production figures but has attributed recent shortfalls to ongoing weaknesses in key parts of the supply chain, particularly involving engine components and aerostructures. Westermeier’s reassignment marks the second high-level change in Airbus’s engineering and industrial leadership in recent weeks. Earlier, Sabine Klauke, the group’s Chief Technology Officer, was reassigned to focus on digital design and manufacturing transformation efforts. During his tenure as procurement chief, Westermeier was known for a firm stance on supplier quality and stock management. In 2021, a letter reported by Reuters revealed that he had urged suppliers to hold more inventory and improve performance standards. More recently, he spearheaded an initiative aimed at unifying standards across the supply network. While some suppliers have called for fresh approaches to encourage readiness for increased production, a source familiar with the matter said Westermeier’s transition is unrelated to current supply chain challenges, which are reportedly beginning to stabilise. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury commended Westermeier’s contributions in the internal communication. Westermeier will replace Remi Maillard, who was recently appointed Head of Technology as Airbus explores future development paths for the successor to its best-selling A320neo aircraft.

Amazon has officially launched the AWS Asia Pacific (Taipei) Region, significantly expanding its global cloud infrastructure footprint. The new region will enable developers, enterprises, startups, and organisations across various sectors—including education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and the nonprofit space—to run applications with reduced latency and meet data residency requirements by hosting content within Taiwan. In support of this long-term initiative, Amazon has committed to investing more than USD 5 billion to build, connect, operate, and maintain its data centres in Taiwan. The launch marks a key milestone in Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) global infrastructure expansion, bringing the total to 117 Availability Zones across 37 regions worldwide. The Taipei Region comprises three Availability Zones, and AWS has plans to add 13 more zones and four additional regions in Chile, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Prasad Kalyanaraman, Vice President of Infrastructure Services at AWS, stated that the new region will empower organisations of all sizes to scale confidently using AWS’s extensive portfolio of cloud services. These include compute, storage, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence, all while maintaining compliance with local regulations. Kalyanaraman added that the infrastructure is designed to deliver single-digit millisecond latency, enhancing user experiences and accelerating innovation. Taiwan’s Premier, Mr Jung-tai Cho, welcomed the investment, noting that it underscores Taiwan’s vital role in the global supply chain and reinforces the country’s collaboration with AWS. He expressed optimism that the initiative would support national efforts in digital transformation and foster innovation in cloud computing and emerging technologies. Amazon’s latest launch builds upon a decade of infrastructure development in Taiwan. Since 2014, AWS has introduced Amazon CloudFront edge locations and AWS Direct Connect sites in Taipei, in addition to launching AWS Outposts in 2020 and AWS Local Zones in 2022. The new Taipei Region is sovereign-by-design and aims to meet the most stringent requirements for security, reliability, and performance. The region will benefit local organisations such as TSMC, Acer, Trend Micro, Cathay Financial Holdings, Chunghwa Telecom, and Yahoo! TW Ecommerce, among others. AWS Partners in Taiwan include CKmates, eCloudvalley, Going Cloud, MetaAge Corporation, Netron Ltd., and NextLink Technology. Amazon is also investing in talent development through programmes like AWS Academy, AWS Educate, and AWS Skill Builder. To date, over 200,000 individuals in Taiwan have received cloud training, contributing to the nine million trained across Asia Pacific and Japan since 2017. AWS plans to further expand its local workforce to support the new region. The company continues to pursue its sustainability goals, with AWS data centres engineered for energy efficiency through innovations in design, purpose-built chips, and cooling technologies. A study by Accenture estimates AWS’s infrastructure is up to 4.1 times more energy-efficient than traditional on-premises data centres, with potential carbon footprint reductions of up to 99% when workloads are optimised on AWS. With the launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (Taipei) Region, customers across Asia Pacific can now leverage world-class infrastructure to meet increasing demand for secure, reliable, and low-latency cloud services, helping drive growth, efficiency, and innovation in a digitally transforming region. -BusinessWire

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is set to significantly expand its footprint in South Africa, with plans to nearly triple its dealership network by next year, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its position in Africa’s largest automotive market. The company, which made its South African debut in 2023 with the launch of its battery electric ATTO 3 model, currently operates approximately 13 dealerships across the country. According to Steve Chang, General Manager of BYD Auto South Africa, that number is expected to increase to 20 by the end of this year, with further growth to between 30 and 35 dealerships targeted for 2025. This strategic expansion comes amid increasing competition in South Africa’s emerging new energy vehicle (NEV) segment, where other Chinese automakers such as GAC, Chery, and GWM are also gaining traction. The market is witnessing a gradual shift towards electrification, driven by rising consumer interest and a broader global transition towards sustainable mobility. BYD currently offers six models to South African consumers, with a dual-powertrain approach that includes both hybrid and fully electric vehicles. Its latest additions to the market — the plug-in hybrid Shark pick-up, the hybrid SEALION 6, and the fully electric SEALION 7 SUV — were introduced in April, enhancing the brand’s appeal across a diverse customer base. The expanded dealership network is expected to bolster brand visibility and accessibility across South Africa, a country that remains in the early stages of electrified vehicle adoption. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), sales of new energy vehicles more than doubled in 2024, reaching 15,611 units compared to 7,782 units the previous year. Despite this growth, NEVs still account for a relatively small share of overall car sales. Chang emphasised BYD’s commitment to being a long-term player in the market, stating the company’s intention to educate consumers and lay the groundwork for broader adoption. “We want to educate and cultivate the market of South Africa and make sure that the South African consumers can catch up with the rest of the world,” he said. He acknowledged that the uptake of electric vehicles in Africa remains slow when compared to other emerging markets, due in part to challenges such as limited charging infrastructure, unstable electricity supply, and high import duties on electric vehicles relative to traditional combustion-engine cars. Nevertheless, BYD remains optimistic. “South Africa is actually one of the most important automotive markets in the southern hemisphere. It’s probably the biggest market in all of Africa, so it’s a market that we have to look at and see how we can develop,” Chang added. With a growing model line-up and a strengthened retail presence, BYD is positioning itself to play a key role in shaping the future of electric mobility in South Africa. -Reuters

China has officially introduced a new multiple-entry visa scheme tailored for business travellers from the 10 ASEAN member nations, as well as ASEAN observer Timor-Leste, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday, 3 June. The initiative, dubbed the “ASEAN visa”, enables eligible individuals from Southeast Asian countries to enter China multiple times over a five-year period, with each stay permitting a duration of up to 180 days. The visa also extends to accompanying spouses and children. The ASEAN countries covered under this new arrangement include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Timor-Leste, a formal observer of ASEAN, is also included. This strategic move comes amid China’s broader efforts to facilitate regional travel and deepen cross-border economic engagement. “With frequent visits between the people of China and Southeast Asian countries, the new scheme aims to further facilitate cross-border travel in the region,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a press briefing. The ASEAN visa complements several bilateral visa-free agreements already in place. China currently maintains reciprocal visa-free travel arrangements with Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, allowing citizens to visit each other’s countries for up to 30 days without a visa. These agreements have contributed to a surge in regional mobility since their respective inceptions, including the Singapore-China visa-free policy that commenced in February last year. This latest scheme builds upon the “Lancang-Mekong visa”, which was introduced in November 2024. That programme provides five-year multiple-entry business visas, with a stay of up to 180 days, for nationals from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam—five countries along the Mekong River. In a broader effort to boost inbound tourism and international engagement, China has expanded its visa-free access globally. As of 1 June, a pilot policy has been implemented granting unilateral visa-free entry to citizens from several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Additionally, visa-free entry has recently been extended to all member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). China reported a significant uptick in foreign arrivals in early 2025, with over 9 million international visitors recorded in the first quarter—a year-on-year increase exceeding 40%, according to official figures. “The growing list of nations granted visa-free entry into the country reflects China’s strong commitment to advancing high-level opening up,” Lin said. “The continuous optimisation of measures to facilitate cross-border personnel exchanges underscores China’s concrete efforts to help build an open world economy.” He added that China remains committed to refining its entry policies and expanding the number of countries eligible for visa-free travel, as part of a wider strategy to attract global visitors and promote its rich array of products and services. -CNA

South Korean beauty startups, buoyed by robust online sales in the United States, are accelerating their physical retail expansion in the world’s largest consumer market, betting that strong brand appeal and quality will outweigh rising tariff concerns. Emerging brands such as Tirtir, d’Alba, Torriden, and Beauty of Joseon are in discussions with major US retailers to stock their products in physical stores, according to company executives interviewed by Reuters. This strategic pivot underscores the confidence K-beauty players have in their ability to maintain momentum in a dynamic and highly competitive market. Korean beauty products, widely recognised for their quality, affordability and savvy digital marketing, have risen on the back of South Korea’s wider cultural influence — often referred to as the ‘K-wave’. Music, film, and television successes like BTS and Parasite have paved the way for consumer interest in Korean lifestyle exports. “In the US, interest in South Korea had already been growing. Korean cosmetics entered at the right moment. The quality is high, but prices remain competitive against legacy luxury brands like Estée Lauder and L’Oréal,” said An Byung-Jun, CEO of Tirtir. Tirtir saw its US profile surge last year following the viral popularity of its cushion foundation tailored for darker skin tones. The product is slated to be available at select Ulta Beauty stores this summer. An added that the company is targeting a twofold increase in US sales this year. Retailers including Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Costco, and Target are currently engaged in talks with Korean cosmetics firms to expand their offerings to physical store locations, according to more than a dozen industry sources including executives, CEOs, and market analysts. Many Korean brands remain optimistic that they can weather tariff headwinds more effectively than global peers, due in part to their lean operational models. A significant number outsource manufacturing to firms like Cosmax and Kolmar—often referred to as the “Foxconns of fast beauty”—to minimise production costs. In 2024, South Korea surpassed Germany to become the world’s third-largest exporter of beauty products, following only France and the United States. Export volume accounted for 80% of the nation’s $13 billion cosmetics output, largely propelled by e-commerce channels. The growing interest is also visible at the consumer level. “They go straight to the point to fix what your skin needs,” said 25-year-old Yuliet Mendosa, a US tourist in Seoul and fan of K-pop group BTS, while browsing an Olive Young store. Expanding Amid Global Trade Uncertainty The US expansion effort comes amid ongoing global trade uncertainty triggered by the tariff regime introduced under former President Donald Trump. While this has raised concerns among exporters, Korean executives maintain that solid demand and brand equity will offset potential losses. Olive Young, South Korea’s leading beauty retailer, is preparing to open its first US store in Los Angeles later this year, confirmed Jin Se-hoon, Executive Vice President of the company’s global platform business. “California is currently the largest customer base for our global online platform,” Jin stated, acknowledging that tariffs are a concern but not a deal-breaker. The US market push also reflects a strategic pivot following a downturn in exports to China, previously the largest overseas destination for Korean beauty products. This decline has been attributed to escalating geopolitical tensions and intensified market competition. Skincare label d’Alba—owned by newly listed d’Alba Global—is currently negotiating with Costco, Ulta Beauty and Target to expand its physical presence. The brand is known for its vegan-certified mist serums and sunscreens. Meanwhile, luxury retailer Sephora, part of LVMH, is preparing to introduce two Korean brands—Torriden and Beauty of Joseon—into its US stores this summer, according to a company spokesperson. While the current 10% tariff is “endurable,” Tirtir’s CEO An noted that a proposed 25% levy expected in July may prompt slight price adjustments. The South Korean government is actively pursuing tariff exemptions in bilateral trade discussions with Washington. Jung Jun-ho, strategy team leader at The Founders—maker of skincare line Anua—believes Korean brands retain an edge. “Our operating profit margin was over 30% last year, giving us flexibility to absorb cost increases,” he said. Anua products became available in Ulta Beauty stores this year. Digital Success Sets the Stage for Physical Growth In 2024, South Korea overtook France as the top exporter of cosmetics to the United States, according to official statistics. The shift was driven largely by surging e-commerce sales, especially through platforms such as Amazon. Market data from Euromonitor reveals that the five top-performing Korean cosmetics brands in US e-commerce—including Beauty of Joseon, Medicube and Biodance—have collectively recorded an average online sales growth of 71% over the past two years. In comparison, the top five French brands posted only 15% growth, while the overall US market expanded by 21%. Social media continues to be a powerful driver of this growth. “A single viral TikTok post or influencer endorsement can turn a product into an international bestseller before it’s even sold overseas,” said South Korea-based beauty marketer Odile Monod. Nonetheless, experts warn that long-term success will hinge on building offline visibility and in-store availability. Jason Kim, CEO of cosmetics distributor Silicon2, said that physical retail presence is now crucial for brand sustainability. Some early signs of market saturation are beginning to emerge. COSRX, a startup now under cosmetics giant AmorePacific, is reportedly seeing sales growth flatten amid intensifying competition and the rise of lower-cost alternatives. Still, investor sentiment remains positive. Shares of d’Alba Global have more than doubled since their market debut last month. “The K-beauty wave is powerful,” said Kim. “But indie brands must prepare for the challenges ahead.”