Asia Scotland Institute: Recent Episodes
Asia Scotland Institute
A series of podcasts with guest speakers discussing a variety of contemporary topics in the pan-Asian region.
The next big growth area for the global economy is right above our heads - space. From putting new communications satellites into orbit, to returning to the moon to mine its valuable stocks of minerals, there are more opportunities than ever before in the new space economy.
To find out more, we were delighted to be joined by space expert and futurologist Professor Joe Little of the University of Stirling, who discussed:
- The Chinese and Indian space programmes
- The privatisation of space
- The future of space exploration
- Opportunities for the Scottish space sector
On 7th October 2023, Palestine militant group Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel, killing dozens and taking hostages.
In co-ordination with The Defence and Security Forum, the Asia Scotland Institute has arranged this important and very timely podcast to provide an analysis of the current situation, how the war is developing and possible future developments in Israel.
We are joined by Marco Vicenzino, a regular commentator on global affairs as a geopolitical expert, and Shay Zavaro, Managing Director of Monfort Advisory, a leading strategic advisory firm based in Israel, to ask them their views on the current conflict.
Discussion topics:
- Current Situation in Israel
- Hamas' Strategy and their hostages
- Regional Implications and Iran's Role
- Russia's Role and Impact
- Hezbollah's Role and Potential Domestic Impact
- Netanyahu's Political Future
We are joined by Gavin Wilkins, the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Hawksford, a leading international provider of Corporate, Private Client and Fund services, to discuss 'Business and trade relations between Scotland and ASEAN'.
Gavin brings over 20 years of experience in finance, specialising in international capital management, fund services and alternative assets among much else. He has worked and travelled widely across Asia and is a committee member of the British Malaysian side.
In this podcast we will be discussing the ASEAN region, home to the world's fastest growing economies, and specifically what Scottish companies and investors can do to help access these markets and how it can help.
Topics discussed:
- Singapore as a centre of international trade
- The economic landscape for ASEAN, how it compares globally and how much it impacts the UK
- Opportunities for Scottish entrepreneurs and businesses in ASEAN and the markets to explore
- Key lessons about how companies can set up and operate their businesses within Singapore
We are delighted to be joined by esteemed author, Kaleem Hussain, to discuss his latest book, 'Peace and Reconciliation in International and Islamic Law'. This book is a compelling exploration of how peace processes and reconciliation efforts are approached within these two significant legal systems.
In this insightful conversation, Kaleem highlights the various themes explored in his book, navigating us through a unique cross-cultural study of the concepts of peace and reconciliation.
Topics discussed:
- How does Islamic law differ from international law as it currently exists?
- Understanding key principles in Islamic Law
- Theo Diplomacy
- Resolving the conflict in Kashmir through diplomacy and Islamic principles
Andrew Milligan, Asia Scotland Institute Board Member, Independent Economist & Investment Consultant, discusses 'The Divergence Between East and West' in a new podcast episode.
Since the start of the year, anyone who has looked at financial markets in the United States of America or Europe must have noticed how government bond yields have jumped much higher. Central banks have signalled more aggressively that they need to take away the proverbial punch bowl from the party. As a consequence, the expectation of higher interest rates has put Western equity markets under pressure. Most emerging market central banks continue to follow the line set by the US Federal Reserve, with aggressive rate hikes seen in Brazil and Russia for example.
However, there are some interesting divergences - two of the largest Asian economies are seeing the situation in a different way.
Andrew Milligan, Asia Scotland Institute Board Member, Independent Economist & Investment Consultant, discusses Climate Change and the Asian Economies in a new podcast series.
COP26 has just finished. 25,000 delegates, government ministers and heads of state have travelled home. Now is the time to stand back and assess both the successes and the failures of this important event, especially from an Asian and Scottish perspective.
Andrew Milligan, Asia Scotland Institute Board Member, Independent Economist & Investment Consultant, discusses 'The Effects of the Russia - Ukraine War on Asia' in a new podcast episode.