Kohler to Invest $96 Million to Boost Manufacturing and Retail in India India: Kohler, which completed 20 years of operations in India this year, plans to invest Rupees 8 billion (approximately USD 96 million) over the next 3 financial years. The proposed investment is intended to expand manufacturing capacity, strengthen engineering capabilities and increase the company’s retail presence in the country. Chris Ball, President of Kitchen and Bath International at Kohler, discu

Mitsubishi Electric Subsidiary Invests in ADTTech for Smarter Factories China: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Mitsubishi Electric Intelligent Manufacturing Technology (China) Group Co., Ltd., has acquired a stake in ADT Technology Service (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., a software developer based in Suzhou, China. The acquisition follows an existing collaboration agreement between the two companies. The investment is intended to support the pr

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health calls for stronger gas safety measures after recent incidents Malaysia: National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health executive director Datuk Ayop Salleh said recent incidents involving gas leaks and explosions have highlighted the need for improved training and stronger risk management practices to prevent similar occurrences. He stated that all parties should treat such incidents with seriousness, referring to cas

Inflation Bangladesh: The latest United Nations report on inflation makes the situation clear: Bangladesh is grappling with the most severe inflation crisis in South Asia. Among seven regional countries, Bangladesh records the highest inflation at 8.9 percent in 2025, far exceeding neighbouring India at 2.7 percent and Sri Lanka at 0.6 percent. Even more concerning, the outlook offers little relief. The UN forecasts inflation in Bangladesh to remain at 7.1 percent in 2026, st

GST BHUTAN: With the introduction of a five percent Goods and Services Tax (GST), over 1,900 commodities previously taxed at higher Bhutan Sales Tax (BST) rates are expected to become more affordable. However, consumers may experience temporary price pressures during the transition, as goods imported or purchased before 1 January still carry the embedded BST. When these items are sold under the new GST system, a short-term double taxation effect may occur, which should ease o

Completes First Phase of Manufacturing India: Copeland has completed the first phase of its ₹500 crore investment (USD 445,000 million) at its Atit manufacturing facility in India, strengthening its local manufacturing footprint. The expansion enables localized production of scroll hermetic compressors, making Copeland the only company manufacturing scroll compressors in India, and was marked by the first shipment of 5 HP India-built scroll compressors. This milestone highlig

Climate change TAJISKISTAN: Tajikistan has taken a significant step in addressing climate change by signing an agreement to gradually phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), highly potent greenhouse gases used in cooling systems.  The deal was signed on January 12 in Dushanbe by the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), according to The Caspian Post citing Tajik media.  The agreement launches the “Inte

Punjab to Launch Large-Scale Affordable Housing Programme INDIA: The Punjab government is set to begin construction of 37,000 housing units under the Punjab Affordable Housing Programme (PAHP), a World Bank-funded initiative worth US$250 million over five years. Of the total, 20,000 homes will be built on state-owned land using World Bank financing, while the remainder will be delivered through private sector participation. Preparatory work is well advanced, with 41 governmen

Philippines Expands Housing and Urban Development Agenda for 2026 PHILIPPINES: The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has outlined an expanded housing and urban development strategy for 2026 under its recalibrated Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH)  programme. The revised approach is now beneficiary-focused, allowing households to choose between vertical housing, house-and-lot units, or lot-only options. DHSUD aims to deliver 90,000 housing u

Sign Free Trade Agreement Indonesia: Indonesia and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) aimed at strengthening two-way trade, Indonesia’s trade ministry said. The agreement was signed over the weekend in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was witnessed by Russian President Vladimir Putin along with leaders of EAEU member states Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Indonesia was represented at the signing by Trade Mini

World’s Fourth-Largest Economy India: India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to calculations cited in the Indian government’s end-of-year economic review. Based on current trends, the review projects that India will overtake Germany within the next three years to become the world’s third-largest economy, trailing only the United States and China. India’s gross domestic product has already reached around USD 4.18 trillion and is proje

Full-Year Prices Remain Weak China: China’s annual consumer price inflation climbed to a 34-month high of 0.8% year-on-year in December, up from 0.7% in November and in line with market expectations, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The increase was largely driven by higher food prices, with fresh vegetable prices rising 18.2% and beef prices up 6.9%, supported by pre–New Year holiday demand and policy measures. On a monthly basis, the consumer price

USD 1.19 Trillion Trade Surplus China: China reported a record full-year USD 1.19 Trillion Trade Surplus in 2025, breaking the trillion-dollar mark for the first time in November, according to customs data. The strong export performance comes as Chinese producers brace for three more years of a Donald Trump administration focused on slowing China’s manufacturing strength by diverting U.S. orders to other markets. Despite renewed tariff pressures, China has shown resilience, w

Signs Free Trade Agreement Philippines: The Philippines signed a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking Manila’s first trade pact with a Gulf country and a key step in expanding its global trade footprint. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 Summit at the

Open Markets to Foreign Investors Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia will open its capital markets to all foreign investors from February 1, after the Capital Markets Authority approved rule changes removing the Qualified Foreign Investor framework that previously limited access. The move is aimed at attracting overseas inflows and improving market liquidity as the kingdom advances its economic diversification plans. While JP Morgan expects the immediate impact to be limited since mo

Azerbaijan 2025 HVAC Imports from Turkiye Azerbaijan: In 2025, Azerbaijan imported heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems valued at about US$ 134.571 million from Turkiye, according to trade data reported in January 2026. These imports covered systems used for heating, cooling, and ventilation purposes, reflecting ongoing trade activity in building services equipment between the two neighbouring countries. The figure marks a snapshot of Azerbaijan’s relianc

South Korea Boiler Manufacturers Expand into Residential Cooling Segment South Korea: KyungDong Navien and Kiturami, the two largest home boiler manufacturers in South Korea, are expanding their presence in the cooling market as part of efforts to diversify beyond heating. KyungDong Navien has entered the segment with the introduction of its Condensing Air Conditioner Hybrid, which offers cooling, dehumidification, and ventilation functions. The company is also preparing to l

LG Electronics Posts Second Consecutive Year of Record Revenue in 2025 South Korea: South Korean tech giant LG Electronics announced preliminary full-year 2025 results, recording consolidated revenue of USD 61.6 billion and operating profit of USD 1.7 billion, marking its second consecutive year of record sales. “Qualitative growth” businesses including B2B, webOS, product-based services and direct-to-consumer models now contribute nearly half of total revenue, while home app

Haier Bangladesh Launches 24/7 Call Centre, Expands Nationwide After-Sales Network Bangladesh: Haier Bangladesh has launched a 24/7 customer call centre and expanded its after-sales service network by adding 17 exclusive service centres and 7 direct service centres across the country. The initiative provides uninterrupted customer support, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and aims to improve response times and service quality nationwide. The company said the expan

Saudi Ceramics Expands Retail Footprint with New Riyadh Showroom SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Ceramics Co. opened a new retail showroom in Al Nuzhah, Riyadh, on Jan 11, expanding its network to 67 showrooms across the Kingdom. The company said in a statement that the financial impact of the opening is expected from Q1 2026. The move aligns with Saudi Ceramics’ retail expansion strategy to strengthen market presence, enhance customer accessibility, and meet evolving market expectations