Category: Indonesia

Komodo Dragon: the majestic lizard of ASEAN

Chhaly Samsokrith

Imagine yourself wandering in tropical Savanna forest where two sturdy cacao-coloured animals were wrestling to blood for female's approval to mate. This picturesque scene is due to roll from May to August and the female will have a role to lay 30 eggs in the next 9 months. Komodo dragons are the given name to these reptiles residing in the largest lizard island on earth, Komodo.


Riding on the pink oceanic crust, Pulau Komodo (Indonesian) houses the population of 2,000+ and serves as a natural habitat for these dragons to play-fight. The history of this island is said to be discovered by Dutch voyagers in the early 1910s. The dragons were first noted as a creature that ‘breathes fire’ and the report went through Lieutenant Steyn van Hensbroek who took the animal for documentation. Research results came out in 1912. Three years later; laws follow to protect the animal’s significance to the island.


Indulging on carcasses of deers and snakes, Komodo dragons are measured to be 70 kg in size, possessed the ability to stretch itself out to 3.13 meters with the weight of 166 kg. Eating 80% of its own body weight, the great dragon haunts on stealth and power, lurches on its prey at the speed of 16 to 20 kph. The Komodos can distinguish colours through their retina but only under poor vision in low light. Slimy venom in the dragon’s tongue can poise its preys to their deathbed in the next several days. When threatened, the dragon can throw up the contents of its stomach to lessen its weight and flee for safety.


What’s even more fascinating about this resident of Komodo is its powerful gift to new antibiotics discovery. Antimicrobial peptides, infection defense protein, are built in the dragons letting them accomplish an immune wall to the bites of other terrestrial animals. These findings may be also curb everyday problems such acne and pneumonia. Next, we’ll take a look at how reproduction work for the dragons.


Sexing Komodo is a challenge as they themselves still have trouble identifying who is male and female. Female Komodo can reproduce through an asexual process called parthenogenesis meaning no males are participated. The normal mating call would involve in males using their tongue as sensory experience to female's receptivity. After the female is impregnated, Komodo dragons are ready to bond as parents and grow a monogamous relationship.


Komodo younglings spend 7-8 months in shell before breaking into the world through special baby egg-tooth. The dragons then become exhausted and take a rest for a long time to prepare themselves against a treacherous playground where cannibalism is likely to exist! The defense is that these offsprings will have to seek solace in adults or spend a certain pace of their lifetime to camouflage. Komodo reptiles are expected to roam earth for as long as 50 years.


In January 2020, Komodo island is closed to visitors to preserve the animals’ habitat. The announcement to shut down were made by the officials of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia’s southernmost province after the news of nine men arrested for smuggling 40 komodo dragons under ‘$35,000/each.’.


Komodo dragons are as cool as dogs with their long tongue that can both scares you off or invite you for further observation.

By Chhem Sreynet

Source:


Businesses regard Asean as the most attractive for investment

PRNEWS Leave a comment

A recent survey conducted by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) revealed that China and Myanmar stand to be the most promising destinations for foreign direct investment between now and 2015.

China was the most attractive in the world for such activities with 17.3%, followed by 12% voting for Myanmar.

The rest are as follows: Malaysia – 11%; Singapore – 8%; Indonesia – 7%; Vietnam – 6%; Laos – 4%; Thailand – 3%; Cambodia – 3%;  the Philippines – 1%;  and Brunei – 0.3%)

Furthermore, the survey found that more than half of the businesses considered ASEAN economic integration to pose a low or very low threat to their organizations, rating the threat level at an average of 2.49 on a scale of 1 (very low) to 5 (very high).

Close to 60 percent of the businesses considered ASEAN economic integration to be providing high or very high opportunity for their organizations, giving the opportunity level an average rating of 3.59 on a scale of 1 (very low) to 5 (very high). However, the survey also noted that a lower share of small or local firms shared this sentiment.

The 2013 Survey collated 502 usable responses across various firm-size categories, age, ownership profiles and industries from all ten ASEAN member economies.

Peter Tyroller takes over responsibility for Bosch in Asia Pacific

PRNEWS Leave a comment

The supervisory board of the Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of technologies and services, appointed Peter Tyroller to take over the responsibility for Asia Pacific effective from July 1, 2013.


Based in Shanghai, PR China, he will  be responsible for Southeast  Asia and all other countries in the Asia Pacific  region. “Asia Pacific will continue to be the main driver  of growth for Bosch and I am honored  to take over the responsibility for this important region,” commented Peter Tyroller  on his new assignment. He has been a member  of the Bosch board  of management  since 2006. Up to now, he has been responsible for marketing and sales, original  equipment sales, and the Automotive Aftermarket division.

Asia Pacific main growth region for Bosch

“In 2012, Asia Pacific already contributed 24 percent  to the global  sales of the Bosch Group and we have made it our target to increase this figure  to 30 percent over the mid-term,” said Tyroller.  “Over the next few years, Asia Pacific will see the Bosch Group’s highest  capital expenditure and biggest workforce increases. Southeast  Asia will  continue to play an important role for the further development of the region,” he added. In 2013, the company will invest around 680 million euros in the region.

With his new role Peter Tyroller  assumes the responsibility for Asia Pacific from Uwe Raschke, who was responsible for the region since 2008 and has been assigned  with  the regional  responsibility for Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as for the worldwide responsibility for the Consumer  Goods business sector  since January 2013. Additionally, Tyroller will  assume responsibility for India previously held by Bernd Bohr, who isto retire  after 30 years with  Bosch.

“From  2008 to 2012, we registered sales growth of 60 percent  in Asia Pacific,” resumed Uwe Raschke the progress  in the region during his tenure. “To support these developments, the workforce in Asia Pacific has been growing steadily,  as has capital  expenditure. We have expanded  our presence  in the region, in particular in China and Southeast  Asia,” he added. In 2012, Bosch increased  its sales by 5.6 percent  to 12.6 billion euros in the region.

Strong focus on R&D in Asia Pacific

Thanks to the growing strength of local marketing and R&D presence, Bosch has gained a sound understanding of what our customers  in Asia Pacific’s  diverse markets  want. There are now 13,800  engineers  based in the region – 2,200 more than one year ago and five times as many as just five years ago. And by the end of the decade, this number  will have doubled. “We are particularly concentrating on products that  are tailored to their  respective markets. Especially  in emerging  markets, the local mid­ priced segment is growing the fastest,” said Tyroller.

Southeast Asia fastest-growing region for Bosch

Southeast  Asia is the fastest-growing region in the world for Bosch. In 2012, Bosch grew by 30 percent in the region, year on year, amounting to some 702 million euros. With  a buoyant  economy, emerging  markets  and a huge population, Southeast  Asia is a prime  region  for Bosch to further expand its footprint and sales growth, and maintain its double-digit growth momentum for the coming  years. Employing  over 5,500 associates in the region  as of 1Jan 2013, the company  is also expecting to increase its workforce steadily  in tandem with its business growth.

Bosch further increased its footprint in Southeast Asia with  the opening  of a representative office  in Yangon, Myanmar, earlier this year in April, and offices  beyond the capital  cities  of Thailand and the Philippines into  Chiang Mai and Cebu respectively in May this year. Last year, the company expanded into  Da Nang, Vietnam, and Medan, Indonesia.  This year, it broadened its presence in Indonesia into  Balikpapan.

Bosch upholds  a long-standing commitment to social responsibility. Together  with  financial support, like in 2011 when Bosch donated  190,000 euros in emergency  relief to help the communities affected  by the floods  in Thailand,  Bosch associates have also demonstrated this commitment  through corporate volunteerism. In addition to charity  and relief  efforts, the Bosch approach to social  responsibility focuses very heavily on education with  projects across Southeast  Asia.

Citi Fin-Q Survey Reports Filipinos More Money-Wise

PRNEWS Leave a comment

More and more Filipinos now understand the value of budgeting and planning for their retirement, and claim building their savings has become a personal priority, says Citi Philippines as it announced the latest results of its annual Citi Fin-Q survey.

The country’s largest foreign bank has been running an online poll since 2007 to measure the Fin-Q or Financial Quotient of Filipino consumers.  All respondents were over 18 years of age with either a bank account or a major credit card.

For the second straight year, Filipinos passed the 50-point mark, and scored a record high of 53 out of a possible 100 points.  The improved score was driven by increased awareness among respondents of the importance of planning personal finances, ownership of several financial products such as investments and insurance, and a general optimism on their financial future.

In this latest survey, respondents were scored on 11 different questions closely related to financial well-being for a maximum possible score of 100. The questionnaire consisted of over 80 questions and covered a range of topics related to making smart financial decisions and having good financial habits.

Citi conducted the survey through research firm Big Picture Qual and Quant Research in late 2012, and results were released this year. The survey covered 3,500 online respondents across seven countries including the Philippines. Five hundred interviews were held in each of the participating countries that include Australia, India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

Preparing for the future

Proving that Filipinos are now more conscious about planning their finances, more than 9 out of 10 said they create a budget on a monthly basis, and 65% acknowledged the importance of sticking to their budget.

In preparing for their future, Filipinos seem to be right on track as well. In fact, it was a record year in terms of their confidence in their insurance coverage, with nearly 8 out of 10 saying they own insurance products or enjoy income protection.

As they prepare for retirement, a total of 63% said they are on track with their retirement savings or had already started to set aside some savings for it.

Committed to financial education

Since launching the survey in 2007, Citi has been focused on helping consumers understand the importance of planning their financial future and guiding them in achieving their financial goals. Citi Country Officer Sanjiv Vohra says, “Citi is always on the lookout for opportunities to reach out to a wide range of audiences and go beyond our client base to promote financial literacy. When consumers are engaged in discussions on saving, budgeting and investing, it raises awareness on the importance of being able to make smart financial decisions for their future.”

Citi had such an opportunity in December when it hosted the 2012 Citi-FT Financial Education Summit here in Manila, a regional conference that drew some 300 delegates from over 30 countries to address the urgent need to bridge the financial capability gap here in Asia.

This and the other efforts of Citi seem to be paying off. According to the survey, building their savings tops the financial concerns of Filipinos. It was also revealed that six out of 10 said they know a fair bit or know exactly their current net worth.

Optimism also up in Asia

Across Asia Pacific, the average Citi Fin-Q score is also above the 50-point mark at 53.2 points. Optimism was also at a high with 67% saying they are somewhat or very optimistic about their financial futures.

When it comes to building their savings, 44% said they set aside or save some money every time they get paid. Armed with foresight, 63% reported that they knew how much they would need in retirement and were on track, and 57 % believe they have enough insurance to protect them and their families.

“Apart from the encouraging results of this latest survey, we are also seeing how Filipinos are taking a more active role in managing their finances and planning their future. Citi is proud to take part in this initiative and we hope to continue the conversation with consumers through more financial literacy programs this year,” added Vohra.

Apart from the Citi Fin-Q Survey and the recently concluded 9th Citi-FT Financial Education Summit, Citi is also known for having the longest-running credit education campaign, Use Credit Wisely (www.usecreditwisely.citibank.com.ph).