Southeast Asia is likely to see a growing share of interactive live streaming features on its major e-commerce platforms, ushering in an era of “shoppertainment”.

This Week's News Spotlight:

iQIYI, China’s Netflix, expands in Southeast Asia | Chinese students turn to universities in Singapore and Malaysia amidst Covid-19 | LazLive, Lazada’s livestreaming channel, is the future of commerce in Southeast Asia | No more fish in Southeast Asia’s largest lake | Piracy rises in South and Southeast Asia

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iQIYI, China’s Netflix, expands in Southeast Asia - PR News Wire

L-R: Sherwin Dela Cruz, Dinesh Ratnam and Steven Zhang

iQIYI, also known as China’s Netflix, is expanding in Southeast Asia. iQIYI has appointed three new country managers—Sherwin Dela Cruz, Steven Zhang, and Dinesh Ratnam. They will be in charge of localisation and development in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia/Singapore/Brunei respectively. 

Yang Xianghua, President of Membership and Overseas Business Group of iQIYI, notes that these new additions bring with them a wealth of experience in entertainment and technology. The managers are also equipped with local market insights that will help iQIYI better understand Southeast Asian audiences and the “cultural products” they prefer.

iQIYI produces original content on their online platform, with shows like Youth With You 2 attaining international popularity—hashtags related to Youth With You 2 appeared over 400 times as a trending topic on Twitter in 15 different countries and regions.

Chinese students turn to universities in Singapore and Malaysia amidst Covid-19 - SCMP

6 of Singapore Autonomous Universities (AU) have stepped up to offer around 2,000 more places in midst of coronavirus pandemic disruptions this year.

Traditionally, Chinese students have aimed for university spots in the United States, Britain, and Australia. However, with global travel restrictions and Beijing’s “worsening diplomatic relations with Western countries”, they are now setting their sights on other Asian countries, especially Singapore and Malaysia. 

Three institutions from Singapore and Malaysia that responded to This Week in Asia claimed that there was an increase in applications from Chinese students. 

Globally, China is “the world’s largest source of international students”. In 2018, more than 662,000 Chinese students sought tertiary education outside of China.

LazLive, Lazada’s livestreaming channel, is the future of commerce in Southeast Asia - Alizila

Singapore actress Constance Lau showcased various products during a LazLive livestream ahead of its 9.9 Big Discovery Sale on 6 September 2019,

Livestreaming has rapidly increased in popularity in recent years. LazLive, e-commerce platform Lazada’s in-app livestreaming channel, is one huge player in the “shoppertainment” world. 

Amidst the pandemic, there has been a huge increase in demand for livestreaming services. In April 2020, LazLive gained over 27 million new active viewers and a 40% increase in the number of people revisiting the platform the next day.

What makes livestreaming so appealing is that it often offers a “seamless and interactive” environment for consumers, who can view a product and interact with sellers before making purchases. As retail stores remain closed due to lockdown restrictions, consumers look to other alternatives. Furthermore, “everyone and anyone” can use livestreaming, as long as they have an app and something to sell.

No more fish in Southeast Asia’s largest lake - CNA

Nan Sok, a 60-year-old Khmer Islam fisherman, stands in front of Tonle Sap behind his house on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

More than a million people rely on Cambodia’s Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest lake, for their livelihoods. 

Usually, the Mekong River swells in the rainy season and converges with Cambodia’s Tonle Sap River, causing a reversed flow into the Tonle Sap Lake. The lake would then fill up and provide “bountiful fish stocks”. 

However, drought conditions and dams in China and Laos have disrupted the natural flow of the Mekong River, which flows into the lake, causing a delay in river reversal. Fishermen interviewed were unable to catch any fish at all, presenting a threat to their survival.

Piracy rises in South and Southeast Asia - New Straits Times

Among the incidents involving piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia, about 70% were in South-east Asia. 

In the first half of 2020, piracy in South and Southeast Asia reached a five-year high. There were 51 incidents reported between January to June, compared to 28 in the same period one year ago.

Within the Singapore Strait itself, “one of the world’s busiest commercial maritime routes”, piracy and armed robbery doubled from last year. 

Southeast Asia’s waters were termed as “The World’s Most Dangerous Waters” according to a 2014 article by TIME Magazine. More than 120,000 ships traverse the Malacca and Singapore Straits every year, making the area a prime target for pirates.Between 1995 and 2013, 41% of the world’s pirate attacks occurred in Southeast Asia.