Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Mr. Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He co-ordinates the Asian business of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm, Centennial Group, directing its Asian economic research practice which provides in-depth analysis of macro trends in Asia. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and corporations. Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He is as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of CIMB Investment Bank and Japfa Limited.

Asia Economist and CEO

Asia Real Estate Tracker (08-May-2026): BlackRock targets founder post China cold chain default.

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Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

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Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>The ongoing Hormuz crisis has given Thai government leaders the political cover to accelerate approval for the “Land Bridge” that will bypass the Strait of Malacca chokepoint. </li>
<li>The underlying logistical questions that determine the Bridge’s viability remain unaddressed. The government’s claims are underpinned by planning assumptions that are not credible. </li>
<li>Even if fully built and operational, the Bridge’s security environment exposes it to risks from the Deep South insurgency and spillovers from Myanmar that erode the economic gains. </li>
</ul>


The ongoing Hormuz crisis has given Thai government leaders the political cover to accelerate approval for the “Land Bridge” that will bypass the Strait of Malacca chokepoint. 
The underlying logistical questions that determine the Bridge’s viability remain unaddressed. The government’s claims are underpinned by planning assumptions that are not credible. 
Even if fully built and operational, the Bridge’s security environment exposes it to risks from the Deep South insurgency and spillovers from Myanmar that erode the economic gains. 


Thailand Economics: Land Bridge Raises More Questions Than Answers