"We’re seeing a fascinating shift where globalization is no longer just about open borders and free trade. It’s about finding balance—navigating protectionist policies while still fostering growth and innovation for your domestic industries."
— Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works
"Saudi Arabia is an emerging market for tech that’s unlike others. They don’t have a large domestic manufacturing base to protect, and that opens the door for global tech players to thrive. Their approach to aligning with Singapore’s economic model is a smart move."
— Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works
Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works, and Jeremy Au discussed:
1. China Exporters vs. Trump:
Jianggan Li shared his experiences from nine trips to China, highlighting how exporters are stockpiling goods to mitigate U.S.-China trade tensions amid 2025 Trump-era tariffs. Discussions in Hangzhou emphasized the limits of the “China Plus One” strategy, with countries like Vietnam and Indonesia struggling to match China’s scale and supply chain efficiency. The conversation also covered China’s cross-border logistics innovations, including the Xi’an-to-Budapest rail route, and the integration of Chinese labor into global supply chains, such as assembly work in Italy’s luxury goods sector.
2. Expansion to Saudi Arabia & Middle East:
Saudi Arabia’s energy surplus, social contract with foreign labor and government openness to tech and e-commerce firms, such as Talabat and Bytedance, create market expansion opportunities for China exporters and manufacturers. Jeremy and Jianggan noted Saudi Arabia’s interest in Singapore’s industrial policies as a model for economic transformation and compared this approach to Southeast Asia’s more protectionist policies.
3. Electric Vehicle Wars:
Jianggan provides a candid look at the competitive landscape of China’s EV sector, from the collapse of smaller players to BYD's dominance. They discuss how scale, innovation, and investment strategies are reshaping the industry. They discuss the implications of the price war vs. consolidation for both domestic and global producers and consumers.
Jeremy and Jianggan also discussed startup drone delivery tests in Dubai, Vietnam VNG’s struggles and competition vs. Chinese platforms, and the implications of U.S. 2025 “reverse CFIUS” regulations.