Asean Morning News For April 4

Asean Morning News

Compiled by AEC News Today @aecnewstoday

How the Trump Administration Could Make Common Cause With ASEAN
Given the increasingly important role of Southeast Asia/ASEAN on the Indo-Pacific geo-strategic chessboard, the United States under the Obama administration established an enduring framework for U.S. engagement in the region. Economically, Washington took the leading role in creating a 21st century Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which was to include four ASEAN economies.
— The Diplomat

Foreign Ministry to establish bilateral affairs unit for ASEAN countries
In its ongoing effort to improve the handling of various diplomatic relations in the region, the Foreign Ministry is looking to introduce a dedicated directorate for Southeast Asian affairs, ministry officials have revealed.
— The Jakarta Post

Moving beyond non-tariff barriers
THE Asean Economic Community (AEC) that was launched at the end of 2015 aims to create a single-market and production base with equitable development across its 10 member countries.
— New Straits Times

Capitol to play dinner host to Asean delegates
Delegates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) pre-summit meetings including senior defense officials and ministers will be dining at the Cebu Provincial Capitol building on April 6.
— Inquirer.Net

CRC Sports targets top spot in Asean
CRC Sports Co says it will overtake an Indonesian rival to become Asean’s largest sporting goods retailer by 2020, paving the way to rank among the top 50 players worldwide.
— Bangkok Post

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Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Vat Vin @vin_vat

Kith Meng Firm Offers Bribe to Delete Article
A representative of a Royal Group subsidiary whose trucks were seized by authorities last week for allegedly attempting to smuggle timber to Vietnam denied any wrongdoing on Monday and offered to pay reporters to remove an article about the seizure from The Cambodia Daily website.
— The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

Laos-Cambodia border closed over tensions
In the latest flare up in tensions between the two countries, Lao authorities temporarily shut a border crossing with Cambodia and dispatched more troops to an undemarcated area on the northern border after Cambodian authorities began renovating an old French border outpost.
— The Phnom Penh Post

US Naval Aid Unit Pushed Out, Embassy Says
Amid a widening gulf in U.S.-Cambodia relations, the U.S. Embassy said on Monday that a Navy unit specializing in humanitarian work had been forced to leave the country, imperiling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of community projects, including the construction of maternity wards and school bathrooms.
— The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

Khmer New Year prices hard to contain
A recent government circular warning tourism establishments against price gouging during the upcoming Khmer New Year is unlikely to discourage the practice, tourism experts said yesterday, describing the document as yet another toothless attempt to rein in prices during the biggest public holiday of the year.
— The Phnom Penh Post

VIPs roll into capital’s casino
Nagacorp Ltd, the Hong Kong-listed operator of Cambodia’s NagaWorld casino and hotel complex, posted $3.73 billion in VIP rolling chip volume during the first quarter of 2017, a 34 percent year-on-year increase, while mass market buy-ins and electronic gaming machine (EGM) growth remained steady, the company said in a filing yesterday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

U.S. to Give $6 Million to Genocide Research Group
A Cambodian genocide documentation center has received $6 million in support from the U.S. government, the group has said.
— VOA

China, Cambodia Promise to Deepen Friendly Ties
China is standing by Cambodia. That was the message from a senior Chinese official, Chen Changzhi, who visited Phnom Penh this week, where he met Heng Samrin, head of Cambodia’s National Assembly.
— VOA

Chevron, Kem Ley’s Murder, and Cambodian Politics
Kem Ley was gunned down in the parking lot of a Caltex station. That location was not randomly selected.
— The Diplomat

Cambodia Boosts Ties with China Amid Anxiety
China and Cambodia are moving to tighten their diplomatic relationship further with Beijing expected to bestow sister city status on Phnom Penh and through a separate agreement struck with Shaanxi Province designed to bolster trade and tourism.
— The Diplomat

New Land Law Would Levy Fines for Fallow Farms: Minister
In a bid to stymie speculation and increase crop yields, the latest draft of a new Agricultural Land Law would require owners of more than 5 hectares of farmland to put them under cultivation or face fines and court complaints, Agricultural Minister Veng Sakhon said on Monday.
— The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

Surrogacy plan due soon
Ministry of Interior officials confirmed yesterday that new guidelines for foreign intended parents hoping to leave Cambodia with babies born to surrogate mothers will be released later this week, prompting cautious relief among parents and those involved in the industry.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Laotian Soldiers Suspend Construction of Cambodian Border Post
Nearly 20 Laotian soldiers interrupted Cambodian border police clearing grass and small trees in Stung Treng province on Sunday afternoon and prevented them from building a one-person border-crossing post inside an undemarcated area, an official said.
— The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

Too Many Tourists a Concern in Cambodian ‘Killing Fields’
The number of tourists visiting Cambodia’s genocide sites has more than tripled during the last 10 years, raising concerns that commercialism is compromising efforts to preserve memorials for 2 million people who perished here under Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge.
— VOA

Cambodian Opposition Party Makes Changes to Comply With Amended Bylaws
Cambodia’s main opposition party has notified the country’s Ministry of Interior that it has re-endorsed its leadership and removed a slogan to comply with newly amended party bylaws.
— Radio Free Asia

Meet Cambodia’s First LGBTQ Dance Company
Prumsodun Ok remembers first being drawn to Khmer classical dance as a young boy. “Even when I was a 4-year-old child, there was something about the dance that grabbed me,” he told NBC Out.
— NBCNews.com

Cambodia to allow foreigners to leave with surrogate babies
The Cambodian government is set to allow foreign couples to return home with babies conceived to surrogates before the ‘womb for rent’ business was banned last year, an official said today.
— India.com

Cambodia to send 23 demining experts to Israel for 1st time
Cambodia will send a group of 23 demining experts, along with 12 mine sniffing dogs, to Israel this week for a mine clearance mission, Heng Ratana, chief of the Cambodia Mine Action Center, said on Monday.
— Xinhua

Bar B Q Plaza crosses borders, starting in Cambodia
FOOD PASSION CO, operator of Bar B Q Plaza, Joom Zap Hut and Hot-Star restaurants, yesterday announced that the company was gearing towards expansion outside Thailand, starting with Cambodia.
— The Nation

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @Estee

Corruption Scandal Rocks Indonesia-Philippines Warships Deal
What began as a potential source of pride for the country looks to have become yet another blot in its record.
— The Diplomat

Indonesia poised for data centre growth
As the third largest by data centre market among south-east Asia’s four principal economies, and having both strong international cable connectivity and an active Internet Exchange, Indonesia could be poised for further growth.
— The C Suite

Property Sector of Indonesia Subdued, Tax Amnesty to Impact?
After the ending of Indonesia’s tax amnesty program, property players in Southeast Asia’s largest economy remain optimistic that inflows of fresh funds – originating from the tax amnesty program – will give a boost to Indonesian property sector in the second half of 2017. This should then cause some momentum, meaning property developers dare to kick-start new projects. Considering weak demand for property in Indonesia over the past couple of years, many local property developers have been postponing projects.
— Indonesia Investments

Ericsson completes first 5G demo in Indonesia
Ericsson said it completed the first demonstration of “5G” technology in Indonesia, including a 5G test bed, 5G New Radio and use cases such as a motion-sensing robotic arm and live 4K video streaming. The demonstration is said to have achieved a peak downlink speed of 5.74 gigabits per second and latency as low as three milliseconds.
— RCR Wireless News

Grab confirms acquisition of Indonesian payment startup Kudo
Ride-hailing app Grab Monday confirmed that it had reached a deal to acquire Indonesian payment startup Kudo, a step that is seen as being critical to augment its mobile payments platform, as it battles local competitor Go-Jek, in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
— Deal Street Asia

Ayala completes deal for Chevron’s geothermal assets in Indonesia
AC ENERGY Holdings, Inc. and its joint venture partners have completed the acquisition of Chevron Corp.’s geothermal assets and operations in Indonesia, its parent firm Ayala Corp. told the stock exchange on Monday.
— BusinessWorld Online

Indonesia carries out connectivity infrastructure projects to address tourism sector
Indonesia has carried out massive connectivity infrastructure projects in 10 new destinations designated to attract foreign visitors so as to meet with government targets in tourism sector which has been set as the nation’s new core industry.
— Xinhua

Dassault Aviation Upbeat on Indonesia’s Robust Growth, New Private Jet Rule
Dassault Aviation, the French aircraft manufacturer, is hopeful that Indonesia’s robust growth, massive infrastructure development and more accommodating rules will boost sales for the company this year, its executive said on Friday (31/03).
— Jakarta Globe

Solomons govt defends police initiative with Indonesia
The Solomon Islands government says its strong stance on issues relating to West Papua is separate from proposed policing co-operation with Indonesia.
— Radio New Zealand

Vinci to invest $500m in Indonesian motorsport complex
France’s Vinci Construction has closed a $500m deal to build a 120-hectare tourist complex and a motorbike racing circuit in the Indonesian island of Lombok, the eastern neighbour of Bali.
— GCR

M’sia regional favourite, gets the most from inflow of funds
Malaysia has emerged as the most favoured emerging market in South-East Asia year-to-date based on foreign liquidity flow in the local stock market, beating Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
— The Star Online

Bank Indonesia’s Top Woman Takes New Approach To Inflation Fight
Rosmaya Hadi enlisted the help of 2,000 religious leaders to fight inflation when she ran Indonesia’s central bank in West Java region.
— Asia Cruise News

New passport holders seeking to travel to Indonesia need agency’s certificate
Nigerians with new passports seeking to travel to Indonesia will need to present a certificate of recommendation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, among other documents to process their visas.
— Pulse Nigeria

Indonesia investigates detention of 300 citizens in Saudi
Indonesian authorities are investigating reports that 300 Indonesian workers have been detained in Riyadh suspected of being victims of a transnational human trafficking network, the Jakarta Post reported.
— Middle East Monitor

RI to push for G20 working committee on digital economy
Indonesia is pushing for the establishment of a global working committee to facilitate discussions on digital economy concepts and technical solutions at the G20 Digital Ministers Meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany, this week.
— The Jakarta Post

SE Asia stocks end higher, Indonesia shares hits record high
Southeast Asian stocks ended in positive territory on Monday, with Indonesia hitting a record high on better-than-expected earnings for the quarter ended March.
— Bangkok Post

Indonesia experiences 0.02 percent deflation in March
Indonesia experienced deflation of 0.02 percent in March because of a harvest season that helped push down prices of several major food commodities, bringing annual inflation to 3.63 percent, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported on Monday.
— The Jakarta Post

China contributed largest number of tourists in February
China contributed the largest number of tourist arrivals in February, 21.31 percent of the total arrivals of 957,583, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s Sulawesi March cocoa exports fell 28 pct -industry
Exports of cocoa beans from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi fell in March to 3,886.51 tonnes, down 28 percent from the same month a year earlier, industry data showed on Monday. Sulawesi shipped 5,379.73 tonnes of cocoa beans in March last year.
— Times of India

Indonesia mining min issues nickel ore, bauxite export recommendations for Antam
Indonesian Mining Ministry official said on Monday the ministry have issued export recommendation for state-controlled miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) to ship nickel ore and bauxite.
— Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Indonesian transport companies given time to adapt to revised ride-hailing rules
AFTER implementing Ministerial Regulation No. 36/2016 (refer to Chapter IV Article 40 to 42) and having taken into account the request for time to adapt by online transportation companies, the government will grant local authorities as well as conventional and online transportation companies time to adjust to the rules.
— Digital News Asia

Indonesia, Thailand show less inflation pressure
Consumer prices in Indonesia and Thailand grew at a slower pace than economists predicted last month, giving central banks in South-East Asia’s two biggest economies scope to keep interest rates low for longer.
— The Star Online

Indonesia tightens pre-flight security checks for electronic devices
The Indonesian airport authority has tightened security checks for electronic gadgets, including laptops, brought by passengers to step up safety during flights.
— Antara News

Bandung to host 300 cultural festivals
The Bandung Cultural and Tourism Office plans to host 200 to 300 festivals this year, with the aim of increasing both domestic and international tourist arrivals.
— Antara News

Nazaruddin sheds light on alleged fund flows in e-ID case
Former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin explained how money siphoned from a funds earmarked for the electronic identity card (e-ID) project was allegedly distributed to House of Representatives members.
— The Jakarta Post

EDITORIAL: Growing landslide menace
While condolences go out to those who lost their loved ones and humanitarian assistance reaches the hundreds of survivors of the weekend landslide in the East Java regency of Ponorogo, increasing our knowledge about such deadly natural disasters and how to mitigate them is actually the most urgent necessity.
— The Jakarta Post

Spill of cooking oil causes airplane to tip down
Cooking oil spilled in the center of the cabin of a Tri-M.G. Airlines cargo aircraft, causing the plane’s tail to tip downward and touch the apron during unloading at Wamena Airport in Papua on Monday.
— The Jakarta Post

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Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Vat Vin @vin_vat

Lao automotive industry in need of more technicians
Laos needs more than 500 automotive technicians each year to satisfy auto industry growth, according to suppliers.
— The Nation

PS Lao to return money to partners over business uncertainty
PS Lao Enterprise has announced it is pleased to return money invested by business partners who want to withdraw their funds following legal uncertainty relating to the company’s business.
— Vientiane Times

Vientiane Capital Announces Top-Scoring Students for National Exam
Vientiane Capital has announced the selected top-scoring students, representing the capital, to take the coming National Best Student Exam, which will be held at the end of this month.
— Lao News Agency

Laos-China direct flight serves to promote cooperation
The number of people travelling between Laos and China has increased, especially the number of Chinese visiting Laos from Hainan province, since a direct flight between Vientiane and Hainan came into service last year.
— Vientiane Times

Toyota Dream Car Art Contest 2017 awarded
Toyota Motor Thailand awarded prizes for the winners of the 11th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest 2017 last Saturday.
— Lao News Agency

Agricultural Promotion Bank Provides Almost LAK 70 Billion in Loans in Sekong
The Agricultural Promotion Bank Sekong branch has said its loans provided to people in Sekong province have amounted to almost 70 billion kip (USD 8.49 million) to facilitate business operation and income generation of local people.
— Lao News Agency

Alleged Lao drug boss targeted by Thai cops
THAI anti-narcotics police are requesting permission from Laos to interrogate Sisouk Daoheuang, an alleged Laotian drug kingpin believed to control a larger network than Xaysana Keopimpha, who was arrested three months ago and is in Thai police custody.
— The Nation

Thousands of Lao Nationals Duped by Asianface Company
Owner of Asianface Company, Cambodian investor Mr Hout Sovanh, was arrested earlier this week after numerous investors bombarded his office in Vientiane on Monday, demanding that their investments in a joint venture be returned.
— The Laotian Times

Paklay Mekong Bridge to Be Opened Temporally for Pi Mai Lao
A bridge Mekong River linking Vientiane to Sayaboury Provinces will be temporarily opened for general public on April 12 during the celebration of Pi Mai Lao or Lao Lunar New Year.
— Lao News Agency

Russia rewards National Assembly President
The government of the Russian Federation has awarded the President of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Ms Pany Yathotou with an Order of Friendship for her great contribution to the development of cooperation between Laos and Russia.
— Vientiane Times

Savannakhet educators, students readied for uni relocation
The faculties of agriculture and food science are set to be the first from Savannakhet University to open at its new site as 1,500 students from these faculties prepare to study in brand new facilities.
— Vientiane Times

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Vat Vin @vin_vat

Malaysian PM Najib Razak pushes for conclusion of trade deal
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday called for the speedy conclusion of a free trade pact between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and six other countries including India, saying the regional partnership becomes all the more relevant after the US pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
— Livemint

Malaysia among most attractive countries in retail development: Swiss DKSH
Malaysia is among the most attractive countries worldwide in retail development, Swiss market expansion services company, DKSH, said.
— New Straits Times

Petronas may consider Shell site for Canadian LNG project
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) may be looking at building a US$27bil liquefied natural gas export terminal in northwestern Canada on the site of an abandoned Royal Dutch Shell Plc energy project, according to the company’s chief executive officer.
— The Star Online

AirAsia’s Vietnam deal enhances its connectivity within ASEAN: PublicInvest
PublicInvest Research is unmoved by AirAsia Bhd’s 30 per cent joint venture (JV) with low cost carrier in Vietnam and issued a neutral call with a target price of RM3.19.
— New Straits Times

Najib invites Indian companies to invest in Malaysia
Indian companies have been encouraged to look to Malaysia as their preferred choice for investment, to expand, and take the opportunity to forge new partnerships.
— Malay Mail Online

Asean Lawmaker Group Slams Malaysia Over Migrant Detentions
A caucus of lawmakers from across Asean on Monday called for better treatment of undocumented migrants—and criminal charges against those who abuse them—in Malaysia, where at least three Cambodians have died in government custody over the past two years, according to a new report.
— The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

POLL-Malaysia Feb exports seen surging at best pace in nearly 3 years
Malaysia’s exports likely expanded in February at the fastest pace for any month in nearly three years, a Reuters poll showed.
— Nasdaq

Now Indians don’t have to pay for visas to visit Malaysia
Najib Razak, who became Malaysia’s first prime minister to visit India, said his government will wave all visa fees for Indians travelling to his country.
— Zee News

FGV signs MoU with India’s Trimex Industries
Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Trimex Industries Pte Ltd, with the aim to explore the feasibility of supplying and distributing various palm oil products to penetrate India’s midstream and downstream market.
— The Star Online

AirAsia ‘buy’, Notion VTECH ‘outperform’, Yinson ‘buy’, GHL System ‘neutral’
ACTIS, a private equity firm, has proposed to acquire a 44.4% stake in GHL Systems to become the single-largest shareholder.
— The Star Online

Bursa Malaysia ends higher
Bursa Malaysia ended higher today lifted by buying interests in selected heavyweights led by Maybank and Genting Malaysia.
— New Straits Times

M’sia’s manufacturing PMI sees marginal improvement in March
Malaysia’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) saw a fractional improvement in March, and marked the best reading since May 2015.
— New Straits Times

BMW Group Malaysia introduces the all-new BMW 5 Series
Regas Premium Auto unveiled the all-new BMW 5 Series at an official launching on Saturday night.
— The Borneo Post

Singapore, Malaysia start June quarter on front foot
Shares in Singapore and Malaysia kicked off the quarter on a positive note, even as investor attention remained firmly on the outlook for U.S. economic and trade policies ahead of a meeting between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Malaysia opens doors to Indian filmmakers
Malaysia has opened its doors to the world’s biggest film making nation to make the country their favoured location to produce more films and TV series.
— Malay Mail Online

Poor drain maintenance causing floods in the city
Poor maintenance of drains and irrigation canals has reduced the flow carrying capacity of the city’s drainage system triggering flash floods during thunderstorms.
— Malay Mail Online

Illicit cigarettes: Beef up enforcement first, Fomca tells Putrajaya
Strong enforcement is needed to ensure the effectiveness of any law aimed at curbing contraband cigarettes, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) said today.
— Malay Mail Online

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Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @Estee

Myanmar New Hope to put $10 m for hatchery and breeder farm in Bago
New Hope Singapore, a wholly owned company by New Hope Liuhe Co Ltd – backed by China’s top animal feed, agriculture
and food company, New Hope Group – is making an initial investment of $10 million in the poultry sector of Myanmar.
— Deal Street Asia

Govt to build 1m apartments in 330 towns by 2030
Myanmar is planning to finish the construction of over 1 million apartments in 330 towns across the country by 2030 under its urban development programme, according to the Ministry of Construction.
— Eleven

Garment factory in Sittway provides more than 100 jobs
A garment factory came into operation in Satyokya Ward in Sittway under the plan for improving the socio-economic status of Rakhine State, creating more than 100 jobs for Rakhine ethnic women.
— Global New Light Of Myanmar

Myanmar CMP garment exports to touch $2.2bn in 2017
Cutting, making and packaging (CMP) garment exports from Myanmar are likely to fetch around $2.2 billion this year, as local companies have bagged more number of orders from the EU and Japan, according to Myanmar Garment Entrepreneurs Association. Apparel orders from the EU have especially increased after reinstatement of GSP rights by the EU.
— Consult-Myanmar

Security concerns prevent banana-plantation probe
The government’s attempts to investigate a banana planters’ alleged trespass on protected forests in Kachin State have
failed due to security concerns, sources say.
— Eleven

Towers on the edge: Myanmar’s last telco challenge
In the country’s remotest corners, independent mobile phone tower companies are working to connect isolated populations and bring the people of Myanmar closer together.
— Frontier Myanmar

70 water brands granted licences after safety law relaxed
Seventy drinking-water brands have passed microbial test following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxing the
standard plate count (SPC) from 100 bacterial colonies per millilitre of water to 500/ml.
— Eleven

Dry Ports, essentials for Myanmar
“Dry port” is a term with which Myanmar has not been much familiar, but many of the countries in the world including Myanmar’s neighbouring countries have been engaged in the business for long.
— Global New Light Of Myanmar

No entries or exits through Maungtaw border gate
No one entered or exited the border gate at Maungtaw, despite restrictions being recently lifted, according to the Immigration department.
— Global New Light Of Myanmar

NPT Highway Bus Companies Suffering Losses
Buses servicing the Nay Pyi Taw highway route have been suffering from a steady decline of passengers over recent years, with smaller bus companies facing the threat of shutting down.
— Consult-Myanmar

FLM has been granted Myanmar Investment Commission approval for a USD 859 million, fibre optic network deployment
FibreLink Myanmar (FLM) , a Myanmar licensed NFS (i) telecommunications operator, has received its Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) investment permit clearing the path to the deployment of FLM’s world class fibre network.
— Consult-Myanmar

Myanmar-China crude oil pipeline to commence next month
After a two-year delay, the Myanmar-China crude oil pipeline is expected to begin operating in May, officials said.
— Bangkok Post

Liberalisation should start this fiscal year with less determination by centrally planned governments
Myanmar’s government, into their second year. Interview with Peter Beynon from the British Chamber.
— Myanmar Times

Cambodia, Myanmar: opportunities for VN firms
There is a huge opportunity for Vietnamese firms to invest in agriculture in their countries and export agricultural produce to other markets, Cambodian and Myanmarese officials have said.
— Viet Nam News

India cuts aid to Myanmar
In a fresh attempt to prod Myanmar to launch a flushout operation against the militant outfits of the Northeast, India has allocated Rs 225 crore under its Aid to Myanmar programme.
— E-Pao.net

Healthcare at home ends pain of waiting
A service launched by an entrepreneurial doctor is winning favour among patients because it enables them to avoid long waits for access to health care, and to be treated in the comfort of their homes.
— Frontier Myanmar

Fire in karaoke bar kills 15 in Myanmar
At least 15 people have died after a fire ripped through a karaoke bar in central Myanmar, trapping revellers inside singing rooms filled with poisonous smoke.
— Hindustan Times

Deportation plan for Myanmar refugees
The Centre is exploring ways to deport nearly 6,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees living illegally in Jammu and Kashmir after fleeing alleged persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, Union home ministry sources said today.
— Calcutta Telegraph

MMA fighter ‘Burmese Python’ donates K3.5million to Kachin IDPs
Mixed martial artist Aung La N Sang visited Kachin IDP camps on April 2 and donated K3.5 million (US$2,570) to the
people staying there. He also donated TVs, mosquito repellent and clothing.
— Coconuts Yangon

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @Estee

Duterte’s China gambit yet to pay dividends
Beijing has pledged US$24 billion worth of investment and loans to jumpstart the Philippine economy but the funds have glaringly not yet arrived.
— Asia Times

Japan donates P826 M for Philippine drug rehabilitation
The Japanese government yesterday donated some 1.85 billion yen (P826 million) to the Department of Health (DOH) for the upgrading of rehabilitation centers and enhancement of treatment protocols for drug dependents.
— Phil Star

New Zealand warship now in Philippines
Philippine Navy BRP Rajah Humabon (FF11) today rendered customary meeting procedures at the vicinity of Corregidor Island and escorted the Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) Te Kaha (F77) to its designated berthing area in Manila’s harbor.
— Update Philippines

MPTC planning to spend P153 billion on projects
METRO PACIFIC Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is spending about P153 billion this year up to the first quarter of 2018 to start construction of projects in its pipeline and expand its existing assets.
— BusinessWorld Online

PMI gains round off ‘solid’ quarter
PHILIPPINE factory activity expanded for a second straight month in March, according to a monthly survey compiled by IHS Markit for Nikkei, but at a pace that was just second-fastest in Southeast Asia after Vietnam ranked as the no. 1 performer for two months in a row.
— BusinessWorld Online

Corruption in Philippines courts a trade barrier – US
The prevalence of corruption in the Philippines – including in the judiciary – has remained a significant barrier to trade with the United States, a report by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) shows.
— Phil Star

Philippines’ Duterte fires interior minister over corruption allegations
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has fired his interior minister for “loss of trust and confidence”, the most senior government executive to be removed for corruption issues, two Cabinet officials said on Tuesday.
— Channel NewsAsia

ANZ bets on five BSP rate hikes in two years
THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) could raise rates by as much as five times within the next two years to 2018 on the back of faster inflation and robust economic growth, with the first hike likely to be delivered as early as July, analysts at ANZ Research said.
— BusinessWorld Online

CTRP to unlock PH economic potential
THE main authors of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) pending in Congress believe their combined proposals to convert the current tax system into a more progressive taxation will help unlock the full potential of the Philippine economy and ensure a brighter future for the country’s young Filipinos.
— The Manila Times

GT Capital nets P14.6B for 2016
GT CAPITAL Holdings, Inc. reported profits grew 21% in 2016, driven by strong revenues from its automotive business and gains from the sale of Global Business Power Corp.
— BusinessWorld Online

BI manpower shortage exposes PH to terror threats – Aguirre
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday expressed concerns that the country may be more vulnerable to the entry of terrorists due to lack of Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel manning air and sea ports.
— Manila Bulletin

PH security at risk due to shortage of Immigration personnel: Aguirre
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II expressed concerns that the country may have exposed itself to the entry of terrorists due to understaffed Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel manning the air and sea ports.
— Manila Bulletin

Govt, Reds agree to discuss truce
THE government and communist rebels on Monday agreed to negotiate an interim ceasefire agreement as peace talks resumed in the Netherlands after a one-day delay over President Rodrigo Duterte’s insistence on a clear bilateral truce.
— The Manila Times

Duterte ready to use force if peace talks with Reds fail
President Rodrigo Duterte gets tough with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, setting preconditions to the resumption of peace negotiations. The chief executive says he is ready to use force against the Communists if the talks fail. – The World Tonight, ANC, April 3, 2017
— ABS-CBN

‘China may have collected samples from Benham Rise’
PHILIPPINE Ambassador to China Chito Santa Romana on Monday bared that a Chinese survey ship may have collected maritime samples at Benham Rise.
— The Manila Times

The Philippines pursues renewable energy expansion
Construction has begun on the Philippines’ largest solar power project, with further interest being stimulated by foreign companies.
— Climate Action

Firm Takes Legal Action After Customs’ Bunker Seizure in the Philippines
Contesting a recent seizure of bunkers, Philippines-based San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is suing the Philippines’ Bureau of Customs (BoC), asserting that the seizure was carried out without due process and in the face of a complete set of import documentation, Philippine media reports.
— Ship & Bunker

Mass resignations, leaves plague immigration bureau
Long lines of travelers are back at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is blaming it on President Duterte’s order stopping the overtime pay of Bureau of Immigration officers at the airports.
— Inquirer.Net

China says it respects PH sovereign rights over Benham Rise—DFA
China has reaffirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the mineral-rich Benham Rise according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
— Inquirer.Net

DOJ to probe contract between BuCor, Tadeco
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to investigate the alleged anomaly in the contract between the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. (Tadeco) owned by Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday said he would create a team to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the allegations of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez about the joint venture agreement (JVA) for the lease of 5,300 hectares of the Davao penal farm to Tadeco.
— Phil Star

LTO chief sued for withholding info on multimillion-peso license card deal
Advocacy group Anti-Trapo Movement (ATM) Monday filed a criminal complaint against Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Edgar Galvante and executive director Romeo Vera Cruz for allegedly withholding several documents pertaining to its multimillion-peso project for the supply of driver’s license cards with five-year validity.
— Phil Star

Philippine soldiers kill ‘more than 10’ militants in bid to free captives
Philippine soldiers killed “more than 10” Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in an attempt to free Vietnamese captives held on a remote southern island as troops fired howitzer shells on rebel positions, an army general said on Monday.
— Reuters

Philippines’ Largest Bitcoin Firm Coins.ph and Bitsquare Reject Bitcoin Unlimited
Major startups, companies, service providers, exchanges and wallet platforms within the Bitcoin industry have unanimously rejected Bitcoin Unlimited as both a hard fork solution and as a bitcoin software.
— The Merkle

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Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Prices of landed properties fell more steeply in Q1
Private home prices here have posted a 14th straight quarter of decline, but analysts say the end of the market funk could be in sight as the pace of falls has slowed.
— The New Paper

SGInnovate focuses on 5 areas to help startups, entrepreneurs
GOVERNMENT-OWNED company SGInnovate has nailed down the areas it will focus on in its mission to help startups and entrepreneurs at each stage of their development.
— The Business Times

Singapore ranks among top global relocation destinations
Singapore has retained its 4th place ranking among the top destinations where firms send their employees, according to research by Cartus, a provider of global relocation services.
— HRD

More headache for Singapore developers
Singapore’s recent unwinding of some property curbs, which initially appeared to boost prospects for developers, may instead be creating new problems.
— The Star

Singapore visa issue may hurt future deals for IT companies like TCS, Infosys: Nasscom
IT body Nasscom today said the clamp down on tech visas by Singapore has shrunk the base of Indian techies to under 10,000 in the South East Asian nation and could hurt the ability of players to chase future deals.
— The Economic Times

Law amended to crack down on complex cybercrimes
People who use or trade personal information obtained illegally can now be charged with an offence even if they did not perform the hacking to retrieve the data, after changes to cyber security laws were passed yesterday.
— The New Paper

Going global: Many Singapore businesses do get it, says IE
THERE doesn’t seem to be a shortage of Singapore companies – both the bigger boys and the newer start-ups – that are ambitious and hungry enough to want to expand abroad these days.
— The Business Times

Grab buys Indonesia shopping platform to expand battle with Uber
Grab, Uber Technologies Inc’s biggest rival in South-East Asia, will acquire Indonesian e-commerce startup Kudo for an undisclosed amount, striking its first deal since pledging to invest US$700mil in its largest market.
— The Star

Singapore: Debt Restructuring Hub Ready For Business
After months of public consultations and revision, the Singapore parliament passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill (the “Bill”) on 10 March 2017 amending the Singapore Companies Act (the “Companies Act”). The Bill contains, among others, significant and novel changes to Singapore’s insolvency laws. This is no doubt a giant step towards positioning Singapore as Asia Pacific’s Debt Restructuring Hub with cross-border restructuring capabilities.
— JD Supra

Government review underway to deal with fake news
The Republic is not spared from the worldwide problem of viral fake news articles, and the Government is mulling over ways to address the issue, given the “limited remedies” under existing laws.
— Today Online

HSBC becomes tier-1 insurer in Singapore
A Tier-1 insurer is defined as a direct life or composite insurer whose total assets are at least SGD5 billion, or a direct general insurer or reinsurer whose annual gross premiums are at least SGD500 million.
— Hubbis

Sembcorp unveils its global asset management system
Sembcorp Industries unveiled the Sembcorp Global Asset Management System (GAMS), a system which utilises advanced digital tools in predictive analytics for the operations of utilities plants.
— Singapore Business Review

Singapore: Nova Satra closes $2m investment from Genting Bio Cellular
Nova Satra Dx Pte. Ltd. (Nova Satra), a Singapore-based molecular diagnostics startup, has secured $2 million (S$2.8 million) in funding from Genting Bio Cellular Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad.
— Deal Street Asia

New laws up terror security, bar foreigners from local political causes
Laws protecting the public from the growing terrorist threat and explicitly barring foreigners from using the Republic to further political agendas were passed in Parliament yesterday, with Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam stressing the Government’s longstanding position that “foreigners and foreign entities should not import foreign politics into Singapore”.
— Today Online

Singapore consumer watchdog to monitor water price profiteering
The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) will monitor for businesses attempting to profit from the increase in water prices, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon in Parliament on Monday (Apr 3).
— Channel NewsAsia

Consumer Payments Country Snapshot: Singapore 2016
Singapore has a very well-developed payments system, with strong penetration of all forms of payment cards and healthy growth over the past few years. However, due to the mature nature of the market issuance is set to plateau going forward. Providers will need to shift their focus to encouraging increased use of payment cards, which will be crucial in driving consumers away from cash, which remains popular in the country.
— PR Newswire

Singapore start-ups head to China – and thrive
It is easy to see why China is widely considered a daunting market. Its fierce levels of competition and unique culture have meant that success has eluded even large American corporations such as eBay and Home Depot, but some Singaporean entrepreneurs are thriving there.
— The Straits Times

Why investors should consider shifting to hospitality investments
The property market is moving towards the tail-end of the supply cycle, even though there is still the 2017 tower of supply to contend with, said CIMB in its latest sector note.
— Singapore Business Review

HR job prospects in Singapore remain slow
Hiring for HR and administrative positions in Singapore has “remained slow” over the last few quarters, according to figures from the Monster Employment Index, a gauge of online job posting activities compiled monthly by job portal Monster.com.
— HRD

Singapore-headquartered Excelity Global Solutions Partners With China-based WOWOO HR for Payroll and Benefits Administration
Embarking to effectively support corporations with ground-breaking HR technology and operative services, Singapore-headquartered Excelity Global Solutions and China-based WOWOO HR, a cloud-based Chinese HR service provider, announced their partnership today. WOWOO HR is a joint venture formed in late 2016 by Ant Financial Services Group, FESCO Group, and the Adecco Group.
— Sys-Con Media

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Thailand launches unique residence programme
Henley & Partners has secured the global concession to promote Thailand’s exclusive residence programme, which gives foreigners authorisation to live in the country for up to 20 years.
– Hubbis

Thailand’s TCC group plans $3.5b Bangkok development
Thailand’s richest man, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, is planning a $3.5 billion property development in central Bangkok that will include offices, homes and shopping malls.
– Deal Street Asia

Alibaba still in talks to set up logistics hub for South East Asia in Thailand
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is said to be in talks with the Thai and the Malaysian governments, seeking the best location and conditions to set up a regional distribution and logistics hub for South East Asia.
— Thailand Business News

Kingsgate seeks compensation from Thailand over Chatree mine closure
Australian miner Kingsgate is seeking compensation from Thailand’s military government over its controversial order to shutdown the company’s gold mine in northern Thailand, forcing the sackings of more than 1000 Thai workers.
— The Sydney Morining Herald

Low-income people around country register for new round of state welfare
A LARGE NUMBER of low-income people queued up to apply for state welfare as the second round of registrations opened nationwide yesterday.
— The Nation

Global oil price increases prop up inflation outlook
The Commerce Ministry has raised its projection for inflation this year to between 1.5% and 2.2% from 1.5-2%, mainly because of the hike in global crude oil prices.
— Bangkok Post

PM satisfied with declining household debt
The Prime Minister has expressed his satisfaction with a reported decrease in household debt while reminding citizens to be careful with their spending.
— Thai Visa News

Indonesia, Thailand show less inflation pressure
Consumer prices in Indonesia and Thailand grew at a slower pace than economists predicted last month, giving central banks in South-East Asia’s two biggest economies scope to keep interest rates low for longer.
— The Star Online

Supporters fear for future of ThaiHealth
A PUBLIC HEARING about changes in the law governing the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) ended yesterday with strong criticism of the new Thai Health Promotion Fund Bill.
— Thai Visa News

Data science poised to boom
Big data and analytics spending in Thailand is expected to continue double-digit growth in 2017, driven by the availability of data, a new generation of technology and a cultural shift toward data-driven decision making.
– Bangkok Post

King to Sign Thailand’s New Charter on April 6
Thailand’s king will officially endorse a new constitution on Thursday, the royal palace said Monday in announcing a formality that will clear the way for the first elections promised by the military since it seized power nearly three years ago.
— BenarNews

TCC Assets sets Bt120-bn budget
TCC ASSETS (Thailand) Co, the property arm of beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi’s empire, has set aside an investment budget of more than Bt120 billion from this year to 2021 in an effort to achieve double-digit annual business growth.
— The Nation

NLA president says new charter will curb corruption effectively
National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai stated that he was confident that the new constitution will be able to effectively prevent and combat corruption.
— Thai PBS News

All citizens now entitled to free emergency services in first 72hrs
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said a new regulation provides benefits for any persons suffering from critical conditions to seek immediate medical treatments within 72 hours and without paying for the costs.
— The Phuket News

Tap water supplier in Eastern region expects strong demand from EEC
UNIVERSAL Utilities Group, which supplies tap water in the Eastern region of Thailand, plans to invest an average of Bt200 million a year to develop water-treatment systems, especially in Chachoengsao, Rayong, and Chon Buri provinces, to serve expected strong demand from the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— The Nation

Thailand and South Korea collaborate to develop SMEs
The Ministry of Industry and South Korea’s government agencies have signed two agreements to mutually develop their SME sectors.
— Thai Visa News

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Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Vietnam-Finnish IPP accelerator aims to build sustainability as part of exit plan
The Euro 11-million ($11.7 million) Vietnam-Finland Innovation Partnership Programme (IPP) was one of the early acceleration support in Vietnam’s fledgling startup ecosystem.
— Deal Street Asia

Vietnam meat firm enhanced by cash injection
Vietnam-based Masan Groupp Corporation’s meat subsidiary is set to see a cash injection of $250 million (m) after US investment firm KKR acquired a minority share in the business.
— Global Meat News

Export of aquatic products earns 1.5 billion USD in first quarter
Vietnam earned 537 million USD from the export of aquatic products in March, bringing the total figure of the year’s first three months to 1.5 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 3.6 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
— Vietnam Plus

Vietnam has too many “key” industries: economists
So many industries are listed as ‘leading-edge industries’ that it is unclear which of these should be accorded top priority for development.
— VietNamNet Bridge

Singapore, Vietnam sign cooperation agreements
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recently signed five cooperation agreements across the banking, power generation, and infrastructure sectors – a development welcomed by analysts amidst growing protectionism in global trade.
— Singapore Business Review

Two dollar billionaires: does Vietnam need more?
Experts hope that Vietnam’s dollar billionaires will spur the development of several business fields and open new value chains.
— VietNamNet Bridge

Shares remain close to 10-year high
Shares closed almost flat on the two local exchanges yesterday as strong investor selling hit large-cap stocks after the market reached a 10-year high last week.
— Viet Nam News

NGO, enterprise promote better sanitation for remote Vietnamese children
Around a hundred elementary school students from a disaster-prone coastal commune in southern Vietnam attended an event on the weekend to improve their hygiene practice.
— Tuoi Tre News

Philippine firm eyes Saigon Beer stake
San Miguel, Philippines’ largest brewery corporation, is “evaluating and may bid” for Viet Nam’s Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp (SABECO), company president Ramon Ang told Bloomberg reporters last Friday.
— VietNamNet Bridge

Quảng Nam probes 50,000cu.m of missing sand
Project investors, contractors and sub-contractors of a dredging project in the Cửa Đại Estuary are suspected of “serious violations” with a large volume of sand gone “missing.”
— Viet Nam News

In Việt Nam, ’bigness’ depends on more than size
There have been some commentaries on the 2016 Wealth Report which claim Việt Nam is the fastest growing country with a super-rich population, surpassing even India and China.
— Viet Nam News

Expressway set to open in 2019
Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has urged the two ministries overseeing the Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận expressway project to speed up construction of the Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ stretch so that the entire road can be open to traffic by 2019.
— Viet Nam News

Investors set their sights on Vietnam
ABOUT two in five Malaysian companies have chosen Vietnam as their preferred South-East Asia expansion destination in the next three to five years.
— The Star

Vietnam in Firing Line On Trade with US
Vietnam is facing the threat of possible trade retaliation from the United States following President Trump’s order of a thorough review of the giant US trade deficit.
— New America Media

HCMC beefs up measures against pollution
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Ho Chi Minh City sped up infrastructure system to control environment quality in line with its set target to 2020.
— Saigon

Food Fest 2017 to be held in Hanoi
The International Culinary and Music Festival (Food Fest 2017) will take place for the first time in Hanoi from April 7 – 9.
— Hanoi Times

Vietnam anti-corruption official moonlights as xe om to save for $133k villa
Though considered a difficult and low-paid job, xe om, or motorbike taxi driver, has emerged as dream work in Vietnam after one state official claimed to have saved enough money to build a luxury villa while doing it part-time.
— Tuoi Tre News

World Bank report on Vietnam’s pork safety sparks concern, doubt
A recent World Bank report claiming that up to 40 percent of pork in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is potentially contaminated with the salmonella bacteria has raised concern and doubt as to whether the ratio is too high compared with Vietnam’s own statistics.
— Tuoi Tre News

Business environment effectively supports firms: PM
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assessed that the business and investment environment of Vietnam has been effectively supporting the development of enterprises, pointing a high number of startups and profitable firms.
— Vietnam Plus

Vietnam should be ready for bilateral trade deal talks with US: experts
Vietnam should be ready to negotiate a free trade agreement with the US, according to some speakers at a recent seminar on the impacts of the Trump administration’s policies in Asia-Pacific.
— Vietnam Plus

Booming resorts, littering, rip-offs among ‘negatives’ of Phu Quoc tourism
Quang Kiet, a frequent visitor to Phu Quoc, has found many ‘negatives,’ one of which is the mushrooming number of resorts on the ‘pearl island’ just off southern Vietnam.
— Tuoi Tre News

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Asean Morning News is the most comprehensive selection of reports on what you need to know from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. All articles are hand curated by the team at AEC News Today. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.