Asean Morning News For July 24

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Government must lead the Asean Code of Conduct
A year after receiving a favorable ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, it is incumbent upon the Philippine government to take advantage of the decision and take the lead in resuming talks that would pave the way for an enforceable Code of Conduct in the disputed sea route.
— Manila Standard

Asean nations see bulk of new HIV infections in Asia-Pacific
UNITED NATIONS • Asean members Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand are among 10 countries that together accounted for more than 95 per cent of all new HIV infections in the Asia-Pacific region last year, according to a new report.
— The Straits Times

Korea, Cambodia cooperate in e-commerce sector
E-commerce experts from Korea and Cambodia have gathered in Phnom Penh to discuss ways to boost cooperation.
— Korea Times

Chelsea to expand in Asia via acquisitions
Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corporation (CLC) of businessman Dennis Uy is bullish about the prospects of the shipping industry and will continue to be on acquisition mode so it can grow in the Philippines and, eventually, in Asia.
— Manila Bulletin

Alibaba and Tencent are carving up Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem
Two global tech forces are putting their mark — and money — into Southeast Asia’s nascent startup ecosystem, but they may not be the Western names that you expect.
— TechCrunch

South-East Asia to become global economic focus
In an insightful and captivating lecture, famous academic Prof Wang Gungwu shares his findings and predictions on China and South-East Asia.
— The Star Online

Vietnam promotes ASEAN’s role in Italy
The Embassy of Vietnam has fulfilled its missions of increasing the role and position of ASEAN in Italy while chairing the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) in the first half of 2017.
— Vietnam Plus

Modernizing and mobilizing: Digital workspaces in ASEAN
All eyes are on ASEAN as it celebrates its 50th birthday this year. Among its strengths, the ASEAN region has 630 million people, of whom more than half are under the age of 30. These young people are creative, connected and collaborating to create value for the region. Not only does the region abound with youth, but it is also rapidly connecting to the digital economy.
— eGov Innovation

Pushing For MSME Development
Last Friday, MSMEs were once again put in the spotlight as the Department of Trade and Industry hosted the ASEAN 2017 MSME Development Summit, a part of the ASEAN @ 50 activities under Philippine chairmanship. The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) fully supports this program for MSMEs.
— The Philippine Star

Philippine Forces Hunt Terrorists at Sea
As fighting between terrorists and government forces in Mindanao continues, the Philippine government has rolled out countermeasures to prevent the escape of members of the ISIS-inspired Maute group via maritime routes. Manila has announced two major maritime security initiatives to prevent ISIS-inspired militants from fleeing to neighboring islands near the Malaysian and Indonesian borders.
— The Maritime Executive

ACB marks Asean’s 50th year with new HQ
The Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) will inaugurate its new building on July 29 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna. The activity forms part of Asean’s golden anniversary celebration.
— Business Mirror

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

With continued growth, Cambodia’s finance sector aims for stability
The Kingdom’s financial sector continued to expand robustly during the first half of this year with outstanding loans and deposits increasing compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustainable development and growing public confidence in the sector, according to the latest report by the central bank. However, with enlarged growth the rate of non-performing loans has also increased.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh Set to Open First Airport Railway Link by April
A railway line that will transport passengers from the center of Phnom Penh to its airport is set to open in April, Transport Minister Sun Chanthol announced on Friday, adding that no evictions would be necessary to make way for the development.
— The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

Vietnam Imports Cambodian Timber Despite Ban
After tumbling in April, Cambodia’s timber exports to Vietnam leveled off in May, according to the latest Vietnamese customs data obtained by the U.S. NGO Forest Trends.
— The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

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Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Finance Ministry advised to reconsider plan to adjust untaxed income
The Indonesian Finance Ministry should reconsider its plan to adjust the limit of non-taxable income as the proposed threshold is too high, an observer said.
— Antara News

Indonesian cattle cruelty exhibited at class action trial
DAY three of the Indonesian live cattle ban class action trial was dominated by the defence presenting extensive and intimate details of animal cruelty practices that underpinned the government’s sudden decision to cut off trade.
— North Queensland Register

Slow Death of Jakarta’s Brick-and-Mortar Stores
A survey by the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers, or APJII, shows that more than half of Indonesia’s 256.2 million people use the internet regularly and many of them use it to make purchases, for everything from books to pets, from “olshop,” the local abbreviation for online shops.
— Jakarta Globe

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Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro @cara_nav

Laos Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals
Laos reaffirmed at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable development in New York, USA, Jul 17-19, its commitment to achieving sustainable development goals.
– Lao News Agency

Lower logistics costs to boost business, competitiveness
Decreasing the logistics costs for exporting and importing goods is a priority for Laos when it comes to business competitiveness in the region and the rest of the world according to a prominent Lao private sector leader.
– Vientiane Times

Higher Lao tariffs could doom border market
An increase in import duties by Laos could force the closure of the border market in Ban Khok district of this northern province unless Thai authorities step in to help, local traders say.
– Bangkok Post

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Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Analysts: Construction job flows to pick up again in 2H17
The momentum on contract awards and job flows in the construction sector is expected by analysts to pick up again in the second half of 2017 (2H17), continuing into 2018.
— The Borneo Post

IPO market sees resurgence
Malaysia’s initial public offering (IPO) market is off to a good start in 2017, with 10 companies going public in the first half, compared with 12 for the whole of last year. Companies across all business sectors are returning to Bursa Malaysia, thanks to a recovery in oil prices and an improving economy.
— The Edge Markets

UN report: Malaysia among top 10 Asian nations affected by HIV
Malaysia is one of the 10 countries which together accounted for over 95% of all new HIV infections in the Asia-Pacific region in 2016, said the United Nations in a recently-released report.
— The Star Online

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Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro @cara_nav

Yangon tender committee launches website
According to an announcement by Yangon’s tender selection committee, all bids for the Yangon Region will pass through a new website.
– Eleven Myanmar

New Companies Law Submitted to Parliament
The Myanmar government submitted a draft of the new Myanmar Companies Law to the Upper House on Thursday.
– The Irrawaddy

Tax cuts impossible: minister
Kyaw Win, minister for planning and finance, says it is impossible to decrease taxes on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as the government has already lowered them.
– Eleven Myanmar

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Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

CTA junks P292-M tax demand vs energy firm
THE COURT of Tax Appeals (CTA) has ordered the cancellation and withdrawal of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) P292-million tax assessment against energy and power firm Conal Holdings Corporation over the lack of legal and factual bases.
— BusinessWorld Online

PAL sets aside $2 B for fleet expansion program
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is setting aside at least $2 billion for its massive fleet expansion program from now through 2019 as the Lucio Tan-led company strives to join the league of the world’s best airlines.
— The Philippine Star

Govt seized P1.4-billion fake goods in Jan-June
The government confiscated P1.4 billion worth of counterfeit products, mostly optical media, in January to June, according to the latest data from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
— Business Mirror

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Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Industry leaders respond to Singapore’s new cybersecurity bill
Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) recently proposed a Cybersecurity Bill, which is open for public feedback from 10 July to 3 August 2017.
— NetWorksAsia

Singapore Startup Counts on Visa to Take Bitcoin Into Real World
A recurring challenge for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is how to make them work in the real world. A Singapore-based startup says the answer is its Visa card.
— Bloomberg

Singapore’s entrepreneurial challenge is changing mindsets: Geeman Yip, BitTitan
Geeman Yip, the American-born Chinese founder and chief executive of BitTitan, a managed cloud services enablement and automation provider, believes that cultural literacy is a key element in entrepreneurial success, as well as the ability to take risks and learn from failure.
— DealStreetAsia

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Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Rolls-Royce ‘kickbacks’ to PTT to be probed
THE COUNTRY’S top anti-graft officials have been appointed to investigate alleged corruption in the 2000-2013 procurement of multi-billion-baht Rolls-Royce industrial equipment by PTT plc and its subsidiary, PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP).
— The Nation

FTI forecasts economic growth in second half
The private sector expects the economy to continue expanding in the second half of 2017 while voicing its concerns over the new alien worker management law and the land reform policy.
— NBT World (video)

Cops nab migrants at border as registration drive begins
Thai immigration police Sunday arrested Cambodians illegally crossing the border into the kingdom, ahead of the registration of undocumented migrant workers which begins Monday.
— Bangkok Post

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Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro @cara_nav

PM okays Van Don EZ development
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has given the northern province of Quang Ninh the go-ahead to develop the Van Don Economic Zone as a special administrative-economic unit.
– Viet Nam News Bizhub

Vietnam exports 2.66 mln tonnes of rice in first half
Vietnam exported nearly 2.66 million tonnes of rice in the first half this year with free-on-board value of 1.65 billion USD, reported the Vietnam Food Association.
– VietnamPlus

VN property market looks to up transparency
The Vietnamese property market must improve market information transparency to attract investment and develop sustainability, experts said.
– Viet Nam 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.