Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Amazon pushes into SE Asia with Singapore launch
Amazon launched its express delivery service in Singapore on Thursday, the US online retail giant’s first foray into Southeast Asia and a move that puts it in direct competition with China’s Alibaba.
— The Jakarta Post
Non-tariff barriers bog down Asean economic integration
The excessive use of non-tariff measures, unaddressed issues on labor mobility and barriers to trade in services are hampering the integration process of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), ADB economists said.
— The Philippine Star
More than 1.7 million foreign workers in Malaysia; majority from Indonesia
There are currently 1,781,598 foreign workers in the country as of 30 June 2017, says the Home Ministry.
— New Straits Times
Malaysian PM thinks Malay should be the language of Asean
MALAYSIA’s Prime Minister Najib Razak has said he wants Bahasa Melayu or Malay to be the official language of the Asean regional bloc by 2050.
— Asian Correspondent
Asean’s secondary cities poised to boom
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) secondary population centers are getting a significant growth spike from connectivity upgrades that are bringing markets closer and gradually reducing the economic clout of megacities.
— Asia Times
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
More needed to spread fruits of globalisation fairly: economists
Love it or hate it, globalisation is not going away, though leading economists meeting in the Malaysian capital this week expressed hope that its benefits can be distributed more equitably.
— The Phnom Penh Post
UAE and Cambodia sign investment agreement
The UAE and Cambodia on Thursday signed an agreement to protect and encourage bilateral investment between the two countries.
— Gulf News
No concrete solutions for cement shortage
Despite being home to several cement factories, real estate industry experts say Cambodia’s cement manufacturing sector has yet to fulfill demands of the fast developing building boom.
— The Phnom Penh Post
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Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Indonesia’s deficit widens in 2017 budget revision
Indonesia’s House of Representatives on Thursday endorsed a revision to this year’s government budget — which sees a lower revenue, increased spending and a widening deficit nearing the constitutional limit.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Expedia to Invest $350 Million in Indonesia Booking Site Traveloka
Expedia’s minority investment in Traveloka, a household name among travel players in Indonesia, makes sense. The company has struggled to gain share in Southeast Asia and a partnership can fill the gap.
— Skift
Government to install 271.5 thousand household gas connections
The government, through the Directorate General of Oil and Gas of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), targets to install 271.5 thousand household gas distribution connections in 2017.
— Antara News
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Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
The Room for Indonesia-Laos to Enhance Trade Investment and Tourism Cooperation
Indonesia is seeking to enhance bilateral cooperation with the Peoples Democratic Republic of Laos during the visit of Foreign Minister of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith to Jakarta here on Thursday.
— Netral News
WB Provides US$ 25 M Supporting Water Resources Management in Laos
The Ministry of Finance and the World Bank on Wednesday, Jul 26 signed an agreement for financing support of US$25 million as additional funding for the Mekong Integrated Water Resources Management (MIWRM) Project.
— Lao News Agency
BOL Opens New Regional Branch in Xiengkhouang
(KPL) The Bank of Lao PDR (BOL) officially opened its new northern regional branch in Phonmixay village, Pek district, Xiengkhouang Province on Jul 26.
— Lao News Agency
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Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Malaysia’s economy in 2016 expands 6.3 per cent on GDP
Malaysia’s economy increased in 2016 as the value of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices expanded further to register RM1,230.1 billion and grew 6.3 per cent.
— The Borneo Post
Digital economy to make up 20 per cent of GDP before 2020
The contributions of Malaysia’s digital economy to the gross domestic product (GDP) are expected to exceed the 20 per cent target by 2020 from the current 17 per cent.
— The Borneo Post
Home ministry: 1.78 million foreign workers in Malaysia
There were 1.78 million foreign workers in Malaysia as of June 30, the majority comprising Indonesians, Nepalis and Bangladeshis, Putrajaya revealed today.
— Free Malaysia Today
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Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Cara Navarro @cara_nav
Myanmar Asks WHO to Help Fight H1N1 Virus
Myanmar’s government requested help from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday after the H1N1 influenza killed six out of 20 confirmed cases in the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.
– The Irrawaddy
Two teams formed to streamline investment
The Myanmar Investment Commission has formed an investment proposal scrutinising team and a one-stop team this month.
– Eleven Myanmar
Sugar industry at brink of collapse after China buyers pull back
Over 800,000 tons of sugar has accumulated in the local market since China stopped importing from Myanmar.
– The Myanmar Times
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Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Hot money net outflow hits $457M yr-to-date
FOREIGN portfolio investments in the Philippines so far this year registered a net outflow of $457.83 million as of mid-July, reversing a net inflow of $773.77 million posted in the same period a year earlier, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data released on Thursday showed.
— The Manila Online
PH now ranks 13th in terms of population — POPCOM
The Commission on Population (POPCOM) on Thursday said that from being ranked 12th, the country is now just the 13th largest country in the world in terms of population.
— Philippine News Agency
Finance department targets $1.8-B loan for dev’t
THE Department of Finance (DOF) targets to incur a total of $1.8 billion official development assistance (ODA) loans for 2018.
— Sun Star
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Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Amazon launches Prime Now in Singapore
Amazon looks set to shake up Singapore’s retail market with the launch of its most aggressive service yet, Prime Now.
— FoodNavigator-Asia
IE Singapore sets up network for SMEs to expand overseas quickly
INTERNATIONAL Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore) aims to ease market entry for Singapore SMEs with the launch of its new Plug and Play Network.
— The Business Times
More bite for data privacy soon
The law on personal data may soon be revised to keep it in step with the rapidly changing digital landscape.
— The New Paper
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Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Finance Ministry keeps GDP growth outlook at 3.6%
The Thai economy is expected to grow 3.6% this year, as earlier forecast, with exports likely to increase more than expected, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
BOI approves 128 billion baht in investment aid
The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) has approved some 128 billion baht in aid for five investment projects.
— NNT
Prayut says gov’t right to take Yingluck assets before verdict
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday his government was right to confiscate the bank accounts of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as it was a separate matter than her malfeasance trial, which has yet to render a verdict.
— Prachatai English
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Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Cara Navarro @cara_nav
Foreign investment in Viet Nam surge 52 per cent
Viet Nam attracted US$21.93 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) during the first seven months of this year, a surge of 52 per cent year-on-year, according to the latest Foreign Investment Agency statistics.
– Viet Nam News Bizhub
Agriculture records 7M trade surplus of $4bn
Export turnover in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector in July was $3.11 billion, bringing the figure for the first seven months of the year to $20.45 billion, a 14.7 per cent increase year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development.
– Vietnam EconomicTimes
FIEs’ ups and downs affect Vietnam’s economic index
The Vietnamese economy is so reliant on the foreign-invested economic sector that any change in foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) can affect the economic indexes.
– VietnamNet Bridge
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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.