Asean Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Asean urges non-militarization, self-restraint in South China Sea
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) reiterated its call for non-militarization and self-restraint in the South China Sea amid Beijing’s reclamation activities and apparent arming of artificial islands in the disputed waters.
— Inquirer
Regional firms say Asean will remain focus of their investment
Large companies say Asean will be a stronghold of their business for decades, serving as a key region for investment and revenue generation.
— Bangkok Post
China wins vs U.S. at ASEAN Summit but loses on publicity
China continues its winning streak against the United States at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits held in the Philippines back-to-back with the Asia-Pacific Economic Summit (APEC) Summit in Vietnam
— Rappler
Asean ‘needs a regional fund’
Asean should take the initiative in establishing its own regional development fund to address its lack of infrastructural development, the bloc’s former secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Growth ‘vital for Asean success’
Asean has high potential to build up regional prosperity and stability but, to be successful, the regional bloc needs robust internal growth, regional integration, and strong collective leadership, Singapore premier Goh Chok Tong says.
— Bangkok Post
Funding for Asean’s FinTechs surging; Singapore gets lion’s share of Asean FinTechs
Funding for financial technology or fintech firms in Asean is surging on the back of the region’s young and underbanked population.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Singapore will work with Asean neighbours on climate change issues: Masagos
Singapore will work with its South-east Asian neighbours on strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change when it takes on the role of Asean chairman next year, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli said on Thursday (Nov 16) at a United Nations climate change conference in Bonn, Germany.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
ASEAN Countries Must Act Together to Confront Climate Change
Nine out of ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have ratified the Paris Agreement, and Myanmar is expected to do so in the near future. While each country has its own, individual Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), collaboration among these countries will be essential to achieve NDC targets and tackle global climate change challenges across a region with a quarter of the Earth’s population.
— World Resources Institute
Opportunities and threats under the Asean economic integration
THE Asean Economic Community 2015 (AEC 2015), established by the 10 member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, aims to eliminate trade barriers and facilitate trade of both goods and services within the region. With a population of 631 million people, total trade amounting to $2.82 trillion and total current GDP of $2.53 trillion as of 2015, the Asean Free Trade Agreement will expand the region’s consumer base and promote economic growth.
— Business Mirror
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia bids farewell to democracy
Cambodia’s Supreme Court today officially dissolved the country’s largest opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), a decision that will effectively make the Southeast Asian nation a one-party state.
— Asia Times
PM Hun Sen: Cambodia is Not a Foreign Puppet
Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that Cambodia is not a puppet for foreigners because of wanting peace and help.
— Fresh News
Government approves two new garment factory investments
The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) has approved two more garment investment projects with a combined investment capital of $8.8 million, according to an announcement released today.
— The Phnom Penh Post
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Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Bank Indonesia Revises 2017 GDP Growth Forecast to 5.1%
Bank Indonesia revised its forecast for 2017 economic growth to 5.1 percent on Thursday (16/11), near the lower end of its previous range of 5.0 percent to 5.4 percent.
— Jakarta Globe
Indonesia anticipates electricity oversupply
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan has said that the reason for regrouping the customers of state-owned electricity company PLN was in anticipation of the increased production of electricity due to the 35,000 megawatt (MW) program expected to be achieved in 2019.
— The Jakarta Post
Rupiah Tumbles 1.27 Percent Against US Dollar in October
The Indonesian rupiah depreciated 1.27 percent against the US dollar to Rp13,523.07 in October 2017, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said.
— Tempo
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Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Chinese developers investing US$100 m in Boten SEZ shopping centre
Chinese developers are constructing several large buildings to house shopping, banking and service centres at Boten Specific Economic Zone in Luang Namtha province.
— Vientiane Times
Japanese buses get into gear in city centre
Buses provided by the local government of Kyoto, Japan, have been operating in Vientiane on a trial basis since November 15 and will go into service permanently on November 27.
— Vientiane Times
Kon Tum, Lao provinces work to enhance shared border
The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum and Laos’ Attapeu and Sekong provinces have reached a consensus on maintaining efforts to build a Vienam-Laos borderline of peace, friendship and cooperation.
— Vietnam Plus
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Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
An upgraded TIFA paves the way for higher economic engagement between the US and Malaysia
An upgraded Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) version, to the level of a bilateral free trade agreement, will pave the way for higher economic engagement between the US and Malaysia, said Second International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.
— News Straits Times
Top Malaysia fund firm eyes more private investments to cut cash pile
Malaysia’s largest fund management firm Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) plans to boost private investments and fixed income assets starting next year as part of a five-year target to reduce its cash holdings, its top executive said.
— Reuters
Industry 4.0 to surge Japanese FDI in Malaysia
Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) to Malaysia has been flat in recent times but the Japanese companies here are confident that there will be a surge with Industry 4.0.
— New Straits Times
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Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Myanmar forces committed ‘widespread rape’ of Rohingya
Myanmar’s security forces committed “widespread rape” against Rohingya women and girls as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing in the country’s Rakhine State, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said in a report.
— Aljazeera (video)
Myanmar agrees with Bangladesh to combat terror groups
Myanmar has agreed with Bangladesh to arrest fugitives who arrive on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border area and to combat ARSA and “other terrorists organisations”, said Police Brig-General Myo Swe Win.
— Eleven Myanmar
Myanmar has one of the lowest tax takes in the world
INSIDE a noodle house in central Yangon, business is buzzing. Customers huddle over tables, slurping down chicken soup or gobbling dumplings. Everyone pays in cash. Few customers ask for receipts.
— The Economist
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
PH grows 6.9%, 2nd fastest in Asia
The economy’s growth in the third quarter of the year surpassed market expectations, expanding 6.9 percent and making the Philippines the second best performing economy so far in Asia for the quarter.
— Malaya
Philippines is 12th country most affected by terrorism
The Philippines ranked 12th globally in terms of terrorism’s impact due to an increase in the number of fatalities and terrorist activity, according to a global terrorism index.
— Philstar
Philippines moves ahead with family planning law
The Roman Catholic-majority Philippines will reallow the use of contraceptive implants after certifying 51 drugs and devices safe and not the cause of abortions, the Health Department announced on Thursday.
— The Hindu
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Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore suspends trade ties with North Korea
Singapore has suspended trade ties with North Korea in the latest move by a country to implement UN sanctions to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program, a customs document showed Thursday, November 16.
— Rappler
Singapore’s exports jump 20.9% in October
Non-oil domestic exports (NODX) in Singapore jumped by 20.9 per cent year-on-year in October, according to statistics released by trade agency International Enterprise (IE) Singapore on Friday (Nov 17).
— Channel NewsAsia
Singapore to declare 2018 Year of Climate Action
Singapore will designate 2018 as the Year of Climate Action, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) on Thursday (Nov 16).
—Channel NewsAsia
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Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Construction of Thai-Chinese high-speed railway to begin in December
The Transport Ministry is confident the construction of the 3.5-kilometre section of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway between Klang Dong – Pang Asok stations in Nakhon Ratchasima province will begin in December since the environmental impact assessment report for it has been completed, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.
— Thai PBS
Labor Ministry : Zero illegal migrant workers by March 2018
The Thai government plans to achieve the target of zero illegal migrant workers by March 31st, 2018.
— NBT World (video)
Thailand plans joint arms factory with China
Thailand’s defense technology agency plans to set up a joint center with China to produce and maintain military equipment in the latest sign of the strengthening security relationship since a 2014 coup.
— Reuters
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam to offload 21.8% of construction major Vinaconex on Dec 8
The State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), Vietnam’s sovereign wealth fund, is seeking to sell a 21.79 per cent stake in the country’s construction major Vinaconex on December 8.
— DealStreetAsia
Government Inspectorate detects Hà Nội housing violations worth $69.4million
The Government Inspectorate has detected violations worth (US$69.4 million) in many housing projects developed in Hà Nội between 2002 and 2014.
— Viet Nam News
Central bank governor stresses solutions to bad debt settlement
Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Le Minh Hung on November 16 fielded lawmakers’ questions about the banking system’s operations, underlining the need to focus on effectively implementing a resolution on piloting the settlement of bad debt at credit institutions.
— Nhan Dan Online
See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News
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.
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