Asean morning news for August 3

Asean morning news for August 3
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Asean morning newsAsean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

 

The EU mobilises €6 million for disaster preparedness in South and Southeast Asia
As Southeast Asia is faced with the yearly monsoon season and its potentially devastating effects, the European Commission has released €6 million for disaster preparedness initiatives in the region.
— European Commission (media release)

China wants military drills with Asean in disputed sea, excluding US
China wants military exercises and energy exploration with Southeast Asian nations in disputed waters, according to a draft document, but insists on outside countries being excluded in what analysts said was a bid to diminish US influence.
— The Borneo Post

How China’s economy has spillover effects on Asean: AMRO report
China’s economic linkages with ASEAN have been rising with potential spillover effects through various channels such as goods and services trade, investments and financial markets, according to a report by the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).
— The Business Times

Shariah investments continue growth spurt in SE Asia
Shariah-compliant investments are gaining further ground in Asia – with growth from Islamic finance powerhouse Malaysia particularly strong and rising amounts of business from Indonesia – according to research published this week.
— International Investment

Chinese firms are betting big on SEA’s tech scene
From technology giants to private equity firms, investors are betting big on Southeast Asia, lured by the huge potential of the fast-growing region.
— South China Morning Post

Singapore to enhance ASEAN development initiative to boost regional economic integration, tech use
To boost economic integration and technology adoption in the region, Singapore will enhance its support for an initiative aimed at narrowing the development gap among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (Aug 2).
— Channel NewsAsia

Asean bloc asked to gear up for trade feuds, protectionism
Southeast Asia’s top diplomats opened an annual meeting on Thursday to tackle a slew of security concerns, including South China Sea territorial disputes, with host Singapore calling on the bloc to brace for external tumult such as rising protectionism.
— Business Mirror

Southeast Asian nations seek cybersecurity agreement with Russia after series of high-profile hacks in Singapore, Malaysia
Southeast Asian nations hope to strike a joint agreement on cybersecurity in coming days with Russia, which is accused by the United States of meddling in its elections, after a series of high-profile hacks in the region.
— Firstpost

Asean can help support rules-based multilateral order: Canada FM Chrystia Freeland
Authoritarianism is on the march and threatening the rules-based order that has brought peace and prosperity to many parts of the globe, Canada’s foreign minister said on Thursday (Aug 2).
— The Straits Times

Asean backs latest Rakhine probe
Asean foreign ministers welcomed the newly established so-called independent commission to investigate human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
— The Nation

Not enough women in parliament
When Indonesians went to the polls for the country’s 2004 general election, they voted for only 11.1 percent women’s representation in parliament,
— The Asean Post

Trump’s overture to emerging Asia drowned out by trade war
When the U.S. Secretary of State flies into Southeast Asia this week with a new investment pitch for the region, the response could be: thanks a million, but please stop threatening a trade war with China that will make us lose billions of dollars.
— Asahi Shimbun

Cruel summer for Southeast Asia’s beaches as tourists retreat
Southeast Asian resorts are grappling with deadly accidents, an earthquake and environmental preservation as tourist traffic takes a beating, with Thailand’s Phuket Island hit particularly hard by the capsizing of tour boats in early July.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Cashing in: Is Southeast Asia ready to go cashless?
As investments in fintech continue to surge globally and throughout Southeast Asia, the region may be on its way to solving the divide between mobile connectivity and financial inclusion.
— Southeast Asia Globe

10 co-working hotspots in Southeast Asia
Co-working spaces are becoming increasingly popular as these not only offer you a chance to network and save money, but forge beneficial partnerships too.
— Free Malaysia Today

AEC Feed
On top of further raising the excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, the Philippines’ Department of Finance (DOF) is also seeking to stop the sale of cigarettes per stick as well as the use of e-cigarettes under its proposed tax reform package “2 plus.”
— The Nation

Asean and China cross major milestone for Code of Conduct
THE FOREIGN ministers of Asean and China yesterday announced significant progress in negotiations towards establishing a Code of Conduct (COC) on behaviour in the contentious South China Sea.
— The Nation

Asean ministers discuss Korea, South China Sea
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Thursday discussed North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and developments relating to disputes in the South China Sea involving China and some of the grouping’s members.
— Bangkok Post

ASEAN offers help over floods to Myanmar
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has said the regional group is ready to provide relief and humanitarian assistance to Myanmar amid the massive floods that swept through several regions and states.
— Thai PBS

Cambodia morning newsCambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

 

Banana deal with China inked
With local farmers and exporters now able to meet strict sanitary standards, the governments of Cambodia and China yesterday signed a deal that allows the shipment of Cambodian bananas to the biggest market in the world.
— Khmer Times

Kingdom exports to Japan regain double-digit growth
The Kingdom’s exports to Japan rebounded in the first half of the year, jumping from single-digit growth last year to 19 per cent, new figures from the Japanese External Trade Organization (Jetro) showed.
— The Phnom Penh Post

DKSH and Nutridor sign dairy products agreement in Cambodia
DKSH Business Unit Consumer Goods, a market expansion services provider for fast moving consumer goods, and Nutridor Limited, have entered a new partnership to introduce Nutridor’s Abevia Gold sweetened beverage and evaporated creamers in Cambodia.
— Dairy Reporter

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

 

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

 

Jokowi: B20 Fuel Policy Can Save up to US$5.9 Billion
President Joko `Jokowi` Widodo requested the automotive industry to support the government`s attempt upon the implementation of the B20 biodiesel fuel.
— Tempo.co

Advancing Gender Equality Could Mean $135b GDP Boost for Indonesia: McKinsey
Indonesia could add $135 billion to its annual gross domestic product by 2025 if it can improve gender equality in the workplace, McKinsey Global Institute said in a report unveiled in Jakarta on Wednesday (01/08).
— Jakarta Globe

Indonesia ships 5,600 tons of shallots to Thailand
Indonesia on Wednesday sent 5,600 tons of shallots to Thailand, the first shipment in a total of 9,000 tons of shallots to be exported to the country this year.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

 

Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

 

Provision of relief services must take place transparently, DPM stresses
The government is racheting up the provision of urgent relief and assistance to people left homeless after the recent flood caused by the failure of an auxiliary dam at the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower plant.
— Vientiane Times

51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Opens In Singapore
The 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM-51) officially opened in Singapore on August 2, with the participation of foreign ministers from the 10 member countries.
— Lao News Agency

Laos, Thailand bolster plans for food, drug quality control
Laos’ Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand yesterday convened the 3rd Meeting of Lao-Thai Cooperation on Food and Drug Control.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

 

Khazanah’s investment playbook set for revamp under Mahathir’s Malaysia
Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional will likely cut stakes in some top state-linked firms as the government overhauls the sovereign wealth fund’s investment strategy, after revamping its board last week, to boost transparency and slash national debt.
— Channel NewsAsia

Proton records sales of 8,102 cars in July, highest in 30 months
National car manufacturer Proton Holdings Bhd recorded sales of 8,102 cars in July, the highest in the last 30 months, spurred by the zero-rated Good and Services Tax (GST) from June to August, with the Saga being the top seller.
— The Star Online

Primary Industries Ministry to enhance usage of biodiesel
The Primary Industries Ministry is currently conducting dialogues with industries including the automotive sector and petroleum-based companies on enhancing the usage of biodiesel in the country, said its Minister Teresa Kok.
— The Borneo Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

 

Asean backs latest Rakhine probe
Asean foreign ministers welcomed the newly established so-called independent commission to investigate human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
— The Nation

Thousands displaced in Cambodia by flooding of Mekong
Nearly 1,000 families residing in provinces along the Mekong River had been evacuated to safe areas as of Tuesday, while 1,133 houses in Kratie province had been inundated, according to provincial authorities.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Experts have low expectations for new Rakhine probe panel
While the rest of the country was focussed on the widespread flooding across Myanmar during the past week, the government revealed the members of an independent commission that will investigate alleged human rights abuses in northern Rakhine State.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

 

Philippines morning newsPhilippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

 

House panel approves ‘in principle’ TRAIN 2
The House of Representatives’ ways and means committee on Thursday approved “in principle” the second package of the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Package (CTRP), which aims to lower the corporate income tax (CIT) and modernize incentives.
— Philippine News Agency

PH prepares draft for possible joint exploration deal with China
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Manila and Beijing can conduct joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea and share potential revenues.
— ABS-CBN

Tariff on imported rice to rake in P20-B yearly
The proposed tariff system may bring in at least PHP20 billion every year to the agricultural sector, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol told lawmakers on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning newsSingapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

 

Manufacturing PMI down 0.2 ppt to 52.3 points in June
Singapore’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) saw a slower expansion at 52.3 in July from 52.5 in June amidst slower growth in new orders, new exports, factory output, and lower inventory level, the Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM) revealed.
— Singapore Business Review

Singapore Govt may start using drones to deliver medicine and for security
Singapore Civil Defence Force and fellow consortium member Garuda Robotics are in talks to use drones in the force’s operations, in particular, to deliver “critical life-saving supplies” and respond to security incidents across the city-state.
— OpenGov

Fee hikes to launch Changi Airport into top of Asia’s tax podium by 2023
In a response to Singapore Business Review, Jetstar Asia also indicated that customers will inevitably see fares increase.
— Singapore Business Review

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

 

Thailand morning newsThailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

 

Consumer’s confidence index for July highest in 62 months
Consumer’s confidence index for the month of July was registered at 82.2 representing the highest rate for the past 62 months of five years and two months since June 2013, said Mr Thanawat Pholvichai, director of Economic and Business Forecast Centre of the Thai Chamber of Commerce University.
— Thai PBS

Boats need over 40,000 migrant staff
The Labour Ministry will push for a plan to import 40,000 workers from neighbouring countries to solve a labour shortage in the commercial fishing sector.
— Bangkok Post

Prayut urges re-education of low-skilled workers
PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged all concerned parties to focus on producing a competent workforce and re-educate low-skilled labour to help the country move into the future.
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

 

Vietnam morning newsVietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

 

Bamboo Air Set To Disrupt Vietnam’s Busy Airspace
Bamboo Airways, a new airline in Vietnam launched by property developer FLC Group, is set to compete in one of Southeast Asia’s busiest aviation markets, aiming at operating 37 domestic routes after its inaugural flight in October this year, Bloomberg News wrote.
— Investvine

Gas-to-power projects attract global energy giants
Giant corporations from the US, Switzerland and France are rushing into Vietnam to invest in promising liquefied natural gas-to-power projects, raising the question whether Vietnam’s gas sources and infrastructure will be up to the task of meeting the demand.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Foreign firms rush to Vietnam’s automobile industry
The government’s policies to promote the local automobile manufacturing and related supporting industries have attracted a huge foreign investment wave in the country in the first half of this year.
— The Hanoi Times

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

 

The Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news round-ups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of news reports from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. We scour hundreds of local and international news and websites to find the things that you need to know to start your working week day.

We clearly identify the source of the story, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you. It’s all then packaged up in an easy to read format enabling you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original source, or keep on reading the headlines. AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

 

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