Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
ADB retains growth forecast for Southeast Asia at 5.1 pct for 2018
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has retained its growth forecast for Southeast Asia at 5.1 percent for 2018 assuming robust consumption and infrastructure investment, says a report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released on Wednesday.
— Xinhua
Favourable currents for ASEAN–China relations in the South China Sea
Despite increased friction between the United States and China, on balance, positive developments in the South China Sea outweighed negative ones this year.
— East Asia Forum
Trade war forces multinationals in Asia to hold back on investing
The U.S.-China trade war has affected the business strategies of 68% of multinational companies operating in Asia, according to a recent survey.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Asian cities stand to lure climate investments worth $20 trillion
Three years ago, almost to the day, the world looked on in amazement as 195 nations signed the Paris agreement into effect.
— Asean Today
ASEAN launches safe migration campaign
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has launched a safe migration campaign to increase public awareness of the advantages of employing migrant workers.
— Antara News
APAC businesses outperform Western peers in digital transformation race
BUSINESSES in the Asia Pacific (APAC) fiercely compete with their counterparts in the west, especially in the US and the UK.
— Asian Correspondent
Prolonged martial law in Mindanao a danger to human rights, ASEAN lawmakers warn
Lawmakers from across Southeast Asia maintained that the proposed extension of martial law and suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in the entire Mindanao would pose threat to human rights.
— The Philippine Star
Curbing Asia’s Corrupt Governments
Representatives of civil society organizations from nine ASEAN nations have been meeting for the past two days in Bangkok, seeking ways to fast-track implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in what has to seem like an uphill struggle.
— The Asia Sentinel
ASEAN connectivity enhanced under Singapore’s chairmanship
Cooperation and connectivity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have seen improvements in 2018 under Singapore’s chairmanship, which was themed “Resilience and Innovation”.
— Saigon Giai Phong
Language tests to be held in 8 countries for new visa status
Japanese language tests will be held in eight countries, mainly in Southeast Asia, as part of screening for applicants seeking new visa status for foreign workers.
— The Asahi Shimbun
Committed collaboration for using IT in sustainable forest management in Southeast Asia
“Information technology (IT) will be a powerful driver in sustainable forest management in years to come,” highlighted Kavickumar Muruganathan, Halcyon Agri, speaking at the IT Solutions for Sustainable Forest Management in Southeast Asia’ seminar in late November.
— Eco-Business
AEC Feed
Indonesia’s Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution inaugurated the special economic zone (KEK) in Galang Batang, Riau Islands, over the weekend.
— The Nation (annoying pop-ups)
WATCH: Southeast Asia and India still have ‘a long way to go’ in terms of palm oil sustainability
South East Asia and India still have a fair bit to do in order to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of palm oil sustainability, said an industry expert from the RSPO.
— FoodNavigator-Asia.com
In brief: TNB Aura launches new $22.7m fund for Southeast Asia
Singapore-based TNB Aura has announced the final close of its inaugural Southeast Asia venture capital fund, TNB Aura Fund 1.
— Tech in Asia
Advancing IT: Lessons from India
As the world continues to globalise at a rapid pace, the demand for better and more efficient technology will skyrocket.
— The Asean Post
We can’t rid Asia of natural disasters. But we can prepare for them
Asia is one of the regions most affected by natural disasters, like the super typhoons named above.
— World Economic Forum (blog)
SE Asia’s perfect storm of factors lures Chinese dairy investment
Dominating the news headlines twice in one week is not something done often by dairy majors anywhere in the world, never mind Southeast Asia.
— DairyReporter.com
Gender forum for ASEAN economic pillar ‘successful’: PCW
The just-concluded Philippine-led regional forum on gender mainstreaming has provided a positive outlook on gender perspective in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) said Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Anticipating hastened global action in integrating conservation in dev’t sectors
Following the agreement of 196 countries during the UN Biodiversity Conference to ensure the achievement of global biodiversity targets through actions at the global, regional, national, and sub-national levels, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim expressed hoped for the hastened integration or mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation in development sectors such as agriculture, health, tourism, infrastructure, finance, and climate change.
— Philippine Information Agency
The need for renewable energy cooperation
In October, the United Nations (UN) released a report which highlighted that the world could be on the brink of a climate change disaster if immediate measures are not taken.
— The Asean Post
WWF announces discovery of 157 new species in Southeast Asia
A bat which looks like *NSYNC’s Lance Bass, a gibbon named for Luke Skywalker, and a toad which seems to have come “from Middle Earth,” are among 157 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong Region last year, according to a new report from the World Wildlife Fund.
— KPAX.com
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Belt and Road Initiative set to bring opportunity, but comes with risks
The China-backed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project could offer good opportunities for Cambodia to achieve its development goal, but comes with risks. The Kingdom must carefully study the two-sided story of the project, experts said on Tuesday in a dialogue hosted by the UN.
— The Phnom Penh Post
EU Ambassador ‘concerned’ over rights situation in Cambodia
On the 70th anniversary of the passing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Monday, Edgar said it was “no secret” that the E.U. was concerned by the dissolution of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party last year and the jailing of its leader, Kem Sokha, on treason charges.
— Voice of America
Post sportswriter HS Manjunath dies aged 64
The Phnom Penh Post’s chief sports writer Hirisave Srikantaiah “HS” Manjunath passed away on Monday morning following complications after hurting himself falling while covering a story. He was 64.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Minister confirms Rp400 trillion allocation for infrastructure in 2019
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has revealed that funds amounting to Rp400 trillion will be allocated in the State Budget for the development of infrastructure across Indonesia in 2019.
— Antara News
Sri Mulyani: State Budget Deficit at Lowest Rate for Past 5 Years
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said that the state budget deficit in 2018 is at its best figure for the past five years.
— Tempo.co
Indonesia’s trade boycott threat over Jerusalem recognition
The Indonesian Muslim groups behind a one-million-strong rally in Jakarta this month have warned that any move by the Australian government to formally recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital — even if the embassy remains in Tel Aviv for now — would spark mass protests and a boycott of Australian products.
— The Australian
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
Lao garment industry continues to face challenges
Local clothing manufacturers are encountering ongoing hurdles to survive and thrive, according to the Association of the Lao Garment Industry.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Electronic signature law will boost E-commerce, govt tells NA
The government has told the National Assembly (NA) that Laos needs to have an electronic signature law in place to boost E-commerce and facilitate E-governance.
— Vientiane Times
Poverty reduction programme makes impressive progress
About 150 thousand people from four provinces have benefited from a Local Development Programme known as ‘LAO/030’ thanks to funding through the Luxembourg government’s poverty reduction initiatives in Laos.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia well on track to becoming high-income nation: World Bank
Malaysia is well on its way to crossing the threshold into high-income and developed country status in the coming years, said the World Bank.
— Channel NewsAsia
More online hires at Malaysia’s oil & gas sector
Malaysia’s oil and gas industry recorded 19 consecutive months of year-on-year growth, up 13 per cent in October, according to the latest Monster Employment Index (MEI).
— New Straits Times
Malaysia Oct manufacturing sales up 10.2% y-o-y to RM73.1b
Malaysia’s October 2018 manufacturing sales rose 10.2% year-on-year to RM73.1 billion from RM66.3 billion, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
— The Edge Markets
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
Facebook among firms named on Myanmar human rights ‘dirty list’
Facebook is among a number of companies from the US, UK, France, Switzerland and China named on a “dirty list” of corporations accused of involvement in human rights and environmental violations in Myanmar, or of doing business with the country’s military, which is accused of genocide.
— The Guardian
One year on, families of Reuters journalists hope for release
“We went to the market on the evening of December 12 to prepare for the next day’s lunch,” said Ma Pan Ei Mon, the wife of jailed Reuters journalist Ko Wa Lone. The memory of their time together a year ago is one that Pan Ei Mon cherishes.
— Frontier Myanmar
India to expand gas pipeline network into Bangladesh and Myanmar
The Indian central government will initially spend Rs 700 billion (70,000 crore) to spread gas pipelines across the country.
— Energy Infra Post
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Infra spending up 50% in 10 months
Construction of more roads, health facilities, school buildings as well as local projects in Mindanao nearly doubled the national government’s infrastructure expenditures in October to P94.4 billion, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Wednesday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
Ecozone investments plunge 44% in 11 months
Investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) dropped 43.98 percent in 11 months this year compared to last year as all sectors, except information technology (IT), recorded declines.
— The Philippine Star
ADB sees PH inflation at 10-year high
The Asian Development Bank sees inflation in the Philippines hitting a 10-year high of 5.3 percent in 2018 even as the central bank’s aggressive interest rate hikes in the past months were expected to ease consumer price increases in the near term.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve
Singapore vulnerable to rising sea level, severe floods: Masagos
Small island developing states such as Singapore are at risk of dire consequences if current warming trends continue, said Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli.
— Channel News Asia
Singapore dominated dealmaking in Southeast Asia this year: Duff & Phelps
Singapore maintained its position as Southeast Asia’s leading deal hub this year as it oversaw 857 transactions spanning merger and acquisitions (M&A), private equity/venture capital and IPOs worth $106.2 billion.
— Deal Street Asia
Editor of The Online Citizen, author of article to be charged with criminal defamation
The editor of socio-political website The Online Citizen and the writer of one of its published articles will be charged on Thursday (Dec 13) for criminal defamation, the police said on Wednesday.
— Channel News Asia
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Prayut hints again at return as premier
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has hinted once again he may be ready to return as premier after the Feb 24 poll, a day after the ban on political activities was lifted.
— Bangkok Post
Apisak warns of slower economic growth
FINANCE Minister Apisak Tantivorawong predicts Thailand will encounter slower economic growth in 2019, citing uncertainty from the trade war between the superpowers, the upcoming national election and a slump in tourism as the key factors.
— The Nation
ADB cuts Thai outlook on export deceleration
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has slashed its economic growth forecasts for Thailand to 4.3% this year and 4.1% next year as the global economy sputters.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam among 10 fastest-growing economies
While growth is set to ease in 2019, Vietnam will still be among the top 10 fastest-growing economies globally, according to a report recently released by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
— Viet Nam Net
ADB provides US$300m loan to BIDV to support SMEs in Việt Nam
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Việt Nam (BIDV) signed a US$300 million loan agreement on Wednesday to support the growth and productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Việt Nam.
— Viet Nam News
Vietnam runs biggest trade surplus with US, EU in 11 months
Vietnam enjoyed its largest trade surpluses with the United States (US) and European Union (EU) in the first 11 months of 2018, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
— VNA NET
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.
Asean morning news for December 13 added by Digital Editor on
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