Asean Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
US revamps travel warning system, ranks countries
The United States unveiled a way to warn its citizens about the dangers of foreign travel on Wednesday (Jan 11), with a four-point safety ranking system for countries and an interactive world map.
— Channel NewsAsia
SpherePay payment app adds micro-loan function
Singapore-based mobile payment app SpherePay has introduced an innovative credit function allowing consumers to make purchases in advance of payment.
— Telecome Asia
4 in 5 Singapore firms expanded overseas in 2017
71% have operations in at least one ASEAN country.
More Singapore companies have expanded their international footprint in 2017, with 83% of businesses currently engaged in overseas business activities, up from 56% in 2016, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) revealed.
— Singapore Business Review
Asian countries open to, but baffled by UK TPP interest
After it emerged that the UK was seeking membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), trade figures in Asia have expressed openness to the idea, but confusion as to how realistic it is.
— Global Trade Review
Free, open Indo-Pacific region touted as Trump legacy
A free and open Indo-Pacific region – with the world’s two largest democracies on either side of it and Asean as its crossroads in the middle – is being held up as a “legacy” of the Trump administration as it nears the end of its first year in office.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Hyundai invests in Grab to get into SE Asia taxi app market
South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co said on Thursday it had invested in Southeast Asian ride-hailing firm Grab, as it seeks to expand into the region to reduce its reliance on China following a damaging diplomatic row between Seoul and Beijing.
— Bangkok Post
Growth in East Asia and Pacific countries may fall to 6.2% in 2018: World Bank
The World Bank believes that this reflects a gradual slowdown in China.
Regional growth for East Asia and Pacific countries is forecasted to slip to 6.2% in 2018 from an estimated 6.4% the previous year as China faces a gradual slowdown offsetting a pickup in economic activity in the rest of the region, according to a report from the World Bank.
— Singapore Business Review
Asia’s Prison Population
China has the largest prison population in Asia, more than four times as large as India. However, when it comes to prison population rates, Thailand has the highest incarceration rate in the region
— The Nation
ASEAN integration key to Southeast Asia’s potential in 2018
What will 2018 bring to the Southeast Asian economy? Will this year become another year for breakthroughs or will it become a disappointment to many countries?
— Born2invest
Hyundai considers plant in Vietnam or Indonesia
The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Hyundai Motor said it is considering building a car plant in Southeast Asia with Indonesia and Vietnam being possible locations.
— VietnamNet Bridge
Nikkei manufacturers index for ASEAN gives rise to concerns
ASEAN manufacturers ended 2017 with new orders falling, costs rising, and jobs disappearing — but remain optimistic for 2018.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Get a taste of ASEAN at this weekend’s festival at Bishan-AMK Park
Fancy going on a quick culinary trip around Southeast Asia? You don’t have to book a plane ticket – you can just drop by Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park this weekend.
— Channel NewsAsia
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Four Parties Register to Contest Senate Election Next Month
Cambodia’s national election body has announced that four parties have put forward candidates for the Senate elections in February.
— VOA
China signs 19 new deals with Cambodia
China has signed 19 fresh memorandums of understanding and other agreements with Cambodia, appearing to further cement the superpower’s support for the Kingdom in the lead-up to controversial upcoming national elections later this year.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Agri-Techathon gives local startups exposure, much-needed funding
Imagine it: a solar-powered system farmers can install in their fields, outfitted with sensory components equipped to detect and deter most crop-eating birds by releasing high-frequency sound waves.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Indonesia open for rice imports to contain prices
The Trade Ministry says it is open to rice imports to bolster stocks, as prices have increased in recent weeks.
— The Jakarta Post
Unrealized Investment Projects in Indonesia Reaches IDR1,000 Trillion
Throughout 2010 to 2017, there were 190 investment projects that have not been realized.
— Netral News
190 Construction Projects in Indonesia Stagnant Since 2010
The Government revealed that there are 190 construction projects that remain stagnant from 2010 to 2017.
— Tempo
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Concrete data, statistics necessary for “Three Builds” directive assessment
Concrete information and data is an essential requirement for assessing progress and achievements in the implementation of the Sam Sang (Three Builds) directive, with the halfway point of its pilot term now reached.
— Vientiane Times
HCM City, Laos officials share experiences in land management
HCM City People’s Council Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Quyết Tâm and Bounpone Sisoulath, chairman of the Lao National Assembly’s Economic, Technology and Environment Committee, met on Thursday in HCM City to share experiences in land management.
— Viet Nam News
Young Lao women urged to postpone childbirth in teens
The tradition for women to start a family while still in their teens could hamper government’s efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2020 and Sustainable Development Goals by 2025, local daily Vientiane Times on Thursday quoted a senior Lao official as saying.
— Xinhua Net
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s CIMB to Divest Stakes in Two Asset-Management Companies
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. (1023.KU), Malaysia’s second-largest bank by assets, said Thursday it had signed agreements to divest stakes in two of its asset-management companies to units of Principal Financial Group for MYR470.3 million ($117 million).
— Fox Business
Singapore’s BM Mobility offers to buy Malaysia’s electric car-sharing firm UNiRIDE
BM Mobility Ltd, a Singapore-listed investment holding firm, said Thursday that it has offered to acquire Malaysian electric car- sharing firm UNiRide Ecotour Sdn Bhd (UNiRIDE), for RM850,000 ($212,944).
— DealStreetAsia
HLT Global to diversify into rubber gloves manufacturing business
Glove-dipping line manufacturer HLT Global Bhd has proposed to acquire HL Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd (HLRI) for RM33 million, in a move which will see it diversify into the rubber gloves manufacturing business.
— The Sun Daily
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Myanmar should focus on industrialisation, export strategy for better value
Dr Vilem Semerak, researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Economic Studies of Charles University in the Czech Republic, reckons Myanmar should abandon its import substitution policies and start thinking ahead. Import substitution advocates replacing foreign imports with domestic production.
— Myanmar Times
Is Myanmar ready to end its ‘marriage of convenience’ to North Korea?
The growing pressure on the international community to adhere to and enforce UN-mandated sanctions on Pyongyang has once again revealed the persistence of clandestine military ties between Myanmar and North Korea.
— East Asia Forum
Acer, Excel Myanmar to Bring Cashless Fares to Yangon Bus System
Nearly a month behind schedule, an ad hoc assessment board convened by the Yangon Region government has named Excel KC Myanmar the winner of a contract to implement a cashless payment system for the city’s public bus commuters.
— Irrawaddy
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Philippines reaches deal with Japan to fix troubled metro
The Philippines and Japan have reached a deal to rehabilitate and maintain Manila’s Metro Rail Transit (MRT), which has been plagued by reliability and capacity problems. The rail reportedly suffered from at least 500 disruptions last year.
— Asia Times
PH ranks high in cybersecurity
Filipinos should be cautious and vigilant in accessing the internet given the increasing cybersecurity threats, said information technology expert Rey Lugtu.
— Malaya
Philippines exhumes bodies of two children in dengue vaccine probe
A Philippine government agency on Thursday exhumed the bodies of two children whose parents suspect they died of dengue after receiving a new vaccine against the disease, although its maker said it was not known to have caused any deaths in the country.
— Channel NewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore-listed companies not transparent enough in disclosing salaries: Report
Companies listed on the Singapore Exchange are not disclosing the remuneration of their top executives adequately, as required by the Code of Corporate Governance.
— Channel NewsAsia
S$16b-$19b in public-sector construction projects this year to help industry ride out slump
Public sector works is expected to account for the bulk of construction projects this year as it did in recent years, pushing the overall value of construction contracts to S$31 billion at best, to salvage declining demand seen from 2015.
— Today Online
These Are the Taxes Singapore Could Hike in Next Month’s Budget
Speculation is buzzing that the Singapore government will raise the goods and services tax in its Feb. 19 budget rollout. But GST probably won’t be the whole story.
— Bloomberg
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Somkid bullish on continual economic growth for 2018
Thailand’s economic growth for 2017 is now believed to be over 4%, reflecting significant improvement that the government has made in its effort to drive economy.
— Thai PBS
422 youngsters went missing last year: Mirror Foundation
A total of 422 youngsters aged between 13-15, most of them girls, were reported to have gone missing last year, according to the Mirror Foundation.
— Thai PBS
Somkid downplays widening deficit
The country’s public debt is unlikely to exceed 42% of GDP this year despite a wider deficit of 550 billion baht in the fiscal 2018 budget, says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Banks cut interest on priority sector loans
The Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) and the Agriculture and Rural Development Bank of Viet Nam (Agribank) announced on Wednesrday that they would cut interest rates on short-term loans in priority sectors this year.
— Bizhub
Vietnam negotiates trade pacts with 60 economies
Vietnam has been negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with around 60 economies worldwide, which currently occupy approximately 90% of Vietnam’s total trade revenue, heard a meeting in Hanoi, on January 11.
— Nhan Dan Online
Thai fruits and vegetables to flood Vietnamese market
Vietnam expects the volume of fruits and vegetables imported from Thailand to surge this year: import tariffs imposed on these products are reduced to zero percent.
— Fresh Plaza
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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