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Asean Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Southeast Asia’s strongmen are looking forward to elections in 2018
Voters in Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia are all expected to go to the polls this year.
— Quartz

Southeast Asia Growth Likely Dipped in Q4
Southeast Asia has had one of the most consistent growth uptrends despite some volatility in global growth in recent years.
— Financial Tribune

Asean faces disruptive trends
ELECTRONICS is the largest export of Asean, equivalent to 25 per cent of the region’s goods exports.
— New Straits Times

Indonesian govt’ decides to import rice from Vietnam, Thailand
The Indonesian government has responded to the continuous rise in the price of medium-grade rice by announcing the import of 500 thousand tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand by the end of January this year.
— Antara

Asean priorities for the year
TODAY’S column is not for the national leaders of the Asean member nations because it is presumed that they have their national and external affairs priorities (for fast regional economic integration) in the face of the current Asia-Pacific and world challenges this year.
— The Manila Times

Singapore to focus on themes of resilience, innovation as ASEAN chairman
Singapore will focus on strengthening the collective resilience of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as promoting innovation among member economies, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said as he launched the country’s chairmanship of the regional bloc with songs, dance and food.
— Channel NewsAsia

Three issues that could jeopardise Asean unity in 2018
All 10 member countries of Asean take turns to chair the regional grouping, and 2018 is Singapore’s turn. Singapore will have its hands full seeking to maintain Asean’s unity and central political role in the region, given how some Asean members may be swayed by big powers.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

ASEAN leaders to attend Republic Day parade: Modi has made major policy statement by extending invitation
The Indian Republic Day parade every 26 January is still a spectacle, even though there has been little change in the format. For some, perhaps, it is this very similarity that makes it such a comfortable annual optic.
— First Post

The rise of QR code payments in ASEAN
QR codes have been around since 1994. QR code adoption in Asia still outstrips Europe and the US. Users scan the codes to access data, information and websites using smartphones.
— Asean Today 

Smart, Asean biodiversity center pilot app-based monitoring system
An application is now available that could be used in monitoring and recording biodiversity information. Uploaded in smartphones, it is aimed that the data gathered would help improve analysis of ecological information.
— BusinessMirror 

Southeast Asia shows consistent growth uptrends: QNB
Southeast Asia (SEA) has had one of the most consistent growth uptrends despite some volatility in global growth in recent years, QNB said in its latest report.
— Gult-Times 

China’s influence in South and Southeast Asia
China’s influence has made significant progress, but there still remain several hurdles, as trade and investment are two keys for Beijing to achieve its economic objectives, while a sound plan is needed, according to an article published in China Today.
— Pakistan Today 

Venture debt finds more takers in SEA as Innoven closes 20+ deals in FY17
Temasek-backed venture debt provider Innoven Capital on Monday said its Southeast Asia office had closed over 20 transactions in FY2017, including 18 new additions to its portfolio and four cross-border deals in collaboration with the company’s global network spanning offices in China and India.
— DealStreetAsia 

Webqlo launches South East Asia’s first Social Media Analytical Platform, Adqlo
Webqlo, an award winning full-service digital marketing agency, has launched South East Asia’s first social media analytical platform, Adqlo. With 71% of Malaysia’s population being internet users and a 22% increase of active social media users in 2017, more and more businesses and individuals turn to social media to build brand awareness.
— BusinessInsider 

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Cambodia’s opposition sets up new movement
Foreign-based members of Cambodia’s dissolved opposition party have launched a movement to demand the release of its detained leader and to call for free and fair elections and possibly protests.
— The Star Online

Business Insider: How Codingate is helping Cambodian businesses with their technological needs
As technology use has proliferated among Cambodians, businesses have sometimes struggled to keep up.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Government plans one of world’s biggest airports in Kandal
The Cambodian government has approved plans to build one of the world’s largest airports in Kandal province, though key actors have yet to work out the details and one economist noted yesterday that the current proposal may be short-sighted.
— The Phnom Penh Post

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Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Indonesia’s central bank issues fresh warning over cryptocurrencies
Indonesia’s central bank has issued a fresh warning about trading in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin because of the risk of losses to the public and even a potential threat to the stability of the financial system.
— DealStreetAsia

2018, Investment in Manufacturing Sector Expected to Reach IDR352 Tln
Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto said investment in the industry as a whole for the manufacturing sector is expected to reach IDR352 trillion in 2018.
— Netral News

Disinformation and democracy in Indonesia
“Fake news” has become a buzzword in the contemporary political lexicon around the world. In Indonesia, there has been significant concern about the so-called rise of berita hoax (“hoax news”) in the aftermath of the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.
— New Mandala

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Will costs continue to cage Laos’ regional connectivity?
Laos is among the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia: economic growth has averaged 7.8 per cent over the past decade. Despite the slow recovery of the global economy, the country’s growth rate was 6.9 per cent in 2017 and is expected to be 7 per cent in 2018. This is buoyed by an expansion in electricity production, manufacturing and agriculture, and it occurs despite a slight drop in tourist arrivals.
— East Asia Forum

United States expands assistance for UXO clearance
The United States has provided more assistance for the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Laos, to prevent local residents being injured, disabled or killed.
— Vientiane Times 

Lao gov’t to submit Hin Nam Nor for UNESCO listing
The Lao government is to apply its Hin Nam Nor National Protected Area to UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites next year, local online newspaper Vientiane Times quoted an official as saying on Sunday.
— Xinhua Net 

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Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Ringgit strengthens further against US dollar
The ringgit continued its strong upward momentum to end higher against the US dollar, supported by better-than-expected manufacturing data and strong crude oil prices amid a softer US dollar.
— The Star Online

Top Glove to invest in Vietnam following Aspion acquisition
Top Glove, the world’s largest maker of rubber gloves, plans to expand into Vietnam this year to capitalize on the country’s competitive edge as global demand continues to climb.
— Nikkei Asian Review

CIMB’s divestment reflects strategy to focus on core business: MIDF Research
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd’s move to pare down its stakes in its asset management joint ventures is part of the group’s strategy of focusing on its core banking business, said MIDF Research.
— The Sun Daily

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Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Some businesses fret over Myanmar wage proposal
Many business organisations in Myanmar have lodged objections against improving daily wages as approved by the National Committee for Designating Minimum Wage earฌlier this month.
— The Nation 

Garment exports up as govt, industry work on longterm strategy
Myanmar exported US$1.86 billion (2.51 trillion kyat) worth of products from garment factories operating under the “cut-make-pack” (CMP) system as of the first week of January in fiscal year 2017-2018, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar 

Myanmar’s Tanintharyi region invites power investments
PEOPLE’S thirst for electricity would create a lot of opportunities for investors to do business in Myanmar’s Tanintharyi region bordering Kanchanaburi Province.
— The Nation 

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Duterte Rejects Term Extension, Pushes for Federal Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected calls from his allies to extend his six-year term and to cancel elections next year, while supporting moves to shift to a federal system of government.
— Bloomberg 

4,000 flee as Mayon erupts anew
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the alert level of Mayon Volcano from 1 to 2 yesterday, following a steam-driven or phreatic eruption that caused ash fall events in some areas in Albay on Saturday.
— Philstar 

$380-million ADB loan to finance 11 infra projects in Mindanao
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said in a press release on Friday, January 12, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and ADB president Takehiko Nakao signed the loan agreement Wednesday.
— Update Philippine 

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat

Singapore: Maritime sector road map to create S$4.5 billion in value-add, make over 5,000 new jobs
A new plan has been mapped out to set the course for Singapore’s maritime industry over the next decade.
— Hellenic Shipping News

Fake news law direly needed in Singapore?
I refer to Sulaiman Daud’s article “We hope the Select Committee on fake news pays attention to NMP Kok Heng Leun’s speech” (Mothership, Jan 12).
— The Online Citizen 

Why are there so many “elderly” homeless?
I refer to the article “Restaurant owner gives out blankets to those sleeping on Chinatown streets as cool weather continues” (Straits Times, Jan 13).
— The Independent Singapore 

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

Even Record Tourism Hasn’t Boosted Thai Airlines
Record tourist arrivals to Thailand that buoyed shares of hotels and the nation’s airports operator haven’t boosted the country’s four listed carriers. Investors eyeing the laggard airline stocks, however, may do well to reconsider.
— Bloomberg

Trafficking probe over 20 victims at parlour
MORE THAN 20 of the 113 women detained by authorities following last Friday’s Department of Investigation (DSI) raid on Victoria Secret’s massage parlour are probably victims of a human trafficking network, according to authorities.
— The Nation

Concern voiced that the real poor may not receive welfare fund from government
A university lecturer has expressed concern that the real low-income earners may not receive the 100-200 baht monthly subsidy given by the government under the second phase of the State Welfare Card programme.
— Thai PBS

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Deputy PM urges PetroVietnam to up efficiency
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung urged the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) to focus on restructuring and improving business efficiency in 2018.
— Bizhub

Indonesia to import Vietnamese rice to curb price hikes
Indonesia will import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam and Thailand to contain rice price hikes and a declining supply in the local market, said Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita.
— Nhan Dan Online

South Korea, Vietnam seek redress from U.S. through World Trade Organization
South Korea has asked the World Trade Organization for authorisation to impose annual trade sanctions worth at least $711 million on the United States, a filing published by the World Trade Organization showed on Friday.
— CBC News

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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