Asean Morning News For June 21

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Self-Sufficient, Sustainable, Vital: Thailand’s Vision for PPP-Driven CLMVT (video)
Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has outlined his vision of the future for the CLMVT (Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand) in which the region seamlessly integrates with larger regional and global economic corridors, with the private sector playing a major role.
— AEC News Today (video)

US pundits and politicians pushing for war in the South China Sea
Criticising China for its actions in the South China Sea has become quite common in US foreign policy commentary over the past few years.
— East Asia Forum

Taxation in ASEAN: An Introduction
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) represents a highly integrated economic region when compared to other parts of the world.
— Asean Briefing

Bangkok Bank President has confidence in ASEAN economy
The President of Bangkok Bank spoke at the AEC Business Forum 2018, expressing confidence in the ASEAN economy despite the escalating trade war between the United States and China.
— News Today (video)

Thailand Bucks Southeast Asia Trend by Keeping Rates on Hold
Thailand’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged near a record low, bucking a regional trend as more central banks tighten policy amid a global emerging-market rout.
— Bloomberg

Southeast Asia’s vanishing sand bans are destroying the region
MALAYSIA’S newly elected prime minister once said that illegal sand miners were “digging up Malaysia and giving her to other people.”
— Asian Correspondent

Thai business outlook weakest in ASEAN due to political instability
Thai business outlook weakest in ASEAN due to political instability
Thailand’s business outlook is the weakest among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as political instability still weighs on investor confidence, according to the latest survey by Grant Thornton, a global consultancy compa
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Annual southeast Asia haze linked to increased respiratory problems
For more than a decade, Southeast Asia has faced annual haze due to a combination of human activity, natural fires, and climatic factors. A new study published in Respirology reveals that the annual haze is associated with increased hospital admissions for respiratory problems.
— EurekAlert

US President Trump may visit Malaysia after Asean Summit in November, says White House official
United States President Donald Trump may visit Malaysia after the 33rd Asean Summit in November, a White House official said.
— The Straits Times

2018 ASEAN Payment
ASEAN Region including 11 countries such as Vietnam Malaysia Indonesia. The population is about 620 million; the population take the third place around the world, account for 8.5% of the global population.
— Mobile ID World

Eastspring’s Donald Kanak re-elected EU-Asean Business Council chairman
The EU-Asean Business Council (EU-ABC) has re-elected Mr Donald Kanak as its chairman for a second two-year term, the council said in a press statement yesterday.
— The Straits Times

S-E Asian firms ‘see value in data storage for innovation’
DATA storage firm Pure Storage, a New York-listed outfit that counts Singapore chipmaker Avago and property developer Ascendas-Singbridge as customers, says South-east Asian businesses contributed to some of its strongest growth in latest global revenues.
— The Business Times (paywall)

Palo Alto Networks launches first APAC Cyber Range facility
Cyber security vendor Palo Alto Networks has launched a Cyber Range facility in Sydney, the first one in the Asia Pacific region.
— Channel Asia Singapore

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly agrees on resolutions to combat drugs
The first meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) concluded here Wednesday with the agreement of two resolutions to combat illicit drugs.
— XinhuaNet

Design Rights Protection in South East Asia
It is essential for SMEs doing business in South East Asia to protect their intellectual property rights, as poor IP strategy often leads to the end of the business endeavor in the region.
— Asean Briefing

ASEAN the next big fish for Vietnam’s seafood industry
Almost unnoticed, ASEAN is emerging as big market with big potential for Vietnamese seafood, industry insiders say.
— VnExpress International

ASEAN journalists must work together to promote people-to-people connection
JOURNALISTS in ASEAN should work together to promote people-to-people connection within the region, as theirs is an important profession that can play a key role in building bridges and bringing about unity and better understanding between people of different backgrounds and cultures.
— Borneo Bulletin

Learn from digital economy plans in ASEAN
The contribution of ICT to GDP in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam is around 13%, 6% and 6% respectively.
— GovInsider

Interpol Border Security Operation in Southeast Asia Nabs Fugitives
A recent Interpol-coordinated border security operation targeting the movement of criminals and terror suspects in Southeast Asia led to the identification of individuals wanted for serious crimes.
— Travel News Asia

The Propylene Southeast Asia Market is expected to reach $19, 317.14 million by 2023 at a CAGR of 19.6%
According to the new market research report by IndustryARC titled “Propylene Southeast Asia Market By Derivative Products (Polypropylene, Acrylonitrite, Cumene, Propylene Oxide and Others); By Country (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar) – Forecast 2018 to 2023”, the market is driven by the increasing demand for the derivative products of propylene such as polyolefin.
— satPRnews (media release)

Investing in renewable energy
Over the past decade, renewable energy investments in Southeast Asia have been fluctuating substantially, mainly influenced by the completion of large-scale projects and changes in the overall policy landscape.
— The Asean Post

A volunteer trip to explore Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, a subregion of Asia, is one of the most culturally rich areas of the world, along with incredible natural diversity.
— Stuff

Mitsubishi looking at substantial growth in ASEAN
Mitsubishi Motors is looking at Southeast Asia to help it cement its place in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.
— Paultan.org

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Cambodian Court Summons Former Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy on Lèse-Majesté Charges
A court in Cambodia has summoned former president of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy as a suspect in a lèse-majesté case, after he called a letter from the country’s king endorsing upcoming elections “legally worthless.”
— Radio Free Asia

Cryptos illegal in the Kingdom: regulators
Three of the Kingdom’s institutions issued a joint statement on Tuesday, warning the public that using, trading or advertising cryptocurrencies is illegal. They said various local blockchain projects which were operating without government approval pose serious risks to the public.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Workers’ Minimum Wage to Rise above $170 by 2019: PM Hun Sen (Video inside)
Minimum wage of workers will be higher than $170 by 2019, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Wednesday morning addressing to more than 17,000 workers from 13 factories in Takeo province, approximately 70km southwest of Phnom Penh.
— Fresh News (video)

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia Hopes to Flex Diplomatic Muscle With Security Council Seat
Indonesia has been chosen as one of five non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council after a competitive bidding process, inaugurating what is likely to be a period of greater diplomatic and geopolitical activity for the world’s fourth largest country.
— Voice of America

Why is Indonesia considering joining the TPP?
The possibility of Indonesia joining the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) is back under the spotlight.
— Asean Today

Indonesia takes a bite out of food waste one wedding at a time
In the slums of Jakarta, Indonesia’s poor are getting a taste of how the other half live thanks to a new programme that aims to take a bite out of its mammoth food-waste problem.
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Amended law offers no exception to VAT charge
All enterprises that have been registered and have obtained a tax ID will have to comply with the Value Added Tax Law.
— Vientiane Times

Laos, Vietnam strengthen digital cooperation
Laos and Vietnam have agreed to cooperate in the field of digital information technology after reaching an agreement in Vientiane on Tuesday at the Lao Blockchain Forum.
— Vientiane Times

Compensation, construction date set for Vientiane-Boten expressway
Compensation has now been paid to some villagers affected by the planned construction of the Vientiane-Boten Expressway to link the capital with the northern province of Luang Namtha, which shares a border with China.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia’s Najib explains why he had so many luxury handbags, lots of cash, jewelry
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak says he shouldn’t be blamed for the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal, and declares he knows nothing about money from the state fund appearing in his personal account.
— Reuters

Malaysia to reopen investigations into death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock
Malaysia’s Cabinet has agreed to reopen investigations into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, who was found dead in 2009 after giving a statement at the office of the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
— Channel NewsAsia

Shell’s gas subsidiary completes stake sale in Malaysia LNG Tiga
Shell Gas Holdings (Malaysia), a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, completes sale of its 15% stake in Malaysia LNG (MLNG) Tiga, Shell says on Wednesday.
— The Edge Markets

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

As 1.2 million are displaced from Myanmar, UN calls for solidarity
More than two-thirds of all refugees worldwide in 2017 were from just five countries: Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia, according to a report by the United Nations refugee agency.
— Frontier Myanmar

Myanmar government’s political imperative to resolve conflict
Problems of other Rakhine minorities are being overlooked in the focus on the Rohingya. A recent report on atrocities by a Rohingya militant group against Hindus is changing global views on the troubled region
— The Straits Times

Heritage trails tourism cross-border rally showcases gems of Myanmar & Thailand
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Myanmar Tourism Marketing (MTM) are proudly organising an overland, cross-border travel rally that includes five days of touring and unique border crossings into Thailand.
— TAT News

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

PHILIPPINES’ DUTERTE APPROVES $5.6 BILLION MILITARY UPGRADE BILL TO BOOST DOMESTIC, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a $5.6 billion bill to upgrade the country’s outdated military equipment, some of which dates to World War II, defense officials said Wednesday.
— Newsweek (video)

Interport consortium proposes to build P3.7-B Makati rail project
Publicly-listed IRC Properties, Inc. and its international consortium partners have secured the “original proponent status” for the proposed $3.7-billion Makati intra-city rail transport system.
— Manila Bulletin

January-April investment pledges down 5.1%
Approved fresh projects by the Board of Investments (BOI) in the first four months improved to P195.72 billion, up by 27.8 percent from P153.11 billion last year.
— Philippines Magazine

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Singapore to cut use of cash, hopes to go cheque-free by 2025
Singaporeans are adopting online payments with such gusto that the Government hopes that the country will be cheque-free by 2025.
— The Straits Times

Singapore’s Ultra-Rich Increased 11.5% Last Year
Singapore now has more high net worth individuals (HNWIs), whose wealth also grew by 12.8 percent from $761.24 billion in 2016 to $858.42 billion in 2017, reported Singapore Business Review citing consultancy firm Capgemini.
— Property Guru

More companies in Singapore cutting back on single-use plastics | Video
Companies such as Swedish furniture retailer IKEA and fast food chain KFC are cutting down on single-use plastics such as straws in a bid to reduce the impact on the environment. But are consumers on the same bandwagon? Junn Loh reports.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Prawit orders end to imports of hazardous waste
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered authorities to find ways to end the importation of hazardous and electronic waste.
— Bangkok Post

Migrant workers have until June 30 to register or face deportation
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged alien workers to register and have their nationalities proven before the end of this month.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Solutions sought to promote Vietnam’s electronic industry
The importance of enhancing policy dialogue between investment countries and investment recipients, and the role of the electronic industry in Vietnam were highlighted at a recent workshop in Hanoi.
— VietnamPlus

200 tons of Vietnam’s lychees find way to Thailand
The first batch of lychees will be shipped to Thailand by air, according to the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Giang Province.
— The Hanoi Times

Agriculture firms struggle to get loans
High-tech and clean agriculture are officially among the priority sectors for bank credit but agriculturalists find it hard to get loans.
— Bizhub

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.