Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
ASEAN economic ministers ink investment, trade pacts
The ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) and the fourth protocol amending the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) were inked by ASEAN economic ministers in Thailand on April 23.
— Vietnam Plus
US demand not enough to save Q1 Asean exports
SOUTH-EAST Asian electronics factories have been hard hit by the US-China trade war, especially amid a Chinese slump, an OCBC economist has said.
— The Business Times
ASEAN wants RCEP negotiations concluded by November, signed 2020
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations no longer expects an Asia-wide free trade deal involving 16 countries to be signed by November, but it still hopes negotiations can be concluded by then, ASEAN officials said Tuesday.
— ABS-CBN News
Sorasak asks Asean help in EU tariff dispute
Cambodia has asked fellow Asean member states to issue a joint declaration to the European Union decrying the EU’s decision earlier this year to impose import duties on Cambodian rice.
— Khmer Times
New pacts expected to boost Asean GDP growth
THE SIGNING of two agreements to liberalise investment and services trade within Asean was the highlight of the 25th Asean Economic Ministers’ Retreat (AEMR), which concluded yesterday.
— The Nation
Prayut has a duty to stand up to China
China’s global ambitions face an acid test this week as world leaders gather for the second Belt and Road Forum.
— The Nation
81st Mekong River joint patrol begins
The 81st Mekong River joint patrol led by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand started on Tuesday from Guanlei Port in southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
— Xinhuanet
Chinese investors head to Southeast Asia for acquisitions as they face rising barriers in the US and Europe, Baker McKenzie says
Corporate executives in the Asia-Pacific region remain upbeat on international investments, although interest in Southeast Asia has begun to displace previously favoured destinations, according to a survey by law firm Baker McKenzie.
— Yahoo News
Southeast Asia became dumping ground for plastic waste – study
Countries, especially Southeast Asian nations, without policies banning imports of plastic waste are at risk of being toxic dumpsites, according to the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA).
— Rappler
China’s Belt and Road gets a makeover
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s grand Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is getting a makeover to tone down government rhetoric and tighten oversight, after allegations of corruption and a lack of sustainability dogged some of its highest-profile projects.
— The Asean Post
India’s economic footprint in CLMV countries: Expanding slowly and a long way to go
“India should have more institutional linkages with the target countries; Vietnam fosters a friendly, genuine business environment.”
— ORF
Chronic malnutrition stunts Asia’s rising-star economies
Malti Bhogade’s twin daughters died soon after they were born.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
ASEAN researchers hopeful for deeper ties with S. Korea
Shawn Ho, a 33-year-old Singaporean scholar on Korea issues, is pinning high hopes on South Korea’s drive to cement ties with Southeast Asian countries, a fresh source of impetus into his decadelong study on the ever-changing peninsula.
— Yonhap News Agency
The state of omnichannel marketing in Southeast Asia: New research
Marketers have been making slow but steady progress over the past decade.
— Econsultancy (blog)
Application for ASEAN CPA opens
PROFESSIONAL accountants in Brunei Darussalam holding the nationality of an ASEAN member country and have fulfilled the prescribed qualifications, practical experience and conditions can apply for the ASEAN Chartered Professional Accountant (ASEAN CPA) conferred by the ASEAN Chartered Professional Accountants Coordinating Committee (ACPACC), the Ministry of Finance and Economy said in a press release.
— Borneo Bulletin
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
IMF: Economic outlook robust
Cambodia’s economic outlook remains robust in the near-term despite the country set to face bigger external risks and potentially lose trade privileges to its main markets, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) team has told the finance minister.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Vietnamese land grabbers linked to Cambodian firm
A senior Virak Chey National Park official on Monday said the 12 Vietnamese nationals being held in pre-trial detention for allegedly crossing the border illegally into Ratanakkiri province and clearing land are suspected of having links to a Cambodian company.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Phnom Penh garment workers protest hike in rent
More than 100 garment workers living within Canadia Industrial Park took to the streets in protest on Sunday night after learning that their landlords had increased the price of rent by $10.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
Indonesia to assume 5.3-5.6 pct economic growth for 2020 – finmin official
Indonesia’s government will target 5.3 percent to 5.6 percent economic growth in 2020, compared with this year’s target of 5.3 percent, finance ministry official Askolani said on Tuesday.
— Reuters
Prabowo Camp Finds Many Indications of 2019 Election Fraud
Sandiaga campaign team director for election debate, Sudirman Said, said his party witnessed many indications of violations, irregularities, and frauds during the 2019 General Elections’ voting day throughout Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua.
— Tempo.co
Indonesian taxi operator Blue Bird launches its first electric taxi fleet
Indonesia’s biggest taxi operator, Blue Bird introduced its first electric vehicle (EV) taxi feet that will start operating in May 2019.
— Kr Asia
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Feasibility study begins on Xekong’s Nam Pagnou dam in Laos
The government has authorised a local energy developer to conduct a feasibility study of the Nam Pagnou (Lower) Hydropower Project in Xekong province.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times
1st Laos-China Friendship Tunnel Boring Suspended Due To High Salt Concentration
Contractors have suspended boring the 1st Laos-China Friendship tunnel stretching 9 km between Boten of Laos and Bohan in China since January due to high salt concentration in soil on the Lao side.
— KPL
25 Year Span: Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Quarter Century Anniversary Arrives Via Australian Aid
Hundreds of thousands of cross-border passenger and vehicle trips each year are made possible by the first friendship bridge that crosses the Mekong from Laos’ capital to neighboring Thailand and several additional spans just like it.
— The Laotian Times
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s central bank, regulator say financial markets remain resilient
Malaysia’s financial markets have remained resilient with support from ample domestic liquidity and strong fundamentals, the country’s market regulators said on Tuesday.
— Today Online
CIMB allocates extra RM400 mln for IT, bank operations in FY19
CIMB Bank Bhd says it will be more aggressive in investing in information and technology (IT) and bank operations in the 2019 financial year (FY19), allocating an additional RM400 million on top of its business-as-usual (BAU) allocation valued at RM500 million.
— The Borneo Post
Private investments drop sharply in 2018 from year before
A research think tank has urged Putrajaya to come up with a holistic plan to revitalise private investments in the wake of a decline in this sector in recent years.
— FMT
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Myanmar court rejects appeal by jailed Reuters journalists
The supreme court of Myanmar has denied the appeal of the two Reuters journalists who were imprisoned for their reporting on the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.
— The Guardian
IMF Says Myanmar’s Economy Is Losing Steam
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed concern about the Myanmar economy which “appears to be losing momentum,” citing the fallout from the Rakhine crisis and weaknesses in the banking sector.
— Investvine
Satirical performance group denied bail
A Myanmar court on Monday sent five members of a satirical performance group to Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison to await trial on defamation charges for taking comedic shots at the country’s powerful military during their shows, members of the troupe and their supporters said, according to a RFA report.
— Mizzima
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
New quake strikes as Philippines hunts for survivors
Philippine rescuers were scrambling Tuesday to reach some two dozen people feared buried under a building near Manila that collapsed a day earlier in a strong earthquake, as a powerful new tremor hit the nation.
— Bangkok Post
PH to get $10B in deals, investments from Duterte’s China visit – DTI
The Philippines expects to get $10 billion in investments and deals with China when President Rodrigo Duterte goes to that country for the second Belt and Road Forum on April 25, the Department of Trade and Industry said.
— Rappler
Price freeze declared in quake-hit Pampanga; Dam damage hits P50M
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday declared a price freeze in Pampanga a day after it got severely hit by a 6.1-magnitude earthquake that shook Luzon.
— Business Mirror
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
Singapore inflation misses estimates
After a slew of weak activity data, inflation not surprisingly also disappoints in March
— Think Ing
Singapore’s pre-election cabinet change sets Heng up for top job
Singapore’s Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat was promoted to deputy prime minister on Tuesday, a move that further positions him to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
— The Edge Singapore
‘We fell short’: NUS president apologises to alumni over handling of sexual misconduct case
The president of the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Tuesday (Apr 23) apologised to the school’s alumni for the way a sexual misconduct case was handled, after the victim took to social media to call for tougher action.
— CNA (very annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Phuket faces water shortage which may become critical in May if there are no rains
Thailand’s popular tourist destination of Phuket is now experiencing water shortage, with water in the province’s three reservoirs just enough for the production of tap water until May and the…
— Thai PBS News
Thaksin given 3-year imprisonment for Exim Bank’s loan to Myanmar
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office has sentenced fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to three years in prison without suspension after finding him guilty of…
— Thai PBS News
Election Commission to file charges against Thanathorn
The Election Commission today decided to file charges against firebrand politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of Future Forward Party, for violating the Constitution and the election law in connection with…
— Thai PBS News
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Agro-forestry-fishery exports fetch 12.4 billion USD in four months
Export revenues of agro-forestry-fishery products in April is estimated to hit 3.5 billion USD, pushing the figure in the first four months of this year to 12.4 billion USD, equivalent to the figure recorded in the same period last year, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
— VietnamPlus
Đang Nai seeks investors for 12 infrastructure projects
The People’s Committee of the southern province of Đang Nai has announced a list of 12 infrastructure projects, calling for investment worth more than US$1.2 billion in total.
— Viet Nam News
Vietnam blockchain startup Utop raises US$3M from two large corporates
The Vietnamese blockchain-based startup receives the funding from the MoU signed by SBI Holdings and fellow Vietnamese tech firm FPT Corporation Blockchain-based startup Utop has received backing from Vietnamese tech firm FPT Corporation and Japanese financial services company SBI Holdings, as …
— e27
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 April 24 added by Digital Editor on
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