Asean morning news for February 19

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Philippines and Indonesia lead region in 2018 antitrust activity says report
Governments globally are stepping up efforts to ensure level playing fields and stamp out anticompetitive behaviour and regionally it is no different.
— AEC News Today

Trade war hits SE Asia, growth down for first time in 3 years
Southeast Asia’s growth rate declined in 2018, falling for the first time in three years, as some countries were hit by external and domestic headwinds that could continue to weigh on the region this year.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Asean Rakhine approach: Slow but sure
By October 2012, an exodus of refugees from Myanmar’s Rakhine state had dominated global headlines throughout the year.
— Bangkok Post

Asean IP offices’ meeting in Bangkok focuses on advance regional trademark system
A regional trademark registration system was top on the agenda of a two-day meeting of Asean’s national intellectual property (IP) offices held in Bangkok, according to a press release.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

US-ASEAN Forum shows the need for concrete plans on economic integration and human rights
Last week in Jakarta, the US-ASEAN Partnership Forum brought policy experts, young leaders, and ASEAN and government representatives together to discuss the future of US-ASEAN relations.
— Asean Today

How manufacturing is driving growth in the region
The manufacturing sector has been one of ASEAN’s key economic growth drivers. Already, the region is a global manufacturing hub and is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6 percent between 2016 to 2020.
— The Asean Post

Hanoi, HCMC among 20 most expensive cities in Southeast Asia
A new index puts Hanoi 13th and HCMC 15th on the list of 20 most expensive Southeast Asian cities.
— VnExpress International

ASEAN tackle marine debris
In term of the environment issues, ASEAN has focused on the marine debris pollution which the sources of marine waste come from ASEAN countries.
— NBT World (video)

Sinister ASEAN: Trading in human organs
A week ago, Malaysians were shocked with news of the gruesome death of 11-year old Cambodian girl Siti Masyitah Ibrahim.
— The Asean Post

PH telco ranks 6th in Asean in network consistent quality
Smart Communications, Inc. has ranked sixth out of the total 15 mobile operate in Southeast Asia in terms of network consistent quality, according to Canadian crowd-sourced mobile data company Tutela.
— Malaya

Southeast Asia’s burgeoning digital gaming market
Although it’s only just begun, 2019 has already proven to shine a global spotlight on Southeast Asia, whether it be in light of the rampant rise of e-commerce, the region’s seemingly limitless potential for foreign investment, or the ‘startup fever’ that is continuing to the sweep the east.
— KrAsia

ASEAN Centre for Energy: Setting the Energy Agenda
Southeast Asia is quickly becoming one of the most enterprising parts of the global energy system.
— Asia Outlook

PH to host SEA anti-doping meeting
The Philippines will host the Southeast Asian Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SEA RADO) 2019 Board Meeting and Doping Control Officer (DCO) Training Course from Feb. 20 to 22 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
— Philippine News Agency

ASEAN-Korea Center celebrates 10th anniversary
The ASEAN-Korea Center held its annual council meeting and a reception in celebration of the 10th anniversary of its establishment Monday in Seoul, with high-ranking officials and ambassadors representing the 10 ASEAN member states and Korea in attendance.
— The Korea Herald

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

US Embassy urged to stop ‘disrespecting sovereignty’
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation called on the US Embassy in Phnom Penh on Saturday to respect the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations after it called former opposition leader Kem Sokha “an innocent man” – a move deemed to be “disrespecting Cambodia’s sovereignty”.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Royal Academy official says EBA review unfair
The Royal Academy of Cambodia on Friday said the removal of the Everything-but-arms preferential status would not be fair and called the move to review the Kingdom’s access politically motivated.
— Khmer Times

Investment Law to be revised
The government is gathering input from the private sector and development partners to amend the country’s Investment Law and make the country a more attractive destination for foreign investment.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia issues US$ 2.27b global green sukuk
The government has tapped into the global sukuk (Islamic bonds) market, recently issuing bonds worth US$ 750 billion with a five-and-a-half-year maturity period and a 10-year tenor of $1.52 billion, both of which were oversubscribed.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s ‘father of tourism’ orders flag carrier Garuda to slash airfare prices
Those with a need to travel across Indonesia can now travel by air for 20 per cent less on Garuda Indonesia after President Joko Widowdo ordered the country’s national flag carrier to cut its prices.
— AEC News Today

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

PM pushes for Bruneian investment
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has told ministries to be proactive in attracting investment from Brunei Darussalam after learning that companies in the oil-rich country want to do business in Laos.
— Vientiane Times

Laos Improves Trade Facilitation Framework
The Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) and local companies organized a consultation workshop to provide inputs and suggestions on Draft Ministry of Finance’s Instruction on Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) and Draft MOF Instruction on Customs Brokers.
— KPL

Thailand, Laos hold talk on cooperation in immigration
Thailand’s and Laos’ immigration units held talk in Udon Thani province on security measures and cooperation in immigration affairs.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia-China trade volume at record high of RM443b
Total trade volume between Malaysia and China reached a record high of US$108.6bil (RM443bil) in 2018, with the number of Chinese visitors into Malaysia increasing 29% to 2.94 million last year.
— The Star Online

Power sector’s third round of LSS tenders a positive devt
The power sector’s third round of large scale solar (LSS) tenders is ‘undoubtedly a positive development’, analysts say, given the government’s plan to significantly increase the country’s electricity.
— The Borneo Post

Islamic capital market size contracts to RM1.88 trillion in 2018
The Islamic capital market was valued at RM1.88 trillion, or 61 per cent of Malaysia’s overall capital market as at end-2018, said Securities Commission (SC) chairman Datuk Syed Zaid Albar.
— New Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Local fuel prices on the rise
Local fuel prices, which had been stable for a month, are on the rise in the market, according to taxi drivers.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

US businesses eye investment opportunities in Myanmar
US investors are showing interest in Myanmar following recent efforts to open up and regulate several sectors of the economy, such as banking and finance, and education.
— Myanmar Times

Belt and Road Initiative brings opportunity to Myanmar, region: Myanmar State Counselor
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could bring opportunities to Myanmar and the region, Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said here on Monday.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

External debt service up 6% in November
The Philippines’ external debt service burden as of end-November 2018 was up six percent to $7.199 billion compared to $6.786 billion same time in 2017 on account of new borrowings to fund various infrastructure projects, the central bank’s latest data showed.
— Manila Bulletin

Measles cases breach 8,000-mark over a week since outbreak
A week after a measles outbreak was declared in several regions in the country, over 8,000 cases have been recorded, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

DBS chief sounds cautious note, but expects modest growth this year
Looking to the future, DBS CEO Piyush Gupta sounded a cautious note. For one, mortgage bookings have fallen by 30% to 40% since additional cooling measures were announced in July last year, he said.
— The Edge Singapore

Businesses welcome digital push, emphasis on reskilling workers
Amid slowing global growth, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and technological disruptions to industries and jobs, the 2019 Budget unveiled on Monday (Feb 18) was perceived by business and industry leaders to be focused on accelerating the development of digital skills and adoption of innovative solutions, strengthening cyber security, and reskilling the workforce with less reliance on foreign workers.
— The Strait Times (annoying popups)

GST increase, 9 per cent “not high by international standards”, says Heng
After the unveiling of all the goodies of the budget such as the Merdeka Generation Package and the $1.1b Bicentennial Bonus, (which includes up to $300 in GST voucher-cash that will benefit 1.4m people), Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that the Government will raise GST by 2 percentage points sometime between 2021 and 2025.
— The Independent

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Thailand’s GDP Growth Exceeds Forecasts on Domestic Demand
Thailand’s economy grew at a faster pace in the fourth quarter than the previous three months, as local demand helped to offset a slide in exports.
— Bloomberg

Army chief sees red over Pheu Thai’s defence budget cut plan
Army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong on Monday said he strongly opposed the Pheu Thai Party’s policy to cut the defence budget by 20% — and use the money to instead promote young entrepreneurs.
— Bangkok Post

Khon Kaen leads way in haze battle
As provinces battle with hazardous haze, Khon Kaen shows it knows how to tackle the problem at its root. If successful, the northeastern province can be a role model when it comes to solving PM2.5 — particulate with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam targets $10 bln seafood export
Vietnam hopes to export $10 billion worth of seafood this year, meeting its 2020 goal a year early.
— VnExpress

Hanoi, HCMC among 20 most expensive cities in Southeast Asia
A new index puts Hanoi 13th and HCMC 15th on the list of 20 most expensive Southeast Asian cities.
— VnExpress

Vietnam: Watermelons facing many Chinese regulations
The Asia-Africa Market Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), has made some recommendations for Vietnamese enterprises when exporting watermelons to China. According to the MoIT, watermelon cultivation area in China is currently about two million ha, 10% of the total area of fruit and vegetable crops. Watermelon average output is about 73-75 million tons per year.
— Fresh Plaza

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.