Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
A convergence of two Indo-Pacific policies
India and Japan are building a giant corridor to increase connectivity options for ASEAN countries, especially Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
— The Hindu
ASEAN and Japan to ink revamped economic pact in March
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are finalizing updates to their economic partnership agreement to resolve shelved issues on liberalizing the investment and service fields, completing a deal that took effect over a decade ago.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Time for bolder steps from ASEAN
ASEAN is now facing circumstances that are fundamentally different from anything it has dealt with before. They require a much more proactive approach on international and regional integration strategies.
— East Asia Forum
Faking it on Twitter: Why social media may not sway Asia elections
Candidates running in a slew of elections across Asia this year are taking to Twitter and other social media platforms to share slogans, pitch policies, rankle rivals and rouse crowds ahead of campaign rallies.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Asean must be vigilant against big power rivalry: Dr M
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) on Saturday said that big power rivalry and foreign interference swirling around the Middle East is yet another reminder why Malaysia and Asean must be forever vigilant against big power involvement in the region.
— Daily Express
$ 12 billion investment likely at ASEAN summit in Bengaluru
The three-day ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry Business Meet opening in Bengaluru on Monday has already lined up investment proposals worth more than US $12 billion in various sectors including infrastructure, aerospace, defence, artificial intelligence, machine intelligence and robotics.
— Daijiworld.com
ASEAN ‘invited’ to help repatriate Rohingyas
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been invited to extend help in the process of repatriation for “verified Rohingyas” from Bangladesh, according to a message received from Geneva.
— UNB
Export-dependent Asian countries feel ripple effects of trade tensions
Most export-dependent Asian economies posted slower growth in 2018 under the shadow of trade frictions between major economies, and the same frictions are affecting this year’s prospects.
— Eleven/ China Daily
Southeast Asia’s solar energy “Cubed”
Vietnam, says Minh Koi Le, leader of Southeast Asia analysis for Rystad Energy, is an example of what a country with stable leadership — albeit in a one-party state — can achieve with vision and long-term policy.
— PV Magazine
South Korea’s pivot to ASEAN
If anything is clear from the ASEAN Summit and the East Asian Summit held in Singapore last November is that Southeast Asia is now hot property.
— The Asean Post
Economist: Asean may benefit from US-China trade tensions
Asean, especially Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, is a potential beneficiary of international companies moving out of China amid the trade tensions with the United States, said Maybank Kim Eng Singapore senior economist Chua Hak Bin.
— Borneo Post Online
Japan and Asean: Partners for uncertain times
If confirmation was still needed of the unstable and dangerous times in which we live, then the annual gathering this month of the world’s foreign policy elite at the Munich Security Conference provided it.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Close to half of Asean CEOs see slowdown in global growth
NEARLY HALF of chief executive officers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean ) expected a decline in global economic growth in 2019, according to PwC’s 22nd Annual Global CEO Survey.
— Eleven/ The Nation
Southeast Asia rejects the world’s plastic waste
China has received as much as 106 million metric tons of plastics for processing since the United Nations first began gathering data on the phenomenon in 1992.
— ANN
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
Opposition Party Quests to Remove GSP from the Kingdom
The opposition group is on their new mission to request the United States to remove Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), a duty-free treatment for least developed countries including Cambodia, according to Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysan.
— Fresh News
Cambodia slapped on global money-laundering list by watchdog
Cambodia has been put on a global money-laundering list over worries that the country is susceptible to hiding ill-gotten gains. The country has never prosecuted a money laundering case and has been inscribed on a “grey list” put together by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
— Radio Free Asia
Online Media in Cambodia on the Rise
The number of online media in Cambodia has seen a remarkable increase, according to a report read by Secretary of State for Information H.E. Ouk Prathna, at the ministry’s annual meeting here this morning.
— Agence Kampuchea Presse
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
World’s largest bee found in Indonesian rainforest in ‘holy grail’ discovery
A long-lost giant bee, which had not been seen since 1981, has been rediscovered by scientists in an Indonesian rainforest.
— Intellasia
Indonesia to Ease Trading Rules to Lure Mom-and-Pop Investors
Indonesia’s stock exchange plans to cut the minimum trading price for shares and shrink the lot size in its drive to attract more retail investors and boost volumes.
— Bloomberg
Indonesia asks India to cut palm oil tariffs in exchange for sugar imports
INDONESIA has asked India to cut its tariff on refined palm oil to 45 per cent, matching the levy faced by rival producer Malaysia, and has offered market access for Indian sugar in exchange, the trade ministry said on Saturday.
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
IFC, Canada Promote Public-Private Partnerships To Drive Investments In Laos
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Government of Canada, in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Investment held a workshop on public-private partnerships in Vientiane on Feb 22.
— KPL
Japan grant aid making a splash with Tha Ngon crop irrigation
The Japanese government is providing further grant aid to the Lao government for improvement of the Irrigation Agriculture Project at Tha Ngon farmland in Xaythany district, Vientiane, to ensure food security and commercial farm production.
— Vientiane Times
Inactive Investors To Lose Land Concession Licences
The government has given the green light for state agencies to revoke land concession licences held by investors who fail to develop state land in accordance with agreements.
— J&C
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s GDP to expand 4.9 pct in 2019 – Guan Eng
Malaysia’s economy is going strong and the gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to expand a further 4.9 per cent in 2019, albeit a decline in inflationary pressure.
— New Straits Times
Sarawak to impose smoking ban from March 1, says minister
The smoking ban at all eateries in Sarawak will be implemented from March 1 as scheduled, said Sarawak Local Government and Housing Minister, Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
— Malay Mail
Malaysia hits deflation for first time since 2009 global crisis
Malaysia’s economy swung into deflation in January for the first time since the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2009 as fuel prices dropped.
— The Star Online
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Myanmar army warns against changing constitution
Myanmar’s military Saturday said they would thwart any attempts by leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party to alter the “essence” of the country’s controversial constitution, putting the army and civilian administration on a collision course over the politically-charged issue.
— The Asean Post
Suu Kyi to investors: Pour money into crisis-hit Rakhine state
Myanmar leader tells investors to stop focussing on ‘negative aspects’ in Rakhine from where 750,000 Rohingya have fled.
— Aljazeera
New round of oil and gas exploration bids to be called soon
The Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) has announced that it will be calling for bids on onshore and offshore oil and gas blocks for this year.
— Myanmar Times
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Gov’t tax effort improved to 20-year high in 2018
The national government’s efficiency in collecting taxes accelerated to its highest level in two decades last year following the implementation of the Duterte administration’s first tax reform law.
— Manila Bulletin
DOTr signs deal for Metro Manila Subway’s first 3 stations
The P350-billion Metro Manila Subway project moved a step forward with the signing of the design-and-build contract for its first 3 stations.
— Rappler
Govt may spend P1 trillion to expand Pinoys’ access to safe water, toilets
The national government is eyeing to spend P1.069 trillion in the next 12 years to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets on water supply and sanitation (WSS).
— Business Mirror
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
The majority of Singaporeans won’t even have S$60,000 in their CPF, says activist Ngerng Yi Ling
Singaporean activist Roy Ngerng Yi Ling analysed the CPF pay-outs and shared his observations via a Facebook post in his profile on Thursday (Feb 21).
— The Independent
Foreign worker quota cuts hit sectors beyond F&B, retail
THE list of businesses that will be hit hard by the upcoming foreign worker quota cuts for the services sector is a long one – covering hotels and entertainment to logistics firms.
— The Business Times
MOH takes legal action in US against Brochez
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is taking legal action in the United States courts against American Mikhy Farrera Brochez to reacquire the stolen HIV Registry data in his possession.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Cannabis amnesty this week
FDA firm on regulated cultivation; Bhumjaithai Party vows to make it an economic plant
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Exports down 5.7% in January
Exports dropped for a third straight month in January, falling a more-than-expected 5.6% from a year earlier, the Commerce Ministry said on Friday.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)
Sugarcane burning continues in Korat
Burning of sugarcane fields has continued in this northeastern province despite a provincial police announcement that farmers burning sugarcane would face legal action and a campaign against the practice launched by the provincial governor.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietjet to ink $13 billion Boeing deal during Trump-Kim summit
Vietnamese budget airline Vietjet will sign next week a deal to buy 100 narrow-body Boeing aircraft.
— VnExpress
Auto imports in January 46 times higher than last year
Vietnam imported nearly 11,700 cars worth more than 273 million USD in the first month of 2019, marking the fifth consecutive month with a volume of at least 10,000 units, according to statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
— VietnamPlus
Vietnamese enterprises to boost digital transformation
Increasing profit a few hundred per cent, saving billions of dollars in technology costs, operating complex data systems in real time, transforming appropriate business models, improving operational efficiency and personalising customer experience on large-scale digital platforms at fast speed were the benefits of digital transformation, said Dr. Phương Trầm, FPT head consultant on digital transformation and former DuPont CIO at a seminar in Hà Nội this week.
— Viet Nam News
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 February 25 added by Digital Editor on
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