Asean morning news for February 7

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Japan bank and China unicorn to offer Southeast Asia loans
Japan’s Aozora Bank will partner with a Chinese financial technology unicorn to develop online loan services in Southeast Asia.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Upgrade infrastructure to attract global manufacturing, GMS told
There is a significant need for Mekong countries to upgrade their infrastructure to take on a larger share of global manufacturing, said Sok Siphana, chairman of independent Cambodian think-tank Asian Vision Institute (AVI).
— Khmer Times

Interest Rate Cuts Back in Play for Asian Emerging Economies
Central banks in Asian emerging markets appear set to dump their hawkish policy stances.
— Bloomberg

Asean partnership with Russia rises to new level under Thai leadership
Last November Russian President Vladimir Putin and Asean leaders took a historic decision to raise the Asean-Russia Dialogue Partnership to a strategic level.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

Revolutionising food production with blockchain
From paleo diets to veganism, the relationship that human beings have with food is multifaceted and cuts across different social underpinnings and economic considerations. As such, food production is an important consideration in the sustaining of any particular society.
— The Asean Post

US and allies urged to increase digital investments in Asia to counter China’s Belt and Road tech projects
The United States and its allies should strengthen their investments in Asia’s digital economy to counter China’s increasing presence in the region, experts from the US and Japan have said.
— South China Morning Post

Funds Flow in Southeast Asia, Giving Tech Unicorns Wings
In Asia, the marquee names seem to be ones that are attracting attention when it comes to investors’ appetites — and money! — and so they are big, and getting bigger.
— pymnts.com

Go-Jek strengthens grip on local ride-hailing market as fresh funds pour in
The rivalry between homegrown ride-hailing company Go-Jek and Singapore-based Grab has reached the next level, with the former having received its latest round of funding for its regional expansion from global tech giants.
— The Jakarta Post

Unity among ASEAN & BBN nations to transform SE Asia: Sarbananda Sonowal
Unity among Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) and Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal (BBN) countries can transform the region into an era of shared prosperity, said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal while interacting with the ambassadors and high commissioners of ASEAN and BBN countries on the sidelines of the second ASEAN-India Youth Summit here on Tuesday.
— Sentinel Assam

The Lure Of Luck: How Gambling Can Turn Addictive For Southeast Asian Refugees
Quyen Truong still gets a cozy feeling when she sees a hand of cards.
— WNPR

Art / Zen and the art of minimalism in Southeast Asia
An exhibition in Singapore is putting minimalism in the spotlight for the first time in Southeast Asia – and revealing a history of radical artistic experimentation in the region that breaks down traditional borders
— Southeast Asia Globe

Commentary: Fear of running out of power key reason drivers are skeptical about electric vehicles
One in three in Southeast Asia are open to purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) as their next car.
— Channel NewsAsia

Southeast Asian auto sales climb 6% to new heights in 2018
Sales of new cars in Southeast Asia’s six major markets increased for a third straight year in 2018, rising 6% and breaking the previous record set in 2013.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

IBMR launches a macroeconomic stablecoin for Southeast Asia
IBMR.io, a social impact economic development reserve and advisory, has just announced the launch of the Asia Reserve Currency Coin (ARCC).
— LeapRate.com

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Cambodia’s banking industry sees 20.1 percent lending growth last year
Loan demands from Cambodia’s banking industry had surged by 20.1 percent in 2018 thanks to the growing business activities in trade, real estate and construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, said a central bank’s annual report on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Paddy rice production reaches 7.4 million in 2018
Cambodia produced 7.4 million tonnes of paddy rice in 2018, a 3.5 percent increase, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s annual report.
— Khmer Times

Human Rights Watch Demands Treatment, Justice for Cambodia Acid Attack Survivors
A leading US-based rights group has said acid attack survivors in Cambodia are unlawfully denied free medical care and face pressure to accept inadequate settlements.
— VOA Khmer

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia economy posts 5.17% growth in 2018
Indonesia posted slightly stronger economic growth in 2018, data showed Wednesday, but it still fell well short of President Joko Widodo’s seven-percent target as elections draw closer.
— FRANCE 24

New policy offers reduced fixed deposit income interest tax for exporters
The Finance Ministry has issued a new regulation on an new tax incentive that reduces interest income taxes for exporters that place their foreign exchange earnings as fixed deposits in Indonesia.
— The Jakarta Post

Aviation academy cadet dies due to brutal punishment by senior for not wearing a helmet
A first year cadet at a government-run aviation academy in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, Aldama Putra Pongkala, was killed after he was assaulted by one of his senior classmate.
— Coconuts Jakarta

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

France to help protect Laos’ cultural heritage
A French aid organisation has expressed its intention to help the Lao government protect heritage sites and infrastructure in Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.
— Vientiane Times

Rights Groups Urge Laos to Include The Poor in Decision-Making, Ahead of UN Expert’s Visit
The government of Laos must ensure that people living in poverty are able to take part in key decision-making processes that affect their lives, rights groups said Wednesday, ahead of a fact-finding mission to the Southeast Asian nation by a United Nations expert.
— Radio Free Asia

Lao Airlines expects significant rise in Chinese bookings
Lao Airlines staff believe the number of Chinese customers could surge to 241,500 this year, an increase of about 42 per cent compared to last year when Chinese nationals made 170,500 flight reservations.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Chinese hunger for ‘world’s smelliest fruit’ threatens Malaysian forests
Soaring demand for durians in China is being blamed for a new wave of deforestation in Malaysia with environmentalists warning vast amounts of jungle is being cleared to make way for massive plantations of the spiky, pungent fruit.
— FMT

MAHB rejects AirAsia’s offer to settle RM400 million dispute
MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) today rejected AirAsia’s offer to mediate over an RM400 million counter-claim linked to passenger service charges (PSC) at klia2, said the budget airline.
— The Malaysian Insight

Malaysia ranks 1st in world’s best healthcare category
Malaysia, with a score of 95 out of 100, ranked first in the Best Healthcare in the World category of the 2019 International Living Annual Global Retirement Index.
— New Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Facebook bans four groups spreading violence in Myanmar
Facebook announced today that it has removed four groups based in Myanmar that it has determined to be dangerous from its platform.
— Engadget

Oil seed imports dwarf exports
Although oil crops are a priority under the Ministry of Commerce’s National Export Strategy (NES), the country’s imports of such crops, used to make edible oil, is more than twice what is being exported so far, said Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung.
— Myanmar Times

MOEAF calls for complaints against illegal employment agencies
The Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation (MOEAF) has welcomed complaints against illegal employment agencies that are sending workers to Thailand.
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Congress fails to pass budget bill
LAWMAKERS missed their self-imposed Wednesday deadline to approve the much-delayed 2019 national budget bill.
— The Manila Times

3 public-private partnerships projects secure preparation funding
Funding has been approved for the preparation of three national projects that would be pursued via public-private partnerships (PPP), the PPP Center said.
— The Philippine Star

Bank deposits grow to P12.5 trillion in 11 months
More Filipinos continue to entrust their savings with banks as deposits rose by nearly nine percent in the first 11 months of last year amid the strong economic growth.
— The Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Keep upgrading, PM Lee urges Singaporeans
Singapore will feel the effects of a slowing global economy and ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as he urged Singaporeans to keep on upgrading themselves.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Highest paying jobs in Singapore – 38 jobs with monthly salary over $10K
Are you happy with your salary in Singapore? Rhetorical question, I know… But if you are happy with what you’re making, you might want to close this tab because you’re about to feel jealous of these 38 jobs where people can make above $10,000 a month.
— Asia One

M’sian Deputy Minister reveals he obtained degree from Cambridge, but not the University of Cambridge
Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya hails from the same party as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
— Mothership

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

PM, Bangkok chief and environment board face court over PM2.5
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, and the National Environment Board have been summoned to testify today at the Central Administrative Court over the PM2.5 air-pollution crisis that has affected Greater Bangkok for nearly two months.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Araibi in jail until August
A refugee Bahraini footballer arrested in Thailand while on vacation from his new home in Australia could remain in jail until August while a court decides on an extradition request from Bahrain, a deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General said yesterday.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

BoT keeps policy rate steady as economic risks increase
The Bank of Thailand on Wednesday kept its benchmark rate steady after December’s tightening, saying an accommodative policy would support the economy in the face of rising global risks.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam keeps tough auto import rules despite criticism
Vietnam plans to continue strict enforcement of automobile import rules, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung says, amid resistance to the year-old policy from overseas carmakers.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Petrovietnam reports 26 percent hike in revenues last year
Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group has announced its 2018 results, which show it exceeded its revenue and state budget contribution targets.
— VnExpress

HCM City hits 2018 revenue target
HCM City’s revenues last year grew by 8.6 percent to 378.54 trillion VND (16.3 billion USD), according to the municipal Department of Finance.
— VNA NET

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.