Asean morning news for January 15

Asean morning news for January 15
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Asean morning newsAsean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Asean industrial 4.0 plan first priority for Thailand
IN ITS FIRST move as this year’s Asean chair, Thailand is pushing for a cohesive regional industrial 4.0 development plan and to implement guidelines on non-tariff measures across the region.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

ASEAN scores strongly on Muslim travel index
Three ASEAN countries finished in the top-10 of last year’s Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2018 in a strong acknowledgement of the region’s reputation as an Islamic tourism hub.
— The Asean Post

Southeast Asia seen as best investment destination this year, polls shows
Southeast Asia has eclipsed China as the region most likely to produce the best investment returns, as the ongoing trade war between Washington and Beijing puts a chill on the world’s second-largest economy, according to a survey at the Asian Financial Forum 2019.
— South China Morning Post

ASEAN can ease US-China tensions
After proving its durability for more than five decades, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is fraying and is at risk of marginalization and irrelevance.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Export Procedures in ASEAN
Exporters first need to register with the Registry of Companies and Business Names (through the Ministry of Finance) in order to obtain a company registration number.
— Asean Briefing

Initiatives help remove economic headwinds facing ASEAN in 2019
Member countries of ASEAN need to give priority to promoting ASEAN Economic Community 2025 (AEC 2025) and concluding Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations to deal with economic headwinds in 2019, according to a recent article on the website https://www.eurasiareview.com.
— Vietnam Plus

Mundipharma to Bring World’s First Gene Therapy for Osteoarthritis to Nine More Countries in APAC
Mundipharma has acquired the exclusive rights for Invossa®-K in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Australia and New Zealand from Kolon Life Sciences.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

New Tools Provide Significant Opportunity For Asean Banks To “Underwrite Regional Food Security”, Through Better Management Of Soft Commodity Risks
New research from Global Canopy, developed in partnership with WWF, has found that banks operating in South East Asia and parts of Latin America stand to benefit from improving policies to manage the negative environmental and social impacts of beef, soy, palm oil, and seafood production.
— Global Banking and Finance Review

Why The EU Is Not A Major Security Player In Southeast Asia – Analysis
Over the last few years, China’s territorial revisionism in the South China Sea (SCS) has created the outstanding security problem in Southeast Asia.
— Eurasia Review

Autism mapping project to help policy-making
AN autism mapping project for the ASEAN region is currently being conducted by the Asia-Pacific Centre on Disability (APCD).
— Borneo Bulletin

Deepwater plays dominate Southeast Asia 2019 drilling
Wood Mackenzie expects a pickup in offshore exploration this year across Southeast Asia and Australasia.
— Offshore

Universal basic income / Is it time for a radical reimagining of society in Southeast Asia?
Fuelled by rampant poverty and fears that rising automation will strip millions of low-skilled workers of their livelihoods, more and more countries are exploring the idea of a universal basic income that guarantees a livelihood for all their citizens.
— Southeast Asia Globe

AICHR M’sia – beacon of hope for human rights in Southeast Asia
I had the privilege of serving my term as the representative of Malaysia to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) from 2016 to 2018 under two foreign ministers, namely Anifah Aman and Saifuddin Abdullah.
— Malaysiakini

How ASEAN firms can tap storage analytics to improve operations
With IT infrastructures in ASEAN becoming more hybrid in nature, organisations across the region are under pressure to maintain high service levels amid growing complexity while keeping costs in check.
— ComputerWeekly.com

The case for collective leadership in ASEAN
Over three years have now passed since the launch of the ASEAN Community. At that time, during the curtain closure for 2015, the 10 member states of the grouping celebrated what was hoped would usher in a new dawn, in which the peoples of the region would determine their own political, economic and socio-cultural destiny.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

The significance of Asean’s retreats
Asean’s foreign ministers will meet for the first time under Thailand’s chairmanship in Chiang Mai on Thursday and Friday.
— Bangkok Post

It’s decision time for Southeast Asia as power demand soars
Southeast Asia’s energy demand is expected to grow by two-thirds by 2040, requiring massive investment in new energy generation and transmission.
— Chinadialogue

Separately bookable workshops at ASEAN 2019
This year’s ASEAN Gaming Summit will deliver two, very highly-requested workshop sessions, both separately bookable, and not-to-be-missed.
— European Gaming

 

Cambodia morning newsCambodia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Cambodian PM: opposition ‘dead’ if EU withdraws preferences
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday threatened to retaliate against the opposition if the European Union withdraws duty-free trading access over human rights concerns.
— Bangkok Post

EU set to impose tariffs on Cambodia, Myanmar rice imports
The European Union is likely this week to impose tariffs on rice coming from Cambodia and Myanmar for the next three years to curb a surge in imports, according to a source familiar with the file.
— Reuters

Cambodian Military May Help Spread Resistant Malaria
When it comes to fighting infectious diseases, progress cannot be gauged by the availability of resources; the most important metric is the number of lives saved.
— Cambodia News English

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

 

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Indonesia cracks down on e-commerce to raise tax collection
Indonesia is bringing in new rules requiring e-commerce sellers to share data with authorities, while also stressing that they must pay taxes, the finance ministry said on Monday (Jan 14).
— Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia finds Lion Air jet cockpit voice recorder
The cockpit voice recorder from an Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October has been recovered, officials said Monday, a discovery that could be critical to explaining why a brand new plane fell out of the sky just after take-off.
— Bangkok Post

With its $3.85b mine takeover, Indonesia inherits a $13b pollution problem
When the Indonesian government took a controlling stake in the operator of one of the world’s richest gold mines at the end of 2018, proponents hailed the move as a historic step toward national and economic resource sovereignty.
— Mongabay

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

 

Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov
 

Govt announces list of controlled businesses
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has approved a list of businesses that are subject to government control, while also stating that types of business not on the list would find it easier to operate.
— Vientiane Times

Mega First’s Laos hydropower project in final stage of completion
Mega First Corp Bhd’s Laos hydropower project is in the final stage of completion with the first turbine installation in March followed by the energy test in June-July.
— The Star Online

Laos doubles export of finished timber products
The export of Laos’ finished wood products increased by 107 percent in 2018 after the government banned the export of unfinished timber and promoted value-adding through the production of finished goods.
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

 

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia to regulate initial coin offerings, cryptocurrency trade
Malaysia will regulate initial coin offerings (ICOs) and the trade of cryptocurrencies, the finance minister said in a statement on Monday.
— Reuters

Malaysia Airlines warns of fake websites
Malaysia Airlines has issued a warning to the public about fake websites which appear to be its official website, purportedly offering free air tickets as prizes in order to obtain their personal data.
— The Star Online

Malaysia: retiring senators to open path for speedier reforms
The pattern of political reform following a regime change is usually predictable: the reformers gain popular support, make changes to the constitution and then use constitutional politics to achieve their ends.
— AEC News Today

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Myanmar sends more troops to troubled Rakhine State
The war in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State is likely to intensify as more government forces have been deployed to the area in the wake of rebel attacks on police stations, The Irrawaddy, a Myanmar website, reported on January 10.
— Asia Times

Tech boom to bring in a new era in Myanmar
Though digital literacy is still low in Myanmar, people’s eagerness to try new things and their ability to easily adapt to a new environment could generate a technology boom in the country by encouraging young entrepreneurs to establish tech-based companies, say tech experts.
— Inquirer.net

Too Scared to Return Home, Myanmar Refugees in Thai Camps Face an Uncertain Future
When her first child—a daughter—was born, Pa Pa Win dreamed of a grand wedding for her many years down the line, with a big celebration in their village in Myanmar’s Mon State.
— Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

 

Philippines morning newsPhilippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

World Bank doubles Philippines’ natural disaster risk insurance to $390 million
The World Bank nearly doubled the Philippines’ natural disaster risk insurance in 2017 with a new $390 million in coverage that became effective Dec. 19, 2018 to help the country better respond to losses from climate change and disasters.
— Manilastandard.net

6 deals with Japan, China up for signing
The Department of Finance (DOF) expects six infrastructure projects funded by the governments of Japan and China will be signed within the first three months of the year.
— Manila Bulletin

Fecal coliform bacterial content in Manila Bay hits 1.9 billion – DENR
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) expressed concern over the high level of fecal coliform bacteria in Manila Bay.
— UNTV

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

 

Singapore morning newsSingapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Parliament Briefs : CAAS to develop system to monitor drones
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) plans to develop a system to monitor unmanned aircraft systems.
— Straits Times

32 O-level additional mathematics Paper 2 scripts from Singapore lost in Britain
An examiner’s bag containing 32 O-level additional mathematics scripts from Singapore was taken by mistake by a train passenger in Britain in November last year.
— The Straits Times

Singapore opposition Workers’ Party fears ‘wipe-out’ as election nears
The leader of Singapore’s only opposition party with members in parliament said there is a real risk it could lose all its seats as the city-state prepares for an election in coming years.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

 

Thailand morning newsThailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Thai military junta to cancel general elections; 5th delay since 2014 coup
The Thai military junta on Monday signalled that the long-postponed general elections will be delayed yet again, the fifth delay in less than five years.
— Devdiscourse

A reduction of 100 million+ plastic bags at 7-eleven stores in one month
More than 100 million plastic bags have not bee used at Thailand’s 7-eleven stores in the past month, valued at more than 20 million baht.
— The Thaiger

Asean industrial 4.0 plan first priority for Thailand
IN ITS FIRST move as this year’s Asean chair, Thailand is pushing for a cohesive regional industrial 4.0 development plan and to implement guidelines on non-tariff measures across the region.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

 

Vietnam morning newsVietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Vietnamese automobile sector accelerates economy in 2018
Besides record-breaking achievements, the automobile industry was a growth highlight of Vietnam’s economy in 2018, particularly with the introduction of a made-in-Vietnam branded car.
— Vietnam Net

State Audit to focus on large-scale projects in 2019
The State Audit will focus on a number of major projects in 2019, including the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line, as well as the 10-trillion-VND flood control project in Ho Chi Minh City and Cat Linh-Ha Dong railway line in Hanoi, according to Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc.
— VNA NET

Car sales in Vietnam up 5.8% yoy in 2018
Domestically assembled cars dominated Vietnam’s market in 2018, with sale number reaching 215,704 units in 2018, up 10.6% year-on-year, while imported completely-built-units (CBUs) were 72,979 units, down 6.2%, local media reported.
— Vietnam 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.

 

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