Asean morning news for February 13, 2020

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Amro: China’s COVID-19 cold to bring cough to Asean, other countries
The regional macroeconomic surveillance organization Asean+3 Macroeconomic and Research Office (Amro) sees the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in China to be felt by most of its neighbors, including the Philippines, and slow growth across the region.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Indonesia’s productivity lower than ASEAN countries, Japanese company survey says
Indonesia’s productivity in the manufacturing industry is lower than that of its peers in Southeast Asia, a survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has found.
— The Jakarta Post

ASEAN, Russia Can Boost Cooperation On Smart Cities By 2025 – Indonesian Ambassador
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia have a chance at boosting cooperation in the next five years with a focus on cybersecurity, counterterrorism and smart cities among other areas, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Mohamad Wahid Supriyadi said in an interview with Sputni
— UrduPoint

Boeing forecasts US$1.5 trillion market in Southeast Asia over next 20 years
Boeing has released a forecast that airlines in Southeast Asia will need 4,500 new airplanes over the next 20 years, valued at US$710 billion at list prices, with single-aisle aircraft continuing to be the main driver of capacity growth.
— Aircraft Interiors International

Coronavirus Strikes Tourism, Factories, Consumption around Southeast Asia
In Southeast Asia, a region known for low-cost factory work and strong consumer spending, countries from Myanmar to the Philippines had forecast 2020 economic growth at more than 6%. Now, just six weeks into the year, no one’s so sure.
— Voice of America

Five SEA cities rank in JLL’s Premium Office Rent tracker but rents remain reasonable: JLL
Five Southeast Asian cities rank in the world’s top 86 most expensive premium office rental markets, according to the fifth edition of JLL’s Premium Office Rent Tracker.
— The Business Times

M’sia shifts focus to local, Asean tourists to offset China shortfall
Malaysia, maintaining its tourist arrival target at 30 million under the Visit Malaysia campaign this year despite the Wuhan virus outbreak, is shifting focus to domestic and Asean markets to make up for an expected shortfall in tourists from China.
— The Edge Markets

Corporate Transparency Needs to be Embraced by the Southeast Asian Market
Southeast Asian businesses are struggling to adapt with transparency, whereas it is a no-brainer for the Western world to ensure openness and honesty within the market, during this age of excessive information.
— Indonesia Expat

Mutilating Southeast Asia’s girls
On 6 February, the world celebrated International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which aims to raise awareness and to eradicate the practice.
— The Asean Post

Vietnam chairs meeting of ASEAN Committee in Geneva in WTO
The Permanent Representative of Vietnam in Geneva, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai on February 11 chaired a meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva (ACG) in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the first in her capacity as the new head of the committee.
— Vietnamplus

EU, ASEAN agree to beef up cooperation
The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to boost cooperation in the spheres of mutual interests during a meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on February 11.
— Vietnamplus

U.K. VC Firm Focused on Artificial Intelligence Expands to Southeast Asia
Skymind Global Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in artificial intelligence companies, on Wednesday launched an $800 million fund and said it would expand to Southeast Asia region.
— Entrepreneur

SE Asia Stocks-Singapore, Thailand jump 1% as new virus cases fall; Malaysia down
Singapore and Thailand stocks rose over 1% on Wednesday on hopes that the worst of the coronavirus outbreak in China might be over, while Malaysia shares fell as data showed its fourth-quarter economic growth had slumped to a decade-low.
— Reuters

The remote working revolution is coming to Southeast Asia
By the time she was 27, Huong Nguyen had launched her own travel tech startup and traveled to and worked from more than 30 countries.
— Fast Company

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

EU Partially Suspends Trade Privileges, Selected Garments And Footwear To Be Tariffed
The European Union Commission announced on Wednesday that it will suspend trade privileges on certain products exported from Cambodia to the economic bloc, affecting more than $1 billion in exports and partially imposing tariffs on selected garment and footwear exports.
— VOA Khmer

Pariah ship heads to Cambodia, deaths hit 1,115: Virus update
The impact of the coronavirus continues to spread, as Japan found new infections on a cruise ship while a major bank in Singapore evacuated 300 employees from an office floor after a worker tested positive.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia will not give in to EU trade preferences
Cambodia’s strongman leader Hun Sen said Tuesday his country would not “bow its head” to the European Union (EU) as the bloc prepares to decide whether to cancel trade benefits to the kingdom over its human rights record.
— The ASEAN Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

N. Sumatra Health Agency Observes 83 Suspected Coronavirus Cases
To prevent a possible viral outbreak in Indonesia, the North Sumatra Health Agency announced that it is currently placing 83 people under observation related to suspected novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases.
— Tempo.co

‘We will trace his movements’: Bali officials respond to report of coronavirus-infected tourist
The Bali Health Agency says it will investigate and verify the information that a Chinese tourist who traveled from Wuhan to Bali last month tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease on Feb. 5 after he arrived in Huainan city in Anhui province in China.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Pork vendors flout price ceiling to bring home the bacon
The department announced on January 30 that Grade A pork in markets should be retailed at 40,000 kip per kg and 38,000 kip per kg for Grade B.
— ANN/Vientiane Times

Nation to face drought conditions in next two months, weathermen warn
Laos is likely to face an acute water shortage over the next two months as rivers continue to fall to lower-than-normal levels.
— Vientiane Times

Vientiane opens hotline to report fire emergencies, smoke out firebugs
Vientiane authorities have opened hotline number 1168, so the public can report fire emergencies and the illegal burning of garbage, rice fields and scrubland in and around the city.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Petronas-Petros partnership can help increase S’wak participation in oil and gas value chain
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) has partnered with the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit on the development of the Sarawak Petrochemicals Masterplan Study, says Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin.
— The Borneo Post

Covid-19: Malacca develops strategies to protect tourism sector
The state government is developing new strategies to reduce the impact on the tourism sector in Malacca, particularly the hotel industry, following the cancellation of tourist bookings from China due to the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
— The Sun Daily

Domestic market will sustain VM2020: Tourism chief
Tourism Malaysia will be banking on the domestic market to generate more traction in its Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) campaign efforts, which is facing setbacks in the wake of global health concerns following the Covid-19 infection.
— The Sun Daily

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

‘EU to continue engaging with Myanmar under EBA trade-preference initiative’
The European Union (EU) says it will continue to engage with countries, including Myanmar, that fall under its Everything But Arms (EBA) trade initiative.
— Myanmar Times

With Virus-Hit China ‘Closed for Business’, Myanmar Exporters Feel the Pinch
Trade at Myanmar’s largest border gate with China, in Shan State’s Muse, has dried up since late January as the coronavirus has spread across the northern neighbor from its epicenter in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, claiming over a thousand lives so far.
— Irrawaddy

Building blocks for bancassurance set to grow in Myanmar
The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Industry’s Financial Regulatory Department has approved a plan by two insurance joint ventures to offer bancassurance products under a pilot project following the liberalisation of the insurance industry in Myanmar.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Trump brushes aside Philippines’ decision to end military pact with US
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Feb 12) brushed aside the decision of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to end a decades-old military agreement with United States, saying he didn’t really mind and it would save money.
— CNA

Taal volcanic earthquakes slightly up in past 24 hours
The number of volcanic earthquakes recorded from Taal Volcano went up in the past 24 hours compared to the day before, though remaining relatively low versus during high points of the unrest.
— Rappler

Coronavirus imperils Duterte’s plan to cash in on China
Every February, travel agents in the Philippines are busy arranging Chinese visitors’ itineraries and locals’ upcoming summer trips, but this year has been different.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

3 new cases of COVID-19 in Singapore, including DBS employee, 2 church employees
Singapore has three new cases of COVID-19, director of medical services at the Ministry of Health (MOH) Kenneth Mak said at a media conference on Wednesday (Feb 12).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

NEA reports dengue cases are at a four-year high
On Tuesday, the National Environment Agency (NEA) reported on its official site that dengue cases have spiked over the past two weeks, with 400 cases reported last week, up from the 371 cases, the week before that.
— The Online Citizen

Coronavirus: Government to foot bills of infected patients at public hospitals, except outpatient expenses
The Government is paying for hospital bills incurred by coronavirus patients in public hospitals, but this coverage does not extend to outpatient treatment, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Thailand risks slipping to 3rd place in rice exports
Thailand risks losing its place as the world’s second biggest rice exporter this year thanks to weaker competitiveness and a lack of rice varieties to cater to changing market demand.
— Bangkok Post

Growth may be less than 1% in Q1: Somkid
A key government official has painted a bleak picture for the immediate outlook for Thailand’s economy.
— Bangkok Post

One Thai from Wuhan clear of coronavirus and discharged from hospital
One of the 138 Thai returnees from Wuhan, who has been in Queen Sirikit Hospital at Sattahip naval base for treatment for a Covid-19 coronavirus infection since February 6th, was discharged from on Tuesday night after his condition had improved.
— Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

EU seen opening up trade to Vietnam, closing door to Cambodia
The moves mark Europe’s increased insistence that trading partnerships go beyond liberalization and be coupled with commitments to environmental, labor and social standards. On Wednesday, it will display both its carrot and stick.
— Reuters

Vietnam’s 4G Users To Grow By 10 Million In 2020
Viettel Group is planning to accelerate 4G universalization in Vietnam by cooperating with vendor to supply smartphone under $65 and feature phones under $25. Additionally, Viettel will add around 2,400 base stations to fill 3,700 coverage holes across the country. With these two solutions, Viettel forecasts the number of 4G users in Vietnam to increase by 10 million.
— Yahoo News

Deputy PM hosts investors interested in LNG power development in Vietnam
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung on February 11 received a group of investors from the US and the Republic of Korea who are interested in liquefied natural gas (LNG) power development in Vietnam.
— NDO

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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