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Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

Duterte urges Asean leaders: Work for secure region, inclusive growth
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday called on member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to boost their alliance in providing a secure region amid threats of transnational crimes and terrorism.
— Inquirer.net

China Steals Spotlight at Asean While Tillerson Keeps Low Profile
China’s foreign minister demonstrates country’s swagger on world stage, holding 14 meetings on Sunday alone during Asean talks in Manila.
— Bloomberg

Asean deserves a pat on the back on its 50th anniversary
Asean has made huge strides, by going a very long way towards eliminating tariff barriers within the group, but it has never intruded into the lives of its citizens, as it has in many European Union countries.
— The National

China leaning on Singapore to keep ASEAN calm over South China Sea: sources
Chinese representatives have told Singapore counterparts in private meetings over recent months that they don’t want trouble for Beijing when Singapore takes over the annual leadership of the 10-nation group in 2018.
— Reuters

Why Resilient Cities Are Important to ASEAN’s Future
To sustain ASEAN’s economic progress over the next 50 years, its leaders must commit to focusing on climate change.
— The Diplomat

Asean united in one voice
What will perhaps be most remembered from Asean’s 50th ministerial meetings this past week in Manila is not so much what was discussed, but how the region’s top diplomats were able to agree on issues that often drove a wedge between them.
— Straits Times

Bangladesh intends to be a ‘sectoral dialogue partner’ of ASEAN
Bangladesh will have a better say in selected sectors if it becomes a sectoral dialogue partner in the regional grouping.
— BDNews24

ASEAN’s biggest challenge is to stay united: Tommy Koh
ASEAN has to become united in order to remain neutral and have the power to avoid being sucked into the orbit of any one major power.
— Channel NewsAsia

Asean birthday is time for sombre reflection: The Nation
Platforms on which the bloc has traditionally relied to resolve rows – such as the Asean Regional Forum and East Asia Summit – could end up irrelevant.
— Straits Times

ASEAN Joint Communique balanced, a reflection of real situation in the region – Cayetano
Foreign Minister defends carefully worded and diluted statement on the South China Sea dispute following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, the regional grouping continues to issue ever-weaker statements of opposition.
— Manila Bulletin

ASEAN forum rebukes Pyongyang over missile, nuclear programs
Foreign ministers attending a regional forum hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed “grave concern” over North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, the chairman’s statement released Tuesday shows.
— Nikkei Asia Review

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Cambodia’s exports to Japan up 4.5 percent in H1
Cambodian exports to Japan totaled 591 million USD between January and June, a 4.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).
— VietnamPlus

In Japan, Hun Sen Guarantees ‘Peace, Security’ for Investors
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday told Japanese investors that he would “guarantee peace, security and a stable political situation” despite next year’s looming national election, ahead of which the premier has ratcheted up threats and intimidation of opponents.
— The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

Tax chief weighs in on huge Cambodia Daily bill
The head of the General Department of Taxation yesterday said the Cambodia Daily would have its licence suspended and its accounts frozen if it failed to pay or to formally dispute a $6 million tax bill by early next month.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News 

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

Indonesian Immigration launches WhatsApp booking system for passport application and renewal
Any Indonesian who’s had to apply for a passport or renew at an immigration office in Jakarta know the hassle of waking up really early in the morning to be able to get in line with hundreds of others.
— Coconuts Jakarta

Indonesia’s GDP Growth Misses Expectations: ETFs in Focus
Indonesia’s GDP grew 5% year over year in the second quarter of 2017, per Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia. This was below Bloomberg’s estimate of 5.08% and same as the growth rate in the previous quarter. It grew 4% on a sequential basis, compared to estimates of 4.07%.
— Nasdaq

BI: Consumer Confidence Strengthens in July
Through its survey, Bank Indonesia (BI) has found that consumer optimism has increased. This is seen from the rising Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in July 2017.
— Netral News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News 

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Maximise revenue collection, PM tells ministry
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called for the Ministry of Finance to work harder to maximise revenue collection after it was reported that revenue collection for 2017 was expected to fall short of the annual target.
— Vientiane Times 

Chinese firm brings safe drinking water to Lao villagers while building China-Laos railway
China’s Sinohydro Bureau 14 Co., Ltd participating in construction of the China-Laos railway has been praised for their efforts to improve local villagers’ life in Laos.
— Xinhua 

Lao Govt Officials Enrich English Skill
The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded a two-week training course on “English Language for Interpreters” for 28 Lao government officials from July 24 to August 4 2017.
— Lao News Agency 

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News 

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Malaysia launches inquiry over forex losses under Mahathir
Malaysia’s government on Tuesday launched an inquiry into massive foreign exchange losses by the central bank more than two decades ago, in a probe that could lead to criminal prosecution for former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
— NZ Herald

Long way to go for Malaysia in nuclear technology
Malaysia has a long way to go before the country can develop its own nuclear technology.
— The Borneo Post 

Retool education, skills to adapt to knowledge economy, Malaysia urged
Malaysia needs to reinvent its education system to adapt to the knowledge economy, which has led to a sharp reduction in unskilled jobs and spike in demand for data analysts.
— The Sun Daily 

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News 

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Myanmar expects double growth in US investment
INVESTMENT by American companies in Myanmar could be double in three years thanks to the government’s efforts to boost bilateral economic ties, said Aung Naing Oo, director general at the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration and secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar: Tet Lann Company to invest $100m more in jade garden project 
Tet Lann Company Limited plans to invest an additional $100 million in its Jade Garden Project, with an aim to boost sales of gems in Myanmar, said a company official.
— Deal Street Asia

Draft Companies Law designed to remove obstacles for foreign investment
A new Myanmar Companies Law currently being drafted by legislators will remove cumbersome restrictions and make foreign investment easier, said Dr Myat Nyana Soe, the secretary of Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News 

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

IMF cuts Philippines GDP forecast to 6.6%
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed anew its economic growth forecasts for the Philippines after weak private consumption pulled down gross domestic product (GDP) expansion in the first quarter.
— The Philippine Star

Tourist arrivals in the city up by 3.6 percent in first half of 2017
The City Tourism Office ​said it ​recorded an increase of tourist arrivals in the first half of the year compared to 2016 data, an official said.
— Davao Today

Philippine fruit export to China up 50%
Philippine fruit exports to China have increased by 50 percent ever since the ban was lifted in 2016, according to an official from China’s Ministry of Commerce.
— Fresh Plaza

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News 

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Singapore leads the world in broadband speeds while the UK and USA trail behind
Singapore is well ahead of the pack with the fastest average (mean) download speed of 55.13Mbps, according to a report from cable.co.uk that ranks 189 countries.
— ZDNet 

Singapore’s economy to grow by ‘around 2.5%’ this year: PM Lee
THE government expects Singapore’s economy to grow by around 2.5 per cent this year, which would be higher than last year’s growth of 2 per cent.
— The Business Times 

A third of S$150m Public Sector Construction Productivity Fund committed to projects: BCA
Those tapping on the fund include the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and Nanyang Technological University.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News 

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

PM turns screws over airport queues
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed authorities to come up with a contingency plan to tackle inordinately long waiting times at Don Mueang International Airport, after a backlash on social media from miffed passengers.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand approves flood relief measures worth $48 million
Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday approved 1.6 billion baht ($48 million) in relief for farmers hit by floods in the north and northeast.
— Reuters

July’s consumers’ confidence index the lowest in seven months
Consumers’ confidence index for July dropped to 73.9 points – the lowest in seven months and the third month in a row – as consumers were concerned with the flooding in the Northeast.
— Thai PBS

CEBF: Floods no impact on Thai economy in 2nd half of 2017
The Center for Economic and Business Forecasting (CEBF) of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce estimates the total damage of the northeastern floods at 9.5 billion baht. However, the flood situation is expected to affect the GDP by only 0.064%.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov 

Auto sale down 6 percent in seven months
The total automobile sales in the first seven months of 2017 went down 6 percent year-on-year to 154,930 units, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA) reported on August 8.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam Defends Uber’s 2 Percent Tax, Rejects Taxi Complaints
Uber’s travails in the U.S. and Europe haven’t followed the company to Vietnam, where the government has defended the company and rejected a plea from taxi companies for lower taxes to compete with their American rival.
— Bloomberg BNA

Vietnam fruit & veg export value could reach $3B
Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits by mid-July continued to enjoy a rosy export growth, boding well for the export revenue of 3 billion USD for the whole year as forecast.
— Fresh Plaza

See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News 

Asean Morning News is the most comprehensive selection of reports on what you need to know from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. All articles are hand curated by the team at AEC News Today. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

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