Asean Morning News For December 28

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

What Skills Do ASEAN Countries Need To Meet The Challenges Of The Future?
When we think about future skills, we need to consider the uniqueness of the 10 countries within ASEAN – a bloc that is home to more than 600 million people
— Thailand Business News

Proposal for ‘Asean community carrier’ with no ownership restrictions
Domestic laws and agreements among regional countries on ownership and control of airlines should be liberalised in order to bring in more foreign investments and meet growing demand from trade and tourism, an aviation law professor at the National University of Singapore has proposed.
— Today Online

Decent Growth in Iran’s Trade With ASEAN
Iran’s non-oil trade with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reached $2.63 billion during the eight months to November 22, registering 55.5% growth year on year.
— Financial Tribune

Forum to help boost Asean tourism
ASEAN’S showcase tourism initiative will be held in Chiang Mai next month as a key element of a plan to boost growth in the number of visitors from outside the region by up to 6 per cent next year, the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s permanent secretary, Pongpanu Svetarundra, said in the northern city yesterday.
— The Nation

Asean should address tech, innovation challenges
Technology and innovation may make lives easier, but they pose challenges, especially for developing countries in Southeast Asia, experts said.
— Manila Times

Thai e-commerce targets leader status in Asean
The Department of Business Development (DBD) has plans to nurture e-retailing in Thailand over the next few years and make it the highest-valued online market in Southeast Asia.
— Bangkok Post

Co-operation on 3 Asean pillars crucial
Collaboration among the three pillars of the ASEAN Community—political security, economics, and socio-cultural issues—determines ASEAN’s success and should be promoted, said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of Vietnam-ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting.
— Eleven Myanmar

Emerging Asia poised as e-commerce hub
Over US$25 billion in gross merchandise volume was settled within 24 hours through Alibaba’s online retail marketplaces on this year’s “Ali-double-11” (Nov) global e-shopping festival. Another leading e-commerce platform, JD.COM, reported copy9 billion of online orders the same day.
— Bangkok Post

India, ASEAN & dismal infrastructure in NE
It seems the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to catch up with the all pervading current of globalization and tap the full potential of trade with neighbouring countries.
— E Pao

Thai AirAsia CEO increases stake in Asia Aviation
Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia, has bought back 36.3% of the shares in Asia Aviation (AAV), a 55-% shareholder of Thai AirASia Co, at Bt4.70 (58 sen) per share amounting to around Bt8.279 billion (RM1.03 billion) for 1.761 billion shares.
— The Edge Markets

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

NSSF Deadline: New Year’s Shock Awaits Cambodia Employes
Cambodia employers who fail to register their workers for universal healthcare with the country’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) before the end of this year will face fines of US$100 per employee when detected and could be subject to law suites by employees requiring medical treatment and not covered.
— AEC News Today

Government Crackdown in Cambodia Has All But Eliminated Accountability: NGOs, Analysts
A government crackdown on Cambodia’s opposition, NGOs, and independent media has led to a deterioration of the country’s system of checks and balances, according to observers, hampering democracy and deterring the public from engaging in politics.
— Radio Free Asia

Exports rose 19 percent: Commerce Ministry
The Commerce Ministry yesterday announced a 19 percent surge in exports for the year and a quadrupling of revenue collected from import licence fees, but would not provide analogous figures for total imports or explain what could be driving the increases.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Pertamina May Incur Losses from Premium Sales as Crude Price Hike
Reforminer Institute’s executive director Komaidi Notonegoro asks the government to review the policy of limiting the public service obligation (PSO) prices, especially for the subsidized Premium gasoline.
— Tempo

Jokowi heads to 2018 with backing of stronger Indonesian economy
Indonesia’s economy is in a stronger position as it enters 2018, bolstering President Joko Widodo as the nation gears up for elections.
— Business Times

Government maintains energy prices for Q1 2018
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has announced that it will maintain the prices of electricity and certain fuel types in the first quarter of 2018, forcing state energy giants Pertamina and PLN to bear the burden of increasing oil and coal prices.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Poverty Reduction Fund to roll out 330 sub-projects next year
The Poverty Reduction Fund is set to carry out 330 sub-projects in 2018, aiming to improve rural infrastructure, strengthen communities and boost household livelihoods.
— Vientiane Times

Japan Grants US$7.44 M to Lao PDR
The Japanese government has decided to provide a grant aid package amounting to US$ 7.44 million (JPY837 million) to fund the implementation of the Project for the Improvement of Irrigated Agriculture in Tha Ngone, Vientiane.
— Lao News Agency

Govt waives visas for Scandinavians for Visit Laos Year 2018
Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden will not need a tourist visa if they visit Laos next year after the government waived the requirement in a bid to boost tourist arrivals from the four Scandinavian countries.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

UK firms eye rail jobs in Malaysia
THE UK’s engineering consultants are tendering and hopeful of clinching highly-skilled and specialised rail job packages in Malaysia.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia has lowest poverty rate in S-E Asia – Salleh
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook 2017 has reported that Malaysia’s poverty rate is the lowest among South-East Asian countries, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
— The Star Online

Malaysia’s 1MDB settles debt owed to Abu Dhabi with China backing
State-owned 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has made the final settlement of US$602.7 million ($S810 million) in debt obligations to Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), by divesting its stake in two companies to buyers linked to Chinese state-owned enterprises.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

Myanmar says US sanctions against general based on ‘unreliable accusations’
Myanmar “feels sad” over a U.S. decision to sanction a military general, a government spokesman said, after Washington linked the commander last week to abuses against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
— Channel News Asia

Myanmar Court Extends Detention of Reuters Reporters
A Myanmar court extended the detention of two Reuters reporters on Wednesday during their first public appearance following 15 days of interrogation by police for allegedly violating the colonial-era Official Secrets Act.
— Radio Free Asia

Myanmar’s other ethnic atrocity
While global attention has fixated on the military’s ill-treatment of the Rohingya, abuses against the minority Kachin are arguably just as grave
— Asia Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Duterte: 2017 a year of sorrow
President Duterte lamented how 2017 has become a year of “sorrow” with the onslaught of disasters and calamities that struck the country as the year is about to end.
— Philstar

The Philippines’ New Tax Reform Package Approved
On December 19, 2017, the Philippines’ much awaited tax reform package or Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) was signed into law, paving the way for a simpler and fairer tax regime in the country.
— Asean Briefing

Duterte vetoes five TRAIN line items
President Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed five line items under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act in an effort to “ease the burden of the common taxpayers.”
— CNN Philippines

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Ex-Keppel lawyer cooperated with US in bribery probe: Documents
A former lawyer at Keppel Corp’s oil rig building business secretly pleaded guilty and cooperated with US authorities before the Singapore-based company agreed to pay US$422 million to settle charges it bribed Brazilian officials, according to court documents.
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore’s journey in innovation
“When it comes to innovation, there is no such thing as status quo — you either improve or decline relative to everyone else and sitting in a comfort zone for too long could prove costly.” That is the philosophy of Steve Leonard, the founding chief executive of SGInnovate. SGInnovate is a leading government enterprise that consolidates entrepreneurs’ innovation efforts in Singapore.
— Asean Today

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Govt rolls out economic stimulus measures before year’s end
Economic stimulus measures continue to be issued by the government as New Year presents to the Thai people.
— NNT

ATTA says visa on arrival strands tourists 1-4 hours at airports
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has complained of unnecessary waste of time for tourists applying for visas on arrival (VOA) at the airports saying the process take 1-4 hours.
— Thai PBS

Cabinet gives green light to Smart Visa project
The Cabinet has given the green light to the implementation of a Smart Visa project which was proposed by the Committee for Strategic National Administration.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Ministry permits 200,000 tonnes of iron ore exports
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has allowed Viet Phat Company in the northern province of Lao Cai to export 200,000 tonnes of limonite ore to ease the company’s financial burden.
— Bizhub

Vietnam-grown star apples head for US
The first shipment of fresh Vietnam-grown star apples bound for the U.S. was officially approved for import on Tuesday, marking the first time the fruit had made its way to the American market after ten years of negotiation.
— Tuoi Tre

Nearly 8 billion USD of forestry products exported in 2017
Exports of forestry products increased by 9.2 percent from 2016 to 7.97 billion USD in 2017, according to the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNForest).
— VietnamPlus

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.