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Asean Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

ASEAN needs to move to minilateralism
To save the principle of ASEAN centrality, the regional body should transcend its consensus-based decision-making and embrace minilateral arrangements on divisive issues.
— East Asia Forum

Digital connectivity as the next ASEAN dream
E-payment players like AirPay, Alipay, and GrabPay have big dreams to extend its network throughout ASEAN. But, do they have what it takes?
— Asean Today

2017 ASEAN IPO market revitalised by record listings in Singapore and Malaysia
Capital markets across Southeast Asia produced record-high capital raising activity in the first 11 months months of 2017. 144 initial public offerings (IPOs) saw S$10.4 billion ($7.71 billion) in total funds raised with a market capitalisation of S$33.9 billion ($25.1 billion) according to data from Deloitte Singapore.
— Deal Street Asia

Guwahati to be hub of Asean, says Mukhi
Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi on Monday said Guwahati will be developed as the connectivity hub of Asean countries as the region has a lot of potential for trade links.
— The Telegraph

Four ASEAN countries to boost connectivity through BIMP-EAGA
Four ASEAN countries have agreed to accelerate the construction of connectivity infrastructure through the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) in a meeting in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, held from Thursday to Sunday.
— The Jakarta Post

PHL manufacturers still most bullish in Asean
The Philippine manufacturing sector moved to take advantage of the expected surge in demand during the holidays, as the country’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) registered the highest reading anew in Southeast Asia in November.
— Business Mirror

Philippines, ASEAN important in opposing N.Korea behavior: US envoy
The Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations play important roles in opposing North Korea’s “dangerous” behavior, the United States envoy to Manila said Monday.
— ABS CBN

Allow Timor into Asean
A meeting in Indonesia has all the signs of becoming a talkfest without result. And that is a shame, since the senior officials from the 10 Asean countries will be talking — again — about admitting East Timor as the 11th member.
— Bangkok Post

Water Wars: ASEAN No Longer ‘Concerned’ About China’s Actions in the South China Sea
The semiannual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit concluded last month with yet another reminder of China’s growing clout in Southeast Asia.
— Lawfare

Asean leaders host SSEAYP participants
THE youth delegation comprising 29 Bruneians from the 44th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) met with several Asean leaders during the final leg of their 52-day journey.
— The Borneo Post

AlDub, Marawi crisis, ASEAN top 2017’s ‘most influential moments’ on Twitter in PHL
It’s almost the end of the year and social networking site Twitter has curated the biggest moments in the Philippines, highlighting the rise of the entertainment industry in 2017.
— GMA News Online

Thailand prepares for ASEAN chairmanship in 2019
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ ASEAN Department, Thailand has taken several steps to prepare for the ASEAN chairmanship in 2019.
— NBT World (video)

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Global Lawmakers Urge Cambodia to Free Opposition Chief Kem Sokha
More than 150 members of parliament from around the world sent an open letter to Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen Monday, calling on his government to immediately and unconditionally release jailed opposition leader Kem Sokha and take steps to ensure free and fair elections next year.
— Radio Free Asia

Chinese Firms Pledge $7B in New Cambodia Investment as Hun Sen in Beijing
Chinese companies last week pledged some $7 billion in new investment in Cambodia following a meeting with Chinese leaders and Prime Minister Hun Sen in Beijing.
— VOA

Bangladesh PM and Hun Sen sign 10 deals
Cambodia and Bangladesh made a fresh push today to revive bilateral trade initiatives, with the two leaders of the countries signing nine memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and one agreement in support of trade, economy, investment and technical cooperation initiatives.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Garuda Indonesia cancels flight due to lack of available pilots
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia canceled a flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday due to a lack of available pilots. The plane was scheduled to depart at 10 p.m. Singapore time.
— The Jakarta Post

Banks need to distribute new debit cards after payment gateway launched
With the establishment of the national payment gateway Gerbang Pembayaran Nasional (GPN), banks need to distribute new debit cards that work using the gateway to help their customers reduce inter-bank transaction costs.
— The Jakarta Post

Tax’ Positive Realization Pushes Rupiah Stronger Early Month
Opening of trading at the beginning of the month, Monday (12/4/2017) saw the rupiah exchange rate moved higher in the green zone against the United States (US) dollar.
— Netral News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Govt pursues reform of state-owned enterprises
Provincial branches of the state-owned Electrical Construction and Installation (ECI) enterprise have been placed under Electricite Du Lao (EDL) as part of the government’s reform of state enterprises towards more effective operations.
— Vientiane Times 

Vientiane province successfully trials health funding
Some 90 percent of people in Vientiane province can now access affordable health services under the ‘30,000 kip for all diseases treatment’ following backing from the Health Insurance Fund.
— Vientiane Times 

Laos, China ink deal on silk research centre
Lao and Chinese sectors have agreed to cooperate in developing sericulture and quality silk derived products by building the Research Institute of Organic Silk in Laos.
— Vientiane Times 

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

RM300 million more needed to boost tourism, says Nazri
The tourism and culture ministry is seeking another RM300 million from the government to boost Malaysia’s tourism industry, especially to woo tourists from India and China.
— Free Malaysia Today

MAHB’s Turkey airport wooing Malaysian Airlines
The Istanbul Sabiha Gokchen International Airport (ISG), operated and owned by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd(MAHB), is wooing national carrier, Malaysian Airlines Bhd, in the hope of receiving flights from Malaysia into theTurkish airport.
— The Star Online

Japanese food company Toho buys firms in Singapore and Malaysia
Food product wholesaler and retailer Toho Co. has bought two Southeast Asian firms, one in Singapore and the other in Malaysia, to expand its business overseas in pursuit of medium- to long-term growth.
— The Japan Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam    @kongleaphy1

Export income through Myanmar’s border gates reaches US$3.13 billion
Export income through Myanmar’s border gates from 1st April to 24th November in the current Fiscal Year reached US$3.13 billion which is an increase of $126 million a against similar period last FY, state media reported.
— Mizzima

Golden Myanmar Business Exchange plans $5 million data center
Data center service provider Golden Myanmar Business Exchange (GMBX) plans to build its second facility.
— Data Center Dynamics

TMH Telecom set to become Myanmar’s first true IPO
TMH Telecom gained approval Monday to become only the fifth corporation to go public in Myanmar’s fledgling stock market — and the first to raise fresh capital through an initial public offering.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Info-sharing platform to ease doing business
The Department of Finance (DOF) along with the Departments of Information Technology (DICT) and of Interior and Local Government (DILG) led the launch of a digital platform that would streamline the application and renewal of business permits through the online sharing of information by government agencies involved in this process.
— Malaya

DOH eyes refund for dengue vaccine
The Department of Health (DOH) is looking into the possibility of requiring the manufacturer of the world’s first dengue vaccine to refund the government following reports that the treatment poses risks to people without a history of dengue.
— Philstar 

The Philippines’ Strongman Syndrome
“If your destabilisation is taking place and there is chaos already, I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term,” warned firebrand Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in October, amid growing domestic opposition to his presidency.
— Al Jazeera 

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat

Electric car-sharing scheme to hit the roads Dec 12
The first fleet of cars for an electric car-sharing scheme will hit the roads next Tuesday (Dec 12).
— Channel NewsAsia

No dissident thoughts allowed in Singapore
After months of investigations, Singapore police finally dropped a bombshell at the end of November: social worker and activist Jolovan Wham would be charged for organizing public assemblies without a permit, vandalism and refusing to sign police statements.
— Asia Times 

Governing Singapore, beyond Lee Kuan Yew
One of the late Lee Kuan Yew’s most admirable acts of foresight was to usher out Singapore’s first-generation leaders in order to hasten the rejuvenation of the People’s Action Party (PAP).
— New Mandala 

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

Thailand confident of improved ranking in corruption perception index
Thailand believes its corruption ranking in international communities will improve this year after the country has shown strong determination to curb and suppress corruption by setting a four-year national stratagy to tackle the problem drastically.
— Thai PBS

Thailand approves environmental impact assessment for Thailand-China railway
Thailand approves the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Thailand-China railway, paving the way for the start of construction of the first 3.5-km section this month.
— Xinhuanet

DPM Prawit: Lifting of ban on political activities needs assurance from monitoring of situation
A deputy prime minister in charge of national security has confirmed that a lifting of the ban on political activities will be done after the general situation in the country is really calm.
— NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

Fertiliser tax does more good than harm: Experts
DAP and MAP fertiliser products have been officially subject to safeguard measures with a provisional tax rate of VND1,855,790 (US$85.6) per tonne since August 19, under a regulation set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
— VietnamNet Bridge

Samsung seeks more VN part suppliers
The increasing number of Vietnamese suppliers who provide parts and components to Samsung would not only help Samsung Viet Nam (SEV) reduce its production costs, but also develop the country’s auxiliary industry, according to Kim Dong Hwan, SEV’s deputy general director.
— Bizhub

Next-generation FDI: what’s the new strategy?
After 30 years of foreign investment, 24,000 projects with total investment capital of $313 billion have been implemented in Vietnam.
— VietnamNet Bridge

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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