Asean Morning News For July 13

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

World’s most coal plant projects are in four Asian countries
China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam have the world’s four biggest coal-fired power plants in pipeline. Together, they represent 82 per cent of the 718 units globally under construction.
—The Nation

Stronger IPO flows in Asean seen for 2nd half of the year
SOUTH-EAST Asia may see more initial public offering (IPO) activity in the second half of the year amid rising business confidence in this part of the world, top bankers told The Business Times.
— The Business Times

Guangxi, S’pore tie-ups to open trade route to Asean
Southern China’s Guangxi region offers significant trade opportunities, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon said yesterday.
— The Straits Times

Boao Forum for Asia discusses economic development of Asia
China has chosen Thailand as the host of this year’s Boao Forum for Asia, where heads of state and key economic leaders will discuss the collaborative economic development of ASEAN and Asia.
SHOW MORE
— NBT World (Video)

Over 180,000 documents processed via one-stop-shop mechanism
As many as 180,079 documents of 12,683 businesses were processed through the national one-stop-shop (OSS) mechanism by the end of June 2017, representing year-on-year rises of 107 percent and 70 percent, respectively.
— VietNamNet Bridge

Philippines, Asean states warned vs investment deals with China
Member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially the Philippines, should be cautious when entering into massive investment deals with China as they may end up paying more than what they bargained for, a scholar and former United Nations ambassador from India has warned.
— The Philippine Star

Biz advisory group calls for harmonizing process of starting business in ASEAN
The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) has called for ASEAN leaders to include in their declaration the region’s target to align processes in starting a business, the group’s executive director Gil Gonzales said.
— Philippine News Agency

Asean-5 survey shows little faith in political leaders
Citizens across the Asean region see little cause for confidence in their governments, according to FTCR’s Asean Political Sentiment Indices for the second quarter of this year.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Hong Kong courts Asean countries with Belt and Road advantages
The preferential treatment Hong Kong enjoyed from the mainland would enable the city to play a key role as countries in Southeast Asia took advantage of the “Belt and Road Initiative”, Beijing’s international trade development strategy, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday.
— South China Morning Post

Overcoming the ‘super bug’ crisis in Asean
IMAGINE a time in which small scrapes and stomach bugs could kill you; when your likelihood of dying from hospital-borne infections was higher than dying from complications from the actual surgery; when you were more likely to die from an infection than from cancer. No, this is not the 1920s. This could be our future if we don’t stop “super bugs,” or the antibiotic-resistant microbes, today.
— The Manila Times

Asean MPs: Undocumented workers not at fault, treat them fairly
Lawmakers from Asean have urged Malaysia to prioritise human rights in its ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrant workers in the country.
— Malaysiakini (subscription)

Indonesia and Singapore committed to work together to promote peace, security and stability in Asean
Neighbours Indonesia and Singapore are committed to working together to promote peace, security and stability in the Asean region, which would in turn contribute to a greater world order, said Indonesia’s armed forces (TNI) chief General Gatot Nurmantyo.
— The Straits Times

ASEAN promotion in Unity Gong relay
With the country chairing the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits this year, the Regional Development Council and the Philippine Information Agency promote ASEAN 2017 in the Unity Gong caravan that started last July 8 in celebration of the 30th Cordillera Month.
— Baguio Midland Courier

Asean Youth Video Competition campaigning against human trafficking
Asean International Committee for Human Rights is organising the Asean Youth Video Competition to promote better understanding about the campaign against human trafficking among regional young people.
— The Nation

CADPA urges Singapore to halt execution of Malaysian Prabagaran Srivijayan
The Coalition for the Abolition for the Death Penalty in ASEAN (CADPA) strongly urges the Singaporean government to stop the plan of execution of Malaysian citizen, Prabagaran Srivijayan. Prabagaran’s family has received a letter from the Singaporean authorities informing them that his execution has been scheduled for 14 July 2014.
— The Online Citizen

NCCA to help involve youth in rebuilding Marawi through cultural livelihood
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through Talakayan sa PIA on 12 July 2017 shares that they are optimistic that the core of Maranao culture will be preserved despite the crisis in Marawi through involving the youth in crafts making.
— Philippine Information Agency

ASEAN bloggers to promote Malaysia via social media
Tourism Malaysia is proud to host the second edition of the ASEAN Media Bloggers Tourism Hunt 2017, which commences today until 14 July 2017. A total of 50 prominent media and bloggers from 10 ASEAN countries are participating in this event, which will take them on a tourism trail featuring some of Malaysia’s best tourist destinations.
— Travel Daily News

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Cambodia rice exports rise 7.6pc in Jan-June
Cambodia exported 288,562 tonnes of rice in the first six months the year, an increase of 7.6 per cent compared with the same period last year, official data showed on Wednesday.
— The Financial Express

A quantum leap for Cambodia’s telcos
As in the rest of the world, everyday Cambodian life is dominated by the use of smartphones, with consumers glued to social media, streaming videos and staying up-to-date with the latest breaking news and spreading viral content.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia to Invest $1B in Hydroelectricity
A 400 megawatt hydroelectric power plant will be put into operation on July 15 in Stung Treng.
— Fresh News

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Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Mandiri Capital Indonesia invests $2m in payments startup Cashlez
Mandiri Capital Indonesia (MCI), the venture capital arm of state-owned Bank Mandiri, has led a $2-million investment into payment startup Cashlez, the company announced on Wednesday. Other investors including Gan Kapital participated in the round.
— Deal Street Asia

North Sulawesi Records 449% Surge in Foreign Tourist Arrivals in May
The tourism sector in North Sulawesi is developing rapidly at the moment with foreign tourist arrivals having surged by 449 percent in May compared to a year ago.
— Jakarta Globe

Indonesia’s Retail Sales up 4.3% in May: Survey
Indonesia’s retail sales in May rose 4.3 percent from a year earlier, a survey by Bank Indonesia (BI) showed on Wednesday (12/07), supported mainly by an increased demand for food items.
— Jakarta Globe

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Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro @cara_nav

Robust globe a must for rapid growth: economist
The nation’s economy is set to remain one of the fastest growing in the region in coming years as long as the global economic recovery remains on track, according to international financial institutions.
– Vientiane Times

2018 Amended Electricity Price Underway
The Ministry of Energy and Mines is preparing an amendment of electricity prices for the forthcoming year, but it will not have much effecton the current high cost of living for locals.
– Lao News Agency

Minister hails Lao-Vietnamese communications cooperation
Laos and Vietnam have successfully cooperated in communications, especially human resources and ICT sector development, and will continue to do so, according to a leading official.
– Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Malaysian merger could open window for ANZ stake sale: sources
ANZ Bank is moving closer to a deal to sell its Malaysian banking stake to a pension fund and exit the South-East Asian nation, sources familiar with the matter said, in a transaction that could be worth around $US900 million ($1.2 billion).
— The Sydney Morning Herald

RM5.88 Bln Disbursed For Sme Sector Development For 2017, Najib
The government has disbursed funds totalling RM5.88 billion for 2017 for the small and medium enterprise (SME) development programmes which are being implemented by 16 ministries and over 60 agencies.
— Malaysian Digest

Singapore banker admits to money laundering in 1MDB-linked case
Yeo Jiawei, a former banker serving the longest jail term in Singapore’s probes linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd., admitted to money laundering.
— Deal Street Asia

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro @cara_nav

Return migration no impact on Thai-Myanmar trade
Despite the decline in import flow from Thailand at the Myawaddy border trade camp, the return of Myanmar workers from Thailand last month has no significant impact on bilateral trade, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) U Khin Maung Lwin told The Myanmar Times.
– The Myanmar Times

Gas, garment, agricultural produce major export items in first three months this FY
Myanmar’s major export items in the first three months of this 2017-2018 fiscal year were gas, CMP(cutting, making and packaging) garments and agricultural produce, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
– Eleven Myanmar

Government to repay debt of US$600 million in 2017-18
Debts accumulated under Myanmar’s previous Union Solidarity and Development Party are now due, 2 years after the current National League for Democracy government came into power.
– The Myanmar Times

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Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Government to allow 70% foreign equity in telcos, utilities
President Duterte wants to allow foreign investors to own up to 70 percent of telecommunication firms and all public utilities, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), and this will probably be reflected in the updated Regular Foreign Investment Negative List (RFINL) due in August.
— Business Mirror

Philippines: Drilling for oil in disputed sea may resume
Drilling for oil and natural gas on the Reed Bank in the South China Sea may resume before the end of the year, a Philippine energy official said on Wednesday, as the government prepares to offer new blocks to investors in bidding in December.
— Bangkok Post

New oil and coal contracting round to cover 4.8-M ha. prospecting area
A NEW contracting round is in the works for petroleum and coal, the Department of Energy (DoE) said on Wednesday, in a move that the agency hopes to create wealth for the industry to fund more energy development projects.
— BusinessWorld Online

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Singapore to ramp up global aviation training, research
Singapore on Wednesday (Jul 12) inked an agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ramp up global aviation training and research.
— Channel NewsAsia

S’pore pledges cooperation with Indonesia to tackle haze
Ahead of the need for continued vigilance in the upcoming dry season, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli has told Indonesian leaders that Singapore is committed to help combat fires should the need arise.
— Today Online

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Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

High-speed rail financing takes shape
The government will rely on lending by domestic and overseas financial institutions to fund the first stage of the 179-billion-baht Sino-Thai high-speed rail project linking Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand foreign tourist arrivals up 4-5% in H1 2017: Minister
The number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand rose by up to 5 percent in the period January to June 2017, the country’s tourism minister said on Wednesday, compared with the same period last year.
— Channel NewsAsia

Foreign legal expert hired to help with law reform
A JOINT committee of private entities working with the government has decided to hire a foreign legal expert to help in the government’s ongoing law reform, Suvit Maesincee, secretary to the supreme committee on reform, reconciliation, and national strategy said yesterday.
—The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro @cara_nav

Cutting-edge trade portal opens
The Vietnam Trade Information Portal (VTIP) was officially launched yesterday by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) with the help of the World Bank (WB), in order to provide the business community with a reliable one window information source on relevant legal regulations and categorisation for both export and import purposes.
– Viet Nam News

More new laws made public
The Law on Amendments and Supplements to Several Articles of the Penal Code and five other laws were made public by the Presidential Office a at a press conference on July 12.
– VietnamPlus

VN growth target remains elusive
The annual growth goal of 6.7 per cent is likely to remain beyond reach despite an improved economic performance in the second half of the year, says Nguyen Duc Thanh, Director of the Viet Nam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR).
– Viet Nam News Bizhub

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.