Advertisement

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

Exports boost for economy
Asean economies’ growth has so far been driven by exports recovery, with domestic demand factors including private consumption still patchy.
— The Star Online

Asean’s capital idea is far from paying off
The bloc’s Capital Markets Forum was intended to increase cross-border issuance in the region. So far, it’s failing to deliver.
— FinanceAsia (registration)

200 youth leaders engage in discussions at ASEAN Forum
Wearing the traditional attire of Yakans, Tausugs, Sama, Chavacanos, and Tagalogs, among others, made the ASEAN youth forum memorable to over 200 delegates from selected schools and youth organizations that converged at Basilan State College Amphitheatre on July 14.
— Philippine Information Agency

MSMEs urged to go digital
Digitalization is a great equalizer that levels the playing field for large and small business players, the country’s trade chief said at the successful Philippine hosting of the ASEAN 2017 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Summit recently.
— Manila Bulletin

INSIGHTS into the WORLD / ‘Rule of law’ should prevail in S.E. Asia
The South China Sea appears to be calm, beautiful and peaceful. In this sea of calmness, the marvelous setting sun reddens the sky far in the distance. However, many lights can be seen on the horizon at night. They are flames burning atop the offshore oil drilling rigs, indicating that undersea natural resources exist beneath.
— The Japan News

VN awaits deluge of foreign cars
The report said in recent years the automobile market growth has been much higher than expected though prices in Viet Nam remain very high (car prices in Viet Nam are double those in neighbouring countries like Thailand and Indonesia).
— VietNamNet Bridge

Why China and the US cannot afford to ignore Asean
The US public rarely gives Indonesia, the most populous country in Southeast Asia, more than passing thought, and even then might be thinking about nothing more than a vacation in Bali. Yet, the world’s fourth most populous nation, home to more Muslims than any other country, more than in the entire Arab world, is one huge growing deal.
— South China Morning Post

ASEAN MPs Ask Australia to Pressurize Laos on Human Rights
Lawmakers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) urged Australia to pressurize Laos to respect human rights on Monday.
— Latin American Herald Tribune

The glory of Asean crafts
The Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand (SACICT) is showcasing a selection of 60 outstanding handicrafts by 10 artisans in the Asean region at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre until July 23.
— The Nation

If you own an SME, stop looking for an office
“Flexible working environments” in the Asia-Pacific will expand at an average rate of 10 to 15 per cent annually, according to an April coworking report by Cushman & Wakefield and CoreNet Global.
— HuffPost

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Government to tap emergency rice fund to help corn farmers
The government will use the untapped funds of an emergency rice loan package to support struggling corn farmers who have protested the low market prices for their crop this season, state officials said yesterday.
— The Phnom Penh Post 

Australian in Cambodia surrogacy case ‘lost everything’
An Australian woman charged with providing commercial surrogacy services in Cambodia has told a court she has “lost everything” since her arrest eight months ago and is suffering from cancer.
— Bangkok Post 

Fourth held in Thailand weapons case
Thai police have arrested a fourth suspect in the weapons smuggling case linked to a Cambodian immigration officer, according to Thai media, while a senior Cambodian Defence Ministry official said yesterday that any suggestions that the weapons came from Cambodia’s military arsenal had been ruled out.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News 

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

Online Licensing System Applied to Avoid Illegal Levies in Indonesia
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has launched online transportation licensing system in a bid to improve efficiency and avoid illegal levies.
— Netralnews

Indonesia’s Parliament speaker named corruption suspect
Indonesia’s anti-graft agency announced Monday that the speaker of Parliament is a suspect in a corruption scandal in which officials allegedly pocketed more than $170 million in government money.
— Independent.ie

Indonesia Exports, Imports Contract in June
Indonesia’s exports and imports contracted in June on a yearly basis for the first time in nine months, data from the statistics bureau showed, but the country still posted a trade surplus.
— Jakarta Globe

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News 

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro    @cara_nav

Japan Ranks 7th Biggest Investor in Laos
Japanese investment is currently represented in 136 projects, making Japan the 7th largest investor in Laos following China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, R. Korea, and France.
– Lao News Agency

IFC invests $2m in Laos-based realty project
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private lending arm of the World Bank, will invest $2 million in a Laos-based greenfield project developed by Aanandi Group.
– Deal Street Asia

Ministry, Songmeunang to cooperate for silk production
The Ministry of Science and Technology has signed an agreement with Songmeunang Handicraft Group to conduct research in sericulture technology for the development of silk production in Laos.
– Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News 

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

Malaysia’s commodity-based exports value rises
The value of Malaysia’s commodity-based exports rose 27.1% to RM59.1bil for the January to May 2017 period, surpassing the RM46.5bil achieved for the same period last year.
— Hellenic Shipping News 

Malaysia chalks up M&A deals worth US$11.7bil
A total of 233 merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions took place up to June 2017 with a total announced deal value of US$11.7bil, where inbound deals accounted for about 70% of the total deal value, according to Duff & Phelps, a global valuation and corporate finance adviser.
— The Star Online 

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand mull cutting rubber output to stabilise prices
Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are considering cutting rubber output from 10% to 15% in order to curb falling prices, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
— The Star Online 

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News 

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro     @cara_nav

Foreign firms may be allowed to join Myanmar e-lottery business
A stamp-duty amendment and government lottery bills that would open the e-lottery business to all were submitted to Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on July 14.
– The Myanmar Times

Foreign firms have invested over $1bn in Thilawa SEZ
Foreign businesses invested more than US$1.075 billion in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone between November 2014 and June 2017, with over $773 million, or 71 per cent, in industrial the industrial sector, according to the Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration.
– Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar not on track to renewable energy: civil societies
MYANMAR has been focusing on coal and large hydropower projects and is not on track to develop renewable energy sources, local and international civil societies said in a recent statement.
– The Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News 

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

OFW remittances recover in May
REMITTANCES from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recovered in May, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced yesterday, staying on track to a full-year target and helping to fuel household spending that contributes nearly 70% to national output.
— BusinessWorld Online

Supreme Court junks BOC bid to collect P1 B from Shell
The Supreme Court (SC) has rejected with finality the bid of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to collect almost P1 billion in import taxes from oil giant Pilipinas Shell Corp.
— The Philippine Star

Trump’s use of PH law firm run by gov’t official raises conflict-of-interests red flag
Donald and Ivanka Trump’s companies use a law firm managed by a Philippine government official, which poses the latest in a string of potential conflicts of interests due to the Trumps’ global business empire, the UK’s Guardian has reported.
— Inquirer.net

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News 

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

June NODX busts forecasts; good showing expected for next few months
NON-OIL domestic exports (NODX) ended the first half of 2017 with a better-than-expected showing – and private-sector economists expect the fine performance to continue for a few more months in the second half before easing.
— The Business Times 

Singapore: Space debris removal startup Astroscale secures $25m Series C
Private companies ANA Holdings Inc (ANA) and OSG Corp have backed a $25-million Series C round in Singapore-headquartered Astroscale Pte Ltd, bringing the firm’s total raised capital to $53 million.
— DealStreetAsia

More than 400 safety violations found at work sites in June: MOM
There were more than 400 cases of safety violations at work sites in June alone after enforcement efforts were stepped up by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Minister of State for Manpower Sam Tan said on Monday (Jul 17).
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News 

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

Baht closes at 33.66 baht/dollar, the strongest in 25 months
The Thai baht closed at 33.66 baht against the US dollar, the strongest in 25 months after the currency was trading between 33.73-33.75 baht/dollar throughout Monday (July 17), said Jitipol Puksamatanan, a currency and capital markets strategist of the Krung Thai Bank.
— Thai PBS

EU tipped to keep Thai ‘yellow card’ IUU warning
The government’s efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU) are unlikely to satisfy the European Commission (EC) as it is likely to maintain its official warning or so-called “yellow card” on the country, says a source.
— Bangkok Post

Princess Sirindhorn not protected by the lèse majesté law: lawyers
Human rights lawyers are arguing that suspects accused of defaming Princess Sirindhorn should not be indicted under the lèse majesté law.
— Prachatai English

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Cara Navarro    @cara_nav 

Tropical Storm Talas kills 14 in Vietnam
Tropical Storm Talas has claimed at least 14 lives and damaged buildings and roads across northern and central Vietnam after making landfall on Monday morning.
– VnExpress

Thua Thien-Hue revokes licences of 37 delayed projects
The central province of Thua Thien-Hue has so far revoked investment licences of 37 projects due to prolonged delay in implementation.
– VietnamPlus

13 Vietnamese banks named in world’s top 1,000
Vietnam’s 13 largest commercial banks have been named among the world’s top 1,000 based on assets, profits and capital.
– VnExpress

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.

Advertisement