Asean Morning News
Compiled by AEC News Today @aecnewstoday
South East Asian nations step up cooperation as ISIS threat mounts
Southeast Asian nations plan to use spy planes and drones to stem the movement of militants across their porous borders, defence officials said at the weekend, as concerns rise over the growing clout of Islamic State in the region.
– The Nation
CIMB scores 21 wins at Islamic finance awards
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd bagged a whopping 21 awards at The Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards 2017, and was named Sukuk House of the Year in Asia-Pacific for the fifth year in a row.
– The Edge Markets
Phl manufacturing outperforms in Asean
The Philippine manufacturing sector outperformed those of other Southeast Asian countries in May as it remains firmly in expansion territory during the month, according to the latest reading of the Nikkei ASEAN Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
— The Philippine Star
China makes its voice heard at Shangri-La Dialogue
The 16th Shangri-La Dialogue concluded here on Sunday, and during the three-day forum, the Chinese delegation reaffirmed China’s stances on multiple issues and successfully made China’s voice heard.
– China.org.cn
Like it or not, globalization is ‘inevitable,’ says Vietnamese PM
Asian countries should not let mounting security threats and the rise of protectionism deter them from strengthening ties within and outside the region, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told a conference of political leaders on Monday.
– Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute sign MOU
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) on June 1.
– OpenGov
Important for Japan and China to set rivalry aside and lead Asia in tandem: ESM Goh
It is crucial that Japan and China lead Asia in tandem towards greater integration, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Monday (June 5), urging both countries to set their rivalry and historical mistrust aside.
– The Straits Times
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Paul Treacy @PaulTreacyPhoto
Business outlook still positive
Cambodia’s business environment retained a positive outlook during the commune elections held yesterday, with several experts saying they expected the Kingdom’s economy to benefit from continued political stability.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Commune Election Ends; CPP Wins
Commune Council Election was held Sunday throughout Cambodia, with millions of voters casting ballots, a test of party support ahead of next year’s national elections.
– GoCambodia
Soldiers appear to have swung seats
Ta Siem, a remote commune in Siem Reap province, yesterday changed hands from the opposition to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party after several hundred soldiers were trucked there from another province to vote.
– The Phnom Penh Post
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Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Japan‘s Commitment to Fasten Jakarta-Surabaya Railway Development
Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masafumi Ishii said Indonesia and Japan are committed to accelerating the development of medium-speed railway facilities for the Jakarta-Surabaya route.
— Netral English
Russian Investor Eyeing Oil Projects in Tanjung Api-api SEZ
Enoh Suharto Pranoto, the secretary of the National Council on Special Economic Zone (SEZ) said Russian investor is eyeing oil projects in Tanjung Api-api SEZ in South Sumatra.
— Tempo
Bank Mandiri targets Singapore private wealth
Indonesia’s Bank Mandiri wants to develop a foothold within Singapore’s private banking space, according to local reports.
— Hubbis
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Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Paul Treacy @PaulTreacyPhoto
Private sector urged to get involved with infrastructure development
Infrastructure development under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model is taking shape in Laos as the government requires huge capital investment to improve road networks and other facilities.
— Vientiane Times
Phu Bia Mining Expects to Produce 90, 000 Tonnes This Year
Phu Bia Mining Company’s Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation expects to produce and export 90, 000 tonnes of copper in concentrated form this year.
— Lao News Agency
Laos, China take on development study for rural electricity plan
Lao and Chinese companies will jointly undertake a development study for a rural electrification plan aiming to achieve the government’s goal to expand power access to rural and remote areas.
— Vientiane Times
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Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
M’sia labour productivity growth unsatisfactory
While Malaysia’s labour productivity growth of 3.5% for 2016 was an improvement compared with 3.4% in the previous year, the performance was considered unsatisfactory as the country is still lagging behind the productivity levels of countries, such as Singapore and South Korea.
— The Edge Markets
RM20 million for Bumiputera youth entrepreneurs
The government has allocated RM20 million this year to implement a mega Bumiputera Youth Entrepreneurship (TUBE) programme, specifically to help youths who are still unemployed and keen to become entrepreneurs.
— Free Malaysia Today
Construction of TNB’s large scale solar project to start next month
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) is scheduled to commence construction of its first Large Scale Solar (LSS) project in Malaysia next month.
— New Straits Times
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Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
China’s New Silk Road plan: What’s in it for Myanmar?
At the summit hosted by Beijing last month to promote its plan for a new Silk Road, Myanmar and China signed five agreements and two are of particular economic significance.
– Frontier Myanmar
1,000 new YBS buses to hit YGN roads
Yangon Bus Service (YBS) is expanding its ride service with the addition of 1,000 new buses within the next two weeks, according to an announcement by the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) in Friday’s editions of The Mirror Daily.
– Global New Light Of Myanmar
Gas-fired plant in Mandalay to operate with BOT agreement
The biggest gas-fired power plant, with a capacity of 225 megawatts, will start operations in December this year in the Taungtha and Myingyan district in Mandalay Region, a senior official from the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE), told The Myanmar Times.
– The Myanmar Times
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Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Paul Treacy @PaulTreacyPhoto
Phl manufacturing outperforms in Asean
The Philippine manufacturing sector outperformed those of other Southeast Asian countries in May as it remains firmly in expansion territory during the month, according to the latest reading of the Nikkei ASEAN Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
— The Philippine Star
Analysts expect May inflation at 3.1%-3.5%
A panel of private Philippine bank analysts estimated that headline inflation likely moderated to an average of 3.3 percent in May from 3.4 percent in April, given slower increases in food and fuel prices during the fifth month of the year.
— The Manila Times
Indonesia: 1,200 IS militants in Philippines
There are about 1,200 Islamic State (IS) operatives in the Philippines, including foreigners, said Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on Sunday (June 4) amid an ongoing siege in the southern Philippine city of Marawi.
— Bangkok Post
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Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Bank Mandiri targets Singapore private wealth
Indonesia’s Bank Mandiri wants to develop a foothold within Singapore’s private banking space, according to local reports.
— Hubbis
Rockwills Group Has Its Eyes on Indonesia
THE Rockwills Group, a wills and trust specialist in Malaysia and Singapore, is setting its sights on the Indonesian market for possible expansion of its estate planning business.
— Netral English
Milk companies adhere to code on sale of infant formula
The Sale of Infant Foods Ethics Committee Singapore (Sifecs), administered by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), receives 40 to 50 pieces of feedback each year.
— The New Paper
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Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Ten Japanese firms invest in Eastern Economic Corridor
At least 10 Japanese companies are investing in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), the new industrial zone for higher technologies and green industries.
– NBT World (VDO)
Govt allocates Bt2.5 bn for universities’ research projects
THE GOVERNMENT has set aside Bt2.5 billion of this fiscal year’s Bt190-billion additional budget to help 27 universities extend their research projects with commercial purposes as a way to promote the “Thailand 4.0” policy.
– The Nation
AI at 4.0 forefront
As Thailand pushes forward to the digital economy era, ramping up the use of artificial intelligence will serve not only to transform the world of business, but how people live.
– Bangkok Post
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Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Paul Treacy @PaulTreacyPhoto
HCM City authorities act as rumours threaten to cause property bubble
Prices in HCM City have increased by 30-70 per cent, reaching up to VNĐ20million (US$900) per square metre in some places.
— Viet Nam News
State treasury raises 5.9 trillion VND from government bonds
The State treasury has successfully raised 5.9 trillion VND (260 million USD) for the State budget through an auction of Government bonds on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) on June 1.
— VietnamPlus
Vietnam urges nearly 13,500 Facebook retailers to declare tax
Most online transactions in Vietnam involve cash, which is difficult to track and tax.
— 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.