Asean Morning News For October 12

Asean Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Commentary: The hard truth is that Rohingya refugees are not going home
The harrowing scenes of human suffering on the Myanmar–Bangladesh border have provoked outpourings of sympathy and some firm statements by international politicians.
Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/rohingya-hard-truth-no-home-rakhine-myanmar-commentary-9295336
— Channel NewsAsia

US Businesses’ Asean Sentiment: Survey More Bull, Than Bullish
The release last month of the 2018 ASEAN Business Outlook Survey by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Singapore predictably enough resulted in a flood of headlines across the region touting the bullish sentiment of US business throughout Asean.
— AEC News Today

PHL has highest incidence of part-time work in Asean
The Philippines has the highest percentage of part-time workers in Asean, again putting a spotlight on the need to improve labor rights and security in the country, just like the campaign promise of President Duterte to end contractualization, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).
— BusinessMirror

ASEAN needs to press on with transport development and integration: DPM Teo
Southeast Asian nations must press on with cooperation and integration efforts within the region’s transport sector, which is a “critical enabler” of growth, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Thursday (Oct 12).
— Channel News Asia

Asean to oil land, sea and air movements between member states
Asean countries will make it easier for tour buses to move between borders within the region, according to Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

ASEAN officials convene in Manila to prepare November summit
Senior officials from the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet in Manila this week to discuss preparations for the leaders’ summit next month.
— Philstar Global

Time for Asean’s own brand product in manufacturing?
There is no reason for the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) not to have its own variant of Sony or Samsung. Perhaps it is about time now for Asean to step up its economic integration strategy and create its own brand of products.
— Today Online

Top five ASEAN economies to grow over 5%: IMF outlook
Indonesia is among the top five ASEAN countries that are expected to surpass 5 percent economic growth this year amid the projected slight recovery in the global economic condition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said in its latest report, published Tuesday.
— The Jakarta Post

Market Research on ASEAN Confectionery Market 2015 and Analysis to 2025
Items in confectionery market consists of candies, chocolates, toffees, lollies, bakery items;basically food items that are rich in sugar and sweet content. Mostly confectionery market items consists of food products like butter, cocoa, honey, milk, flour, fruits, honey, nuts, sugar syrup and more. They are consumed globally, mostly by all regions and countries and are expected to grow in developing countries. Confectionery market is growing in mostly all the South East Asian countries and saw a tremendous growth in the last couple of years.
— Open PR

Volvo Car Malaysia to export CKD S90 T8 to ASEAN markets – only plug-in hybrid plant outside Sweden
Just launched in Malaysia, the locally-assembled Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid sedan will be the second recent Volvo model to be exported to select markets in the region, after the XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid SUV.
— Paultan.org

EU-Asean survey paints a rosy picture of Brunei
BRUNEI Darussalam attained top spot in Administrative Costs for Business and second place in Ease of Importing Goods, Stable Government and Political System and Regulatory Regime in the EU-Asean Sentiment Survey 2017.
— Borneo Bulletin

Growing complexities threaten ASEAN consensus politics
Within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, “centrality” is a defining concept — an implied vision of regional order in which the collective interest of member states comes first — or at least is not disregarded.
— Nikkie Asian Review

ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide 2017: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
This report is an outcome of the support and contributions of ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum members and experts, particularly from the Lao PDR. A highlight of this guide is an update on the development of the country’s securities
— ADB

ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide 2017: Philippines
This report is an outcome of the support and contributions of ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum members and experts, particularly from the Philippines.
— ADB

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

Government announces lower price cap amid oil rally
The government announced yesterday that it is lowering the price cap on petrol and diesel sold at retail petrol stations across the Kingdom effective today through October 21 in an effort to reflect changes in global oil prices.
— The Phnom Penh Post

World Bank hails Cambodia’s stronger PFM systems
Cambodia’s public finance management system has been “substantially strengthened” at a central level, the World Bank has reportedly said.
— Public Finance International

Tax rate cut for tobacco, alcohol distributors
The government has offered local distributors of cigarettes and alcohol some slack by reducing the tax obligation on secondary distribution of their products.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Gov’t Prepares Regulation for Airport and Seaport Management by Private Sector
Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi disclosed the policy to manage airports in Indonesia professionally.
— Netral News

Jokowi lauds Indonesia`s export hike
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has praised the private and government sectors for increasing the countrys exports by 17.58 percent, to US$108.79 billion, in the January-August 2017 period.
— Antara

Indonesian, Belgian foreign ministers discuss palm oil, wood issues
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held talks with her Belgian counterpart Didier Reynders and Vice President of the European Commission for Foreign Relations and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to discuss various issues on Tuesday.
— Antara

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

National Assembly to debate new and amended laws
The National Assembly (NA) will debate nine newly drafted laws and amend seven existing laws at its upcoming fourth ordinary session, which will open on Monday.
— Vientiane Times

Oudomxay legalises foreign workers
Oudomxay provincial authorities are registering foreigners and issuing them with temporary work permits in a bid to regulate the increasing number of undocumented migrant workers in the province.
— Vientiane Times

Laos Focuses on Importance of Empowering Girls
On October 11, adolescent girls were the center of discussion at a meeting between multiple-stakeholders from different sectors to strengthen partnership and increase investment in adolescent girls for the achievement of the 2030 development agenda.
— Lao News Agency

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

Malaysia-Taiwan trade to exceed US$17b this year
Malaysia-Taiwan bilateral trade can exceed US$17 billion this year, said Representative James Chang Chi-ping from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.
— The Star Online

MAHB to introduce airside transfer at KLIA, klia2 next year
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) will introduce the “airside transfer check-in service” at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and klia2 from next year.
— The Star Online

Malaysia addresses inaccurate claims in draft EU environment report on palm oil
Malaysia is addressing numerous ‘inaccurate’ interventions on the European Parliament’s draft on the environmental impact of palm oil consumption and on existing sustainability standard that will be recorded by Friday.
— The Edge Markets

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Rakhine crisis scares away tourists
Union of Myanmar Travel Association president U Thet Lwin said that some booked trips, particularly to Rakhine’s Ngapali beach, were cancelled in wake of the violence in Rakhine state.
— Thai PBS

Businesses urge overhaul of banks’ loan policy
Banking experts and senior officers from the International Council of Small Business (ICSB) said Myanmar must change its loan policy to make it easier for businesses to access debt for growth.
— Myanmar Time

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Duterte foreign trips reaped $59.3 billion in economic gains: finance chief
President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign visits have resulted in $59.3 billion in economic gains, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said Wednesday, after an opposition lawmaker raised concern over a decline in foreign investments.
— ABS-CBN

Smart to double LTE capacity in two cities
The Philippines’ Smart Communications plans to upgrade its cell sites in Marikina and Quezon City in the latest phase of its network expansion and modernization program.
— TelecomAsia

Supreme Court urged to stop war on drugs
ALLEGED victims of the Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs went to the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday to appeal for a stop to the bloody campaign.
— The Manila Times

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Singapore to house one of Alibaba’s new global research labs
Chinese Internet behemoth Alibaba will open a research lab here in Singapore, as part of its new global research programme called the Alibaba Discovery, Adventure, Momentum and Outlook (DAMO) Academy.
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore’s MAS seen on hold as market watches for policy clues
Singapore’s central bank is widely seen sticking to a neutral stance on Friday (Oct 13), but it may be moving closer to tightening policy as the economy continues to strengthen.
— Today Online

Military service a force for division in Singapore
Singaporean Benjamin Matchap recently graduated from Lasalle College of the Arts with a diploma in broadcast media, an occasion where newly credentialed graduates would normally leverage their new skills to enter the work force and launch upon career paths.
— Asia Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Rehearsals For Thai King Bhumibol’s Funeral Begin (HD Video)
The royal funeral for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej won’t be held for another couple of weeks, but with work on the royal crematorium nearing completion and the restoration of the centuries old royal chariots and royal palanquins finalised, it is now time to ensure the entire ceremony goes off without a hitch.
— AEC News Today (video)

Construction of Thai-Chinese high-speed railway to start in November
Construction of the first stage of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway will definitely begin in November although there is still a problem with an environment impact assessment study, Transport Minister Termpittayapaisith confirmed on Wednesday (Oct 11).
— Thai PBS

Urgent flood warning as reservoirs overwhelmed
Rid denies repeat of 2011 crisis as residents warned to seek safety on higher ground
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam’s defense ministry requests tighter management of drones
Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense has suggested tightening management over the use of camera drones throughout the country.
— Tuoi Tre

Budget revenue hits 70% of target
State budget revenue in the first nine months of the year totaled VNĐ843 trillion (US$37 billion), up 13.9 per cent year-on-year and equivalent to 69.5 per cent of the annual target.
— Viet Nam News

Floods caused by tropical depression kill 15 in Vietnam
Floods triggered by a tropical depression in Vietnam have killed 15 people and left eight others missing.
— Business Standard

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.