Asean Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Ageing, Migration Putting Regional Food Security at Risk
Asean’s ageing population and the drift from farms to cities in search of better paying employment is putting the regions food security at risk. Governments and producers need to rethink what is being produced, how it is being produced, and who is producing it.
— AEC News Today
Asean to map out response to likely new ISIS threats
Asean defence ministers are meeting today to map out a response to possible new threats posed by ISIS as some of its fighters return to Asia to regroup and recruit after its defeat in the Middle East.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Europe & ASEAN key to The Ascott’s growth strategy: Kevin Goh, COO
CapitaLand-backed The Ascott Ltd is deepening and expanding its footprint in gateway cities throughout the mature markets of Europe and in ASEAN’s emerging markets. The Ascott has been aggressively growing through acquisitions during the course of 2017.
— Deal Street Asia
Malaysian Minister Calls for ‘New Asean Way’ to Ensure Region’s Future
Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations needs to switch from its traditional top-down approach and adopt “a new Asean way” that is more honest and open, while focusing on developing a collective identity for people in the region.
—Jakarta Globe
Reporter nabbed for carrying gun in hotel where Asean guests are staying
A man who introduced himself as a freelance journalist was arrested Saturday night for carrying an unlicensed handgun inside the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila hotel, a five-star hotel in Pasay where guests for the 31st Asean Summit and Related Meeting are staying.
— Inquirer
Government offers assistance loans to ASEAN projects
The government said it is offering US$3.5 billion in official development assistance (ODA) loans with interest subsidies to help Taiwanese businesses take on large public projects in ASEAN members.
— Taipei Times
Mattis tries to unite fragmented Asean against China
US defence secretary Jim Mattis will try to unite south-east Asian countries against China during a meeting of defence ministers in the Philippines on Monday, as President Donald Trump prepares to send a strong message to challenge Beijing.
— Financial Times
North Korea on Mattis’ agenda at ASEAN
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says he will talk with Asian allies about North Korea and the crisis caused by Pyongyang’s “reckless” provocations, as he kicks off a week-long trip to the region to meet defence chiefs in the Philippines.
— SBS
Malaysia set to give RM4.2 million to Asean STI Partnership Fund
Malaysia is set to give RM4.2 million to the Asean STI Partnership Fund to boost cooperation and development in science, technology and innovation (STI) among researchers, scientists and engineers in the region.
— The Sun Daily
ASEAN defense ministers start security talks
The defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday started here their high-level security dialogue to discuss security issues facing the region including counterterrorism, drug trafficking and maritime conflicts.
— Xinhua
Asean conservation officers undergo taxonomy training
If awareness and knowledge are the backbone of informed and efficient action, then taxonomy is the pillar of successful biodiversity conservation.
— Business Mirror
Sustainable growth in Asean must include people participation and democratic governance
2017 is a significant milestone for Asean as it celebrates its 50th founding anniversary. After five decades, to many, Asean is seen as a government affair and it remains challenging for ordinary citizens to relate themselves with the concept of an Asean Community.
— MYSinchew
Deputy PM Prawit to attend ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Manila
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Gen.Prawit Wongsuwon and entourage have traveled to the Philippines to attend the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus).
— NNT
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia Snatches World Record From Indonesia
An event to foster entrepreneurship in Cambodia has seen the Southeast Asian kingdom wrest the world record for the largest practical business seminar away from Indonesia.
— AEC News Today
Kris says oil field tapped by 2020
Singapore’s KrisEnergy, the operator of Cambodia’s offshore Block A in the Gulf of Thailand, announced on Friday that in 24 months the Kingdom will be an oil producing nation after the firm made its final investment decision that day for extraction in the Apsara oil field.
— The Phnom Penh Post
CMAC lashes out at US comments
Government demining bodies have reacted to a United States Embassy statement on US-made chemical weapons uncovered in Svay Rieng, accusing the embassy of distorting facts and evading responsibility for its wartime legacy.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Indonesian military chief denied US entry
Indonesia intends to send a diplomatic note to the US secretary of state and summon Washington’s deputy ambassador in Jakarta to explain why the head of its military was denied entry to the United States.
— The Australian
Indonesia’s Skystar Capital to raise third fund in 2018, to target late-stage funding
Indonesian early-stage venture capital firm Skystar Capital is expected to hit the fundraising course for its third fund by the second half of next year, a top executive told DEALSTREETASIA.
— DealStreetAsia
In Indonesia, a new party seeks political change amid religious tension
Amid fears of creeping Islamisation in Indonesia, a relatively new political party in Indonesia is positioning itself as a voice for diversity and ‘clean’ politics as it aims for a successful debut in the 2019 general elections.
— Today Online
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Minister Urges Effective Implementation of Statistics Law
Minister of Planning and Investment Souphan Keomixay has called on relevant sectors to attach attention to the effective implementation of the Law on Statistics and incorporate the National Sustainable Statistic System Development Strategy 2016-2025 and Vision 2030 into their responsibilities.
— Lao News Agency
Disbursements vital to pay down debt, minister says
Securing extensive budget allocations to repay public borrowing is crucial to reduce public debt which has accumulated to a high level, Minister of Planning and Investment told the nation’s legislature last week.
Responding to questions raised by members of the National Assembly (NA) at the 4th Ordinary Session of the NA’s 8th legislature, Dr Souphanh Keomixay said 40 percent of expenditure for 2018 should be allocated for debt repayments.
— Vientiane Times
Improve health services, NA asks ministry
The Ministry of Health has been called upon to improve the quality of health services for local people and ensure medical doctors pursue their professional duties with the highest ethical standards.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Malaysia set to give RM4.2 million to Asean STI Partnership Fund
Malaysia is set to give RM4.2 million to the Asean STI Partnership Fund to boost cooperation and development in science, technology and innovation (STI) among researchers, scientists and engineers in the region.
— The Sun Daily
Najib Says Malaysia Reserves at $100 Billion
alaysia’s international reserves, which amount to more than $100 billion, are much stronger now than during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration, says Prime Minister Najib Razak.
— Financial Tribune
As robots advance, up to 5 in 10 Malaysian jobs at risk
Some 18,000 people who lost their jobs in Malaysia in 2015 were from the banking industry, due to the introduction of “disruptive technology”, as Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan terms it.
— The Edge Markets
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1
Myanmar expelled a North Korean diplomat earlier this year, UN report says
Diplomat linked to company that is subject to both UN Security Council and US sanctions for involvement in exporting equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons
— South China Morning Post
Exclusive: Returning Rohingya may lose land, crops under Myanmar plans
ohingya Muslims who return to Myanmar after fleeing to Bangladesh are unlikely to be able to reclaim their land, and may find their crops have been harvested and sold by the government, according to officials and plans seen by Reuters.
— Reuters
China supports Myanmar ‘safeguarding peace and stability’
China supports Myanmar in “safeguarding peace and stability” and won’t join other nations in condemning what many consider a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims, an official with the ruling Chinese Communist Party said Saturday.
— Times Colonist
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
ADB pledges $5.2M for Marawi
A multimillion-dollar grant has been pledged by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help rebuild Marawi City, a senior Finance department official said.
— The Manila Times
Why poverty prevails despite robust growth
AS chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) this year under the leadership of an unorthodox, foul-mouthed controversial president, the Philippines is now the darling of Asia, more so as it is among those leading the pack in growth rates, although the global limelight and attention also magnify the country’s warts of what’s wrong with our economy that is causing persistent poverty despite robust growth.
— BusinessMirror
PHL Ships 100,662 MT of raw sugar to China, Japan–Varua
Traders shipped 100,662.51 metric tons (MT) of raw sugar to China and Japan as part of efforts to reduce the country’s sugar inventory, according to the Philippine Sugar Millers Association Inc. (PSMA).
— BusinessMirror
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
PM Lee expects Singapore economy to grow by nearly 3% this year
Singapore’s economy should grow by close to 3 per cent this year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Monday morning Oct 23, Singapore time).
— The Straits Time (paywall)
Singapore-Listed Noble Group Will Sell Its Oil Trading Business
Embattled commodity trader Noble Group Ltd. announced the sale of its U.S. oil-liquids business to Vitol Group, and warned that it will probably post a net loss of more than $1 billion for the third quarter.
— Bloomberg
Singapore’s cloudy route to digital transformation
ACROSS many markets, ‘digital transformation’ started as some sort of distant nirvana. It’s often a throwaway line with no realistic and concrete application, or opportunity payback
— Digital News Asia
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Central Plains brace for severe floods
Communities living along the Chao Phraya River in Central Plains areas are suffering as run-off from the river continues to rise.
— Bangkok Post
Loan-loss provisions drag down commercial banks’ earnings for first nine months of 2017
THE counter-cyclical loan-loss provisioning in the third quarter by major banks dampened their overall net earnings in the first nine months of this year.
— The Nation
Rethink Needed: Thailand’s Migrant Worker Policy Debacle
Since 2014 Thailand’s coup-led government has prioritised eliminating human trafficking, especially among migrant workers. This renewed attention has been in direct response to a storm of international criticism aimed at the poor working conditions suffered by migrant workers. So far, the government has responded with hasty action and a number of legislative changes.
— AEC News Today
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam’s Central Bank Says It’s Able to Keep Currency Stable
Vietnam’s central bank said record-high foreign reserves will enable it to keep the currency stable for the rest of the year as the government focuses on boosting growth in the Southeast Asian economy.
— Bloomberg
Vietnam is among best-growing stock markets
The continued increase of the VN Index (which has exceeded the 800 point threshold), the continued purchase of foreign investors and the accelerated state’s disinvestment from big corporations will create sustained growth in the market, according to Pham Luu Hung from the Saigon Securities Incorporated (SSI).
— VietnamNet Bridge
Apec members must ensure growth improves people’s lives: Vietnam PM
Apec member economies must ensure that growth in their countries improves people’s lives, even as they work to keep economic recovery on track in the Asia-Pacific, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the region’s finance ministers.
— The Straits Times
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.