Asean Morning News For October 24

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

ASEAN defense ministers lock in against terrorism and other common threats
Southeast Asian defense ministers have agreed to step up joint efforts to counter regional terrorism, and have expressed “grave concern” about heightened recent tensions on the Korean peninsula after North Korea carried out nuclear testing and ballistic missile launches.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Asean governments urged to give domestic workers full protection
It is time for all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) governments to value the rights of domestic workers, the International Labour Office (Ilo) urged on Monday.
— Eleven Myanmar

Korean defense chief to focus on N. Korea in ASEAN security forum
South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo prepared Monday for a round of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy in Clark, the Philippines, on North Korea and other regional security issues.
— Korea Harald

Mini-Interpol proposed for ASEAN counterterrorism
The rise of radicalism and terrorism in the region is now seen as ASEAN’s biggest security threat.
— The Jakarta Post

‘Don’t Take Asean for Granted:’ Foreign Policy Conference Highlights Achievements, Upcoming Challenges in Region
Opening speakers at the Conference on Indonesian Foreign Policy in Jakarta on Saturday (21/10) emphasized that the success story of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, must not be taken for granted amid regional and global challenges, while highlighting the need for Asean to increase efforts in realizing its promises.
— Jakarta Globe

ASEAN banking integration: Killing two birds
As ASEAN’s largest economy, Indonesia has been leading efforts to integrate the region’s banking sector. Indonesia, along with Malaysia, signed the first bilateral agreement under the ASEAN Banking Integration Framework (ABIF) in 2016.
— Jakarta Post

Asean has an obvious role in Rohingya crisis
Considerable experience in handling refugees puts the bloc in prime position to assist on the border and in Rakhine
— The Nation

Will Trump undo Obama’s legacy in South East Asia?
As the administration of United States President Donald Trump enters its tenth month, one of the most frequently asked questions is whether he will try to take down his predecessor’s legacy in South East Asia. The answer is both no, and yes.
— Myanmar Times

Medical Devices ASEAN 2018 set to launch in Thailand
Medical Devices ASEAN 2018 is set to launch Thailand as the emerging hub of medical and healthcare industry in ASEAN.
— Exhibition World

Air Asia Philippines set to fly to 3 new ASEAN destinations
Air Asia Philippines (AAP) starts servicing Manila to Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia in January, 2018 as well as Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam next month, CEO Captain Dexter Commendador announced.
— Manila Bulletin

Asean journalists savour South Korean hospitality
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea held a farewell dinner for Asean media personnel who were in South Korea on a nine-day visit under the ‘2017 Exchange Visit of Asean and Korean Media People’ Programme. The dinner was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, South Korea.
— Borneo Bulletin

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Criticism mounts as Cambodia government moves closer to dissolving opposition
More than 50 rights groups called on chairs of the Paris Peace Agreement to reconvene to ensure that the “democratic vision for Cambodia outlined in the agreement is not completely forsaken”.
— Channel News Asia

Cambodian PM says main opposition party will be dissolved
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday it was “a fact” that the main opposition party would be dissolved as he spoke on the anniversary of the peace agreement that established multiparty democracy.
— Reuters

IMF predicts slowdown on horizon for growth figures
Cambodia’s economic growth will remain on course this year but will likely slow in the coming years to 6 percent as investment tapers off and credit growth tightens, according to an updated note by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released on Friday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

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Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Indonesia seeks answer to why U.S. blocked military chief’s travel
Indonesia on Monday said it was still awaiting a detailed explanation why the United States barred its military chief from traveling to the U.S., despite having a visa and an official invitation, although it had accepted an official apology.
— Reuters/Business Insider

Improving Economy of China Positive for Indonesian Exports
The economy of China grew 6.8 percent year-on-year (y/y) in the third quarter of 2017. An improving Chinese economy is important for the Indonesian economy as China is the biggest trading partner of Indonesia. Slightly over 10 percent of total Indonesian exports are shipped to China, the world’s second-largest economy.
— Indonesia Investment

Bank Indonesia Likely To Cut Rates Early Next Year: Capital Economics
Bank Indonesia is likely to consider interest rate cuts most probably early next year, as inflationary pressures are under control but the economy continues to struggle, Gareth Leather, an economist at Capital Economics, said.
— Markets Insider

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Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

PM declares ‘intolerance’ of corruption, abuse of power
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the National Assembly (NA) yesterday the government will take earnest action in striving for good governance by addressing corruption, abuse of power and bureaucratic issues
— Vientiane Times

Japan boost school environment improvement project in Laos
The government of Japan will provide grant aid amounting to 1.4 billion Japanese yen (over US$12 million) to implement the project for improving the lower secondary school environment in the central and southern provinces.
— Vientiane Times

Lao Government Seeks to Restart Flights at Shuttered Attapeu Airport
The Lao government wants its national airline to resume flights to a small airport in the country’s southeastern Attapeu province, though operations were suspended a year ago because of low passenger numbers and mounting debt, a government official who manages Laos’ airports said.
— Radio Free Asia

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Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

Malaysia aims to export rail technology after 2027: PM Najib
Malaysia aims to export its rail technology post-2027 when the country’s total rail mileage is expected to reach 3,000km, said Prime Minister Najib Razak at the annual land public transport symposium on Monday (Oct 23).
— Channel News Asia

Malaysia asks Interpol to trace financier linked to 1MDB scandal
Malaysia has asked Interpol to try to locate a Malaysian financier for questioning over his suspected involvement in a multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the deputy prime minister said on Monday (Oct 23).
— Channel News Asia

Malaysia urges France to reject EU resolution that discriminates palm oil
Malaysia urges France to reject the discriminatory EU Resolution: Palm Oil and Deforestation of Rainforest and accept the government-driven Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme.
— New Straits Times

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Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

There’s only one conclusion on the Rohingya in Myanmar: It’s genocide
The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar is now widely described as ethnic cleansing. But the situation has been evolving. And now, it seems, we can no longer avoid the conclusion we have all been dreading. This is a genocide. And we, in the international community, must recognize it as such.
— CNN (video)

Myanmar approves over $4bn FDI in first half of current fiscal
MYANMAR has approved US$4.35 billion (Bt145 billion) in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first six months of fiscal year 2017-18 which started April 1, and hopes to receive much more in the second half, according to San Myint, deputy director general at the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration.
— Eleven Myanmar

Nations pledge $345 million to Rohingya response
Nations have pledged $345 million (294 million euros) to care for Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, an “encouraging” step in the response to the intensifying crisis, the UN said Monday.
— The Jakarta Post

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Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Q3 GDP growth ‘likely steady at 6.5%’
Philippine economic growth was likely steady in second quarter given continued domestic spending and export gains, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said on Monday.
— The Manila Times

Govt eyes ADB loan for electric jeepneys
The Energy Department plans to apply for a new loan from the Asian Development Bank to roll out the government’s electric jeepney program, a year after the government cancelled the loan for the electric tricycle program.
— Manila Standard

Competition body to pursue review of P70-billion telco deal
POINTING out what it described as “slow, expensive and poor”state of the Internet in the Philippines, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it will continue to push for the review of the P70-billion deal among telco operators in the country, even with the unfavorable decision from the Court of Appeals (CA).
— BusinessMirror

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Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Singapore and the US reaffirm ‘robust partnership’ with aircraft deal, closer security cooperation
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Donald Trump on Monday (Oct 23) took US-Singapore relations forward in witnessing the signing of a deal for Singapore Airlines (SIA) to purchase 39 Boeing aircraft worth close to US$14 billion.
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore beefs up muscle in solar and energy storage
SINGAPORE is taking its new energy ambitions a step further by developing its solar forecasting capabilities, enhancing a scheme for selling excess solar energy and installing an energy storage testbed on the grid.
— The Business Times

S$18.7 billion SIA-Boeing deal to create 70,000 jobs in the US
In a vivid example of Singapore’s sizeable investments in the United States despite being a small country of 5.5 million people, national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) will buy 39 new aircraft from Boeing in a US$13.8 billion (S$18.7 billion) deal that will create 70,000 jobs in America.
— Today Online

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Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Excise Dept: 90% progress made on implementing 2017 Excise Tax Act
The Excise Department has reported that the enforcement of the new 2017 Excise Tax Act has made 90% progress.
— NNT

PM expresses concerns over agricultural issues
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his concerns over agricultural issues, calling on farmers to adjust their methods to minimize costs and maximize yields.
— NNT

Khon Kaen stacking up sandbags to divert floodwater
People in Khon Kaen province are using sandbags to divert water released from Ubolratana Dam.
— NBT World (video)

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Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Central bank policies expand foreign reserves
Adoption of appropriate policies by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has helped it buy a large amount of US dollar to increase the nation’s foreign reserves, industry insiders said.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam Confident of 6.7% Growth
Vietnam is confident it will meet its goal of 6.7% economic growth this year, and forecasts the same rate of expansion in 2018.
— Financial Tribune

VinaCapital invests $11m into OCB
The Việt Nam Opportunity Fund (VOF), managed by VinaCapital Group, invested US$11 million into the Orient Commercial Bank (OCB), owning nearly 5 per cent stake in the bank.
— Viet Nam News

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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.