Asean Morning News For September 6

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Malaysian Universities Storm 2018 Times Higher Education List
The Times World University Rankings are out for another year with Malaysian Universities swamping the list, in the process disrupting the previously sedately moving ranking of Asean’s top Universities for 2018.
— AEC News Today

Historic Summit to Tackle Asia-Pacific Environment Issues Begins
Senior government officials from across Asia and the Pacific will meet in Bangkok this week for the first Asia-Pacific Ministerial Summit on the Environment.
— AEC News Today

RCEP partners considering options to move forward on deal
THE 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the six countries with which the economic bloc has free trade agreements will consider “options” to move forward on the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) even as its signing by the end of the year has become unlikely.
— BusinessWorld Online

Southeast Asia on show as culture house opens doors in South Korea’s Busan
Featuring exhibits, artefacts and the attire of Laos and those of fellow nations of Southeast Asia, the establishment of the Asean Culture House in South Korea is expected to mark a significant milestone in closer cooperative relations.
— Eleven Myanmar

More cooperation in the financial space
COOPERATION between the Philippines and Singapore is set to increase as the two countries work towards an agreement to open up the banking industry as part of efforts aimed at greater financial integration and economic development among Asean member countries.
— The Business Times

Maybank Islamic Looks To Expand Shariah Banking To ASEAN
Maybank Islamic Bhd is looking to expand the Islamic banking system to ASEAN countries, said Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohamed Rafique Merican.
— Bernama

Who will replace the US in Southeast Asia?
Three scenarios are possible. In the first, two regional powers — Japan and Indonesia — fill the vacuum left by the United States. In the second, ASEAN takes on a leadership role. The third scenario looks to China as the power most capable of filling the strategic vacuum. This third scenario is the most plausible — absent a strong US military presence, virtually all of Southeast Asia is likely to ‘bandwagon for profit’ with China.
— East Asia Forum

‘Fake news,’ populism flagged as threats to democracy at ASEAN forum
ASEAN nations are among the world’s most enthusiastic users of social media, but experts at a panel in Kuala Lumpur have warned that purveyors of fake news and sensationalism online are threatening democracy region-wide.
— Democratic Voice of Burma

Growth, technology drive Asean community: Ong
GROWTH, technology and developing the youth should be regarded as three key issues to drive the Asean community amid fast-changing global challenges, former Asean secretary-general Ong Keng Yong said yesterday.
— The Nation

China seeks ‘reliable’ ASEAN partners
As the world’s No.2 economic power with growing political clout, China is working very hard to find regional strategic partners that are “trustworthy”. The desirable partners can be any countries in ASEAN that have minds of their own but understand the game of power politics. Most importantly, their foreign policy must not in any way, real or imagined, undermine China’s position in the region.
— Myanmar Times

The Asian Financial Crisis 20 years on
In the four years between 1993 and 1996 the tiger economies of Asia led the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) growth and stock market returns as foreign and local investors piled in and embraced the opportunity.
— New Statesman

Youth to have a say in Asean agenda
Asean member-countries are aiming to integrate inputs from the youth sector in Asean policy-making with the launch of a formal association to represent the youth’s voice in the region.
— Business Mirror

Vietnam – most known ASEAN nation among Russians
Among the ten ASEAN nations, Vietnam is the best known among Russians, according to a survey conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center.
— Vietnam Plus

Aspire Systems Launches ‘The Millennial Banking Technology Framework’ for Asean Banks
Leading technology services firm Aspire Systems launched The Millennial Banking Technology Framework for banks to wade through millennial customer paradox, making it every global bank’s guide to survive in the millennial age. Banking is on the cusp of radical change while banks are living dangerously at the whim of the digital-savvy millennial.
— EIN Presswire (media release)

Cambodia’s Slow Road to Become an Oil Producing Nation
The Cambodian government and Singaporean energy giant, KrisEnergy have penned a long awaited deal to begin the development of an offshore oil field. Delays have hampered the deal over the last six-years, but KrisEnergy can now begin the development of 3,083 square kilometres in the Khmer basin. The project will earn the Cambodian government around US$500 million over its life.
— Asean Today

10th Asean Business Awards on
Today, the biggest ASEAN Business Awards to be staged will be unveiled by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, led by its current chair Joey Concepcion, in the grandest celebration yet in its 10th year history.
— The Philippine Star

Asean’s Timor response shows way
As the number of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state continues to rise, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) remains at a loss as to how to help “douse the fire of…
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

Cambodian biodigester finds success, attracts investors
An innovative household biodigester has proved itself to a point where a consortium of international investors has put down US$1 million for further expansion in Cambodia and for exploring new markets in other countries.
— Sci Dev Net

Amax Intl in talks to run Cambodia casino VIP room
Amax International Holdings Ltd, a gaming investment firm whose chairman has previously been one of the most prominent figures in Macau’s VIP gambling sector, says it is in talks for “exclusive operating rights” in a VIP room at an undisclosed Cambodian casino.
— GGR Asia

Nontariff barriers continue to hinder regional trade
While tariffs across the Asia-Pacific region have dropped over the last 20 years as a result of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, nontariff barriers such as red tape and quotas continue to hinder the economic growth of Cambodia and other countries in the region, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report released yesterday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Rama Ariadi @AriadiRama

Indonesia’s changes to oil, gas deals “positive” for investors – association
The archipelago overhauled its oil and gas production-sharing contract scheme earlier this year to reduce the burden of energy exploration on government finances.
— Reuters

Indonesia raises 17 trillion rupiah of bonds, above target
The government sold T-bills maturing in December 2017 with a weighted average yield of 4.90700 percent, while the T-bills maturing in September 2018 had a weighted average yield of 5.50633 percent.
— Nasdaq

Indonesia to keep debt-to-GDP ratio below 30%
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has said the government will keep the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio below 30 percent, far lower than the legal threshold set at 60 percent.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Food, agriculture cooperation in focus at regional meeting
Increasing the safety, sustainability, productivity and value of agricultural production in Asia in an era of climate change is a focus as Laos plays host to the Asean Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI) workshop on Animal Science and Extension.
— Vientiane Times

Vietnam, Laos foster agriculture and forestry cooperation
An annual meeting on the Vietnam – Laos cooperation in agriculture and forestry was held in Hanoi, on September 5, under the chair of Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Xuan Cuong and Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Liane Thykeo.
— Nhan Dan Online

New foreign ambassadors begin missions in Laos
Three new foreign ambassadors are taking up their posts in Laos after presenting their credentials to President Bounnhang Vorachit yesterday.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

Malaysia summons Myanmar ambassador over ‘continuous violence’ against Rohingya
Malaysia summoned Myanmar’s ambassador on Tuesday (Sep 5), saying it was “gravely concerned” over the “continuous violence” perpetrated against Rohingyas in Myanmar’s restive Rakhine state.
— Channel News Asia

Malaysia’s retail sales likely to grow 3.7% in 2017
Malaysia’s retail sales will likely grow 3.7% in 2017, slower than previously estimated 3.9%, as consumer sentiment remains weak amid rising cost of living in Southeast Asia’s third largest economy.
— Nikkei Asian Review

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

MIC issues 13 new business permits in August, including one for beer
The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has approved the issuance of 13 permits, including one for a beer joint venture in Mandalay.
— Myanmar Times

UNHCR: 123,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar
The number of Rohingya refugees that have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar is higher than previously thought at 123,000, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Rakhine crisis blights Myanmar economic outlook
In the shiny new shopping malls and trendy restaurants of Myanmar’s commercial hub of Yangon there is no sense of the fear and mayhem gripping the country’s western Rakhine state.
— Nikkei Asian Review

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Tourism revenues rose 67.93 percent to P885 billion in 2014–PSA data
Philippine tourism revenues surged to nearly to a trillion pesos in 2014, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Business Mirror

Peso inches up on inflation data
THE PESO closed barely changed for the third straight session yesterday, picking up slightly as the dollar grew weaker across a host of currencies and with domestic inflation boosting confidence towards the currency.
— BusinessWorld Online

Is Duterte’s family involved in the drug trade?
“My advice to all? If you are called to the Senate…sign it,” exclaimed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte amid calls for a Senate investigation into allegations against his son Paolo and kin who have been accused of facilitating large-scale drug smuggling in the city of Davao.
— Asia Times

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

PM Lee will nominate Tan Chuan-Jin as Speaker, Desmond Lee to be Minister at MSF
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will nominate Mr Tan Chuan-Jin as the new Speaker of Parliament when the House convenes next Monday, announced the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement on Tuesday (Sep 5).
— Channel NewsAsia

Six IP insurers stung by underwriting losses as claims surge
FOR the first time in 12 years since the market’s first as-charged Integrated Shield Plan (IP) was rolled out, the insurers all clocked underwriting losses in 2016, despite hikes in IP and rider premiums.
— The Business Times

Singapore state bodies to merge to help businesses go global
International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and SPRING Singapore, statutory boards of the Singapore government that operate as business development agencies, are merging to form Enterprise Singapore. The new organisation will aid Singaporean businesses to grow and internationalise.
— DealStreetAsia

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Finance to speed up law to promote joint venture startups
The National Start Up Committee says it is speedily drafting a legislation that will exempt capital gain tax for start-up business that is jointly invested by Thai and foreign investors.
— Thai PBS

Thai people’s quality of life improves, employments increase in Q2: NESDB
The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) announced the Thai people’s quality of life has improved and employments have increased in the second quarter of 2017.
— NBT World (video)

Double-tax waiver draft approved
The cabinet yesterday approved a draft agreement for an exemption from double taxation between Thailand and Cambodia, aiming to promote investment links with the private sectors of the neighbouring nations.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Foreign-owned Property Market in HCMC Non-existent
Unclear and overly-complicated procedures and regulations are resulting in a glut of unsold and/ or unoccupied high-end apartments and condominiums, and a dearth of property within the price range of average city workers.
— AEC News Today

Việt Nam ICT Summit 2017 this week
The seventh edition of the Việt Nam ICT Summit 2017 will take place in Hà Nội on Wednesday, organised by the Việt Nam Software and IT Services Association.
— Viet Nam News

New regulations on import and export
The Ministry of Finance has held a meeting to introduce changes in the list of Vietnam’s export and import goods as per Circular No 65/2017 / TT-BTC.
— VietnamPlus

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.

Asean Morning News For September 6 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on September 6, 2017
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.