Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Technology Boosting Green Growth in The GMS
In the last 20 years, rapid economic growth in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) has reduced poverty and brought prosperity to many of its 420 million people.
— AEC News Today
PMs of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam pledge more extensive regional cooperation
The prime ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam decided to broaden the physical scope of their countries’ cooperation and agreed on steps taken to reach the goal during an international meeting hosted by Vietnam on Saturday.
— Tuoi Tre
What’s Behind the New Japan-ASEAN Cyber Center?
The new initiative is yet another testament to the increased attention to this realm and important ongoing cooperation.
— The Diplomat (paywall)
ASEAN tourism meet gets under way to drive industry forward
Representatives from ASEAN member countries are taking part in ASEAN Tourism Committee Meetings in Luang Prabang province to review tourism activities and finalize plans for tourism development and promotion.
— The Jakarta Post
Ten ways to avoid fault lines in ASEAN
Given the unsettled international environment, great power rivalry and regional dynamism, the current ASEAN chair, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, urged the regional grouping to “maintain its centrality and relevance” in a recent speech at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
— Myanmar Times
ASEAN, US concerned about ‘ongoing’ militarization in South China Sea
Representatives of the United States and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday expressed concern over the ongoing militarization of outposts in the South China Sea during a dialogue in Kuala Lumpur.
— GMA News Online
In advancing e-commerce, Asean should study problem of fake goods sold online, protect consumers
Last month, at the 24th Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) Economic Ministers’ retreat and related meetings, the various leaders talked about advancing innovation and e-commerce in the region and improving trade facilitation, among other matters, during Singapore’s chairmanship this year.
— Today Online
Can local e-commerce players compete in Southeast Asia?
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd recently announced that they will invest an additional US$2 billion into the Lazada Group.
— The Asean Post
Grab-Uber deal seen restricting competition
Antitrust authorities have initiated a review of Grab’s purchase of Uber’s Southeast Asian operations, noting that the deal “may likely lessen, prevent or restrict competition substantially.”
— The Manila Times
ASEAN tourism meet gets under way to drive industry forward
Representatives from ASEAN member countries are taking part in ASEAN Tourism Committee Meetings in Luang Prabang province to review tourism activities and finalize plans for tourism development and promotion.
— The Jakarta Post
ASEAN-US shared views on resolving issues in the South China Sea
This is a high-level senior-level dialogue to review and guide the implementation of cooperation between ASEAN and the United States.
— Thanh Nien Newspaper
In advancing e-commerce, Asean should study problem of fake goods sold online, protect consumers
Last month, at the 24th Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) Economic Ministers’ retreat and related meetings, the various leaders talked about advancing innovation and e-commerce in the region and improving trade facilitation, among other matters, during Singapore’s chairmanship this year (“Asean keeping at regional integration, even as global mood goes the other way: PM Lee”; March 16).
— Today Online
SE Asia Stocks-Most fall on Wall St losses, U.S.-China trade tensions
Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended lower on Tuesday as Wall Street’s overnight plunge, due to a sell-off in tech shares, and anxiety over a potential trade war
between the United States and China muted global sentiment.
— Reuters
Southeast Asia Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Market – Projections & Future Opportunities Recorded for the Period until 2020
Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has been acting as an impressive data source when it comes to evaluating various industrial verticals.
— openPR (media release)
Three years, no takers for India’s $1-billion credit line for ASEAN digital links
Nearly 40 months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a $1-billion credit line for digital connectivity for 10 ASEAN countries from India, there are few takers.
— Indian Express
Rising Protectionism In US: Asia-Pacific’s Response – Analysis
Asia-Pacific countries cannot influence decisions in the US, but they can pursue a three-pronged response that should enhance their resilience to possible global shocks generated by Trump’s protectionist policies.
— Eurasia Review
Counterterrorism Yearbook 2018: Southeast Asia
Last year’s Marawi crisis represents the most significant terrorism development in Southeast Asia since the 2002 Bali bombings.
— The Strategist
Asian countries plan advances in agricultural technology
Asian countries plan to enhance agricultural technology in a bid to address issues relating to climate change and food security.
— Vientiane Times
Japan sees opportunity in Southeast Asia’s energy markets
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative is changing the landscape of emerging countries by pouring money into infrastructure and energy, leaving regional rivals seemingly in the dust.
— Hellenic Shipping News
ASEAN tourism meet gets under way to drive industry forward
Representatives from ASEAN member countries are taking part in ASEAN Tourism Committee Meetings in Luang Prabang province to review tourism activities and finalize plans for tourism development and promotion.
— The Jakarta Post
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Hun Sen calls for caution amid China-US trade war
Prime Minister Hun Sen warned on Tuesday that a developing trade war between the US and China could affect Cambodia, and said the Kingdom must act to mitigate any potential fallout.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Truck ban not as painful as feared, shipper says
Since a crackdown on oversized and illegal trucks began on February 10, the government has checked nearly 100,000 vehicles, taking more than 1,000 off the road and finding 3,000 others in violation of various regulations, according to Transport Ministry spokesman Va Sim Sorya.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Seized counterfeits mostly made in Cambodia
The Cambodian Counter Counterfeit Committee yesterday said that most of the fake products it seized were produced within the country and then passed off as imports from France or Japan.
— Khmer Times
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Indonesia declares state of emergency as oil spill spreads
Indonesia has declared a state of emergency to help stop a deadly oil spill spreading off the coast of the island of Borneo.
— BBC News
U.S. locks in anti-dumping duties on biodiesel from Argentina, Indonesia
The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Tuesday that the dumping of biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia harms American producers, a move that locks in place duties on the imports.
— Reuters
Indonesia Records Transactions of IDR13.4 Bln on Vietnam International Travel Mart 2018
Ministry of Tourism succeeded in recording transactions of IDR13.4 billion from Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2018.
— Netral News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Lao authority investigates 146 corruption cases in 2017
According to the latest report from the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s Inspection Committee, the committee in 2017 investigated 146 cases of corruption with 994 people found to be involved in dishonest behavior, of whom 908 were government officials.
— Xinhua Net
Lao Labour Min visits Thailand
The registration of migrant workers has reached 1,320,035 or 96 % of the expected number of 1,379,000. The 59,217 workers who failed to report will be sent back to their home countries.
— NNT
Laos, Brunei extend length of reciprocal visa-free visits
The governments of Laos and Brunei Darussalam have agreed that their citizens can stay in the other’s country for up to 30 days without having to obtain a visa.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia Airlines unveils three digital initiatives
Malaysia Airlines Bhd has unveiled three digital initiatives – MHguardian, MHfeedback and Facebook messenger BOT MHChat – to enhance passengers’ travel experience.
— The Borneo Post
Malaysia Remains An Attractive Investment Destination For The US
Malaysia remains an attractive investment destination for US businesses due to certain advantages country has, according to the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM).
— Malaysian Digest
Malaysia Banking on New Tourism Developments to Boost Visitor Arrivals in 2018
Malaysia is eyeing a total of 33.1 million tourists and RM134 billion receipts for 2018 on the back of new tourism developments expected for this year.
— TravelNewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Myanmar minister to visit refugee camps in Bangladesh this week
A Myanmar government minister will visit the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh this week, and become the first leader to do so since the humanitarian crisis and exodus of nearly 700,000 Rohingya from Myanmar’s Rakhine state began last August.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Panama Disease in Myanmar
The feared Tropical Race 4 stem of the Fusarium fungus, which causes the so-called Panama disease in Cavendish bananas, has now also been found in Myanmar. It was previously found in Vietnam and Laos.
— Fresh Plaza
Myanmar to upgrade 3 local airports to receive Chinese tourists
Some local airports will be upgraded to international-standard airports as a part of a slew of projects under China’s Belt and Road (B&R) initiative, according to U Kyaw Win, Union Minister for Planning and Finance.
— The Myanmar Times
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
NAIA Consortium seeks quick approval of P350 billion rehab plan
The NAIA Consortium has urged government to expedite the approval process for its P350-billion proposal to rehabilitate the main international gateway, saying an upgrade of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) would help drive the country’s economic growth and create more than a million jobs.
— Philippine Star
Duterte reneges on promise to end contractualization – Makabayan
Progressive lawmakers on Tuesday denounced the Duterte administration for claiming that it is powerless to eradicate contractualization in the country.
— Davao Today
Philippines becomes top ASEAN destination for Taiwan banks
The Philippines has become the top destination for Taiwanese banks planning to extend their reach in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market, according to a research paper released Tuesday by the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance (TABF).
— Focus Taiwan
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore Court Imposes Hefty Fines for Airbnb Rentals
A court in Singapore on Tuesday fined two men 60,000 Singapore dollars ($45,800) each for breaching laws banning short-term rentals by renting out condominium units through online services such as Airbnb, Craigslist and HomeAway.
— Bloomberg
52 staff accounts at four Singapore universities breached by Iranian hackers
Four Singapore universities have come under attack from an Iranian hacking syndicate which is believed to have pilfered more than 31 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property from varsities all over the world.
— The Straits Times (paywall)
Corporate governance progress flatlines for Singapore companies
The country report for Singapore, part of the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard 2018, indicated that the development of CG practices here has essentially flatlined, and that the gap in standards between the large-capitalisation (large-cap) companies and the rest of the field is continuing to widen.
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Probes find 34 welfare heads committed fraud
The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) plans to request the ministry overseeing 34 provincial state welfare centres to consider taking disciplinary action against their heads after investigations…
— Bangkok Post
Thai business groups raise 2018 growth, export forecasts
Thai business associations raised their 2018 economic forecasts on Tuesday, citing stronger exports and increased domestic demand.
— Reuters
Exports to feel the pinch from US trade war
Despite the continued growth of exports in February, a looming trade war between the US and China as well as the strong baht threatens to put a damper on outbound shipments.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam to cut corporate tax to 15-17% in bid to boost business climate
Vietnam is planning to slash corporate income tax rates from the current 20-22% to 15-17% in an effort to make the country one of the most competitive economies in ASEAN, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has revealed.
— VietnamNet Bridge
Credit guarantee fund for small and medium-sized enterprises to set up
The government has issued regulations on the establishment of credit guarantee funds for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a move to ease the business in being access to loans.
— The Hanoi Times
Vietnam’s wood industry faces difficulties in raw materials
Vietnam’s wood industry faces a quandary as bright export growth prospects are clouded by difficulties in finding necessary raw materials.
— 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 April 4 added by John Le Fevre on
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John Le Fevre
He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.
He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.
In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.
Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.
In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.
Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020