Asean morning news for December 20,

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

ASEAN e-commerce Agreement
As Thailand will assume the ASEAN chairmanship title next year, let’s take a look at one of the bloc’s key moments when ASEAN has signed first e-commerce agreement.
— NBT World (video)

Unleashing ASEAN’s full potential with data-driven governance
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has a bright future ahead of it.
— The Business Times

Firms in South-east Asia most positive about outlook: Thomson Reuters/INSEAD
FIRMS in the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia are most optimistic about the coming six months, according to the latest quarterly Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asian Business Sentiment Survey of 84 firms in 11 Asian markets, conducted from Nov 30 to Dec 14 and released on Dec 19.
— The Business Times

ASEAN, Myanmar to formalise cooperation on refugee repatriation
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the government on Tuesday discussed the Terms of Reference (ToR) that will formalise their cooperation in the repatriation of refugees from northern Rakhine State living in cramped camps in Bangladesh.
— Myanmar Times

Chinese tech startups are tapping into SEA amid tough relations with US
Chinese technology startups are pivoting to South-East Asia and away from the United States in their expansion plans, in a clear bid to avoid getting in the midst of a trade war that could intensify.
— The Star Online (video)

Key ASEAN fintech developments and trends to look out for in 2019
Fintech adoption continues to grow and disrupt traditional banking models.
— Asean Today

Greater consumption of data services to fuel innovation among operators
The Oxford dictionary defines a megatrend (some spell it as ‘mega trend’) as an important shift in the progress of society or a particular field or activity.
— Telecomasia.net

China welcomes ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific
Beijing is welcoming ASEAN’s concept of the Indo-Pacific but is yet to endorse the concept as a result of its skepticism toward the bloc’s slow drive on regional integration.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

MEKONG RIVER DAMS THREATEN FOOD SECURITY
The negative consequences to food security and the environment of hundreds of dams proposed to control flooding of the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia far outweigh the positive changes, researchers say.
— Futurity

Asean investors warm up to green bonds
Just a few years ago, when Mr Clifford Lee, head of fixed income at DBS Bank, sounded out potential clients about their appetite for green bonds – debt sold specifically for sustainable purposes such as building a wind farm – conversations were short and tended to end with “no”.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

For Asean, sustainability is key to unlocking development potential
THE recent Asean Summit held in Singapore saw robust discussions on issues of sustainable regional growth. Access to reliable, affordable infrastructure is key for countries to create jobs and grow sustainably.
— The Business Times (paywall)

‘ASEAN provides growth opportunities for Korean healthcare firms’
The rising purchasing power of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which still has inadequate healthcare infrastructure, can be an excellent opportunity for Korean healthcare companies to seek growth, a report said.
— Korea Biomedical Review

SEAC drives ASEAN forward to “Lifelong Learning Ecosystem” presenting “4Line Learning”, the most efficient learning approach, with the launch of its first “YourNextU”
Southeast Asia Center (SEAC) aims at creating a turning point for ASEAN countries – Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar to name a few – going at a full speed towards building public awareness regarding the importance of lifelong success through continuous “learning” in order to drive the region towards the most comprehensive and efficient Lifelong Learning Ecosystem.
— Markets Insider

ASEAN should be people focussed
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has come a long way economically and politically over the past 51 years.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

France promises to help Cambodia on the EBA tax exemption with EU
Vice President of the French National Assembly, including a delegation of the French Parliament are in Cambodia for a six-day official visit from 15th to 20th December.
–– SBS News (video)

Protected forest in Cambodian commune illegally logged through official collusion: Mother Nature
Around 1,200 hectares (2,965 acres) of protected forest from a commune in Cambodia’s Ratanakkiri province has been illegally logged for timber and sold to businessmen from neighboring Vietnam through collusion with Cambodian authorities, an environmental watchdog group said Wednesday.
— Radio Free Asia

Garment workers accuse company of hiring thugs to disrupt protest
Garment workers from City Spark Cambodian Co Ltd in Por Senchey district yesterday filed a complaint with police alleging that the company hired gangsters to break up a protest for better working conditions on Tuesday.
— The Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia seeks $60bn Chinese investment for infrastructure projects
Indonesia is offering a series of new projects worth up to $60 billion for Chinese investment to boost its participation in China’s belt and road programme, according to a report in the Straits Times.
— Out-Law.com

Direct impact of IMF-WB meetings on indonesian economy reaches Rp5.5 trillion
The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has noted that the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) Group held in Bali from Oct 8 to 14 had a direct impact on the economy, at Rp5.
— Antara News

Freeport to pay Indonesia $32 million for illegal forest use: state auditor
Copper miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc must pay Indonesia 460 billion rupiah ($32 million) in royalties for thousands of hectares of protected forest it used without a permit, Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Mediation helping manage Laos’ legal case backlog problem
Law courts in many Asian countries are overburdened. A perfect storm of factors including rapid economic growth, urbanisation, industrialisation and the withering away of traditional governance systems has caused the number of criminal and civil cases to soar. Courts are often ill-equipped to cope with the increasing pressure.
— AEC News Today

Vietnamese-funded projects contribute to Laos’ socio-economic growth
Vietnamese-funded projects have contributed to Laos’ socio-economic development and human resources improvement in particular, Lao Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Boualien Silipanya has affirmed.
— Vietnam+

Japan grants 107 billion kip for education improvement
The Japanese government and people have provided grant aid for the Project for Improving Secondary School Environment in the central and southern provinces of Laos, to develop education and improve the secondary school environment.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia seafood export limits ‘not likely to have significant impact’ on Singapore supply: AVA
Malaysia’s restrictions on fish and shrimp exports are not likely to have a significant impact on Singapore’s overall seafood supply, said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) on Wednesday (Dec 19).
— Channel NewsAsia

MAHB’s record-breaking profits bring risks to the Malaysian economy and tourism industry: AirAsia
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s (MAHB) record profits, which the group claimed to be attributed to an increase in passenger service charge (PSC) and growth in passenger numbers, come at a cost to the Malaysian economy and tourism industry, said AirAsia Group.
— New Straits Times

Dr Mahathir’s ratings down by 20%, says Rafizi
Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ratings have taken a plunge in the six months since he took over from Najib Razak, according to an opinion polls cited by PKR’s Rafizi Ramli today who warned that the post-election euphoria in favour of Pakatan Harapan was running out fast.
— FMT

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Bipartisan senators call for US ‘genocide’ label of Myanmar killings
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Wednesday called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to designate the Myanmar military’s campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority a genocide.
— Channel News Asia

EU GSP decision may affect over one million workers in garment and fishery industries
Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) Chairman Maung Maung said that over 1 million workers from the garment and fishery industries might be affected if Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) was revoked by European Union (EU).
— BNI

Facebook kicks military-linked pages off platform
Facebook has removed hundreds of pages and accounts with hidden links to Myanmar’s military, the platform said Wednesday, as the company scrambles to respond to criticism over failures to control hate speech and misinformation.
— Frontier Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

BoP position improved to $847-m surplus in November
The balance of payments position swang to a surplus of $847 million in November from a deficit of $44 million in October, lifted by the foreign exchange operations of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and income from its investments abroad.
— Manilastandard.net

Philippines gets P20.5 billion insurance coverage for government assets
The Philippines has successfully purchased a parametric insurance policy from the international reinsurance market which will provide a maximum coverage of P20.49 billion to protect the government’s assets against the impact of natural disasters, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
— The Philippine Star

28K Pinoys barred from leaving PH in anti-trafficking drive: BI
Over 28,000 Filipino travelers have been barred by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) from leaving the country from January to October as part of the government’s intensified campaign against human trafficking.
— Philippine News Agency

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Singapore central bank bans former Goldman Sachs director Tim Leissner for life
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced on Wednesday (Dec 19) that it has issued a lifetime prohibition order against former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner, after he admitted to criminal charges brought against him by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).The …
— Channel News Asia

AVA: S’pore well prepared for Malaysian seafood export curbs
The fishing industry and the authorities have played down fears of seafood shortages, saying Singapore is well-prepared for Malaysia’s temporary restrictions on exports of certain varieties of wild-caught fish and shrimp.
— Straits Times

For Asean, sustainability is key to unlocking development potential
THE recent Asean Summit held in Singapore saw robust discussions on issues of sustainable regional growth. Access to reliable, affordable infrastructure is key for countries to create jobs and grow sustainably.
— The Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Second victim claimed in horrific gang-rape
STATE agencies have become involved in a case in which an 11-year-old schoolgirl in Saraburi is alleged to have been by gang-raped by five youths on Sunday, after her father expressed concern that justice was not being served.
— The Nation

MPC raises policy rate to 1.75%
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised the country’s policy rate from 1.5% to 1.75%, while the Bank of Thailand has readjusted 2018’s growth projection to 4.2%.
— NNT

Supachai warns Thailand to prepare for a slowdown in global economy
THE GLOBAL economy is in dissarray with no clear direction, while the US-China trade war is having an adverse impact on investors’ confidence worldwide, warned Supachai Panitchpakdi, former director-general of the World Trade Organisation.
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam, third largest rubber exporter, imports $1 billion of synthetic rubber yearly
Vietnam takes pride as one of the world’s biggest natural rubber exporter, but it still has to spend nearly $1 billion a year to import mostly synthetic rubber products to satisfy domestic production.
— Viet Nam Net

Vietnam considers auctioning solar energy prices: Deputy Minister
Over the past years, the number of solar power projects has been on the rise thanks to the government’s favorable policies and increasing demand.
— Hanoi Times

Vietnam: Ben Tre province attracts investment in high-tech agriculture
Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre is striving to attract more investment in high-tech agriculture, given that it boasts nearly 100,000 ha of coconut trees, specialty fruits and nearly 10 million ornamental plants.
— Fresh Plaza

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

The Asean morning news roundup and its individual country morning news round-ups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of news reports from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. We scour hundreds of local and international news and websites to find the things that you need to know to start your working week day.

We clearly identify the source of the story, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you. It’s all then packaged up in an easy to read format enabling you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original source, or keep on reading the headlines. AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.