Asean Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Thailand ranks high in SE Asia e-commerce
Thailand’s mobile traffic is the second-highest in Southeast Asia, research by iPrice shows, collating data from more 1,000 eCommerce players in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam.
— The Nation
Economic Snapshot for ASEAN
Regional growth is seen expanding 5.1% in 2018, which is unchanged from last month’s estimate. The economy of the ASEAN region will continue benefitting from the same tailwinds that were in place last year, including solid demand from abroad for high-tech goods, improving labor dynamics and robust growth in capital outlays.
— Focus-Economics
ASEAN Must Confront its Domestic Workers Abuse Problem
New cases have once again pointed to an old challenge that needs to be urgently tackled.
— The Diplomat (paywall)
Digital tech to help ASEAN unlock up to $627bn in productivity
Disruptive digital technologies could help Southeast Asian countries become true “factories to the world,” generating anywhere from $216 billion to $627 billion worth of productivity gains, a new report by U.S. consultancy McKinsey & Co. says.
— Nikkie Asian Review (metered paywall)
Hun Sen threatens to boycott Asean summit proceedings if faced with ‘pressure’
Prime Minister Hun Sen today threatened to boycott next month’s Asean-Australia Special Summit in Sydney – and to “beat” demonstrators outside who burn his image – after apparently being supplied leaked telephone calls between opposition members predicting forthcoming international “pressure”.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Security: Why does Southeast Asia lag behind?
Cybersecurity investment in Asia, and specifically in Southeast Asia, is dangerously lagging behind. That’s according to a report published in January by consulting firm AT Kearney. The study delved into the state of cybersecurity policy and money trails throughout the region and found a patchwork of rules and initiatives that could be putting enterprises in Southeast Asia at risk.
— IDG Connect
SPRING Singapore set to be official ASEAN Host for Echelon TOP100, aims to bridge greater Asia
SPRING Singapore, as part of the Startup SG initiative dedicated to representing and growing the Singaporean startup/SME community, are set to be the official ASEAN host for Echelon TOP100 APAC 2018, a crucial partner as e27 works to bring together the greater-Asian tech ecosystem.
— e27
Mah hopes for Asean support on EU palm oil ban
Malaysia is hoping for Asean to make a collective stance against the European Union (EU) parliament decision to phase out palm oil from its biofuel programme by 2020, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
— The Sun Daily
Text of revised Pacific trade deal released
Details of a revamped cross-Pacific pact aimed at slashing trade barriers were released Wednesday amid a renewed push for the United States to rejoin the 11-nation deal.
— The Nation
Southeast Asia faces speed bumps to export-driven growth
Southeast Asia’s strong exports and consumption, which helped sustain rapid growth throughout the region in 2017, are in a delicate spot as demand for electronic parts falls and interest rate hikes threaten to cool spending.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Meeting focusses on Asean financial integration
AUTORITI Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) hosted the 15th Senior Level Committee on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Financial Integration (SLC) 2018 yesterday at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Jerudong.
— Borneo Bulletin
PH developer raises stake in Malaysian firm
Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) said a tender offer to the remaining shareholders of MCT Bhd. increased its stake in the company to 72.31 percent, from an earlier 50.19 percent.
— Malaya
Asean cosmetics committee to ban three fragrance ingredients
The Asean Cosmetics Committee has agreed bans on three fragrance ingredients for use in cosmetics.
— Chemical Watch
Malaysia arrests 10 over links with South Philippines militants
Malaysian police have arrested 10 people on suspicion of aiding the movement of militants between the eastern state of Sabah and the southern Philippines, a hotbed of Islamic insurgency, the second batch of arrests this year.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Can Cambodia stay competitive with so many public holidays?
Cambodia likely became the country with the largest number of public holidays in the world on Tuesday, raising questions about the ability of Cambodia to stay economically competitive with so many mandatory leave days.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Japan Donates Ballot Boxes Worth $7.5 Million for Cambodia Election
Japan donated over 10,000 ballot boxes for Cambodia’s 2018 election on Wednesday, the first international aid for the vote after European Union and the United States withdrew their support following the dissolution of the main opposition party.
— U.S. News
As UN raises concerns over amendments, government says new lèse majesté law will apply to media
The Senate yesterday passed controversial amendments to the Constitution and Penal Code despite an appeal from the United Nations to reconsider their impact on free speech and political participation.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Indonesia to revise tax incentives in bid to lift investment
Indonesia will revise its tax incentives and offer them to a larger number of business sectors, in a bid to attract more investment, the finance minister said.
— The Straits Times
Indonesian Ministries and Agencies to Start Using Credit Cards to Pay for Expenses
The Indonesian government will start using credit cards to buy goods and pay for travel expenses to simplify spending, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Tuesday (21/02).
— JakartaGlobe
Muslims’ morals in doubt in graft-riddled Indonesia
Zumi Zola, the governor of Indonesia’s Jambi province, became the latest senior official to be named a suspect by the country’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Feb. 2.
— UCA News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
4 Firms To Conduct Feasibility Studies For Vientiane-Pakse Highway
The government has chosen China Yunnan Sunny Road and Bridge Company, China Road and Bridge Cooperation, Phousy Construction and Development Public Company and Douangchaleun Development Group for conducting feasibility studies into the Vientiane-Pakse Highway Construction Project.
— Lao News Agency
Improve agriculture curriculum, Ministry advises Champassak University
The Ministry of Education and Sports has advised the Champassak University to improve its curriculum on agriculture and to organise a campaign to explain the importance of the field to students and parents so that more students enroll for the subject and meet the needs of the labour market.
— Vientiane Times
Health sector discusses service excellence, patient satisfaction
Efforts to improve health services at the nation’s hospitals brought representatives from development partners, line departments of the Ministry of Health and provinces together recently in Vientiane province to discuss fulfilment of the policy of “five criteria of service excellence and one of patient satisfaction”.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Government serves winding-up petition on Eden over RM3.19m tax owed
The government has served a winding-up petition on Eden Inc Bhd as it seeking RM3.19mil allegedly owed to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) for the years of assessments 2013 and 2014.
— The Star Online
‘Malaysia still attractive to Taiwanese investors’
LAST year, Taiwanese companies operating in Malaysia were complaining about the shortage of labour and the weakening of the ringgit, warning that they may be forced to relocate out of the country. But the mood seems to have changed.
— The Edge Markets
Marine Industries Association: Malaysia riding wave of consolidation in container shipping
The consolidation of big container shipping operating companies into alliances is a right trend to bring significant changes in the Malaysian marine industry, said the Association of Marine Industries Malaysia.
— Malay Mail Online
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Law proposed requiring protesters to identify their funding sources
Demonstrators in Myanmar will be required to inform authorities in advance their demonstration, the estimated cost of the rally and who will pay for it under a proposed amendment to the country’s peaceful protest law, according to a report of The Irrawaddy Online on Tuesday.
— Thai PBS
Myanmar bank blast kills two, injures more than 20
Two people were killed and 22 wounded when a bomb exploded on Wednesday (Feb 21) at a bank in northern Myanmar, officials said, amid continuing violence despite a fraught peace process.
— Channel NewsAsia
Myanmar parks could stop thousands of Karen refugees returning home
Plans to create two parks to protect swathes of mountainous jungle in Myanmar could stop more than 16,000 refugees who fled conflict from going home, campaigners said on Wednesday.
— Reuters
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Philippines to court: Declare communist groups as terrorists
Justice officials asked a court Wednesday to formally designate the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist groups in a move that could further damage chances of a resumption of stalled peace talks.
— The Washington Post
Britain sold spying gear to Philippines despite Duterte’s brutal drugs war
The British government sold £150,000 of hi-tech spying equipment to the Philippines, giving President Rodrigo Duterte the tools to hunt down and kill dealers and addicts as part of his brutal war on drugs.
— The Guardian
Malaysia arrests 10 suspects for helping militants enter southern Philippines from Sabah
Malaysia’s counter-terrorism police have arrested 10 people – seven Filipinos and three Malaysians – for smuggling militants into the southern Philippines, via Sabah, to join Islamic State groups over there.
— Channel NewsAsia
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Digital transformation to contribute $10 billion to Singapore GDP by 2021: Microsoft
Digital transformation is expected to add $10 billion (S$13.2 billion) to Singapore’s GDP by the year 2021, Microsoft said on Wednesday (Feb 21).
— Business Insider
Singapore City Harvest megachurch leader Chew Eng Han ‘tries to flee by sea’
A Singaporean man convicted in a megachurch fraud case was caught trying to escape by sea before starting his prison sentence, police say.
— BBC
Singapore’s FY18 Budget aims to foster pervasive innovation throughout economy
An additional S$145 million is being set aside for Tech Skills Accelerator. The Government is also planning to pilot an Open Innovation Platform, a virtual crowd-sourcing platform where companies can list specific challenges that can be addressed by digital solutions.
— Open Gov Asia
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Export growth highest in 62 months
The value of exports rose by 17.56% year on year in January, the largest increment in 62 months, Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Thai January car sales jump 16.2 pct y/y – federation
Thailand’s domestic car sales rose 16.2 percent in January from a year earlier to 66,513 cars, helped by an economic recovery, improving consumer confidence and launches of new car models, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Wednesday.
— Reuters
Small comfort in new graft rank
Thailand is doing a little better in the fight against graft, falling to 96th place in the latest Corruption Perception Index from 101st place a year ago.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Petrol price decreases for first time in 2018
The retail price of petrol RON95 decreased VND400 per litre from 3pm on Wednesday, according to an announcement by the ministries of industry and trade and finance.
— Bizhub
Vietnam eyes 21 billion USD in cultivation exports in 2018
The cultivation sector aims to gross over 21 billion USD in export turnover in 2018, representing a year-on-year rise of 2.2-2.3 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
— VietnamPlus
Changes in Vietnam’s Franchising Law
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decree No.08/2018/ND-CP (Decree 08) with immediate effect on 15 January 2018, amending several decrees related to business conditions in various areas including franchising, to reduce administrative procedures.
— Vietnam Briefing
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.