Asean Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Mekong leaders fail to raise environmental concerns at summit in Phnom Penh
ENVIRONMENTAL conservationists expressed concern over the negative impact of development projects in the Mekong River as leaders of six riparian states failed to address related issues clearly during the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) summit in Phnom Penh yesterday.
— The Nation
Singapore to launch S-E Asia’s first legaltech accelerator
SINGAPORE is taking the lead to digitally transform its legal sector. Come April, the country will be home to South-east Asia’s first legaltech accelerator. Named Accelerate!, it aims to groom legaltech startups as well as incubate new business models or services conceived by law firms.
— The Business Times
Nikkei manufacturers index for ASEAN gives rise to concerns
ASEAN manufacturers ended 2017 with new orders falling, costs rising, and jobs disappearing — but remain optimistic for 2018.
— Nikkei Asian Review
China’s Interest in Riverine Development Evident at Mekong River Summit
In March 2016, while chairing the first summit on the Beijing-initiated Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, in a speech, cited an anonymous Southeast Asian proverb: “When gentle breezes stick together, they can have the power of a typhoon.”
— VOA
Spotlight: China makes five proposals on securing shared future for Lancang-Mekong nations
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who co-chaired the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders’ meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, speaks at a press conference after the meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan. 10, 2018.
— Xinhua Net
Việt Nam to connect to ASEAN Single Window
Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ asked ministries and sectors to work harder to officially connect Việt Nam with the ASEAN Single Window mechanism in 2018.
— Viet Nam News
Indonesia pushes ASEAN, China to agree on effective coc in South China Sea
Indonesia will actively encourage the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China to conclude negotiations on the effective and practical Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea, an official said.
— Antara News
Lazada Is Betting On Logistics To Win Southeast Asia
Grab participated in the latest $15 million financing round of Drive.ai, an autonomous-car tech startup from SV, and will assist it in bringing autonomous vehicles in Singapore.
— Thailand-Business-News
Hyundai Motor considering plant in Southeast Asia after China setback
South Korea’s Hyundai Motor said it is considering building a car plant in Southeast Asia with Indonesia and Vietnam possible locations – part of efforts to diversify after a sales slump in China.
— Daily Times
India, ASEAN to focus on maritime security during summit
The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit of January 25 is likely to focus on maritime security for the region, a senior ASEAN diplomat said on Wednesday.
— The Hindu
Mekong countries pledge more cooperation as demands on river grow
Countries along the Mekong River said on Wednesday they would reinforce security, trade and environmental cooperation in the face of concerns over competing demands on its waters, particularly given multiple dams being built by China.
— Reuters
ASEAN manufacturing stagnant in December, despite ongoing strength
ASEAN manufacturers ended 2017 with new orders falling, costs rising, and jobs disappearing — but remain optimistic for this year.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Vietnam to officially connect to ASEAN Single Window in 2018
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue chaired a meeting Hanoi on January 9, asking ministries and sectors to work harder to officially connect Vietnam with the ASEAN Single Window mechanism in 2018.
— VietnamPlus
Spotlight: Lancang-Mekong Cooperation boosts development of China-ASEAN community of shared future
The 2nd Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders’ Meeting is being held here Wednesday, with the leaders from the six LMC countries gathering to discuss the future development of the LMC mechanism.
— Xinhua
PH to be ‘fastest-growing’ economy in Asean – WB
Philippines will continue to outpace many of its Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of economic growth, the World Bank said as it released estimates for this year up to 2020.
— The Manila Times
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cambodia’s Ruling Party ‘Action Plan’ Outlines Strategy For Upcoming General Election
An “action plan” outlined by a member of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet ahead of Cambodia’s general election warns that the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) must remove its “agents” from the opposition and should end support for smaller political parties in a bid to shore up power.
— Radio Free Asia
Cambodia-China relationship a “role model” in modern international relations: Cambodian ruling party lawmaker
As Cambodia and China are commemorating their 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations this year, a Cambodian ruling party lawmaker said the relationship between the two countries can be a role model in modern international relations.
— Xinhua
Interview: ‘Democracy is Now Dead. We Are Finding Ways to Make it Alive Again’
Mu Sochua, vice president of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, escaped her country in early October 2017 ahead of warnings she would be arrested for conspiring with jailed party leader Kem Sokha to overthrow the Cambodian government.
— Radio Free Asia
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Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Cement Industry is Predicted Still Hard to Develop
During the past 11 months, domestic cement sales are still dependent on the property and infrastructure sectors, Mirae Aset Sekuritas analyst Mimi Halimin has said.
— Netral News
Weapons producer eyes Rp 2.9 trillion in revenue for 2018
State-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad is aiming for Rp 2.9 trillion (US$203 million) in revenue this year, said Pindad president director Abraham Mose in Bandung on Tuesday.
— The Jakarta Post
China Re-issues Mangosteen Export Permit for Indonesia
The Chinese Government has allowed Indonesia to export mangosteen to China after the fruit commodity was banned for four years due to the lack of quality standards.
— Tempo
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Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
2nd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting Kicks Off
The 2nd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders’ Meeting began on Wednesday’s afternoon in Phnom Penh, under the theme of “Our River of Peace and Sustainable Development”.
— Lao News Agency
China, Laos inaugurate joint lab for renewable energy study
China and Laos have inaugurated a joint lab for study of renewable energy in Lao capital Vientiane, according to the Chinese Embassy in Laos on Wednesday.
— Xinhua Net
Vientiane vows to exceed 10 percent GDP growth in 2018
Vientiane authorities have told the capital’s People’s Council they will pursue Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of more than 10 percent in 2018, a slight increase from the almost 10 percent recorded in 2017.
— Vientiane Times
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Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
In election mode, Najib bids to shine online
As Malaysia enters an election season, the long ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is fast bidding to burnish its online image through a new web portal, therakyat.com, launched last week by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
— Asia Times
4G+ connectivity is available in Malaysia
Malaysians could possibly enjoy download speeds of over 110Mbps on their smartphone, provided they subscribe to YES and that their gadget supports 4G+ connectivity.
— The Star Online
Malaysia launches fresh search for missing plane
The Malaysian government signed a “no cure no fee” deal Wednesday with U.S. exploration company Ocean Infinity in a final attempt to resolve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board.
— Nikkei Asian Review
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Myanmar Formally Charges Two Reuters Journalists
Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar have been formally charged with violating the country’s Official Secrets Act.
— VOA
Myanmar’s military admits to role in killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims found in mass grave
Myanmar’s military has acknowledged that its security forces and Buddhist villagers killed 10 Rohingya Muslims whose bodies were found in a mass grave in a village in troubled Rakhine state.
— ABC
Foreign trade volume reaches over US$24 bn
Myanmar’s foreign trade volume has reached over US$24 billion within nine months of the current fiscal year and US$5 billion is still needed to meet the target of the foreign trade volume, according to statistics from the Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
PH, ADB seal $680-M loan packagesTwo loan packages amounting to a total of $680 million were signed by the Philippine government and the Asian Development Bank on Wednesday.
— The Manila Times
PHL seen growing faster than Asian peers till 2020
Despite lower growth expectations from the World Bank, the economic expansion of the Philippines will continue to outpace that of China and its Asean-5 neighbors until 2020, according to its latest report.
— BusinessMirror
Release of alleged journalist killer, outrages activists
Media people and environmental activists in the Philippines have expressed outrage following the release of a former governor suspected of being behind the 2011 murder of a Filipino journalist.
— Ucanews
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Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore passport world’s second-most powerful: Index
According to the ranking compiled by global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, Singapore passport holders can travel to 176 countries visa-free.
— The New Paper
Singapore’s investor residency scheme creates 6,000 jobs in 2011-2016
Singapore’s Global Investor Program (GIP), which helps foreign investors to get Singapore’s permanent residency, brought investments that generated business expenditure totaling 1.8 billion Singapore dollars (about 1.35 billion U.S. dollars) from 2011 to 2016.
— Xinhua Net
Singapore to launch S-E Asia’s first legaltech accelerator
SINGAPORE is taking the lead to digitally transform its legal sector. Come April, the country will be home to South-east Asia’s first legaltech accelerator. Named Accelerate!, it aims to groom legaltech startups as well as incubate new business models or services conceived by law firms.
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Additional B150bn to swell deficit
The government plans to compile a supplementary budget of 150 billion baht for this fiscal year, a move requiring it to borrow an additional 100 billion baht and bring the fiscal 2018 budget deficit to 550 billion baht.
— Bangkok Post
National Shippers’ Council says 2018 exports to grow 5.5%
The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) believes the export sector could have expanded by no less than 10% in 2017 and has forecast 5.5% growth in 2018.
— News Today (video)
Bt3 tn readied for fiscal 2019 reforms
THE government plans to spend Bt3 trillion in the 2019 fiscal year on programmes aimed at reforming the economy and narrowing the country’s ever-widening income gap between rich and poor.
— The Nation
Thai SCB, Prudential reach bancassurance deal
Siam Commercial Bank Pcl , Thailand’s second largest bank by assets, and Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand), a unit of UK-based Prudential Plc, have signed a bancassurance partnership deal aimed at the lender’s wealthy clients.
— Reuters
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam 2017: Jardine-Vinamilk, Thaibev-Sabeco among blockbuster M&A deals
Vietnam has become a hotbed for investments through both direct projects and equity financing with M&A value in the country hitting a record high of $10.16 billion in 2017, with more than 20 mega deals at over $100 million.
— DealStreetAsia
Wood industry urged to embrace automation
Vietnamese enterprises, regardless of size, should use enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions to optimise their resources and improve their efficiency, a seminar organised by the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City heard yesterday.
— Viet Nam News
Foreign logistics firms now allowed in VN
Foreign investors will be allowed to establish companies providing logistics services following Decree 163, which will take effect on February 20.
— VietnamNet Bridge
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.