Asean Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men   @MenSreypov
Exports to Southeast Asia forecast to keep upward trend
Vietnam’s exports to many Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia have grown strongly recently and are predicted to continue the upward trend in 2018.
— VietnamPlus
Asean media under attack
A free press is the key test of whether a nation has true freedom of speech. Across the region, every country is failing the test.
— Bangkok Post
Completion of high-speed Southeast Asian rail link is still far down the track
WITH PROGRESS made in rail projects in Laos and Thailand, China has advanced its dream of a trans-Asian railway network to link Southeast Asia.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
ASEAN live streaming platform SportsFix secures $1m from Mayfair 101
Boutique international investment group Mayfair 101 has invested $1 million in Malaysia-based SportsFix, a live streaming sports platform for the ASEAN region.
— DealStreetAsia
Laos, Vietnam push for realisation of key projects
LAOS AND VIETNAM are pushing for key cooperation projects agreed to by their leaders to be accelerated, with their intergovernmental cooperation committee scheduled to meet next month.
— The Nation
Trans-ASEAN education can play a role in building a regional community
As the celebration for last year’s 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wanes, ASEAN now face the tasks to realise the ambitious vision of an integrated socio-cultural, economic and political community.
— The Independent
‘Soft connectivity’ key to India-ASEAN ties: Thai envoy
As New Delhi continues to push for better connectivity with Southeast Asia through the northeast under its Act East Policy, Thailand’s Ambassador to India Chutintorn Gongsakdi has said that “soft connectivity” is the key to India-ASEAN ties.
— The Economic Times
Rohingya crisis: Time for Asean to act
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has become an important international actor, with a reputation that matters globally.
— TodayOnline
South-east Asian nations poised to launch ecommerce tax
South-east Asian governments are poised to introduce taxes on ecommerce sales as they look to claim their fiscal take from one of their most vibrant engines of growth.
— The Financial Times
Return to conflict for the Mekong River Delta?
For years, the principal narrative has been a world attempting to keep China’s maritime ambitions in check in the South China Sea. With one-third of the world’s global trade carried upon these sea lines– estimated at roughly 5 trillion USD annually– it is an understandable concern. But there is another conflict brewing in the region that might become an even more volatile flashpoint in the coming decades.
— Sofrep
Singapore banks finance SE Asia coal projects
Green groups have spoken out against global banks that turn a blind eye to planet-polluting industries.
— The NationÂ
Quiet Cooperation Eases Safety Risks in South China Sea
Recently, an Iranian oil tanker exploded and sank after hitting a Chinese ship in the East China Sea.
— VOAÂ
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men   @MenSreypov
Cambodian strongman displays iron fist and vulnerability
“In the world, there was no leader who suffered more pain and bitterness than me,” a dewy-eyed Hun Sen, the long-serving prime minister of Cambodia, says in a new TV documentary Marching Towards National Salvation.
— UCA News
At press dinner, Hun Sen berates media
Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen berated journalists on Sunday at a dinner his government hosted for correspondents and accused some of spreading fabricated stories.
— Bangkok Post
Rubber exports jump but smugglers dampen gains
THE TOTAL amount of rubber exported by Cambodia surged 30 per cent last year, but widespread rubber smuggling on the Vietnamese border crippled potential profits from the booming industry.
— The Nation
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men   @MenSreypov
Widodo puts more starch in his ranks
What was billed as a Cabinet reshuffle turned out to be little more than a riffle, but in replacing his chief of staff with a retired military commander Indonesian President Joko Widodo is clearly inserting some starch into the ranks ahead of legislative and presidential elections in 2019.
— AsiaTimes
Indonesia to auction 43 oil and gas blocks by March
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry plans to offer 40 conventional and three unconventional oil and gas blocks through a tender in early March, including 32 blocks that failed to attract investors in 2015-2017 auctions.
— The Jakarta Post
Govt Boosts Railway Industry to Compete in Global Market
Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto stated that Indonesia is one of the major players in railway manufacture in Southeast Asia.
— Tempo
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat
More than 200 markers installed along Laos-Thailand border
Some 210 markers have been installed along the border between Laos and Thailand, covering most of the two countries’ 735km land border.
— Vientiane TimesÂ
Minister Arkhom officiates construction of Thailand-Laos-China logistic center
Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has officiated the launching ceremony for the construction of the Thailand-Laos-China logistic center at its construction site near the 4th Thai-Lao Friendship bridge in Wiang sub-district in Chiang Kong district of Chiang Rai.
— News Today (video)
Vientiane vows to improve investment climate to drive growth
The Vientiane administration has vowed to improve the investment climate to attract more private investment and facilitate business operations as part of measures to achieve 10.5 percent economic growth.
— Vientiane TimesÂ
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men   @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s 2017 timber exports to surpass RM23b
Malaysia’s timber exports for 2017 is likely to surpass RM23 billion as global demand remain stable.
— New Straits Times
Palm prices to trade at RM2,500-RM2,700 a tonne from March: Top analyst
Malaysian palm oil prices are expected to trade at RM2,500-RM2,700 a tonne due to falling production from March onwards, and as stock levels decline from now until July, said leading vegetable oils analyst Dorab Mistry on Saturday.
— The Sun Daily
Strong exports performance boost Malaysia’s labour market
Strong export performances last year contributed significantly towards strengthening Malaysia’s labour market, analysts believe.
— The Borneo Post
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat
Legal reforms to support Myanmar’s anti-corruption battle
Following the appointment of a new Anti-Corruption Commission in November, attention is turning to the need for legal reform to ensure the commission’s independence and protect whistleblowers.
— Frontier MyanmarÂ
Hopes for revival of Dawei SEZ
IMPLEMENTATION of the Dawei special economic zone (SEZ) has been suspended for years, but Myanmar and Thailand are still eager to revive the mega project, according to an official in Myanmar.
— The NationÂ
Scandal-hit Thai temple helps to stage mass Buddhist event in Myanmar
Thousands of Buddhist monks gathered in Myanmar’s second largest city on Sunday for an event partly organized by a scandal-hit Thai temple whose abbot is wanted for questioning on money-laundering allegations.
— Reuters
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat
Philippines says it won’t be embroiled in US-China sea spat
The Philippines said Sunday that it won’t get embroiled in a fresh spat between the U.S. and China involving Beijing’s protest of an American warship passing near a Chinese-controlled shoal also claimed by the Philippines.
— ABC NewsÂ
Government to demand full refund, damages from Sanofi
The government is demanding a full refund of P3.5 billion for the controversial anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia as well as payment for damages from pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur.
— PhilstarÂ
Duterte considers total ban on Filipino workers in Kuwait
President Rodrigo Duterte is considering a total ban on Filipinos working in Kuwait because of the increasing number of sexual abuse cases.
— Asia TimesÂ
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat  @leakhenakhat
Singapore looking at laws for producers to take back e-waste from customers
To curb the electronic waste (e-waste) problem here, the authorities are considering regulations for manufacturers to collect their products that customers do not want anymore.
— Singapore GovernmentÂ
Singapore office rents to rise the most in Asia
Singapore office rents are set to post the biggest gains among Asian cities as an increase in demand runs into moderating supply, according to real-estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.
— Today Online
Why one man in Singapore was not allowed to adopt his child
Gleaming Singapore is every bit the modern city, but the struggles of one father to adopt his child has shown how modern values are butting up against traditional concepts of family, writes the BBC’s Yvette Tan in Singapore.
— BBCÂ
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre   @photo_journ
Fear of fallout over baht’s rise
Business operators, exporters, investors and even tourists are bracing themselves for the impact from the currency’s surge.
— Bangkok Post
Finance Ministry offers tax incentive for nursery in workplace
The Ministry of Finance is offering a tax incentive to encourage manufacturers to set up nurseries at working places as a basic welfare for employees and workers.
— NNT
Govt steps up piracy fight in Thailand
The government has vowed to continue its effort to solve the problem of intellectual properties infringement in Thailand, says the government spokesman.
— NNT
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men   @MenSreypov
Petrol prices increase by over 400 VND per litre
The price of bio-fuel E5 increased by 429 VND while those of diesel 0.05S and kerosene increased slightly by 430 VND and 448 VND per litre, respectively in the latest regular adjustment of petrol and oil prices on January 19.
— VietnamPlus
MoIT to support steel businesses
The Ministry of Industry (MoIT) will continue to support local steel enterprises this year in their production and business, especially use of trade defence measures protecting the domestic steel industry.
— Bizhub
Vietnam Wants Foreign Money to Overhaul Its Economy
Vietnam is dramatically accelerating sales of stakes in state-owned companies to boost revenue and ease a strained budget, while seeking to exceed its economic growth target this year.
— BloomBerg
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 January 22 added by Digital Editor on
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