Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam With Highest Consumer Confidence In Southeast Asia
The Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, just behind India, rank within the top four in the latest international consumer confidence survey compiled by US-based research organisation The Conference Board and business intelligence firm Nielsen.
— Investvine
Trade war: Will ASEAN be next?
The United States (US) is not stopping with China; it has threatened or engaged in trade wars with Canada, Mexico and the European Union (EU). Could ASEAN member states also be on US President Donald Trump’s list of targets?
— The Asean Post
Southeast Asia’s growth could be trade war’s next casualty
For Southeast Asia’s biggest economies, 2018 wasn’t supposed to be like this.
— The Asean Post
Southeast Asian Competition Regulators Ramp Up Merger Control Enforcement
Global deal planning often overlooks merger control regimes in Southeast Asia. However, in recent months these regulators have become increasingly active and are enforcing failures to file relevant transactions for review.
— JD Supra (media release)
Japan to provide peacekeeper training for ASEAN nations
Japan will help train personnel in member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations taking part in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
— The Japan Times
US demonstrates commitment to ASEAN, despite no envoy
The United States is planning two new undertakings after concluding a five-year partnership project with ASEAN, signaling that it remains committed to relations with the bloc despite its lack of a permanent representative to the regional body.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)
WCO holds workshop on tackling Counterfeit and Piracy in ASEAN Member States
With the sponsorship of the Japanese Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF Japan) and in cooperation with the Royal Malaysia Customs Department (RMCD), a WCO Sub-Regional Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy was held for the ASEAN Member States (AMS) in the Royal Malaysian Customs Academy from 9 to 13 July 2018.
— Devdiscourse
Southeast Asia Drug Use Persists Despite Death Penalty
Southeast Asian authorities are not shy about doling out the death penalty to punish drug traffickers, and yet narcotics abuse has not abated. If anything, it is on the rise, which begs the question of whether the region’s war on drugs is working.
— Voice of America
Assam CM invites ASEAN countries to open consulates in Guwahati
The government of Assam, a state in Northeast India, has invited ASEAN member countries to set up their consulate offices in the state`s capital Guwahati, for liaising with the state government and exploring business possibilities.
— Antara News
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
EU Fact-Finding Mission Concludes, Officials, to Determine Trade Agreement Status
The fact-finding mission began on July 5 in response to an alleged anti-democratic crackdown by Prime Minister Hun Sen ahead of a general election on July 29.
— VOA Cambodia
Central bank takes action against wayward lending firms
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) is working with the General Commissariat of National Police to stop the operations of unofficial lending operators that engage in unethical practices.
— Khmer Times
Local MFIs roll with the changes
The Cambodian microfinance sector has seen major changes over the past two years.
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Indonesia`s Exports Down 19 Percent in June
Indonesia`s exports fell 19.8 percent to around US$13 billion in June 2018 from $16.2 billion a month earlier, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
— Tempo.co
IIGF offers infrastructure projects worth US$330.8 million
The state-owned firm Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund (IIGF) has offered four national strategic projects worth Rp4.75 trillion (US$330.8 million) to domestic as well as international investors.
— Antara News
Indonesia’s Trade Balance Surplus by US$ 1.74b in June 2018
The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded a surplus of Indonesia’s trade balance at the last point in June 2018.
— Netral News
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Poverty fight calls for facts
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry began a meeting yesterday to disseminate the decree and corporate instruction nationwide before the implementation of the information collection.
— Vientiane Times
Fist-In-Laos Pulp Manufacturer Launches Trial Operation
Sun Paper Holding Laos, the first pulp manufacturer in the Lao PDR, has launched three-month trial operation following ten years of conducting feasibility study, farming eucalyptus and building a pulp factory.
— Lao News Agency
Reality on Unsettled Border Areas between Laos and Cambodia
Vientiane Times is publishing the contents of a book about the Laos-Cambodia borderline situation.
The book is being published section by section in issues running from April 10 to April 13.
The book has been researched, compiled, edited and published by the National Social Science Institute.
It comprises a general introduction and three parts.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia opposition lawmakers stage walkout at first parliament sitting
Malaysia’s first parliament sitting since the May 9 general election was marred by a mass walkout by opposition MPs, who were protesting against the appointment of the Speaker of parliament.
— Channal NewsAsia
Malaysia: New government sworn in after 61-year party rule
Almost half of all parliament members are new faces, including PM Mahathir Mohamad, whose surprise campaign brought down his predecessor charged with corruption.
— Aljazeera
Malaysia’s “durian trips” continue to increase
The Malaysian Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported on July 10th that the vice-secretary-general of the Malaysian Department of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry pointed out in June that the Malaysian and Chinese governments had successful negotiations on the issue of whole durian export from Malaysia to China.
— Fresh Plaza
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo
Myanmar’s economic future hinges on reforming state-owned enterprises
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) play dominant roles in Myanmar’s economy. Collectively, they generate about half the government’s revenue, spend half the government’s budget, and regulate much of the formal economy – from forestry to telecommunications to mining.
— Myanmar Times
Action to remove tourism barriers required, senior official says
Immediate action is needed to eliminate inappropriate rules imposed by some state sectors that require tour operators to seek official approval before bringing visitors to Laos for a vacation, a senior government official has said.
— Vientiane Times
Jailed Reuters journalists to testify in Myanmar court
Two jailed Reuters reporters on trial in Myanmar accused of obtaining secret state documents will testify in court from Monday, in a case that is seen as a test of press freedom in the fledgling democracy.
— Reuters
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Remittance growth eases to 6.1% in May 2018
Remittances from Filipinos abroad grew above six percent in May, helping boost the country’s thinning foreign exchange buffer against external shocks, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday.
— The Philippine Star
Investment pledges down 55% in H1 as firms worry
INVESTMENT pledges registered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) fell by 55.86 percent to P53.06 billion in the first half of 2018 from P120.22 billion in the same period last year as investors continue to worry about the government’s move to rationalize incentives.
— The Manila Times
DOF raises figures for Marawi rehab, rebuilding now costs P62 billion in 5+ years
DAVAO CITY—The rehabilitation of battle-flattened Marawi City would now cost as much as P62 billion in more than five years, a recent estimate from an evaluation conducted by the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TBFM) showed.
— Business Mirror
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
The Big Read: Property cooling measures — examining the case for a ‘sledgehammer’
Uncertainty arising from the latest cooling measures announced early this month has raised concerns with developers, homeowners, and property investors.
— Channel News Asia
ST Engineering Aerospace bagged contracts worth $510m in Q2
ST Engineering’s Aerospace sector secured new contracts worth about $510m in the second quarter of 2018 for services ranging from heavy maintenance to engine wash and aircraft interior reconfiguration.
— Singapore Business Review
Singapore’s shipyard firms go head-to-head with Chinese rivals in revived O&M market
However, so far in 2018, projects have reached Financial Investment Decision (FID) only have a combined capex of US$26b. “We blame this on keen competition, political risks and leaner cost structure among the operators,” said CGS-CIMB analyst Lim Siew Khee.
— Singapore Business Review
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
The World is One: Thailand Says Thank you from the heart
Thailand’s heartfelt gratitude to the international effort that led to the rescue of 12 Thai teenage football players and their coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand is reflected in the speed with which it has rushed into distribution a heart-felt ‘thank you’ video message to the world.
— AEC News Today (video)
‘Positive signal’ from European Parliament about Thailand’s IUU status: deputy PM
The European Parliament has sent a positive signal about the European Union upgrading Thailand’s status in regard to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing from the current ‘yellow card’ slapped on the country by the EU in 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said on Monday.
— The Nation
Strategy plans ‘ready in 60 days’
The six master plans to accompany the 20-year national strategy will be discussed and fleshed out in the next two months, according to a government source.
— Bangkok Post
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
New Bankruptcy Regulations in Vietnam
The Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam, along with the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme People’s Procuracy, released the Joint Circular No. 07/2018/TTLT-BTP-VKSNDTC-TANDTC (“JC 07”) on June 12, 2018, to ensure coordination in the enforcement of bankruptcy decisions by the court.
— Vietnam Briefing
Vietnam ministry suspends online publication of leading newspaper over ‘wrongful information’
One of the most read online publications in Vietnam has been imposed a fine of nearly US$10,000 and suspended for three months.
— The Hanoi Times
VN is Southeast Asia’s new industrial powerhouse
In the last 20 years Viet Nam has switched from being an agricultural economy to one of the brightest manufacturing hotspots in South East Asia, according to the latest report from Jones Lang LaSalle.
— Bizhub
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.
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