Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Tourism dollars flow between S Korean and Asean
TOURISM investment between the Asean countries and South Korea is expected to see further increases after South Koreans boosted their direct investments in the region’s hospitality sector at a double-digit growth rate last year.
— The Nation
From taxation to financing, ASEAN is gearing up for green growth
Member states of ASEAN are intensifying efforts to shift towards green growth, according to regional leaders and stakeholders who gathered for a sustainable conference in Singapore last month.
— Myanmar Times
Renewed partnership to push for ‘decent work’ in Asean
There will be a renewed push to promote good employment and workplace practices in the region, after the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) extended their partnership.
— The Straits Times
Islamic State’s Attacks Raise Threat of Southeast Asia Hub
Islamic State’s collapse in Syria and Iraq leaves global jihadists looking for a new home.
— The Wall Street Journal
Weak labour productivity a threat to ASEAN’s potential
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a collective of 10 economies has made immense strides over the past 51 years.
— The Asean Post
ASEAN Ride E-hailing Apps Competitive Scenario Report 2018 with Profiles of Key Operators
The e-hailing market in the ASEAN is showing clear signs of growth and is likely to emerge as a key mode of transport in the region in short to medium term.
— PR Newswire (media release)
Region ready to renew N. Korea ties
Maximum pressure is technically still in effect against North Korea, despite the current frenzy of diplomacy.
— Myanmar Times
The Philippines Should Set Up a Working Group to Establish an ASEAN-China Working Group for Dialogue in the South China Sea
In spite of attempts from many Philippine politicians (both in government and the opposition) and the fake yellow media to draw Manila and Beijing into confrontation over issues concerning sovereign rights in the South China Sea, President Duterte has persisted in establishing good relations with China that have been hailed by Chinese President Xi Jinping as ushering in a “golden era” between the two countries.
— Eurasiafuture
ASEAN Energy Storage Devices Market to Develop Rapidly by 2020
Rise in the energy demand and depleting fossil fuels is pushing the market towards non-conventional sources of energy. Energy demand is expected to increase by 70% between 2012 and 2035.
— satPRnews (media release)
ASEAN Cosmetic Chemicals Market Rugged Expansion Foreseen by 2020
The growing beauty products market has been increasing the demand for value-enriched cosmetics. The market is flooded with various cosmetic chemicals.
— satPRnews (press release)
Growth Opportunities in SEA Industrial Water Solutions Market, Forecast to 2022
The Southeast Asian (SEA) industrial water solutions market, comprising of water and wastewater treatment solutions for industries and associated services such as design & engineering, operation and maintenance, and spare parts, is growing steadily due to the region-wide economic development.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)
Alibaba a game changer for Southeast Asian development
A range of projects launched by Alibaba Group Holding in partnership with the Thai government marks a watershed in the way foreign investment promotes growth in the country and region as a whole.
— Nikkei Asian Review (metered paywall)
Foreign warship in South China Sea bodes ill for South East Asia security: Mat Sabu
The presence of foreign warships in the waters off the South China Sea is deemed as ‘not good’ for the security of the South East Asia region because it is feared this could lead to military conflict.
— New Straits Times
Islamic State’s Attacks Raise Threat of Southeast Asia Hub
Islamic State’s collapse in Syria and Iraq leaves global jihadists looking for a new home.
— The Wall Street Journal
SW China to hold 16th ASEAN Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference
The 16th ASEAN Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference will be held in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province from June 12 to 15 with the theme “New Era, New Opportunity, New Journey and New Development.”
— Xinhua Net
Why UK-ASEAN trade ties are thriving
Opinion editorial by Baroness Fairhead CBE, published in the Diplomat, on ASEAN’s importance in the UK’s drive to increase trade with countries around the world.
— Gov.UK
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Hun Sen’s unconvincing defence of multiparty democracy
Recent events in Malaysia proved how unpredictable elections can be. The opposite is true in in Cambodia. There, Hun Sen has all but guaranteed his re-election on July 29.
— Asean Today
Cambodia to be vice-president of UNGA
Cambodia has been elected as one of the vice-presidents of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
— Khmer Times
Cambodia Exports Over 240,000 Tons of Rice in the First 5 Months of 2018
Report on Cambodian rice exports in May released on Tuesday indicated that in the first five months of 2018, Cambodia exported more than 240,219 tons of rice to 70 countries, a decrease of 6.8% compared to the same period in 2017, which was 257,637 tons.
— Fresh News
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
UI among world`s top 300 universities
The University of Indonesia (UI) is ranked 292 in the world along with two other universities — the National Yang-Ming University (Taipei) and Beijing Normal University — in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking of World Universities for 2018-19.
— Antara News
Go-Jek backers said to offer $1 billion funding to fuel growth
Go-Jek, the Indonesian ride-hailing provider, has been offered at least $1 billion of new funding from existing investors eager to accelerate its overseas expansion, people with knowledge of the matter said.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia’s Booming Tourism Industry
Indonesia’s tourism industry is booming. In 2017, the country welcomed over 14 million overseas visitors, an increase of more than 2 million from the previous year.
— The Diplomat (paywall)
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Govt takes steps to repay debts to local firms
Despite budgetary tensions, the government is working to pay a total of 3.25 trillion kip owed to private companies under the triangle-debt-diversion disbursement initiative.
— Vientiane Times
Ministry vows to remove tourism barriers
With various barriers hindering the development of the tourism industry, authorities in charge will work closely with the relevant sectors to remove these obstacles, a minister told parliament yesterday.
— Vientiane Times
America’s ‘Secret War’ in Laos finally put to proper rest
It has been more than four decades but the White House has finally opened its doors to the Hmong tribal guerrillas who fought communist forces to a standstill in the mountains of northeast Laos in what became known as the “Secret War.”
— Asia Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia sets aside 3 billion ringgit to finance fuel subsidies
Malaysia’s government has allocated 3 billion ringgit ($760 million) to subsidize pump prices till the end of 2018, the finance ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
— Reuters
Global demand to continue driving earnings for rubber products
The resilience of global demand is expected to continue driving earnings for the rubber glove sector as it continues to be plagued with higher natural rubber prices.
— The Borneo Post
‘Umno Youth chief must be aged below 40’
Umno members above the age of 40 will not be able to represent youths, said Malaysian Youth Council (Majlis Belia Malaysia) information chief Mohamad Rizan Hassan today.
— Free Malaysia Today
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Facebook blacklists Myanmar hardline Buddhist group
Facebook has blacklisted a group of Myanmar Buddhist hardliners including monks notorious for bilious hate speech against Rohingya Muslims, the company said on Thursday (June 7), as it scrambles to show it is tackling inflammatory content.
— The Straits Times
Wake up to the problem of electronic waste, Myanmar urged
Recycling businesses in Myanmar are hopeful on the market potential but needs more support to grow, according to a domestic company.
— The Myanmar Times
Australian former publisher Ross Dunkley reportedly arrested for drugs in Myanmar
Myanmar media is reporting that Australian former publisher Ross Dunkley has been arrested for drugs in Yangon.
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
6 Philippines firms make Forbes 2000 list
Six Philippine companies made it to the Forbes Global 2000 list of the biggest, most powerful and most valuable companies in the world.
— Philippines Magazine
PH universities slip in world rankings
PHILIPPINE universities continued to slip in the London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking, according to a new top 1,000 list for 2019 released on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning in Manila).
— The Manila Times
Foreign investment pledges dip by 37.9% in Q1 2018
Total foreign investment pledges during the 1st quarter of 2018 fell sharply by 37.9% compared to the same period last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Thursday, June 7.
— Rappler
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore beats out US and North Korea in this year’s Global Peace Index Rankings
Less than a week to playing host to what could be a groundbreaking summit between two long-held traditional enemies, Singapore has ranked 8th out of 167 countries on its annual Global Peace Index.
— Coconuts Singapore (metered paywall)
Australia, Singapore top Technological Readiness ranking
Australia, Singapore and Sweden topped the leaderboards of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s new ‘Technological Readiness Ranking’ for 2018-2022.
— Telecomasia.net
Singaporeans feel safest in the world as country tops law and order index
For at least the fifth year running, Singaporeans feel safer than residents of any other place in the world, a global study has found.
— The Straits Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Govt unveils Bt600 bn EEC projects
In what is seen as a economic road show before Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s high-profile trip to Europe later this month, the government said yesterday it was accelerating six key investment projects worth Bt600 billion in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— The Nation
Thai junta seeks US$10 billion in new security budget ahead of 2019 election
Military spending has risen since former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power from the civilian government in 2014, fitting a pattern of generals generously boosting budgets after their periodic coups
— South China Morning Post
PM requests two hours to explain 2019 expenditure budget
The Prime Minister has requested time for his team to explain the over 3 trillion baht 2019 expenditure budget to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) today.
— NNT
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Investors in solar energy projects race to enjoy high feed-in tariff
After rushing to the solar energy industry, investors are also racing against time to have their projects reaching commercial operation dates (COD) before June 30, 2019 to be able to enjoy a feed-in tariff (FiT) of 9.35 US cents per kWh.
— The Hanoi Times
Vietnam’s retailers oppose bill on distribution channel management
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade is taking heat from retail industry insiders who fear its proposed legislation aimed at regulating the development and management of the country’s distribution sector will only serve to complicate operations for local businesses.
— Tuoi Tre
Vietnam Seeks Ban On Import Of Crypto Mining Tools
Vietnam’s finance ministry has called for an outright ban on the import of the mining rigs used to create cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
— Investvine
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.