Asean Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Australia to use East Timor boundary treaty to bolster ASEAN ties
After a saga lasting nearly two decades, Australia will on March 6 sign a boundary treaty with East Timor that will allow the Southeast Asian country to earn much-needed revenue from gas fields under the Timor Sea.
— Nikkei Asian Review
ASEAN Manufacturing PMI Rises in January
Growth in the ASEAN manufacturing economy gathered pace midway through the first quarter, according to the Nikkei ASEAN Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index.
— Financial Tribune
Digital economy makes ASEAN become more competitive
Singapore, as the rotary chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), plans to speed up ASEAN’s economic recovery from advanced technologies to innovate and make the region more competitive.
— Vietnam Plus
CIMB unveils cross-border banking solutions for Malaysia-Singapore customers
CIMB Bank and CIMB Islamic Bank have introduced new solutions to provide its customers in Malaysia and Singapore seamless and efficient cross-border banking experience.
— Verdict
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to skip Asean summit in Australia amid backlash over human rights record
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is skipping a regional summit in Australia this month, his spokesman said Monday, as he faces international censure for Manila’s deadly drug war.
— South China Morning Post
Asean should lead effort to end Rohingya crisis
Open forums where all sides get a chance to explain their stances could bring about peace and reconciliation
— The Nation (annoying popups)
First duty-free ASEAN cars arrive in Vietnam
Under the AFTA commitments, a zero percent tax is applicable to cars imported from the bloc, with a localisation rate of 40 percent or more in the country of origin, starting January 1 this year.
— VietnamNet Bridge
The state of music streaming in Southeast Asia
Ever since the advent of the internet and the proliferation of smartphones, traditional media such as television and radio no longer have the same kind of mainstream influence as they used to.
— The Asean Post
Samsung tops smartphone market in emerging Southeast Asia
South Korean smartphone giant, Samsung, retained the top spot in smartphone shipments to emerging markets in Southeast Asia last year, according to International Data Corporation (IDC).
— New Straits Times
PH smartphone shipments fall
Information technology consultant International Data Corp. (IDC) said smartphone shipments in the emerging Southeast Asia (SEA) market – Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam – last year were flat, albeit on the downside, at 100 million units, a 1 percent drop.
— Malaya
Grab thrives while Uber falters in Southeast Asia
Speculations of a possible sale of Uber’s Southeast Asia (SEA) unit started in February 2018. According to CNBC’s sources, Uber has plans to sell its SEA business to Grab. In exchange, Uber wants stakes in Grab. At the time of CNBC’s press release, there was no official comment from both ride-hailing firms. They have since said that they do not comment on speculations.
— Asia Today
Furniture sales padded by exports, property boom
The Thai furniture market is expected to grow by 4.5% this year to 46.5 billion baht, driven by both domestic sales and exports, as the property market continues expanding and the economic recovery continues at home and abroad.
— Pulse
Cambodia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Brick prices climb to towering highs on demand from Sihanoukville
Brick prices in Cambodia have risen sharply in the last year, a trend that has accelerated over the first two months of this year due to growing demand from the rapidly developing coastal town of Sihanoukville.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Window closes for deal on mine project in Kratie
A deadline for an earn-in agreement involving Australian-listed Medusa Mining and Sea Resources to explore the Prek Kampi region of Kratie province passed on Thursday with no deal being reached, according to a UK-based news website.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Cambodian Leader Rejects Call for Talks from Opposition
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday rejected a request from opposition leader Sam Rainsy for talks about the country’s political problems, denigrating his archrival as a traitor and a convict.
— VOA
See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News
Indonesia Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Gov’t to Finalize Freeport Divestment by End of April
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan on Monday (05/03) said the government plans to conclude the divestment process of US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan’s subsidiary, Freeport Indonesia, by the end of April.
— Jakarta Globe
Unrelated with Politics, Govt Decides Not to Raise Fuel Price and Electricity Tariff Until 2019
The government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources ensures the price of fuel oil (BBM) does not rise in order to maintain the purchasing power of society.
— Netral News
US Hits Biodiesel From Argentina and Indonesia With Antidumping Duties
US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has announced the affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia.
— Global Trade
See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News
Lao PDR Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Most Residents of Laos’ Xiangkhouang Province Contaminated by Agricultural Chemicals: Officials
The majority of residents of northeast Laos’ Xiangkhouang province likely contain residue from pesticides or herbicides in their blood, officials confirmed recently, adding that further tests are needed to determine the level of contamination that has affected the public.
— Radio Free Asia
New terminal at Wattay airport slated for July opening
The enlargement of Wattay International Airport in Vientiane is now 83 percent complete and is on track to meet a projected end-of-June finishing date.
— Vientiane Times
Laos, Korea hail successful labour cooperation
Lao-Korean cooperation has successfully developed labour skills in Laos over many years and will advance the relationship between the two countries into the future, according to a leading official.
— Vientiane Times
See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News
Malaysia Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysia’s January exports surge 17.9 pct y/y, above forecast
Malaysia’s exports jumped 17.9 percent in January from a year earlier, surging after two months of slower growth, on the back of higher demand for manufactured, mining and agricultural goods, government data showed on Monday.
— Reuters
Axiata Digital Innovation Fund invests in drone tech startup Aerodyne
Axiata Digital Innovation Fund (ADIF), a digital corporate venture capital fund from Malaysia, has invested a sum running into double-digit million in Aerodyne Group that specializes in drone technology, the Digital News Asia reported.
— DealStreetAsia
Press Metal unconcern over US potential tariff on aluminium
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd is unperturbed about the potential tariff on aluminium implemented by the United States, despite the overall market concern.
— New Straits Times
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
$380 million earmarked for national HIV eradication project
The Ministry of Health and Sports is planning to spend US$380 million (508.1 billion kyat) for a project to make a big dent in HIV nationally, in cooperation with other donor organizations.
— Eleven Myanmar
National committee on minimum wage approves Ks4,800 for daily wages
The national committee on minimum wage decided yesterday to set the average daily wage at Ks4,800, offering Ks600 per hour.
— The Global NewLight of Myanmar
Australia to train Myanmar military despite ethnic cleansing accusations
The Australian defence department plans to spend almost $400,000 on English lessons, event attendances and training courses for members of the Myanmar military in 2017-18, documents released under freedom of information laws show.
— The Guardian
See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News
Philippines Morning News
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
P56B at stake on Boracay closure; PTAA seeks options
Over P56 billion of tourist spending is at stake during the imminent Boracay Island rehabilitation and restoration, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.
— Malaya
Business Insider ranks PH as best market to invest in
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the country’s strong and solid macroeconomic fundamentals and the government’s fiscal reforms enabled the Philippines to top the list of 20 best countries to invest in this year by American financial and business news website Business Insider.
— Manilastandard.net
Poor families receive tax reform subsidy
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started releasing P200 in monthly cash subsidy to an initial 1.8 million households to help families cope with rising prices of basic commodities following the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law.
— Philippine Star
See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News
Singapore Morning News
Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat
Singapore business confidence up for 2nd straight quarter
Local business confidence rose for a second consecutive quarter for the three months to June this year, according to a survey released by the Singapore Commercial Credit Bureau (SCCB) yesterday.
— The Straits Times
Singapore Budget 2018: SMEs laud new scheme to put global skills in local hands
SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) have given the thumbs-up to the government’s funding support to speed up the transfer of global expertise to local workers, describing the vehicle for the support – the Capability Transfer Programme (CTP) – as “useful”.
— Business Times
Jetstar sees changes to flights as Singapore airport fees rise
Qantas Airways’ budget arm Jetstar said Singapore’s move to raise passenger fees at its Changi Airport will compel the carrier to“shift flights around” to cope with changes in demand and may impact the city-state’s aviation hub status.
— Business Insider
See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News
Thailand Morning News
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand Confident of Shedding IUU Fishing Tag (video)
A team of EU officials is scheduled to visit Thailand next month to inspect the country’s efforts to reign in its seafood and fishing industries to conform with EU fishing regulations. To say that Thai officials are more than a little confident that it will be the last such visit under threat of penalty is somewhat of an understatement.
— AEC News Today
Prayut charts course to beat EU’s import ban
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asked the public to be patient as the government seeks to do away with Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
— Bangkok Post
THE GAMBIA GOVERNMENT APOLOGISES TO THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND OVER COMMENTS MADE BY TOURISM AND CULTURE MINISTER
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia regrets the unfortunate comments made by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, in which he referred to the Tourism Sector of Thailand in a negative manner during televised TV Programme aired on 12 January 2018, a statement from Gambia’s Foreign Ministry read.
— Freedom Newspaper
See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News
Vietnam Morning News
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
USS Carl Vinson: World’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Vietnam (video)
When the USS Carl Vinson and its accompanying escort vessels berthed in Danang on the Vietnam central coast earlier today its arrival was symbolic on many fronts.
— AEC News Today (video)
Developing domestic automobile industry to counter imports
Increasing the value of domestic production and promoting the automobile supporting industry must not depend on foreign direct investment (FDI) firms.
— VietnamNet Bridge
Brand building for Vietnamese textile and garment business
Despite being seen as one of the leading textile and garment exporters in the world, Vietnamese garment and textile products have brought low retail values.
— Nhan Dan Online
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.