Asean Morning News For May 2

Asean Morning News For May 2
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Asean morning newsAsean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

As US withdraws, Japan and China become mainstays of SE Asia FDI
Despite the last US administration’s so-called “pivot to Asia,” which identified increased engagement with Southeast Asia as a priority, America’s economic footprint in the region is shrinking fast. And while US investment in ASEAN countries has fallen off precipitously, Japan has become an even more important regional partner.
— Asia Times

A guide to foreign business chambers in Asean markets
For a business entering an unfamiliar Asean market, it’s only natural and indeed, wise, to seek out the help and advice of those who have trodden the path before.
— Business Times

Asean misses a key figure
The notable and lamentable absent guest at the Asean summit table was the one leader whose presence was actually vital.
— Bangkok Post

Asean unveils 26 ‘smart’ cities
The Asean leaders’ summit in Singapore has named 26 cities to pilot its Asean Smart Cities Network, in the hope of setting up a collaborative platform where up to three cities per member nation work towards a common goal of technologically focused and sustainable urban development.
Asean Economist 

Chinese tourism spreads benefits and unwanted baggage across Asia
A decade ago, Palau’s Rock Islands were a haven for travelers seeking solitude.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Asean focus on ‘world-class’ universities ‘comes at local cost’
Emerging higher education systems in Southeast Asia may need to be wary of focusing too much on creating a handful of “world-class” universities to boost international research collaboration, according to a British Council report.
— Times Higher Education (THE)

More VCs in SE Asia to bet on deep tech, say 500 Startups, Wavemaker
The next few years are going to see more venture capital (VC) firms in Southeast Asia channel funds into deep tech, according to prominent industry players.
— DealStreetAsia (paywall)

Water stress and its link to renewables in ASEAN
The renewable energy sector in Southeast Asia has progressed in leaps and bounds. From the harnessing of biomass to the use of water in generating electricity, there is room for tremendous economic growth as well as the obvious positive of caring for an ailing environment.
— The Asean Post

Singapore PM: ASEAN growing closer to China and India
Southeast Asian countries will work more closely with new powers China and India to counter the pressure of protectionism and ensure continued growth, Singapore‘s prime minister said Saturday.
— GCR

South East Asia’s Purin Fund Expands in Spring Funding Round
South East Asian film fund, Purin Pictures has handed out $170,000 of finance to a quintet of regional movie projects.
— Variety

Welcome to the future: ASEAN Smart Cities Network
With the advent of big data analytics and increasingly faster processing speeds of computers, urban life in the 21st century would be far more efficient and integrated.
— The Asean Post

Asean focus on ‘world-class’ universities ‘comes at local cost’
Emerging higher education systems in Southeast Asia may need to be wary of focusing too much on creating a handful of “world-class” universities to boost international research collaboration, according to a British Council report.
— Times Higher Education

Britain eyes SE Asia for post-Brexit trade bursts
The lone non-Asian trade minister at last week’s Southeast Asian leaders’ summit in Singapore, UK Trade Minister Greg Hands had plenty of room to make the case that Brexit won’t interfere with his country’s ambitious plans in the region.
— Gulf Times

32nd ASEAN Summit: Resilience And Innovation In Focus – Analysis
The 32nd Summit of Heads of State and Government from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held in Singapore from 25 to 28 April 2018 to discuss regional and international issues successfully concluded. T

Cambodia morning newsCambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Three Parties Submit Candidate Lists to NEC
National Election Committee, on Tuesday, announced that within two days, three parties, including Cambodian People’s Party, Cambodian Nationality Party, and Cambodian Youth Party have submitted their candidate lists for the 6th mandate National Assembly Member Election.
— Fresh News

Cambodian farm exports rose in 2017
CAMBODIA’S total export of agricultural products rose to 5.13 million tonnes last year, up from 4.7 million tonnes the year before, a sign that the sector was on the right track according to Agriculture Minister Veng Sokhon.
— The Nation

Cambodia Earns $48M from Angkor Archaeological Park
Within the first four months of 2018, Cambodia has earned $48 million from Angkor Archaeological Park, an increase of 22.94%, and welcomed over one million foreign tourists, an increase of 11.17% compared to the same period in 2017, according to the April’s report of the Angkor Enterprise.
— Fresh news

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

 

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

Indonesian Labourers Don’t Want Blue-Collar Expats In The Country
The Indonesian Workers Unions Confederation (KSPI) have voiced their rejection to the entry of blue-collar or yellow-hat expatriates into Indonesia during their peaceful rallies held in 25 provinces on Tuesday, May 1, to commemorate May Day.
— Indonesia Expat

Oman-Indonesia trade rises 96 per cent
Trade between Oman and Indonesia enjoyed a 96 per cent year-on-year increase, according to the archipelago’s ambassador to Oman, Musthafa Taufik Abdul Latif.
— Times of Oman

Indonesia’s manufacturing PMI rose to 51.6 in April
The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, rose to 51.6 in April from 50.7 in March, indicating strongest improvement in manufacturing conditions since June 2016.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

 

Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

 

Businesses urged to comply with May 1 minimum wage increase
All businesses and factories in Laos are required to increase the minimum wage from the present 900,000 kip to 1.1 million kip a month as of May 1 in a bid to improve workers’ standard of living.
Vientiane Times 

World Bank backs Lao agriculture project
THE World Bank has approved an assistance project to help Laos upgrade its agricultural productivity and produce crops for commercial purposes
The Nation

Lao parliamentarian receives top award from Japanese government
The government of Japan, as part of the 2018 Spring Imperial Decorations, has announced that the Chairman of the Cultural and Social Committee of Laos’ National Assembly, Dr Somphou Douangsavanh, will be awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star in recognition of his significant contribution to strengthening legislative exchanges and friendly relations between Japan and Laos.
Vientiane Times 

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

 

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

Minimum wage hike, S$20.3m grants for Malaysian workers if BN wins polls: PM Najib
Prime Minister Najib Razak announced a slew of promises including an immediate hike in minimum wages, mandatory paternity leave and over RM60 million (S$20.3 million) in grants to Malaysia’s 14-million strong labour force if his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is returned to power on May 9.
— The Straits Times

Malaysian elections: Weak opposition, weak coalition
The upcoming 14th General Election (GE14) in Malaysia is poised to be one of the most important and bitterly contested polls since the country gained independence from Britain on Aug. 31, 1957.
— Daily Sabah

Swiss investigate two PetroSaudi officials in 1MDB inquiry
Swiss prosecutors said on Tuesday they were investigating two officials from Saudi energy group PetroSaudi International as part of a wider inquiry into the suspected theft of assets from Malaysia’s 1MDB state fund.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat    @leakhenakhat

 

Myanmar army killing civilians in escalating conflict in Kachin, warns UN
The UN’s human rights expert for Myanmar has raised alarm over a lethal escalation in hostilities in the country’s Kachin state, warning that civilians had been killed and displaced in recent government bombing.
The Guardian 

How a massive influx of Chinese migrants has changed Myanmar’s second-largest city Mandalay
Myanmar’s last royal capital harboured the most learned Buddhist monks and exquisite artists, citizens speaking the most refined Burmese and cooks who prepared the best curries in the land. Mandalay was rhapsodised as the nation’s cultural core.
South China Morning Post 

Myanmar urged to hold ‘proper’ probe into alleged Rohingya atrocities
Myanmar must hold a “proper investigation” into alleged atrocities against the Rohingya, a UN Security Council envoy said on Tuesday (May 1), after the highest-level diplomatic visit to an area from which 700,000 members of the Muslim minority have been driven out.
Channel NewsAsia 

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

 

Philippines morning newsPhilippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu    @stmarisewudolu

 

Duterte orders clampdown on illegal contracting and subcontracting of workers
President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order clamping down on illegal contracting and subcontracting in front of labor groups on Tuesday, Labor Day.
— CNN Philippines

TRAIN halts Philippine auto sales growth, slumps to 2nd worst in Asean in Q1 2018
The new tax reform law took its toll on vehicle sales in the first three months of the year, relegating the Philippines to second worst performer in Southeast Asia during the period.
— Philippines Magazine

10.9M Filipino adults jobless — SWS
A new survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that there are now 10.9 million jobless Filipino adults in the country.
— Philippine Canadian Inquirer

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore morning newsSingapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat   @leakhenakhat

 

Facial recognition to be used at Singapore airport
Singapore’s Changi airport is testing a facial recognition system it hopes will speed passengers through the facility.
BBC 

Singapore’s economy to grow by 1.5-3.5 pct on year in 2018: PM
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the city-state’s economic growth will be 1.5-3.5 percent for the whole year of 2018, while delivering his 2018 May Day Rally speech on Tuesday.
Xinhua Net 

Responsibility of new generation is to renew Singapore: PM Lee at May Day Rally
It is the responsibility of the new generation of Singaporeans to renew the country and create fresh possibilities and frontiers, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (May 1) at the annual May Day Rally.
Channel NewsAsia 

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

 

Thailand morning newsThailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre    @photo_journ

 

Thailand openly airs hope to join TPP
Thailand has expressed its hope of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Japan’s minister in charge of the free trade deal said Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

BoT expects Thai economy to grow 4% in first quarter
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has forecast that the economic growth in the first quarter of this year will be similar to the last quarter of 2017 at 4%.
— NNT

Director-general transferred over substandard rabies vaccine
The cabinet on Tuesday transferred the director-general of the Livestock Development Department to the post of inspector-general pending a probe into substandard rabies vaccine.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

 

Vietnam morning newsVietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men    @MenSreypov

 

PV Gas forecasts lower earnings for 2018
The PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PV Gas), a subsidiary of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), is targeting 55.7 trillion VND (2.47 billion USD) in its total revenue and 6.43 trillion VND (283.2 million USD) in post-tax profit for 2018, heard the company’s annual shareholder meeting last week.
— VietnamPlus

Steel exports and consumption saw strong growth in April
Vietnam’s steel exports soared to over US$1 billion during the first quarter of the year and heads toward a strong upward trend.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnam’s Vingroup drives industrialization with diversification
Vietnamese property developer Vingroup is fast becoming one of the country’s most diverse conglomerates, even as it still relies on the real estate business for the bulk of its sales.
— Nikkei Asian Review

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.

 

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