Asean morning news for November 20,

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Internet economy to create 1.7 million full-time jobs in Southeast Asia by 2025: Study
The Internet economy is set to create 1.7 million full-time jobs in Southeast Asia by 2025, three times the number in 2018.
— Channel NewsAsia

Region’s digital economy exceeds expectations
Southeast Asia’s internet economy is slated to be worth more than US$240 billion by 2025 according to a joint study by Google and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings covering the six most advanced internet economies in the region – Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
— The Asean Post

Region unprepared for emerging meth epidemic
Last week, Vientiane played host to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s High Level Conference on Transnational Organised Crime in Laos and the Mekong Region.
— The Nation

After APEC, US-China tensions leave cooperation in the cold
United States Vice President Mike Pence’s remarks at the end of this year’s summit season just about blasted the word “co-operation” out of the APEC acronym.
— ABC News

WEF initiative pledges to equip 20 million ASEAN workers with digital skills by 2020
A coalition of major tech companies pledged today to develop digital skills for the ASEAN workforce.
— Modern Diplomacy

South-east Asia venture capital, private equity deal value to hit US$70b by 2024: report
Southeast Asia is expected to churn out at least 10 new SOUTH-EAST Asia’s booming venture capital and private equity investment market is set to see deal value hit US$70 billion by 2024, double the level of the previous five years, according to a Bain & Company report released on Monday.
— The Business Times

Big tech firms pledge training for workers in Southeast Asia
Microsoft, Google and other major technology companies have promised to help provide training in digital skills for around 20 million people in Southeast Asia by 2020 to make sure the region’s burgeoning working-age population is a fit for the future job market.
— The Tribune

These jobs are set to see the most growth – and losses – in Southeast Asia
Technology, automation, disruption. They’re the words of the moment and they all seem to suggest one thing: The future jobs market is far from certain.
— CNBC

Migration — the forgotten part of ASEAN integration
While leaders of ASEAN spoke eloquently about mutual trade and investment at their summit in Singapore this month, they had little to say about another key flow in the region — migration.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Southeast Asian, Korean youths bring out innovative startup ideas
The ASEAN-Korea Center collaborated with several Korean institutions to host an entrepreneurship forum on Nov. 12.
— The Korea Herald

Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in Southeast Asia
The revelation of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey is harming Saudi Arabia’s international relations, including with Muslim majority Southeast Asian countries Malaysia and Indonesia.
— The Nation

ASEAN bloc replaces Russia as China’s top seafood supplier
Russia has been displaced by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as China’s top supplier of seafood imports.
— SeafoodSource

Framework for Smart Cities Network established
As ASEAN moves into the future, the regional bloc is faced with two trends – digitalisation and urbanisation. While urbanisation can be seen as a positive thing, there are also possible spill over effects if not mitigated properly. With technology evolving very rapidly, many countries in Southeast Asia are looking at it as a solution to the various problems associated with urbanisation.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Belt and Road project to strengthen Cambodia’s trade ties
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) plays a crucial role in connecting China to Cambodia and enhancing connectivity and cross-border trade within Asia and across the globe, the Minister of Public Works and Transport said Friday.
— Khmer Times

AMRU Rice fears tax will impact rice
AMRU Rice (Cambodia) Co Ltd, one of the Kingdom’s main rice exporters, has appealed to the EU to reconsider imposing a tax on the Kingdom’s rice exports to all EU member states.
— Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia rejects ‘fake news’ of planned Chinese naval base in Koh Kong
Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, declared on Monday, Nov. 9 that there would never be a foreign military base in his country after rumors last week that China was in negotiations with the Cambodian government to establish a naval base in the country.
— Taiwan News

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

China extends 200 billion yuan currency swap with Indonesia for three years
China’s central bank said on Monday it has signed a three-year bilateral currency swap agreement with Indonesia worth 200 billion yuan ($28.81 billion).
— Today Online

Bali airport records 5.2 million foreign tourists
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, welcomed 5.2 million foreign tourists from January to October, a 6.5 percent increase from 4.9 million visitors recorded in the same period last year.
— The Jakarta Post

Belt and Road investment under fire in Indonesia’s presidential elections
In April 2019, Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo will face retired general Prabowo Subianto in a ‘rematch’ presidential election. Foreign policy issues do not determine who wins elections in Indonesia, but they give candidates a chance to prove their nationalist credentials.
— East Asia Forum

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Ethnic Mong drug traffickers arrested in Laos
Police launched a probe when they discovered initial information relating to a major drug ring operating across the border in neighbouring Laos in mid-September.
— Vietnam Breaking News

Be prepared to respond to parliament, ministers told
The government has told ministries and other bodies to prepare to deliver reports and answer questions put by members of the National Assembly, which opens its 6th ordinary session today.
— Vientiane Times

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Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia’s Internet 26th fastest in the world
An Internet speed survey showed that Malaysia rose 10 spots last month to become the 26th fastest country in the world with an average fixed speeds of 61.97 Mbps.
— The Star Online

Malaysia received RM26.5b FDI in 1H18, China top contributor, says MITI
Malaysia has received foreign direct investment (FDI) worth RM26.5 billion between January and June 2018, according to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
— The Edge Markets

Najib Razak back at Malaysia’s anti-graft agency for solar panel probe
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was at the anti-graft agency again on Monday morning (Nov 19) to assist with investigations into a solar panel project for schools in Sarawak.
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Rohingya repatriation, relocation plans set to be pushed back to 2019: Govt official
Bangladesh’s plans to tackle the Rohingya refugee crisis are set to be stalled until the new year with repatriation and relocation programs only likely be revisited after year-end general elections, a top Bangladeshi official said on Sunday.
— The Irrawaddy

Angry mob attacks Lamu police station in Toungup
Angry mob attacked Lamu police station in Toungup Township, Rakhine State, forcing police to fire off warning shots to disperse the crowd, sources said.
— Eleven Myanmar

100 Rohingya found off Myanmar’s south coast en route to Malaysia
A boatload of more than 100 Rohingya Muslims who fled a camp in Myanmar were found off the country’s south coast after spending 15 days at sea in a failed attempt to reach Malaysia.
— mizzima.com

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Balance of payments incurred $5.59-billion deficit in first ten months
The balance of payments posted a deficit of $458 million in October, higher than the $368-million shortfall a year ago, as imports continued to outpace exports and after the government settled some of its maturing foreign debt, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.
— Manilastandard.net

Chinese To Invest $2 Billion To Build Industrial Park In Clark, Philippines
Chinese construction and engineering company China Gezhouba Group will invest $2 billion to establish an industrial park in New Clark City in Pampanga province in the northern Philippines, the Financial Times reported.
— Investvine

Congress OKs bill splitting Palawan into 3 provinces
Congress has passed a bill splitting Palawan into three provinces – a move that may prove to be beneficial to China, a senator warned.
— CNN Philippines

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Business climate worsens, but Singapore’s prospects still beat China’s, survey finds
Global trade woes may send some business Singapore’s way, but uncertainty is still weighing down companies’ near-term outlook.
— The Business Times

Singapore third-quarter GDP growth seen losing momentum, trade war dims outlook
Singapore is expected to report slower third-quarter economic growth than initially thought, a Reuters poll showed, as the manufacturing sector faces strains from weaker global demand and an intensifying trade dispute between the United States and China.
— Reuters

M&As can bring relief to Asia’s crowded skies
THERE is hope for Asia’s crowded skies. In much of the region, too many carriers, with too many planes, charging too little have left the industry on its knees, and put price controls back on the agenda. Consolidation offers a better fix. With Indonesia’s state-owned Garuda taking over a rival and India’s Jet Airways in play, some relief may be near.
— The Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Third quarter economic growth slows
Economic growth in the third quarter decelerated to 3.3 per cent, the National Economic and Social Development Board announced on Monday.
— TheNation

Poll shows almost half feel they are not better off after 4 years under junta
Almost half of the respondents to an opinion poll admitted that the Prayut government’s “Return the Happiness to the People” policy has not made them happier as there have not been any changes for the better for their livelihood after four years and six months since the military take-over. office.
— Thai PBS Word

BoI offers incentives to meet Bt300-bn EEC target
THE BOARD of Investment (BoI) maintains its Bt300 billion total investment target in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) by the year-end and is releasing new investment packages to woo investors.
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam and Russia aim to triple bilateral trade by 2020
The prime ministers of Vietnam and Russia agreed Monday to nearly triple their countries’ two-way trade to $10 billion by 2020 from $3.55 billion last year.
— The Settle Times

EVN accelerating electricity projects to ensure supply for next year
The Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) has announced that it will accelerate its projects within this year to ensure electricity supply for 2019, thus meeting rising demand for energy in service of the national development as well as that by foreign investors.
— VietnamPlus

Da Nang considers a multi-billion dollar port
By 2050, the 120-year-old Tien Sa Port, the largest deep-water port in Da Nang city, will serve merely as a service and tourism port, while Lien Chieu port, which is still on paper, would become an international port with a capacity of 46 million tons per annum.
— Vietnam Insider

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.

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