Asean morning news for November 30,

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Digital Villages to be set up by India in four ASEAN countries
Pilot digital villages will be set up in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, together called the CLMV countries, as part of Indo-ASEAN digital connectivity plan.
— United News of India

Trade war hits Southeast Asian profits for first drop in 9 quarters
Profits at Southeast Asia’s largest companies fell for the first time in nine quarters hit by the U.S.-China trade war and falling regional currencies.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Tax dollars make up lower-than-average share of Asia-Pacific economies: OECD report
TAX-TO-GROSS domestic product (GDP) ratios in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia were some of the lowest in the Asia-Pacific in 2016, according to a new global report.
— The Business Times

FrieslandCampina Set to Resume Largest Study on Nutrition in SEA
Royal FrieslandCampina, a global dairy company, has announced the commencement of the Southeast Asia Nutrition Survey II (SEANUTS II).
— Netral News

Asean trade projection bullish
Brushing aside worries about protectionism, Southeast Asian businesses have the most bullish trade outlook in the world, a new HSBC report has found.
— Bangkok Post

Southeast Asia cannot replace China in manufacturing, says Pegatron chairman
It is unrealistic to think that Southeast Asia can completely replace China as the world’s manufacturing hub, but an ecosystem of manufacturers spread across different countries will be a more likely scenario in the future, according to Pegatron chairman TH Tung.
— Digitimes

Regulatory cooperation in Southeast Asia more crucial amid advances in tech
ASEAN insurance regulators will continue to work closely together to achieve a consistent approach in the development of a holistic insurance ecosystem in Southeast Asia – made more urgent given the demands of digitalisation and changing consumer expectations.
— Asia Insurance Review

ASEAN united on migrant workers’ rights, free trade
Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong Antonio Morales has underscored the unity among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-countries, especially on migrant workers’ rights and free trade – two issues that are significant to the Philippines.
— Manila Bulletin

Asean Labour Ministers’ Meeting adopts three resolutions: Kula
The 25th Asean Labour Ministers’ Meeting which concluded today adopted three resolutions – the Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity, Inclusive Growth of the Asean Community and the main agenda of the Asean Labour Sector’s deliberations for 2018-2020.
— The Sun Daily

Asean and South Korea discuss investment
The sixth Asean Connectivity Forum, the only forum on investment in Asean countries, opened on Tuesday in Seoul, South Korea.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Asean chairmanship chance to ‘boost US ties’
The United States supports Thailand’s role as Asean chair, specifically as it relates to Thailand’s ability to draw multilateral effort from Asean members to deal with maritime and cybersecurity, says the US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, Randall G Schriver.
— Bangkok Post

‘India, ASEAN must intensify research, innovation collaboration’
Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Harsh Vardhan, today called upon the scientific community in India and ASEAN member states to intensify collaborative research in science, technology and innovation to address the economic and societal challenges being faced by the two regions.
— SME Times

Integration, synergy vital for Asean to emulate EU success
ASEAN should create synergy and allow economic integration among its member countries to emulate the European Union’s (EU) success.
— Malaysian Reserve

The Gender Gap in Retirement Savings in ASEAN
Rising life expectancy and declining birth rates are resulting in an aging population as well as a widening retirement savings adequacy gap in the ASEAN economies.
— Brink Asia

Which dish topped fast-food orders in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in 2018?
Fried chicken and bubble tea are this year’s the most-commonly ordered food items in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia the food delivery service, GrabFood, told Business Insider on Wednesday.
— South China Morning Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Cambodia seeks to drop pending charges against unionists in about-face on labor
Cambodia’s Ministry of Labor on Thursday asked all union leaders and labor activists who have court cases pending against them to report to the ministry so it can work with justice officials to have the charges dropped, in a move by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s authoritarian regime to alleviate pressure from the international community over his human rights record.
— Radio Free Asia

World Bank expects Cambodian economy to grow higher this year
The World Bank on Wednesday released its latest edition of Cambodia’s economic outlook, expecting that the Kingdom’s economy will grow higher this year compared to last year.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia and Vietnam agree to boost trade
Cambodia and Vietnam has agreed on a speedy implementation of mechanisms to facilitate trade, achieve faster transport connectivity, and apply one-stop services at border gates to help achieve a US$5 billion (165 billion baht) bilateral trade target.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia cancels part of plan to relax rules on foreign business role
Indonesia has cancelled part of its plan to relax restrictions on foreign ownership of industries in order to keep some sectors only for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, a government official said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

11 minutes of terror: Lion Air Flight JT610s roller coaster ride to death (HD video)
Indonesian air safety investigators yesterday detailed the terrifying 11-minute roller coaster-like ride to death of the 189 passengers and crew on board Lion Air Flight JT610 last month.
— AEC News Today (video)

Boeing May be Sued for IDR143 Billion per Passenger
Global aircraft manufacturer Boeing must prepare to face the demands that will be filed by the families of the passengers of Lion Air flight JT 610.
— Netral News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Energy Ministry Prepares To Cut Up To 50% Electricity Prices For Local Farmers
The Ministry of Energy and Mines continues to amend its development strategy so that it can ensure the reduction of electricity prices for the agricultural production sector.
— KPL

Govt to begin dam safety checks next year
The government will begin inspecting the safety standards applied to the construction of all hydropower dams in Laos next year in a bid to prevent further accidents.
— Vientiane Times

Gov’t Confirms Proposed Reduction Of Civil Servant Quota
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith confirmed on Wednesday that the government will cut the quota of civil servants for 2019 down to 1,500 which is half the number approved for 2018 as the ratio of civil servants to the population for the country is the highest in ASEAN.
— KPL

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

RM40.6b projects approved between May-Sept: MITI
Malaysia’s business investments remained resilient in the face of a trade war between the US and China, said Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Darell Leiking.
— New Straits Times

Departure levy will hurt Malaysia’s tourism industry, says expert
The implementation of the departure levy on all passengers departing Malaysian airports is expected to affect tourist arrivals.
— FMT

Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Q3 operating profit halves as fuel costs bite
AirAsia Group Bhd’s quarterly operating profit halved as higher fuel costs hurt the Malaysian flagship budget carrier.
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

BRI implementation leading committee formed under State Counsellor leadership
A leading committee for implantation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been formed with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as chairperson to establish China-Myanmar economic corridor, according to a press release issued by the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar on November 28.
— Eleven Media

U.N. rights investigators comb new conflict zone: Internet hate speech
U.N. human rights investigators are increasingly combing cyberspace to track how websites can stoke hatred and possible violence as part of expanding forensics … to strengthen traditional fact-finding in flash points such as the Himalayan region of Kashmir, Gaza and Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
— The Washington Post

Corporate Japan urges Myanmar to address business concerns
The most senior Japanese business leader in Myanmar urged the government to recognise how liberalisation, efficient bureaucracy and reliable power supply allowed Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to attract considerable investments.
— The Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Philippines gets $300 million PPP infrastructure loan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $300 million loan on August 20 to support the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen private sector participation in the government’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) infrastructure development programme.
— AEC News Today

M3 growth slows, bank lending up in October
Money supply growth slowed in October despite increased bank lending, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Thursday.
— The Manila Times

Court verdict: Cops lied, Kian delos Santos helplessly killed
Local cops of Caloocan City murdered a helpless 17-year-old boy they accused of being linked to drugs, then later lied about the circumstances of the boy’s death, a lower court verdict showed.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Mark Roy @electricnerve

Experts see underground urban development as big opportunity for Singapore
For land-scarce cities like Singapore, developing underground spaces is the next big frontier in urban planning, experts said here Thursday during a lecture on underground at the Ministry of National Development.
— Xinhua

STE marine unit poised to land contract valued up to S$400m
THE marine arm of defence and engineering group, Singapore Technologies Engineering (STE), is poised to clinch a contract valued at under S$400 million with Singapore’s Police Coast Guard (PCG).
— The Business Times

Electronic payments to be licensed as financial services extend beyond banks and borders
Grab and Go-Jek, the Southeast Asian ride-hailing platforms that were disrupting traditional banking services by offering electronic payments and other financial services, have since formed alliances with banks as part of their aggressive expansion plans.
— The Edge

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Supply chain reaction: trade war refugees race to relocate to Vietnam, Thailand
Fred Perrotta spent four years building a network of Chinese suppliers for his line of trendy backpacks, but as soon as the United States announced tariffs on almost half of its Chinese imports, he started looking for suppliers in other countries.
— Reuters

Warning sounded on growth strains
THE economic recovery of the past year is likely to run out of steam next year, with experts warning of slowing growth.
— The Nation

Collection beats target by 3.3%
The government’s revenue collection got off to a strong start in fiscal 2019, outpacing October’s target by 3.3%.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Mobile Vietnamese: Singles’ Day 2018 sales rise 240 %, but sales via PC plummet
Recent figures show nearly two-and-a-half times as many online shoppers in Vietnam made purchases on Singles’ Day 2018 compared to last year.
— AEC News Today

Micro SME and individual households fall short of policies to support them
During the process of global economic integration and growing protectionism, the fierce competition and lack of support from the legal system have put pressure on Vietnamese enterprises in general, and micro enterprises and individual households in particular.
— The Hanoi Times

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.