Asean morning news for November 6,

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Asean politicians, Unesco: Impunity for journalist killings & abuse must end (video)
A loose coalition of human-rights concerned politicians from across the region on Friday called on governments throughout Southeast Asia to end the increasing number of assaults and abuses of media workers throughout the region.
— AEC News Today

ASEAN manufacturing sector PMI falls to 49.8
The ASEAN manufacturing sector saw its operating conditions slip with headline purchasing managers’ index (PMI) falling from 50.5 in September to 49.8 in October, according to Nikkei’s ASEAN Manufacturing PMI survey data.
— Singapore Business Review

Inbound Tourism Fuels Future-Ready Cities Across Southeast Asia
Mastercard, a leader in financial technology, today unveiled a report that demonstrates the transformative power of tourism in fueling the development of smarter cities and accelerating economic growth.
— Odessa American

9 in 10 ASEAN corporates have the most bullish trade outlook in the world: report
Southeast Asian corporates are almost more positive about their company’s trade outlooks compared to global peers, as they are turning their focus to increasing investments into supply chain technology to turn looming threats of global trade tensions into a headwind, according to HSBC’s Navigator report.
— Singapore Business Review

Southeast Asia’s e-commerce giant Lazada to cultivate 8 mln e-commerce entrepreneurs, SMEs by 2030
Lazada Group, a leading e-commerce portal in Southeast Asia with the majority owned by Alibaba Group, said Monday that it will cultivate eight million e-commerce entrepreneurs and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia to grow and thrive by 2030.
— Xinhua

Thais shop the most often online in Southeast Asia: EIU Report
Consumers in the land of smiles have the most voracious online shopping habits in Southeast Asia.
— e27

Vietnam has the highest e-commerce adoption rate in Southeast Asia: EIU Report
Consumers in the land of smiles may have the most voracious online shopping habits in Southeast Asia but a higher percentage of Vietnamese are tossing items into online carts.
— e27

Muslim travel to Asia booms
GDP impact of Muslim travel in Asia is forecast to hit USD33 billion by 2020, up 27% from USD26.2 billion in 2017, according to new research unveiled this week.
— TTR Weekly

ASEAN adopts action plan on fighting terrorism
The 12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) hosted by Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw has adopted an action plan on fighting terrorism. A statement to that effect was released at the end of the meeting on November 1.
— NNT

Asean needs to get set for possibly the biggest supply chain shift in a generation
GLOBAL trade tensions continue to dominate headlines this year and the shift of production to efficient Asean countries is accelerating.
— The Business Times

SCDF to deploy hazmat vehicles, 150 officers at ASEAN Summit | Video
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will deploy 150 officers and a range of emergency vehicles for the 33rd ASEAN Summit, when hundreds of ministers and delegates from 10 Southeast Asian nations will descend on Singapore’s Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre from Nov 11 to 15.
— Channel NewsAsia

Taking food to the next level
Food is synonymous with Southeast Asia. From the mouth-watering delicacies in the streets of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines – just to name a few – to the Michelin starred restaurants that serve fine dining quality cuisine with a dash of authentic local flavours.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

First large-scale gold project in the Kingdom in early 2020
Emerald Resources, the Australian-listed mining firm behind Cambodia’s Okvau gold project in Mondulkiri province, will start its first large-scale gold project in the Kingdom in early 2020.
– Phnom Penh Post

HCM City vows to strengthen Vietnam-Cambodia ties
Ho Chi Minh City will do its best to continue bolstering the sound neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, durable and long-lasting cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, a municipal official said.
— VietnamPlus

UN Human Rights Expert on Cambodia to Hold Press Briefing on 8 November
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith, will hold a press briefing at the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) on 8 November 2018 to discuss the preliminary findings of her 11-day visit to Cambodia, according to the media advisory dated on Monday.
— Fresh News

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia, Australia sign agreement on economic partnership
The Indonesian and Australian governments on Monday signed an agreement on their partnership for economic development in Canberra on Monday.
– The Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s Third-Quarter GDP Growth Slows as Consumer, Export Sectors Struggle
Indonesia’s economic growth slowed in the third quarter, losing momentum from the previous three months and pointing to tougher conditions for Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, which has struggled with capital outflows and weaker exports and household spending.
– Jakarta Globe

Lion Air jet had damaged airspeed indicator on last four flights: Official
Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said on Monday (Nov 5) an airspeed indicator of a Boeing Co 737 MAX plane that crashed last week killing all 189 people on board was damaged for its last four flights.
– Channel News Asia

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Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Maria Mirasol Rasonable @Maria Rasonable

“Space data offers instant clues to cause of deadly Laos dam disaster”: Stanford Professor
Space data gleaned from satellites has been used to create a hypothesis on the cause of the collapse of the saddle dam D at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy project in Attepeu province.
— The Laotian Times

Xi meets Lao prime minister
SHANGHAI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday met with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, who will attend the first China International Import Expo opening Monday in Shanghai.
— Xinhuanet

Lao PDR Freight and Logistics Market estimated to be the fastest-growing region, owing to the presence of countries
The Lao PDR Freight & Logistics Market gives scope of the report includes a detailed study of Lao PDR Freight & Logistics Market with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.
— News Egypt

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Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia officially the second country in Southeast Asia to introduce a digital tax
Malaysia is officially the second country in Southeast Asia (SEA) to introduce a Digital Tax which could apply to both local and international players. Slated to be implemented by 1 January 2020, the tax is aimed to level the playing field and spark better competition in its e-commerce sector.
— The Drum

Malaysia to introduce tax on sugary soft drinks and juices
Malaysia will introduce a tax on high-sugar drinks and juices in a move to reduce levels of obesity. As of 1 April 2019, an excise duty of MYR 0.40 ($0.10) will apply to beverages containing more than 5g of sugar per 100ml and juices that contain more than 12g of sugar per 100ml. Malaysian finance minister Lim Guan Eng made the announcement when unveiling the country’s Budget 2019.
— Food Bev

Malaysia’s exports rebound in September
Malaysia’s exports rebounded by 6.7% in September 2018 to RM83 billion year-on-year (y-o-y) after a slight decrease in the previous month, according to Statistics Department.
— The Sun Daily

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Maria Mirasol Rasonable @Maria Rasonable

Mother Finance set to transform credit access in Myanmar
Access to credit will no longer be a problem for Myanmar people thanks to an innovative consumer lending application which allows anyone with a smartphone to easily apply for a loan regardless of their financial records, according to Theta Aye, founder and chief executive of Mother Finance Co.
— The Nation

Myanmar’s Ruling Party Wins 6 of 13 By-Election Seats
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s ruling party led by Aung San Suu Kyi has won at least six seats in by-elections to fill 13 of the 1,171 seats in national, regional and state parliaments, according to preliminary results released Monday.
— The New York Times

Myeik fish auction market project still stalled after a year long approval
Myanmar has yet to implement a fish auction market project in Myeik of Taninthayi Township although over a year has passed since the parliamentary approval from the majority of MPs, said Dr Win Myint, secretary of the upper house committee for agriculture, livestock and fishery development at the largest ever fishery symposium held at Myanmar Fisheries Federation headquarters.
— Eleven Myanmar

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Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Manufacturing sector’s PMI soars in October
The Philippine manufacturing sector, as reflected by the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) in October posted a 10-month high score of 54, from its previous score of 52 in September, indicating an uptick in the sector’s activity to usher-in the fourth quarter.
— Philippine News Agency

BOI-listed investments grew 26% to P515B in 10 months–source
INVESTMENTS registered with the Board of Investments (BOI) expanded 26 percent to P515 billion from January to October, the BusinessMirror learned from a highly reliable source.
— Business Mirror

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Singapore morning news

Compiled by Maria Mirasol Rasonable @Maria Rasonable

S’pore firms look to China’s millennials to drive future sales
Singapore companies are putting their bets on China’s rising wealthy millennials to drive future sales despite the ongoing trade war between China and the United States and a cyclical downturn in electronics, a survey has found.
— Straits Times

LTA starts six-month trial of metal detectors, X-ray scanners at selected MRT stations from Nov 12
From next Monday (Nov 12), some commuters at selected MRT stations will have to walk through metal detectors and pass their belongings through X-ray scanners before going through the fare gates.
— Today Singapore

Singapore banks’ good times have come and gone
Very little went wrong for DBS Group Holdings last quarter. Singapore’s biggest bank, the last to report earnings, posted a 76% jump in net income. Net interest margins widened 13 basis points and credit costs were 71% lower than a year earlier. Investment banking wobbled, but trading income surged to compensate.
— The Edge

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Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Consumer confidence drops in Sept
The Center for Economic and Business Forecasting has remarked that the U.S.-China trade war and the lower number of Chinese tourists were negative psychological factors that affected consumer confidence in September.
— NNT

Pheu Thai won’t join political discussions if invited by NCPO
The Pheu Thai Party will opt out of discussions on lifting of political restrictions between political parties and the Election Commission if the invitation comes from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
— The PBS World

The ‘war on drugs’ is a complete failure
The demand for both crystal meth and ‘yaba’ is escalating as is the production to meet the increasing demand.
— The Thaiger

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam: Southeast Asia’s fintech hub
Vietnam’s strong economic growth in recent years has led to the flourishing of the nation’s digital economy. The country’s economy in 2017 was deemed to be one of the best performing in the region. Its economy saw a 6.8 percent increase in gross domestic product (GDP) – higher than the government’s initial target of 6.7 percent – making it one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia.
— The Asean Post

Vietnam gains more from rice export in 10 months
Vietnam reaped over 2.6 billion U.S. dollars from exporting over more than 5.2 million tons of rice in the first 10 months of this year, up 16.1 percent and 3.4 percent respectively against the same period last year, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday.
— Xinhua

Cement industry surpasses 85 million tonne target
High demand, especially in global markets, have helped the cement industry surpass its annual sales target of 83-85 million tonnes in just ten months.
— Viet Nam News

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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