Asean morning news for October 10

Asean morning news for October 10
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Asean morning newsAsean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Vietnam fastest growing Asean economy, says British bank
Driven by strong FDI-supported electronics manufacturing and rising consumption, Vietnam’s GDP growth is likely to reach 7 per cent in 2018, according to Standard Chartered Bank.
— Inquirer.Net

Japan, Mekong Leaders To Adopt New Strategy Centering On Connectivity
The leaders of Japan and five Southeast Asian nations along the Mekong River held a summit Tuesday in Tokyo with the aim of adopting a new three-year strategy to improve connectivity in the region through quality infrastructure building.
— Lao News Agency

PN to deploy logistic support vessel in China-ASEAN military exercises
Philippine Navy (PN) Chief Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad said the service command is expected to deploy one of its two Bacolod City-class logistic support vessels in relation to the joint military exercise to be held in Zhanjiang, China, from October 22 to 29, 2018.
— Manila Bulletin

Asean countries assess progress of legal works
A meeting of the Asean Senior Law Officials (ASLOM) was held in Vientiane during October 9-10 for consultations on cooperation and to assess the progress of the body’s work.
— Vientiane Times

Cooperation can aid peaceful resolution of sea disputes: observers
The Philippines will attend joint military drills held by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the first time later this month in a move that Chinese observers said could lead to a more peaceful and positive resolution of disputes over the South China Sea.
— Global Times

PHL, China to hold joint military exercises in Zhanjiang
The Philippines will hold joint military exercises with China during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-China military exercise to be held in Zhanjiang, China on October 22 to 29, the Defense department said Monday.PHL, China to hold joint military exercises in Zhanjiang.
— Update Philippines

Abe pledges to promote free trade with Thailand, offers legal and political assistance to Cambodia
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday confirmed their cooperation in promoting free trade, with the Southeast Asian country expressing its readiness to join the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership that Japan has helped spearhead.
— Japan Times

IMF-WB – Indonesia, Asean-5 economies to grow 5.2 percent next year
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that Indonesia called as the ASEAN-5 economies along with Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, will grow 5.2 percent next year, or slightly lower than last projection at 5.3 percent in 2018.
— Antara News

Japan and Mekong nations to push 150 Southeast Asia projects
The leaders of Japan and five Southeast Asian countries that share the Mekong River on Tuesday agreed to adopt a new policy that pushes forward more than 150 projects in the Mekong region using official development assistance from Japan.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Sabah to lift barter trade ban with southern Philippines, Indonesia in 2019
The ban on barter trade between Sabah and its neighbours – the southern Philippines and Indonesia – which was instituted due to a spate of cross-border kidnappings, is set to be lifted on Jan 1 next year.
— The Star Online

Malaysia praised, Singapore near bottom of pile in inequality index
Malaysia ranked 75th worldwide in a new index by international aid agency Oxfam spotlighting government policies to reduce income disparity between the rich and poor in their countries.
— Malay Mail

Google augments regional cloud team
Google is expanding headcount at its local cloud team threefold to capitalise on growth in cloud computing in Southeast Asia, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation.
— Bangkok Post

Current plastic and packaging waste initiatives in South East Asia cover just 5% of waste: FIA study
The scale of impact of current initiatives to deal with plastic and packaging waste in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam have been found to be affect only 5% or less of waste, according to a comprehensive study by Food Industry Asia (FIA).
— FoodNavigator-Asia.com

The 3 Asian countries in the race to legalise medical marijuana
MUCH of Asia is home the world’s toughest drug laws that impose stiff penalties like the mandatory death sentence for trafficking of illicit narcotics.
— Asian Correspondent

BRI debt trap: An unintended consequence?
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) celebrates its fifth anniversary this month.
— The Asean Post

Asian banks tear down brick-and-mortar expansion model
Just a few years ago, starting a retail banking operation in Indonesia, a nation teeming with islands stretched across a distance as wide as the U.S., would require investing in thousands of physical branches and on an army of bank tellers.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Lazada takes a stand on gender equality in emerging markets in Asia Pacific
Lazada has made a commitment to boost economic opportunities and gender equality for women in emerging markets in Asia Pacific.
— The Drum

ASEAN Terrorism Challenge in the Spotlight with Singapore Symposium
The convening of a recent meeting put the focus on one of the foremost security issues for regional policymakers.
— The Diplomat

Data-Driven Marketing Strategies Can Deliver More Value for South East Asia Companies
Southeast Asia businesses are not fully tapping the potential of data-driven marketing strategies to increase their revenue and realize cost efficiencies, according to new research from The Boston Consulting Group and Google.
— Markets Insider

How Malaysia Measures Up To Southeast Asia’s Payments Landscape
According to SKMM, Malaysia’s smartphone penetration grew from 68.7% in 2016 to 75.9% in 2017, and by all measures, will most likely show an upwards trend this year too.
— Fintech News Malaysia (media release) (blog)

Plant-based beverages and dairy to pave the way into Asian market growth for Freedom Foods
The growing demand for plant-based beverages and dairy products in South East Asia and China is Australia’s Freedom Foods’ key for growing the Asian market, according to its MD.
— FoodNavigator-Asia.com

Myanmar to host ASEAN-COCI meeting in November
Myanmar will host the 53rd meeting of ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (ASEAN-COCI) in Nay Pyi Taw on Nov.12-16 under the framework of ASEAN Charter, Myanmar News Agency reported Tuesday.
— Global Times

MITI hopes Asean FTA to reach substantial agreement by year-end, says Leiking
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking hopes that the free trade agreement (FTA) between Asean countries can reach an agreement by the end of this year.
— The Edge Markets

Training course guides how to benefit from ASEAN cooperation funds
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the ASEAN Secretariat is hosting a training course in HCM City from October 9-10 to guide how to draw projects to take advantage of resources from ASEAN and ASEAN-dialogue partners cooperation funds.
— Vietnam Plus

10 Places In Southeast Asia That Are Overrated (10 On Everyone’s Bucket List)
Brace yourselves, winter is coming. No joke, it’s really coming very soon, so if you shiver at the thought of cold weather, rain, and snow, it is high time for you to think whether you want to become similar to birds of passage and head to the southern skies.
— TheTravel (blog)

ASEAN project development course opens in HCM City
The ASEAN project development training course for Việt Nam, which aims to improve the quality of project proposals, kicked off yesterday in HCM City.
— Viet Nam News

Manipur: Historic Indo-ASEAN friendship car rally arrives in Imphal
The Indo-ASEAN friendship car rally, flagged off from Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery, popularly known as Tawang Monastery at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh on September 12, returned to Imphal, officials said on Tuesday.
— Northeast Now

ASEAN boost agriculture teamwork
Agriculture affects the economic, social and political stability of individual member states and the whole of ASEAN (Associate of Southeast Asian Nations) and partner countries, said Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Xuân Cường in the preparatory senior gathering of the 40th meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF), held in Hà Nội yesterday.
— Vietnam News

Cambodia morning newsCambodia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Japan airs hope for Cambodia’s development through democratic process
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday expressed hope for the development of Cambodia through a democratic process amid criticism from the international community over the Southeast Asian nation’s latest election results.
— Japan Today

EU tariffs threaten to flatten Cambodia
Months after Cambodia held what many observers saw as a badly rigged election, the European Union is ramping up trade pressure in punitive response to the move away from rights and democracy.
— Asia Times

Cambodia’s Anti-Archive Film Initiative Boosts Local Helmers
Cambodian filmmaking collective Anti-Archive’s Echoes of Tomorrow initiative debuted in Busan’s Wide Angle shorts competition with the world premiere of Danech San’s “A Million Years.” Echoes of Tomorrow provides an opportunity to three first-time filmmakers to direct a short each.
— Variety

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

 

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Death toll in Indonesia quake passes 2,000 as searches for survivors called off
The death toll from the earthquake and tsunami on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island has climbed past 2,000, the country’s disaster agency said Tuesday, as authorities prepared to end the search for thousands of victims feared buried in mud and rubble in the hardest-hit neighbourhoods.
— South China Morning Post

IMF-WB – Indonesia, Asean-5 economies to grow 5.2 percent next year
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that Indonesia called as the ASEAN-5 economies along with Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, will grow 5.2 percent next year, or slightly lower than last projection
— Antara News

Indonesian firms to sign pacts on $13.6 bln of infrastructure projects
Indonesian state-owned companies this week will sign deals pushing ahead about $13.6 billion in planned infrastructure projects as the country seeks to diversify funding sources, authorities and a brokerage house executive said on Tuesday.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

 

Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR morning news

Compiled by           @Maria Rasonable

 

Quality infrastructure proving useful, effective, PM says in Japan
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has exchanged views with fellow heads of government from Mekong countries and Japan at the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit from October 8-9 in Tokyo.
— Vientiane Times

Laos, Japan Highly Value Bilateral Cooperation
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have highly valued the bilateral cooperation between the two countries under the Mekong-Japan cooperation framework, especially the implementation of the activities under Tokyo Strategy 2015 and Action Plan for Realising Tokyo Strategy 2016-2018.
— Lao News Agency

Bokeo police seize 4.3m amphetamine pills
Police have launched a manhunt for a gang of drug traffickers after seizing more than four million amphetamine pills in Tonpheung district of Bokeo province last week.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia may introduce new taxes, sell assets to pay debt: PM Mahathir
Malaysia may introduce new taxes and sell assets such as land to pay down debt, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday (Oct 9), as his administration struggles with liabilities of around RM1 trillion (US$240.67 billion).
— Channel NewsAsia

Two proposals, so far, on the third national car project
Two automotive industry players have submitted proposals on the third national car project so far, the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) said.
— The Star Online

Malaysia plans new taxes to help pay off snowballing debt
Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said Tuesday the government plans to new tax measures to help raise funds to pay off national debts that have snowballed due to corruption under the previous government.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar morning news

Compiled by           @Maria Rasonable

 

BRI debt trap: An unintended consequence?
Myanmar decided to scale down a new port in Kyauk Pyu from US$7.3 billion to US$1.3 billion.
— The Asean Post

Annual FDI inflows expected to fetch $ 5.8 billion in 2018-19 FY
Foreign investment is expected to hit up to US$ 5.8 billion in 2018-2019 fiscal year, said Aung Naing Oo, Director-General of Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, at a ceremony to introduce the book titled “Myanmar Investment Promotion Plan (MIPP)” at Thingaha Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on October 8.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar’s Ambitious 20-Year Plan to Attract Foreign Investment
In an effort to counteract the significant decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) over the last two fiscal years, the government’s Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has launched a major investment promotion plan which aims to attract more than $200 billion through responsible and quality business over the next 20 years.
— The Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

 

Philippines morning newsPhilippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Duterte scraps Philippines rice import cap to fight inflation
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the lifting of two-decade-old restrictions on rice imports, his spokesman said on Tuesday, paving the way for unlimited purchases of the diet staple as the government strives to tame soaring inflation.
— Today Online

Trade gap widens to $18.9 billion in first half of 2018
The country’s trade deficit widened to $18.94 billion in the first semester of the year as imports continued to significantly outpace exports, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

P4.8B anti-flood project starts
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday broke ground for the P4.8-billion flood mitigation project for low-lying areas and municipalities of Pampanga.
— Malaya

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning newsSingapore morning news

Compiled by           @Maria Rasonable

 

No consensus on MAS’ next monetary policy move
Economists remain split on whether Singapore’s central bank is likely to tighten its monetary policy further – allowing for a stronger Singapore dollar – in its biannual review on Friday.
— Straits Times

S’pore fully committed to climate change action: Masagos
In light of the serious climate change warning issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Singapore stays fully committed to supporting global action on the issue.
— Straits Times

Singapore ranks among bottom 10 globally on tackling inequality: Oxfam
SINGAPORE is ranked among the bottom 10 countries globally on tackling inequality, according to an Oxfam International study released on Tuesday.
– Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

 

Thailand morning newsThailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Abe pledges to promote free trade with Thailand, offers legal and political assistance to Cambodia
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday confirmed their cooperation in promoting free trade, with the Southeast Asian country expressing its readiness to join the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership that Japan has helped spearhead.
— Japan Times

Investors and analysts both rosy on the Thai economy
Political clarity and continued economic expansion have bolstered investor sentiment to its highest level in seven months and prompted analysts to forecast the Thai stock market hitting 1,826 points by year’s end.
— NNT

Air safety plan won’t be ready until 2022
Air transport officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said Tuesday they will an official air safety master plan, but not before 2022.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

 

Vietnam morning newsVietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam fastest growing Asean economy, says British bank
Driven by strong FDI-supported electronics manufacturing and rising consumption, Vietnam’s GDP growth is likely to reach 7 per cent in 2018, according to Standard Chartered Bank.
— Inquirer.Net

Seafood exports likely to rake in $9b this year
Viet Nam expects to earn a total of US$9 billion from seafood exports this year, a year-on-year increase of 7 per cent, after achieving good results in the first nine months, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
— Bizhub

Foreign manufacturers in dire need of local qualified suppliers
Though having high demands for high-quality input materials and spare parts for their production bases in Vietnam, foreign manufacturers are finding it hard to seek for local qualified suppliers, experts said.
— 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.

 

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