Asean morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Top ASEAN nations seek to boost investment in local currency
The central banks of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will chart out a framework this week to promote trade and investment in local currencies, in a latest move by emerging economies to trim exposure to volatile global markets.
— Reuters
UN slams ‘inhuman’ Brunei law
The United Nations (UN) decried Monday new “cruel and inhuman” laws set to take effect in Brunei this week which impose death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, and amputations for theft.
— The Asean Post
Russia launches turf war in Southeast Asia
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Local Council and the enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 31 January.
— La-Croix International
Answers called for on Mekong rapids
An activist who has been fighting for years against the planned dredging of sections of the Mekong River for greater shipping access has called on the authorities to clarify the status of the project, which was supposed to have been cancelled following a meeting between Thai and Chinese officials last month.
— The Phnom Penh Post
The booming halal industry
In November 2018, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s running mate Ma’ruf Amin – who is also the chief of the country’s top Islamic clerical body, the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) – revealed plans to make halal (permissible or lawful in traditional Islamic law) certification mandatory by this year.
— The Asean Post
Stronger political will is needed to combat non-tariff barriers in Asean: Panel
Asean countries need stronger political will to tackle non-tariff barriers in the region, which range from high taxation to discriminatory policies the favour local manufacturers, and tend to hurt small enterprises more, said a panel on Tuesday (April 2).
— The Straits Times
ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Retreat 28-29 March 2019, Phuket, Thailand
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand hosted the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Retreat on the 28th to 29th March 2019 in Phuket, Thailand.
— The Nation
Thailand lays on face masks for ASEAN delegates meeting in smoggy north
Thailand is providing delegates to an Asian finance minister and central bank summit with face masks this week as smoggy air pollution hits alarming levels.
— Reuters
ASEAN, Russia seek to enhance cooperation efficiency
The 17th meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 2, focusing on seeking measures to speed up joint projects and activities.
— Vietnam Plus
Why Asean now needs a regional parliament
In the view of many observers, Asean is a success story of regional integration. Despite its highly diverse membership, the 10-nation grouping is often rightly commended as a resilient regional security manager, institution builder, norm provider and dynamic economic block.
— The Nation
Google’s head of Southeast Asia and India is leaving the company
Rajan Anandan, the Vice President of Google’s Southeast Asia and India operations, is leaving the company after more than eight years with the firm, the company said on Tuesday.
— VB
Milipol Asia 2019: Security, counterterror markets expand in ASEAN region (video)
The homeland security and counterterrorism market is transitioning from the US towards Europe and Asia-Pacific.
— Shephard
The uniqueness of startup founders in Southeast Asia: Venture Voices
Populous and expansive, Southeast Asia is a region of diversity despite it sometimes being spoken about as a monolithic market.
— KrAsia
Amidst complex humanitarian crisis in ASEAN: Girls’ and boys’ right to education shall continue to be prioritised through Safe Schools Initiative beyond 2020
Education is one of the first activities suspended in times of disaster and crises.
— Reliefweb
South East Asia $55.7 Billion Third Party Logistics Market to 2025: Rise In Demand For Reducing Overall Operational Cost and Focus On Managing Timely Delivery
The “Third Party Logistics Market to 2025 – South East Asia Analysis and Forecasts by Mode of Transport, Services, End User” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.
— Cision PR Newswire
SDG Secretariat hosts regional conference
The National SDG Secretariat of Laos recently hosted a regional conference in Luang Prabang province on “Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns” for government officials from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Margaux Senlis photographs the effects of unexploded ordnance in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
“I used to love looking at old family pictures trying to imagine all the stories behind them,” says Paris-born photographer Margaux Senlis.
— Nice
Cambodia morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
Hun Sen scoffs at power shortage conspiracy theory
Prime Minister Hun Sen today denied baseless accusations that the government is purposely cutting off power to people in order to form an excuse to move forward with the controversial Stung Cheay Areng hydropower dam.
— Khmer Times
Cambodia Reveals Economic Reform Strategy To Counter EU Threat
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced plans to reform the nation’s economy on a large scale with a 17-point strategy to stimulate growth and save the private sector some $400 million per year in costs.
— Invest Vine
PM orders SEZs, investment laws finalised within months
The long wait for the new laws on Investment and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is expected to soon be near, due to an order from Prime Minister Hun Sen to the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).
— The Phnom Penh Post
See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news
Indonesia morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
Indonesia must invest billions in infocomm tech: Report
INDONESIA needs a national digital transformation plan, consulting firm A.T. Kearney has said, calling for more investment in technology and infrastructure.
— Business Times
Indonesia Advances in Military Stealth Technology
Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto may like to lament the fact that Indonesia trails its peers in firepower, but the country’s military has made sure that this is not for lack of trying.
— Jakarta Globe
Indonesia’s flag carrier orders 14 Airbus A330 aircraft
Indonesia’s flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia has ordered a total of 14 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft to support business expansion, an official of the airline said on Tuesday.
— Xinhua
See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news
Lao PDR morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Poverty persisting in Laos despite economic growth
THE economic growth rate of Laos is high compared to neighbouring countries and some regional peers, however, this has not seen poverty reduction in the country.
— The Phnom Penh Post
WB official highlights development progress made by Laos
The World Bank (WB) Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Victoria Kwakwa highlighted the development progress made by Laos in the past decade and emphasized the importance of supporting a more inclusive and sustainable pattern of economic growth in the future.
— Xinhuanet
Variation in lowland rice yield and its determinants in a rainfed area in Savannakhet Province, Laos
Irrigated areas in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) constitute only 12% of the total agricultural land.
— Springer Link
See here for more of today’s Lao morning news
Malaysia morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Malaysian entrepreneurs make the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2019
Several Malaysian entrepreneurs are among the 300 from 23 Asia-Pacific countries listed in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia this year.
— The Star Online
Petronas to have Malaysia’s second floating LNG facility ready by Q1 2020
State-owned Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas, expects to have its second floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Malaysia ready by the first quarter of next year, its chief executive, Wan Zulkiflee, told the LNG2019 conference in Shanghai on Tuesday.
— Reuters
RHB launches multi currency debit card
RHB Banking Group Bhd (RHB) has launched the Multi Currency Visa debit card, which offers access to 13 foreign currencies alongside the ringgit.
— The Star Online
See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News
Myanmar morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Property investments now more clear-cut for foreigners
Property developers and investors have been looking forward to stable regulations and foreign participation in the local real estate sector since the Condominium Law was enacted in 2016 and gradually enforced.
— Myanmar Times
Govt to announce list of preferred foreign life insurers on Friday
A list of preferred foreign life insurers permitted to operate in Myanmar will be announced on April 5,the Ministry of Planning and Finance (MOPF) said last week.
— Myanmar Times
Labour attaché office warns Myanmar workers to return through official routes
Myanmar labour attaché office made an announcement on March 30, warning its workers in Thailand to return via official routes during Thingyan period, sources said.
— Eleven Myanmar
See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news
Philippines morning news
Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu
Rody starts budget scrutiny amid House-Senate row
President Rodrigo Duterte is still “doing his homework” and scrutinizing the 2019 national budget, the Palace said on Monday, expressing optimism that he will sign the P3.757-trillion spending bill within the week.
— Manilastandard.net
US looking at terrorist financing through OFW remittances
THE United States is closely monitoring possible terrorist financing activities in the Philippines, a high-ranking Treasury official said yesterday.
— Malaya
Philippine Bonds Blow Away Global Peers as Inflation Slides
Philippine bonds were the world’s best-performers in the first quarter as slowing inflation fanned speculation the central bank has room to cut interest rates.
— Bloomberg
See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news
Singapore morning news
Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666
Singapore authorities to continue investigation of key Midas personnel amid winding-up woes
Singapore’s authorities say they will continue their investigation into Midas Holdings’ former directors and officers in the event that the insolvent company winds up.
— The Edge Singapore
All you need to know about Singapore’s proposed fake news law
After two years spent studying the threat of fake news, the Republic is taking things a step further with the introduction of sweeping new laws that will, among other things, give Government ministers broad powers to quickly stop the dissemination of online falsehoods and punish those who create and spread them.
— Today Online
Bold solutions needed for Singapore to be more self-sufficient in food
THE ongoing drive to ramp up the agri-technology sector builds on earlier agency efforts, but the government’s goal of raising local food production still calls for bold solutions, industry experts said.
— The Business Times
See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news
Thailand morning news
Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ
Thailand’s Junta Party Won the Most Votes. Now What?
Coup-prone Thailand held its first election under a rewritten constitution on March 24 after the longest stretch of military rule — nearly five years — since the early 1970s.
— Bloomberg
Wildfires Turn Thailand’s Air Into the Planet’s Most Toxic
Top Asian finance ministers and central bankers are due to have a summit in northern Thailand this week, and they’ll need pollution masks if they want to avoid breathing toxic air.
— Bloomberg
Ambassador Virachai’s body to arrive in Thailand tonight
Officials at the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC have arranged a ceremony to send the remains of Ambassador Virachai Plasai back to Thailand with highest honors.
— NNT
See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news
Vietnam morning news
Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov
Vietnam’s E-visas – Eligibility and Application Process Explained
Vietnam recently extended its electronic visa (e-visa) policy until February 2021 and expanded the list of countries that are eligible to participate. An e-visa is typically applied for online, linked to a passport number, and stored on a computer – with no stamp or label delivered before travel.
— Vietnam Briefing
Hanoi’s exports estimated to grow 11.3 percent in Q1
Hanoi is estimated to ship more than 3.3 billion USD worth of products overseas in the first three months of 2019, an annual increase of 11.3 percent.
— VNA NET
Petrol prices hiked in latest review
The retail prices of oil and petrol rose sharply on Tuesday following adjustments made by the ministries of finance and industry and trade.
— Bizhub
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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