Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

Growth Outlooks for India and Southeast Asia Cut by Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank downgraded economic growth forecasts for India and Southeast Asia for 2019 as global risks from trade tensions to Brexit mount.
— Bloomberg

Thailand ready to host AFMGM
Another important event for the Thai government will be the fifth ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM), scheduled to take place in the northern province of Chiang Rai during April 3rd to 5th.
–NBT World (video)

ASEAN, China, Japan, S. Korea eye more local currency swaps
Finance ministers and central bank deputies of 13 East Asian countries on Wednesday discussed plans to increase the role of local currencies through currency swap transactions to avoid overreliance on the U.S. dollar.
— The Mainichi

Brunei urges tourism after introducing death penalty for homosexuality
Culture. Heritage. Nature. Contemporary Asia. A distinctive, exciting, and undiscovered travel destination in Asia.
— NEWS.com.au (video)

Singapore aims to lead the way in Industry 4.0 efforts in Asean
In order for the Asean region to unlock its full potential through an Industry 4.0 transformation, collaboration among Asean member states will be key, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon said on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

The US and Philippines are reportedly discussing deploying a rocket system in the South China Sea to fend off China
The US and the Philippines discussed the placement of an upgraded rocket system in the South China Sea to defend against Chinese expansion in the disputed territory, the South China Morning Post reported.
— Business Insider

ASEAN, South Korea mark 30 years of amity
Historic events with South Korea are to take place November. It will host the third ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit and the first Korea-Mekong Summit in Busan, South Korea from Nov. 25 to 27.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

South East Asian Fellowship Program on Drug Policy 2019
Release, the UK’s centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law, is proud to invite applications to the 2019 South East Asian Fellowship Program on Drug Policy.
— Release

MRO Investment Heats Up in Southeast Asia
A region of rapid growth and huge potential, Southeast Asia continues to witness a surge in aerospace activity as providers of all sizes vie to capitalize on rising maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) demand.
— AIN Online

Asean can be neutral platform for countries outside region to do business: Chan Chun Sing
Asean can be a neutral place for economies beyond this region to do business with each other, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday (April 3).
— The Straits Times

Vietnam vows to join ASEAN’s cross-border crime prevention framework
Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Van Thanh is leading a delegation to attend a high-level regional conference themed “Synchronising Trade and Security Plans in Support of ASEAN 2025” which kicked off in Bangkok on April 3.
— Vietnam Plus

Lancang-Mekong Cooperation: Blessing or curse?
The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) marked its third anniversary last week with the announcement that China’s trade with the five Mekong member countries – Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – has reached over US$260 billion for the period, highlighting the overarching role China plays in these five countries’ economies.
— The Asean Post

Southeast Asia’s Annual Future Grid Revenue Expected to Reach $13 Billion in 2027
Mirroring much of the developed world, Southeast Asia is fundamentally transforming its electric system to adopt a smart grid framework, according to a new report by Navigant Research.
— T&D World

Cooperation never so needed for future of Mekong River basin
Today, we who live in the Mekong River basin face unprecedented risks and challenges.
— The Phnom Penh Post

ETDA holds training to boost cybersecurity knowledge
According to a recent press release, the Electronic Transaction Development Office ETDA,) recently organized a training session for cybersecurity personnel from the ASEAN member states for the 5th time at the newly established ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Center (AJCCBC).
— OpenGov

How can digitalisation ease the plight of Southeast Asia’s smallholder farmers?
Although smallholders provide four out of every five plates of food eaten in the region, they remain some of the poorest people due to a lack of information, capital and funding.
— Eco-Business

SE Asia educators plan better future for border schools
A three-day workshop run by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) opened in Vientiane on Tuesday to discuss the Border School Project, aimed at promoting inclusive and accessible education in border areas.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

Cambodia’s 2019 GDP grows by 7 percent: ADB
Cambodia’s economic growth is projected to stay robust with 7 percent in 2019 due to strong economic performance last year, according to Asian Development Bank.
— Khmer Times

Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen Orders Critics’ Electricity Shut Off Amid Furor Over Power Shortages
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has told officials to cut off electricity to the homes of those who claim he orchestrated blackouts to drum up public support for a controversial hydropower dam, after the head of an environmental NGO suggested the government was responsible for power outages that have plagued the country this year.
— Radio Free Asia

Cambodia reports first outbreak of African swine fever: OIE
Cambodia reported a first outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in backyard pigs near the Vietnam border, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Wednesday, citing the Cambodian agriculture ministry.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

Shallow quake injures one, damages dozens of houses, buildings in western Indonesia
A shallow earthquake of 5.0 magnitude struck Indonesia’s East Java province on Tuesday, injuring one person and destroying dozens of houses and buildings, disaster agency officials said on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Indonesia ends anti-dumping duties on Philippine bananas
This Tuesday, Indonesia’s Trade Minister stated that his nation will no longer impose anti-dumping duties on banana imports from the Philippines.
— Fresh Plaza

Is Indonesia prepared to defend its palm oil sector?
The government has shown its commitment to defending the palm oil sector from a negative campaign waged by the European Union (EU), which has been resilient in its stance against the commodity in recent years.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

Lao PDR’s Economic Growth To Remain Stable In 2019, 2020, ADB Outlook
In 2019 and 2020, the Economic growth in the Lao PDR is expected to remain stable at 6.5% supported by the expanding agriculture, energy, industry, and services sectors, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said in its latest report.
— KPL

Undernutrition robs Lao children of the start they need
Undernutrition is a chronic problem for children in land-locked Laos. If children are underfed for the first two years of their life, they will forever impaired.
— UCA News

Chinese Investors Scrambling to Buy Into Laos’ Boten SEZ Ahead of Railway
Laos’ Boten Specific Economic Zone (SEZ) is enjoying strong interest from Chinese investors as the Lao-China railway nears completion, but local villagers are fearful of the rapid change.
— RFA

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

Malaysia’s former PM Najib pleads not guilty as corruption trial starts
Malaysia’s disgraced former leader Najib Razak pleaded not guilty to all charges against him on Wednesday (Apr 3) at the start of his trial over a multibillion-dollar financial scandal that brought down his government last year and sent shockwaves around the world.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia is world’s largest consumer of illegal cigarettes
Malaysia has become the largest consumer of illegal cigarettes in the world, with over 12 billion sticks sold last year, according to a study by research house Nielson and the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers.
— The Star Online

Malaysian Rights Panel: Police ‘Probably’ Behind Abduction of Pastor, Activist
Malaysian police agents were probably behind the abductions of a Christian pastor and an activist more than two years ago, the parliamentary-backed national human rights commission concluded Wednesday, urging state authorities to create a task force and probe what it declared as “enforced disappearances.”
— Benar News

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

Rakhine aid access ban leaves 95,000 lacking basic services, say INGOs
Nearly 100,000 people in Rakhine State are unable to access essential services because of a ban on aid organisations entering townships affected by fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army, humanitarian groups have warned in a joint statement.
— Frontier Myanmar

Sugar export licences to be suspended on lack of demand
The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) last month suspended 103 licenses to re-export sugar due to a lack of demand from China, said U Win Htay, deputy chair of the Myanmar Sugar and Sugarcane Related Products Merchant & Manufacturers Association.
— Myanmar Times

Curfew imposed in western Myanmar town
A curfew was imposed in Minpya town, Myanmar’s western Rakhine state, on Tuesday, the town’s General Administration Office said.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

ADB reduces PH economic growth forecast to P6.4%
The Asian Development Bank said Wednesday it reduced the 2019 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.4 percent from the previous estimate of 6.7 percent following the lower-than-expected gross domestic product growth of 6.2 percent in 2018.
— Manilastandard.net

Philippines news site chief pleads not guilty to tax evasion charges
Maria Ressa, the head of a Philippine news website known for critical reports about President Rodrigo Duterte, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to tax evasion charges.
— Reuters

East Asians dominate Boracay’s foreign visitors
Foreigners from East Asia dominated the number of inbound travelers to Boracay Island for the first quarter this year.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

Singapore’s manufacturing PMI eases to 50.8 in March
The Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM) announced on Wednesday that the country’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI), an early indicator of manufacturing activity, grew from 50.4 in February to 50.8 in March, the Business Times reported.
— Xinhua

Singapore’s decision to deny entry to all foreign vehicles with outstanding fines caused a jam at the causeway, and Malaysians aren’t too happy about it
As if the two entry points between Singapore and Malaysia aren’t already packed enough on a normal day – there’s even more bad news.
— Business Insider

Singapore Government rejects Human Rights Watch’s criticisms of new law targeting online falsehoods
The Government rejected Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) criticisms on Wednesday (Apr 3) that the new Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill would excessively restrict online freedom of speech.
— CNA (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

Army employs thousands of troops to fight forest fires in North
The Royal Thai Army has deployed thousands of troops to reinforce volunteers and forest officials fighting widespread forest fires,which have been sending smog across nine of the country’s upper northern provinces for the past several weeks.
— Thai PBS World

DOLE Announces Thailand Will Need Filipino English Teachers Soon
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that Thailand will need Pinoy English teachers soon.
— Philippine News

Police claim they have sufficient evidence against Thanathorn
Deputy national police chief has claimed that police have sufficient evidence to support the sedition charge filed against Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Jungroongruangkit.
— Thai PBS World

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

Vietnam’s digital trade may be worth $42 bn by 2030
The economic value of digital trade-enabled benefits to Vietnam’s economy is estimated to be worth VND81 trillion ($3.5 billion) but this could grow 12-fold under the right settings by 2030, according to “The Data Revolution: How Vietnam can capture the digital trade opportunity at home and abroad” report released on March 26 by the Hinrich Foundation with the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) and AlphaBeta.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietjet receives flagship Airbus A321neo aircraft
Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet last week took delivery of a brand new A321neo, registered as VN-A600m, in Toulouse (France) in a ceremony featuring the presence of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and fellow dignitaries from the Vietnamese National Assembly who were on an official state visit to France.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam supermarkets turn to banana leaves to wrap vegetables
Several supermarkets in Vietnam have joined a campaign to use non-plastic products to wrap vegetables in a bid to protect the environment, state media reported on Wednesday (April 3).
— The Straits 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.