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Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia are Asia’s top spots for China’s belt and road plan: executives
Regional companies who want to get involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s ambitious plan to boost trade and connectivity, have ranked Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia as the top three Asian countries with the most opportunities, according to a new survey.
— South China Morning Post

Expanding ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific role
The 34th ASEAN summit in Bangkok last June took place in a global economic environment that is in a state of uncertainty.
— East Asia Forum

Asean nations face huge challenges in collecting data on SDGs–officials
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are facing “numerous difficulties” in collecting data to track their progress in terms of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an official of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
— Business Mirror

Cross border payment systems in ASEAN gather steam
In the past, cross-border payments were associated with long processing times and hidden costs.
— Asean Today

Delta Future Industry Summit 2019 Drives Ideas to Power ASEAN Smart City Transformation
Delta Electronics (Thailand) PCL. hosted the second Delta Future Industry Summit to offer its stakeholders opportunities to connect and share ideas for industry development in ASEAN under the theme-Powering ASEAN’s Urban Transformation.
— Yahoo Finance

China and ASEAN Set up a Good Example of a New Type of International Relations
The historical relationship between China and ASEAN is the basis of China’s “Maritime Silk Road” initiative.
— Business Wire (media release)

ASEAN Needs to Address Several Gaps to Be at the Forefront of Fintech
Experts in both the public and private sectors all agreed that ASEAN stands to be at the forefront of the development of financial technology fintech by making financial services and financing available to both the 53% of unbanked population and MSMEs in ASEAN.
— Fintech News Malaysia (blog)

Pernia calls for stronger Asean cooperation in dev’t issues
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia on Thursday called for stronger cooperation and collaboration among member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in addressing economic, environmental, and social issues facing the region.
— Philippine News Agency

ACB promotes youth action for biodiversity conservation
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) will engage the youth in efforts to reverse biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia.
— Philippine News Agency

Apple facing iPhone challenges in SE Asia from price pressure
Apple’s iPhone is competing with considerably cheaper rivals in the Southeast Asia smartphone market, Canalys analysts advise, with approximately 62% of the region’s smartphone shipments stemming from Chinese-based smartphone brands.
— AppleInsider

China – ASEAN youth exchange festival underway in China
The 7th ASEAN-China Young Leaders Exchange Festival began in Haikou, the capital city of China’s Hainan province, on August 13.
— Vietnamplus

No more babies for ASEAN?
ASEAN countries have collectively achieved remarkable economic growth, however, when it comes to fertility rates, the region has been drifting.
— The Asean Post

Hanoi contributes to expanding Vietnam-Cambodia relations
Hanoi will continue to contribute to the strengthening of the Vietnam – Cambodia relations, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has told outgoing Cambodian ambassador to Vietnam Prak Nguon Hong.
— Nhan Dan Online

Taiwan bolsters scientific cooperation with Southeast Asia
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) held an event on Wednesday (Aug. 14) to present its achievements in promoting collaboration with Southeast Asian countries on scientific research and technological innovation.
— Taiwan News

ASEAN pop culture takes off
ASEAN countries have been portrayed in pop culture through many famous Hollywood films for decades.
— TTR Weekly

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem          @raksmey.aecnews

Nearly 8,000 families impacted by recent floods
The National Committee for Disaster Management today said floods in the Kingdom over the past week affected about 8,000 families, killing four and impacted more than 5,000 hectares of rice paddy.
— Khmer Times

Sar Kheng floats public administration reform
Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Tuesday said the Kingdom’s public administration needs to be strengthened in order to maintain political stability should there be a change of government.
— Khmer Times

Authorities to keep up fight against human trafficking
The National Committee for Counter-Trafficking yesterday told government officials to identify and address the causes of human trafficking in the Kingdom in order to have Cambodia removed from the US government’s Tier 2 Watch List.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia’s foreign debt rises 10 percent on high govt borrowing
Indonesia’s external debt level was up about 10 percent year-on-year (yoy) in the second quarter due to a significant increase in government net borrowing.
— The Jakarta Post

Danone in Yogyakarta: Revamped research centre to focus on stunting and anaemia in Indonesia
Danone has officially inaugurated its newly expanded Danone Nutricia Research – Sarihusada Research & Innovation Centre in Yogyakarta, Indonesia – to pump up research and innovation efforts on specialised nutrition needs in the country.
— Food Navigator- Asia

Healthcare, IT open new road to India-Indonesia friendship
Indonesia’s US$5 billion pharmaceutical market is dominated by 178 domestic companies, four state-owned and 24 multinational players, and one of the biggest challenges facing health care in the country today is getting access to medicines at lower prices.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem           @raksmey.aecnews

Laos’ economic prospects remain bright: IMF
The international financial institution unveiled its projection last week as part of the Article 4 Consultation with the Lao PDR mission, which took place in Vientiane in May.
–ANN/Vientiane Times

Vietnam, Laos forge inspection cooperation
Politburo member Tran Quoc Vuong hosted a reception for a delegation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s Inspection Commission and the Lao Government Inspection Authority in Hanoi on August 15.
— Vietnam Plus

Int’l Youth Day celebrations seek to transform education
More than 300 young people from around the country met at the Lao Youth Union in Vientiane on Wednesday to celebrate International Youth Day (August 12) under the global theme of ‘Transforming education’.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

Malaysia’s Electric Utility Says Bitcoin Miners Stole $25M in Power
Malaysian power utility firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) is tightening measures in a bid to stem the millions lost to electricity theft by Bitcoin (BTC) miners.
— Coin Telegraph

Malaysia renews licence of Australian rare earths plant
Malaysia on Thursday renewed the operating licence of a controversial Australian-run rare earths plant for six months despite concerns from green groups about the impact of radioactive waste it produces.
— France 24

Miti optimistic of aerospace industry growing 10-15% this year
The Ministry of International Trade Industry (MITI) is optimistic of Malaysia’s aerospace industry growing between 10 to 15 per cent year-on-year.
— The Sun Daily

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

Myanmar rebels carry out unprecedented attack on military academy
Myanmar’s military was Thursday fighting rebels who mounted an unprecedented strike at an army academy killing at least one, apparently in retaliation for massive drug seizures.
— CNA

Myanmar Set to Ink Pact with China on Border Cooperation Zones
Signing of framework agreement will kick implementation of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative in Myanmar into high gear.
— Irrawaddy

World Bank helps Myanmar private bank transform business operation
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will help a Myanmar private bank undertake a project to transform its business operation, according to Myanmar Citizens Bank (MCB) Thursday.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

Philippines firm in South China Sea arbitral victory vs China
The Philippines remains firm in its victory against China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea and would push for talks to settle the maritime dispute, a Malacañang official said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

Gov’t urged to turn to PPP for infra program as absorptive capacity issue remains
With the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program seen at risk of failing to meet its goals as major infrastructure agencies continue to underspend their budgets, an economist urged the government to turn to the traditional public-private partnership (PPP) mode of rolling out big-ticket projects.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH, US to establish, operate P520M state-of-art counterterrorism training center
The Philippines and the United States have signed an agreement to establish a P520 million state-of-the-art regional counterterrorism training center in Cavite.
— Inquirer.net

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy         @justhine.aecnews

Singapore seen as second in region for Belt and Road opportunities: survey
VIETNAM, Singapore and Indonesia are seen as the markets in Asean and South Asia with the most opportunities related to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to a survey by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and PwC Singapore.
— The Business Times

Upgraded SGH Burn Centre opens, MOH to redevelop burns capability in other hospitals
The upgraded Singapore General Hospital Burn Centre opened on Thursday (Aug 15), as the Ministry of Health (MOH) also announced plans to redevelop the burns capability in other hospitals in Singapore.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Sisters’ Islands Marine Park could join worldwide network of precious marine areas
It might be Singapore’s first Hope Spot under an international initiative to draw public attention to marine areas which may need more protection.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

Thai second-quarter GDP growth seen weakest in four-and-a-half years as exports tumble: Reuters poll
Thailand’s economic growth likely slowed in April-June from the prior three months, with the annual pace the weakest for any quarter in four and a half years, amid cooling global demand and trade tensions, a Reuters poll showed.
— Reuters

Thailand Says Slowing Economy Dims Outlook for Minimum-Wage Hike
The Thai government’s pledge to boost the country’s minimum wage is foundering because of an economic slowdown.
— Bloomberg

Senior NACC official faulted for omitting 227m baht from asset declaration
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission has faulted one of its senior officials for concealing his and his wife’s assets worth about 227 million baht.
— Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

Vietnam’s e-commerce market may rank third in Southeast Asia
Vietnam could have Southeast Asian’s third-largest e-commerce market by 2025. The information was released during the Vietnam online marketing forum in Hanoion August 14.
— Viet Nam Net

Vietnam speeds up tourism cooperation with Southeast Asian countries
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism yesterday hosted the sixth Meeting of Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Southern Tourism Corridor with representatives of tourism agencies from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.
— Sggp News

Vietnam aims to sell stakes in nearly 100 state firms by end of 2020
Vietnam plans to speed up its privatisation programme by selling stakes in nearly 100 state-owned firms by the end of 2020, including Agribank, the government said late on Thursday.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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About Asean morning news.

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