Asean morning news for January 21, 2019

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Down to work: Asean foreign ministers focus on trade, humanity, crime (video)
Following a day of social immersion and the opportunity to sound each other out on issues with candid one-on-one talks and a working dinner, Asean’s foreign minister got down to work on Friday (Jan 18) with trade, humanity, and crime key items on the agenda.
— AEC News Today (video)

Hope for Rohingya: Asean foreign ministers put China, Myanmar on notice
A gathering of Asean foreign ministers in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on Friday signalled that the bloc is no longer prepared to ignore the actions of member states if it damages the image of the collective with external partners, at the same time putting China on notice over the South China Sea.
— AEC News Today

Behind the scenes at the 2019 Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat – Day 1 (gallery)
Foreign ministers from Asean’s ten member states have met for the 19th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AFMR), with a broad range of topics and views being tabled and canvassed by host nation Thailand.
— AEC News Today

Getting to work: 2019 Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat – Day 2 (gallery)
Following a day of social and cultural immersion and one-on-one chats, Asean’s foreign ministers got down to the formal work on Friday (Jan 18) in the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai.
— AEC News Today

ASEAN encourages sustainable development to create regional stability, prosperity
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to encourage sustainable cooperation as part of the efforts to create stability and prosperity in the region, according to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.
— Antara News

Roundup: Chinese ambassador advises on future development of ASEAN+3 tourism cooperation
At the 18th Meeting of ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministers held on Friday in Vietnam’s northern Quang Ninh province, head of the Chinese delegation gave suggestions on the future development of ASEAN+3 tourism cooperation.
— Brinkwire

World Bank arm IFC sees US$20 trillion worth of green investment opportunities in India, Asia-Pacific
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a private equity and venture capital arm of the World Bank Group, is set on climate related investments, with US$20 trillion worth of opportunities in Asia-Pacific and India by 2030.
— South China Morning Post

Consensus reached on expanding CPTPP trade deal
Trade Minister David Parker and 10 of his counterparts have settled on guidelines to let other countries join the CPTPP trade agreement for exporters in the Pacific Rim.
— Stuff

Indonesia encourages completion of ASEAN concept regarding Indo-Pacific regional architecture
The Indonesian government encouraged the completion of the ASEAN concept regarding the Indo-Pacific regional architecture in accordance with the principles and scope of cooperation conveyed by Indonesia.
— Antara News

US Asean strategy: From economic devt to militarization
IN a recent editorial, The Manila Times expressed concern that relatively benign economic conditions may lead to a false sense of security as “the United States-China trade war may be starting to inflict collateral damage on the economy.”
— The Manila Times

Import Procedures in ASEAN
Importers first need to register with the Registry of Companies and Business Names (through the Ministry of Finance) in order to obtain a company registration number.
— Asean Briefing

Decoding the future of blockchain for ASEAN in 2019
2019 will mark the tenth anniversary of the first deployment of blockchain technology. It was in 2009 that the still elusive Satoshi Nakamoto released the first version of bitcoin.
— Asean Today

Southeast Asia feels burn as global trade tensions heat up
Southeast Asia, seen as a potential winner from the US-China trade war, is starting to see more sour data, with a string of export reports showing that tensions are weighing heavily on the trade-reliant region.
— Business Mirror

East Asian partners facilitate Asean travel
South Korea will continue work on visas so that more people from Asean countries can easily make a visit, said Yu Byungchae, director general of the tourism industry policy bureau at the RoK’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
— Inquirer.net/ Viet Nam News

China, ASEAN countries emerge as biggest consumers of Korean agro-fishery products. | #AsiaNewsNetwork
South Korea’s agro-fishery products are gaining popularity in China and Southeast Asia on the back of their reputation for quality, freshness and safety.
— Eleven

Good fortunes in ASEAN’s financial services
Over the past decade, the financial services sector in Southeast Asia has seen growth that is nothing short of impressive.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

EU Rice Tariffs ‘A Weapon to Kill Cambodian Farmers’
The Ministry of Commerce has expressed regret over the EU’s imposed tariff on Cambodian rice; and considers the measure “a weapon to kill Cambodian farmers”.
— Cambodia News English

EU plays hardball with Cambodian hardman
Cambodia’s strongman leader Hun Sen, a battle-hardened veteran of the Khmer Rouge, faces one of the toughest fights of his long political life this week in Brussels.
— Politico

Cambodian PM Begins Official Visit in China
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, started today his three-day official visit in China, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart H.E. Li Keqiang.
— Agence Kampuchea Press

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Capital inflows reach Rp 14.75t as of Thursday
Bank Indonesia (BI) has recorded that capital inflows into the country totaled Rp 14.57 trillion (US$1.03 billion) in the period from Jan. 1 to Thursday.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia set to tax imports
Indonesian finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati says she is prepared to increase taxes on imports to keep the rising trade deficit under control and boost exports amid the potential global slowdown.
— Asean Economist

Indonesia’s Investment Outlook for 2019
Indonesia in recent years has registered a steady growth at above 5 percent. Steady investment flows have also allowed Indonesia’s economy to expand at a rapid pace.
— Asean Briefing

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Lao PDR’s Macroeconomic Stability Amidst Uncertainty
Economic growth in the Lao PDR is estimated at 6.5 per cent in 2018 down from 6 9 per cent in 2017, in part due to the adverse impact of the recent widespread floods.
— KPL

Chinese firm completes beam closure along China-Laos railway
A Chinese engineering company has completed the closing of the first cast-in-place continuous beam on Saturday.
— Xinhua

Left to fend for themselves
Victims of Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy dam collapse in Laos languish in shelters, staring at an uncertain future.
— The Nation (very annoying popup)

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia achieves record direct tax collection of RM13.72b in 2018
The Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia achieved a new record in direct tax collection last year, with RM13.723 billion collected, which is 11.13% more than the RM123.312 billion collected in 2017, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said today.
— The Edge Markets

Malaysia’s GDP expected to expand by 4.9 pct this year — UOB Malaysia
Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to expand by 4.9 per cent in 2019, albeit at a slower rate than last year.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia to roll out Tesla-like battery for electric vehicles by 2020
Malaysia will become the first country in Asean to produce lithium ion battery in the next 18 months.
— New Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Maritime trade totals $6.26 bln in Q1
The value of Myanmar’s maritime trade in the first quarter of the current fiscal year was estimated at US$6.26 billion, an increase of $177 million compared with the corresponding period of the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanmar opens up insurance sector for foreign players
Myanmar is all set to open up its insurance sector. Up to three foreign life insurance companies, that will be allowed to operate under a 100 per cent investment scheme, will receive a provisional licence by the end of March 2019 and they will likely start operations by July, said Thant Sin, director general of the financial regulatory department under the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
— DealStreetAsia

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Evacuations ordered as ‘Amang’ nears landfall
Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations in areas prone to floods and landslides, and the suspension of classes in Bicol region, particularly in Camarines Sur and Albay provinces, as Tropical Depression “Amang” approaches the country from the Pacific Ocean.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Inflation averages 5.2% in 2018: BSP
The Philippines’ average inflation last year settled above the 2018 inflation target range, even as price pressures eased during the fourth quarter, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) revealed in its latest quarterly report released Friday.
— Philippine News Agency

Jan-Nov GOCC subsidy up 34.65% to P134.47B
SUBSIDIES made by the national government to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government institutions from January to November 2018 grew by 34.65 percent to P134.471 billion, from the P99.861 billion reported in the same period for 2017, Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) data showed.
— Business Mirror

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Dengue cases surge, with 455 in two weeks
Dengue cases have increased over the past four weeks, with 455 seen in the first two weeks of this month.
— The Straits Times

Security, social needs, economic restructuring key focus of upcoming Budget, says Finance Minister Heng
This year’s Budget will focus on Singapore’s security and social needs, especially in healthcare and education. Efforts to transform the economy will also continue, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Sunday (Jan 20).
— Today Online

Singapore, Malaysia making headway on disputes: Ng Eng Hen
Singapore and Malaysia are “making headway” and communicating over the ongoing maritime and airspace disputes.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Smog expected to worsen on Monday
With air pollution lingering in Bangkok on Sunday and possibly set to worsen on Monday, the head of the Department of Health expressed concern for the health of people who work outdoors such as street vendors, traffic police, road sweepers and tuk-tuk drivers.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam attracts US$8.3 billion FDI to industrial, economic zones
The total foreign direct investment (FDI) poured into Vietnam’s industrial parks and economic zones in 2018 reached more than US$8.3 billion, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
— Nhan Dan

Garment and textile sector expect huge challenge
The garment and textile sector was forecast to suffer the most from goods origin regulations under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), said Bùi Kim Thùy, the country representative for Việt Nam at the US-ASEAN Business Council.
— Vietnam News

The White House has reportedly picked Vietnam for the next Trump-Kim summit
Trump administration officials are reportedly planning on going to Vietnam for the next summit between the US president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, people familiar with the plans told Bloomberg.
— Business Insider

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.