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Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

ASEAN Countries Welcomed 129 Million Tourists Last Year, Up 7.6%
Close to 129 million tourists visited the ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2018, which translates into a 7.6-per cent growth from the year before, according to figures released by ASEAN Tourism Federation.
— Investvine

Public debt in emerging Asia creeps past 50% of GDP
Government debt in emerging Asian economies hit 50% of gross domestic product in the third quarter of last year, according to estimates by the Institute of International Finance, in a trend that suggests a regional shift away from fiscal conservatism.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Thailand pushes for Industry 4.0 in ASEAN
Thailand will make a bigger push to drive the region’s move towards Industry 4.0 during its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional grouping this year.
— ComputerWeekly.com

Tourism gets a boost with e-wallets
The internet has changed the way most of us live. Through internet related technological innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and e-commerce, a lot of our day to day tasks have been made easier.
— The Asean Post

Thai political development on table at Asean-EU meeting : Source
Ministers from Asean and European Union were meeting in Brussels on Monday to review past cooperation and further strengthen ties between the regions.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

ASEAN, UK tighten cooperation after Brexit
The UK and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to maintain close ties via official channels following Brexit, during a meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat’s headquarters in Jakarta on January 10.
— Saigon Giai Phong

Southeast Asian central banks, multilateral groups ‘reassess’ crisis models
TOP monetary authorities in Southeast Asia are in the country to compare notes and discuss strategies for financial stability, marking a new regional initiative to strengthen standards and prevent future crises.
— BusinessWorld Online

ASEAN ministers continues collaborative push for integration, tackling issues
South-east Asia’s ministers have pledged to work together to implement a raft of measures targeted at raising the nations’ tourism profiles and solving various issues.
— TTG Asia

Asean CEOs’ business outlook dimmer than global peers’
CHIEF executive officers (CEOs) across Asean are harbouring greater pessimism than their global peers, in a stark turnaround from previous years, when they were more optimistic.
— The Business Times

ASEAN central bank officers in PH for regional dialogue on financial stability
Central bankers from major Southeast Asian economies are in Manila for the Philippine central bank and the International Monetary Fund’s regional dialogue on financial stability.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

Cambodia 3rd in Asean for tourist growth
In 2018 Cambodia experienced the third largest increase in international tourists in Asean, behind only Vietnam and Indonesia, according to data recently released by the Ministry of Tourism.
— Khmer Times

Buddhism tourism potential deserves more attention
Buddhist tourism has strong growth potential in South-east Asia, but more needs to be done in order to develop this sector.
— TTG Asia

Experts seek strengthened sexual and reproductive services in Southeast Asia
An expert group has called for strengthening and expanding sexual and reproductive health services in member countries of WHO South-East Asia Region, to reduce deaths of mothers and babies.
— Online Khabar (blog)

Lazada‘s logistics battle to win Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is on the verge of a logistics “boom” thanks to e-commerce, but will require huge investment in cities and last-mile networks to cope, says Pierre Poignant, the man behind the systems that keep Alibaba-owned Lazada moving.
— Lakeland Observer

Vietnam leading the way for ASEAN in historic fashion
For a long time, Thailand has been the leading light in Southeast Asian football but their place at the throne is facing serious threats from Vietnam.
— Goal

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

Commission approves three-year tariffs on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar
The EU will impose tariffs on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar in order to curb a surge in “damaging” imports, the European Commission has confirmed.
— IEG Policy (paywall)

Cambodian PM tells Enda Kenny EU trying to hold his people ‘hostage’
Populism grows when governments fail to engage with the “middle people,” the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, told an audience in Cambodia recently.
— The Irish Times

Cambodia considers launching WTO case against EU rice tariffs
The Cambodian government is collecting evidence to “make a case” against the EU’s newly imposed rice tariffs and prove that it represents a “discriminatory trade action”.
— IEG Policy (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia`s poverty rate expected to reach nine percent: minister
Indonesia has been striving to reduce its poverty rate that is expected to reach nine percent by the end of this year, National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro stated here on Monday.
— Antara News

Material losses caused by Ocean Princess` oil spill being calculated
The East Nusa Tenggara Marine and Fishery Office is still calculating the total value of material losses owing to environmental damages caused by the oil tanker Ocean Princess` oil spill, according to a government …
— Antara News

Indonesia’s trade doomed without adaptations
Stakeholders are worried the United States-China trade war will continue to take its toll on Indonesia after inflicting a huge blow to the country’s trade balance in 2018.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

Macroeconomic stability in Laos amidst uncertainty
The medium-term economic outlook for Laos is favourable but subject to risks, including a volatile global economic environment, according to the latest edition of the World Bank’s Lao Economic Monitor.
— Vientiane Times

Russian de-miners in Laos clear 52 hectares of mines
Russian de-miners deployed to Laos have cleared 52 hectares of mines, Head of the Russian engineering troops Lieutenant General Yuri Stavitsky told the Krasnaya Zvezda (or Res Star) newspaper.
— TASS

Laos Receives Yak-130 Combat Jet Trainers
Russia has supplied Laos with four Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainers constructed at the Irkut Corporation’s plant in Irkutsk under a controversial deal, of which full details have yet to emerge.
— AIN Online

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

Malaysia’s construction industry growth to slow 4.3% in 2019
Malaysia’s construction sector growth is forecasted to slow from 4.5% to 4.3% in 2019 as its newly established Pakatan Harapan coalition continues to take several measures to reduce government debt and expenditure by suspending large-scale infrastructure projects across the country, a report by Fitch Solutions revealed.
— SBR

Malaysian automotive sector on the rise
For the past few years Malaysia’s automotive sector has proven itself to be one of Malaysia’s key industries. Figures from last year reveal that the sector played a significant role in the country’s economy, contributing 4.2 percent to the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP).
— The Asean Post

Timber downstream industry welcomes logs export ban
The downstream industry in the timber sector welcomes the State Government announcement to ban the export of logs outside Sabah.
— The Borneo Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

Rakhine ups efforts to draw investments, hopes for development
Rakhine State will target investments in tourism, fisheries and agriculture at an investment fair that will be held in February in Ngapali, southern Rakhine, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu told the media in Yangon yesterday.
— Myanmar Times

China’s diplomatic shield has a price for Myanmar
While Aung San Suu Kyi’s government has a strained relationship with the West over its handling of the Rohingya crisis, China has shielded Myanmar from international pressure and punitive action from the U.N. Security Council.
— UCA News

Illegal sugar trade continues at Myawady border area
Illegal sugar trading continues at the border area of Myawady in Kayin State despite the government suspension of sugar import and re-export, an official of a local sugar trade group said.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

GDP growth picks up to 6.8% in 2018 fourth quarter — Moody’s unit
Philippine economic growth likely picked up in the fourth quarter of last year after slumping in the third quarter due to higher oil and food prices, according to the economic research and analysis arm of Moody’s Corp.
— The Philippine Star

PH expects $450-M loan from World Bank OKd in March
The World Bank is expected to approve by March a $450-million loan for the Philippines that will be used by the government in improving fiscal management.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Senate approves P3.757-trillion budget for 2019
The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which would provide the government P3.757 trillion to fund its programs and operation for this year.
— Manila Bulletin

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

Singaporeans’ inflation expectations stand pat at end-2018: poll
SINGAPOREANS don’t expect overall consumer costs to budge much in the next 12 months, but think that core inflation – that is, price hikes outside of housing and private transport – could still inch up.
— The Business Times

Banks tighten credit to bunker industry amid fraud and other risks
THE credit-starved bunker sector is feeling the screws tightening further as banks cut their exposure to what they fear is a high risk industry, including instances of fraud.
— The Business Times

Singapore politics heats up with speculation over early election
Politics is heating up here now that a former presidential candidate has announced the formation of a political party to challenge the ruling party’s dominance, igniting speculation about an early general election that could take place this year.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

Water spraying drones being considered to contend with PM 2.5
Thailand’s Prime Minister has focused on Royal Rain Making as a way to reduce the amount of particulate matter or PM 2.5 in the air above Bangkok and its vicinity with the Pollution Control Department (PCD) planning to employ water spraying drones as part of its control efforts.
— NNT

Thailand moves to ease plight of asylum-seekers’ & refugees’ children
Seven Thailand government agencies have today (Jan 21) inked an agreement that will allow the children of refugees and asylum seekers to be freed from Immigration Detention Centres (IDC).
— AEC News Today

Article 44 may be used for poll postponement
POLITICAL scientists warned yesterday that the elections may be postponed beyond March 24, and there is a high chance that it will be held after the coronation of the King if the Royal Decree is not published this week.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

Digital content revenue estimated at $895 million in 2018
Digital content revenue was estimated at US$895 million last year, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).
— Vietnam News

Rubber stocks rise on global prices
The global rubber price has increased sharply in recent weeks, benefiting the share prices of Vietnamese producers on the stock market.
— Bizhub

Vietnam becomes more attractive to Japanese enterprises
With a young population, great potential and increasing trade growth, Vietnam is offering big opportunities for Japanese firms to expand their market, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).
— VNA NET

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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