Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

ASEAN Move Forward: Green Meeting
Thailand, as this year’s ASEAN Chair, will make an effort to include environmental affairs in the bloc’s more than 180 meetings. We will now take a closer look at the preparation for such conferences.
— NBT World (video)

Singapore and China to form panel of mediators for Belt and Road project disputes
Singapore and China have agreed to set up an international panel of mediators who will help resolve disputes arising from projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
— The Business Times

M’sia, Indonesia halt Asean-EU dialogue elevation
Malaysia and Indonesia have pushed to defer the elevation of the Asean-European Union (EU) dialogue into a strategic partnership, citing members of the bloc’s action against palm oil and its economic repercussion to Asean member nations.
— Malaysian Reserve

EU touts Asean trade accord
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, called for a “region-to-region free trade agreement”.
— The Phnom Penh Post

UK and ASEAN agree importance of future relationship
Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field met the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 23 January.
— GOV.UK

ASEAN exports slide unexpectedly as China-US trade dispute disrupts supply chains
Not long ago, many analysts said countries in Southeast Asia would gain from the trade war between China and the US.
— Global Times

Taking Advantage of ASEAN’s FTAs
Besides the bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that they have individually signed with other countries, each ASEAN member state is a signatory to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) between themselves as well as the several FTAs that the regional trade bloc has signed with some of the major economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
— Asean Briefing

Criminal responsibility / At what age can you go to prison in Southeast Asia?
The Philippines’ House this week approved a bill that would lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to just 12 years, as the government bids to crack down on gangs using children for illegal activities.
— Southeast Asia Globe

Mega deals propelled SEA tech investments to cross $11b in 2018
After grabbing record technology funding in 2018, Southeast Asia looks set to sustain the growth momentum in 2019 as Grab, Go-Jek, Tokopedia and Traveloka continue to attract capital, according to a report by venture capital firm Cento Ventures.
— Deal Street Asia

Southeast Asia Between Democracy and Authoritarianism: Look Beyond the Litmus Tests
The focus on Thailand’s elusive elections that would return it to democracy after nearly five years of military rule – set for March 24 as this was written – is warranted and significant in and of itself given the country’s tortuous political struggles since the early 2000s.
— The Diplomat

Southeast Asia journey to adopt clean and low carbon technologies a bumpy one
Southeast Asian countries are beginning to transform the way energy is produced and consumed in order to transition to a low carbon, sustainable economy.
— The Business Times

Economic prospects 2019 and cement tariff
To be frank about it, Dutertenomics is lousy in macroeconomic management. Inability to sustain fast growth of 6.5% or higher, inability to control inflation rate below 3%, and inability to control interest rates below 5% for government bonds.
— BusinessWorld Online

Top 100 Youths converge in Bangkok as Change-makers in ASEAN Region
The Maybank Foundation and ASEAN Foundation today launched the regional capacity building and orientation workshop of the eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, targeted at 100 chosen young changemakers from the region who have gone through a rigorous selection process.
— Benzinga

ASEAN’s dismal child sex abuse record
Southeast Asia has a long way to go to improve its poor record of child sex abuse and exploitation, with a report by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) last week showing ASEAN countries to be lagging behind their global counterparts.
— The Asean Post

Palaui Is wins major ASEAN tourism award
Palaui Island has already earned two major distinctions—one as CNN Go’s best beaches in the world, and the other as the two-time location of American television series, “Survivor.”
— Manilastandard.net

Grooves gets US$920K to connect Southeast Asians with jobs opportunities in Japan
Japanese human resource platform Grooves today announced an approximately MYR3.78 million (US$920,000) funding round from PNB-INSPiRE Ethical Fund (PIEF), a sharia-compliant private equity fund in Japan.
— e27

UBS sees slower GDP growth in 2019, 2020
UBS AG expects the Philippines’ real gross domestic product (GDP) momentum to slow to 6.1 percent in 2019 and 2020 from the forecast 6.4 percent in 2018.
— Manila Bulletin

Asean’s Power Landscape Expected to Transform in 2019
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are on a path to transform their power landscapes as energy demand continues to rise to match the region’s economic growth potential, a power management company said this week.
— Jakarta Globe

Southeast Asia Benefiting Most from Chinese Tourists Using Mobile Payments
ielsen and Alipay have partnered on a new survey, 2018 Trends for Mobile Payment in Chinese Outbound Tourism, that provides an analysis of the latest trends in outbound tourism and the consumption habits and preferences of Chinese travelers.
— Branding in Asia

“We’re seeing $2.5b for food delivery in Indonesia alone”: Go-Jek on transaction value, international expansion, and IPO plans
Go-Jek co-founder Kevin Aluwi says Go-Jek is currently the largest online transaction platform in Southeast Asia.
— KrAsia

Highlights from Chinese commercial sector report and their implications for Southeast Asia (Part 1)
With a slowing economy in China amid an ongoing trade war with America, China’s retail sales growth for 2019 is expected to decline to around 9%, says Hong Kong-based Fung Business Intelligence in its “China’s Commercial Sector” report.
— KrAsia

ASEAN gears up for sustainable development
Following the 2019 Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AFMR) last week, member states have agreed to work on economic, social and security matters in an effort to achieve sustainability.
— NBT World (video)

 

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

EU moves to impose trade sanctions against Cambodia
To protest the alleged human-rights violations in Cambodia, the European Union is considering imposing trade sanctions against the country.
— European Interest

Six Arrested, One Critically Injured After Police Fire on Land Protest in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville Province
Six villagers were arrested and one was left critically injured Thursday after authorities fired on a protest against the forcible eviction of residents from land in southwest Cambodia’s Sihanoukville province, in the country’s first violent police crackdown since a July election widely seen as unfree and unfair.
— Radio Free Asia

Hun Sen calls on military to ‘destroy’ opponents
Cambodia’s strongman premier Hun Sen on Thursday, January 24, called on his country’s military to “destroy” opponents if the government comes under threat, in a tirade in which he described himself as the “the one who steers the wheel” of the army.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

 

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

BNI Earmarks Rp4tn to Acquire Banks, Insurers
Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) is preparing Rp3 trillion to Rp4 trillion for business expansion purposes this year. Among others, the bank plans to acquire a financial service entity in Indonesia.
— Tempo.co

Death toll from Indonesian floods, landslides rises to 30
Floods and landslides in a central Indonesian province hit by torrential rains this week have killed 30 people and left more than two dozen missing, the national disaster agency said Thursday.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

M’sia, Indonesia halt Asean-EU dialogue elevation
Malaysia and Indonesia have pushed to defer the elevation of the Asean-European Union (EU) dialogue into a strategic partnership, citing members of the bloc’s action against palm oil and its economic repercussion to Asean member nations.
— Malaysian Reserve

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

 

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

Keep areas of natural beauty unspoiled, DPM advises
Ensuring that Laos’ natural environment remains unspoiled is key to attracting visitors, Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said when visiting Tham Namlod Xebangfay and Konglor caves in Khammuan province earlier this week.
— Vientiane Times

Solve Mekong killings case
The disappearance of 78-year-old political activist Surachai Danwattananusorn, also known as Surachai Saedan, and the killing of his two close aides, who had been living in exile in Laos, need not go down…
— Bankok Post

Lao tourism revenue predicted to fall 2.63% this year
THE Lao government estimates that the revenue earned from foreign visitors will be $876 million this year, a drop of 2.63 per cent compared to last year.
— The Phnom Penh Post

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

 

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Matrade targets MTCs to generate RM3.8bil increase in export revenue by 2020
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) has targeted a RM3.8 billion increase in export revenue from mid-tier companies (MTCs) under the Mid-Tier Companies Development Programme (MTCDP) in 2020 from RM2.5 billion recorded as at December 2017.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia’s c.bank holds key interest rate at 3.25 pct
Malaysia’s central bank kept its key interest rate at 3.25 percent on Thursday, as widely expected, with inflation subdued and economic growth supported by domestic consumption.
— Reuters

Mahathir launches national insurance scheme for Malaysia’s lower-income group
MySalam, a national insurance protection scheme for the lower-income group, has been officially launched by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

 

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Rakhine launches new power infrastructure, aims for development
Power transmission lines measuring 104 kilometres (60 miles) and a substation that will serve Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships in Rakhine State have been officially launched.
— Myanmar Times

Companies to build car factories in Ayeyarwady Region
Ayeyarwady Region, Investment and Directorate of Companies Administration, Director Soe Aung said that they had negotiations with car companies to build factories in Ayeyarwady Region.
— Mizzima

FDI in hotels and tourism sector hits over 4.3 m USD
From October to December of 2018-2019 fiscal year, hotels and tourism sector saw an inflow of over USD 4.3 million foreign investments, according to Directorate of Investment and Company Administration.
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

 

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

Economic team lists risks as growth slows to 6.2%
THE reenacted budget and the 45-day ban on government spending in preparation for the elections will delay the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program, according to the President’s economic team, highlighting more challenges as the country posted its slowest growth since 2015.
— Business Mirror

Philippines breaks tourism record in 2018 despite Boracay closure
The Philippines welcomed a record 7.1 million tourists to its beaches and dive spots in 2018, despite its most famous resort Boracay being shut half the year to recover, the authorities said on Thursday (Jan 24).
— The Straits Times

Makati subway gets $350M pledge
Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. has secured the commitment of China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. (CCECC) for the latter’s $300-million to $350-million investment in the Makati subway project.
— Malaya

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

 

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Industrial rents, prices unchanged in Q4: JTC
Rental rates and prices of industrial space in Singapore remained unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2018 over the preceding quarter, according to the latest data from industrial land agency JTC Corp.
— Straits Times

Telcos here likely to consolidate over next 3 years, say analysts
Competitive pressures from an increasingly crowded market will force local telcos to consolidate over the next three years, said analysts this week.
— Straits Times

Hundreds of Singaporeans express outrage at MINDEF and SAF over latest training death
Hundreds of Singaporeans have expressed outrage at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) over the death of Corporal First Class (National Service) [CFC (NS)] Pang Wei Chong, Aloysius.
— The Independent

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

 

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre          @photo_journ

 

Air pollution levels drop in Bangkok
Air pollution levels in Greater Bangkok improved on Thursday morning as only 11 areas reported unsafe levels of PM2.5  – airborne particulates 2.5 microns in diameter and smaller, the Pollution Control Department said.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Thailand’s ambassador to Australia stresses patience on Hakeem AlAraibi’s extradition case
As detained refugee Hakeem AlAraibi spends his 59th night in prison, Thailand’s ambassador to Australia tells those concerned to “be patient and justice will prevail”.
— ABC News

Korn Ferry wage forecasts 5.5% boost in Thailand
A forecast issued by Korn Ferry predicts that employees in Thailand will enjoy a salary increase of 5.5 per cent in 2019, similar to the previous year.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

 

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men          @MenSreypov

 

Nearly $900 million injected into Vietnamese start-ups in 2018
Vietnamese start-ups were invested in to the tune of US$900 million in 2018, tripling the previous year’s investment, according to a report recently released by Topica Founder Institute (TFI), a start-up accelerator programme in Viet Nam and Thailand.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam makes debut in Bloomberg innovative economy index
Vietnam has for the first time entered the Bloomberg Innovation Index of the world’s 60 most innovative economies.
— VnExpress

Vietnam aims to pocket US$30 billion from tourism in 2019
Vietnam’s tourism industry aims to reach total revenue of over VND700 trillion (US$30.1 billion) in 2019, said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Khanh Hai at the conference on January 21 on tasks and orientations for 2019.
— VietnamNet Bridge

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.