Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

 

2019 Shangri-La Dialogue: US-China Divide Lingers Amid Asia’s Anxiety
As had been expected, the 2019 iteration of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) that took place this weekend in Singapore was dominated by the subject of heightening U.S.-China competition, which has been a source of deep regional anxiety in the Asia-Pacific over the past few months.
— The Diplomat

Asean+3 need to retool to benefit from New Economy
The Asean+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) economies need to build more capacity and connectivity to take full advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and sustain growth in the new economic order, according to the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro).
— Bangkok Post

After backdoor talks, Mon Tulfo says China to withdraw ships near Pag-asa Island
China has committed to remove its fleet of military ships and fishing boats around Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island following backdoor talks, Ramon Tulfo, a broadcaster turned special envoy of President Rodrigo Duterte, said Monday.
— CNN Philippines

No single military superpower should have unilateral control over SCS — Lorenzana
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has stressed that no single military superpower should have a unilateral control over the South China Sea in order to avoid future armed conflict.
— Manila Bulletin

Growing wave of companies announcing supply chain shifts
The number of companies announcing supply chain shifts more than doubled in March-April compared with the first two months of the year, according to a Citi study of 71 companies’ supply chain adjustment announcements.
— The Business Times

Hun Sen backs Timor Leste Asean bid
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday expressed support for Timor-Leste to become the 11th member of Asean ahead of a meeting with its Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Dionisio da Costa Babo Soares.
— Khmer Times

DND chief tells Asean: Let’s keep South China Sea open to overflights, navigation
Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana has underscored the need to keep the South China Sea open to overflights and international navigation amid confidence-building measures in addressing the region’s contentious territorial issue with the Asean as a single body.
— Business Mirror

34th ASEAN-Japan Forum held in Hanoi
The 34th ASEAN-Japan Forum took place in Hanoi on June 3 under the chair of Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and his Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori.
— Vietnamplus

Southeast Asia – key market helps Japan achieve 2030 tourism target
Tourists from Southeast Asian nations are expected to be the main factor to help the Japanese government realise its goal of welcoming 60 million visitors by 2030.
— Saigon Giai Phong

How key sectors in ASEAN countries are gaining from AI?
In recent years, different industries around the world have seen an increase in artificial intelligence (AI) utilisation
— ETCIO.com

Thailand leads Southeast Asian countries with 66 JCI-accredited hospitals
A totally of 70 carefully-selected buyers from 23 countries have been invited to participate in this year’s “Amazing Thailand Health & Wellness Trade Meet 2019” organised by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on 30 May, 2019, at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok.
— Thailand Business News

Navigating the Southeast Asia Ecosystem: An Essential Guide for International Startups
Home to a population of over 650 million people, Southeast Asia is often heralded as the next big economy.
— e27

Are engineered foods healthier?
Food is synonymous with Southeast Asia. From the mouth-watering delicacies on the streets of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines – just to name a few – to the Michelin starred restaurants that serve fine dining quality cuisine with a dash of authentic local flavours.
— The Asean Post

Tree crops development in ASEAN
Permanent crops are mainly trees (e.g., coffee, cacao, rubber) but they also include palms (e.g., coconut, oil palm) and vines (e.g., pepper) (www.fao.org).
— BusinessWorld Online

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

 

EU Kicks Off Fact-Finding Mission to Determine Cambodia’s Eligibility For Preferential Trade Status
The European Union kicked off a five-day fact-finding mission in Cambodia on Monday to determine whether it should continue to benefit from a tax-free EU trade scheme, based on the state of human rights and democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.
— Radio Free Asia

Chinese Defense Minister Denies “Military Presence in Cambodia”
Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on Sunday denied that China is establishing a military presence in Cambodia, as rumors have spread and concerns have been raised by the United States.
— VOA Cambodia

PM Hun Sen Vows No Electricity Shortages in 2020 (Video inside)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed that the government has gained many lessons from the shortages of electricity supply this year and that power outage will not happen in 2020, speaking Monday at the Royal University of Phnom Penh graduation ceremony at Koh Pich.
— Fresh News

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Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

 

Joko gets building again
With his victory in the April polls confirmed by the elections commission on May 21, Indonesian President Joko Widodo is preparing to press ahead with an ambitious infrastructure drive in his second term, starting with 415 trillion rupiah (US$28.8 billion) allocated in the 2019 state budget.
— Bangkok Post

Nias in North Sumatra rattled by magnitude-6 quake
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that an earthquake, measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, hit South Nias in North Sumatra Province on Monday afternoon.
— Antara News

Stoking investment, growth
Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth has averaged 5 percent in the last few years, lower than the government target.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

 

Korean power company lends helping hand to flood-hit Attapeu school
Electricity bills at Sanamxay Secondary School in Sanamxay district, Attapeu province, will now be much lower thanks to help from the Korea Western Power Company Limited (KOWEPO), which has installed solar power at the school.
— Vientiane Times

Govt calls for higher quality investments
The government is cooperating with its development partners and stakeholders to promote higher quality investments in the country through developing and improving its assessment mechanisms and strategies.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Survivors of Lao Dam Collapse Want to Grow Rice, Not Bananas on Compensatory Land
Survivors of Laos’ worst flooding in decades are at odds with the government after land they were promised in compensation was granted to a Chinese-backed firm to grow bananas.
— Radio Free Asia

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia’s exports rise 1.1% in April, trade surplus shrinks 16.6%
Malaysia’s exports in April 2019 recorded an increase of 1.1% to RM85.2 billion year-on-year, driven by growth in exports to Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan and the US.According to the Department of Statistics, exports to these countries expanded by RM1.2 billion to Singapore,
— The Sun Daily

Guan Eng: Investors like transparency-focused Malaysia, a safe haven in trade war
Foreign investors have a positive view of Malaysia that can be considered a safe haven amid the ongoing trade war between economic superpowers US and China, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia Airlines CEO objects to shutting down airline
It is not a good idea to shut down Malaysia Airlines, CEO Izham Ismail said, as he called for investors to boost the flagship carrier. “Shutting down Malaysia Airlines would be a wrong move.
— Malay Mail

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Myanmar to implement sky train project in Yangon, calls public cooperation
Myanmar’s Yangon regional government is planning to implement a sky train project in Yangon, calling on public cooperation to ensure the accomplishment in a legal format, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications Monday.
— Xinhua

Trade deficit falls for first time since 2013, says govt
Myanmar’s trade deficit, which had been rising since the 2012-13 fiscal year, has been successfully reduced thanks to the efforts of the National League for Democracy-led government, said Deputy Minister of Commerce U Aung Htoo.
— Myanmar Times

Authorities, NGOs to launch low-cost housing for squatters in six months in Yangon Region
The Yangon Region Government is planning to launch a low-cost housing project for squatters in the region in the next six months. It plans to give priority to those who are in urgent need of accommodation so that they can buy homes on instalment and live with dignity.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

 

Manufacturing PMI improves in May
MANUFACTURING firms in the Philippines saw an improvement in operating conditions in May as faster new order growth encouraged businesses to increase output, an IHS Markit/Nikkei survey said.
— The Manila Times

Philippine and Chinese investors bet on Manila’s warehousing sector amid a boom in household consumption
Logistics and warehousing in the Philippines is poised for some rapid growth as local and overseas investors take advantage of booming household consumption.
— South China Morning Post

PH, South Korea start bilateral free trade negotiations
Trade talks between the Philippines and South Korea started Monday discussing the future of a bilateral free trade agreement in Seoul.
— Manilastandard.net

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

 

Hopes dim of growth recovery in H2 as May’s PMI falls below 50
SINGAPORE factories face an uphill slog, as a much-longed-for industry turnaround in the second half of the year could fail to materialise.
— The Business Times

Over 270 F&B outlets won’t give out plastic straws from July 1
More than 270 food and beverage outlets will stop providing plastic straws from July 1, in a major step to reduce plastic waste in the local F&B sector.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’pore PMI contracts for first time in over 2 1/2 years
Manufacturing growth fell again in May to log its first contraction in more than 21/2 years, as trade tensions between the United States and China intensified last month.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

 

Anti-junta activist Ja New attacked again by unidentified men
Well known anti-junta activist Sirawith Seritiwat, alias Ja New, was attacked by five unidentified men at a bus stop on Ratchadapisek road in Bangkok on Sunday night, which he later…
— Thai PBS News

Palang Pracharat to announce formation of its coalition government tomorrow
The Palang Pracharat party will join five other parties to announce the formal formation of a coalition government tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Sukosol hotel.
— Thai PBS News

EU agrees to let Thailand negotiate export quotas
The European Union (EU) has agreed to allow Thailand to negotiate its export quota for 31 products, said Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Department of Trade Negotations.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

 

Ho Chi Minh City calls for investment to build $210 million financial hub
HCMC is soliciting investment to build a VND4.9 trillion ($210 million) financial, banking and trade center in Thu Thiem New Urban Area.
— VnExpress

Vietnamese outbound investments reach US$183 million
According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the first five months of this year Vietnamese enterprises have invested US$183.1 million overseas.
— Sggp News

Long Thanh Airport construction to start by end-2020
The Ministry of Transport has said the construction of the Long Thanh International Airport will be started at the end of 2020.
— Vietnam 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.