Asean morning news for March 21

Asean morning news for March 21
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Asean morning newsAsean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

RCEP conclusion this year depends on Asia elections, says Chan Chun Sing
The results of several key elections in Asia this year will determine whether negotiations over an Asean-led mega trade pact can be wrapped up this year, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday (March 20).
— The Straits Times (annoying pop-ups)

ASEAN releases 7-year plan targeting greater fuel efficiency for LDVs
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat has released a seven-year roadmap that sets stretch targets for reducing the fuel consumption of light duty vehicles (LDVs) across the region.
— BusinessWorld Online

Border province’s trade volume up 8 pct with Belt and Road countries
Southwest China’s Yunnan Province reached foreign trade volume of 33.11 billion yuan (about 4.84 billion U.S. dollars) in the first two months of the year, with countries along the Belt and Road accounted for 70.5 percent, according to the local customs office.
— Xinhuanet

Four countries launch 80th joint patrol on Mekong River
The 80th Mekong River joint patrol, led by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, started from Jinghong port in China’s southwestern province of Yunnan province on March 19.
— Vietnamplus

Finer economic data for a fairer ASEAN economy
The Philippines and other ASEAN economies are experiencing stellar economic growth. Frontier technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as automation and robotics, the internet of things, 3D printing, blockchain and nanotechnologies are rapidly transforming economies.
— East Asia Forum

Canada Fund for Local Initiatives is now open for Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) and Thailand
The Embassy of Canada in Thailand and Canada’s Diplomatic Offices in Cambodia and Lao PDR have launched their annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
— Funds for NGOs

Advancing ASEAN-South Korea Relations in Moon’s New Southern Policy
Last week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in embarked on a pre-scheduled tour of three Southeast Asian countries.
— The Diplomat

ASEAN ignored in presidential election?
The eyes of other ASEAN member states will be increasingly focusing on Indonesia’s presidential election and its results, given Indonesia’s important role in the region.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Southeast Asian space programmes: Capabilities, challenges and collaborations
Space technology has manifold applications in areas as wide-reaching as disaster management, resource management, meteorology, governance, and military and security.
— ORF

Vision for Smart Cities has to be REAL (Relevant, Engaging, Actionable and for Learning)
Many governments and cities have embarked on their smart cities initiative, with the hope to ride on the technology bandwagon to improve the lives of their citizens.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Bangkok E-Mobility Asia Summit charts SE Asia’s E-Vehicle Production, Charging Infrastructure Plans
Home to one of the world’s fastest growing consumer hubs, Southeast Asia is a huge emerging market for electric vehicles.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Empire of the Winds: account of Southeast Asia’s ‘great archipelago’ rejects China’s take on its history
“Trade and tolerance are happy bed­fellows. So too are freedom of navigation and the absence of monopoly,” Philip Bowring writes.
— South China Morning Post

Chinese, Southeast Asian company executives more ready than their European peers to face tougher data-privacy regulation, study finds
Company executives in China and Southeast Asia are more confident than their European counterparts when it comes to how ready they are to face stricter rules over the use of consumer data, according to a new study by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
— Yahoo News

Insight: Time to deepen Indo-Pacific cooperation
For over five decades, countries in Southeast Asia and its surroundings in Asia, the Pacific Ocean and Pacific Rim have enjoyed peace and stability, upon which economic growth and welfare have accumulated.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Can Japan contribute to equitable development in Asean?
The establishment of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in December 2015 was a notable milestone in the economic integration of Southeast Asia.
— Khmer Times

Asia-Pacific $486.72Bn Healthcare Industry Outlook, 2019 – Cell Therapy to Emerge as Leading Market Across Regenerative Medicine – ResearchAndMarkets.com
The healthcare market in Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expected to grow by 7.2% in 2019 due to the growth of smart hospitals and developments in the home care segment and medical tourism.
— Business Wire

Casino business booming in ASEAN
When talking about gambling in Asia, the first place that usually springs to mind is Macau – also dubbed the Monte Carlo of the Orient – and it is with good reason.
— The Asean Post

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Cambodia morning newsCambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

PM Hun Sen: EBA Can’t Make Cambodia Rich (Video inside)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme could not make Cambodia rich, only self-determination can, speaking before tens of thousands of workers in Pursat province, west of Cambodia.
— Fresh News

PM Holds 66th Gathering with Factory Workers
Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen this morning held a get-together with over 10,000 workers and employees from six factories and enterprises in Pursat province.
— Agence Kampuchea Presse

EU Delegation Meets Cambodian Ministers to Discuss Trade Status Amid Democratic Rollbacks
A European Union delegation met with top officials in Cambodia Wednesday to discuss whether the Southeast Asian nation should continue to enjoy preferential trade terms with the bloc amid rollbacks on democracy, even as Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered “attacks” on the country’s opposition.
— Radio Free Asia

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning newsIndonesia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

Indonesia flood death toll crosses 100, dozens still missing
The death toll from flash floods and landslides that tore through Indonesia’s Papua region has topped 100 with dozens more still missing, the disaster agency said on Wednesday.
— AL Jazeera

Indonesia strengthens its presence in Africa through deeper economic ties
Last April, the Indonesian government hosted the first Indonesia-Africa forum (IAF) in Bali. Senior delegates and business people from both entities gathered to explore investment opportunities to strengthen economic ties. The forum resulted in business deals totalling more than US$1 billion.
— Asean Today

Confusion, Then Prayer, in Cockpit of Doomed Lion Air Jet
As the seconds ticked by on the doomed Indonesian flight, the pilot handed the controls to his co-pilot and flipped through the pages of a technical manual, trying to figure out what was happening.
— New York Times

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

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Lao PDR morning newsLao PDR morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Lao PDR Granted Japanese Grant Aid Of USD 8.9 Million
The government of Japan has provided grant assistance worth JPY 1 billion (USD 8.9 million) to the Lao PDR to support its socio-economic development.
— KPL

Govt concludes observations on implementing child rights’ convention
Laos remains committed to realising the rights of the child with authorities holding workshops to discuss concluding observations for all sectors at central and provincial level in order to develop their action plans.
— Vientiane Times

Four countries launch 80th joint patrol on Mekong River
The 80th Mekong River joint patrol, led by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, started from Jinghong port in China’s southwestern province of Yunnan province on March 19.
— Vietnamplus

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning newsMalaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Malaysia to stop buying European products?
Malaysia said it would stop importing several European products. This is in retaliation against the European Union’s (EU) ban on palm oil from Malaysia.
— New Straits Times

5,848 victims of chemical pollution treated since March 8
PUTRAJAYA: A total of 5,848 patients were treated since March 8 due to the effects of chemical waste pollution in Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang, Johor.Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said of the number, 951 victims were warded and 25 placed in the intensive-care unit.He told the media …
— The Sun Daily

Above-average salary increase expected for Malaysian professionals in 2019
Malaysian professionals in a wide range of sectors are likely to see wage increment this year.
— New Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning newsMyanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov
 

Industry proposes reducing visa restrictions for western tourists
Discussions will be made with the relevant departments to reduce visa restrictions on western travelers, said U Yan Win, chair of Myanmar Tourism Federation.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar: Avocado prices hampered by poor harvesting techniques
Growers of avocados in Myanmar are suffering from poor prices for their crops due to poor harvesting techniques, according to an industry representative.
— Fresh Plaza

Urgent need for higher rice export quota to China: industry
The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) urged the government to facilitate the signing of an agreement that will firm up an official rice export quota to China at last week’s Private Sector Development Committee Meeting, which was led by the Vice President U Myint Swe.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning newsPhilippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu          @stmarisewudolu

 

House clears 2019 budget hurdle
THE LEGISLATIVE DEADLOCK over the P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 appears finally headed for resolution, with the House of Representatives “physically retrieving” on Wednesday the copy it transmitted to the Senate on March 11.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte: Misuari threatened war if federalism doesn’t happen
For Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari, it’s either federalism or war.
— Rappler

PH, Japan sign labor cooperation pact
Philippine and Japanese officials have signed a landmark memo­randum of cooperation (MOC) laying the groundwork for more secure recruitment and employment of skilled workers between the two countries.
— Manila Bulletin

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning newsSingapore morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

Singapore awaiting supporting documents for Sri Lanka’s extradition request
Singapore is waiting for certain documents and information before it can consider Sri Lanka’s request to extradite its former central bank chief Arjuna Mahendran.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore exports recover but too early to cheer: Maybank
Singapore’s exports recovered in February following three straight months of decline but Maybank Kim Eng thinks it is still too soon to call this an inflection point.
— The Edge Singapore

White smoke from train at Buona Vista Station due to air-con refrigerant leak: SMRT
White smoke that was seen wafting out from a train at Buona Vista Station on Wednesday morning (March 20) was due to an air-conditioner refrigerant leak, said SMRT.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

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Thailand morning newsThailand morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov          @piseth6666

 

Thailand election: A vote for a hybrid democracy
The army had failed to do the job properly during the previous attempt, in 2006, one of the coup leaders told us in 2014. This time we will fix things so we never have to intervene again, he said.
— BBC News

How Thailand Became the World’s Last Military Dictatorship
If military dictatorship is defined in the strictest sense as the rule of a junta or military officer who comes to power through a coup and then doesn’t hold elections to offer a veneer of legitimacy, then Thailand is the world’s last military dictatorship.
— The Atlantic

Nation TV Airs Obviously Faked ‘Secret’ Thaksin-Thanathorn Recording
A broadcaster is facing a backlash for uncritically airing a doctored audio clip said to be a conversation between the leader of a popular progressive party and establishment arch-nemesis Thaksin Shinawatra.
— Khaosod English

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning newsVietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men           @MenSreypov

 

Vietnam sees bright prospects for rice exports
Rice exports are expected to recover in the second quarter of this year, boosted by encouraging market signs.
— VNA NET

Vietnam hikes retail electricity prices by 8.36 percent – ministry
Vietnam has raised its retail electricity prices by 8.36 percent to an average of 1,864.4 dong ($0.0804) per kilowatt hour, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Wednesday.
— Today Online

Debt and inefficiencies come with Chinese infrastructural investments in Vietnam
Hanoi’s priorities include a North-South Highway with a 118 trillion đồng (US$ 5.3 billion) price tag, with less than half from China. Chinese interest rates are among the highest and come with several fees. Chinese companies win contracts by outbidding others, but their costs multiply as a result of delays and slow work.
— Asia News

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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