Asean morning news for May 7

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

SE Asia losing edge as investment site on rising labor costs — Fitch unit
The Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries may lose their competitiveness as a location for businesses over the next decade due to rising labor costs in the region, a unit of Fitch Ratings said.
— The Philippine Star

$1 mln up for grabs as SLINGSHOT returns to Singapore for third year (video)
Entrepreneurs of startups globally are preparing their submissions and contemplating their pitches with the opening of entries for the return of one of Asia’s premier startup pitching competition SLINGSHOT, for the third year.
— AEC News Today

The US just sent 2 US destroyers to check China in the South China Sea
Two US Navy guided-missile destroyers conducted a freedom-of-navigation operation in the South China Sea Monday, challenging China’s excessive claims to the region.
— Spratly Islands

Brunei backtracks on death penalty for sharia
Brunei’s sultan said Sunday a moratorium on capital punishment will also extend to sharia laws that include stoning to death for gay sex and adultery, after a furious backlash against the punishments.
— The Asean Post

Way forward for RCEP: Need to focus on eliminating problems plaguing manufacturing sector and exports
While our negotiators bargain hard for an inclusive and balanced Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, domestically we must focus on eliminating niggles our manufacturing sector and exports are facing.
— Financial Express

Asean meet delegates promised hassle-free entry
The host of the civil society conference to be held in Bangkok next month has given assurances to foreign participants they will not be blocked from entering the country on security grounds.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Duterte to Enforce Court Order to Protect South China Sea, Spokesman Says
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will enforce a Supreme Court order directing the government to protect and rehabilitate the marine environment in three areas the country claims in the disputed South China Sea, his spokesman said Monday.
— Spratly Islands

Infrastructure Asia ‘Very Promising,’ Says Singapore’s Second Minister of Finance
Infrastructure Asia, the government agency created six months ago to spur such investment in Southeast Asia, is actively discussing specific projects with officials from the region’s economies.
— Bloomberg (video)

Southeast Asia seen as best investment destination this year, poll shows
Southeast Asia has eclipsed China as the region most likely to produce the best investment returns, as the ongoing trade war between Washington and Beijing puts a chill on the world’s second-largest economy, according to a survey at the Asian Financial Forum 2019.
— Stock Visionary

How Vietnam, Philippines Will Get around China’s Fishing Ban in Disputed Sea
Beijing has declared a moratorium on fishing in about half the heavily disputed South China Sea every year since 1995.
— Voice of America

Labour rights abuse on the rise
Labour rights violations in ASEAN are among the negative effects of an increase in production due to the ongoing United States (US)-China trade war which has resulted in a shift of some production from China to this part of the world.
— The Asean Post

Thailand has second-fastest mobile payment growth in SE Asia
Thailand has emerged as the second-fastest growth for mobile payments in Southeast Asia behind Vietnam, which is the global leader, according to the Global Consumer Insights Survey 2019.
— Vietnamplus

Asean in 2040: Bolder and stronger?
When Asean was set up in August 1967, the founding fathers did not bother to make sure their newly formed organisation would survive for 52 years, as it already has.
— Bangkok Post

Combating age-old beliefs can help save bears in Asia
Asiatic black bears, popularly known as “moon bears,” are facing a variety of threats throughout their range, which stretches from the Himalayas all the way to mainland Southeast Asia.
— Sustainability Times

UnionPay looks for creative partner to handle 10 ASEAN markets
UnionPay International has put its creative up for review, spanning across 10 ASEAN markets. These include Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines, Marketing understands.
— Marketing

The best way forward for Southeast Asian cities
Smart city, green city, resilient city and sustainable city are terms with slight differences in their implications, but all refer to recent trends in city planning and management that emphasize quality of life over the long term.
— Asia Times

7 Sports That Are Unique to Southeast Asia
Whether we want to admit it or not, most of the popular sports played around the world are the products of Western civilisation.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

World Bank: Cambodia’s Economy Achieves Robust Growth in 2018
The Cambodian economy grew 7.5 percent in 2018, according to the World Bank Cambodia Economic Update, released today. This better-than-expected growth was driven largely by the rapid expansion of exports and ongoing construction boom.
— Fresh News

Cambodian rice exports to China surge following EU tariffs
Cambodian rice exports to China have surged after the European Union imposed duties on imports of the grain from the Southeast Asian nation, the World Bank said on Monday.
— Reuters

France to support development of Cambodian electrical grid
France will support the development of the Kingdom’s power transmission network with $30 million in financing.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Indonesia’s Economic Growth Disappoints as Exports Slump
Indonesia’s economic growth slowed in the first quarter amid a global slowdown that hurt the nation’s exports.
— Bloomberg

President Jokowi Serious about Capital City Move
During a fast-breaking gathering at the State Palace in Jakarta today, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo told state insitution leaders that his administration was serious about moving the country’s capital city.
— Tempo.co

Indonesian consumer confidence drifts up on economy
Consumers in Indonesia stoked a stronger upbeat response over the country’s economy on the backdrop of a higher consumer confident index in April, a survey of the central bank showed here on Monday.
— China Org

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Laos posts 5.41 billion USD in export earnings in 2018
Laos recorded total export revenue of 5.41 billion USD in 2018, according to statistics of the country’s ministry of industry and trade.
— Vietnamplus

LAOS: Screws on Online Discourse Get Even Tighter
THE ABSENCE of independent media and shrinking civic space have effectively deprived the citizens of Laos of timely and qualitative information, including those that are critical in keeping them safe from harm.
— Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Border demarcation with Laos remains precarious
Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn has blamed Laos for bogging down demarcation work along the border.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Penang International Airport arrivals at record high as direct flights climb
Arrivals at Penang International Airport (PIA) reached an all-time high of 7.79 million passengers last year as a result of more direct flights to the state, the Penang Global Tourism (PGT) disclosed today.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad ranked 47th on Forbes’ World’s Greatest Leaders list
Petaling Jaya–Dr Tun Mahathir Mohamad, in his 93rd year and second term as Malaysia’s Prime Minister, has gained yet another accolade. Forbes ranked him 47th out of the 50 greatest leaders in the world, in a list that was released on April 18.
— The Independent

Sarawak’s total 2018 trade value up to RM143.7b
Sarawak registered a total trade value of RM143.7 billion last year compared to RM137.6 billion in 2017, state Assistant Minister of International Trade and e-Commerce Datuk Naroden Majais told the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
— Malay Mail

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Property market in Myanmar expected to stay flat till 2020
Myanmar’s property market has been lacklustre since 2015 and this situation is expected to continue until next year, said U Myo Myint, general secretary of the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneur Association during an industry discussion in Yangon last week.
— Myanmar Times

Ministry to loan farmers Ks 2,000 billion across country
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation is planning to loan Ks 2,000 billion to the farmers across the country and this amount is up Ks 210 million compared to that of the previous year, said Soe Win, Minister for Planning and Finance.
— Eleven Myanmar

Tatmadaw underscores strategic partnership with China, Russia
The recent visit of Myanmar’s Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to China and Russia underscored the importance of the two countries as strategic allies of Myanmar, a Tatmadaw spokesman said.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Malacañang backs probe into Chinese-only establishments
Malacañang supports an investigation into establishments and other businesses that reject Filipino customers and cater only to Chinese nationals.
— Rappler

Senate not confident of passing budget reform
SENATORS said they do not expect to pass the proposed Budget Reform Act, which will modernize the government’s budgeting process, in the remaining time left to the 17th Congress.
— BusinessWorld Online

PHL obtains China commitment to maximize Filipino workers in building projects
THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said the government has obtained an undertaking from China to prioritize Filipino workers in all China-assisted infrastructure projects.
— BusinessWorld Online

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Start-ups and big companies using blockchain to help fight conflict minerals
Tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold, often grouped together in mining industry jargon as 3TG, are vitally important to the industrial economy, used in high-tech products from smartphones to jets.
— The Edge Singapore

Should Singapore work towards a ‘996’ working model?
Reputed for its capable workforce, Singapore’s position as a global talent hub has been integral to its economic progress. But an ageing society poses a threat to the Republic’s status as a regional economic and financial hub.
— Asean Today

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Junta and government looking to unwind some orders made since 2014
The junta and the government are scheduled wind back orders and announcements originally issued by the junta but which are no longer considered necessary – some of them issued back in 2014 when the Junta took control in May of that year.
— The Thaiger

Department to bump up tax base
The Revenue Department aims to add 200,000 individuals to the income tax base every year, says director-general Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
— Bangkok Post

EC to approve 95% of MPs Tuesday and Wednesday
The Election Commission (EC) met on Monday to review the last batch of election-related complaints and will likely endorse more than 95% of all MPs on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to an informed source.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Ministry reiterates request to export 2.5 million tons of unsold coal
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has repeated its request to export 2.5 million tons of unsold coal mined by two companies.
— VnExpress

Vietnamese firms seek to adapt to official exports to China
Vietnamese businesses and farmers face various challenges in exporting farm produce to China, which is shifting from unofficial channels to official ones.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam’s fruit, veggie export increases in 4 months
Vietnam earned nearly 1.4 billion U.S. dollars from exporting fruits and vegetables in the first four months of this year, up 5.5 percent on-year, with China being the largest importer, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on Monday.
— Xinhua

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.