Asean morning news for October 29, 2019

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Over 1,000 expected to attend ASEAN business summit
More than 1,000 business leader, high-level government officials and representatives of private sectors as well as academics and members of civil society from across the region are expected to attend the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) to be held in Bangkok on November 2-3.
— Thai PBS News

The Main Agenda of the 35th Asean Summit
The 35th ASEAN Summit, the 14th East Asia Summit and other related summits (ASEAN +1, ASEAN +3), henceforth referred to as the “Summits”, will be held in Bangkok, Thailand in the upcoming October 31 – November 04 period.
— Korea IT Times

Asean must take a stand for the Rohingya
As regional leaders arrive in Bangkok this week to attend the Asean Summit, there will yet again be an elephant in the room: the crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
— The Straits Times

Thailand to push forward digital development to strengthen ASEAN connectivity
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday said he will lead Thailand to drive digital development in Southeast Asia as a means to strengthen connectivity among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members.
— Xinhuanet

ASEAN Symposium on Industrial Transformation to Industry 4.0
In the hope of moving Thailand and the rest of the ASEAN region towards the industry 4.0 era, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June hosted the “ASEAN Symposium on Industrial Transformation to Industry 4.0” to allow participants to exchange thoughts on industrial innovations
— Newsline (video)

Southeast Asia defies global IPO slump, thanks to old-economy stocks
Stock listings in Southeast Asia grew 13% in the year through September, bucking a global downtrend and with several high-profile initial public offerings still to hit the market before the end of 2019.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

The ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercises Are More Important Than Ever
The inaugural ASEAN-U.S. maritime exercises (AUMX), coming off from last year’s naval exercises with China (ACMX), display a regional desire for inclusivity and balanced security ties with the two great powers.
— Yahoo News

After Baghdadi death, Southeast Asia expects long fight against Islamic State’s influence
Southeast Asian countries fighting Islamic State’s influence in the region lauded the killing of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi but said security forces were preparing for a long battle to thwart the jihadist group’s ideology.
— CNA

Nine-dash line drawing trouble in Vietnam
Vietnam’s decision to ban the animated film Abominable earlier this month is just the latest in a string of pushbacks against China’s infamous nine-dash line.
— The Asean Post

China will sign South China Sea code after reclamation of Scarborough — Carpio
Beijing has long been delaying the passage of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) as it has yet to make a move on Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Monday.
— The Philippine Star

Duterte to raise South China Sea code of conduct at this weekend’s ASEAN Summit
President Rodrigo Duterte is heading to Thailand later this weekend to attend the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit where he will again push for the completion of the proposed code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea that has been pending for over 20 years.
— CNN Philippines

Сhina says some issue related to creating ASEAN’s Free Trade Area remain unresolved
A significant progress has been achieved regarding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free trade area negotiated between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and its partner countries, but some unresolved issues still require consensus, China’s Assistant Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang said on Monday.
— Goa Chronicle

Carpio offers 5 ways ASEAN can counter Chinese intimidation in South China Sea
As China declared it wanted the South China Sea Code of Conduct signed by 2022, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned the sea code must not be used to legitimize Beijing’s unlawful behavior in the maritime region.
— Rappler

Del Rosario: South China Sea code must incorporate Hague ruling
Former Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario on Monday, October 28, said a South China Sea code of conduct (COC) must include the landmark 2016 Hague ruling to make sure the long-delayed sea code abides by the rule of law.
— Rappler

Airports, tourism and traffic: KL, Singapore, Jakarta, and Manila
The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) published its annual Tourism Highlights and the good news about the Philippines is that international arrivals have reached more than 7 million in 2018.
— BusinessWorld Online

S. Korea to bolster fintech cooperation with ASEAN
South Korea’s financial regulator said Monday it will deepen cooperation with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the financial technology sector.
— The Korea Herald

“Wholesale market in Pingxiang, China, to facilitate trade with ASEAN countries”
The Pingxiang Jiangnan (ASEAN) Agricultural Products Import and Export Trading Market, officially opened its doors in September 2019.
— Fresh Plaza

Spotlight: Upgraded China-ASEAN FTA brings huge opportunities to Vietnam
Vietnam’s leading dairy producer TH Group, the first Vietnamese enterprise granted transaction codes to export milk products to China, looked forward to tapping opportunities for Vietnam’s dairy products brought by the upgrading protocol of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA).
— Xinhuanet

“Silk Road Cup” China-ASEAN table tennis event to be held in South China
2019 “Silk Road Cup” China-ASEAN Table Tennis Tournament will kick off on November 28 in Jingxi, Baise, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said Baise Municipal People’s Government.
— Xinhuanet

Is Japan’s rail diplomacy on the right track in S.E. Asia?
The recent development of Japan’s high-speed rail projects in Southeast Asia may suggest the shinkansen is leaving the center of its railway diplomacy.
— The Japan Times

Seminar talks ASEAN social work development
A seminar was held in Hanoi on August 28 to launch the building of the ASEAN declaration on social work development.
— Vietnamplus

12 Vietnamese startups enter ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Awards
Accordingly, these 12 startups are going to represent Vietnam to compete with other startups in the Southeast of Asia for a ticket to the global final round to happen in December 2020 in China.
— SGGP

Pinoy filmmakers bag $15,000 grant from Southeast Asia film lab
Filipino director Petersen Vargas’ sophomore feature film bagged the grand prize for the third Southeast Asian Fiction Film Lab (SEAFIC) in a ceremony held here Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

Malaysia confident in China-ASEAN FTA upgrade protocol for greater access to Chinese market
Malaysia’s agricultural sector received a boost in June, after the country started shipping whole frozen durian to China.
— Xinhua

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Cambodian fragrant rice to shine at upcoming China Int’l Import Expo in Shanghai
Cambodian fragrant rice will be the kingdom’s main product to be exhibited at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai early next month, a commerce spokesman and a rice chief said.
— Xinhua

Cambodian soldiers, divers scour island for missing Brit tourist
Cambodia deployed soldiers, police and divers to scour an island popular with backpackers after a British tourist went missing there four days ago, an official told AFP on Monday.
— The Jakarta Post

Cambodian Police Arrest CNRP Member, Leave Sick Wife Behind
Cambodian authorities arrested a member of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Monday, seizing him as he returned home from working in the fields and taking him away in his underwear despite pleas by his ill and bedridden wife that he be allowed to dress, sources said.
— RFA

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia Suspends Nickel Ore Exports With Immediate Effect
Indonesia suspended exports of nickel ore with immediate effect after a planned ban on shipments from the beginning of next year led to a rush to beat the deadline.
— Bloomberg

Study finds unsafe lead concentration in paint on playground equipment
The bright and colorful playground equipment and toys in Jakarta’s parks and green spaces may pose a danger in the long term, as a study has revealed that most of the paint used on the equipment contains a high level of lead that can be dangerous if it accumulates in the human body.
— The Jakarta Post

World’s most expensive bank cuts back on water to trim costs
Weeks after Armand Wahyudi Hartono became the vice president director of Indonesia’s largest non-state bank, he noticed how staff were leaving half-empty glasses of water after work.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Laos’ special economic zone bordering China to lure 10 bln USD investment
Boten Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in northern Laos bordering China is anticipating investment of at least 10 billion U.S. dollars to fully develop the site, according to a zone representative.
— Xinhua

Ministry addresses concerns over “non-existent” civil servants
The Ministry of Home Affairs is clarifying the actual number of civil servants amid public concerns over the possible existence of so-called “ghost” positions, according to a senior ministry official.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Boten SEZ eyeing investment of over US$11 billion
The zone borders on Bohan in Yunnan province, China, and is part of the rapidly-growing economic cooperation between Laos and China.
— ANN/Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Sarawak faces logistical challenge to recall canned pork products from China
Sarawak is facing a massive logistic headache to recall China-manufactured canned pork after DNA of the African Swine Fever virus was detected in one of its products.
— The Star Online

Improved ranking in World Bank report proves Malaysia is on right track: Lim
Malaysia’s improved ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2020 Report is proof of the government’s success in implementing institutional reforms, according to Lim Guan Eng.
— The Sun Daily

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Deaths reported after rebels abduct dozens in Myanmar’s Rakhine
Arakan Army rebel group says three military helicopters attacked three boats carrying kidnapped troops and two sank.
— Aljazeera

Myanmar rushes power plant projects to avoid more blackouts
Myanmar’s government is trying to address the country’s worsening power shortage, aiming to add 1,072 megawatts of new electricity generating capacity ahead of elections in late 2020.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Pregnant woman who was turned away by hospital buried with baby
A woman undergoing labor who died after being turned away from a hospital has been buried in the same casket as her newborn, who was already dead when he was finally delivered.
— GMA Network

DOLE: “No Work, No Pay” Policy on November 1 & 2
“No Work, No Pay” Policy on November 1 & 2, DOLE Says The Department of Labor and Employment said that “No Work, No Pay”policy will be implemented on November 1 and 2, 2019.
— Philippine News

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Singapore’s Labor Market Is Showing Strain as Economy Slows
Singapore’s resilient labor market is starting to come under strain as the trade-reliant economy struggles in the face of global pressures.
— Bloomberg

More couples try IVF for a baby but only 18% of attempts succeed: MOH
There were about 7,700 assisted reproduction procedures carried out here in 2017, up from about 7,100 in 2015 and about 5,500 in 2013.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Smarter Cities will help, but not solve, global pollution crisis
Singapore was recently declared as the top performing smart city in the world, outperforming major cities like San Francisco, Seoul, London and New York.
— e27

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Thai Union Group unaffected by US GSP cut
The decision by US President Donald Trump to cut Thailand’s access to preferential trade concessions under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme will have no effect on Thailand’s largest seafood exporter
— AEC News Today

THAI told to speed up ฿156bn baht new aircraft purchase plan
Transport Minister Saksayam has ordered Thai Airways International to conclude its plan to purchase a fleet of 38 new aircraft, to replace its aging fleet at an estimated cost of 156 billion baht, within six months.
— Thai PBS News

Fiscal Policy Office slashes GDP forecast for 2019 from 3% to 2.8%
Blaming external factors, the Office of Fiscal Policy at the Finance Ministry has revised downward the economic growth (GDP) forecast for 2019 to 2.8%.
— Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam hits Chinese and South Korea steelmakers with duties
Vietnam slapped five-year tariffs on Chinese and South Korean color-coated steel products after domestic producers said unfair pricing from overseas competitors caused them to shut down production lines.
— Bangkok Post

Vietnam cracks down on labor trafficking after UK truck tragedy
Nghe An police have arrested four suspects and are hunting another for their involvement in two separate rings sending Vietnamese citizens abroad.
— VnExpress

New airline envisages losing $15 million in first three years
Hospitality group Thien Minh says its carrier KiteAir could lose VND350 billion ($15.04 million) in the first three years of operations.
— VnExpress

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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