2016: The Year the Malaysian Economy ‘Crumbled’
Last year was rather eventful for the Malaysian economy. Malaysia’s GDP growth rate — the one big indicator of macroeconomic health — has crumbled. From a past average of 5 per cent in real GDP […]
Vietnam SOEs: Structural Reforms Still in Doubt
Vietnam’s economy has shown resilience in the face of global headwinds. In 2016 Vietnam GDP growth was an estimated 6.2 per cent — higher than the larger Asean economies of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. This […]
With TPP Trumped, Finalisation of RCEP More Urgent as War Drums Beat
United States Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson’s recent provocative comments about China, while perhaps good for local consumption, is setting off alarm bells across the Asia-Pacific region. Mr Tillerson, a former ExxonMobil chief executive, has threatened to […]
Singapore Economy to Face Strong Challenges in 2017
The Singaporean economy is slowing much faster than anticipated. The latest forecast by the Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore (MTI) projects 2016 Singapore GDP growth at 1.0-1.5 per cent — the slowest since the […]
TPP’s Demise Sends Malaysia in Search of a New Trade Agenda
Malaysia’s trade with the United States has been in decline. But with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement dead in the water, what’s next for Malaysia’s trade agenda? If there is a flicker of hope for […]
Vietnam Seeks New Growth Model in Wake of TPP’s Demise
Cheap labour, good personal security, and a stable government has long attracted foreign investment to Vietnam. However, the increasing minimum wage, capped working hours, and the looming death of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) means […]
Summit Puts Vietnam’s Economy Under the Microscope
Government officials, development experts, and members of the private sector gathered recently in Ho Chi Minh City for the opportunity to listen as Vietnam’s economy was put under the microscope. Held for the first time […]
Vietnam Real Estate & Exports Face Turbulence in Q3 2016
Vietnam’s real estate and export sectors have proven to be strong drivers of the Vietnam economy in recent times, which remains resilient despite striking some humps earlier in the year. Vietnam GDP grew 6.4 per […]
Are Free Trade Agreements Malaysia’s Way Out of The Middle-Income Trap?
Over the past several decades a strong economy has seen Malaysia rise to become one of Asia’s newly industrialised countries. In one generation it transitioned successfully from low- to upper-middle-income status, due in large part […]
What Malaysia needs to do to move to a high-income economy (video)
Malaysia needs to open its services sector and improve the business environment for foreign investors if it wishes to move to a high-income economy, says a new infographic video released by the World Bank. Malaysia’s […]
American firms in Asean put Vietnam as preferred expansion location
After playing second fiddle to Indonesia for the past two years Vietnam has returned to the number one location in Asean where American businesses operating in the region plan to expand. According to the 2017 […]
Saving the Vietnam textile and garment industry (video)
In just 25 years Vietnam has transformed from one of the world’s poorest countries to a lower middle income economy. This is primarily due to key structural reforms which were implemented in 1986 in areas […]