Blog

Weekly roundup of ASEAN economic news and updates from local and international press.

Highlights of the past week • ASEAN’s Pyongyang ties • Indonesia’s retail investors • World Bank’s medicine for Thailand • Malaysia consumer spending • Singapore’s tough job market • Philippines’ regional-laggard ‘curse’ • Vietnam’s banking cleanup • Clearer policies and liberalisation needed in Myanmar • Brunei’s creative industry • Dollarization in Cambodia • Foreign arrivals in Laos

ASEAN

• How fear, luck and golf brought Asean together Read
• Time for Asean to rethink ties with Pyongyang Read
• ASEAN still the cornerstone of Indonesia’s foreign policy Read
• Asean in a new bipolar world Read
• Use your ‘moral voice,’ Australia tells ASEAN Read
• INSIGHT: ASEAN monetary authorities brace for uncertain 2017 Read
• Common standards introduced for green bonds in Asean Read
• Asean members reaffirm 90% tariff cuts under RCEP Read
• Myanmar and ASEAN a great unknown to Trump Read
• ASEAN businesses want clarity from Trump on trade Read

Indonesia

• Indonesia leaves key rate unchanged Read
• Towards more balanced distribution of economic gains Read
• Indonesia expects jump in creative economy by 2019 Read
• Number of Indonesia’s Retail Investors Rises Read
• Indonesia Stocks Rally to Record as Foreign Investors Buy Read
• Jakarta takes steps toward haze-free Southeast Asia Read
• Which Country Has Better Banks: India Or Indonesia? Read
• Indonesia to Sink 70 Illegal Foreign Fishing Boats in April Read
• Indonesia export, import growth slow down in Feb – stats bureau Read
• ‘Outlier’ S&P may upgrade Indonesia, triggering fund flows Read 

Thailand

• World Bank’s medicine for Thailand: more jobs, green protection Read
• Thailand’s new economy: poised for take-off but is the runway ready? Read
• Thailand says optimistic transport spending will resume Read
• Data management could be magic bullet for Thai economy Read
• IMF sees Thai economic recovery advancing at moderate pace Read
• A Hike in US Interest Rates Could Affect Small Businesses in Thailand Read
• Thai central bank says current policy rate still accommodative Read
• Ageing & the economy: Act now says former central bank chief Read
• Indonesia-based VC firm Kejora Ventures expands to Thailand Read
• Thai junta lays out ‘legally binding’ 20-year master plan Read

Malaysia

• Najib urges support for govt efforts to boost economy Read
• Economy on right track in era of moderate growth Read
• Alibaba plans regional hub in Malaysia Read
• Malaysia consumer spending seen recovering Read
• US rate hike to have little impact on Malaysian currency, stocks Read
• The Fed Acts. Workers in Mexico and Merchants in Malaysia Suffer. Read
• Malaysia Jan factory output up 3.5% yoy, below forecast Read
• Malaysia is the world’s best country for investors, says report Read
• SME Bank sees loan growth at 7pct Read
• Malaysia ‘indirectly’ affected by China yuan clampdown, minister says Read

Singapore

• Economists now more upbeat on Singapore economic growth Read
• Tough job market amid brighter signs for economy Read
• Surge in non-oil exports lends hope of turnaround Read
• Singapore city infrastructure No. 1: Survey Read
• Singapore’s big businesses overtake small firms as job creators Read
• Singapore endorses roadmap to fight piracy Read
• Singapore’s Plan to Woo More Unicorns Would Be a ‘Game Changer’ Read
• Singapore’s general insurance industry growth slows in 2016 Read
• Việt Nam’s firms seek out opportunities in Singapore Read
• Singapore’s Central Bank Seen Holding Fire as Growth Recovers Read

Philippines

• Chinese vice-premier heads to Philippines, with US$6b gift basket Read
• Duterte’s relentless anti-drug campaign paying off Read
• Current account surplus narrows sharply in 2016 Read
• Philippines’ Duterte asks military to tell China vast sea area ‘is ours’ Read
• Mining issues cloud Phl competitiveness Read
• Phl has enough buffer vs external shocks – BSP Read
• An inadequate number of public sector employees Read
• Miner Stung by Philippines Spat Eyes Growth in Trump’s US Read
• How to overcome the Philippines’ regional-laggard ‘curse’ Read
• Dominguez: CTRP to cut poverty, transform economy Read

Vietnam

• Vietnam’s economic growth to see little change in 2017 Read
• Economic restructuring outcomes remain modest: report Read
• Vinaxuki’s demise reflects problems in economy Read
• Two economies within one country? Read
• VN e-commerce competition hotting up Read
• ANZ plans to sell VN banking retail business: source Read
• Vietnam’s banking cleanup efforts recoup 18 percent of toxic debts Read
• VN footwear makers unfazed by TPP demise Read
• Vietnam Looks for Trade Deal with US Read
• City eyes expanded online public services Read

Myanmar

• Myanmar’s new struggle: Keeping the faith of foreign investors Read
• Myanmar to solicit bids for its 1st LNG terminal Read
• WB works with Myanmar govt to modernize banking system Read
• Mixed prognosis for Myanmar garment sector Read
• Internet ventures blooming in Myanmar Read
• Clearer policies and liberalisation needed: Bloomberg summit Read
• Top Myanmar Bank May Sell Stake to Foreign Firm, If Law Allows Read
• Magic in the air: Myanmar wizardry flourishes Read
• Myanmar may be trying to ‘expel’ all Rohingya: UN expert Read
• MGOU brings ‘commercial Zen’ to Myanmar Read

Brunei

• Brunei’s creative industry will not be forsaken: Minister Read
• 2016 sees rise in tourist arrivals to Brunei Read
• Need fresh look at industry jobs – they are not that bad Read
• Local publications to be digitised via $10-million project Read
• More airlines set to take off from Brunei Read
• His Majesty appoints new Perm Sec, Deputy Perm Sec Read
• Municipal Department steps up effort in information initiative Read

Cambodia

• International donors must call Cambodia out on corruption Read
• Cambodia, Sri Lanka and the China debt trap Read
• Small is beautiful, and profitable, in Cambodia Read
• What’s Next in Cambodia-North Korea Relations? Read
• Greater riel use could boost foreign reserves Read
• Sok An, right-hand man of Cambodia’s Hun Sen, dies at 66 Read
• Developing society and infrastructure Read
• Sri Lanka’s LOLC buys control of Cambodian microfinance firm Read
• Cambodia is ‘handicapped’ by dollarization Read
• Central Bank Sets Interest Rate Ceiling, Sparking Fears Read

Laos

• KBank ramps up Laos operations Read
• M’sia, Laos keen to expand bilateral cooperation Read
• Laos turning Thai-visa hunters away Read
• Laos to pursue trade, business environment improvement Read
• Lao Government Auctions Luxury Cars in a Bid to Cut Costs … Read
• PM urges stronger VN-Laos partnership in fighting cross-border crimes Read
• Laos witnesses 10 pct drop in foreign arrivals in 2016 Read
• Laos and Japan enhance cooperation with Deputy PM’s visit to Tokyo Read
• UNICEF provides Laos with 7.2 m USD for health, nutrition work Read
• Laos toughens up on foreign workers Read

About Charting Economy

Charting Economy™ is a pioneer publisher of country-report presentations. We help our readers interpret economic numbers and incorporate them into business planning. Our expanding list of country-report presentations covers all major and emerging economies around the world. Our reports can be purchased and downloaded in PDF format at www.ChartingEconomy.com.