News
Myanmar’s stakes in two Belt and Road economic corridors
Myanmar is involved in two of the six economic corridors under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to a report from a multinational professional services firm.The country’s involvement in the two corridors underlines its geopolitical advantage in facilitating the connectivity between China and South ...
ASEAN-EU plans joint statement on climate change
Senior officials from ASEAN and the European Union are working on a joint statement on climate change to show their solidarity and commitment to the Paris Agreement.“The doc ument will be finalised soon, and the announcement will be made at the post-ministerial meeting,” said a ...
Asia’s infrastructure boom is coming to the cities most threatened by climate change
As a region, Asia pours an estimated $881 billion each year into infrastructure. Some recent notable works include the roughly 6,000-kilometer (3,700-mile) four-lane highway that connects New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, which was completed in 2012; and the approved plan for a metro through ...
Improve implementation of tobacco tax policies, ASEAN urged
ASEAN governments should do more to make their tobacco tax policies more effective, not only for health reasons but also for the budget generation.Keep reading ...
World Bank committing over US$2b to support three Asean nations
The World Bank is currently supporting 43 active projects in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, with commitments of over US$2.7 billion as of June, according to a recent report. Of the total figure, 18 projects are in Laos with the total commitment of US$437 million, while ...
Malaysian government to ban export of rubberwood from July 1
The government will ban the export of rubberwood effective July 1, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Dr Wee said on Thursday that the decision was made to address the shortage of raw materials faced by the Malaysian ...
Thailand plans to sign electricity accord with Laos and Malaysia
Thailand is preparing to sign a tripartite electricity-trading agreement with two neighbouring countries at the upcoming Asean Ministers of Energy Meeting. Energy Ministry permanent secretary Areepong Bhoocha-Oom said the agreement would pave the way for the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia electricity deal, enabling the Asean Power Grid to ...
Not all paths to growth the same
Cambodia’s economy stands at a critical crossroads to reach the next phase of development with a recent report urging the Kingdom to ditch its antiquated growth model and adopt more innovative economic strategies that better respond to rapid changes in the global economy. The report, ...
ASEAN exports and consumption are up, but for how long?
One weekend in late May, car dealerships in Singapore’s Queenstown were packed with families and middle-aged couples hunting for new cars. Brochures in hand, a 50-year-old businessman had been visiting showrooms of upscale brands such as BMW and Volvo, looking for a second auto. Singapore ...
ASEAN hails a regional techno future
ASEAN leaders at the World Economic Forum said on May 11 they strongly believed that the Fourth Industrial Revolution would spark a new momentum in the region after 50 years of tremendous growth. Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is hosting the WEF on ASEAN, said in his ...