News
GMS nations back investment boost
The region’s transportation network stands to get an investment boost after the The 21st Greater Mekong Subregion Ministerial Conference decided on a new investment plan on December 1. Six ministers from GMS countries — China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar — endorsed an additional ...
Thai fintech Ascend Money plans SE Asia expansion
Ascend Money Co, a digital financial services venture between Charoen Pokphand Group and Ant Financial, is poised to embark on a $100 million expansion next year into Southeast Asia. The Bangkok-based firm, which operates payments and online lending platforms, will expand its network of sales ...
Thailand’s October exports fall
Thailand’s customs-cleared exports unexpectedly dropped in October after two months of gains, adding to pressure on the struggling, trade-reliant economy in the face of tepid global demand. Exports, worth about two-thirds of the Thai economy, have contracted the past three years, placing a big drag ...
Govt, development partners pursue accelerated development
The government and development partners have agreed on the coordination mechanisms and framework they believe can help accelerate development through the participation of all sectors. This was the outcome of the Round Table Implementation Meeting held in Vientiane province’s capital last week. After the meeting ...
Bosch backs Thai 4.0 push
The government’s Thailand 4.0 initiative has provided a tremendous business opportunity for German Bosch Group to roll out its smart solutions to all key industries, the chief of the company said. “We welcome and are happy with Thailand’s direction to transform into a digital economy,” ...
Lenders mull moveable assets
Cambodian financial intuitions should allow customers to use moveable assets as part of their collateral requirements to secure lines of credit, providing the government and lenders strengthen the legal framework for monitoring these assets, an economic researcher has argued. Speaking at the third annual macroeconomic ...
Human trafficking needs urgent action: Mekong nations
Human trafficking continues to flourish within the region, requiring a joint effort by the Mekong countries to actively stamp out the trade and penalise those responsible. Human trafficking is harmful to socio-economic development and social order in the region and could worsen when the ASEAN Economic ...
Japan to end preferential tariffs for China, four others
Japan has proposed stricter tariff rules that would knock five trading partners including China and Mexico off the list of countries receiving preferential treatment for emerging economies. A finance ministry customs committee said on November 24 that the list of nations qualifying for zero or minimal ...
Stanchart: PH economy on track to beating ASEAN counterparts
Despite external headwinds, the Philippines is expected to grow the fastest among ASEAN economies until next year on the back of robust domestic demand and strong services exports, Standard Chartered Bank said on November 24. “The Philippines’ domestic growth engine is firing on all cylinders, ...
Trump sinks Asia trade pact, opening the way for China to lead
An ambitious Asia-Pacific trade pact linking the United States and 11 countries lay in tatters on November 22 after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said he would kill the deal on his first day in office on Jan. 20. Trump’s statement appeared to open the way for ...
