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

Highlights of the past week • Expanding Asean • Jakarta Bomb Attack • Thailand’s Coup, Three Years On • Risks to Philippine Growth • Singapore factory output • Malaysia’s poor retirees • Ha Noi’s transport • Insurance in Myanmar • Cambodia’s digital leap • Lao economy • Brunei’s big leap from 2019

ASEAN

• China and ASEAN declare progress in the South China Sea Read
• High hopes for single digital platform for Asean e-commerce Read
• India quietly boosts Asean ties as OBOR looms large Read
• Asean environment: Wetlands for disaster resilience Read
• Asean Circle to brainstorm new ideas for AEC Read
• ASEAN countries’ GDP growth rates to hit 3-8% over the next 5 years Read
• Asean-S. Korea partnership to grow Read
• Lessons from Asean for Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative Read
• Duterte’s wild ideas on expanding Asean: The Nation columnist Read
• ASEAN-Korea digital partnership Read

Indonesia

• Bank Indonesia Optimistic with Economic Growth of 7 Percent Read
• Indonesia makes arrests as Islamic State claims Jakarta attacks Read
• Indonesia Offers Ease of Business in Tourism Sector Read
• UN urges Indonesia to free jailed Jakarta governor Read
• What Gubernatorial Election Results And Ahok’s Verdict Mean For Indonesia’s Economy Read
• Businesses Condemn Jakarta Bomb Attack, Dismiss Threat on Economy Read
• Grab to create 5 million micro-entrepreneurs in Indonesia by 2018 Read
• Indonesia Should Attract More Investment to Boost Economic Growth’ Read
• Indonesia-Sweden to Focus on Politic, Economic Cooperation Read
• Indonesian agribusiness market: Tough for Australia to crack in to Read

Thailand

• Thailand Holds Key Rate as Economy Faces Lackluster Growth Read
• Thai Generals Are Stuck With a Lackluster Economy Read
• Teflon Thailand’s economy gets a boost as Chinese tourists return Read
• Thailand faces economic costs of social media censorship Read
• Thailand’s auto industry going electric? Read
• Tourism industry needs to adapt quickly to ‘Thailand 4.0’, TAT says Read
• Thailand’s Growth Is Below the Country’s Potential Read
• Thailand’s Coup, Three Years On Read
• Laos, Thailand agree on master plan Read
• Why is Bangkok banning its famous street food stalls? Read

Philippines

• Solid fundamentals shield Philippine economy from martial law – DOF Read
• Ramos fears ‘more harmful’ martial law under Duterte Read
• Philippine military bomb Islamist militants in urban battle Read
• Property bucks subdued GDP Read
• Philippines Not in a Race to Raise Rates, New Governor Says Read
• Gov’t infra push fails to spark economy in Q1 Read
• Fitch Cites Risks to Philippine Growth Read
• Inflation seen slower this month Read
• Business optimism improves in Q2 – BSP survey Read
• Forbes counts eight Philippine firms in top 2000 global list Read

Singapore

• Singapore economy seen improving, but there are still headwinds Read
• Singapore factory output rises 6.7% in April with electronics in lead Read
• Singapore is No 3 model city in Asia-Pacific Read
• General Motors to cut 70% of Singapore jobs Read
• Singapore non-oil domestic exports surged 15.2% in Q1 Read
• Portfolio careers have been a mainstay of Singapore’s economy Read
• New body set up to run certification for HR professionals Read
• Singapore’s authoritarian regime risks country’s survival Read
• Singapore has to manage population growth carefully: PM Lee Read
• Singapore risks being left out of the loop on B&R regional integration Read

Malaysia

• Analysts upbeat on Malaysia’s economic performance Read
• Malaysia economy grows at fastest pace in two years Read
• Nazri: Jammed highways during holidays shows economy is not bad Read
• The expanding Islamic digital economy Read
• Bank Negara to unveil new measures to strengthen banking system Read
• Report: Malaysia one of the best capital markets but… Read
• Cathay Financial to acquire bank in Malaysia Read
• Malaysia a country at risk of creating poor retirees Read
• ‘Malaysia still on track to attaining high-income status’ Read
• Malaysia shines in cybersecurity, says Microsoft Read

Vietnam

• Can Vietnam Maintain Its Economic Success? Read
• Moody’s: Strong FDI helps Vietnam diversify economy Read
• Vietnam plans to open ‘outstanding’ special economic zones Read
• Vietnamese Students Are Pouring Into Japan Read
• S’pore firms should ride on Vietnam’s rising growth Read
• Where is Vietnam in the globalization process? Read
• Vietnam makes a big push for coal, while pledging to curb emissions Read
• Frenemies make Vietnam steel megaproject tick Read
• Ha Noi needs more integrated transport Read
• OCB puts into operation anti-money laundering system Read

Myanmar

• Myanmar sends mixed message to foreign investors Read
• Insurance in Myanmar: Spreading the Risk Read
• Split visions of Dawei’s future as Thailand, Myanmar restart special economic zone project Read
• Myanmar tea leaves get Japanese technology Read
• SMEs and businesses in need of access to foreign bank services Read
• Myanmar to receive first foreign coaching on communications Read
• Dairy industry must increase productivity to be competitive Read
• Don’t invest in Myanmar, says 25-year-old mogul Read
• Railways to export 18 diesel locomotives to Myanmar Read
• Myanmar’s peace process and China’s factor Read

Cambodia

• Competition, Economic Status Leave Garment Sector at Risk Read
• Drop ICT tariffs to grow: study Read
• Digital on the Rise in Cambodia Read
• Industry braces for tough times ahead Read
• A case for Cambodia’s digital leap Read
• Axiata welcomes Mitsui as strategic partner at Smart Cambodia Read
• Construction Industry Sees 43 Percent Investment Increase Read
• Cambodia’s Debt: Prudent to Look for Diversified Sources Read
• Cambodia police arrest two for ‘kidney trafficking’ Read
• Cambodia lifts freeze on maids to Malaysia Read

Laos

• Laos, Thailand agree on master plan Read
• Laos, Thailand set to boost trade, investment cooperation Read
• Laos sees highest rate of malnutrition in southeastern Asia: ministry Read
• Laos has yet to fully benefit from trade privileges Read
• Laos link finds Indian investment Read
• Long-haul visitors top spenders in Laos Read
• IMF sounds concerns despite strong Lao growth Read
• Lao economy projected to grow around 7 pct annually to 2019 Read

Brunei

• Brunei’s big leap from 2019 Read
• Minority shareholders to get better protection from new regulations Read
• S’pore delegation in Brunei for educational visit Read
• Brunei’s CPI sees 0.6 pct monthly drop in April Read

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