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ASEAN WEEKLY: 2-8 Oct 2017

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

Highlights of the past week • How artificial intelligence can help Asean • Less predictable Indonesian Politics • Thai Economy a Study in Contradiction • Making PHL more attractive to investors • MAS won’t rush to tweak exchange rate policy • The ringgit’s QE woes • Vietnam’s economy accelerates in nine months • Time to focus on Myanmar’s economy • ‘Anti-Americanism’ and ‘Chinanisation’ in Cambodia • Laos and Cambodia: the China dance • Brunei Sultan hosts royal banquet to mark his golden jubilee

ASEAN

• Consensus works best for Asean, say diplomats Read
• Asean to grow 5% in 2017: S&P Global Read
• Green focus as nation cleans up at Asean energy awards Read
• ASEAN even more relevant today amid anti-globalisation tide … Read
• North Korea crisis a chance for Asean to shine Read
• Rohingya crisis creating potentially serious rifts in ASEAN Read
• ASEAN forwareders gets a boost in trade Read
• How artificial intelligence can help Asean Read
• People-centred ASEAN: not quite there Read
• Charoen keen to strengthen Asean foothold Read

Indonesia

• Bank Indonesia sees narrowing window for further rate cuts Read
• Indonesia’s electricity play imperils national economic goals Read
• Indonesian politics are becoming less predictable Read
• Abandoned by tourists, Bali town counts cost of Indonesia volcano Read
• Indonesia Should Avoid More Rate Cuts, Biggest Bank Says Read
• China’s gift of pandas to Indonesia is nice, but not enough Read
• Indonesia strengthens navy, air force in face of China expansion Read
• Is Indonesia’s Military Chief Making a New Political Power Play? Read
• Forex Reserves Hit Record $129.4b in September: Bank Indonesia Read
• Indonesia’s first ever IPO by a startup draws robust investor interest Read

Thailand

• Thai Economy a Study in Contradiction Read
• Singapore, Thailand discuss e-payment alliance for digital push Read
• Six steps to achieve Thailand 4.0 Read
• K-Research ups GDP forecast to 3.7% growth Read
• King Vajiralongkorn becomes major shareholder in Thailand’s third largest bank Read
• Thai investors are confident in Myanmar’s economy Read
• Trump hails ‘very strong’ ties with Thailand Read
• Intellectual property protection a ‘key element of Thailand 4.0’ Read
• Thailand expects 35 pct more Chinese tourists in Golden Week … Read
• Thai Sept consumer mood rises for second straight month-survey Read

Philippines

• World Bank lowers Philippine GDP growth outlook to 6.6% Read
• Achieving peace in Mindanao key to PH economic growth – World … Read
• Gov’t working double-time to make PHL more attractive to investors Read
• Philippine stocks close above 8300, track Wall Street gains Read
• PH seeking to intensify economic ties with US – Cayetano Read
• Japan, PH extend liquidity buffer deal Read
• Philippines remains resilient as businesses firmly upbeat — Sy-Coson Read
• Water unit of Philippines’ Ayala eyes Thailand Read
• PH maritime industry faces many challenges in 2017, beyond Read
• ECCP urges PHL to open the economy to foreign investment Read

Singapore

• Singapore economy could top 3% growth in 2018: economists Read
• Singapore’s creative economy is in full bloom Read
• MAS won’t rush to tweak exchange rate policy, say experts Read
• Growing gig economy cushions impact of weak job market Read
• Singapore fifth most visited city in the world: report Read
• Singapore slips a notch to 3rd most competitive economy Read
• Singapore factory output beats forecasts to soar 19.1% Read
• Singapore investments in Latin America, the Caribbean still growing Read
• Singapore SMEs among gloomiest in world: Poll Read
• Big push to equip workers with basic digital skills Read

Malaysia

• Malaysia August export growth at 21.5% yoy; above forecast Read
• World Bank raises Malaysia’s GDP growth forecast Read
• Malaysia expects its digital economy employment to surpass global average by 2025 Read
• Smash beer bottles and scare away FDI Read
• Investment banking momentum set to continue Read
• GST amendment to target online multinationals, says Putrajaya Read
• The ringgit’s QE woes Read
• Malaysia’s c.bank reserves rise to $101.2 bln as of Sept 29 Read
• Liow: E-commerce boom will put Malaysia on global logistics map Read
• Relax, Malaysia Is (Probably) Not Going to Ban Bitcoin Read

Vietnam

• Vietnam’s economy accelerates in nine months Read
• Vietnamese Economy to Grow 6.3% this Year, World Bank Read
• Việt Nam wants to join supply chains: official Read
• Vietnam and Japan would be among hardest hit by a Korean conflict Read
• Tourism sector gets smarter Read
• Vietnamese bond market needs enlarging Read
• Government adopts pro-business action plan Read
• MOIT seeks tighter oversight of LPG trading Read
• Việt Nam has 18m unofficial workers Read
• Vietnam Airlines hits profit of $101.05m Read

Myanmar

• Time to focus on Myanmar’s economy Read
• Myanmar publishes first socio-economic report for investors Read
• Myanmar’s Economy is Projected to Pick Up Amid Downside Risks Read
• Myanmar ‘makes proposal’ to take back Rohingya refugees Read
• Myanmar taps Israeli expertise in agriculture Read
• Naypyidaw’s long awaited dawn Read
• Myanmar’s resurgent nationalism shapes new political landscape Read
• The blossoming relationship between India and Myanmar Read
• Myanmar approves over $4bn FDI in first half of current fiscal Read
• A Family Of Entrepreneurs Has Built KBZ Into a Finance Powerhouse In Myanmar Read

Cambodia

• Economy still on track: World Bank Read
• Planning Cambodia’s future Read
• Cambodian government files lawsuit to dissolve main opposition party Read
• Cambodian Garment and Footwear Workers to Get Minimum Wage Hike by 2018 Read
• ‘Anti-Americanism’ and ‘Chinanisation’ in Cambodia Read
• Cambodia falls further behind in competitiveness Read
• AIA sees great potential in the local market Read
• ADB approves $70m loan for transport sector Read
• Cambodia’s rice exports keep growing Read
• Thailand-Cambodia rail link a step closer Read

Laos

• China Plays Up ASEAN Confucius Institute Presence With Laos Project Read
• Ahead of a ban, China’s illegal ivory market has moved to Laos Read
• Laos merely a bystander as China pushes Belt and Road ambitions Read
• Laos and Cambodia: the China dance Read
• Laos prints its largest, longest sovereign bond issue Read
• Laos PM starts official visit to Việt Nam Read
• Belarus ready to carry out mining projects in Laos Read

Brunei

• Brunei Sultan hosts royal banquet to mark his golden jubilee Read
• Duterte returns from ‘productive’ Brunei trip Read
• PM Lee goes into Brunei jungle with SAF soldiers Read
• President Jokowi arrives in Brunei Read
• Tenom trip strengthens Brunei-Sabah ties Read
• Brunei start-ups should explore ‘developing backyard’ Read
• Number of Bruneians studying in US goes up Read

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