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

Highlights of the past week • Asean-China ties • Opportunity in Indonesia’s digital economy • Thailand’s population challenges • Philippine stocks post all-time high • Why Singapore Is Rebranding • Defining Malaysia’s foreign policy challenges • Good Morning, Vietnam Stocks • Rohingya crisis • Cambodia’s backbone is still the agriculture sector • Laos; from land locked to land linked • Brunei tops rankings for meeting UN health goals

ASEAN

• What is the Future of Integration and Inequality in ASEAN? Read
• Seoul’s three key directions for upgrading Asean ties Read
• Asean women seek a bigger voice Read
• ASEAN’s New Police Database Takes Shape Amid Terror Fears Read
• Does an ASEAN Agreement Mean Progress for RCEP? Read
• US firms bullish on Asean despite TPP exit Read
• ASEAN energy minister meet to spark joint energy projects Read
• Taking Asean-China ties to the next level Read
• Canada, Asean to talk FTA Read
• Siemens sees digitalization good option for Asean firms Read

Indonesia

• Indonesia swings back to trade surplus in Aug Read
• Indonesia’s export rises in August on higher commodity prices Read
• Indonesia challenges Australia’s anti-dumping measures at the WTO Read
• Bank Indonesia Expects Mild Acceleration of Economic Growth Read
• Indonesia eyes integrated economy zone in cross-border areas Read
• Opportunity in Indonesia’s digital economy Read
• Indonesia Won’t Cede Asia’s Top Spot for Long Read
• Indonesia’s August motorbike sales grow 5.2 pct y/y Read
• Indonesia tightens rules to curb money laundering, terror funding Read
• Architect-turned-mayor transforms his hometown into Indonesia’s least bureaucratic city Read

Thailand

• Japan, Thailand sign 7 deals to strengthen economic ties Read
• Thailand’s hot money problem: echoes of the 1997 Asian financial crisis Read
• Russia interested in investment projects in eastern Thailand … Read
• The Thai Canal – cutting through the project’s hype Read
• BOT unfazed by call for rate cut Read
• Thailand’s population challenges Read
• Thai firm eyes 15 budget hotels in PH Read
• Call to boost bilateral trade in Malaysia-Thailand border areas Read
• Time to patch the holes in state firms bill Read
• Is Thailand preparing for the AI assault?: The Nation columnist Read

Philippines

• Drug war, Islamists ‘rising’ risks for Philippine economy — Moody’s Read
• Moody’s sees 6.5% GDP growth for PH in 2017 Read
• In the Philippines, infrastructure program could grant businesses ‘manna from heaven’ Read
• Marcos plundered to ‘protect’ the economy? Makes no economic sense Read
• 3rd meeting set in Tokyo for PH-Japan infra cooperation Read
• Economic managers to seek more Chinese support for infra projects Read
• JFC supports retention of incentives for BPM industry Read
• Philippine stocks post all-time high amid upbeat US market Read
• Philippines trade deficit narrows in July, bodes well for growth Read
• WorldRemit, BPI partner to offer ‘instant’ money transfers Read

Singapore

• China’s economic cheer is Singapore firms’ gain Read
• Singapore must husband reserves carefully: Halimah Read
• Business sentiments dip for Q4 though Singapore firms remain upbeat Read
• F1 a boon to economy but some activities need spicing up, say observers Read
• Singapore’s human capital most developed in Asia Read
• Uber and Grab drivers in taxman’s sights Read
• Why Singapore Is Rebranding, This Time With Luxury In Mind Read
• Interview: Singapore needs confidence and freedom of expression Read
• Accenture sets up digital hub in Singapore Read
• 4 Types Of Recession-proof Businesses In Singapore To Invest In Read

Malaysia

• Malaysia-US trade deals positive for the economy, say economists Read
• Malaysians stunned by US$100b promises by Najib to Trump Read
• Malaysia on the right path to productivity-driven economy Read
• Don’t mortgage Malaysia’s economy for photo-ops, Azmin tells Najib Read
• Malaysia July industrial output up 6.1% on year, beats view Read
• Malaysia not being colonised by China: Minister Read
• Weak ringgit adversely affecting business, says top businessman Read
• Prayut seeks Malaysia’s help in South Read
• Defining Malaysia’s foreign policy challenges Read
• Malaysia seeks to quash tax gossip ahead of election Read

Vietnam

• In Vietnam, a sparkling economic surface hides deep divisions Read
• Commentary: Beware the seducing calls of Vietnam’s start-up sirens Read
• Vietnam is a ready and willing partner for Canada Read
• Five of Vietnam’s most influential businesspeople Read
• Good Morning, Vietnam Stocks Read
• Vietnam’s energy woes threaten to cripple her growth Read
• Human rights at centre of Vietnam-EU trade talks Read
• Petrolimex tops Forbes’ Vietnamese companies list Read
• HCM City against micro apartments Read
• Vietnam wants foreign investors’ presence in SOE equitisation: PM Read

Myanmar

• World Chinese entrepreneurs meet in Myanmar for business … Read
• View: Don’t join hypocrites in condemning Myanmar Read
• Myanmar mulls reforms to meet infrastructure funding Read
• Rakhine violence not expected to affect economy or FDI Read
• Myanmar’s foreign investment weathers ‘ethnic cleansing’ accusations Read
• Myanmar execs seek help in fostering human resources Read
• Myanmar is where ASEAN, Belt and Road converge Read
• Myanmar expects 6 bln USD foreign direct investment yearly Read
• Rohingya crisis: Myanmar key link to India’s Look East policy Read
• Can LNG fill Myanmar’s power gap? Read

Cambodia

• CDC official thanks China for investment Read
• Cambodian opposition party to boycott vote on leader Read
• US warns citizens about possible violence in Cambodia Read
• Cambodia gets low marks in ‘human capital’ report Read
• Cambodia to host 2018 China-Asean Expo Read
• United States stops issuing some visas in Cambodia Read
• Cambodia’s backbone is still the agriculture sector Read
• More business for private eyes Read
• World Bank lauds finance management Read
• Manulife Cambodia: five years in and still growing fast Read

Laos

• Laos – the ‘battery’ of South East Asia Read
• Laos; from land locked to land linked Read
• China, Laos agree to boost military exchanges, cooperation Read
• Laotian Govt opens centres to register Lao workers in Thailand Read
• Executives Detained After Angry Protests Over Lao Agro Investment … Read
• BBC networks land in Laos Read

Brunei

• China, Brunei to boost ties Read
• Brunei to offer humanitarian assistance to Myanmar Read
• Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei top ASEAN citizenship quality ranking Read
• Li Keqiang Meets with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Read
• Brunei tops rankings for meeting UN health goals Read
• Jollibee opens 15th store in Brunei Read

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