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

Highlights of the past week • ASEAN and Industry 4.0 • Rising M&A in Indonesia • Thai junta’s internet censorship drive • Weakening peso • Singapore’s labour market issues • Najibnomics • Vietnam’s Facebook dissidents • Fixing the Myanmar economy • The man connecting Cambodia • Hydro plants power Laos into middle-income status • Fertilizer plant in Brunei

ASEAN

• The case for an ASEAN in the Middle East Read
• India: Parliamentary panel suggests 69 ways to improve trade with ASEAN Read
• Japan-ASEAN Cooperation: A Central Element of East Asia’s Regional Architecture Read
• Asean-Korea partnership highlighted at conference Read
• KHTP the perfect gateway for high-tech firms in ASEAN Read
• Asean should unite against extremism, terrorism–expert Read
• Shaping consumption in ASEAN Read
• ASEAN legislators ‘alarmed by Cambodia crackdown’ Read
• ASEAN should benefit from Industry 4.0 Read
• Asean must act now to stop Rohingya genocide Read

Indonesia

• Indonesia president: Investment approvals must be much faster Read
• 2-magnitude quake hits western Indonesia Read
• Heeding the lessons from 50 years of Indonesia-S’pore ties Read
• Satellite problem knocks out thousands of ATMs in Indonesia Read
• Bottling Indonesia’s Gini Read
• BI Estimates Indonesia Balance of Payments in 2017 at 7bn Dollars Read
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&As) on the Rise in Indonesia Read
• Australia-Indonesia free trade deal will encounter protectionism Read
• DBS launches Digibank in Indonesia Read
• Jack Ma Adviser in Indonesia, Govt Guarantees No Intervention Read

Thailand

• World Bank Forecasts Thailand’s Economy to Expand to 3.5% for 2017 Read
• Why did China invite Thailand to the BRICS party? Clue: its sleeper … Read
• BOT: Thai economy continues its expansion momentum Read
• Thailand plans 1.62t baht public-private partnership projects Read
• Thai private consumption, investment up mom in July Read
• ‘New trade ties can fortify Indo-Thai cultural bond’ Read
• Moody’s Says Weakening FDI Weighing on Thai Growth Read
• Thailand’s pending power roadmap prompts guessing game Read
• Thai junta steps up internet censorship drive Read
• Thailand ‘still 8 years from EV era’ Read

Philippines

• Weakening peso – part of economic rebalancing Read
• BSP unfazed by current account deficit Read
• Keep the economy flying, pass tax reform Read
• PH economy seen to stand out in Asia this year Read
• Philippine online hiring down 2% in July Read
• Australia offers to train Philippine troops in IS fight Read
• China exploits the Philippines’ soft-pedalling in South China Sea Read
• PH consumers still the world’s most bullish Read
• Government keeping hands off forex rate — Dominguez Read
• Low FDI inflows: Its genesis Read

Singapore

• Singapore gears its SMEs for a Digital Economy Read
• Interview: Interdependence is key to Singapore’s economic survival Read
• Singapore, Japan investing more in each other Read
• Labour market issues go beyond slow economy Read
• Singapore in sweet spot to ride AI wave Read
• Singapore looks into common QR code for cashless payments Read
• ‘Relax’: Nobel Laureate’s advice to Singaporeans anxious about jobs Read
• No big cost savings yet, but solar panels vital for energy goals Read
• Singapore is second biggest Asian investor in offshore real estate … Read
• More regions aboard Singapore-China project Read

Malaysia

• South East Asian Games a boost for Malaysia’s economy Read
• Gale: Najibnomics good for Malaysia’s economy Read
• Nazir: Foreign investors like Malaysia’s robust economy Read
• Malaysia enters next growth frontier: UOB Read
• Malaysia’s economy to continue doing well in 2H17, says Mustapa Read
• Ecological agriculture: Farming the smart way Read
• Chinese varsities eyeing local students Read
• China’s Belt and Road: What’s in it for Malaysia? Read
• Foreign investors returning as Malaysia’s growth picks up Read
• At 60, does Malaysia need to re-examine identity? Read

Vietnam

• Despite strains, Vietnam and China forge closer economic ties Read
• Vietnam’s plans to pump more money into economy risky: economists Read
• Standing witness to Vietnam’s rise Read
• Vietnam’s Facebook dissidents test the limits of Communist state Read
• 51 bankers, businessmen on trial in Vietnam for fraud Read
• Vietnam: A story of overcoming challenges Read
• How Vietnam’s attracting foreign investment despite global market … Read
• Techcombank wants no foreign ownership, temporarily Read
• Vietnam Customs holds dialogue with European businesses Read
• Work starts on first Vietnamese automobile manufacturing complex Read

Myanmar

• Fixing the Myanmar economy Read
• Maturing Myanmar: Is Business Still Confident? Read
• Myanmar can become middle-income country by 2030: Prabir De Read
• Rakhine to construct Maungdaw economic zone Read
• SEZs in Myanmar should learn from international experience Read
• Myanmar banks hike lending to SMEs in bid to lift the economy Read
• It’s time to scrap the Dawei Special Economic Zone Read
• India to Discuss Rakhine Situation During Modi’s Myanmar Visit Read
• Taking family businesses to next level in Myanmar Read
• Why Myanmar is important to Japan Read

Cambodia

• Mass fainting in H&M factory in Cambodia Read
• Gov’t Announces First Oil Production to Start in 2019 Read
• Cambodia PM woos garment workers with cash and pay rise vow Read
• Smart report gets kudos Read
• Sun Chanthol: the man connecting Cambodia Read
• Hun Sen prepares for next year’s national elections Read
• Business Insider: Marketing the luxury of Rolls-Royce in Cambodia Read
• Cooking up Cambodia’s culinary future Read
• Condo supply sees slight increase Read
• Paperless trade on the horizon Read

Laos

• Better facilities needed for Visit Laos Year 2018 Read
• Hydro plants power Laos into middle-income status Read
• Chinese ambassador visits Lao northern provinces Read
• China-Laos railway enters phase of comprehensive construction Read
• Laos promoting e-commerce to facilitate businesses Read
• Laos’ SMEs circle in on market opportunities through online portal Read

Brunei

• Hong Kong-Brunei ties strengthened Read
• Brunei builds 1.3 bln USD fertilizer plant to boost economy Read
• Thai delegation thankful for fruitful visit to Brunei Read
• How a Brunei princess and Malaysian celebrity made a hit hijab line Read
• Taiwan mulling direct flights to Brunei Darussalam Read
• Exciting line-up in December to boost tourism Read

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