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

Highlights of the past week • Can Asean do an EU? • Rising Inflation in Indonesia • Thailand’s 50 Richest 2017 • Financing the Philippine golden age of infrastructure • Terrorism threat to Singapore at highest level in years: MHA • Malaysia on track to become high-income economy • Vietnam Turns to Coal • Mobile money flourishing in Myanmar • Hun Sen warns of ‘civil war’ as election looms • Lao bankers open to emerging tech trends • Brunei to introduce MCG to settle cases, claims fast

ASEAN

• Philippines’ Duterte: China threatened ‘war’ over sea row Read
• Beijing exploring joint exercise with Asean Read
• ASEAN needs deeper economic integration, says Deutsche Bank Read
• Building the future in Asean and South Asia Read
• ASEAN PMI falls to 50.5 in May Read
• Korea’s exports to ASEAN more than double thanks to FTA Read
• Agribusinesses can help ASEAN achieve the SDGs Read
• Businesses backed for push into ASEAN region Read
• Bali to house ASEAN-China innovation center Read
• Can Asean do an EU? Read

Indonesia

• Indonesia, Japan Committed to Accelerating Railway Project Read
• Bank Indonesia sees 5.4% growth this year as too optimistic Read
• Indonesia’s annual inflation rate up again Read
• Salim returns to banking to gain control of Indonesia’s digital economy Read
• Indonesia Open For Business After Investment Grade Ratings Read
• KPPU: Only 1.6 Percent of Indonesians Become New Entrepreneurs Read
• Bank Mandiri Lends Rp1.5tn to Indonesia Infrastructure Read
• Bank Indonesia : Economy Unaffected by Jakarta Bombings Read
• Indonesia starts count to solve the riddle of the islands Read
• Loan Growth Reaches 10 Percent: Bank Indonesia Read

Thailand

• Digitisation to drive Thai economy, AWS chief says Read
• IMF: Thailand has policy room to cushion effects of slow growth Read
• Thailand and the inequality challenges Read
• Thailand aiming to take on Singapore in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul Read
• Bank of Thailand chief: No trace of a bubble Read
• Thai April factory output falls 1.7 pct y/y, more than forecast Read
• Thailand’s 50 Richest 2017: The Nation’s Wealthiest Rise Against The Odds Read
• Huawei investing $15m in OpenLab, Thailand Read
• Thai May headline consumer prices dip for first time in 14 months Read
• Educational inequality in Thailand: The challenge Read

Philippines

• Why Moody’s kept growth forecast for Philippine economy Read
• Fitch bullish on Philippine economy, but flags overheating risk Read
• Financing the Philippine golden age of infrastructure Read
• Philippines seen to outperform ASEAN with tax reform boost Read
• NEDA rolls out new Philippines development plan Read
• Philippines’ Duterte pushes tax reform to fund infrastructure Read
• Reduced tax perks worry BPO firms Read
• PH pulls in ‘hot money’ despite poor growth data Read
• Govt sees better Q2 economic growth Read
• Property boom continues Read

Singapore

• Singapore tops new ranking of digital competitiveness Read
• Australia’s Turnbull in Singapore for official visit Read
• Singapore manufacturing PMI posts slower expansion in May Read
• Commentary: Protecting the retirement nest egg in the gig economy Read
• Semiconductors spark Singapore economy’s recovery Read
• Singapore April bank lending rises 7% y-o-y Read
• Terrorism threat to Singapore at highest level in years: MHA Read
• Small lift from trade – but big issue is tech disruption Read
• 5 Foreign Talents explain why they cannot stay in Singapore indefinitely… Read
• How foreigners misunderstand Singapore Read

Malaysia

• Malaysia in top 25 most competitive economies Read
• Sarawak firms gain on growing confidence Read
• Malaysia on track to become high-income economy — Mustapa Read
• Malaysia eager to establish direct flights with Moscow Read
• The tide has changed for ringgit, says Rahman Dahlan Read
• Breaking free from the middle-income trap Read
• Malaysia’s median wage growth to reach 6.5pct: MIDF Research Read
• Profit more than doubles for Malaysia’s Petronas Read
• The new silk road: Is there a plan for Malaysia? Read
• Malaysia manufacturing sector slips back into contraction in May Read

Vietnam

• Private sector the key driver of Vietnam’s growth Read
• Vietnam’s Prime Minister Says He’s Confident of 6.7% Growth Goal Read
• Interest rates remain stable: survey Read
• ICT workshop to be held to support SMEs Read
• Openness to trade keys to trigger innovation Read
• A-rated Shroff: how to milk value in Vietnam Read
• Vietnam Turns to Coal Read
• Vietnam Seeks to List a Company in New York for the First Time Read
• US Extends Arms To Former Enemy Vietnam – OpEd Read
• Finance Ministry: Public debt to reach record high in 2017 Read

Myanmar

• Managing great expectations of the new Myanmar Read
• Myanmar, having warmed to the West, turns to China again Read
• Myanmar weighs infrastructure, strategic ties to China Read
• Faster, easier loans for Mandalay SMEs Read
• Myanmar reconciliation still has a long way to go Read
• World’s biggest law firm opens office in Yangon Read
• China’s New Silk Road plan: What’s in it for Myanmar? Read
• Mobile money flourishing in Myanmar Read
• Facebook bans racist word ‘Kalar’ in Myanmar, triggers censorship Read
• Democracy has muzzled Myanmar’s parliament Read

Cambodia

• As Cambodia’s economy grows, low-income residents left behind Read
• Cambodia’s Hun Sen warns of ‘civil war’ as election looms Read
• Green growth is opening new opportunities for Cambodia Read
• Phnom Penh sees huge final campaign rallies ahead of crucial elections Read
• Can Cambodia Make Electoral History This Week? Read
• Cambodia’s local elections seen as national test run Read
• Construction remains strong growth driver for Cambodia Read
• AirAsia set to establish new Cambodian unit Read
• Makro breaks ground on capital’s first wholesale retail warehouse Read
• Pi Pay goes cashless with app Read

Laos

• Hungary to initiate major credit aid for Laos Read
• Linfox becomes first foreign logistics company in Laos Read
• Lao bankers open to emerging tech trends Read
• Benefits from integration elude Laos Read
• Laos embarks on Vientiane-Pakse highway construction Read
• Vietnam steps up Lao National Assembly building project Read

Brunei

• China-Built Brunei Oil Refinery To Launch In 2019 Read
• Malaysia targets 1.5M tourist arrivals from Brunei this year Read
• Brunei to introduce MCG to settle cases, claims fast Read
• Bank Islam Brunei said to choose Malaysia for US$500mil IPO Read
• Brunei’s Capital Surveyed As One Of ASEAN’s Most Affordable Cities Read

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