Bambang Brodjonegoro, dean of the ADB’s Tokyo-based think tank, said Southeast Asia’s largest middle-income economies are at risk of long-term stagnation as demographic advantages fade and productivity growth stalls.
As Indonesia asserts control over its vast nickel reserves, a new supply route is forming between Southeast Asia (SEA) and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). France and Hungary are emerging as key European partners in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, linking mineral extraction in Indonesia to battery production in
French President Emmanuel Macron called France “a power that respects its partners” during his 25-29 May tour of Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, when he promoted his country as a strategic partner for Southeast Asia (SEA) amid growing US-China rivalry. The trip focused on trade, defence and clean energy cooperation, as
The landscape of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting is shifting in 2025 as regulatory mandates grow more stringent globally, even while political pushback intensifies in parts of the world, and most notably the US. The regulatory trend is clear. Governments and oversight bodies are moving to standardise and enforce
Thailand’s Entertainment Complex (EC) bill, which includes provisions to legalise casinos, has been delayed as Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra deemed it unready for cabinet review. Speaking to reporters outside Government House on Tuesday, she said the government must consider all stakeholders’ views before the bill moves forward. A
Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore have made significant advances in economic development and infrastructure, efforts on sustainability and equality targets remain uneven, the United Nations’ ESCAP 2025 SDG (sustainable development goals) Progress Report found. Thailand leads the trio in overall SDG achievement and ranks first in ASEAN, which is comprised of
Malaysia is taking a proactive approach to economic growth and trade, balancing its global partnerships while maintaining a non-aligned stance in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. As Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government pursued new trade agreements, economic growth slowed to 5% in the fourth quarter of 2024, raising
Singapore’s business environment is set to face multiple challenges in 2025, with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) expecting continued pressure from rising costs and declining productivity. Meanwhile, the Singapore Exchange is undergoing a leadership shake-up as it seeks to revive its struggling equities market. Economic forecasts have been adjusted
Singapore’s economic outlook for 2025 presents a mixed picture, with steady growth tempered by uncertainty as the government prepares a crucial budget ahead of the next election. Analysts view the upcoming fiscal plan as a defining test for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership, with expectations that it will
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has assured that state-owned oil company Petronas will uphold all its contractual obligations with Sarawak’s Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) in Parliament on 17 February, addressing concerns over the companies’ ongoing negotiations. Petronas will "maintain all existing domestic and international contractual obligations", Anwar
Thailand’s economy grew 3.2% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2024, falling short of projections, as sluggish private investment and slower government spending weighed on growth. Analysts warn that trade tensions and global uncertainties could pose further challenges in 2025, prompting calls for government stimulus measures to sustain
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has visited the country’s southern provinces, promising new investments and infrastructure projects as part of its levelling-up agenda. The Thai premier met local leaders in Phatthalung and Songkhla to discuss flood management and economic development. She wrote on Facebook that her government is “ready
Singaporean delivery app Grab contributed 0.5% to Malaysia’s GDP in 2023, according to a new report by Kuala Lumpur-based advisory firm Econworks. The platform created up to MYR 9.9bn (USD 2.24bn) from 277,237 earning opportunities, generating MYR 3.7bn in household income, the report says,
Singapore is an increasingly big player in the foodtech industry, ranking second placed globally in a new report by StartupBlink. A branch of food science, foodtech focuses on production, preservation and research and development, ensuring product security, safety and quality standards. The city state’s position behind only the US
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has expanded its presence in Singapore with a second corporate office at IOI Central Boulevard, positioning the city-state as its Asia Pacific hub. The new office spans over 33,000 square metres across 8 floors and can accommodate up to 3,000 employees. AWS, a subsidiary
A new report from Transparency International (TI) sees mixed results for Southeast Asia (SEA) with Singapore maintaining its position as the region’s least corrupt nation, while Malaysia and Thailand grapple with governance challenges. “Asia Pacific is home to a third of the world’s population, has the second largest
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), until recently more prominent in Europe and the US, is gaining ground in Southeast Asia (SEA). In Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, ESG assets are expanding rapidly, driven by a shift in investor and consumer preferences, and also regulatory reforms. A boom in sustainable finance products
Thailand’s automotive industry, the nation’s fourth-largest sector, contributes around 11% to the nation’s GDP and employs over 750,000 workers. However, recent government policies and agreements with China aimed at boosting EV production have led to issues including factory closures and EV price wars due to oversupply.
Malaysia and Thailand became partner countries of the BRICS group on 1 January and will participate in BRICS mechanisms along with Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Uganda and Uzbekistan, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov announced. With the addition of these nine partner nations, BRICS now encompasses approximately half of the
Thai electricity authorities will increase renewables in the energy mix in the national grid while securing new domestic energy sources, reducing reliance on imports and bolstering energy independence, according to the Thailand government’s strategic policy for 2025. The three key electricity authorities – the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)
Amid heightened US-China tensions, Singapore reaffirmed its neutral stance at the ASEAN summit in October 2024, with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasising economic stability and strategic balance. Singapore continues to maintain strong trade ties with both superpowers, even as the US and Beijing intensify pressure on regional allies to
Amid heightened US-China tensions, Singapore reaffirmed its neutral stance at the ASEAN summit, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasizing economic stability and strategic balance. The city-state continues to maintain strong trade ties with both superpowers, even as the US and China intensify pressure on their South East Asia (SEA) allies
Singaporean Trade and Industry Minister Alvin Tan said companies can use the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as a manufacturing and processing base while keeping their headquarters and research operations in Singapore, in Parliament on 5 February. Singapore and Malaysia agreed to establish the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) last
Reports that US President Donald Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) shut down its elite anti-corruption unit have raised concerns about the future of global financial crime enforcement, particularly in cases like Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal. The unit played a key role in investigating the multibn-dollar fraud, which implicated
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday commended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for her government’s “strong measures” against scam centres targeting Chinese nationals, a growing issue fueling safety concerns among potential tourists. Gangs at border threaten Thai tourism numbers A multi-billion-dollar industry has grown along the Thai-Myanmar border, as
As the incoming administration of US President Donald Trump prepares to announce tariffs, Malaysia is seeking greater alignment with Singapore, and stability and economic resilience at the start of an uncertain era for South East Asia (SEA) and the planet. As global trading networks become less stable, Malaysia has turned
Thailand confirmed its adoption of the global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% on January 1, 2025, aligning with the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) global tax reform framework. The new regulation is expected to impact multinational corporations operating in Thailand, particularly in the manufacturing and finance
The digital sectors of Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore contributed to a 24% regional increase in profits in 2024, reaching USD 11bn, according to a new report. Thailand and Malaysia strategic cost measures in e-commerce and digital finance, optimising take rates and reducing customer subsidies to improve margins. In Thailand, e-commerce
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim underlined his country’s plans to build trade relationships with China, Russia, and Brazil, at a parliamentary session on February 4. Anwar’s emphasis on diversifying trade partnerships reflects a strategic move to shield Malaysia’s economy from potential external shocks due to shifting US
Thailand is positioning itself as a key beneficiary of the US-China trade war escalated by US President Donald Trump’s return to office, offering fresh incentives to attract global companies seeking alternatives to China. Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said Thailand is an appealing and safe manufacturing hub with a