Ships lie at anchor in front of a refinery on Singapore's Bukom Island.
Economy

Southeast Asian ports thirst for more seaborne trade

Lack of adequate transport infrastructure crippling region's competitiveness

7 September 2017
Members of the media visit a village in northern Rakhine State on a government-organized visit on Aug. 30. (Photo by Thurein Hla Htway)
Politics

Rakhine crisis blights Myanmar economic outlook

Looming 'humanitarian catastrophe' dampens international relations, business sentiment

5 September 2017
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reviews an honor guard in Islamabad on Aug. 3.
Economy

Pakistan's substitute PM pushes ahead with reforms

Progress could help salvage the ruling party's scandal-hit reputation

24 August 2017
Punatshangchhu I, financed by India, is the biggest hydropower project now under development in Bhutan. (Photo by Nidup Gyeltshen)
Economy

Bhutan growth soars amid hydropower building boom

Rising debt to India could make country the Greece of South Asia, critics say

17 August 2017
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reviews the honour guard in Islamabad, August 3.
Economy

Pakistan's new PM charges ahead with reforms

Politically astute Abbasi earns respect, expected to salvage party's fortunes

16 August 2017
Ayesha Aziz Khan, managing director and CEO of Summit Power International
Economy

Bangladesh power giant wants $1bn to fund expansion drive

Summit Power up for possible $50m injection from GE, eyes Singapore listing

9 August 2017
Toshiba and Toshiba Plant Systems & Services will supply steam turbines.
Economy

Japan consortium to build power station, port in Bangladesh

$4.5bn cost to be covered by JICA's largest-ever yen loan

30 July 2017
A trader observes the day's stock performance at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
Economy

Pakistan's Sharif probe keeps investors wary ahead of verdict

Prolonged market slump expected amid political uncertainty

28 July 2017
A machine operator stitches apparel at a factory in Sri Lanka owned by the Hirdaramani Group. (Courtesy of Hirdaramani Group)
Economy

EU boost not enough to revive Sri Lanka garment industry

Sector has fallen well behind rivals such as Bangladesh

24 July 2017
Customers at the Panthapath, Dhaka, outlet of Shwapno, a chain superstore owned by leading conglomerate ACI Group. (Photo by A.Z.M Anas)
Economy

Bangladesh tax reform stalls amid tough opposition

Unlike India, Dhaka fails to implement major changes, putting pressure on finances

21 July 2017
Cinnamon peeler Pesthathanthri Sumathipala scraping the outer bark of a cinnamon branch. (Photo by Marwaan Macan-Markar)
Politics

Labor shortage hits Sri Lanka's cinnamon industry

Dearth of peelers leaves world's leading exporter with harvest shortfalls

21 June 2017
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Jin Liqun says membership could grow to 85 or 90 within the year.
Economy

AIIB future rests on shedding Beijing influence

Bank to hold 2nd annual meeting in South Korea

15 June 2017
The port of Gwadar in Pakistan is one of several infrastructure projects benefiting form investment as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Economy

Belt and Road's potential real estate boost

Construction companies stand to win big by signing up now

15 June 2017
Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh's state minister for foreign affairs, speaks during an interview on June 6. (Photo by Mayasuki Kozono)
Economy

Bangladesh's Alam: Japanese investment can feed 'new Asian Tiger'

Foreign minister assures investors of Dhaka's progress against terrorism

15 June 2017
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, far left, and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sarif, far right, pose with other leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana on June 9. (Pool)
Economy

The SCO welcomes rivals into its fold

Membership for India and Pakistan raises bloc's profile, but may invite friction

15 June 2017
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, far left, and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sarif, far right, pose with other leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana on June 9. (Pool)
Economy

The SCO welcomes rivals into its fold

Membership for India and Pakistan raises bloc's profile, but may invite friction

14 June 2017
China's Anbang Insurance Group snapped up an estimated $6 billion in overseas assets in 2016.
Economy

China surges to world's No. 2 overseas investor

$183bn spending spree in 2016, up 44%, puts country behind only US, says UN

8 June 2017
Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs, speaks during an interview on June 6.
Economy

Bangladesh confident of becoming 'new Asian Tiger'

Official says Japanese investment is vital, security is being strengthened

6 June 2017
Jeffrey Immelt, chairman and CEO of General Electric, speaks at the Boston College Chief Executives Club on March 24, 2016.
Economy

GE, McDonald's show how to make money, not enemies

How to overcome anti-globalization and spread the profits around

29 May 2017
Stream article image
Economy

Pakistan's finance minister paints a bright economic picture

Ishaq Dar lauds infrastructure and development partnerships as a path to growth

18 May 2017
Stream article image
Economy

Japan, World Bank team on funding for developing nations

JICA partnership backs private-sector infrastructure to aid political stability

9 May 2017
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Economy

Financing partnerships paving way forward for Pakistan -- Ishaq Dar

Finance minister sees 6% GDP rise as cash flows where it's needed most

8 May 2017
ADB President Takehiko Nakao, far left, and finance ministers from India, Indonesia and Pakistan speak at a panel discussion on the sidelines of the ADB's annual meeting in Yokohama on May 6.
Economy

Protectionism will not be able to stop global trade

Finance ministers at ADB meeting say trade momentum is too strong

7 May 2017
A tangle of power lines is testament to Dhaka's rapid, haphazard growth. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
Economy

Bangladesh's power needs bring ADB, AIIB together

Both lenders serving up funds for natural gas infrastructure

4 May 2017
Asian Development Bank headquarters in Manila: The lender forecasts Asia will need $1.7 trillion per year in infrastructure improvements from 2016 to 2030.
Economy

The ADB faces up to new challenges

As the multilateral lender marks 50 years, its skills are more vital than ever

4 May 2017