Economy

Wat Po temple in Bangkok: Thailand is weighing a new entry tax for foreigners once tourism picks back up.
Economy

Southeast Asia leans on new taxes to plug coronavirus shortfalls

Digital services and tourists targeted to help fund pandemic relief

30 May 2020
People wearing protective masks shop at a supermarket on the outskirts of Jakarta amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 26.
Retail

Indonesia's Ramadan spending spree spoiled by coronavirus

Airlines and retail hit hard, but e-commerce comes out a winner

29 May 2020
People observe social distancing at a shopping mall in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, on May 26.
Coronavirus

Indonesia prepares to open economy even as COVID-19 risk lingers

Up to 340,000 security personnel will enforce safety protocols

28 May 2020
Repatriated overseas Filipino workers arrive at an airport after weeks of quarantine in Pasay City on May 26: they send home more than $35 billion annually.
Opinion

Coronavirus shock exposes Asian governments' addiction to remittances

Money which overseas workers send home has prevented needed reforms

28 May 2020
A Philippine lawmaker proposes imposing taxes on streaming services like Netflix to raise revenue in the fight against coronavirus. 
Economy

Philippines eyes tax on Netflix to boost revenue amid pandemic

Manila also targets online giants Google, Facebook, Grab, Spotify and Lazada

22 May 2020
Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon river into Italy on his return from Gaul, precipitating the Roman Civil War. Central banks in Southeast Asia are also seen to be crossing the metaphorical point of no return. (Nikkei Montage/Source photo by Getty Images) 
Economy

Indonesia and Philippine central banks cross the Rubicon

Monetary authorities break taboo by buying bonds from primary market

20 May 2020
Japan on Thursday will examine whether to ease coronavirus restrictions in Tokyo. The city has a significantly lower death toll than similarly sized global cities. (Photo by Kai Fujii)
Coronavirus

Japan reassesses Tokyo and Osaka emergency restrictions Thursday

New cases in capital slow, but unease over low testing remains

20 May 2020
People walk at Changi Airport. Singapore looks to restart sectors accounting for about three-quarters of its economy on June 2.
Coronavirus

Singapore to reopen finance and wholesale on June 2

Retail stores and restaurant dining likely to resume in July

19 May 2020
Credit rating agencies have their eyes trained on the fiscal health of economies in developing Asia.
Asia Insight

Asia faces financial health check after going big on stimulus

Countries must spend wisely or leave future generations under piles of debt

19 May 2020
Joko Widodo's unsteady approach to the outbreak is emblematic of the problem.
Opinion

Indonesia's IPO fever cannot hide worsening economy

It is suffering from flabby state-owned enterprises and coronavirus blow

18 May 2020
A floating system of solar power panels in Da Mi, Vietnam: The Southeast Asian country is hitting its solar targets six years ahead of schedule.
Opinion

COVID-19 will not slow Southeast Asia's shift from coal to renewables

Japan, China and South Korea must support move to cleaner energy

11 May 2020
A woman with her baby at a hospital in Jakarta. Health care facilities in Indonesia are being forced to juggle a rise in dengue cases with the coronavirus outbreak. 
Coronavirus

Indonesia deals with dueling outbreaks as dengue cases spike

Rise in 'breakbone fever' adds stress to shaky infrastructure battling COVID-19

6 May 2020
Social distancing measures in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta were only introduced mid-March, sparing the economy from a more drastic contraction in the first quarter. 
Economy

Indonesia endures weakest GDP growth since 2001 as pandemic hits

Household consumption plummets despite no COVID-19 cases until start of March

5 May 2020
Construction on a high-speed railway between Jakarta and Bandung has ground to a halt due to coronavirus-related restrictions.
Belt and Road

Southeast Asia rail projects stall as China focuses on recovery

Belt and Road construction takes a back seat amid coronavirus rebuild

5 May 2020
Governor Shaktikanta Das at a news conference in Mumbai, pictured on Feb. 6: in return for handing its wallet to Team Modi, the RBI should extract reform pledges.
Opinion

World watches as India's central bank prepares to fund government

Direct financing of fiscal deficits is looking attractive despite inflation risks

4 May 2020
A soldier guards an empty street following the lockdown in Manila on Apr. 24: policymakers need to cushion the current impact, even if it entails costs later on.
Opinion

Stimulus-driven inflation is the least of Asia's problems

Cost of inaction is much higher than putting too much money into system

3 May 2020
Filipinos, seen here at a remittance counter in Makati City in Manila, are expected to suffer the most from a fall in remittances from overseas as the coronavirus pandemic leads to job losses and pay cuts. 
Economy

Philippines and Indonesia face risk of record remittance fall

Inflows from US and Middle East may plunge, hitting vital source of income

1 May 2020
Grab cofounders, Anthony Tan (right) and Tan Hooi Ling, have grown their company into social infrastructure in Southeast Asia.    
Nikkei Asia Prizes

Grab: From business-school project to game-changer in Southeast Asia

Ride-hailing app brings financial security to drivers and new technology to region

30 April 2020
Students with disabilities in school in Lhokseumawe, pictured on Mar. 6: the early detection of COVID-19 exposure among the disabled has been difficult.
Opinion

Asia is neglecting disabled people during coronavirus outbreak

Governments must take extra efforts to inform and protect most vulnerable

29 April 2020
Buddhist monks at Bangkok's Wat Matchantikaram Temple wear face masks to shield themselves from the coronavirus. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Coronavirus

Thailand and Malaysia keep guard up after Vietnam lifts lockdown

Bangkok weighs careful easing but extends emergency and curfew for now

28 April 2020
President Joko Widodo reiterated the goal of turning Indonesia into a developed economy by 2045 during his second inauguration in October 2019.
Politics

Indonesia halts job creation bill targeting foreign investment

Opposition to weaker worker protections mounts amid coronavirus threat

28 April 2020
People sleep on benches at Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok on Apr. 3: the urban poor are at risk, living in overcrowded spaces.
Opinion

Governments facing tough choices in COVID-19 crisis: World Bank VP

Countries in East Asia and Pacific must expand effective programs for poverty relief

27 April 2020
Indonesian President Joko Widodo inspects equipment at an emergency hospital set up amid the new coronavirus outbreak in Jakarta in late March.
Politics

Jokowi faces critical moment as COVID-19 rocks key policies

Indonesian president asks parliament to delay debate on labor reforms

24 April 2020
A man enters a hospital where a special ward has been set up for COVID-19 patients in Mumbai.
18 April 2020
The usually congested roads of the Indonesian capital Jakarta are deserted following the implementation of "large scale social restrictions" in the city.
Economy

Indonesia's central bank slashes growth forecast on outbreak

Bank Indonesia sees a 2.3% expansion in 2020 as it holds its key rate

14 April 2020