Economy

Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport is expected to welcome many more tourists now that Thailand has dropped strict COVID restrictions.
Coronavirus

ASEAN tourism on the road to business as usual

Thailand to relax mask and alcohol rules; Indonesia drops mandatory insurance

21 June 2022
Indomie instant-noodle packets tempt shoppers from the shelf at a supermarket in Jakarta. (Photo by Koya Jibiki)
Food & Beverage

In Indonesia, all eyes on Indomie noodles as inflation benchmark

Wheat supply disruption threatens affordability of a national dish

16 June 2022
Tough COVID measures at home have accelerated the decline of Japan's presence in Southeast Asia.
Datawatch

Japan's economic clout wanes in Southeast Asia

China does 3 times more ASEAN trade, but Japan leads in accumulated investment

4 June 2022
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo addresses Nikkei's Future of Asia conference on May 27. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
The Future of Asia 2022

Indonesia's Jokowi urges quick rollout of China-backed trade bloc

At Nikkei forum, Hun Sen defends succession plan and denies China 'debt trap'

27 May 2022
Indonesian President Joko Widodo says that "Indonesia wants to make sure that the G-20 will serve as a catalyst for global economic recovery." (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
The Future of Asia 2022

Indonesia's Jokowi aims to host successful G-20 despite Russia issue

President urges 'immediate' implementation of China-backed trade bloc

27 May 2022
Indonesia's ban on palm oil exports in late April triggered protests by farmers and cut off supplies to the rest of the world. 
Economy

Indonesia to lift palm oil export ban on May 23

Three-week restriction ended after farmers' outcries, rupiah fall

19 May 2022
Like the Trump administration before it, the Biden administration takes the position that unfettered trade liberalization hurts American workers. (Source photo by Reuters) 
Biden's Asia policy

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is not an FTA: 5 things to know

Tailored pact seeks to counter China's clout while protecting U.S. workers

19 May 2022
The G-20 must not allow its members to break up.
Opinion

G-20 must stick together to save the global economy

Cooperation requires mutual trust and respect

18 May 2022
High commodity prices contributed to Indonesia's trade surplus in the first quarter of 2022.
Economy

Indonesia's economy expands 5.01% in 1st quarter

Russia's war in Ukraine clouds 2022 outlook despite initial export gains

9 May 2022
Workers load palm oil fresh fruit bunches in Pekanbaru, Indonesia on April 27: Farmers should not be adversely affected.
Opinion

Indonesia's palm oil crisis pushes Jokowi administration to the edge

Fundamental market reforms needed to prevent the same thing happening again

7 May 2022
Stubbornly high cooking oil prices in Indonesia have frustrated President Joko Widodo's administration.
Commodities

Indonesia's policy flip-flop on palm oil export ban: 5 things to know

Total embargo may cost $3bn in foreign reserves monthly, warns economist

27 April 2022
Workers load palm oil fresh fruit to be transported to processing sites.
Commodities

Indonesia to impose blanket export ban on palm oil

Move reverses previous announcement that only cooking oil material would be banned

27 April 2022
A worker loads palm fruit at a plantation in Indonesia's West Sulawesi Province.
Commodities

Indonesia retreats from ban on crude palm oil exports

Embargo only for palm olein as 'raw materials for cooking oil,' ministry says

26 April 2022
The rush for tech M&As in Asia has slowed to a crawl in China and South Korea. (Source photos by Reuters)
26 April 2022
Politicians up for election say that raising the earnings of workers at the bottom of the pay scale could kickstart a multiplier effect that reverberates across economies, but the chiefs of Southeast Asian industries are not so sure.
Asia Insight

Malaysia's 35% minimum wage hike stirs recovery concerns

Critics say politicians are promising happier paydays as an election ploy

26 April 2022
Indonesian palm oil farmers could compensate for Jokowi's export ban by trimming production. A palm oil plantation in Aceh Province, Indonesia.
Commodities

Indonesia's palm oil ban threatens further global food inflation

World's biggest producer suspends supply for foreign markets

25 April 2022
A worker handles palm oil fruits at a palm oil plantation. Palm oil prices skyrocketed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 
Commodities

Indonesia slaps ban on palm oil exports

Jokowi announces restriction after recent arrests and amid continuing high prices

22 April 2022
Indonesian President Joko Widodo opens a parade of MotoGP racers in Jakarta on March 16. He aims to move some administrative functions to the new capital, Nusantara, by 2024.
Politics

Jokowi rushes to win over public to see through capital move

Speculation of unpopular term extension weighs on poll numbers

21 April 2022
Muslims break their fast during Ramadan at a bazaar in Kuala Lumpur in May 2021. Malaysia has topped every Global Islamic Economy Indicator ranking.
Economy

Malaysia ranks as top Islamic economy for 9th straight year

Global Muslim spending projected to hit $2.8tn in 2025: report

9 April 2022
People shop for cooking oil made from palm oil at a supermarket in Jakarta.
Economy

Indonesia's inflation hits 2-year high in March ahead of Ramadan

Country braces for more price increases from holy month, global energy hikes

1 April 2022
A supermarket in Singapore. Rising food and energy prices are expected to weigh heavily on Southeast Asian households.
Economy

Faster Southeast Asian inflation puts rate hike outlook in focus

Central banks feel pressure to contain surging prices

30 March 2022
A containership off Singapore: Europe accounts for 9% of ASEAN exports, according to Maybank.
Ukraine war

ASEAN faces 'collateral damage' from Ukraine war's Europe impact

From Singapore to Thailand, spillover threatens COVID-hit economies anew

27 March 2022
The Philippines opened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from over 150 countries in February.
Economy

Philippines, Indonesia to revamp tourism sector amid reopening

Southeast Asia pushes for a more resilient industry to deal with future crises

17 March 2022
People wear masks against COVID-19 in Jakarta on March 15. A new ADB report says Indonesia should speed up connections across the archipelago and push technology transfers in order to hasten recovery from the pandemic.
Economy

Digital, trade infrastructure key to Southeast Asia recovery: ADB

As pandemic-hit economy faces risks of inequality, bank urges strong protections

16 March 2022
Commuters in Mumbai: India is likely to see pay increases average 9.2% this year, according to one survey.
Economy

From India to Indonesia, wages to rise faster alongside inflation

Studies find Asian employers ready to pay more after COVID pain

13 March 2022