Economy

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, left, plans to renegotiate three railway deals struck by predecessor Rodrigo Duterte with China. (Source photos by Reuters and Subic-Clark Alliance for Development)
Transportation

Philippines under Marcos to revisit Duterte-era China rail deals

Beijing funding for 3 projects uncertain as official hints at private sector

15 July 2022
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Feeding Asia

Asia's agricultural revolution: planting a high-tech future

Population, inflation, climate stoke innovation to grow more with less

15 July 2022
A logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is seen at its main building in Manila. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Philippines lifts rates 75 basis points in unscheduled move

New governor seeks 'to help manage spillovers from other countries'

14 July 2022
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. delivers his speech during the inauguration ceremony on June 30: Marcos' decision to be sworn in at the iconic National Museum was not short on symbolism.
Opinion

Marcos off to strong start with bold economic gambit

Recovery and national development at the heart of new president's agenda

7 July 2022
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Feeding Asia

Hunger in Asia on the rise

Inflation, COVID-19, climate, conflict drive food insecurity

6 July 2022
The economies of ASEAN's five biggest members will grow 5.0% in 2022, according to the latest survey by JCER and Nikkei in June, thanks to the reopening of borders.
Economy

ASEAN economy to slow down in 2nd half of 2022: JCER/Nikkei survey

Economists see inflation, U.S. rate hikes weighing on region despite COVID easing

4 July 2022
The Philippines' central bank hiked its key rate for the second straight meeting on June 23.
Economy

Philippines hikes key interest rate again as inflation accelerates

Second hike in two months raises benchmark to 2.5%; Indonesia stands pat

23 June 2022
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
Philippine President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., center, raises hands with the Senate president and the House speaker during his proclamation at the House of Representatives, in Quezon City, Metro Manila on May 25.
Politics

Marcos to take Philippine farming portfolio in inflation battle

President-elect, seeing possible food shortages, vows to revamp sector

20 June 2022
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during his proclamation on May 25: The new president will most likely forward their business interests through favorable government contracts and policies.
Opinion

The oligarchs likely to benefit most under Bongbong Marcos

Incoming president's initial cabinet appointments give some clues

19 June 2022
Chinese mobile payment apps WeChat Pay and Alipay are gaining users throughout Southeast Asia, prompting interest in government-issued digital currencies.
Economy

Philippines, Vietnam study digital currencies as Alipay, WeChat Pay spread

More Southeast Asian countries moving in the direction of early issuer Cambodia

17 June 2022
Jose C. Laurel V, the Philippines' ambassador to Japan, makes an unusual request in Tokyo on June 8: He wants Japanese consumers to pay more for bananas. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Inflation

Philippines asks Japanese retailers to raise banana prices

Embassy says farmers are suffering amid an 'unrealistic and unfair' situation

8 June 2022
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. attends a news conference at his headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, on May 23: He should roll back his populist antics.
Opinion

Philippines' Marcos must not squander his family's second chance

Fully embracing good governance would be an important first step

7 June 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
Food vendors in Bangkok have raised prices due to the heavy inflation hitting Thailand.
Economy

Southeast Asia recovery at risk over inflation, China lockdowns

Thailand and Philippines downgrade GDP outlooks for the full year

18 May 2022
Sara Duterte gestures during her campaign rally on May 7: China seems to have won over Sara Duterte likely securing China's political interests in the Philippines.
Opinion

China's bet on Sara Duterte pays off

How Beijing has cultivated Mindanao's most important family

15 May 2022
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. waves to his supporters at a rally on May 5. The Philippine president-elect won the election by a landslide. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Comment

For Bongbong, economic growth key to restoring Marcos family honor

Philippines' president-elect must avoid crony capitalism and corruption

12 May 2022
Phillipine President-in-waiting Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will take over an economy that is still growing quickly but has a growing debt burden.(Nikkei collage/Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Philippine GDP grows 8.3% in Q1 ahead of Marcos inauguration

Economist fears debt burden will stay at 'dangerously elevated levels'

12 May 2022
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. celebrates outside his headquarters in Mandaluyong on May 11: Hints might come from his cabinet choices.
Opinion

Marcos 2.0 likely to accelerate Philippines' backward slide

Key watchpoints will be whether corruption and cronyism worsen

12 May 2022
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. at a rally in Tagum City, Philippines, on Thursday. (File photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Philippine elections

Marcos wins Philippine presidential election in a landslide

Dictator's son poised to complete family comeback 36 years after People Power

10 May 2022
Sen. Leni Robredo, left, is behind Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the late dictator, in polls for Monday's presidential election. (AFP/Jiji)
Philippine elections

Philippines counts down to election day: 5 things to know

Voters set Monday to pick Marcos or Robredo as next president

6 May 2022
Western sanctions on Russia have sparked a rally in oil prices that is negatively impacting Thailand's economy.
Economy

Ukraine war hits ASEAN growth outlook: JCER/Nikkei survey

Economists downgrade GDP forecasts for the Philippines and Thailand

4 April 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
A Filipino traffic enforcer checks passengers of a jeepney at a checkpoint at the border between Las Pinas city and Cavite province in 2021.
Economy

Philippine jeepney drivers strike over soaring fuel prices

Government says high costs due to global forces, but analysts say it can do more

25 March 2022
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has signed amendments to the Public Service Act, which lift the 40% foreign ownership limit in industries such as telecommunications, airlines, domestic shipping, railways and railways.
Economy

Philippines allows foreigners to own telcos, airlines and railways

Duterte signs law easing investment rules months before stepping down

22 March 2022