Economy

Bangladesh has ample electric power for now but wants to add more renewables to its energy mix of the future.
International relations

Bangladesh scraps plans for 10 coal-fired power plants

Projects involving China, Japan and others axed due to environmental concerns

8 July 2021
Singapore is home to at least 28 high-tech, indoor urban vegetable farms that a food resilience official said allow the city-state to "grow more with less."
Asia Insight

Singapore cultivates 'Silicon Valley of food' in a hungry Asia

Lab meat and indoor greens thrive as COVID highlights regional challenge

6 July 2021
Shipping containers await transport from a port in Bangkok, Thailand in March 2016.
Economy

COVID surge puts brakes on Thai and Malaysia growth: survey

Virus variants and US rate hike loom over ASEAN economies

5 July 2021
A shared working space in Tokyo: The city's remote working infrastructure, cultural attractions and other factors contribute to its appeal for "digital nomads." (Photo by Tetsuya Kitayama)
Economy

Tokyo and Singapore trail Melbourne in 'digital nomad' ranking

List highlights places best positioned to lure new breed of remote workers

2 July 2021
The Monetary Authority of Singapore has not said whether it will launch a retail digital currency, but it has been exploring the concept.
Economy

Singapore dangles fintech prize for digital currency ideas

Central bank aims to iron out issues with fiat e-money as interest grows

28 June 2021
Under a proposed bilateral agreement, Vietnam is set to send its workers to Israel to learn agricultural techniques used there. 
Agriculture

Southeast Asia looks to Israeli tech to improve farming techniques

Israel companies offer ways to boost production as region faces supply threats

20 June 2021
Skyscrapers tower over Shanghai: A senior IMD economist says China addressed the pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis in a "most effective way."
Economy

China gains on US in competitiveness ranking as Taiwan joins top 10

Singapore and Hong Kong slip on IMD's list amid pandemic strain

17 June 2021
Singaporean Finance Minister Lawrence Wong says the city-state "will make any necessary changes to our corporate tax system" once a global consensus is reached.
Economy

G-7 tax deal reverberates in Singapore and beyond: What to know

Proposed minimum of 'at least 15%' spurs talk of strategic rethink

11 June 2021
Singapore relies heavily on migrant workers from South Asia to perform labor-intensive jobs like construction and shipbuilding. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Coronavirus

Singapore's entry ban on India worsens COVID labor crunch

Grueling workloads raise safety concerns while shortage pushes up wages

1 June 2021
Containerships at a port in Malaysia. The Southeast Asian nation's exports surged 63% in April.
Trade

Malaysia leads Southeast Asia recovery on digital device demand

Vietnam and Singapore also rebound while Philippines mired in slump

29 May 2021
Singapore revised up its gross domestic product growth for the January-March quarter to 1.3% from a preliminary result of 0.2%. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Economy

Singapore revises Q1 GDP growth up to 1.3% on export demand

Tighter domestic COVID rules and clampdown on migrant entries among downside risks

25 May 2021
Shoppers in Singapore stock up on groceries on May 14, after new curbs on dining out and social gatherings were announced.
Coronavirus

Singapore, Vietnam and Taiwan fight to remain COVID havens

Upticks in cases and variant fears doom events and squeeze businesses

18 May 2021
The 50th World Economic Forum annual meeting was held in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2020.
WEF in Singapore

Singapore 'Davos' canceled amid Asia's COVID resurgence

World Economic Forum cites uncertainty on variants, differing vaccination speeds

17 May 2021
An empty departure hall at Singapore's Changi Airport in January: Hopes that a travel bubble with Hong Kong would start on May 26 are fading fast.
Coronavirus

Singapore sets stricter COVID rules as Hong Kong travel hopes dim

Dining-in to be halted and only two people can gather amid airport cluster fears

14 May 2021
A containership leaving Jakarta: Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports to China grew about 63% during the first quarter.
Economy

Singapore and Indonesia exporters catch China's GDP tailwind

Data bodes well for ASEAN economy's comeback from COVID

19 April 2021
Singapore's GDP shrank 5.4% in 2020, its worst performance since independence in 1965.
Economy

Singapore ekes out 0.2% GDP growth in Q1 with COVID in check

Chips and other exports drive manufacturing rebound as vaccinations accelerate

14 April 2021
A public housing estate under construction in Singapore. The government has warned of the risks of taking on too much property debt.
Property

Seoul, Shanghai and Singapore show house-buying fever

Governments mull action to head off bubbles as residential prices soar

13 April 2021
Ships off the coast of Singapore: The city-state ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership on April 9.
Trade

Singapore ratifies RCEP trade deal as members eye January launch

Thailand and China also quick to approve accord but more players needed

9 April 2021
Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. Analysts revised up Indonesia's economic growth for 2021.
Economy

Vaccines seen helping Singapore and Indonesia rebound: survey

Economists cut 2021 growth forecasts for Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand

6 April 2021
A worker in a hazmat suit disinfects a Manila street as a preventive measure against COVID-19 on March 19.
Coronavirus

Asia COVID cases hit record as virus outpaces vaccine campaigns

Surges in Philippines and India bode ill for region's economic recovery

26 March 2021
A flurry of new health certificates may help restart airlines and tourism. But they risk dividing the world into vaccine "haves" and "have-nots."
The Big Story

Vaccine passports: Can they save travel? Should they?

Fairness vies with economics as governments weigh the risks of opening

24 March 2021
Singapore Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said digitalization and connectivity are key to economic growth in a keynote speech at Nikkei Forum Innovative Asia 2021 in the city-state. (Photo by Weixiang Lim)
Economy

Singapore eyes digital connectivity to fuel post-COVID growth

City seeks high-tech partnerships with Japan, Australia, New Zealand

16 March 2021
Beijing's central business district: A survey found 55.6% of mainland China employers intend to increase their head counts in 2021.
Economy

China employers bullish on hiring and pay as Hong Kong feels chill

Politics and COVID loom over city, research shows, as other Asian markets rev up

15 March 2021
Singapore attracted even more investments from wealthy individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Markets

Singapore lures in the rich with friendly rules and subsidies

Japan's Nomura sees opportunity in private banking in city state

14 March 2021
Police stand guard to prevent people from gathering during a demonstration in Hong Kong on Sept. 6, 2020. Last year, Beijing imposed a national security law on the city to quell protests.
Economy

Heritage Foundation drops Hong Kong from 'economic freedom' index

US think tank cites Beijing's control over city's policies, as Singapore tops list

4 March 2021