Economy

Laborers work at the construction site of an apartment building in Hanoi.
Economy

Vietnam on track to overtake Singapore in decade: DBS

Region's 'rising star' to benefit from US-China trade war, bank says

29 May 2019
Lignitel-fired power plant in Thailand: Current plans envisage the construction of 448,286 MW of coal capacity in Asia on top of the 1,385,107 MW already in existence.
Opinion

Time for Japan to lead Asia in cutting off coal power financing

Government and banks must close loopholes and avoid 'greenwashing'

14 May 2019
Indonesian fishermen work near pipes flushing sewage into the Porong River in the province of East Java.
Environment

Southeast Asia looks for outside help to flush sewage problems

Water treatment projects lure foreign expertise to deal with rising raw effluent

12 April 2019
A growing middle class in Vietnam is creating a rise in supermarkets and convenience stores, but traditional markets are still holding on.
Business trends

Vietnam's small vendors fight supermarkets with social media

Traditional markets try new ways to keep old customers as retail sector morphs

7 April 2019
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1 April 2019
Foreign workers have labored for years in Japanese factories under a skills training program. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Japan immigration

Small businesses see savior in Japan's blue-collar labor influx

Understaffed companies ready to welcome Asian workers in greater numbers

31 March 2019
Vietnamese apparel exports to the U.S. have surged amid the superpower's trade war with China.
Trade war

Vietnam's economy gains as companies flee China in trade war

GDP grew 6.79% in first quarter as exports to US surged

31 March 2019
E-commerce has been very good for Thailand’s durian sales. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Business trends

Dynamic Asia: a new center for growth

In regional shift, migrants and money flow into Asia

27 March 2019
MRT Jakarta expects to carry up to 378,000 passengers daily once the second phase of its network starts operating in 2025. The indonesian government estimates the economic cost of the city's traffic jams to amount to 65 trillion rupiah a year. (Photo by Bobby Nugroho)
Economy

Southeast Asia pins hopes on rail to ease chronic congestion

Urban transit networks set for long-awaited launch as traffic costs mount

19 March 2019
Tech companies, such as Google and Facebook, have come under fire for their seemingly indiscriminate personal data collection practices. 
Opinion

Handling Big Tech in ASEAN

Cooperate in crafting and enforcing privacy and competition rules in digital markets

12 March 2019
While most Vietnamese have enjoyed years of rising living standards, the economic model of the past three decades must be transformed. 
Opinion

Vietnam and the fight against corruption

Leaders recognize the threat of graft but risk losing chance to create stronger controls

4 March 2019
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1 March 2019
Vietjet aims to capture more of Vietnam's burgeoning air travel market by purchasing 100 Boeing planes.
Companies

Vietnam greets Trump with $20.9bn worth of Boeing and GE jet deals

Orders for US aircraft and engines help Hanoi address trade imbalance

27 February 2019
The Trump administration's plan seems to be to push Pyongyang toward accepting the Vietnamese model. 
Opinion

Vietnam can be template for a US deal with North Korea

Hanoi summit will require big concessions from both Trump and Kim

21 February 2019
Construction vehicles at the 2018 China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou. Exports to the country from the rest of Asia are declining as its economy slows and production shifts elsewhere.
Trade war

Asia's exports to China plunge as economy stumbles

Companies reshape supply chains to avoid trade war's impact

21 February 2019
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects the construction site of a greenhouse in the summer of 2018. He is looking for ways to spur economic growth as international sanctions bite.
Trump-Kim Summit

Kim to study Vietnam's economic reforms during visit

North Korean leader seeks growth while maintaining firm grip

19 February 2019
Singapore's spending on health care and other social programs will rise in 2019.
Economy

Southeast Asia's expansionary fiscal budgets put markets on edge

Governments struggle to maintain growth amid trade war and looming elections

16 February 2019
A motor show held near Bangkok in November. New-car sales in Southeast Asia increased for a third straight year in 2018. (Photo by Hiroshi Kotani)
Economy

Southeast Asian auto sales climb 6% to new heights in 2018

But slowdown seen on trade-war fallout and rising interest rates

7 February 2019
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington on Feb. 5.
N Korea at crossroads

Second Trump-Kim summit set for Feb 27-28 in Vietnam

President claims to have prevented a 'major war' with North Korea

6 February 2019
Vietnam wants its auto industry to source 35% to 40% of components domestically by 2020, up from about 10% now.
Economy

Vietnam keeps tough auto import rules despite criticism

Deputy prime minister hints at new incentives to boost domestic production

6 February 2019
China produces 80% of the world's toys, but manufacturers are growing concerned about the ongoing trade war. (Getty Images)
Trade war

Chinese toymakers shift overseas as trade war bites

Factory rents in Vietnam surge on rising demand for space

5 February 2019
A worker assembles parts at BMW Group factory in Jakarta.
Economy

Southeast Asia bucks trend of sinking global foreign investment

Strong markets make region the world's main driver of FDI growth

4 February 2019
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4 February 2019
Vingroup plans to launch three homegrown models in June under Vietnam's first homegrown brand. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Economy

Vietnam vexes foreign automakers with import rules

Government steadfast in efforts to nurture domestic industry

27 January 2019
Smooth and effective implementation is the key to the success of CPTPP.
Opinion

The Unsexy Challenge of CPTPP

Members must focus on implementing the trade accord, or risk embarrassment

23 January 2019