Economy

In front, from left: Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo are fighting to replace incumbent President Joko Widodo, whose economic policies loom over the race. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP, Reuters, and Ken Kobayashi)
Indonesia election

'Jokowinomics' and Palestine gain Indonesia presidential election spotlight

Three months ahead of voting, country's presidential hopefuls 'tend to be populist'

14 November 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has led efforts to ban exports of nickel ore and other minerals to boost their value and foster domestic industries. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
Comment

Indonesia's growing resource nationalism stirs Global South

Jokowi's export bans seen as a wake-up call to leading industrial powers

13 November 2023
The colorful Hindu temple Sri Maha Mariamman in Bangkok features statues of various deities. (Photo by Kenya Akama)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand's spiritual sites attract young locals facing uncertain life

'Mutelu tourism' market seen growing 40% amid good-luck charm boom

12 November 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, pictured here at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022, will meet on Nov. 15 in San Francisco for the first time in a year.
Your Week in Asia

Sri Lanka budget, Xi-Biden summit, Japan Q3 GDP

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

12 November 2023
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed at a press conference on Nov. 10 that a controversial 10,000 baht handout his party campaigned on will be late and go to fewer people. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Politics

Thailand's Srettha delays digital money handout for 3 months

PM also scales back beneficiaries of Pheu Thai's flagship election pledge

10 November 2023
Vietnam, one of the world's top exporters of garments and textiles, will consider cutting interest rates and spending on public works to resuscitate the economy. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Economy

Vietnam targets 6% to 6.5% GDP growth in 2024

Manufacturing hub aims to recover from slowdown linked to graft, trade

9 November 2023
Mass graves are a stark reminder of the more than 6,000 people killed in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
Natural disasters

Philippines searches for answers 10 years after Typhoon Haiyan

Disaster mitigation woeful despite lessons from deadly cyclone, critics say

9 November 2023
Motorists on a street in Manila. Soaring prices for staples like rice have strained Filipinos' budgets. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Philippine economy grows at forecast-beating 5.9% in third quarter

Rising inflation still undercutting households' purchasing power

9 November 2023
Some countries' finances are strained by uninsured losses from natural disasters, like flooding in Nepal in August seen here.
Insurance

Costly natural disasters spark call for global insurance push

Report shows 80% of losses in Asia and Latin America were uninsured over decade

9 November 2023
Proton is due to start selling Geely's Smart brand EV in Malaysia by the end of the year. (Photo courtesy of Proton) 
Automobiles

Geely eyes EV foothold in Southeast Asia with $10bn Malaysia hub

Chinese automaker doubles down on Proton partnership, readies first deliveries

8 November 2023
A market in in Jakarta: Indonesia's economy grew on robust consumer spending in the July to September quarter, the country's statistics agency said on Nov. 6.
Economy

Indonesia GDP growth slows to 4.94% in Q3 as exports decline

Domestic demand helps grow economy as commodity prices fall

6 November 2023
Cattle and breeders take part in a competition at the National Japanese Beef Ability Expo, commonly known as the Wagyu Olympics, in 2017. Japan aims to expand its wagyu beef exports.
Trade

Japan's wagyu beef exports to Cambodia tumble, bucking overall trend

Exporters ship more to other markets amid smuggling crackdown

5 November 2023
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Jakarta on Sept. 5. Unable to contain food inflation, the president has told a key donor to control "prices of all agricultural commodities that are going up."
Politics

Philippines' Marcos relinquishes agriculture post as prices soar

Key duties handed to fishing tycoon reportedly among leader's top campaign donors

3 November 2023
A Cambodian girl collects rubber sap at a farm in Tbong Khmum province. 
Business Spotlight

From Cambodia to Thailand, rubber producers brace for new EU rules

Deforestation regulation's requirement to prove sources called tough and costly

3 November 2023
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has kept the possibility of further rate hikes on the table.
Markets

U.S. Treasury yields take a breath, but Asia stays on guard

India, Philippines and Thailand appear most exposed to Fed tightening

3 November 2023
The Malaysian ringgit fell to a 25-year low against the dollar in October. 
Economy

Malaysia holds key interest rate at 3.0% despite falling ringgit

Central bank stands pat as regional peers resume monetary tightening

2 November 2023
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, center, chairs a meeting of the Board of Investment to discuss EV subsidy programs on Nov. 1. (Photo courtesy of Thai government)
Automobiles

Thailand announces reduced EV subsidies to run until 2027

Sales incentives cut as demand rises and foreign investors flow in

1 November 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shake hands after a joint news conference in Singapore on Oct. 30. (Pool photo via Reuters)
International relations

Singapore and Malaysia eye special economic zone on border

PMs Lee and Anwar discuss bilateral projects; expect agreement in January

30 October 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to China from Nov. 4 to 7 to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Your Week in Asia

BOJ policy meeting, Hong Kong FinTech Week, Australia PM visits China

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

29 October 2023
Following monetary tightening in Indonesia and the Philippines, Asia will see key monetary policy meetings next week from Japan and Malaysia. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Markets

On topic: Asian wave of rate hikes hits as inflation bites

A collection of stories to catch up on a recent hot topic

28 October 2023
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) resumed monetary tightening following an emergency meeting on Thursday.
Economy

Philippines raises key rate as governor hints at further hikes

BSP lifts benchmark 25 basis points as government steps fail to rein in food prices

26 October 2023
Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Malaysia's minister of investment, trade and industry, speaks with Nikkei Asia in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 25. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Interview

Malaysia ready to become Southeast Asian EV hub, trade minister says

Zafrul confident that country's electronics industry can supply 1,400 components

26 October 2023
Malaysia's trade minister, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, says the Southeast Asian nation is pushing to expand its market access and build a resilient supply chain for manufacturing sectors.
Supply Chain

Malaysia plans to accelerate its EV and chip sectors as supply chains shift

Officials and business leaders call for resilient trade during Kuala Lumpur forum

25 October 2023
From left to right: Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo and Prabowo Subianto. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Indonesia election

Indonesia presidential race shapes up as three-way fight

Defense chief jumps in, gains support from Jokowi's two sons amid controversies

25 October 2023
Thai consumers are finding it harder to obtain car loans, a situation that has weighed on auto sales in the country. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Automobiles

Thai auto industry body cuts 2023 production forecast to 1.85m units

Downward revision triggered by tougher loan standards and high interest rates

25 October 2023