Economy

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, with Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 31: The Chinese president raised the idea of reviving Japan's Asian Monetary Fund plan. (Sadiq Asyraf/Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia via AP)
Opinion

Asian Monetary Fund's moment has come at last

Region needs a reserve currency not under thumb of single nation

13 April 2023
Indonesia Investment Authority is preparing a EV-focused fund and is already "reviewing a deal pipeline," says Chief Investment Officer Stefanus Ade Hadiwidjaja. (Photo by Koya Jibiki)
Interview

Indonesia sovereign fund steps up EV plans with China's CATL

INA preparing pipeline of Nusantara projects, chief investment officer says

13 April 2023
For Apple and other tech companies, Thailand is emerging as an important alternative production base to China. (Source photos by Reuters)
Supply Chain

Apple in talks with suppliers to make MacBooks in Thailand

U.S. tech giant turning out Apple Watch in Southeast Asian country

13 April 2023
A CPTPP roundtable in London in 2020: Negotiations for the U.K.'s accession to the agreement took 21 months. (Photo courtesy of the U.K. Prime Minister's Office)
Opinion

CPTPP members now have to figure out what to do about China

Lessons from U.K. accession set ground for dealing with Beijing and Taipei

11 April 2023
Singapore's central business district. The city-state's new work visa scheme is expected to affect many multinationals.
Work

Singapore favors AI, alternative food talent in new visa scheme

Analysts say upcoming point-based criteria makes companies rethink hiring

10 April 2023
Sri Lankan women protest against high living costs and taxes on March 8: The island nation and others in debt distress are in need of relief. 
Opinion

G-20 nations should commit $500bn a year to 'SDG Stimulus'

The world is running out of time to rescue the U.N. 2030 Agenda

10 April 2023
An oil tanker offloads its cargo in Yantai, China: As the world's top oil importer, China is bound to feel the impact of higher prices.(Imaginechina via AP)
Opinion

OPEC+ output cut will add to Asia's economic stress

Region's central banks forced to consider more tightening

5 April 2023
Workers scale bars at a construction site in Manila on March 22, 2021. 
Economy

Philippine workers seek hike in minimum wage amid inflation

Growth has been strong, but workers say rising prices are eroding earnings

5 April 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left in back row, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right in back row, witness the signing of MOUs to enhance trade and economic cooperation in Beijing on April 1. (Photo courtesy of Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia)
South China Sea

Anwar's Beijing trip highlights economic ties, South China Sea

Malaysian PM says country will continue offshore gas exploration in EEZ

5 April 2023
Asian Development Bank headquarters in Manila
Economy

ADB says developing Asia to grow faster in 2023 on China reopening

Developing Asia to face risks from Russia's Ukraine invasion, banking turmoil

4 April 2023
Samsung gadgets for sale in Vietnam, the company's main phone manufacturing location. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Companies

Samsung meetings in Vietnam shine spotlight on global tax overhaul

Big Tech bracing for impact of OECD deal on minimum corporate levy

3 April 2023
The Mt. Marion lithium mine in the Goldfields region of Western Australia: The country is home to the second-largest reserves of lithium. (Handout photo from Ganfeng Lithium) 
Opinion

Australia and Indonesia should forge business ties in lithium

Missing ingredient for Widodo's vision for EV sector is close at hand

3 April 2023
A truck transports a container at a port in Shandong province, China. Economists expect exports of goods and services to China to support ASEAN economies.
Economy

Thai, Malaysian outlooks improve on tourism, China recovery: JCER

Economists say U.S. bank fallouts emerge as new concern for Asia

2 April 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, is meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 31. (Photo courtesy of Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia)
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar meets Xi, likely to seek China help for rail link

Despite pro-Western image, PM wants close Beijing ties to boost economy

31 March 2023
Employees work on a production line manufacturing mechanical parts in Beijing. The World Bank expects the Chinese economy to grow 5.1% this year.
Economy

China only bright spot as World Bank cuts ASEAN growth outlook

RCEP to deliver more gains than CPTPP, but risks U.S. economic distancing

31 March 2023
Container ships at the Port of Felixstowe in England. CPTPP members have agreed on Britain's entry into the grouping.
Trade

U.K. accepted as 12th member of CPTPP trade bloc

Group aims to finalize first nonfounding member's accession in July

31 March 2023
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof: "Palm oil is a stable commodity which will contribute immensely to Malaysia's GDP." (Photo by Norman Goh)
Interview

Malaysia wants palm oil hubs in Egypt, Saudi Arabia: deputy PM

World's second-largest exporter eager to diversify markets amid row with EU

30 March 2023
Thailand's central bank is expected to maintain its hawkish monetary stance for a few more months as it tries to bring inflation down to its target range of 1% to 3%.
Economy

Bank of Thailand raises key rate to 1.75%, a four-year high

Economists expect central bank to maintain hawkish stance for now

29 March 2023
The Philippine central bank has yet to hit its target inflation range of 2% to 4%.
Economy

Philippine central bank slows rate hike to 25 basis points

Move comes amid stubbornly high inflation, global banking uncertainties

23 March 2023
A laboratory technician works on biodiesel 40% (B40) in Jakarta in August 2020: Biofuels are getting a renewed push.
Opinion

Asia needs to face up to the downsides of biofuels

Blending mandates distort food markets and can have environmental side effects

22 March 2023
Malaysia's national flag flutters at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur. In recent years, Malaysia has fallen behind giant neighbor Indonesia in attracting foreign direct investment.
Economy

Malaysia trails Indonesia in attracting foreign direct investment

Experts say reforms, political stability are essential for country to narrow gap

21 March 2023
A public market in Manila on Jan. 28: Food prices are a key reason for the rising consumer inflation in Asia.
Opinion

Stubborn inflation is challenging Asia's central banks

Prices may have risen less than in West, but also have fallen less

20 March 2023
Chinese customers pose in Thai student uniforms at the Sriphan store. (Photo from Sriphan's Facebook page)
Travel & Leisure

Thai school uniform boom in China fuels hope for tourism recovery

Social media post by Chinese actress starts cosplay trend among visitors

19 March 2023
Potash for sale in Kolkata: The price of this key ingredient for fertilizer has shot up globally since the start of the Ukraine war.
Commodities

Thailand to revive potash mining project to cut fertilizer prices

Government to lead investment in hopes of raising domestic supplies

18 March 2023
A worker holds palm oil fruit at a plantation in Slim River, Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur says new EU rules aimed at preventing deforestation discriminate against small producers of palm oil.
International relations

Malaysia says EU deforestation rule hurts its small farmers

Producer group presents petition demanding rollback of regulation

16 March 2023