Economy

Trucking is picking up along the China-Vietnam border as Beijing relaxes its COVID restrictions, with some trucks now crossing in less than a minute. (File photo by Getty Images) 
Supply Chain

China's COVID opening promises relief for Vietnam's supply chain

As truckers rush to the border, factory goods flow but trade demand ebbs

13 January 2023
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans a "soft launch" for his planned sovereign wealth fund when he attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week. (Nikkei montage/Reuters)
Economy

Marcos plans Philippine wealth fund 'soft launch' at Davos

President's Switzerland trip won't revive issue of ill-gotten riches, official says

12 January 2023
Smoke billows from a coal-fired power plant in Suralaya, Indonesia: Demonizing incumbent energy sources only increases costs and delays change.
Opinion

Claiming Asia's fossil fuel assets will be worthless helps no one

Full use of existing systems will make new energy shift cheaper and easier

10 January 2023
A deforested area of Botum Sakor National Park in Koh Kong province in 2012: Cambodia's rate of forest destruction is one of the fastest in the world.
Opinion

EU will need more weapons to tackle deforestation in Cambodia

Under Hun Sen, Illegal logging as much about politics as economics

8 January 2023
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Jan. 4.
Trade

Marcos snags $22.8bn in investment pledges on China trip

South China Sea dispute takes center stage in state visit to Beijing

5 January 2023
Bank Indonesia Gov. Perry Warjiyo speaks to central bank stakeholders at an annual meeting in November.
Politics

Indonesia central bank bond law raises independence concerns

Fears arise that government could arbitrarily declare crisis to monetize debt

4 January 2023
Joe Biden speaks at the IPEF launch event in Tokyo on May 23: The U.S. has a chance to be at the forefront of seizing economic leadership opportunities.
Opinion

2023 outlook: IPEF is best bet for more resilient supply chains

Regional talks will also advance clean economy and fairer growth

3 January 2023
Singapore's growth is slowing as external demand weakens and geopolitical headwinds build.
Economy

Singapore's GDP growth slows to 3.8% in 2022

City-state beats forecast but braces for further deceleration as exports slump

3 January 2023
Japan will host the 2023 Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, the hometown of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left). China hosts the delayed Asian Games in 2023 (center). China eases border controls on Jan. 8 (right). (Source photos by Kyodo, Reuters and Getty Images) 
1 January 2023
Workers head home at quitting time at Nike contractor Changshin in Vietnam, one of five communist countries with a single, national labor union. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Supply Chain

Vietnam factory malaise raises specter of New Year labor strikes

Global slump pushes communist country from export boom to salary gloom

30 December 2022
Workers load fresh bunches of palm oil fruits for transportation to a factory.
Commodities

Indonesia to tighten palm oil exports from Jan. 1 to ensure supply

Exporters to be allowed to ship six times their domestic sales volume

30 December 2022
Leaders of participating nations at the ASEAN-Japan Summit in Phnom Penh on Nov. 12: They rededicated themselves to economic cooperation.
Opinion

Japan-ASEAN cooperation provides economic anchor amid turbulence

Partnership has emerged as engine of regional prosperity

30 December 2022
People ride motorcycles in Hanoi on May 31, 2021. 
Economy

Vietnam GDP grows 8.02% in 2022; fastest expansion in 25 years

Reading higher than official growth target of 6.0%-6.5%

29 December 2022
A medical worker provides instructions at a mobile fever clinic in Huaian, China, on Dec. 25. The country's COVID-19 management is a key factor for Asia's economic outlook.
Interview

Asian ties can fuel growth amid Ukraine, China risks: ADB economist

Albert Park says region still has 'strong commitment to openness and integration'

29 December 2022
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila on Oct. 5: The Philippine president is prioritizing a tired idea from yesteryear rather than forging a new path.
Opinion

Marcos' wealth fund is wrong cure for Philippine economy

Even if managed well, it will not address poverty, inflation or corruption

29 December 2022
The skyline of Mumbai's financial district. India is expected to see some of the region's biggest pay raises next year.
Inflation

Asia's wage hikes to accelerate in 2023

Surveys show pay raises likely to beat price rises as employers eye retention

28 December 2022
APEC senior officials during an informal preparatory meeting in Honolulu on Dec. 13: Promoting innovation will be a core part of the group's 2023 agenda. (Photo from APEC press release)
Opinion

2023 outlook: APEC to catalyze joint drive for sustainable growth

Business community should be part of solution to region's challenges

27 December 2022
A Ukrainian helicopter's shadow on a wheat field: The conflict sent shock waves through commodities markets -- one of the many ways it affected Asia this year.
Asia Insight

How Ukraine war shook and shaped Asia in 2022

Myanmar relations, Japanese energy and Chinese battle capability all in flux

27 December 2022
Women browse shops for Christmas decorations at a shopping mall in Jakarta on Dec. 12. Economists say robust household spending will support Indonesia's economic growth in 2023.
Economy

Malaysia, Indonesia 2023 GDPs revised up on firm spending: JCER

Economist consensus shows 5 ASEAN countries to expand 4.3%, India 5.6%

26 December 2022
Brunei's Second Finance and Economy Minister Amin Liew Abdullah spoke with Nikkei about LNG exports and regional trade agreements. (Photo by Takashi Nakano)
Interview

Brunei to keep supplying LNG to 'trusted Japanese customers': minister

ASEAN member will 'expedite' CPTPP ratification to help diversify economy

24 December 2022
From China to Singapore, banks in Asia have had a tumultuous year, with some soaring and others under pressure. (Source photos by AP and Getty Images) 
Business Spotlight

Asia's rising interest rates boost banks -- but risks grow for 2023

Lenders in Japan and China lag peers enjoying fatter borrowing margins

23 December 2022
Bank Indonesia has raised its benchmark interest rate for a fifth consecutive month.
Economy

Indonesia raises key interest rate to 5.5%, highest in over 3 years

Central bank remains hawkish but shows confidence it can ease inflation

22 December 2022
SSI Group, the Philippines' largest retailer of luxury brands, is headed for a banner year as consumers free of pandemic restrictions resume shopping. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Retail

Philippine luxury retailer eyes record sales on revenge spending

SSI Group sells brands from Armani to Zara but fears inflation, recession

22 December 2022
A port in Pomala, Southeast Sulawesi province, Indonesia: The Southeast Asian nation will ban exports of the primary source of aluminum in June.
Commodities

Indonesia's Jokowi bans bauxite exports from June, China likely hurt

Move comes despite country's defeat to EU on nickel restrictions

21 December 2022
A woman walks on the streets of Tehran without a mandatory headscarf on Nov. 1: The women of Iran took the lead in a bare-knuckle rebellion.
Opinion

Women deserve equal opportunity and are here to demand it

Averting demographic collapse requires changes in policies, careers and housework

21 December 2022