Economy

A worker at a state-owned Pertamina gas station in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, updates the price display on Sept. 3 following the announcement of a fuel price hike.
Inflation

Indonesia inflation rate hit 7-year high of 5.95% in September

Increase exceeded central bank's target of 2% to 4% as oil prices surge

3 October 2022
The Thai economy, which depends heavily on Chinese tourists, will be hit by a slowdown in China. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

ASEAN economies seen hit by U.S. rate hikes in 2023: JCER/Nikkei

Economists revise down forecasts to 4.3% for five regional countries

3 October 2022
The resilience displayed by Southeast Asian stocks contrasts sharply with North Asian peers, which are susceptible to trade and dependent on China.
Market Spotlight

ASEAN stocks calm investors despite turmoil in other regions

Emerging markets rebound as economies reopen, but China still weighs on Asia

3 October 2022
Singapore is buzzing this week as F1 racing returns for the first time since 2019. (File photo by EPA/Jiji) 
Economy

F1's return gives Singapore pole over Hong Kong in 'MICE' race

Competition to host meetings and events heats up as COVID barriers come down

30 September 2022
A man uses a tablet in a coffee shop in Hanoi: Data localization requirements can increase cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Opinion

Data localization rules will set back Vietnam's digital economy

Requirements for in-country storage can actually increase security risks

30 September 2022
Malaysia accounted for 13.6% of Japan's LNG imports in 2021. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanafusa)
Energy

Japan reaches deal on emergency LNG supplies from Petronas

Economy ministry seeks out fuel from Southeast Asia to prepare for winter crunch

30 September 2022
Recovery in private consumption contributed Vietnam's double-digit growth in the third quarter.
Economy

Vietnam GDP grows 13.67% in Q3 on brisk exports to U.S.

Big leap also benefited from year-earlier contraction and consumer spending

29 September 2022
Thailand's central bank is trying to tame price hikes, with the country's headline inflation hitting a 14-year high of 7.86% in August. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Thailand lifts key rate by 25 basis points to 1% to curb inflation

Central bank eyes gradual tightening, with economy still on recovery course

28 September 2022
People shop for food in a market in Hanoi: Vietnam's economy is to grow faster than its Asia-Pacific peers this year, expanding by 7.2%, the World Bank said in its latest forecast.
Economy

Vietnam emerges as Asia's growth leader as China slows

Food, fuel subsidies risk long-term distortion, warns World Bank

27 September 2022
Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand demonstrate against the military regime in May. If blacklisted by the FATF, Myanmar citizens around the world would have more difficulty accessing financial services.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar citizens would bear brunt of potential FATF blacklisting

Move would squeeze foreign aid; experts warn of 'detrimental consequences'

25 September 2022
A Facebook page of a group called Believe in the Party: The social media network is too important to Hanoi to be blocked.
Opinion

Data localization is the wrong fight for Big Tech in Vietnam

Facebook and YouTube have leverage to push back on censorship demands

25 September 2022
The central banks of Indonesia and the Philippines have both been tightening to rein in inflation. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Economy

Philippines, Indonesia lift interest rates again to curb inflation

Taiwan and others also hike as Asian central banks follow U.S. tightening

22 September 2022
Vegetable vendors at a roadside market in Jakarta on Sept. 12. Indonesia is one emerging Asian economy that is forecast to grow faster than expected this year.
Economy

Emerging Asia growing faster than China for 1st time in 30 years

Indonesia, Philippines are bright spots but India, Pakistan faltering, says ADB

21 September 2022
Victims of flooding walk with their cattle in Sehwan, Pakistan, on Sept. 9: The country will be difficult to live in because of flooding within thirty years.
Opinion

Emerging problems can only be effectively addressed globally

Conflict within and between nations to grow as planet heats

21 September 2022
A liquefied natural gas terminal in Tianjin, China, in December 2020: Natural gas can enable countries to decarbonize their energy mix today.
Opinion

Asia's energy transition will take multiple paths

Addressing energy poverty critical for drive to lower-carbon future

20 September 2022
Thailand is pursuing more foreign investment in cutting-edge industries such as electric vehicles, Narit Therdsteerasukdi tells Nikkei Asia. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Thailand banks on new visa to lure foreign talent, more investment

Next BOI chief says electric-vehicle transition strong despite weak 2022 FDI

20 September 2022
Many tourists are seen at Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok on Sept. 11. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand says 2023 tourism revenue to be 80% of pre-COVID level

More than 1 million forecast to visit kingdom in September alone

19 September 2022
Workers in Singapore: Asian employers are more eager to bring people back to offices than Western companies, research suggests.
Coronavirus

From Singapore to Japan, workers get restless as offices call

Surveys signal clash between employer and employee priorities after COVID

19 September 2022
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo decided to slash fuel subsidies starting Sept. 3, causing price hikes that sparked massive protests. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Inflation

Jokowi's hard choice: 'Extreme' subsidies or 'political suicide'

Fuel bill may hit 25% in 2022 budget, forcing Indonesia to cut for fiscal health

18 September 2022
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo delivers his State of the Nation address ahead of Independence Day in Jakarta on Aug. 16.
Comment

Can Jokowi make capital relocation his legacy?

Fate of historic project hangs on results of 2024 presidential election

17 September 2022
A woman works a rice field in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The country is considering price hikes for rice exports along with Vietnam, another major rice exporter.
Inflation

Vietnam, Thailand to meet in Oct. about raising rice export prices

Hikes could hit 20%, adding fuel to global inflation

16 September 2022
Vietnam's regulations forcing companies to store user data on domestic servers are expected to affect social media platforms like Google's YouTube and Meta's Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Technology

Vietnam data storage law rankles Big Tech and CPTPP trade bloc

China-like restrictions set companies scrambling in key test of Pacific trade deal

15 September 2022
Emerging economies' public- and private-sector debts are rising quickly, reaching 252.4% of gross domestic product in April to June, and are likely to keep growing this year.
Economy

Inflation spending to swell debt in emerging Asia

Borrowing harder for emerging economies due to dollar's rise, IFF warns

15 September 2022
Thailand's cabinet, led by acting Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, on Sept. 13 decided to raise the minimum wage for the first time in two years.
Economy

Thailand approves 5% to 8% minimum wage increase

Companies worry higher labor costs will dampen profits amid fragile recovery

13 September 2022
President Joko Widodo is under pressure to help Indonesians cope with surging prices of fuel and other staples. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/AP)
Inflation

Indonesians' discontent over rising food and fuel prices grows

Widodo under increasing pressure to act to ease inflation pain

12 September 2022