A model depicts Serge Pun & Associates' planned midrange housing development outside Yangon. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Property

Myanmar group SPA plots foray into midrange housing

Weak demand in luxury space spurs shift to mass market

23 January 2019
Foreign ministers from ASEAN member states met in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Jan. 17 and 18. (Photo by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat)
18 January 2019
A rendering of the Dala Bridge, which will connect the town to Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. (Photo courtesy of Myanmar's Ministry of Construction)
Economy

Yangon builds bridges to its future as megacity

South Korea, China and Japan glad to invest as the West turns away

14 January 2019
Over the past decade, Singapore’s largest telecom service provider has diversified into areas such as mobile wallets, cybersecurity and digital advertising.
Nikkei Markets

Singtel beefs up e-wallet with remittance service to Myanmar

Slowing growth in telecom services puts focus on diversification

8 January 2019
Textile goods account for about 70% of Cambodia's total exports.
International relations

Cambodia and Myanmar walk 2 paths on EU pressure

Phnom Penh adopts political reforms but Naypyitaw unresponsive on refugees

8 January 2019
A ceremony for the first China-ASEAN Maritime Exercise, held in October 2018: Many Southeast Asians say China and the U.S. are on a collision course in the region.
Trade war

Southeast Asians feel caught in US-China fight for hegemony

Survey of opinion leaders finds skepticism of Belt and Road runs deep

7 January 2019
Insurance is still uncommon in Myanmar, with the penetration rate even for auto policies hovering at around 10%.
Economy

Myanmar ready to open door to foreign insurers

Long-awaited plan set in motion as government seeks industry know-how

3 January 2019
Cars are seen stuck in a traffic jam on Rama IX Road in Bangkok. Easing traffic congestion is one of the most urgent tasks for Asian cities.
International relations

Southeast Asia 'smart cities' redesign roads and grids with Japan

Tokyo readies aid for ASEAN's 26 pilot regions, taking different approach from Beijing

1 January 2019
The video-sharing smartphone app TikTok is hugely popular in China, where it has won 400 million users. People can create and upload 15-second videos, or simply enjoy videos created by others.
Business trends

Digital tech tops list of Asian hits in 2018

Video streaming, e-sports and other lifestyle among Asian in-things

30 December 2018
The floating village of Chnok Tru consists of about 1,700 households on a tributary of the Mekong River.
Life

Dams threaten traditional way of life in Mekong Basin

Hydro projects upstream disrupt ecosystem, leading to declining fish catches

30 December 2018
Mahathir Mohamad, center, defeated onetime protege Najib Razak in Malaysia's election last year, ending over 60 years of one-party rule (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
2018 in review

Elections in Southeast Asia signal uncertain future for democracy

Votes in Malaysia and Cambodia bring starkly different outcomes

29 December 2018
Aeon Microfinance (Myanmar) is bringing consumer loans to urban areas. This shop is in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.
Business trends

Myanmar's urban dwellers get a taste of credit

Consumer, auto and home loans take off in nation with per capita GDP of $1,300

23 December 2018
High yields of Vietnam's robusta coffee growers show benefit of supportive government policies.
Opinion

Remove trade barriers to transform Southeast Asian agriculture

Deregulation, government support and R&D investment can help sector reach world-class standards

18 December 2018
The European Union is threatening to end Myanmar's trade preferences over the Rohingya issue, which would deal a major blow to the economy. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Economy

EU's threat to scrap trade preferences spurs Myanmar's reforms

Naypyitaw fights to win back investors in wake of Rohingya crisis

16 December 2018
Koompi founder Rithy Thul aims to build the first PC factory in Cambodia. (Photo by Masayori Ishikawa)
Startups

Cambodian PC brand targets growing regional market

Startup Koompi's $369 laptop aimed at students who need more than a phone

15 December 2018
FGM longyi fabrics for sale in a Yangon store. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Arts

Myanmar's traditional clothing finds new life as fashion statement

Low-cost, colorful longyi fabric wins fans with modern marketing

15 December 2018
The container terminal, whose completion was celebrated Dec. 14, will serve soaring shipping volumes in Myanmar. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Economy

Myanmar container yard backed by Japan nears opening

New logistics hub near Yangon will handle rising volumes in country

15 December 2018
Foreground shows the roof space of the Tourist Burma building, before restoration began, with the Sule Pagoda center (Photo by Chiara Luxardo)
Life

Restoration project reopens 'best view in Yangon'

Tourist Burma building offers unmatched perspective on city's heritage

8 December 2018
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen is under pressure from the European Union to reverse a ban on more than 100 opposition politicians.
Hun Sen's Cambodia

Hun Sen pressured to reverse ban on opposition politicians

Cambodia mulls concessions to avert harsh EU sanctions

7 December 2018
Despite the start of trading six years ago, Phnom Penh's CSX has only five listed shares.
Markets

Microlender raises $29m via Cambodia's first corporate bonds

Newly tapped alternative to bank loans offers chance to develop financial sector

7 December 2018
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina predicts that her government will boost growth as high as 10% if she is re-elected this month. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Interview

Exclusive: Bangladesh aims for 10% annual growth

PM Hasina says nation will seek bids for a second nuclear plant next year

6 December 2018
The inside of one of the ocean villas, where upcycled materials and top of the range furniture blend to give guests a unique luxury experience (Photo by Kit Yeng Chan)
Life

Cambodian dream islands offset coastal boom town

Amid luxury eco-haven, Australian-run charity seeks to restore nature's balance

2 December 2018
Yellow buses procured from China have become a symbol of modern public transport in Yangon. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Business trends

Yellow buses from China brighten Yangon's rush-hour mood

At least, commuters can brave congestion in air-conditioned comfort

1 December 2018
The trade war with the U.S. raised the cost of pig feed in China -- right before a virulent swine fever began tearing through what is largely a backyard industry in the country.
Economy

African swine fever closes in on Southeast Asia

Thailand, Vietnam and neighboring countries scramble to prevent contagion

29 November 2018