President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has instructed the Public Works and Housing Ministry to expand the government’s food-estate programme by developing 165,000ha of land in Pulang Pisau regency…
Palm giant Sime Darby publishes high-yielding oil palm genome research
The world’s largest producer of sustainable palm oil Sime Darby (SIPL.KL) on Thursday made its million-dollar research into creating higher-yielding oil palm trees publicly available, in a move it sai…
ADB plus Canadian and German funds back 35 MW project in Bangladesh
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the governments of Germany and Canada are financing a 35 MW solar plant in Bangladesh. The multilateral lender announced details of the investment package for the …
Myanmar announces plan to support embattled tourism sector
The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has announced a COVID-19 Tourism Relief Plan to help troubled tourism operators navigate the aftermath of the pandemic. The plan will be implemented by the ministry …
Malaysia to set up $281m National Stimulation Fund, to work with global VCs
The Malaysian Government is planning to set up a National Stimulation Fund worth about RM1.2 billion ($281.3 million) to support digitalisation of local businesses. The fund will also include matching…
Malaysia set to reopen nearly all economic activities
Malaysia on Sunday said it would reopen nearly all economic activity and allow interstate travel starting June 10, lifting coronavirus restrictions imposed nearly three months ago as it moves to reviv…
ASEAN agree to limit tariff barriers to fuel economies
Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said trade barriers, including tariff and non-tariff restrictions, should be limited to restore the economies of ASEAN members amid the Covid-19…
A Cashless Future For Myanmar
In a survey by Visa, around 64 percent of consumers in Southeast Asia are confident of going cashless for a full day, highlighting the region’s strong drive towards digital payments. Moreover, the 201…
Singapore firm to build US$1.7 billion coal power plant in Laos
The Lao government has approved a Singapore energy firm’s plan to develop a new US$1.7 billion thermal power plant in southern Laos’ Sekong province. Evolution Power Investment Corporation (EPIC) sign…
With a 6% growth forecast, Bangladesh is set to be world’s fastest growing economy
Dhaka: Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest apparel exporter, sees economic growth of at least 6% this year, a pace that could make it an outlier in a world set to contract. Growth will slow to a ra…