The coronavirus outbreak has left a profound scar on economies worldwide — but it has failed to thaw the long-running trade war between the US and China. In fact, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic…
New website aims to promote Covid-19 efforts in SE Asia
South-east Asian countries have agreed to publicise Covid-19-related updates, as well as promote the region’s tourism offerings, on a shared platform. All updates on travel, tourism and measures to co…
Indonesia park to spearhead bid to lure China supply chains
Indonesia plans to build one of its largest industrial parks on the north coast of Java island in a renewed drive to attract manufacturers relocating out of China as Southeast Asia’s biggest eco…
Vietnam could be a rare winner from the coronavirus pandemic
It’s hard to say which is more remarkable: that Vietnam has recorded zero COVID-19 deaths despite a population of 96 million, or that the communist government expects the economy to grow by 5% this ye…
Laos, first Southeast Asian country free of Covid-19
After 59 consecutive days with no Covid-19 new cases, discharged its nineteenth and last patient, and without reporting any deaths, Laos became the first country in Southeast Asia to declare itself fr…
Indonesia to develop 165,000ha land in Central Kalimantan for food-estate programme
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…