The Philippines is advancing marine ecosystem management, backed by USD 1 billion in international financing and a new national blue economy framework. (Photo: iStock) The Philippines is stepping up e…
Invisible riders of Nepal’s gig economy
The rise of the gig economy has quietly transformed how people work and how services reach customers in Nepal. From food arriving at our doorstep to a ride booked with a tap on a phone, digital platfo…
Can Bangladesh’s political crucible forge lasting democracy?
In Brief Bangladesh’s 2024 student-led uprising reshaped the political landscape, removing the Awami League from power and creating new political alignments. With the interim government prosecuting Aw…
Return of global funds puts South-east Asia in spotlight for 2026
Global capital is coming back to South-east Asia’s stock markets this month, positioning the cohort as one of the must-watch pockets of global finance for 2026. Drawn by cheap valuations and the need …
Shared digital platforms: A new driver for Vietnam’s digital economy
Vietnam is making a strategic move to catalyze its digital economy with the launch of 55 shared digital platforms designed to unify data, reduce costs, and drive sectoral innovation. Decision No. 2618…
From cost centre to profit centre: How AI solopreneurs are reinventing ESG
ESG—Environmental, Social, and Governance—has matured from a niche concern to a core business imperative. In 2025, nine out of ten large corporations publish ESG reports, and global ESG-linked investm…
NextFrontier: Why geospatial data is becoming the new bedrock of ESG intelligence
Geospatial data is quietly redrawing the map of environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis, replacing company narratives and national averages with granular, independently verifiable evidence…
Malaysia’s Johor launches 7,300-acre innovation sandbox, part of new special economic zone with neighboring Singapore
The Malaysian state of Johor is debuting a sprawling new innovation sandbox, bolstering its plans to build a “regional champion” alongside the border with Singapore. The 7,300-acre development—named I…
ASEAN economies move up the global chip value chain
According to a report released by Hinrich Foundation on November 25, once peripheral players in assembly and testing, ASEAN economies are now emerging as strategic nodes in global chip production and …
Malaysia to speed up licensing to draw foreign investment in sustainable aviation fuel
The government will accelerate and simplify licensing approvals for activities related to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to attract greater foreign investment and strengthen Malaysia’s position in th…