In the Philippines, geography has long stood between rural communities and the digital economy. Made up of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines has had difficulty remaining fully connected in an i…
Economy
Nepal enters global top 20 in outsourcing competitiveness index
Nepal has ranked 19th globally in outsourcing competitiveness, driven largely by low labour costs and strong English proficiency, according to the Global Outsourcing Talent Index 2026 report published…
How a China-backed highway may turn landlocked Laos into a trade gateway
China has moved early to help Laos plan its longest highway, the latest project in Beijing’s push to expand transport connectivity in Southeast Asia. The initiative underscores Beijing’s broader effor…
Cambodia Urges Singapore to Boost Investment in the Halal Food Sector
Cambodia has urged Singapore to increase investment, particularly in halal food processing, as Singapore ranked as the Kingdom’s fourth-largest investor in the first quarter of 2026 and bilateral trad…
India calls on citizens to stop buying gold as Asia scrambles for energy amid Iran war
In short: India has urged a spate of measures from fuel conservation to work from home and limits on imports. India is one of many Asian countries battling a surge in global energy prices putting pres…
Advancing China‑ASEAN Blue Economy Common Market In Evolving Global Economic And Geopolitical Landscape – OpEd
Building a China‑ASEAN Blue Economy Common Market is not merely economic in nature but also strategic, developmental, and deeply geopolitical as it deals with how to shape the future of Asia and the w…
The Philippines’ renewable energy drive: Growth, gaps, and a pipeline reset
The Philippines is becoming an attractive destination for the renewable energy industry, largely due to its market policies and structure that have led to sizeable investments. So much so, in fact, th…
Taking Stock of the Economy
Over the past decade, the Nepali economy has faced multiple major shocks, including the devastating 2015 earthquakes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and political unrests such as last September’s Gen Z moveme…
Tourism boom and improved connectivity help China-Laos Railway achieve key milestone, international rail travel gains momentum
The China Laos Railway has achieved a key milestone in international rail travel, as a tourism boom and improved cross border connectivity continue to drive strong passenger growth between China and L…
Beijing’s AI Governance Approach And Its Outreach To Southeast Asia – Analysis
In January 2025, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek launched its R1 model, sparking debate over how open-source, cost-effective models can reshape the global AI landscape. Calling it the “DeepSeek moment,” C…