Vietnam has emerged as the fastest-growing tourism destination in Southeast Asia, attracting nearly 17.5 million visitors in 2024. Key factors include an improved visa policy, increased flight connect…
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Southeast Asia’s Economies Can Gain Most by Packaging Ambitious Reforms
Southeast Asia’s major economies have made major strides over the last couple of decades. The largest have seen income per capita grow at least three-fold over the past 20 years amid global integratio…
Three Years After A Revolution, Sri Lanka’s Impressive Recovery
On May 9, 2022, Sri Lanka’s embattled Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned in the face of massive anti-government protests. His brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, attempted to stay on but had…
Philippines: Sleeping giant in power generation awakens
Energy gold rush At the heart of this energy gold rush is the 797-megawatt Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydropower complex in Laguna. The system, first energised in 1983, is South-east Asia’s…
Malaysia launches Investor Pass to attract foreign investment effective April 1
The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) will introduce a new Investor Pass for foreign investors starting April 1, enabling them to stay in the country for six months, with the option fo…
Malaysia Picks 7 Crowdfunding, P2P Platforms for NIMP2030 Co-Investment Fund
Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry has selected seven Equity Crowdfunding (ECF) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) financing platforms to participate in the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP2030…
Laos signs $1.45 billion clean energy deal with Chinese firm
Laos has signed a $1.45 billion clean energy deal with a Chinese power plant equipment manufacturer as the Southeast Asian country furthers its push into clean power generation and transmission. China…
Waste-based biofuel feedstock prices at multi-year high
Tight supply pushed waste-based biofuel feedstock spot prices in northwest Europe to a two-year high this month, despite a squeeze on margins for producers of hydrotreated vegetable oil and used cooki…
Indonesia unlikely to back down on B40 biodiesel mandate, helping sustain elevated palm oil prices, says RHB
Indonesia will likely charge ahead with its biodiesel mandate, which will keep palm oil prices elevated this year as supply in the market shrinks, said RHB Research. The government appears “determined…
