Malaysia’s economy likely bounced back to growth in the final quarter of 2021, propelled by strong exports and private investments, but the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant poses a thr…
Investment
‘Gold rush’: ASEAN startup fundraising more than doubled in 2021
Southeast Asian startups raised a record $25.7 billion in funding last year, more than double the previous year as cash-rich global investors seek to tap the region’s potential amid digitalizati…
Investors find refuge from market turmoil in South-east Asia
GLOBAL risk assets may be tumbling after the Federal Reserve’s hawkish pivot, but the modest reaction in South-east Asian markets points to a pocket of resilience that offers opportunities to in…
China-Laos Railway injects new momentum into regional development
Recently, the railway container terminal at Wangjiaying West station, Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan province, has become super busy. Gigantic crane arms are hoisting fully loaded containers onto f…
Lao govt vows to improve climate for investment
The Lao government has pledged to remove barriers that hinder business operations and improve the investment climate in the country. The strengthened focus on business is part of the government’…
Outlook for Bangladesh economy
While the third wave of Cov-Sars-3 in its new incarnation as Omicron has placed the Bangladesh economy in tenterhooks threatening to derail the economic recovery, forecasts are being made by multi-lat…
The future is bright for Islamic banking in Asean
ASEAN is powering the global growth of Islamic banking, thanks to world-leading innovation and strong demand. The success of Islamic banking will help fuel the region’s economic development and enhanc…
China mega-tech drives Bangladesh mega highway
Work on a joint Chinese-Bangladeshi venture to build a transformational highway bypassing Bangladesh capital Dhaka is well underway. The mega expressway will link the industrial belts around Dhaka wit…
Philippines launches sustainable finance roadmap
The Philippine government Wednesday launched its sustainable finance roadmap to address the country’s policy and regulatory gaps in promoting sustainable investments. According to one of the plans und…
UOB buys four Citibank retail arms
Good asset quality and strong competition in the Thai consumer banking sector are the main reasons United Overseas Bank (UOB) is buying Citibank’s retail arms in four Asean markets, says an exec…