Other Briefings
India to Sign Services and Investment FTA with ASEAN by December
Oct. 16 – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced at the 11th Annual India-ASEAN Summit his country’s readiness to sign an ASEAN-India FTA in Services and Investment by December. If all goes as planned, the FTA will take effect in July 2014. India’s dedication to the region was further emphasized by PM Singh’s plan to […]
ASEAN Boss in Beijing for Talks
Oct. 16 – The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Le Luong Minh, is visiting China this week until Saturday. Minh, who attended the East Asia Summit in Brunei last week along with Chinese Prime Minister Le Keqiang, has agreed with other ASEAN leaders to strengthen political and security cooperation in an effort to enhance peace, stability and […]
U.S.-ASEAN Expanded Economic Engagement Initiative Praised
Oct. 10 – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, along with several Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders, praised the progress of the U.S.-ASEAN Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) initiative during the ASEAN Leaders Meeting held in Brunei Darussalam this week. The E3 – which is entering into its second year of implementation – is […]
Vietnam, Myanmar Ease Visa Restrictions
Oct. 9 – In a move to strengthen relations between the two ASEAN countries of Myanmar and Vietnam, starting October 26, 2013, Vietnamese passport holders will no longer have to obtain a visa in order to visit Myanmar for short term stays of up to 14 days. The visa exemption agreement, which was enacted to […]
Work Permits and Visas in Indonesia
Indonesia passed new immigration laws in 2011, and as a result there are now various options available to foreign workers for obtaining visas and working permits in the country. We examine Indonesia’s work permits and visa types here.
Indonesia to Relax Tourism Visa Process
Indonesia, currently hosting the annual APEC CEO Summit, will relax its tourist visa application process in a move that should help increase the numbers of travelers visiting the country.
China & Malaysia to Increase Trade By 60%
Oct. 5 – Chinese President Xi Jinping has signed a five year trade deal with his Malaysian counterpart Prime Minister Najib Razak that will boost bilateral trade between the two countries by 60 percent to US$160 billion in the next five years. The two countries also upgraded their relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” Malaysia […]
Moody’s Upgrades Philippines Rating
Oct. 4 – The Philippines has been upgraded by Moody’s to an investment rank of Baa3, citing “robust economic performance”, “ongoing fiscal and debt consolidation” and “political stability and improved governance.” Both Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poors have also upgraded the Philippines’ ranking. The Philippines’ economy has grown at 7.5 percent this year, one […]
Xi Again Proposes an ASEAN Infrastructure Bank
Chinese President on tour visiting Indonesia & Malaysia prior to APEC Summit Indonesia Oct. 3 – Chinese President Xi Jinping has again suggested the development of an ASEAN Bank that would invest in infrastructure throughout the region and that China would be prepared to invest in. China is not a member of ASEAN. Xi was […]
October 2013 ASEAN Regional Meetings
This month there are a number of important international ASEAN summits being held in Brunei, including the first ASEAN-United States summit. The key meetings of note for our readers are as follows.
