June 2013 ASEAN Regional Meetings
A number of important meetings are being held in June that will address transportation and nuclear non-proliferation agreements among ASEAN nations, as well as meetings with other regional Asian partners. The key meetings of note for our readers are as follows.
ASEAN SMEs Bolstered After Singapore-Japan MoU
May 29 – Japanese and Singaporean SMEs are set to receive a boost after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked this week between SPRING Singapore, Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Mizuho Corporate Bank (MHCB). The agreement will support business collaboration between the two countries through the facilitation of investment and sharing […]
New Issue of Vietnam Briefing: Re-evaluating Your Vietnam Representative Office
This issue of Vietnam Briefing examines ROs – the processes of working with them, and the rationale for either upgrading or closing them. We explain not just how to close up your RO, but also list out the common reasons for doing so.
EU Lends its Support to ASEAN Over South China Sea Disputes
May 24 – Officials in the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have recently confirmed that senior officials from the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) met with officials from the European Union (EU) in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City to discuss the issue of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Currently there are numerous […]
Impact Investing in Asia
May 24 – Impact investing is a growing trend in the worldwide economic market. This relatively new concept, which first came to light in 2007 at a Rockefeller Foundation meeting, is the process of a company or individuals investing in other companies, funds or organizations to generate not only financial profit, but also social or […]
The Philippines Tops List of Southeast Asia Remittances
May 23 – A recently released report from the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Bank has found that remittance inflows from every Southeast Asian country have significantly increased from 2000 to 2012. The Philippines, in particular, has benefitted the most, and the report adds that remittances sent by Filipino migrants in 2012 […]
How to Avoid Double Taxation in Vietnam
May 23 – Both foreign and domestic residents of Vietnam are able to obtain reductions and exemptions on their taxes through a variety of different methods. Thanks to the DTAAs that Vietnam has, the tax reductions and exemptions you may be subject to are easy to understand and to take advantage of – all you […]
Philippines’ Midterm Elections Take Place, Stocks Rally
May 21 – The Philippines’ 2013 midterm general elections were held last week, with 12 senate seats to be filled and 229 district seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives. Full results can be found here. Nine of the twelve senate seats and 114 district seats were won by members of incumbent President […]
Malaysia’s Post-Election Rally
May 17 – Last week during the national elections in Malaysia, the National Front Coalition (NFC), the party that has governed Malaysia for 56 consecutive years, won a majority of the country’s parliamentary seats to officially extend its reign. The NFC first obtained majority after Malaysia declared independence from Britain in 1957, and has won 13 […]
Introduction to Double Taxation Avoidance in Vietnam
May 16 – With regard to international trade, the various countries’ tax systems oftentimes put global investors in the unfavorable position of having to face redundant taxes on their income —i.e., double taxes . For example, a company may be subject to taxes in its country of residence and also in the countries where it […]