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 […]
First Round of RCEP Negotiations Conclude
The first round of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) wrapped up on Sunday after being launched by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and six free trade agreement (FTA) partners last week.
FTSE & ASEAN Join Together Over Joint Indices
May 10 – The FTSE Group and five ASEAN stock exchanges (the Bursa Malaysia Exchange, the Indonesian Stock Exchange, the Philippines Stock Exchange, the Singapore Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Thailand) have joined forces to launch a unique and innovative set of indices known as the FTSE/ASEAN Index series. The FTSE/ASEAN venture provides […]
Philippines Calls For Integrated ASEAN Customs Union
May 9 – The 18th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Customs (CCC) opened this week at the Clark Freeport Zone in the northern Philippine province of Pampanga. During the key note presentation, Philippine Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon highlighted the important role played by the various customs agencies in Southeast Asia in establishing a […]
Indonesia Ponders TPP Membership
The Indonesian government has shown interest in joining the United States-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), saying that its entry into the TPP negotiations would depend on trade agreements with key partners in the region.
Timor Leste Looks to Join ASEAN
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said last Friday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will allow Timor Leste to partake in future ASEAN meetings and summits. ASEAN member states have increasingly taken an interest in approving Timor Leste to be ASEAN’s 11th member.
ASEAN+3 Further Promotes Regional Financial Cooperation
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea (ASEAN Plus Three) have decided to further promote regional financial cooperation at the recent ASEAN Plus Three meeting held last Friday in India.
ASEAN to Launch Business Traveler Card By 2015
The leaders of ASEAN have agreed to launch an ASEAN business traveler card by 2015, allowing frequent business travelers from ASEAN countries to stay for months at a time in other ASEAN countries without the need to obtain a visa.
Hong Kong to Sign Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who recently met in Brunei, are set to approve a decision by their economic ministers to expand trade ties with Hong Kong through the signing of a free trade agreement.
ASEAN and Chinese Foreign Ministers to Meet Over South China Sea Claims
Apr. 30 – In the aftermath of the ASEAN summit in Brunei, it appears that conscious steps have been taken to make progress towards lowering tensions in the South China Sea, with China proposing a meeting with ASEAN Foreign Ministers to discuss a code of conduct governing the area. ASEAN has long wanted to confront […]