South-east Asia-US ties will be unchanged, for now

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Electoral College ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Enterprise Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Labour Rights ◽  
State Owned Enterprise ◽  
East Asian Economies

Significance With Trump within striking distance of catching Clinton in popular polls, though not yet the Electoral College, South-east Asian leaders and diplomats have privately expressed concern about the next US administration and the outlook for South-east Asia-US relations. Impacts A Trump presidency could destabilise South-east Asian economies and regional security. Maritime frictions could soon flare if China 'tests' the incoming US president. If the TPP is delayed or fails, Vietnamese labour rights and state-owned enterprise reform will likely founder.

Saudi Arabia will boost South-east Asia oil investment

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Energy Industry ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Saudi Aramco ◽  
Oil Demand ◽  
East Asian Economies

Subject Saudi oil investments in South-east Asia. Significance Saudi Arabia sees the South-east Asian downstream sectors as a key frontier for investment in the energy industry, with the region being one of the most promising in terms of growing oil demand. As the global oil glut intensifies competition between oil-exporting countries, Saudi Arabia aims to forge stronger energy links with growing South-east Asian economies in order to safeguard its demand security in the long run. Impacts Saudi Aramco is likely to face competition for investment in the region from other oil-exporting countries, such as Russia. An IPO of Saudi Aramco could see revisions to some of the projects it is pursuing in South-east Asia. Saudi investments in South-east Asia could be downscaled if fiscal pressures continue.

Microfinance demand will grow in South-east Asia

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Industry Growth ◽  
Phnom Penh ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East Asian Economies

Subject Microfinance in South-east Asia. Significance Microfinance lending in Cambodia rose 45% last year, while the number of borrowers has doubled since 2010, a national summit on the industry was told in Phnom Penh last month. Other emerging South-east Asian economies will seek to emulate Cambodia's success as intra-regional financial ties heighten credit gaps, especially for small business. Most funding will come from abroad, but foreign investors are worried about regulatory shortcomings and high borrowing costs in some markets. Impacts Cambodia will see the fastest microfinance industry growth among South-east Asian countries. However, larger markets such as Indonesia have greater long-term potential microfinance demand. Microfinance could increase SMEs' viability by paying for efficiencies and boost their presence in exports and supply chains.

Parts of South-east Asia may adopt nuclear post-2030

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Renewable Energy Development

Significance It is the only country in South-east Asia with a large-scale nuclear plant, although this was never loaded with fuel. Other countries in the region have tentative plans to develop nuclear power programmes. Impacts The current absence of nuclear power programmes will help avert the diversion of capital from renewable energy development in the region. South-east Asian countries with small, non-power reactors, built for research, will try to maintain these facilities. Across the region, the need for electricity grid investment will increase as more decentralised generation sources are deployed.

ASEAN-India naval ties are symbolic, for now

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regional Role

Subject The outlook for Indian naval engagement with South-east Asian countries and ASEAN. Significance At the ASEAN summit in mid-November, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined India's 'Look East' policy, pledging to cultivate diplomatic, economic and security relationships with South-east Asia. One manifestation of Delhi's willingness to undertake a more strategic regional role is the Indian navy's growing portfolio of partnerships with South-east Asian navies. Amid concerns over China's maritime assertiveness, India's navy has been welcomed in the region as a security partner. Impacts India will avoid South-east Asian undertakings that may provoke China. Delhi will need to define 'Look East' policies concretely to convince South-east Asia fully of Indian strategic utility. Modi will expand bilateral naval exercises, humanitarian aid and counter-piracy/smuggling efforts in South-east Asia.

South-east Asian demand for crowdfunding could grow

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
East Asian ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Product Returns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Regulatory Reforms

Subject Crowdfunding in South-east Asia. Significance Regulatory reforms have made possible a range of alternative financing initiatives that raised almost 84 million dollars for small businesses in the past three years from South-east Asian platforms alone. Crowdfunding is the fastest-growing segment, though amounts are still small. Impacts Further industry-specific regulatory reforms will be required to support South-east Asian crowdfunding. Facing competition, more banks will be forced to offer online crowdfunding-related products. However, low product returns could be a disincentive to large investor interest in crowdfunding.

Tax plan could raise South-east Asia corporate costs

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tax Amnesty ◽  
Third Phase ◽  
Tax Bases

Subject South-east Asian tax bases. Significance Indonesia's tax amnesty programme enters its third phase in 2017. The amnesty will generate short-term revenue, but it is not a solution to a wider problem of limited tax bases found across the ASEAN core economies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Impacts Bilateral tax treaties may change following OECD reforms, even if South-east Asian states are not party to the initiatives. Compliance costs for country-by-country reporting for multinational companies under the OECD initiatives could be substantial. More efficient tax collection and wider tax bases could benefit ASEAN states' development such as infrastructure.

Online extremism poses new threats to South-east Asia

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Suicide Bombings ◽  
The Military

Subject Online radicalisation. Significance On May 25, the Indonesian parliament unanimously passed stringent anti-terrorism laws allowing the military to be directly involved in counterterrorism operations. The vote followed a string of suicide bombings attributed to local jihadist networks that have pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS). Jakarta joins other South-east Asian governments -- notably those of Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore -- in attempting to counter a new push in the region by IS, as it loses territory in Iraq and Syria. Impacts Rising anti-Shia sentiment in the region, a by-product of increased Saudi influence, will likely give IS new issues to exploit. The Rohingya crisis gives IS a regional boost, especially in terms of operations in Myanmar and more likely in Yangon than Rakhine State. Non-ideological, low-wage overseas workers, particularly from the Philippines and Indonesia, are most susceptible to IS.

Tourism will rise rapidly as an engine of Asian growth

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type

Significance Inbound and outbound Asian tourism has exploded over the last 20 years, especially in East and South East Asia. However, the sector faces challenges. Impacts Supporting tourism, Asia hosts three Olympics in a row -- South Korea 2018 (winter games), Tokyo 2020 (summer) and Beijing 2022 (winter). Tourism is a key source of exports and dollars; if Cambodia is hit by sanctions after its disputed election, tourism could cushion GDP. In ten years the UN sees India's population overtaking China's, making Indian travellers key to East and South-east Asian tourism.

Pandemic fallout hits South-east Asian defence budgets

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Political Instability ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Economic Distress ◽  
Defence Spending

Subject South-east Asian defence budgets. Significance The pressure of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is prompting many South-east Asian governments to cut defence spending and postpone or cancel new arms acquisitions. Meanwhile, China and the United States continue to vie for influence in the region. Impacts Piracy attacks will increase across the region as socio-economic distress rises and budgets for navies and coast guards fall. ASEAN unity will fracture as tensions among member states increase. Economic problems will cause political instability across South-east Asia, possibly even leading to military coups in certain countries.

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