ASEAN News, May 04, 2012

Asean integration to create new 'growth force', says ADB economist Inquirer.net (blog) Changyong Rhee, chief economist of the Asian Development Bank, speaks at a press conference titled "Asian development, outlook 2011, south-south economic links" in Hong Kong on April 6, 2011. Strengthening economic links between countries in the south, ... See all stories on this topic »

ASEAN Infrastructure Fund launched BusinessWorld Online Edition A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR infrastructure fund for the region was launched yesterday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with an official saying that at least one project may receive financing this year. "Hopefully this year [we can finance] at least one ... See all stories on this topic »

East Asian countries double size of crisis fund CNBC.com MANILA, Philippines - Southeast Asian countries and their major trading partners China, Japan and South Korea agreed Thursday to double a regional financial crisis fund to $240 billion. The fund, known as the Chiang Mai Initiative after the northern ... See all stories on this topic »

ADB Launches US$485-Million Fund To Finance ASEAN Infrastructure Projects Manila Bulletin By EDU LOPEZ MANILA, Philippines — The Association of South East AsianNations' (ASEAN) largest financing initiative, the US$485-million ASEANInfrastructure Fund (AIF), is set to commence operations following its board's first meeting on the ... See all stories on this topic »

LEAD: ASEAN, Japan, China, South Korea Boost Foreign Currency Reserve LoanSafe Manila (Source Girlie Linao dpa, Hamburg, Germany (MCT)) – East Asianfinance ministers and central bank governors on Thursday agreed to double a foreign currency reserve pool to 240 billion dollars to better protect the region from external financial ... See all stories on this topic »

Asean, African Union Enhance Cooperation Bernama JAKARTA, May 4 (Bernama) -- ASEAN and Africa Union have agreed to step up bilateral cooperation in a number of fields, the ASEAN Secretariat in a press release Thursday. The consensus was reached during a recent meeting between ASEAN Secretary General ... See all stories on this topic »

East Asian nations agree to double regional currency swap scheme The Japan Times MANILA — Finance ministers and central bank governors from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea agreed Thursday to double the size of a multilateral currency swap arrangement to $240 billion in a bid ... See all stories on this topic »

ASPFI's first Asian Film Festival kicks off Manila Bulletin By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA MANILA, Philippines – Noble causes play an important part in the establishment of the Asia Society Philippine Foundation Inc. and the Film Development Council of the Philippines' latest undertaking, the Asian Film Festival ... See all stories on this topic »

ASEAN job market faces change TTR Weekly BANGKOK, 4 May 2012: Tourism experts say Thailand's labour force will face a substantial challenge when the ASEAN Economic Community kicks in 2015. There are 32 categories in the workforce that will open up to ASEAN member country citizens, ... See all stories on this topic » TTR Weekly

ASEAN launches website to assist consumers on products, redress, opportunities The Online Zamboanga Times JAKARTA — The ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection has launched the ACCP Website (www.aseanconsumer.org) at its 5th meeting in Bali, Indonesia. It intends to help consumers on matters pertaining to recalled/banned products, consumer redress ... See all stories on this topic »

Asean infra fund to start lending to members Inquirer.net (blog) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations expects to start giving out within the year loans from the $485-million Asean Infrastructure Fund (AIF), whose governing board met Thursday for the first time. Administered by the AsianDevelopment Bank, ... See all stories on this topic »

ASEAN, 3 partners agree to boost Chiang Mai Initiative The Daily Yomiuri MANILA (Jiji Press)--Finance chiefs from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their three dialogue partners--Japan, China and South Korea--reached an accord Thursday to boost their emergency dollar swap program to tackle ... See all stories on this topic »

Asean Launches Consumer Protection Web Site Jakarta Globe The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has just launched a new Web site focusing on consumer protection. The Asean Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP) announced the launch of www.aseanconsumer.org at a meeting in Bali on Friday in a press ... See all stories on this topic »

Business Groups Nix Tax Increases Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines — Two top American business organizations – US Chamber of Commerce and US ASEAN Business Council – have raised their concerns before the House of Representatives over the impact of a pending tax bill that seeks to impose high tax ... See all stories on this topic »

Scarborough dispute may derail Asian economic plan Inquirer.net (blog) The conflict between China and the Philippines over the resource-rich Scarborough Shoal is likely to derail plans of selected Asiancountries to integrate their economies by 2015, a chief economist and a social science expert from the two countries ... See all stories on this topic » Inquirer.net (blog)

PH should hit China with trade tariffs Asianjournal.com At the same time, Lewis cited the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for its diplomatic offensive in Asean and currently in the US. “The DFA is on the right track, doing it diplomatically. That is the correct way of solving the dispute at this point,” ... See all stories on this topic »

ASEAN, Japan, China, South Korea boost foreign currency reserve Business Recorder (blog) East Asian finance ministers and central bank governors on Thursday agreed to double a foreign currency reserve pool to 240 billion dollars to better protect the region from external financial shocks. Officials from Japan, China, South Korea and the 10 ... See all stories on this topic »

Philippines renews $6 billion swap deal with Japan, gets Korean loan euronews ASEAN +3 countries agreed on Thursday to boost the size of an emergency currency protection fund, Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM), to $240 billion by November, while cutting the amount tied to an IMF programme to 70 percent from 80... See all stories on this topic » euronews

E. Asia expands emergency liquidity China Post MANILA -- China, Japan and South Korea took steps on Thursday to tie their markets closer and agreed with their smaller Asian neighbors to boost their emergency protection against financial shocks. The ASEAN+3 regional grouping agreed to double the ... See all stories on this topic »

ASEAN Secretariat HQ declared 100 pct smoke-free building Thai News Agency MCOT Jakarta, May 4 (ANTARA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sets a healthy example for the rest of the region, by declaring its own headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, officially smoke-free. ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, ... See all stories on this topic »

ASEAN launches infra fund in ADB event The Online Zamboanga Times MANILA — Finance ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched Thursday the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with an initial pooled equity amounting to US$ 485 million. In a briefing at the sidelines of ADB's 45th Governors ... See all stories on this topic »

Central banks in East Asia boost bond ties China Daily "Today's statement from the three countries shows the governments will enhance the status of Asian currencies by encouraging investment within the region," Bloomberg quoted Choi Seok-won, head of research at Hanwha Securities Co in Seoul, as saying. See all stories on this topic » China Daily

Taiwan's central bank governor calls for currency coordination Focus Taiwan News Channel Manila, May 4 (CNA) Taiwan's central bank governor called for the establishment of an official currency coordination mechanism at the annual conference of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Friday. Perng Fai-nan, governor of the Central Bank of the ... See all stories on this topic »

Asia's credit markets need to help fill funding gap The Nation Asian credit markets have the opportunity to help fill the funding gap for companies and projects in the region that could struggle to tap sufficient and cost-effective funding from traditional banking sources, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ... See all stories on this topic »

Rights groups: Asian media freedoms under fire Mizzima News In a report marking World Press Freedom Day, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (Seapa) says Southeast Asian governments are turning to new legislation in a bid to control new media. Seapa says the key trend is that governments are shifting focus from ... See all stories on this topic »

ADB exec welcomes increase in Chiang Mai Initiative Fund The Online Zamboanga Times In a statement, Iwan J. Azis, ADB Office of Regional Economic Integration head, said this development “indicate an ongoing desire for ASEAN+3 countries to work together to ensure mutual support should the need arise.” “We expect such regional ... See all stories on this topic »

2013 Ford Focus to be produced in surprising location Torque News Just as Hyundai builds its US cars here (in Alabama), Ford builds cars for the Asian market in Asia. Thailand is the world's 12th largest automaker nation despite its size. It has recently become a hot spot of manufacturing for Southeast Asia with 6 of ... See all stories on this topic » Torque News

CP Group lures China's SAIC to set up carmaking base here The Nation SAIC has approached CP Group to be its partner here to set up a factory aimed at exports not only to Asean countries but other destinations as well. They are looking for a location for the production base. Initially, production capacity in Thailand ... See all stories on this topic » The Nation

Members Of EU Parliament Reaffirm Strong Singapore-EU Ties Bernama SINGAPORE, May 4 (Bernama) -- The European Parliament's Delegation to Southeast Asia and ASEAN (DASE) reaffirmed the strong Singapore-EU ties and looked forward to the conclusion of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) and the EU-Singapore ... See all stories on this topic »

The Visit Of Sultan Of Brunei To Turkey And Turkey's ASEAN Policy - Analysis Eurasia Review Developing commercial relations with Brunei in order to bring variety to the Turkish economy will also be useful in opening up the Southeast Asian market. Brunei has one of the highest incomes per capita in the world at around $50000 dollars a year, ... See all stories on this topic » Eurasia Review

Ford opens new plant, vows major local sourcing of parts Bangkok Post The $800 million in purchases will go to achieving 40% local Asean content, a requirement for automakers wanting to export the vehicles duty-free within the region. Ford will hire 2200 workers for the new manufacturing facility. See all stories on this topic »

Homebuilders told to learn English Bangkok Post Thai homebuilders need to improve their professional standards and English language skills as well as build up their brands and databases to stay competitive in an open market environment by 2015 for the Asean Economic Community. See all stories on this topic »

Dirty-money law reform urged Bangkok Post Delays in strengthening Thailand's laws against money laundering and terrorist financing activities have had a direct impact on international business and could undermine plans to link Asean capital markets later this year, say business leaders. See all stories on this topic »

Anti-dumping Measures: Easing the transition to free trade Bangkok Post Many businesses in Asean countries continue to adjust to the changes brought about by the elimination of import duties, in the context of both the AseanEconomic Community and other bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements. See all stories on this topic »

ASIA DOUBLES FINANCIAL SAFETY NET TO $240B Manila Standard Today SONNY ESPIRITU The Asean+3 countries, as the group is known, will also set up a precautionary credit line to let members tap the pool to prevent a crisis, and will allow more funds to be used without being linked to an International Monetary Fund ... See all stories on this topic »

TEXT-S&P Revises Bumi Outlook To Negative, Affirms 'BB' Rating Reuters UK We are also lowering our ASEAN scale rating on Bumi to 'axBB+' from 'axBBB-' following our revision on the outlook. Rating Action On May 4, 2012, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services revised its outlook on Indonesia-based thermal coal producer PT Bumi ... See all stories on this topic »

Servcorp ready to meet the new challenges in Bangkok Bangkok Post With Thailand looking set to become a key international internet gateway (IG) for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, the appeal of Bangkok as a business location in Asia continues to grow. One of Asia's best known providers of serviced and ... See all stories on this topic » Bangkok Post

China: Size obscures reality Asian Correspondent The above statistics are from an editorial written for the Japan Times by the former US ambassador to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Curtis S. Chin. Chin further asserts that China has lead the world in speed and numbers when it comes to pulling ... See all stories on this topic »

ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea ... - Live Trading News By Shayne Heffernan ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea ( ASEAN+3) have agreed to strengthen the regional financial safety net during the 15th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting held in Manila Thursday. The attendees ... Live Trading News

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Karen Militant Leader Threathens ... The leader of a Karen militant group in Myanmar threatens to close the Thai- Burmese border near Tak Province if the Thai government does not remove his... www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1054560

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Saree Samui: 'Community First ... Saree Samui, a resort based on the island of Koh Samui in the southern province of Surat Thani, set out by adopting a strategy that prioritizes the use of... www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1054465

Asian Nations Double Fund to Fend Off Liquidity Crises Asean+3, made up of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast AsianNations plus Japan, China and South Korea, ... Personalize your own newspage ... online.wsj.com/.../SB10001424052702304743704577381771...

LEAD: ASEAN, Japan, China, South Korea Boost Foreign Currency Reserve Manila (Source Girlie Linao dpa, Hamburg, Germany (MCT)) – East Asianfinance ministers ... posted by Alex Ferreras on May 3, 2012 in Latest FinancialNews ... www.loansafe.org/lead-asean-japan-china-south-korea-boost-f...

Daily Press Monitoring - News & Resources | News | ASEAN News ASEAN-KOREA CENTRE · Centre Activities · News & Resources · Trade&Investment ... News. E-news; Press Release; Media Coverage; Speech; ASEAN News ... www.aseankorea.org/program/board/detail.jsp?...

ASEAN Infrastructure Fund launched ... the region was launched yesterday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with an official ... ASEAN Infrastructure Fund launched ... News, lies, and videotape ... www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section...title...id...

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