Arno Maierbrugger
Business journalist
Singapore cracks down on “shoe box”-sized apartments
Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on October 18 announced an upcoming regulatory change for the city state’s property developers, mandating that the average size...
EU-Vietnam trade agreement to eliminate 99% of all tariffs
The European Commission on October 17 adopted the long-planned trade and investment agreements between the European Union (EU) and Vietnam, paving the way for...
Philippines tourist island Boracay reopens, but beach party times are over
After a thorough six-month clean-up, the popular holiday island of Boracay in the central Philippines that was once dubbed a "cesspool" is to have...
Thailand’s weak education system a big drawback for development
Thailand’s outdated and somewhat defunct education system is holding back a new generation from becoming productive and innovative, it turned out in the new...
Alibaba founder to launch e-commerce training center in Indonesia
Jack Ma, founder and outgoing executive chairman of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, said on October 13 that he plans to open an institute...
Malaysia in need to postpone “developed country” target
Malaysia will become a developed country not before 2022, missing its longstanding “Vision 2020” target by at least two years, based on current government...
Cambodia targets 15 million tourist arrivals by 2030
Cambodia’s tourism ministry has set a target of 30 million tourist visits annually by 2030, up from the 5.6 million international visits last year.
Some...
End of EU trade preferences could bring Cambodia’s economy to its knees
The European Union (EU) announced on October 5 that Cambodia would lose its special access to European markets under the so-called Everything But Arms...
Vietnam to remove foreign ownership cap for listed companies
Vietnam's government is considering lifting the foreign stake holding limit for listed companies from the current 49 to 100 per cent in a bid...
Japan pledges support to Laos for Vietnam War bomb removal
Japan on October 8 pledged to give 900 million yen ($8 million) towards removing unexploded bombs in Laos that were scattered there during the...
Thailand worried by plunge in Chinese tourist arrivals
As the number of Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand keeps tumbling, dragging down overall visitor growth in the country, Thailand is dimming the outlook...
Vietnam’s new car maker debuts with two models at Paris Motor Show
VinFast, Vietnam’s new home-grown car manufacturer and a subsidiary of Vietnamese industry conglomerate VinGroup, unveiled its first two passenger vehicles, a saloon and an...
New minimum wage for Cambodian textile workers: $182
Cambodia raised the monthly minimum wage for garment workers by $12 on October 5 to $182, fulfilling an election promise by premier Hun Sen.
A...
Malaysia’s new car brand to make first appearance in 2020
Malaysia’s new national car project is expected to roll out its first model before or by 2020, media was told at a press briefing...
Thailand’s central bank seeks to prevent property bubble
The Bank of Thailand imposed an 80-per cent loan-to-value limit on mortgages for homes worth more than ten million baht and for all second...
Malaysia Ex-PM’s wife Rosmah arrested, to be charged with money laundering
Rosmah Mansor, wife of Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak, has been detained on October 3 by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). According to...
Laos quietly introduced new tourist tax on Oct. 1
The Lao government eventually without much fanfare introduced a tourist tax - which was in the planning since 2010 - on October 1, 2018....
Mahathir “lost all faith” in Myanmar’s Suu Kyi, ends support
Malaysia will no longer support the leadership of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi as a result of her handling of the Rohingya crisis in...
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Singapore cracks down on “shoe box”-sized apartments
Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on October 18 announced an upcoming regulatory change for the city state’s property developers, mandating that the average size...
Stories of the week
Cambodia targets 15 million tourist arrivals by 2030
Cambodia’s tourism ministry has set a target of 30 million tourist visits annually by 2030, up from the 5.6 million international visits last year.
Some...