ASEAN NEWS UPDATES              Updated: 3 July 2009

• Indonesia extends Newmont divestment negotiations
Indonesian government has again extended the time for negotiations on divestment of 14 percent of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT)`s shares for an undetermined period, reported state news agency Antara.

• Philippines’ food chain eyes Canada, Mideast
Philippine food retailer Max’s Restaurant is looking at penetrating the Canadian and Middle Eastern markets, even while still preparing to open two branches in the United States—one in New Jersey and the other in Hawaii—within the year, a local daily reported.

• Mission Impossible: UN chief visits Myanmar
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon prepared on Thursday for a risky visit to Myanmar amid warnings that his trip will be a 'huge failure' if he fails to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, reported the AFP.

• Malaysia FDI plunges in Jan-May 2009
Foreign investment in Malaysia has plummeted this year, according to Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed, after the government announced liberalisation measures aimed at luring investors, reported AFP.

• Vietnam posts 3.9% growth in H1, slowest in 10 years
Vietnam's economy grew at 3.9 percent in the first half of the year, the lowest level in a decade, but is on course to meet the government's full-year target, AFP quoted officials as saying Wednesday.

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