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WEEKLY SUMMARY

By  David Swartzentruber
AseanAffairs     21 November 2010

IT to drive Asia-Pacific economic future, Says Aussie PM
Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard says information technology holds the key to economic development across the Asia-Pacific region.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/asean_news/it_&_electronics/it_to_drive_asia_pacific_economic_future_says_aussie_pm

Thai PM calls on Asia to use yuan in trade
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, fearful of the effects of the soaring Thai currency due to massive capital inflows or hot money, has proposed the use of the Chinese yuan as a major regional trading currency.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/thailand_news/economy/thai_pm_calls_on_asia_to_use_yuan_in_trade

Suu Kyi freed Saturday afternoon 
A Myanmar senior police officer said on Saturday that Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be released late Saturday afternoon (Myanmar time), online web sites and press services are reporting.
READ MORE:http://www.aseanaffairs.com/myanmar_news/politics/suu_kyi_freed_saturday_afternoon

Doha talks come first for Indonesia
Indonesia's priority is to wrap up the long-running Doha round of global trade talks rather than joining a US-led Asia-Pacific free-trade initiative, said Mari Pangestu, the trade minister of Southeast Asia's largest economy.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/indonesia_news/trade/doha_talks_come_first_for_indonesia

Thai industry may shift to Myanmar
Thai heavy industry may shift to industrial estates in Myanmar's western coastal city of Dawei instead of setting up facilities in southern Thailand or Map Ta Phut, warns the Thai government's economic think tank warns.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/thailand_news/infrastructure/thai_industry_may_shift_to_myanmar

U.S. to talk with Myanmar
The United States plans to hold talks with Myanmar's new military-backed rulers as it examines U.S. sanctions after the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said the State Department.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/myanmar_news/politics/u_s_to_talk_with_myanmar

Aquino brings home investment
President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Monday returned to Manila from his trip to Japan, bringing home with US$2.85-billion worth of investments.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/philippines_news/investment/aquino_brings_home_investment

Outsourcing not the answer for Philippines
Despite the employment and the dollars that business process outsourcing (BPO) generates, the sector may not be the answer to the country’s need to advance its economy, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/philippines_news/economy/outsourcing_not_the_answer_for_philippines

Triangular fund proposed for Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia
PRIME Minister Hun Sen suggested to the leaders of Laos and Vietnam yesterday that a fund to help development of a triangular region between the three countries be created.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/cambodia_news/economy/triangular_fund_proposed_for_laos_vietnam_cambodia

Hanoi's GDP to jump 11 percent this year
The capital's gross domestic production is expected to increase 11 percent this year against 2009, says a report to the Ha Noi People's Committee. The growth is about 2 percent higher than the goal set at the beginning of the year and 1.67 times higher than national GDP growth.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/vietnam_news/economy/hanoi_s_gdp_to_jump_11_percent_this_year

Singapore GDP set to grow 15 percent
The Singapore economy is expected to grow by around 15 percent this year and by 4 to 6 percent in 2011, the Ministry of Trade and Industry announced on Thursday morning.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/singapore_news/economy/singapore_gdp_set_to_grow_15_percent

Thai business against investment tax breaks
Thai business leaders have expressed strong reservations to a Finance Ministry proposal to reform the corporate income tax structure and remove tax privileges for investment
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/thailand_news/investment/thai_business_against_investment_tax_breaks

Indonesia opens new blocks for oil, gas exploration
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has awarded four oil and gas blocks to local and foreign companies, including BP Exploration Indonesia, a unit of oil major BP, a government official has confirmed.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/indonesia_news/energy/indonesia_opens_new_blocks_for_oil_gas_exploration

By

Paul A. Ebeling, Jnr