WEEKLY SUMMARY

 
AseanAffairs     24 April 2011

These were the most important stories published by Asean Affairs during the week of April 16-22.

New city near Singapore moves forward
A new metropolis three times the size of neighboring Singapore is taking shape in the foothills of southern Malaysia, where officials and investors have equally huge ambitions for the city.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/malaysia_news/property/new_city_near_singapore_moves_forward

Emerging economies reject IMF plan
Representatives of emerging nations rebuffed an International Monetary Fund (IMF) plan to guide them on managing huge flows of capital into their economies, viewing it as a way to constrain their actions rather than help.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/asean_news/investment/emerging_economies_reject_imf_plan

Indonesia’s economic development plan
Indonesia expects to become the world’s 12th-largest economy by 2025 through stimulating domestic growth with its planned economic corridor scheme and programs to improve regional connectivity.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/indonesia_news/economy/indonesia_s_economic_development_plan

Oil drilling starts in Leyte
A group led by Australia’s Otto Energy Ltd. has begun drilling operations in onshore Northwest Leyte.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/philippines_news/energy/oil_drilling_starts_in_leyte

Vietnam’s IT industry languishes
Despite its huge potential, Vietnam’s software industry has failed to develop as rapidly as it could have.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/vietnam_news/it_&_electronics/vietnam_s_it_industry_languishes

Cambodia to launch first satellite
The Royal Group received a concession to launch Cambodia’s first satellite into orbit, creating what the company sees as another integral step forward for the Asean economy, officials said. READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/cambodia_news/telecoms/cambodia_to_launch_first_satellite

Malaysia wants foreign investments
Malaysia announced $3.7 billion in new investments on Tuesday, hoping to jump-start foreign interest in its economy even as other Asian countries try to stem speculative inflows in search of higher-yielding markets.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/malaysia_news/investment/malaysia_wants_foreign_investments

Asean countries short on Internet freedom
A report from the US-based Freedom House titled “Freedom in the Net 2011” gives poor grades to some Asean countries for the degree of free expression they allow on the Internet.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/asean_news/media/asean_countries_short_on_internet_freedom

Mekong dam decision deferred to ministerial level
The intergovernmental panel of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) has deferred the final decision on the construction of the Xayaburi dam in Laos to the ministerial level, following concerns raised by Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/asean_news/environment/mekong_dam_decision_deferred_to_ministerial_level

Thai interest rate raised
The Bank of Thailand has sent a firm signal that interest rates will continue to rise in the near future in light of higher commodity prices and the temporary impact of Japan's disaster.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/thailand_news/economy/thai_interest_rate_raised

Indonesia FDI jumps 12 percent
Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board has announced that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia rose 11.6 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/indonesia_news/investment/indonesia_fdi_jumps_12_percent

Dollar rises above Vietnamese black market rate
The official exchange rate for the US dollar rose above the black market rate yesterday for the first time, following recent moves by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) to fix the forex market. READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/vietnam_news/finance/dollar_rises_above_black_market_rate

Indo bomb targeted church
A massive 150-kilogram bomb buried beneath a gas pipeline in Serpong, Tangerang, on Thursday morning was targeting the nearby Catholic Church in a Good Friday attack, Indonesian officials said.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/indonesia_news/security/indo_bomb_targeted_church

By

Paul A. Ebeling, Jnr