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WEEKLY SUMMARY

By David Swartzentruber
AseanAffairs   5 September 2010

These were the most significant news stories in the Asean community during the week of August 28- September 3:

Thai election when normalcy returns
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Saturday that new national elections would take place only after the domestic situation returns to normal.READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/thailand_news/politics/thai_election_when_normalcy_returns

Cambodia earns ‘mini-tiger’ status
Cambodia’s economy has emerged as a “mini-tiger” in terms of textile processing, despite a lack of attention from international investors, according to a report by Swiss banking giant UBS.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/cambodia_news/trade/cambodia_earns_mini_tiger_status

ASEAN sets tone for competition
Ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have gathered in Hanoi for the five-day 42nd ASEAN Economic Ministers and 4th ASEAN Economic Community Meetings this week, to discuss how to strengthen the regions’ economies.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/asean_news/economy/asean_sets_tone_for_competition

UN assistance to match local priorities
THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that the next United Nations assistance program for the Philippines would be aligned with the new government’s development priorities.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/philippines_news/investment/un_assistance_to_match_local_priorities

Thailand plans high-speed rail
The cabinet of Thailand is reviewing a joint investment plan between Thailand and China to develop high-speed train routes in Thailand. Everyone agrees that faster rail transit will benefit the country economically and socially.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/thailand_news/transport/thailand_plans_high_speed_rail

Airport woes in Indonesia
Frequent flyers have urged Soekarno-Hatta International Airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura II, to improve services as the holiday season approaches. READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/indonesia_news/aviation/airport_woes_in_indonesia

Singapore economy up 15 percent in 2010
Singapore's economy is expected to expand at a record pace this year as a surge in demand for the city-state's exports drives manufacturing, according to a central bank survey of analysts.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/singapore_news/economy/singapore_economy_up_15_percent_in_2010

Lao garment industry benefits from rising Chinese labour costs
The garment industry in Laos is benefiting from more orders as the cost of Chinese labor continues to rise, according to the Lao Garment Industry Association. Chinese labour costs in the garment industry have reportedly increased by 30 percent, causing international trading firms to order their merchandise from countries with lower production costs such as Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/laos_news/economy/lao_garment_industry_benefits_from_rising_chinese_labour_costs

Carrefour's stores up for bid
British and Japanese retail giants along with local operators are in an auction battle to take over the Southeast Asian business of French supermarket chain Carrefour, reports said Thursday. READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/malaysia_news/retail/carrefour_s_stores_up_for_bid

Asean-US draw close
Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said Thursday that Asean leaders have been invited by U.S. President Barack Obama to meet in New York on September 24. Pitsuwan is attending a special meeting in Bangkok on disaster management. He said the summit will last 2 hours, 30 minutes more than the previous one held in Singapore last November. READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/asean_news/politics/asean_us_draw_closer

Asia decoupling itself from Western economies
HSBC says Asia is decoupling itself from the Western economies. With domestic demand surging in Asia, the bank says the region will be less reliant on trade with the West.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/asean_news/economy/asia_decoupling_itself_from_western_economies

Court lifts environmental block
The Administrative Court ruling ending the environmental impasse in Rayong’s Map Ta Phut industrial estate could improve Thailand’s investment climate and investment could grow by about 9.3 per cent in 2011, according to Kasikorn Research Centre.
READ MORE: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/thailand_news/investment/court_lifts_environmental_block