Il tramonto di Mahathir in Malesia. Mahathir Mohamad è stato per anni al centro della politica malese, protagonista di grandi stagioni e cambiamenti significativi per la Malesia. Un interessante articolo di The ASEAN Post ripercorre le ultime vicende della carriera di Mahathir inquadrandole nel contesto della politica malese.

Le ingenti perdite economiche della Malesia per l’emergenza COVID. Il Paese, nonostante gli interventi del governo sull’economia, registra circa 550 milioni di dollari di perdite al giorno a causa delle misure di contenimento sanitarie disposte dalle Autorità. Il momento però potrebbe rivelarsi un’opportunità per mettere le aziende nelle condizioni di sviluppare l’economia digitale.

Ritorno della politica “vecchio stile” in Malesia. East Asia Forum si interroga sui prossimi sviluppi politici in Malesia alla luce della recente crisi istituzionale che ha colpito il Paese negli ultimi mesi dopo le dimissioni del Primo Ministro Mahatir.

Despite a significant decline in the first part of 2020, the Governor of the Philippine Central Bank Benjamin Diokno shares positive forecasts for the medium term. According to his estimates, the measures implemented by the government could lead to a 7.7% growth in 2021.

The Covid-19 pandemic has crushed Thailand’s tourism sector as numbers of foreign visitors have dropped below even the worst predictions plunging 76.4% in March from last year after a 42.8% drop in February. When borders open and international travel bans are lifted, China will almost certainly resume its dominant role in Thailand’s inbound tourism sector.

Thailand is set to lose duty-free access for $1.3 billion in exports to the U.S. market today, six months after Washington warned it would pull back on trade privileges unless the country committed to more labor rights reforms. Analysts expect the new duties to do little damage directly, however.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Trang Gloves has seen a dramatic increase in demand for its products. The company therefore decided to file for an initial public offering on the Stock Exchange of Thailand with the intention of raising funds and increasing the production of medical gloves up to an incredible 32 billion pieces per year.

Citizens across the South-East Asia region have consistently resorted to online shopping practices in the last few months but, according to some studies, dissatisfaction with delays and lack of communication would be high.

With China–US tensions and geopolitical turbulence increasing, many in the Asia-Pacific have looked at how ASEAN would respond to remain united, central and relevant. The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) report is a response to the rising contention between great powers as well as a lens for ASEAN’s future priorities.

No country in Southeast Asia will be immune to the tough economic and health impact caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It will be crucial to be prepared for the worst.

The Japanese government has unveiled a $2.4 billion fund to finance local companies that move their manufacturing production from China to Japan or Southeast Asia.

South China's Guangdong Province saw its trade with ASEAN countries grow by 7.7% year on year in the first quarter, while its total foreign trade volume dropped due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The ASEAN became Guangdong's biggest trade partner in the quarter, with trade volume accounting for 16 percent of the province's total commerce.

Night clubs and bars are an important sector for the Thai economy. With the issuing of measures of social distancing and restriction of movements, the sector is in serious difficulty. Government plans aid for bars and restaurants, but recovery prospects uncertain.

Philippine authorities have officially protested against Chinese aggressiveness in South China Sea. China's recent assertive moves in the area, in the midst of a health and economic emergency, have raised criticism from several Southeast Asian countries and the United States.

According to local sources, the health emergency will reduce passenger traffic at Thai airports by 53%. The data underlines the difficulties that the sector is going through that will force airlines to find sustainable solutions

Le relazioni tra India e Malesia sono precipitate negli ultimi anni a causa di tensioni politiche e commerciali. Tuttavia, da quando è cambiato il governo a Kuala Lumpur, ci sono stati alcuni segnali di miglioramento. The Diplomat analizza i rapporti tra India e Malesia alla luce degli ultimi sviluppi.

Thailand and the United States are discussing “proactive” economic, trade and investment cooperation, which will be crucial for salvaging the economy in the aftermath of the new coronavirus pandemic.