Showing 1 - 10 of 15
Asean needs a forward-looking trade agreement
Oped, Published on 25/03/2022
» In 2009, against the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) signed the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga) furthering its commitment to open and integrated regional trade. On March 16, against the Covid-19 pandemic and rising geopolitical crises, Asean economic ministers held negotiations to upgrade the deal.
Myanmar's crisis and emerging traps
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 01/02/2022
» Today is the first anniversary of the Feb 1 seizure of power by the Tatmadaw in Nay Pyi Taw. Over the past 12 months, the overall situation in Myanmar has gone into a downward spiral and all the progress and positive developments made since 2011, when the country proudly opened up, have gone into the dustbin.
What happens if Asean shrinks to 9?
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 29/10/2021
» It all came down to a choice between marginalisation and irrelevance on the one hand and pragmatism and resilience on the other. At its 38th and 39th leaders' meetings and related summits with dialogue partners, Asean chose to remain relevant. In an unprecedented move with far-reaching ramifications, Asean reduced itself to nine participating members from the normal 10, excluding Myanmar. While this bold manoeuvre derived from necessity rather than initiative, it provides Southeast Asia's bloc of smaller states a small window of opportunity to regain its footing and revitalise its central role in promoting regional peace and stability in Asia.
Time to upgrade Asean-EU relationship
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 03/11/2020
» Today, Americans will go to the polls to elect their 46th president. It doesn't matter who the next president will be, the incumbent Donald Trump or his challenger, Joe Biden. Why? As far as Indo-Pacific region is concerned, the die has been cast due to the strategic competition between the two superpowers, the US and China. Therefore, the presidential outcome and impact on the global stage remain unchanged. New rhetoric and approaches might be generated but that would be it.
Recovering and building back better as a region
News, Published on 05/10/2020
» As we enter the third quarter of the year, much has been understood about Covid-19 since it first emerged. Around the world, countries are getting better at managing the spread of the virus, but the battle against rising or resurging cases continues, including in parts of Asean. For a while, the world will need to live with the virus.
Avoiding trade-war fallout
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 04/02/2019
» The United States and China ended their latest round of trade talks in Washington on a hopeful note last week, but negotiators are still racing against a March 1 deadline when US tariffs on US$200 million in Chinese goods will rise unless a deal is reached.
Mobile ad fraud and what SMEs can do about it
News, Published on 25/10/2018
» The internet has made a giant leap towards a mobile-first future. Businesses -- particularly Asia-based SMEs -- would find that the handheld screen is now the most important window through which to reach consumers. According to a recent article by Asean Business, Thailand comes first with the largest amount of time spent on the mobile internet, boasting an average of 4.2 hours per day, more than anywhere else in the world.
Thailand revitalising Acmecs scheme
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 12/06/2018
» Renewed schemes for the region's three great rivers -- under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (Acmecs) -- are making a comeback after some soul-searching amid a plethora of connectivity plans. Bangkok will host the 8th Acmecs summit this Friday and Saturday.
At 50, what's in store for Asean?
News, Published on 28/08/2017
» The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has just turned 50. Now well into middle age, it has some significant achievements under its belt. Indeed, Asean is almost a household name today, both within and beyond Asia.
Dire airport, culture hub belie 'Thailand 4.0'
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 17/02/2017
» Thailand is prone to policy faddism. Several years ago, the AEC (Asean Economic Community) was all the rage until it officially came into being with a whimper at the end of 2015. Back then, hardly a day went by without some kind of a workshop or conference in Thailand about the AEC. But it all did not add up to much, as Asean today is hardly more economically integrated than it was more than a decade ago when the AEC was conceived. In fact, Asean is more internally divided and beset with more geopolitical tensions and troubles than we have seen in many years. Yet Thailand went head over heels for it until a new fad arrived.