KUALA LUMPUR- In the short term, Malaysia did not hesitate to extend its fiscal stance to support counter-cyclical economic recovery packages and RM322.5 billion in the nation’s largest national budget for 2021. Even though it was Malaysia’s largest budget ever, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said it was thought about with a simple fiscal consolidation strategy to, …

 Entering the new year isn’t easy for every nation around the world and it’s the same with Thailand given the economic hardship caused by COVID-19, as many as 96 percent of foreign direct investors operating experienced unprecedented situations last year. However, this year, they are surprisingly confident in the potential of the country and have plans to increase or at …

Thailand’s latest round of regulations aimed at containing a fresh outbreak of coronavirus infections is expected to derail the gradual rebound of the economy from its recession in 2020. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha encouraged the people to remain at home and postpone travel after the authorities closed a number of venues in Bangkok and some other provinces this month – …

On Monday morning, the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry reported that, based on advance projections, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) dropped by 5.8 percent year-on-year for the whole of 2020, compared to 0.7 percent growth in 2019. The economy of Singapore contracted by 3.8 percent year on year for the fourth quarter of 2020, an improvement from the …

The central bank’s monetary board’s decision to increase its inflation forecasts further moved real interest rates into negative territory, said DBS Bank Ltd. of Singapore. After an ambitious easing that saw rates drop by 200 basis points to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas agreed to hold interest rates steady at an all-time low …

Indonesia has the highest number of infections with COVID-19 in ASEAN, but it remains the only country in the region to avoid the general lockdown. However, as with other ASEAN nations, air travel remains highly restrictive. The wait may be over for the vaccine, but before opening the borders, Indonesia or ASEAN can not afford to wait for it to …

Few days left till 2021 and the new year’s sustained higher oil and food prices could cause the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to remove monetary assistance from the ailing economy prematurely and jack up rates, raising the urgency of a compelling fiscal stimulus. In view of this, the supply fluctuations have kept food prices high and may be vulnerable …

In order to strengthen the economy, The Indonesian-South Korean Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK-CEPA) was signed in Seoul by Indonesian Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto and South Korean Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Sung Yun-mo. The partnership happened during the COVID-19 pandemic only shows the willingness of both nations to jointly forge trade ties in the light of the global economic …

Without fear of going to jail, Thailand’s interdiction protests are about more than the right to challenge the monarchy. Through this, the demonstrators want taxpayers to regulate tens of billions of dollars worth of investment and real estate. In view of this, The Royal Family of Thailand has long been the largest shareholder in two of the most profitable companies …

SINGAPORE: Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Monday (Nov 23) that Singapore still has a long way to go in its economic recovery, with the third quarter of gross domestic product (GDP) shrinking at a slower pace than in the previous quarter, even as it looks to be turning the corner. The Ministry of Trade and Industry …