ASEAN and the world

(CPV) - The Government of New Zealand has provided additional financing of USD4.8 million to expand the electricity grid in rural areas of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

With positive start in the reestablishment of US-Cuba relations, Malaysia will soon set its foot in the Cuban market, Cuban Ambassador to Malaysia Ibete Fernandez Hernandez stated.

Singapore arrested 27 Bangladeshi men in late 2015 as they supported the extremist ideology of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State (IS), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on January 20th.

(CPV) - Sean O’Sullivan, Director General of ADB’s Central and West Asia Department, concluded a two-day visit to Tajikistan on January 20th 2016, during which he met with Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda and other senior government officials to discuss the country's development priorities and current economic situation, ADB’s assistance program, and reaffirm ADB’s continued support for national de

The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) is continuing to implement its strategic tasks in line with the comprehensive and principal renovation policy with a focus on Party building and ideology.

Indonesia is considering new measures to help prevent terror attacks following the suicide bombing in the capital Jakarta last week that claimed eight lives and injured bout 20.

The 10th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) kicked off in Vientiane on January 18th, a turning point marking the strong development of the party in both quantity and quality.

(CPV) - ADB is extending an up to USD75 million equivalent loan to Yingda International Leasing, which will allow it to expand badly-needed funding for healthcare equipment and facilities at hospitals in the central and western regions of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The 10th National Party Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) kicked off in Vientiane on January 18th, attended by 685 delegates from 18 cities and provinces across the country.

President of Singapore Tony Tan Keng Yam outlined five key goals for the country’s government to fulfill in 2016 in his opening address to the 13th Parliament on January 15th.

(CPV) - On the occasion of the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with the Opening Ceremony to be held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China on January 16th 2016, ADB President Takehiko Nakao sends his congratulations to the AIIB founding members, Mr. Jin Liqun, who was just officially made the first president of AIIB, and the staff of the Mulitilateral Secretariat w

Indonesian authorities have announced the identities of four of the five dead suspects of terror attacks in downtown Jakarta on January 14th, which claimed seven lives.

Indonesian authorities have announced the identities of four of the five dead suspects of terror attacks in downtown Jakarta on January 14th, which claimed seven lives.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed grant and project agreements to help PNG build its resilience to the impacts of climate change on January 15th 2016.

Thailand’s government pledged to help rubber farmers reduce losses caused by tumbling world prices.

Southeast Asian countries should enhance intelligence cooperation to cope with the threat of terrorism, a Thai official said.

Both the ASEAN community and China have publicly criticized the gunfire and bomb attacks that took place in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta on January 14th.

(CPV) - ADB and LOLC Finance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading non-bank financing institutions, have signed an agreement for a loan totaling USD69 million to help expand funding support to micro- small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which play a key role in the economy.

About 54 percent of Singaporean businesses have been adversely affected by the current economic slowdown, up sharply from 35 percent a year ago, according to the latest survey by the country’s Singapore Business Federation (SBF).

(CPV) - The Government of Myanmar today announced new requirements, developed with assistance from ADB, for assessing the environmental and social impacts of investment projects.

Consecutive explosions and gunfire took place in the heart of Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta in the morning of January 14th, leaving at least seven people dead, including four suspected terrorists.

(CPV) - “While the Internet, mobile phones and other digital technologies are spreading rapidly throughout the developing world, the anticipated digital dividends of higher growth, more jobs, and better public services have fallen short of expectations, and around four billion people remain excluded from the ever-expanding digital economy”.

The Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), launched a three-hour investment permit service on January 11th.

The Philippines’ Supreme Court on January 12th declared a security deal with the United States constitutional, allowing an increased US military presence in the country.

Thailand’s media has raised strong objections to China’s test landing of planes on an airstrip illegally built on Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, saying this action escalates tensions and instabilities in the region.

Malaysia recorded 336 dengue deaths – the highest ever – last year, up 56.3 percent from that of 2014.

Ade Komarudin of the Golkar party was sworn in on January 11th as speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, replacing Setya Novanto who stepped down over corruption allegations.

The Government of Thailand has put forth a tourism development strategy that looks to turn the country into one of the five leading global destinations in the next 20 years.

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) convened its 39th meeting in Phnom Penh on January 9th with the participation of some 1,650 representatives from 25 cities and provinces nationwide.

Laos officially took over the chairmanship of ASEAN’s Committee of Permanent Representative (CPR) in 2016 from Malaysia at a ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia on January 8th.