ASEAN and the world

The Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), formerly known as the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), is likely to be allocated 12.5 billion baht (over 400 million USD) after the House of Representatives changed its decision to cut down the annual budget to fund the agency’s activities.

(CPV) - Minister of Public Education Mr. Sherzod Shermatov and the Deputy Country Director of ADB's Uzbekistan Resident Mission Mr. Enrico Pinali have signed an agreement for ADB to advise on a public–private partnership (PPP) to help rehabilitate and construct public schools in Sergeli district of the capital city, Tashkent.

(CPV) - ADB and RG Brands (RGB), a leading food and beverage group in Kazakhstan, signed a USD20 million loan to modernize operations along the company’s regional distribution chain. The assistance will improve the livelihoods of shopkeepers and support women’s empowerment in Kazakhstan and in neighboring the Kyrgyz Republic.

(CPV) - ADB signed a USD5 million financing facility with PT SASL and Sons Indonesia (PTSASL), a subsidiary of the Silvermill Group (Silvermill)—one of Sri Lanka’s largest manufacturers and exporters of coconut-based products—to expand the group’s operations in Indonesia.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD200 million loan to help the Philippine government prepare and implement major infrastructure projects under its flagship “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) development program.

(CPV) - ADB approved a 2020 administrative budget (net internal administrative expense budget) of USD726.7 million on December 13th 2019. This represents a 5.2% increase over the 2019 administrative budget, consisting of a price increase of 2.9% and a volume growth of 2.3%.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has trimmed its forecasts for economic growth in developing Asia this year and next year as growth in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and India is weighed down by both external and domestic factors.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Bank of Thailand (BoT) have agreed to launch new measures for Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to encourage them to expand overseas.

Southeast Asia’s GDP growth is likely to remain at 4.5 percent in 2020, amid high risks of a re-escalation in trade tensions between the US and China, according to the latest report produced by the British advisory firm Oxford Economics.

(CPV) - Ahead of Viet Nam’s accession to the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, senior officials from ASEAN governments, experts from ASEAN various institutions, including two former Secretaries-Generals of ASEAN, and senior officials from the United Nations as well as other external partners have come together in Ha Noi to discuss cooperation in support of the work of the ASEAN-Institute for Peace and Recon

(CPV) - Masatsugu Asakawa has been unanimously elected President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) by its Board of Governors.

Thailand's cross-border trade reached 1.12 trillion THB in the first 10 months of the year, a year-on-year fall of 1.94 percent, according to statistics from the country’s Commerce Ministry.

Thailand's annual paddy production is forecast at 27-28 million tonnes in the 2019-2020 season, weighed down by a drop in production for the second crop because of flooding and drought.

(CPV) - ADB has approved USD200 million in loans that will help the Government of Uzbekistan reform its housing finance programs and provide families with more affordable mortgage products.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of USD250 million as part of an assistance package to Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a public sector energy service company, to expand energy efficiency investments in India.

(CPV) - ADB has provided a technical assistance grant to the Bank of Georgia, enabling it to offer working capital and other supply chain services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The Republic of Korea (RoK)'s trade with Southeast Asian countries soared around twentyfold this year compared to that recorded in 1989, according to data released by the RoK Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association as saying.

(CPV) - ADB has approved a USD10 million grant to help Tajikistan develop tourism in the country. The project is ADB’s first tourism sector operation in Tajikistan.

(CPV) - Emerging East Asia’s local currency bond market posted steady growth during the third quarter of 2019 despite persistent trade uncertainties and a global economic downturn, according to the latest issue of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Asia Bond Monitor.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) and Singapore on November 23 reached an agreement to strengthen partnerships in various fields, including developing weapons and smart cities on the basis of the bilateral traditional cooperation.

Nearly 65 percent of the Indonesian market will be opened to partner countries once the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) takes effect, the Indonesia-based Antara News quoted an Indonesian official as reporting.

Despite the setbacks, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal has the potential to dramatically improve economic prospects among its members, said Auramon Supthaweethum, Director-General of the Trade Negotiations Department under the Thai Ministry of Commerce.

The ASEAN Committee in Mexico, comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, joined hands with authorities of Mexico’s Yucatan state to arrange a business forum in Merida city on November 15th.

ASEAN and Japan agreed to enhance transport cooperation towards environmental sustainability at the 17th ASEAN-Japan Transport Ministers Meeting, which was held in Hanoi on November 15th.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment plans to issue a circular banning the import and production of single-use plastic products as part of efforts to reduce plastic waste pollution in the country.

Transport Ministers of ASEAN member nations and the Republic of Korea (RoK) agreed to further promote cooperation between the two sides, especially in transport connectivity, at their meeting in Hanoi on November 15.

Vietnamese Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The has highlighted the need for ASEAN to continue enhancing transport connectivity among its member countries.

(CPV) - ADB has approved a USD40 million-equivalent policy-based loan attached to reforms that help strengthen fiscal sustainability and develop the financial and capital markets in Armenia. These are crucial enablers of private sector development.

The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an important legal instrument to regulate maritime issues and ensure legitimate rights and interests of countries, heard the second ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) workshop on implementing UNCLOS in Hanoi on November 13th.

(CPV) - Thirty years ago, in 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – an international treaty on childhood. Adopted by 196 nations, the Convention is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.