ASEAN and the world

(CPV) - Countries and teritories in Asia and the Pacific must adopt more effective and innovative low-carbon policies and technologies to secure greener and more sustainable growth, delegates heard at a forum hosted by ADB and the Hunan Department of Ecology and Environment.

Singapore on October 14th decided to ease monetary policy for the first time in more than three years as the national economy has narrowly avoided recession in the third quarter of 2019.

(CPV) - ADB has approved its first multitranche financing facility (MFF) in the health sector in Mongolia. The USD158.34 million MFF will provide high-quality health care services in selected disadvantaged ger areas of Ulaanbaatar, provinces, and subdistricts to support the Government of Mongolia’s commitment to universal health coverage.

Deputy defence chiefs of ASEAN countries and Japan met in Tokyo, Japan from October 8th-10th to discuss regional security, the future of the Indo-Pacific region and ASEAN’s initiatives for regional cooperation.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered tighter security for state officials a day after a suspected Islamist militant stabbed Chief Security Minister Wiranto during his trip to Pandeglang city in Banten province on Java Island on October 10th.

Cambodia's economy is projected to moderate to 7 percent in 2019 after experiencing a better-than-expected growth rate of 7.5 percent in 2018, the World Bank (WB) said in its new report released on October 10th.

The 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME15), the 15th ASEAN Meeting on Transboundary Haze Pollution and relevant meetings kicked off in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on October 8th.

The Myanmar government recently announced new regulations to make it easier for foreign tourists to enter the country.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of Mongolia on early October wrapped up one successful eco-tourism project and embarked on a second project aimed to help Mongolia benefit from a boom in domestic and overseas tourists while safeguarding the environment.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

A free trade agreement (FTA) between Singapore and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was signed by their leaders in Yerevan, capital of Armenia, on October 1st.

(CPV) - ADB has approved a USD60 million loan to construct hydropower plants capable of adding 25 MW capacity, which will help Uzbekistan achieve its goal of diversifying the country’s energy mix through greater use of clean energy sources and lowering carbon emissions.

The Economic Times of India on September 30 published an article backing Vietnam and opposing China’s illegal activities in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Indonesia on September 28th marked one year since a devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami smashed the city of Palu, killing more than 4,000 people.

Laos’ economic growth will be moderate in 2019 and 2020, projected to be at 6.2 percent, slightly lower than April forecast of 6.5 percent, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.

The central banks of Malaysia and Indonesia on September 27th signed acurrency swap agreement, which allows the exchange of local currencies between the central banks of up to USD2 billion.

(CPV) - Pakistan’s economy in fiscal year (FY) 2019, which ended on June 30th, is showing signs of recovery as the government’s fiscal consolidation and austerity measures to address the structural weaknesses started to take effect.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of Nauru signed a USD22 million grant on September 27th 2019 for a project that will fund the delivery of reliable, affordable, secure, and sustainable solar energy to help meet the socioeconomic development needs of the Pacific island nation.

(CPV) - ADB has approved a USD45 million policy-based loan to help the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) strengthen public debt management, reform tax administration, improve medium-term fiscal planning and budgeting, and boost governance and budget credibility.

(CPV) - ADB has approved an USD18 million loan and a USD12 million grant to help Solomon Islands reduce the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels for power generation through the Tina River Hydropower Project.

Floods triggered by torrential rain in the last two weeks have submerged homes, roads and bridges, caused landslides and forced more than 23,000 people to evacuate to shelters in northeastern Thailand.

The first Zika cluster in Singapore this year has been detected, after three cases were confirmed in Serangoon Gardens, the National Environment Agency of Singapore (NEA) said on September 13th.

An explosion went off on September 14th at an Indonesian police evidence warehouse containing munitions dating from World War II, injuring one officer and prompting the evacuation of nearby residents, police said.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) released the 50th edition of its annual statistical report, Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2019, and an online database, Key Indicators Database on September 10th 2019.

Embassies of member countries in the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) celebrated the ASEAN Family Day on September 7th.

The Philippines is hoping to reach its target of 8.2 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2019, one million higher than the figure in 2018.

The 51st ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM 51) and related meetings officially opened in Bangkok on September 6th, bringing together economic leaders from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and partner countries.

President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in on September 1st departed for Thailand on a week-long trip that will also take him to Myanmar and Laos as part of efforts to deepen the country's partnerships with the region.

Malaysia will implement the Free Breakfast Programme at primary schools across the country from next year, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

China is engaged in a long-term and consistent campaign of coercing Southeast Asian countries to abandon their legitimate rights in the East Sea, according to an American scholar.