ASEAN and the world

Cambodia’s exports in 2017 grew by 13 percent although the number of operating factories decreased 4 percent, according to the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft’s report.

(CPV) - ADB signed a loan equivalent of up with USD235 million to B.Grimm Power Public Company Limited (B.Grimm Power), one of the largest power producers in Thailand on February 23rd 2018, to develop and enhance renewable energy capacity in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

On February 21st, Press Secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin would announce the message to the Federal Assembly on March 1st.

The Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) on February 22nd sent an invitation to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to attend the next presidential elections in the country as an international electoral accompanier.

Indonesia on February 22nd launched a five-year green Sukuk bond, becoming became the first Asian country to sell "green" bonds internationally.

Indonesia must create good and quality jobs to help increase the country’s productivity and competitiveness for sustained and inclusive growth, says a new ADB study.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry's new director for US affairs Carlos Fernandez de Cossio has received a US Congressional delegation on a three-day visit to Cuba.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with five Central American countries to reduce tariffs and build stronger business partnerships.

(CPV) - Global deaths of newborn babies remain alarmingly high, particularly among the world’s poorest countries, UNICEF said on February 20th 2018 in a new report on newborn mortality. Babies born in Japan, Iceland and Singapore have the best chance at survival, while newborns in Pakistan, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan face the worst odds.

Most countries in Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year in their own unique way. Thailand, Cambodia, Japan and Vietnam all have special traditions for the occasion of the New Year.

Where should you go in 2018? Tourism specialists have revealed a list of top places to travel.

Thailand's popular resort island of Phuket will hold the Phuket Food Festival 2018 next month.

Grapes, red wine or fishes… are food traditions on New Year from around the world that will make your mouth water.

Venezuela’s presidential election will be held on April 22nd, said Tibisay Lucena, head of the government-controlled National Electoral Council.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has won a second five-year term as President.

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s authority on January 4th said the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s leader of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Kim Yong-nam will attend the Winter Olympics Pyeong Chang 2018.

A law to curb false news should be created immediately in Malaysia to check the action of certain parties who are trying to jeopardise the peace and harmony of the country, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed was quoted as Malaysia's national news agency Bernama as saying.

Guinea-Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz has signed a decree to appoint Mr. Augusto Antonio Artur Da Silva as the new Prime Minister.

Kuwait on February 1st took on the United Nations (UN) Security Council Presidency, after Kazakhstan.

According to Japanese media, 11 people were killed in a fire that engulfed a home for elderly welfare recipients in Sapporo, the capital of the northernmost Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido.

British Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May on January 31st arrived in China for a three-day visit to boost trade and investment after Brexit.

The Republic of Korea's tourism promotion agency will push forward efforts to stabilise and diversify the country's inbound tourism market this year, as part of its broader aims to achieve qualitative growth, the Yonhap news agency reported on January 31st.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of India signed a USD250 million loan on January 30th 2018 to finance the construction of 6,254 kilometers (km) of all-weather rural roads in the states of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal under the prime minister’s rural roads program (PMGSY).

The US State Department on January 29th said special envoy for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun, will visit Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) from February 1st - 6th.

Australian and American rescue teams on January 29th agreed to join the search for survivors from the Kiribati ferry that capsized in the central Pacific more than a week ago.

UN’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on January 29th arrived in Russia’s coastal city of Sochi to attend the Syrian National Dialogue Congress.

(CPV) - Bangladesh’s women have made progress in various aspects of health, education, and work, but still face sizable gender gaps, according to a new report from ADB, prepared in collaboration with the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development.

Thailand’s finance ministry has raised its GDP growth forecast to 4.2 percent from 3.8 percent, and also increased its estimate for exports.

(CPV) - ADB President Takehiko Nakao met with France’s Minister of State, attached to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Delphine Geny-Stephann and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Financial Affairs and Development of the French Treasury Cyril Rousseau on January 29th 2018.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame on January 28th took over the Chairmanship of the African Union (AU) at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, within the framework of the 30th AU Summit, being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.