Other Briefings
Singapore Trade Confidence Reaches a Two-Year High
A twice-yearly survey conducted by HSBC showed that exporters in Singapore were optimistic about trading conditions in the coming months, with its Trade Confidence Index reaching a two-year high of 115. This is up 10 points from the previous survey covering the first half of 2013.
Singapore Announces Initiatives to Encourage Tech Startups
Last week, Singapore’s Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) announced it would invest in three new measures to support technology startups: a startup accelerator, an accreditation program and a fabrication lab.
Philippines Tax Department Considers Lowering Taxes
The Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner, Kim Henares, explained in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel last Thursday that the BIR is considering draft proposals that will lower personal income taxes by 2015.
Singapore To Be Asia’s Ultra-Wealthy City Of Choice
Singapore is set to become the world’s second wealthiest city by 2023, behind London, according to property advisory company Knight Frank LLP’s 2014 Wealth Report.
Thailand’s Political Crisis Makes Indonesia and the Philippines More Attractive for Foreign Investors
The protracted political crisis in Thailand has understandably unnerved foreign investors, who see no end in sight for the political stalemate. Meanwhile, Indonesia and the Philippines have become very attractive alternatives for investors considering pulling their investments out of Thailand.
ASEAN Signs Memorandum of Cooperation on Industrial Property
The European Patent Office (EPO) has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Industrial Property with the ASEAN Member States’ Intellectual Property Offices.
March 2014 ASEAN Regional Meetings
There are a number of important ASEAN regional meetings taking place in March, including the Senior Economic Officials Meeting and the ASEAN – Australia – New Zealand FTA Economic Committee meeting.
Toyota Doubles Its Indonesian Engine Manufacturing Capacity
Toyota has begun construction of a new US$198 million automotive engine manufacturing plant in Karawang, West Java, which, when completed in 2016, will more than double the company’s current production in Indonesia.
Indonesia & Philippines Settle Maritime Boundaries, Look To Increase Trade
The Philippines and Indonesia are to sign a maritime boundary treaty after agreements to do so were reached at a meeting of the two countries’ Foreign Ministers in Jakarta yesterday.
Singapore’s 2014 Budget: Takeaways for Foreign Investors
Last Friday, Singapore’s Minister for Finance and Deputy Prime Minister presented the 2014 Budget to Parliament for the financial year April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015. In this article, we present the key tax initiatives from the 2014 Budget.
