Other Briefings
New Issue of Asia Briefing: An Introduction to Tax Treaties Throughout Asia
In this issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, we look at the various types of trade and tax treaties that exist between Asian nations. These include bilateral investment treaties and also the meatier double tax treaties and free trade agreements that directly affect businesses operating in Asia.
Philippines to Adopt ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard
Jul. 2 – In preparation for the integration of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, the Philippines has begun to take additional measures to improve the corporate governance of its local companies by fully implementing the use of the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS). The ACGS is an ASEAN-wide scorecard used to evaluate companies […]
Special Economic Zones in Myanmar
Following its rapid economic growth in the aftermath of democratic and economic reforms, Myanmar began to further facilitate the establishment of special economic zones (SEZs) to foster greater foreign investment.
Report: U.S. Should Prioritize Engagement with ASEAN
Jun. 26 – With a GDP of $2.2 trillion, ASEAN is made up of over 620 million people spanning the 10 nations of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The region is host to the largest inflows of United States (U.S.) foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asia, and […]
ASEAN’s Rising Minimum Wage Levels: Indonesia
Investors have complained that the somewhat drastic minimum wage hikes amongst ASEAN nations have hurt the market in terms of global competitiveness. In this article we will discuss the impact of recent minimum wage changes in Indonesia on conducting business in the country.
ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard
Jun. 11 – The ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) and the Asian Development Bank recently established a joint initiative called the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. Corporate governance refers to the system of governance which controls and directs corporations, and monitors their actions and policies. The stated objective of the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard is to: […]
EU Lends its Support to ASEAN Over South China Sea Disputes
May 24 – Officials in the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have recently confirmed that senior officials from the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) met with officials from the European Union (EU) in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City to discuss the issue of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Currently there are numerous […]
First Round of RCEP Negotiations Conclude
The first round of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) wrapped up on Sunday after being launched by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and six free trade agreement (FTA) partners last week.
FTSE & ASEAN Join Together Over Joint Indices
May 10 – The FTSE Group and five ASEAN stock exchanges (the Bursa Malaysia Exchange, the Indonesian Stock Exchange, the Philippines Stock Exchange, the Singapore Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Thailand) have joined forces to launch a unique and innovative set of indices known as the FTSE/ASEAN Index series. The FTSE/ASEAN venture provides […]
Indonesia Ponders TPP Membership
The Indonesian government has shown interest in joining the United States-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), saying that its entry into the TPP negotiations would depend on trade agreements with key partners in the region.
