Asia Briefing’s ASEAN Focused Regulatory and Operational Business Updates

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January 29, 2026

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Weekly business and foreign investment news roundup in Asia

by Asia Briefing and Dezan Shira & Associates.

ASEAN EDITION

TOP STORIES THIS WEEK:

Foreign Ownership Rules and Conditional Sector Access in Indonesia

Foreign investors entering Indonesia must assess ownership limits, conditional sector access, investment thresholds, and long-term structural risk.

Sector Screening for Indonesia Market Entry: A Business Intelligence Framework for Foreign Investors

We make the case for why foreign investors entering Indonesia must use business intelligence to validate sector viability before committing capital.

How to Reduce Withholding Tax on Cross-Border Payments in the Philippines

Foreign companies operating in the Philippines must manage withholding tax risks through proper documentation, treaty compliance, and structured advisory support.

Common Structuring Gaps That Delay Banking or Activation in Singapore

Foreign investors in Singapore face banking and activation delays from ownership, governance, funding, and payment structuring gaps.

VAT Registration and Ongoing Compliance Considerations in Vietnam

A practical look at Vietnam VAT registration, invoicing, filings, and cash flow exposure for foreign companies evaluating market entry.

We hope you're enjoying this ASEAN Edition.

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COMPLIMENTARY BUSINESS RESOURCES:

An Introduction to Doing Business in ASEAN 2026

This publication is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in all 11 ASEAN countries and includes a guide to corporate establishment, tax advisory, and bookkeeping, in addition to HR and payroll, double tax agreements, and audit and compliance.

An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2026

This latest edition of An Introduction to Doing Business in India provides a clear, practical roadmap to navigating GST 2.0 reforms, the full rollout of the four Labor Codes, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules 2025, and updates to incorporation processes, entity selection, audit requirements, and financial reporting.

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