ASEAN and the world

The Republic of Korea (RoK)'s Minister of of Trade, Industry and Energy Cheong In-kyo on December 26 said that the RoK-Philippines free trade agreement (FTA), set to take effect next week, will help the country further bolster its trade portfolio and contribute to maintaining a stable supply chain.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $500 million policy-based loan to help the Philippines pursue its public financial management (PFM) reform agenda and ensure quality public services for the Filipino people.

(CPV) - Asia and the Pacific’s economic growth will remain steady this year and next, but expected US policy changes under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump are likely to affect the region’s longer-term outlook, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The traditional Lao Lamvong dance has been inscribed as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

(CPV) - The global education foundation Education Above All (EAA) will provide $100 million in cofinancing for Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects that get out-of-school children into quality education programs, teach green skills, and support access to tertiary education for disadvantaged young people in Asia and the Pacific.

Euromonitor International has named Bangkok the world’s top tourism city in 2024 after it welcomed a record-breaking 32.4 million visitors.

Five bodies have been recovered, and seven others are missing after flash floods and landslides destroyed hundreds of houses and infrastructure in Indonesia's West Java province, an official said on December 6.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance (TA) grant of $14.8 million to accelerate climate action, foster innovation, and strengthen private sector development across its regional operations.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong have held talks in Bangkok.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is expected to renew garbage collection fees next June as part of its efforts to encourage people to sort their household waste.

Chair of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir has said President Prabowo Subianto mentioned the possibility of increasing state budget funding to local football development from 120 billion IDR to over 200 billion IDR (12.9 million USD).

The WHO Director-General has confirmed that the mpox outbreak remains a public health emergency of international concern, extending the emergency first declared on August 14.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) with stronger protections for people and the environment, and more effective management of project risks, paying closer attention to specific country contexts and needs.

The Thai Government’s economic stimulus policy committee led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has approved a five-point plan to boost national economy in both short-and long-terms, the Government House said on November 21.

The World Health Organization announced the emergency use authorization of the LC16m8 mpox vaccine to facilitate increased and timely access to vaccines in communities where mpox outbreaks are surging.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Araz Supermarket LLC, a member of the Veyseloglu group, have signed a financial package of up to $10.5 million to help the grocer expand, boosting food security and promoting climate-smart agriculture among smallholder farmers. This financial package includes a $10 million loan for capital expenditures and a $500,000 technical assistance grant.

Suvarnabhumi airport's Midfield Satellite Terminal 1 (SAT-1) has been named one of the world's most beautiful airports for 2024 by Prix Versailles, said Thai Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) joined with partners on November 13th 2024 to show their commitment to climate change financing at a kick-off event at COP29 for the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IF-CAP).

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and IPAK YULI BANK have signed a 625 billion Uzbek sum loan (equivalent to about $50 million) to enhance access to financing for urban micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan.

The Philippines’ rice imports so far this year have surpassed last year's level and can hit 4.2 million metric tonnes (MT) by the end of 2024, Department of Agriculture (DA) technical advisory group member and former undersecretary for rice industry development Leocadio Sebastian said.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in eastern Indonesia on November 8 continued to spewing a 8,000-m high column of hot ash in an eruption that has lasted nearly a week.

(CPV) - New Asian Development Bank (ADB) research finds the impacts of climate change could reduce gross domestic product (GDP) in developing Asia and the Pacific by 17% by 2070 under a high end greenhouse gas emissions scenario, rising to 41% by 2100.

The death toll from Typhoon Trami has risen to 65 as of October 25 in the aftermath of severe flooding and landslides in the northwestern Philippines.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has published a comprehensive report detailing its sovereign default and loss rates over a 34-year period. This report is made in keeping with ADB’s commitment to data transparency and shows the remarkable credit performance of loans to its developing member countries (DMCs).

(CPV) - On October 11th 2024, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) agreed on a timebound action plan to accelerate the implementation and improve the performance of ADB-financed projects at the 2024 Country Portfolio Review Mission Roundtable Meeting.

(CPV) - Coherent national strategies that develop talent and expand digital creative industries can help developing countries tap into the global creative economy, generating high-quality jobs that contribute to economic growth, according to a new report published on October 8th 2024 by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Over 100 elephants have been evacuated from a popular elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand amid heavy flooding.

Lao authorities are ramping up security for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings scheduled to take place in Vientiane from October 8-11.

Indonesia and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) have jointly launched an agriculture revitalisation programme to create youth-driven agricultural innovation for national food security in the country.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement with the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) that will enable at least $500 million in new concessional education funding for lower middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia and the Pacific.