HANOI: Vietnam plans to restart international commercial flights to and from six Asian cities from mid-September, state media reported on Thursday, ending months of coronavirus-related suspension after easing some restrictions on foreign business travellers.

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG: A selloff in the baht, underperforming stocks and pressure on the bond market reflect growing concern from global investors over political instability and the growth outlook in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy, analysts and fund managers say.

Asean is scheduled to clinch a pact on mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) for automobiles and building and construction materials next month in a move to reduce production costs and foster trade among members.

Foreign Ministry will approve agreements with India, Nepal and Thailand. Free trade zone deals with China, South Korea and Vietnam to be signed in coming months

"Even before coronavirus and the U.S.-China trade war struck, there was a shift away from production in China,” said a Japan External Trade Organization official.

JAKARTA: Indonesia's economy contracted for the first time in over two decades in the second quarter as efforts to contain the new coronavirus dealt a blow to consumer demand and business activity in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

The central bank has advised that monetary policy should remain accommodative for some time to support Southeast Asia's worst performing economy through the coronavirus pandemic and help inflation return to target.

Across Asean, Thailand had the highest proportion of respondents prioritising technology investments in 2020, as small businesses in the region count on technology to help them overcome the impact of the Covid-19, a survey by United Overseas Bank (UOB) found.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's central bank on Tuesday cut its key interest rate for a fourth straight meeting to a historic low, as Southeast Asia's third-largest economy grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and faltering demand for its exports.

Vietnam’s economy unexpectedly grew in the second quarter, though at the slowest pace in at least a decade, as exports slumped because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The opening of flights marks the beginning of a program to revive travel and trade hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mall operators Siam Piwat and The Mall Group are urging the government to allow resumption of flights from CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) nations in an effort to reboot the retail business.

The Thailand Board of Investment's Australia Office invites you to join government, business, and industry leaders to hear how Thailand can support your future growth within the ASEAN region.

Thai investors can take complete ownership of service businesses in Japan after the recent ratification of the first protocol to amend the Asean-Japan Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP).

JAKARTA: Indonesia's central bank on Thursday delivered its third interest rate cut this year, as expected, seeking to boost support for Southeast Asia's largest economy amid a coronavirus-induced downturn.

JAKARTA: Indonesia plans to build one of its largest industrial parks on the north coast of Java island in a renewed drive to attract manufacturers relocating out of China as Southeast Asia's biggest economy comes out of a coronavirus-induced lockdown.

TOKYO: Japan plans to ease its coronavirus travel restrictions by letting in up to around 250 foreign travelers per day from Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam, government sources said.