ARTICLES

5 Feb 2025

Rethinking Economic Planning in the Philippines

JC Punongbayan

There are plans to transform the Philippines’ socioeconomic planning agency, NEDA, into a new Cabinet department. But this proposal fails to address its declining relevance and chronic inability to ensure the implementation of crucial development projects.

25 Jun 2024

Policies to Increase the Inclusiveness, Resilience and Sustainability of Economic Growth in Cambodia

Jayant Menon

To realise its aspirations to become an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050, Cambodia has to pursue inclusive growth that is also sustainable and resilient.

Cambodia Cambodian Economy Economic Development Economic Planning

17 Jan 2024

Making the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone Work

Ong Kian Ming

To fully harness the benefits of bilateral cooperation on both sides, the recent signing of the memorandum of understanding for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone needs to be followed up by the relevant agencies doing the real spade work after the initial hype is over.

Economic Planning Malaysia Singapore

28 Jul 2022

Offered but Not Taken: Why Are Businesses Not Using Government Support?

Michael Schaper

Time and again, surveys show that SME owner-operators prefer to get their information from peers, friends, family and local business organisations. This is followed by third-party professional advisers. Governments usually come last.

Economic Development Economic Planning Small and Medium Enterprises

4 May 2022

Sustaining Malaysia’s FDI Rebound: Promotion is Good, Facilitation Better

Tham Siew Yean

A better way forward is to continue to enhance investment facilitation measures, making it easier for investors to establish and expand their operations, and conduct their day-to-day business in host countries. In this regard, boosting post-investment, after-care services will grow in importance.

Economic Development Economic Planning Foreign Direct Investment Malaysia Malaysian Economy

4 Feb 2022

Adjusting Towards a Digital Economy: The Critical Role of Labour Mobility

Jayant Menon

The COVID-19 pandemic has sped up the move towards a digital economy, as well as other aspects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. There are fears that this accelerated transition will exacerbate wealth inequalities both within countries and regionally.

Digitalisation Economic Planning Industry 4.0 Labour Market

8 Nov 2021

Standing Up to Be Counted

Michael Schaper

The lack of common and comparable ASEAN-wide business statistics is an impediment to realising the vision of an ASEAN Economic Community.

ASEAN Asean Trade Economic Planning

17 Sep 2021

Increasing ASEAN’s Attractiveness for Global Investors

Phi Minh Hong

The race among ASEAN’s economies to attract higher levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) may be abusing the tax incentive card.

ASEAN COVID-19 Economic Development Economic Planning

12 Aug 2021

Covid-19 Outbreaks: The Challenge Facing the Fight Against Poverty

Phi Minh Hong

The Covid-19 pandemic has had manifold impacts on the poor in ASEAN member states. Upping vaccination rates will go a long way.

ASEAN COVID-19 Economic Planning Health

18 Feb 2021

Indonesia’s New Sovereign Wealth Fund: Professionals Provide Some Comfort, But Challenges Remain

Manggi Habir

Indonesia has appointed a blue-ribbon slate of professionals to head its new sovereign wealth fund. There will be several challenges ahead, including concerns about investor protection and the Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Economic Development Economic Planning Indonesia Indonesian Economy