Insights
03-Oct-19 Southeast Asia’s Internet economy will reach USD100 bn in 2019, up 39 percent from USD72 bn last year. While Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are expanding at 20-30 percent, growth in Indonesia and Vietnam is over 40 percent. [image: bennymarty/123RF]
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Insights
25-Aug-19 The medical tourism scene in Malaysia is booming. In 2018, 1.2 mn people visited Malaysia for medical treatment. Within Malaysia, Penang is the top medical tourism destination, with 45% of the country's medical tourism income, USD165 mn in 2017. [image: Tho Xin Yi]
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Insights
08-Aug-19 Dutch bank ING, Thanachart Capital and the Thai Finance Ministry are expected to hold 21%, 20% and 18% respectively in TMB-Thanachart Bank, the new bank born from the consolidation of TMB Bank and Thanachart Bank. Canada's Scotiabank will own 5%. [image: Bangkok Post]
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Insights
02-Aug-19 ASEAN foreign ministers have declared their governments' rejection of illegal transboundary movement of hazardous chemicals, much of which is shipped to Southeast Asia from developed countries. They also mentioned the need to enhance cooperation with the international community. [image: Ministry of Environment Cambodia]
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Insights
Jul-19 Stalled growth in emerging market economies is projected to pick up from a four-year low of 4.0 percent in 2019 to 4.6 percent in 2020-21, reflecting the waning impact of financial pressures in some large markets. Growth in all emerging regions has been weaker than expected but activity in East and South Asia remains buoyant. Other regions are expected to recover in 2020-21. Growth in both Latam and MENA is expected to be a subdued 1.7% in 2019, but MENA countries show more promise thanks to oil exports, policy reforms and tourism. [image: World Bank]
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