Top News Headlines In Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam & Indonesia: Jan 17, 2024

SINGAPORE

1.SINGAPORE’S KEY EXPORTS BEAT FORECASTS, RISING 9% IN DECEMBER -- THE STRAITS TIMES

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Singapore’s key exports beat analyst expectations in December 2024, on the back of growth in electronic shipments and non-electronic products.

2.REALLY DUMB AND LAZY IF WE DO NOT BENEFIT’: TIMOR-LESTE PRESIDENT ON HOPES OF JOINING ASEAN IN 2025 -- CNA

Pictures of Southeast Asian leaders such as Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong adorn a newly inaugurated hall in Timor-Leste’s presidential palace in the capital Dili.

THAILAND

1. KAREN BORDER GUARD BODY ENFORCES RULES TO TACKLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING -- The Nation Major General Saw Chit Thu, chief of the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), met with military and business leaders in Myawaddy, Myanmar on Wednesday to discuss measures for tackling transnational crimes and human trafficking, Thailand’s Ratchamanu Task Force reported.

2. 'UNG ING' VOWS PROGRESS ON SOUTH PROJECTS -- Bangkok Post Prime Minister Paetongtarn "Ung Ing" Shinawatra has vowed to speed up development projects in the southern provinces and improve the livelihoods of local residents.

LAOS  

1.LAOS WIND FARM TO TRANSMIT POWER TO VIETNAM - - VIENTIANE TIMES 

The 600MW Monsoon Wind Power Project in Xekong and Attapeu provinces will connect to the Vietnamese electricity grid and supply power by the second quarter of this year. Power from the farm will be sold to Vietnam under a 25-year agreement. 

2.HYDROPOWER PROJECT SET TO GENERATE RM9 BILLION - - VIENTIANE TIMES

Nam Theun 2 hydropower project is expected to generate about RM9 billion (US$2 billion) during the 25-year concession period. Nearly 95 per cent of the electricity from the 1,080MW facility in Khammuan province is exported to Thailand and the balance consumed locally.

MYANMAR

1.OVER 60 TONNES OF WOOD SEIZED IN ANTI-SMUGGLING DRIVE - - THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

The Forest Department seized 15 tonnes of teak, four tonnes of hardwood and 43 tonnes of various types of wood, totalling 62 tonnes, in an operation this month. Ten vehicles were also seized and 25 offenders were arrested with the local community’s support. 

2.THAILAND’S ZERO DUTY ON MAIZE TO BOOST EXPORTS - - THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Local maize exporters will take advantage of Thailand’s zero tariffs for maize imports for the next seven months. A total of 112 Myanmar companies are permitted to export maize and they ship out about two million tonnes to the global market. 

VIETNAM  

1.FOURTH DA NANG SOFTWARE PARK LAUNCHED - - VIETNAM NEWS

The RM176 million (US$39 million) Da Nang Software Park No 2 which can provide working space for 6,000 IT engineers and investors in semiconductor industries and microchip design was launched. This is the fourth centralised information technology zone in Da Nang.

2.HO CHI MINH AIRPORT BRACING FOR OVER 150,000 PASSENGERS DAILY - - VNEXPRESS 

Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport is expecting about 155,000 passengers daily during the Lunar New Year that starts on January 29. The airport is expected to handle between 820 and 900 flights daily during the festival season.

INDONESIA

1.BPJS RAISES PENSION AGE TO ENSURE SOLVENCY -- THE JAKARTA POST

The Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) has raised the age of eligibility for its pension benefits by a year to 59 as part of a triennial adjustment to keep the agency’s finances in shape at the cost of delayed benefits for workers.

2.PRABOWO TO VISIT INDIA NEXT WEEK AS REPUBLIC DAY CHIEF GUEST -- JAKARTA GLOBE

President Prabowo Subianto will head out on his first-ever official state visit to India next week as the chief guest of the Delhi Republic Day Parade.

-- BERNAMA