asean-business https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/ THE BUSINESS TIMES - Find latest business and financial news including analysis and opinion on top business stories, stock markets in Singapore, Asia-Pacific and global market news and more at The Business Times. en-US https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/favicon.ico asean-business https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/ 32 32 Adoption is not capability – the real AI test for Singapore’s SMEs https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/adoption-not-capability-real-ai-test-singapores-smes Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Opinion & Features Asean International Singapore SMEs Startups & Tech Technology /opinion-features/adoption-not-capability-real-ai-test-singapores-smes The Republic’s AI scoreboard looks strong. But, in many firms, the whole capability rests on one person ‘I don’t care what my title is’: MedPark’s Proud Patanavanich runs a hospital where patients, physicians precede profits https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/i-dont-care-what-my-title-medparks-proud-patanavanich-runs-hospital-where-patients-physicians Mon, 17 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Goh Ruoxue Asean International /international/asean/i-dont-care-what-my-title-medparks-proud-patanavanich-runs-hospital-where-patients-physicians The Thai private hospital expects to break even this year Thailand’s Q2 GDP beats forecast as full-year outlook is raised https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/thailands-q2-gdp-beats-forecast-full-year-outlook-raised Mon, 17 Aug 2026 03:51:12 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/thailands-q2-gdp-beats-forecast-full-year-outlook-raised The economy expands 1.9% in the April-June quarter compared to a year earlier; planning agency revises 2026 growth projection to 2% to... Thai baht rally may fade on dovish central bank, analysts say https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/thai-baht-rally-may-fade-dovish-central-bank-analysts-say Mon, 17 Aug 2026 02:12:30 +0000 Asean Capital Markets & Currencies Companies & Markets International /international/asean/thai-baht-rally-may-fade-dovish-central-bank-analysts-say The currency has strengthened 0.9% so far in August, ranking as the second-best performer among South-east Asian peers Tepid investor interest a dampener on Vietnam’s strong IPO pipeline https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/tepid-investor-interest-dampener-vietnams-strong-ipo-pipeline Sun, 16 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Asean International New Articles /international/asean/tepid-investor-interest-dampener-vietnams-strong-ipo-pipeline The weaker take-up of new shares is exposing a more challenging backdrop for the long-awaited revival of listings Indonesia bets on bigger spending, tighter resource control to drive 2027 growth https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/indonesia-bets-bigger-spending-tighter-resource-control-drive-2027-growth Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:15:04 +0000 Elisa Valenta Asean International /international/asean/indonesia-bets-bigger-spending-tighter-resource-control-drive-2027-growth The outcome could shape the country’s economic trajectory relative to that of its South-east Asian peers Philippine central bank chief eyes less aggressive rate hikes https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/philippine-central-bank-chief-eyes-less-aggressive-rate-hikes Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:39:03 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/philippine-central-bank-chief-eyes-less-aggressive-rate-hikes This comes as the economy slows further in Q2 as consumer spending and investments shrink Malaysia's central bank upbeat as Q2 growth beats expectations https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/malaysias-central-bank-upbeat-q2-growth-beats-expectations Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:30:53 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/malaysias-central-bank-upbeat-q2-growth-beats-expectations The expansion is driven by a better performance in all sectors except for agriculture New state firm’s role is to monitor key commodity exports: Indonesia’s Prabowo in national address https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/new-state-firms-role-monitor-key-commodity-exports-indonesias-prabowo-national-address Fri, 14 Aug 2026 03:17:15 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/new-state-firms-role-monitor-key-commodity-exports-indonesias-prabowo-national-address Later on Friday, Prabowo will unveil his government’s 2027 Budget proposal Can Vietnam build an industrial powerhouse of its own? https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/can-vietnam-build-industrial-powerhouse-its-own Fri, 14 Aug 2026 01:35:00 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/can-vietnam-build-industrial-powerhouse-its-own As major Chinese tech firms expand production in the South-east Asian country, its supply chain depth is improving but still limited To become major hubs, South-east Asia’s new airports need strong national carriers https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/become-major-hubs-south-east-asias-new-airports-need-strong-national-carriers Thu, 13 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Derryn Wong Asean Companies & Markets International Transport & Logistics /international/asean/become-major-hubs-south-east-asias-new-airports-need-strong-national-carriers Singapore still a leading air hub, but managing costs crucial to retaining its edge, says sales agent Aviareps ThaiBev posts improved Ebitda despite revenue decline https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/thaibev-posts-improved-ebitda-despite-revenue-decline Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:37:59 +0000 Lionel Lim Asean International New Articles /international/asean/thaibev-posts-improved-ebitda-despite-revenue-decline The Thai brewer’s revenue is down 1.8% at 254 billion baht, with the fall led by its beer segment MSCI drops S-E Asian heavyweights Sembcorp, GoTo and Ayala Land from global benchmarks https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/msci-drops-s-e-asian-heavyweights-sembcorp-goto-and-ayala-land-global-benchmarks Thu, 13 Aug 2026 04:54:37 +0000 Elisa Valenta Asean International /international/asean/msci-drops-s-e-asian-heavyweights-sembcorp-goto-and-ayala-land-global-benchmarks There are zero additions from the region; Malaysia and Thailand record no constituent changes Ride-hailing firm GoTo cut from MSCI indexes in review https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/ride-hailing-firm-goto-cut-msci-indexes-review Thu, 13 Aug 2026 03:11:00 +0000 Asean Companies & Markets International /international/asean/ride-hailing-firm-goto-cut-msci-indexes-review This follows a warning in May that the stock would be deleted if it failed relevant liquidity requirements Malaysia’s Tabung Haji reckoning: The billions lost, the rescue and what comes next https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/malaysias-tabung-haji-reckoning-billions-lost-rescue-and-what-comes-next Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:03:29 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/malaysias-tabung-haji-reckoning-billions-lost-rescue-and-what-comes-next The details of the governance lapses have fuelled calls for those responsible to be held accountable Crypto boss eyes second act for Malaysia’s US$100 billion Forest City https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/crypto-boss-eyes-second-act-malaysias-us100-billion-forest-city Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:08:42 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/crypto-boss-eyes-second-act-malaysias-us100-billion-forest-city Jeff Yew, a Malaysian motorsport enthusiast, is considering establishing a tech campus at the troubled development Three bets behind Vietnam’s three-hub free-trade-zone network https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/three-bets-behind-vietnams-three-hub-free-trade-zone-network Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:41:05 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/three-bets-behind-vietnams-three-hub-free-trade-zone-network Each FTZ is anchored by a key deep-water port and a hinterland serving a distinct engine of economic growth Laos-China Railway picks up steam, but S-E Asian country struggles to capture gains   https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/laos-china-railway-picks-steam-s-e-asian-country-struggles-capture-gains Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/laos-china-railway-picks-steam-s-e-asian-country-struggles-capture-gains As new industries prove elusive, Laos wants to switch from a transit route to a manufacturing base Who is Destry Damayanti, the first woman set to lead Indonesia’s central bank? https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/who-destry-damayanti-first-woman-set-lead-indonesias-central-bank Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:07:21 +0000 Elisa Valenta Asean International /international/asean/who-destry-damayanti-first-woman-set-lead-indonesias-central-bank The veteran economist’s global standing and experience could signal policy continuity, say economists The Philippines plans to borrow US$54 billion in 2027 to revive growth https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/philippines-plans-borrow-us54-billion-2027-revive-growth Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:02:30 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/philippines-plans-borrow-us54-billion-2027-revive-growth The proposed debt, mostly to be raised domestically, would account for 46% of next year’s Budget of 7.2 trillion pesos Australia, Vietnam deepen defence engagement as supply chain risks grow https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/australia-vietnam-deepen-defence-engagement-supply-chain-risks-grow Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:12:57 +0000 International Asean /international/australia-vietnam-deepen-defence-engagement-supply-chain-risks-grow The countries agree to support the free flow of essential trade and to do more to counter transnational organised crime   Malaysia’s June industrial production up 6.5%, below forecast https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/malaysias-june-industrial-production-6-5-below-forecast Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:30:41 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/malaysias-june-industrial-production-6-5-below-forecast June’s factory output had been expected to expand 7 per cent, according to 11 economists surveyed Malaysia renews 10-year energy plan, targeting savings of around US$21.5 billion https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/malaysia-renews-10-year-energy-plan-targeting-savings-around-us21-5-billion Tue, 11 Aug 2026 03:04:23 +0000 Asean International /international/asean/malaysia-renews-10-year-energy-plan-targeting-savings-around-us21-5-billion The country is the fastest-growing data centre hub in South-east Asia