ASEAN Finance / June 5, 2026 ASEAN Quick News

Master the New Southbound Policy and grasp the economic pulse of ASEAN. The Central News Agency's 'Southeast Asia Financial Information Network' selects multiple financial headlines from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other countries daily. Whether it's new government policies, industry trends, or investment opportunities, stay informed with key information, gain market insights, and seize business opportunities.

**Vietnam: Industrial Output and Foreign Investment Drive Strong Economic Performance in Jan-May**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) In the first five months of 2026, Vietnam's economy maintained growth, primarily driven by robust industrial output, sustained domestic demand, active trade activities, and increased foreign investment.
Industrial production continues to be the main driver of economic growth. Data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam shows that the Industrial Production Index (IIP) in May increased by 8.8% year-on-year, and by 9.1% year-on-year in the first five months, the highest growth rate for the period in four years. During the same period, the manufacturing and processing industry grew by 9.5%, contributing 7.4 percentage points to overall industrial growth.
Registered foreign direct investment (FDI) grew by 34.9% to reach $24.81 billion, while realized FDI grew by 9.6% to $9.75 billion, a five-year high.

**Laos: Deepens Defense and Health Cooperation with India on 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) Laos and India signed defense, health, and cultural cooperation agreements in New Delhi on June 3, further strengthening their partnership. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation as they celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and look forward to new partnership opportunities.
According to the Vientiane Times, the agreements were signed during the 10th meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation held from June 1 to 3, co-chaired by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

**Singapore: Singapore Airlines in Talks with Airbus, Boeing for New Widebody Aircraft**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) Reuters reported, citing two unnamed sources, that Singapore Airlines is in talks with Airbus and Boeing to purchase at least 50 of the industry's largest passenger aircraft.
The report indicates that Singapore Airlines is seeking quotes for the Boeing 777X or the Airbus A350-1000, and discussions are currently at a preliminary stage. Both Airbus and Boeing declined to comment.

**Philippines: Evaluating Establishment of 60-Day Strategic Oil Reserve**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) The Philippine media outlet BusinessWorld reported that Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla stated the country could eventually establish a 60-day reserve, or even more.
The Department of Energy stated that establishing a 30-day strategic petroleum reserve could cost PHP 30 billion.
The Department of Energy is collaborating with the Philippine National Oil Company and Maharlika Investment Corporation to evaluate options for establishing an oil reserve.

**Myanmar: Strives for Corn Export Growth**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) The Myanmar Corn Industrial Association stated that Myanmar has exported approximately 100,000 metric tons of corn to foreign trade partners in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with a target of 1.3 million metric tons for the current fiscal year.
According to the Global New Light of Myanmar, Myanmar's corn is mainly exported to Thailand and the Philippines, while India imports based on market demand. The Myanmar Corn Industrial Association noted that current corn prices are better than last year, with the price per kilogram rising from THB 10 last year to THB 11.7 currently. Myanmar's corn exports reached 1.3 million metric tons in the previous fiscal year.

**Malaysia: Energy Transition as a Catalyst for Economic Structural Adjustment**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) Malaysian Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir stated that the energy transition should serve as a catalyst for broader economic structural adjustment, with a strategic focus on areas like artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and data centers to enhance productivity and strengthen the nation's economic outlook.
According to The Star, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir pointed out that the energy transition policy should not be viewed solely from a decarbonization perspective, as the integration of energy, digitalization, and economic growth is crucial for strengthening Malaysia's resilience and long-term competitiveness.

**Thailand: Approves US Company PureCycle's THB 8.1 Billion Investment Plan**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) Bloomberg reported that the Thailand Board of Investment has approved a plan by US environmental technology company PureCycle Technologies to invest THB 8.1 billion (approximately $248 million) to build a high-purity recycled polypropylene resin factory in Rayong province.
According to a statement from the Thailand Board of Investment, the factory will have an annual production capacity of approximately 59,000 metric tons, using 100% domestic plastic waste as raw material, equivalent to about 65,600 metric tons per year, helping Thailand solidify its position in the growing green economy sector. Half of the factory's output will be sold domestically to customers including Procter & Gamble and L'Oréal Thailand, with the remainder exported to Asian markets such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

**Cambodia: Dried Longan to Enter China Market, Signs Export Quarantine Agreement**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) Cambodian dried longan is about to enter the Chinese market. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia and the General Administration of Customs of China have formally signed a protocol on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for the export of Cambodian dried longan to China, opening a new channel for agricultural trade between the two countries.
The two governments also simultaneously signed a memorandum of understanding. Cambodian officials stated that this agreement reflects the commitment of both countries to expand agricultural trade cooperation. In the future, under the premise of ensuring quality standards and complying with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, they will further promote more high-quality Cambodian agricultural products to China, substantially increasing the total volume of bilateral agricultural trade.

**Indonesia: Passes Bill Allowing Parliament to Evaluate Central Bank Performance**
(Taipei, June 5, CNA) The Indonesian parliament has passed a bill expanding the central bank's mandate to include responsibility for economic growth and allowing parliament to evaluate the central bank's performance.
According to AFP, the House of Representatives approved this legislative amendment as the Indonesian rupiah fell to an all-time low against the US dollar on June 4, raising concerns about the central bank's independence.

※For more information, please contact Team Leader Zhang Lijuan at (02) 2505-1180#792 EMAIL: mia@mail.cna.com.tw

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