ASEAN Express, July 16, 2026

Vietnam: Industrial Production Continues Growth, Achieving Highest Increase Since 2019

(CNA Taipei, July 16) Vietnam's industrial production maintained positive growth in the first half of this year, with the Industrial Production Index (IIP) estimated to have increased by 10.8% compared to the same period last year, marking the highest growth rate since 2019.

According to the Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam's industrial growth momentum stems primarily from optimistic signals in export markets, inflows of capital from new investment projects, and strong corporate expansion.

The General Statistics Office of Vietnam assessed that the processing and manufacturing sector continues to play a pivotal role in driving Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contributing 33.07% to the growth rate of Gross Value Added (GVA) in the first half of this year.

Laos: Laos and Vietnam Sign MoU to Deepen Sustainable Forestry Cooperation

(CNA Taipei, July 16) The National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute of Laos and the Vietnam Academy of Forestry Sciences have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a long-term cooperation framework in the forestry sector. This agreement aims to expand bilateral collaboration in areas such as forestry research, technology transfer, and sustainable forest development.

Laos and Vietnam share a long history of cooperation in forestry. Their partnership encompasses knowledge sharing on large-scale timber plantation and agroforestry systems, as well as joint capacity-building programs for researchers, local communities, and small-scale private forest owners. These collaborative initiatives primarily focus on modern silviculture techniques and forest carbon monitoring.

Singapore: Retail and Dining Consumption in Singapore May Decrease by S$290 Million Annually After Johor RTS Link Opens

(CNA Taipei, July 16) The Singapore Business Federation (SBF), the Restaurants Association of Singapore (RAS), and the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) jointly released a research report today, projecting that after the Johor RTS Link opens next year, local retail and dining sectors will see a net annual decrease of S$290 million (approximately NT$7.25 billion) in consumer spending.

According to The Straits Times, the reduced spending will shift to Johor, Malaysia. Singapore's loss amounts to 0.4% of last year's total sales in the retail and dining sectors.

Singapore's business community is urging the government to encourage local consumption through measures such as expanding Community Development Council (CDC) neighborhood shopping vouchers, hosting more large-scale events to boost tourist spending, and supporting SME transformation to help the retail and dining sectors cope with cross-border competition.

Philippines: Core Inflation Remains Pressured, Limiting BSP's Room for Short-Term Rate Cuts

(CNA Taipei, July 16) Market analysis indicates that while overall inflation in the Philippines shows signs of easing, energy prices continue to push up core inflation, potentially limiting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)'s ability to cut interest rates in the short term. Markets will continue to monitor subsequent price trends.

Myanmar: Trading Volume Rises at Yangon Stock Exchange

(CNA Taipei, July 16) The Yangon Stock Exchange announced that trading value in June exceeded 4.6 billion Myanmar Kyats, indicating a slight improvement in local capital market activity, although the overall market size remains limited.

Malaysia: Stable Employment Outlook, Consumer Spending Expected to Grow 4.2% This Year

(CNA Taipei, July 16) BMI, an analytical company under Fitch Solutions, forecasts that Malaysia's consumer spending will grow by 4.2% this year to RM1.01 trillion (approximately NT$8.7 trillion), supported by stable economic growth and employment prospects.

Malaysia's The Star reported that BMI forecasts Malaysia's economic growth rate this year will reach 4.3%, maintaining a generally stable outlook. BMI noted that unlike other Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia benefits from being a net energy exporter, thus supporting export earnings.

BMI also expects Malaysia's tight labor market supply and demand to sustain consumer spending momentum. With real wage growth projected to comfortably outpace inflation, Malaysian purchasing power is expected to remain stable throughout the year.

Thailand: Thailand Considers Subsidizing Hotels and Airfares to Boost Domestic Tourism

(CNA Taipei, July 16) Bloomberg reported that Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, stated the government is considering subsidizing hotel accommodations and airfares for domestic travelers to stimulate domestic tourism.

The Thai government plans to provide subsidies of up to 3,000 Thai Baht (approximately USD 89) per person for hotel stays and distribute 500 Baht digital vouchers via the state-owned Paotang app, which can be used for dining, transportation, and tourism services.

Additionally, travelers who book flights directly with participating airlines will receive subsidies of 400 Baht per trip to major cities and 600 Baht per trip to secondary cities.

Cambodia: Cambodian Authorities Promote Local Tourism to Drive Recovery

(CNA Taipei, July 16) The Cambodian government plans to host the Cambodian Travel Match (CTM) in the near future, themed 'India Special,' aiming to enhance Cambodia's visibility in the global tourism market. The event is scheduled to take place on the 18th in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and will move to Phnom Penh on the 20th.

The India Special edition of the travel match aims to increase international tourist arrivals to Cambodia, facilitate new business collaborations, strengthen Cambodia's tourism destination image, attract more investment, and enhance public-private partnerships. The event will bring together representatives from hotels, resorts, travel agencies, tourism operators, restaurants, transportation companies, and other related tourism industries.

Indonesia: Abadi Masela Natural Gas Development Project Breaks Ground, Investment Reaches $20.9 Billion

(CNA Taipei, July 16) Indonesia's Abadi Masela liquefied natural gas (LNG) development project will hold its groundbreaking ceremony today in Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku Province. The total investment for the project is estimated at $20.9 billion (approximately NT$670 billion), making it one of the largest energy investments in Indonesia's history.

According to Indonesia's Antara News Agency, the natural gas development project is expected to produce 9.5 million tons of LNG annually and is anticipated to become one of the largest energy industry centers in eastern Indonesia. It is expected to strengthen Indonesia's energy security and contribute to balanced regional development.