Asean
Survey shows increasing market access in India-ASEAN FTA
A survey by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said “FTA has opened up more opportunities for Indian industries in terms of greater market access for their products in the ASEAN region.”

A prominent Indian commerce and industry association said the country’s Free trade agreement (FTA) with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has increased access for both Indian and ASEAN companies into each other’s markets.
A survey by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said “FTA has opened up more opportunities for Indian industries in terms of greater market access for their products in the ASEAN region.”
The FTA signed in August 2009 with 11 ASEAN member countries, which will lift import tariffs on more than 80 percent of traded products between 2013 and 2016, became operational in 2010.
“Fifty-nine percent of respondents foresee no negative impact of duty reduction in the domestic market,” said the study conducted on 78 companies across sectors.
The study said 20 percent respondents in sectors like engineering products, processed food, textiles, garments, plantation crops and auto parts have reported a fast pace of imports from ASEAN, while 72 percent said the sourcing of certain products from ASEAN countries has not had any “uneconomical” on Indian manufacturing.
via India-ASEAN free trade agreement increases market access: survey.
Asean
The Latest on Covid-19 in Southeast Asia
Thailand has largely avoided widespread community transmission of Covid-19, but the kingdom is not faring well on the economic front, with a projected contraction of 7.1 percent this year.

As a region, Southeast Asia has fared relatively well in keeping coronavirus cases low, with the notable exceptions of the Philippines and Indonesia.
(more…)Laos
China’s debt-trap diplomacy: Laos’ credit rating downgraded to CCC
Laos’ debt challenge is deeply concerning, with some media commentators suggesting the country is falling into a debt trap as a result of Chinese infrastructure investments connected to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

On 23 September, the Fitch Ratings agency downgraded Laos’ credit rating to CCC — the second downgrade in 2020, having dropped to B- in May.
(more…)Vietnam
Foreign capital still heads to Vietnam
As many as 798 projects added a combined over 5.11 billion USD to their investment capital, down 23 percent year-on-year in project number but up 6.8 percent in value.

Hanoi (VNA) – The total amount of foreign investment poured into Vietnam this year to September 20 reached 21.2 billion USD, equivalent to 81.8 percent of the same period last year, reported the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
(more…)-
Economics4 hours ago
Thai economy to grow 4% in 2021 following 6.5% decline in 2020
-
Forex3 days ago
Leverage from Forex Brokers & How Beginners Can Benefit from It
-
Tourism1 week ago
Wish you were here: how the pandemic harmed tourism-dependent economies
-
Economics1 week ago
COVID-19 brings first consumer confidence drop in 3 months