On 1 July 2020, the European Union and six of its member governments announced a moratorium on debt repayments due from Myanmar. The agreement allows Myanmar to ‘focus efforts on economic recovery from COVID-19’ and is worth almost US$100 million — 20 per cent of Myanmar’s current debt payments schedule.

Southeast Asia has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic as much of the rest of the world. In response, countries across the ASEAN bloc have issued various stimulus packages containing incentives and new regulations to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic. ASEAN Briefing magazine introduces the different incentives and measures issued by ASEAN’s largest economies from March to June 2020 to mitigate the economic impact of the virus

Some lawmakers who have grown disgruntled with Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy are adding to Myanmar's political landscape in a way that could give the dominant party something to think about ahead of elections scheduled to take place on Nov. 8. The NLD maintains a lead over military-affiliated and small ethnic parties but now also has to worry about its left flank as some pro-democracy politicians splinter away.

According to international analysts, the impact of the pandemic on global trade and foreign investment will be hard, and ASEAN countries will also see a decline in economic indicators and disruption of supply chains. The ASEAN Post analyses in depth the measures taken by South East Asian countries to support their economies, recalling the importance of regional cooperation and integration.

Japan’s government will start subsidizing some companies to invest in factories in Japan and South-East Asia as part of efforts to reduce reliance on manufacturing in China. According to the Japanese government's latest announcements, many companies ready to relocate to Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam will receive subsidies.

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted, in many states, the need to improve technological and digital systems, in order not to leave behind the most disadvantaged classes who still live in technological isolation. The Singaporean government, for example, will set up a new Committee for digital transformation, focusing mainly on the business and education world. The ASEAN Post explains why digital inclusion will be one of the main challenges of the future.

Differently from some countries that have huge domestic markets, Japan needs to sell its products massively outside its borders. In this context, ASEAN, with a potential catchment area of over 650 million consumers, is a real gold mine for Japanese exports. Nikkei Asian Review describes the case of the Japanese eyewear company Owndays, which aims to target young consumers in Southeast Asia.

This paper reviews the performance of ASEAN countries over the two decades since the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, as well as the countries’ vulnerabilities to the U.S.-China trade war and the COVID-19 pandemic.

ING has added another first to its growing portfolio of sustainable finance deals in Asia-Pacific by issuing a $75 million loan to Singapore-based Cleantech Solar. This is the largest green loan in Asia Pacific to date in the commercial and industrial (C&I) renewables sector.

Japan views Asean as a potential strategic partner in the crisis-proofing of its economy, whose vulnerabilities such as an over-reliance on Chinese imports and domestic manufacturing were exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic and past natural disasters.

The pandemic has strongly affected all countries in the region, stopping the steady growth trajectory of recent years. However, according to several experts, if the virus should slow down, South East Asia could return to growth as early as the end of 2020. The Japan Centre for Economic Research describes the impact of the coronavirus on the ASEAN region, with a focus on new trends such as the growth of the digital sector.

Twenty young leaders from across ASEAN Member States (AMS) met virtually with ASEAN Leaders at the sidelines of the 36th ASEAN Summit held on 26 June. The ASEAN Youth Interface with ASEAN Leaders 2020 gave youth representatives a platform to speak with ASEAN Heads of States and Governments to advocate important youth issues such as volunteerism, entrepreneurship and skills development for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Myanmar will hold its next general election on November 8, the election commission has announced, in a vote seen as a test for the country's fledgeling democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Analysts see the polls as an important test of Myanmar's transition away from direct military rule.