Other Briefings
State by State: ASEAN and Texas Trade
Known as the “Lone Star State”, Texas is the second largest American state and the second most populous. The ten nations that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are becoming increasingly important trade partners for Texas. In this article, we take an in-depth look at this blossoming trade relationship between Texas and ASEAN.
Philippine Aviation Industry Sees Strong Growth
While 2014 was not a particularly good year for the aviation industry in Southeast Asia, the Philippines was an important exception to the wider trend. In a report released by CAPA, a global aviation think-tank, which looked at 18 airlines, it was found that out of the six airlines that were able to generate a profit in 2014, four of them were based in the Philippines: Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific, Tigerair Philippines, and Philippines AirAsia.
Indonesia Extends Tax Holiday in Bid to Attract More Foreign Investment
Indonesia has announced plans to extend the validity of the country’s tax holiday from the current 10 years to a maximum of 15 years. The tax holiday applies to investments over IDR 1 trillion (US$76 million), labor-intensive investments, and investments into eastern Indonesia (an economically poorer region). Additionally, the tax holiday will be applied to investments into “pioneer” sectors.
The Cost of Business in Thailand Compared With China
Read how ASEAN Tiger Thailand compared to China as a destination for your business in the latest in our nine-part series comparison ASEAN with China.
ASEAN’s 2015 AEC Compliance Deadline – What It Actually Means
Chris Devonshire-Ellis explains what the much publicized “AEC Deadline” which is due at 31st December 2015 really means for your business in ASEAN.
The European Free Trade Association and Malaysia begin Fourth Round of Trade Negotiations
In April, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) held its fourth round of trade negotiations with Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. The EFTA is made up of four countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
State by State: ASEAN and Minnesota Trade
Minnesota’s almost billion-dollar trade surplus with ASEAN is impressive; in 2014, Minnesota’s exports of US$1.77 billion far exceeded imports from the region of US$808.4 million. ASEAN received 8.3% of the state’s total exports in that year.
Indonesia Gives Tax Breaks to Exporting Manufacturers
Indonesia has brought in tax breaks for enterprises exporting a minimum of 30 percent of their production, in line with tax breaks for multinationals re-investing profits in-country rather than sending profits and dividends to overseas shareholders.
Indonesia’s Economy Struggles to find its Footing
For the second quarter in a row, Indonesia’s economy contracted as exports and government spending continued to decline – GDP was down 0.18 percent. The country’s currency, the rupiah, also fell.
26th ASEAN Summit sees Progress on AEC and FTA with Hong Kong
The 26th ASEAN Summit was recently held in Malaysia on April 26-27. During the meeting, leaders from the member nations discussed the progress of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with Hong Kong.
