Other Briefings
June 2015 ASEAN Regional Meetings
There are a number of important ASEAN regional meetings taking place in June, including the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting held in Malaysia, and the 5th and 6th Meetings of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision held in Myanmar and Indonesia respectively.
Malaysian PM Strongly Supports Goods and Services Tax
A range of Malaysian politicians have strongly criticized the country’s recently implemented goods and services tax (GST), causing Prime Minister Najib to step into the fray and reiterate his reasons for the new tax.
Brunei Seeks to Improve Business Environment, Diversify Economy Ahead of AEC Compliance
Brunei has acknowledged the need to diversify its economy away from its current focus on oil and gas industries, particularly with the ASEAN Economic Community soon to be implemented. As such, the government is attempting to foster the creation of new core industries and attract greater foreign investment. The governmental plan “Vision 2035” is part of the official attempt to create a more attractive business environment by developing a stable and economic climate in the country.
Malaysia Delays FATCA Compliance
Malaysia’s Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has deferred the filing deadline for the country’s financial institutions to comply with the 2014 reporting year under the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The new deadline has been set for June 30, 2015.
State By State – ASEAN and Rhode Island
Read an in-depth look at the burgeoning trade relationship between Rhode Island and ASEAN, and the opportunities this brings for your business.
China-ASEAN Cost of Business Comparisons – Executive Summary
Our nine part series on the cost of doing business in ASEAN compared with China details cost of labor and taxes, together with bilateral trade profiles between China and ASEAN countries.
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.
