India invites ASEAN investors to join infrastructure projects
India has invited member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to invest in its infrastructure projects, said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (Source: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – India has invited member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to invest in its infrastructure projects, said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Speaking at the tenth edition of the annual event "Delhi Dialogue" on July 19, she said that the new reforms in India had opened new opportunities for trade and investment in the country.
The minister called on companies from ASEAN countries to take advantage of these opportunities to invest in India in numerous areas such as smart cities, roads, highways, ports, railways, power and urban infrastructure.
On the occasion, Swaraj reaffirmed that the country is engaged in negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) involving ASEAN along with Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
She voiced her belief that the RCEP presents a decisive opportunity to further engage India’s eastern neighbours economically, saying that the negotiations are hoped to complete as soon as possible.
๊ Held annually since 2009, the "Delhi Dialogue" is an event to discuss politico-security, economic and socio-cultural engagements between ASEAN and India. This year's theme is "Strengthening ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation".-VNA
Leaders from ASEAN capitals on July 7 inked a Singapore Declaration on sustainable environment during the closing of their two-day meeting held in the island country.
The ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) and ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM+) took place in Singapore from July 11 to 13 to enhance defence cooperation in ASEAN as well as between the bloc and partner countries.
Boosting cooperation between Vietnam and India in the garment and textile sector will be one of the priorities in efforts to raise bilateral trade value to 15 billion USD by 2020, said Parvathaneni Harish, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam.
he second ASEAN-India Workshop on Blue Economy took place in New Delhi on July 18, attracting over 60 delegates, including government officials, scholars, and researchers from ASEAN and India.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Indonesia ranks as the world's sixth-largest gold reserve holder, producing an estimated 160 to 200 tonnes annually, mainly through major state-owned enterprises. Despite this, much of the mined gold is held or traded abroad. In 2024 alone, Indonesia exported gold worth 5.4 billion USD while reimporting 2.6 billion USD worth of the metal.
Cambodia and Thailand vowed not to undertake provocative actions that may escalate tensions, including entering the other side’s air space and territory, and refrain from constructing or enhancing military infrastructure.
Trenggono emphasised that the Indonesian government aims to increase the total coverage of MPAs to 97.5 million hectares by 2045. This initiative forms a key component of the “Golden Indonesia 2045” vision, which prioritises sustainable maritime development and environmental protection.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (Source: AFP/VNA) 
