Singapore is stepping up measures to ensure safety once its border is reopened, including the establishment of a COVID-19 testing lab at Changi airport.
Passengers at Changi airport (Source: straitstimes.com)
Singapore (VNA) – Singapore is stepping up measures to ensure safetyonce its border is reopened, including the establishment of a COVID-19 testinglab at Changi airport.
In his ministerial statement before the Parliament onOctober 6, new Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said that a dedicated Covid-19testing laboratory will be set up in the next several months to support the oldone which can offer rapid testing for 10,000 passengers a day.
In addition, Singapore will negotiate Air Travel Bubbleswith safe countries or regions - an arrangement meant for general travellersthat does not require a controlled itinerary.
These two-way travel bubbles are different from reciprocalgreen lane arrangements meant for business and official travellers.
Singapore unilaterally opened its borders to travellers fromBrunei and New Zealand last month, and more recently to those from Vietnam andAustralia - excluding the state of Victoria.
“Such unilateral opening is still meaningful, because it islike a standing invitation. Although the other countries are not ready to lifttheir restrictions now, Singapore can be top of mind when they are readyeventually,” he added.
Compared to pre-COVID-19, Changi Airport is serving 1.5 percentof its usual passenger volume, and 6 percent of the usual number of passengerflights. If cargo flights are included, that goes up to 17 percent. Changi fellfrom the seventh busiest airport in the world to the 58th./.
Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat told the Parliament on October 5 key strategies to help the country emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis.
The Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat) announced on October 5 that the country’s retail sales in August dropped 5.7 percent year-on-year, an improvement from the 8.5 percent decline recorded in July.
Global cooperation within a rules-based multilateral system is more important than ever for countries dealing with collective challenges in cyber security and the technology sector, even as the world grows more polarised in some ways, Singaporean Communications and Information Minister S.Iswaran has said.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
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.
Passengers at Changi airport (Source: straitstimes.com) 
