Southeast Asian nations rapidly deploy COVID-19 vaccination
The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) of Indonesia has considered granting emergency using licenses for three COVID-19 vaccines namely AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Novavax, Head of BPOM Penny K. Lukito said.
Jakarta (VNA) - The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) of Indonesia has consideredgranting emergency using licenses for three COVID-19 vaccines namelyAstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Novavax, Head of BPOM Penny K. Lukito said.
Speaking at an online press conference on February 7, Peny said it will take upto 20 working days for the consideration process after BPOM has received allthe necessary data from pharmaceutical companies representing vaccinemanufacturers.
According to Penny, BPOM is still waiting for these companies to complete thesubmission of data.
However, data may beprovided in stages, while the consideration is under process. Sinovac'sCoronavac vaccine is the only one that has received an emergency licence fromBPOM to date.
In January 14, Indonesia officially launched the first phase of its national programmeon free vaccination against COVID-19 among health workers and civil servants,with three million doses of Coronavac vaccine provided by Sinovac.
The Indonesian government's updated data shows that nearly 800,000 people were giventhe first shot.
Another 25 million doses of the vaccine are expected to be produced by the endof March with materials supplied by Sinovac, local officials said.
Previously, the Indonesian government also identified seven COVID-19 vaccinesthat will be considered to be used in the country, including Sinopharm,AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, Sinovac, and the Redand White Indonesian-developed vaccine.
Meanwhile, FreshNews of Cambodia has reported that 600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine funded byChina were delivered to Cambodia on February 7.
Under the plan,China will provide 1 million doses of COVID19 vaccine to Cambodia. In the firstphase, 300,000 doses will be handed over to the Health Ministry, and theremaining 300,000 doses to the Ministry of Defence.
A number of other Southeast Asian countries are also gradually implementing theCOVID-19 vaccination programme.
Singapore started its vaccination programme at the end of December 2020 and isexpected to have enough vaccines for all residents by September 2021.
Despite reaching anagreement to import 2 million doses of vaccine from China before April 2021 forhealth workers, Thailand has to rely on the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine of theUK that will be produced domestically for its extensive vaccination programme ./.
Indonesia on November 13 announced an additional 5,444 new cases of COVID-19, the highest daily increase ever in this Southeast Asian country, and 104 more deaths.
More than three-fourths of workers in Indonesia who had to leave their job since May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to work, according to Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani.
As neighbours in the region and both are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam has kept a close watch on the ongoing situation in Myanmar, Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
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.
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.
Illustrative image (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
