ASEAN 2025

Malaysia Calls For Stronger ASEAN Integration To Boost Manufacturing Competitiveness

By Anas Abu Hassan

SINGAPORE, July 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has called on ASEAN member states to strengthen regional integration and compete collectively with global manufacturing regions, instead of competing among themselves.

Malaysian MSMEs Ready To Tap ASEAN's 680-mln-consumer Market Under DEFA: Sim

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are well positioned to tap ASEAN's 680-million-consumer market under the proposed Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), supported by their high level of digital adoption, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin said.

European Business Leaders, Johari Ghani To Meet In Malaysia-EU FTA Talks

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Business leaders from nearly 30 European companies will visit Kuala Lumpur next week to meet Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani and senior government officials, as negotiations on the Malaysia-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) advance towards a targeted conclusion in 2027.

ASEAN Needs Massive Capital, Stronger Partnerships To Accelerate Energy Transition -- Anwar

PETALING JAYA, July 29 (Bernama) -- ASEAN requires massive, sustained and structured capital to build solar farms, upgrade grids, install battery storage, and upskill workers, as national governments cannot bear this burden alone, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

US Tariff Measures Pose Trade, Geopolitical Risks Despite Limited Near-Term Impact -- OCBC

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) -- The new Section 301 tariffs are expected to have a largely muted impact on exports to the United States (US) in the near term, given extensive product exemptions and relatively lower effective tariff rates than originally anticipated, although geopolitical risks remain significant.

AMRO Raises Malaysia's 2026 Growth Forecast To 4.9 Pct On Strong AI-Driven Exports

By Anas Abu Hassan

SINGAPORE, July 27 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) has revised Malaysia's growth forecast upward to 4.9 per cent for 2026 from an initial 4.6 per cent projection, driven by robust AI-related demand.

TNB Builds Future-Ready Procurement Ecosystem Through Stronger Regional Collaboration

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), as one of the leading utility companies in ASEAN, is building a future-ready procurement ecosystem through stronger regional collaboration, said its chief procurement officer, Ir. Ts. Amir Mahmod Abdullah.

National Petroleum Reserve Establishment Timely Amid Recurring Geopolitical Tensions - Analysts

By Siti Radziah Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s move to study the establishment of a national petroleum reserve (NPR) is timely as recurring geopolitical tensions around key global shipping routes underscore the need to strengthen the country’s long-term energy resilience, said analysts.

AirBorneo To Expand Operations Across ASEAN, Maintains Rural Air Services

SEPANG, July 20 (Bernama) --  AirBorneo Airways will expand its operations to several destinations across ASEAN while maintaining its responsibility to provide rural air services in Sarawak and Sabah.

Malaysia Well Positioned To Lead ASEAN EV Growth -- BMI

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is well positioned to lead electric vehicle (EV) demand growth outside ASEAN's two dominant EV markets, Vietnam and Thailand, underpinned by its affluent consumer base and improving EV competitiveness, according to BMI.

Geoeconomic Fragmentation Prompts Malaysia To Rethink Energy Security -- Experts

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s move to study the establishment of a national petroleum reserve stock reflects a broader shift in national policy as rising geoeconomic risks compel countries to place greater emphasis on energy security alongside economic resilience, according to experts.

Ringgit To Outperform Regional Peers Despite Stronger Greenback -- Standard Chartered

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian ringgit is expected to remain one of the region's better-performing currencies alongside the Singapore dollar, supported by solid economic fundamentals and impact of higher oil prices, even in a stronger US dollar environment, according to Standard Chartered Bank.