Southeast Asia’s smartphone market surges to kickstart 2024

People using their mobile phones on July 17, 2016 in Surakarta, Indonesia. Solo Imaji | Barcroft Media | Getty Images Smartphone shipments in Southeast Asia continued a resurgence at the start of 2024, contrasting to a lull in other regions, as the promising market for mobile makers continues to attract more brands and investment.  The … Read more

Singapore brokered a deal with Taylor Swift, so she wouldn’t take the Eras Tour to other Southeast Asian countries. Now, a Philippines lawmaker is calling it out.

Taylor Swift kicked off her six-night, sold-out The Eras Tour stopover in Singapore on Saturday. It’s the only place in Southeast Asia where she will perform due to an exclusivity deal. A Philippines lawmaker criticized the move, saying it “isn’t what good neighbors do.” There’s a feud between Singapore and neighboring government officials — and … Read more

South China Sea tensions and Myanmar violence top agenda for Southeast Asian envoys meeting in Laos

LUANG PRABANG, Laos — China’s growingly assertive posture in the South China Sea and escalating violence in Myanmar topped the agenda for Southeast Asian diplomats meeting in Laos on Monday. The gathering is the first high-level meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since Laos took over the rotating chairmanship. The diplomats for the … Read more

Southeast Asia markets are poised for a comeback with valuations at ‘bargain basement,’ Maybank says

A woman (R) adjusts the Philippines flag before the 51st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)- Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting in Singapore on August 3, 2018. Mohd Rasfan | Afp | Getty Images Southeast Asia markets could see a turnaround in 2024 on the back of cheap valuations and potentially high economic growth, after … Read more

Alibaba’s Lazada cuts staff across Southeast Asia in fresh round of layoffs

Lazada is the third-largest e-commerce player in Indonesia, after Sea Limited’s Shopee and Tokopedia, according to Momentum Works. Matt Hunt | Lightrocket | Getty Images SINGAPORE — Alibaba-owned Lazada began its latest round of layoffs on Wednesday, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told CNBC, following a slew of media reports about cuts … Read more

Southeast Asia may be on the cusp of a cashless payments revolution

Mobile Payment, Women, Contactless Payment,China – East Asia, Shanghai, 20-29 Years, Paying, Banking Asia-pacific Images Studio | E+ | Getty Images Southeast Asia is “supercharged” to power a shift toward digital payments and other innovations in digital services, thanks to an acceleration in digital transformation during the pandemic, said accounting and consulting firm PwC. Widespread mobile … Read more

Thailand Pitches New U.S. Investors on Old Idea of Southeast Asia Shipping Route Shortcut

Since attaining the premiership in August, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has branded himself the nation’s chief “salesman,” traveling around the world to court foreign investments to boost Thailand’s stagnant economy. This week, as global leaders descend on San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, he’s bringing perhaps his biggest pitch yet to … Read more

Etaily is a “one stop solution” for consumer brands that want to enter Southeast Asia

E-commerce in Southeast Asia grew rapidly during the pandemic, and that momentum is continuing. A McKinsey report found that between now and 2026, the market is expected to triple at compound growth rate of 22%, hitting $230 billion in gross merchandise volume. Not surprisingly, global brands are eager to enter Southeast Asia. E-commerce enablement platform … Read more

China and Southeast Asia nations vow to conclude a nonaggression pact faster as sea crises escalate

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese and Southeast Asian diplomats renewed a vow to finalize a nonaggression pact for the South China Sea in three years, two regional diplomats said Thursday. The pledge came during a meeting last week in Beijing, where they expressed alarm over recent confrontations in the disputed waters. The Philippines has protested what … Read more