Singapore is the most competitive economy in the region, placing second overall in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index behind the United States (US).Singapore is seen as an exemplary economy as the report showcased the importance of openness for competitiveness amid escalating tensions and backlash against globalisation.

Trade conflict between the world's two largest economic powers already is inflicting collateral damage and threatens to do yet more harm to the global economy, the World Bank warned Tuesday.And the global slowdown is beginning as government and corporate debt rise, especially among the poorest countries, while mounting interest rates increase borrowing costs, the bank said in its semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report.The report was markedly more pessimistic than a year ago – when

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is said to be one of the biggest trade deals in the world. Spearheaded by ASEAN, it will encompass 25 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), 45 percent of the total population, 30 percent of global income and 30 percent global trade.

Adventure tourism is gaining a strong foothold in ASEAN, a region which already enjoys a mature and well-developed tourism market.Blessed with jungles teeming with flora and fauna, an abundance of underwater life and a wide range of islands, mountains and cliffs to explore, Southeast Asia has world-class adventure destinations and has been marketed as such.The ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025 states that adventure tourism should be promoted regionally.

Hordes of Chinese tourists descend upon an idyllic island paradise. Their boisterous and noisy nature scare away their more “cultured” Western counterparts. For all the resources spent on attracting them to visit, the local tourism industry makes very little from their spending.This is the bane of “zero-dollar tourism” run by Chinese operators. Travel agencies in China offer free or very cheap tour packages, which cover meals and accommodation.

The story of economic growth within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a remarkable one.

Apple cut its revenue outlook for the latest quarter Wednesday, citing steeper-than-expected "economic deceleration" in China and emerging markets.The rare revenue warnings from Apple suggested weaker-than-anticipated sales of iPhones and other gadgetry, in part because of trade frictions between Washington and Beijing.Apple shares slid some 7.6 percent in after-hours trade on the news.The company slashed its revenue guidance for the first fiscal quarter of 2019, ended 29 December,

2018 was a great year for Vietnam’s economy.The country’s business environment grew tremendously at the start of the year with over 26,000 new enterprises established. In addition to that, the government there highlighted that foreign direct investment (FDI) disbursement reached over US$3.8 billion in the first three months of the year, up 7.2 percent from 2017.

The telecommunications industry in Southeast Asia is evolving quickly. The average revenue per user (ARPU) from voice calls is on a freefall giving way to increased usage of mobile data which is required to access a variety of applications like video and music streaming, e-hailing services and social media.Consumers are increasingly becoming more affluent as the middle-class household segment continues to grow in Southeast Asia.

Across Asia, demographic trends are indicating a growing ageing population with the 65 and above age category projected to more than double, reaching close to 2.5 times the current figures by 2050. Similar patterns can also be discerned in Southeast Asia.The ageing markets within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can be divided into three separate categories – high-income, mid-income and low-income – ageing markets.