The recent approval of Thailand’s new Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) bill is a step forward by Thailand's military government to rapidly industrialise the nation, but it should also consider the risks involved in doing so too quickly. The EEC refers to the economic zone in Thailand that comprises of the three eastern provinces of Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong, spanning a total distance of 13,285 square kilometres.

Aircraft makers, Boeing and Airbus have plenty to be happy about. Air travel is increasing and as a consequence, demand for commercial planes are up as well. According to a report by Airbus earlier this year, globally, air transport has grown by 60 percent in the last 10 years. Accounting for that growth, the projected demand for commercial planes will reach almost 35,000 by 2036 and Asia Pacific represents 41 percent of that demand.

Malaysia and Singapore’s joint decision to set up stock market trading links between Bursa Malaysia (BM) and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) is likely to increase their capital markets liquidity while cutting down on cross-border trading costs in the long term.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) recently signed a renewal of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korea Exchange (KRX) that will be in effect until 2023.

The world of digital currency has gone bananas!Lao based Bananacoin, is the latest edition to the plethora of cryptocurrencies available in the world today. As its name suggests, it is linked to the golden fruit enjoyed by many – bananas.What is Bananacoin?The Bananacoin Project was co-founded by entrepreneurs, Alexander Bychkov and Oleg Dobrovolsky with the aim of utilising blockchain technology to revolutionise the banana production industry.

Southeast Asia is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and industrialised regions in the world. Contributing to this rapid pace in development is a growing car market driven by an increase in demand for automobiles. Besides that, strategic partnerships are also paving the way for the introduction of new technologies that look to improve the mobility of Southeast Asians.

Health and medical tourism is becoming more prominent and is seen as a growing trend worldwide, according to Global Wellness Institute, a non-profit organisation for the wellness industry.

The e-commerce market in Southeast Asia is expected to be worth US$200 billion by 2025, according to a 2017 report jointly produced by Google and Temasek Holdings. Meanwhile mobile commerce is expected to ride on e-commerce growth as smartphone users account for more than 90% of Southeast Asian internet users, according to the same report.

The unique and diverse range of recreational activities and travel options in this region has made Southeast Asia a top choice for tourists. According to the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC), the tourism sector directly contributed to a whopping US$119.7 billion in 2016 alone and is projected to reach US$222.8 billion in 2027, which makes up 5.3% of total GDP for the region.

Singapore’s economy expanded by 3.5% in 2017, according to estimates released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry earlier this month. Yet the percentage of its labour force aged over 60 years also rose from 6.1% in 2007 to 14.1% in 2017, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).The labour force participation rate (LFPR) in 2017 meanwhile dropped to 67.7% from 68% in 2016 according to MOM data.