Asean Economy

A rights declaration that does not deserve the name'

Posted by oun On Monday, 26 November 2012 0 comments

"The human rights declaration, passed by Southeast Asian leaders at their ASEAN summit in Cambodia, actually allows human rights violations, says Verena Harpe of Amnesty International Germany."

Deutsche Welle: After a lot of hemming and hawing, the 10 ASEAN nations ratified a human rights declaration at their summit in Cambodia. That actually sounds pretty good. However, your organization has sharply criticized the declaration. Why?

Asean Unity Tested Under Cambodia’s Watch

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November 23, 2012
By Colin Meyn
The Cambodia Daily

"Cambodia’s time as the chair of Asean has left the regional bloc less united than at any point in its 45-year history, experts said this week. And as Cambodia serves out its final weeks as Asean chair, the failure to address the concerns of regional members in their maritime disputes in the South China Sea may be the lasting legacy of Phnom Penh’s time at the helm of the 10-member bloc." – News Analysis

“Cambodia’s foreign relations have been held hostage by its intimate ties with China and this limits its own foreign policy choices, thus causing a negative impact on its international image,” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an associate professor at Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

Food price crisis: What crisis?

Posted by oun On Saturday, 27 October 2012 0 comments

By Richard Anderson Business reporter, BBC News

Corn crops in the US have been devastated by the worst drought in 50 years

Without water, crops cannot grow and the world cannot eat. And this year, there hasn't been enough of it.

The US has seen its worst drought in more than 50 years, vast swathes of Russia have been left parched by lack of rain, India has had a dry monsoon, while rainfall in South America early in the year fell well below expectations

As a direct result, harvests of many crops have been decimated, forcing the price of some cereals back up towards levels last seen four years ago, a time when high prices sparked riots in 12 countries across the world and forced the United Nations to call a food price crisis summit.

ASEAN slammed over CoC

Posted by oun On Friday, 13 July 2012 0 comments

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at a press conference yesterday after the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Retreat, at the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post

Friday, 13 July 2012
Cheang Sokha and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

‘Utterly irresponsible” and “extremely disappointing” is how Indonesia’s foreign minister described ASEAN’s failure yesterday to agree to the terms for a Code of Conduct on the hotly disputed South China Sea.

ASEAN Members Fail to Draft South China Sea Statement

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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, center, and Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba shake hands before their trilateral meeting during the ASEAN Regional forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 12, 2012. (Photo: AP)

Thursday, 12 July 2012
Irwin Loy, VOA | Phnom Penh

"We could not find one common position on just one issue."

PHNOM PENH — Southeast Asian ministers have failed to reach a common position on the maritime dispute involving the South China Sea.

ASEAN Talks Focus on S. China Sea Disputes

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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, listens to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, right, during their meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 12, 2012. (Photo: AP)

Thursday, 12 July 2012
Irwin Loy, VOA | Phnom Penh

“It looks like [China] they’re becoming more aggressive every day.”

Clinton Meets With Asean States Ahead of Regional Forum

Posted by oun On Thursday, 12 July 2012 0 comments

ASEAN Summit Opens

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Settle China sea disputes 'without coercion': Clinton

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged countries around the South China Sea to settle their territorial disputes (AFP, Hoang Dinh Nam)

12 July 2012
By Jo Biddle (AFP)

Analysts say Clinton is likely to try to balance support for US allies Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam -- all angered by China's recent perceived aggression in contested seas -- with efforts to keep Beijing onside.

Clinton talks cash injections at ASEAN

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Phnom Penh yesterday. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post

Thursday, 12 July 2012
Cheang Sokha and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday told delegates at the ASEAN Regional Forum her country would put “our money where our mouth is” with its regional development assistance, starting with a down payment she would announce in coming days.

Asean Postpones Passage of Nuclear Weapons Treaty

Posted by oun On Monday, 9 July 2012 0 comments

Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin holds hands with (L-R) The Philippines' Foreign Minister Albert Rosario, Singapore's Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Bilahari Kausikan, Thailand's Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul, Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Brunei's Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Laos' Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Malaysia's representative and Secretary General of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan during the opening ceremony of the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting (AMM) at the office of Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh on Monday. (Reuters Photo/Samrang Pring)

July 09, 2012
Antara (Indonesia)

Phnom Penh. Three documents on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), which were scheduled to be signed this week during an Asean summit in Cambodia, were postponed until November because four of the five recognized nuclear-weapon states (P5) have “reservations,” a Cambodian senior official said Monday.

Life Technologies Establishes Global Instrument Center of Excellence in Singapore

Posted by oun On Monday, 25 June 2012 0 comments

On 14 June 2012, Life Technologies, the second largest player in the life science tools industry, announced that it had established a Global Instrument Center of Excellence in Singapore to address strong customer demand around the world. It is Life Technologies only internal instrument manufacturing facility outside of the US.

The center will design and manufacture Life Technologies products, including next-generation sequencing and molecular diagnostic instruments for thousands of customers within the region and outside Asia Pacific. The company which is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, will also move the manufacture of Ion Torrent's Personal Genome Machine to the Singapore center.

Life Technologies provides customers with systems, consumables and services that enable researchers to accelerate scientific and medical advancements. Asia Pacific is one of the company's key growth drivers; Asia Pacific sales (excluding Japan) grew over 9 percent in 2011. Life Technology's volume of items shipped per day in the region has increased fourfold, with dramatically improved order fulfillment time that is up to 50 percent faster in most cases. The Asia-Pacific region is about 10 percent of Life Technologies' total business.

ASEAN Competition Conference Promotes Competition Policy

Posted by oun On Tuesday, 15 November 2011 0 comments

Bali, Indonesia, 15 November 2011

The ASEAN Competition Conference convened here from 15-16 November has raised public awareness and support for competition policy in ASEAN by providing a platform for discussion and networking among competition-related authorities and stakeholders in intra- and extra-ASEAN.

Asean to strengthen cooperation on disaster management

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In a move initiated by Thailand, Asean leaders will issue a statement committing their countries to greater cooperation in flood prevention, mitigation, relief, recovery and rehabilitation, following their summit tomorrow.

Experts question Thai energy crisis declaration

Posted by oun On Tuesday, 18 October 2011 0 comments

Althouch a Thai minister claimed recently that delays in resolving the disputed overlapping claims area with Cambodia would result in an energy crisis, experts said yesterday the statement had been politically motivated.

Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said last week Thailand would run out of gas in 15 years if the issue of the reportedly gas- and oil-rich area in the Gulf of Thailand was not quickly resolved, according to a Bloomberg report.

ASEAN Member States

Posted by oun On Friday, 14 October 2011 0 comments

Brunei Darussalam Head of State : His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah
Capital : Bandar Seri Begawan
Language(s) : Malay, English
Currency : B$ (Brunei Dollar)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Brunei Darussalam Website: www.mfa.gov.bn

Cambodia

Head of State : His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni
Head of Government : Prime Minister Hun Sen
Capital : Phnom Penh
Language : Khmer
Currency : Riel
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Cambodia Website: www.mfaic.gov.kh

Indonesia
Head of State : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Capital : Jakarta
Language : Indonesian
Currency : Rupiah
Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Website: www.deplu.go.id

Lao PDR
Head of State : President Choummaly Sayasone
Head of Government : Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong
Capital : Vientiane
Language : Lao
Currency : Kip
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR Website: www.mofa.gov.la

Malaysia
Head of Government : The Honourable Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak
Capital : Kuala Lumpur
Language(s) : Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil
Currency : Ringgit
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Website: www.kln.gov.myASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat Website: www.kln.gov.my/myasean

Myanmar
Head of State : President Thein Sein
Capital : Nay Pyi Taw
Language : Myanmar
Currency : Kyat
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar Website: www.mofa.gov.mm

Philippines
Head of State : President Benigno S. Aquino III
Capital : Manila
Language(s) : Filipino, English, Spanish
Currency : Peso
Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Website: www.dfa.gov.ph

Singapore
Head of State : President Tony Tan Keng Yam
Head of Government : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Capital : Singapore
Language(s) : English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Currency : S$ (Singapore Dollar)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Website: www.mfa.gov.sg

Thailand
Head of State : His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Head of Government : Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
Capital : Bangkok
Language : Thai
Currency : Baht
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Website: www.mfa.go.th

Viet Nam
Head of State : President Nguyen Minh Triet
Head of Government : Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
Capital : Ha Noi
Language : Vietnamese
Currency : Dong
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Website: www.mofa.gov.vn

Extreme luxury in Cambodia comes at a price

Posted by oun On Thursday, 29 September 2011 0 comments

32nd ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly kicks off in Cambodia

Posted by oun On Monday, 19 September 2011 0 comments

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 32nd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-32) was held here on Tuesday to promote closer cooperation among ASEAN member states.

The assembly, under the theme "Role of AIPA in Building a Prosperous ASEAN Community", brought together the heads of all parliaments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Also, a number of observer countries including Australia, Canada, China, European Parliament, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia and the United States, attended the assembly.

The opening ceremony was held at the Phnom Penh's Peace Palace under the presidency of the President of the Senate Chea Sim, the President of the National Assembly Heng Samrin and the Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Hun Sen said that the assembly was very important to help bring prosperous to peoples in ASEAN and to accelerate ASEAN's efforts to form as a community by 2015.

"I believe that the AIPA-32 will give more support to the Governments of ASEAN to reduce the gaps between the old and new member states and to alleviate poverty in the region," he said.

Meanwhile, Heng Samrin said the assembly was to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism, drug combat, anti-human and sexual trafficking, cross-border crime crackdown and migrant workers' rights in the ASEAN.

The AIPA-32, running from Sept. 18-24, expects to adopt a variety of documents on political, economic, social and women affairs, rights of migrant workers, and drug fighting in order to build stronger cooperation and relations among the ASEAN member countries.

There will also be dialogue between ASEAN and observer countries on integrated water resources management for sustainable development in the region, disaster management and emergency responses, and cooperation toward ASEAN Free of Land Mines and Unexploded Ordnance.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The Constitution of Economic Policy

Posted by oun On Thursday, 1 September 2011 1 comments

The Constitution of Economic Policy

I. Introduction

The science of public finance should always keep... political conditions clearly in mind. Instead of expecting guidance from a doctrine of taxation that is based on the political philosophy of by-gone ages, it should instead endeavor to unlock the mysteries of the spirit of progress and development. (Wicksell, p. 87.)¹

On this of all occasions, I should be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the influence of that great Swede, Knut Wicksell, on my own work,