Jakarta. The digital economy can potentially add more than $1 trillion to Southeast Asia's combined gross domestic product by 2025, once the region can address digital trade barriers and improve internet infrastructure, global consultancy Bain & Company said in a report published on Monday (03/09). The report titled "Advancing Towards Asean Digital Integration," says the digital economy only accounted for $190 billion, or 7 percent the region's total gross domestic product last year, compared with 16 percent in China, 27 percent in Europe and 35 percent in the United States. "The findings from our research suggest there are significant gains if Southeast Asian countries can come together and grow as a single regional digital economy, rather than operating separately," said Florian Hoppe, a partner at Bain & Co in Southeast Asia and co-author of the report. The consultancy coopted technology giant Google, Singapore-based technology firm Sea and Rebecca Fatimah, former … [Read more...] about Digital Economy Could Add $1t to Southeast Asia’s GDP by 2025: Bain & Co
Association of southeast asia nations
Southeast Asia faces threats from IS, cyberattacks, summit hears
Southeast Asia faces threats from IS, cyberattacks, summit hears Elizabeth Law (Agence France-Presse) - April 28, 2018 - 6:10pm SINGAPORE, Singapore — Southeast Asia faces "very real" threats from the Islamic State (IS) group despite their defeat in the Middle East, as well as cyberattacks, Singapore's prime minister warned Saturday at a regional summit. Parts of the 10-country region have long struggled with Islamic militancy and the emergence of IS has served as a new rallying point for radicals and re-energised extremist groups. A deadly gun and suicide-bombing attack in the Indonesian capital Jakarta in 2016 was the first IS-claimed assault in the region, while the Philippine city of Marawi was overrun last year by fighters loyal to the jihadists, triggering a months-long battle that killed hundreds. Fears are also growing that Southeast Asia, which is home to booming economies where a growing number of people are … [Read more...] about Southeast Asia faces threats from IS, cyberattacks, summit hears
Protesters take aim at Southeast Asia leaders in Sydney
SYDNEY: Provocative images of one-time human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi with a Hitler moustache and banners demanding Cambodia’s Hun Sen step down were held by protesters in Sydney on Saturday in a rally against Southeast Asian leaders. Thousands demonstrated in the city against a raft of grievances on the sidelines of an Australia-Asean special summit, where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has vowed to tackle human rights issues. Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen makes his way for a family picture as Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak (right) and Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (left) wait at the Asean-Australia Special Summit in Sydney on Saturday. AFP PHOTO They came together to urge the release of political prisoners in Vietnam, an end to strongman Hun Sen’s regime in Cambodia and a halt to the military crackdown on Rohingya in Myanmar. “We are here to protest issues that are happening in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, the … [Read more...] about Protesters take aim at Southeast Asia leaders in Sydney
Australia warns Southeast Asia of high-tech terror threat
Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks at a CEO Forum Lunch at the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-Australia Special Summit in Sydney on March 17, 2018. SYDNEY: Use of encrypted messaging apps to plan terrorist attacks is the greatest threat facing intelligence agencies in modern times, Australia warned Saturday as Southeast Asian leaders vowed closer cooperation to counter extremism. An Asean-Australia special summit in Sydney heard that use of the “dark web” was a spiraling problem and countries in the region must work together to keep on top of it. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton told the meeting “the use of encrypted messaging apps by terrorists and criminals is potentially the most significant degradation of intelligence capability in modern times.” He said the only way to deal with the problem, and the increasing use of the internet by groups like Islamic State to radicalize and recruit new members, was … [Read more...] about Australia warns Southeast Asia of high-tech terror threat
Southeast Asia faces ‘cooling crisis’ with inefficient air-conditioning habits
KUALA LUMPUR – Southeast Asia faces a “cooling crisis” as more and more people crank up inefficient air-conditioning to cope with rising temperatures and worsening air pollution, researchers said.More than 420 managers and experts from government agencies and multinational companies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam took part in a survey on cooling systems and energy efficiency, conducted by Eco-Business and released at a Bangkok conference on Monday.Energy demand from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) climbed 70 per cent from 2000 to 2016, with air-conditioning accounting for a large part of household electricity demand, the report said.The trend is likely to continue as populations grow, cities expand and wealth levels increase.“The domestic aspect of electricity consumption has grown massively – more so than industry and the service sector in ASEAN – and as a result the … [Read more...] about Southeast Asia faces ‘cooling crisis’ with inefficient air-conditioning habits