Samarkand, UZBEKISTAN — “So many” developing Asia-Pacific economies are scrambling to secure concessional financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to bankroll their response to crises caused by the war in the Middle East. “We have already received so many requests from so many...
Samarkand, UZBEKISTAN — Central bank and finance chiefs from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, and South Korea are bracing for slower economic growth and higher inflation risks amid a prolonged war in the Middle East. In a joint statement on Sunday, May 3,...
The Philippines and its neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are moving to fortify regional trade pacts and energy security frameworks as escalating Middle East tensions threaten to destabilize global supply chains. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the economic...
BEIJING, China — China is projected to surpass the United States (US) as the world’s largest economy as early as 2030, insulated from Middle East volatility and American protectionism by long-term strategic planning, according to a leading foreign policy expert. Qu Bo, dean of the School of...
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to mobilize up to $6 billion by 2030, alongside institutional support for capital market regulators in Southeast Asia, to deepen regional capital markets and strengthen long-term financial resilience against external shocks. The initiative aims to...
The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) is urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to deepen regional financial connectivity, positioning stronger and more integrated capital markets as a critical buffer against external shocks like the war in the Middle East. In a speech...
The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a multi-partner fund aimed at financing critical project preparation for cross-border energy and transmission infrastructure in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), marking the first initiative of its kind in the region. The...
If the war in the Middle East prolongs and global oil prices continue to skyrocket, the Philippine peso could breach the ₱61:$1 level in the second quarter of 2026 and even hit as low as ₱62 to ₱64 against the United States (US) dollar. “Our base case forecasts for the US dollar-Philippine...
Philippine manufacturing growth slowed in March as input prices spiked amid rising energy costs tied to the war in the Middle East. In a report on Wednesday, April 1, S&P Global said the Philippines ’ purchasing managers’ index (PMI) eased to 51.3 last month from 54.6 in February, signaling a...
The Philippines has lagged behind its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors in attracting Chinese outbound direct investment (ODI), even as other emerging-market (EM) economies in the region continue to benefit from China’s overseas investment growth, according to think tank...
The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) has expressed strong support for proposed amendments to the Magna Carta for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while stressing that reforms must deliver concrete benefits such as improved access to financing and more favorable loan...
While other countries still hesitate when it comes to nuclear energy, the Philippines is one of the two countries in the ASEAN region that is a frontrunner in nuclear integration. In a recent report from Fitch Solutions’ unit, BMI, the Philippines and Vietnam are considered the only two nations...