Hanoi is currently hosting the 2026 ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) until June 10, gathering government leaders, business delegates as well as, for the first time, political parties and local authorities from across the Southeast Asia region to discuss actionable recommendations for the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Author: Elisabeth Xaviera
Business and Economy Correspondent, SEA Daily
ASEAN-South Korea to upgrade FTA with focus on digital trade and critical minerals
On June 8, ASEAN and South Korea officially launched full-scale negotiations to upgrade their 20-year-old free trade agreement (FTA).
Luzon Economic Corridor tops Philippine-US bilateral talks
On June 5, the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington D.C. on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 80th year of Philippine-US diplomatic relations.
Malaysia debuts TVET 2.0 and new talent placement platform, targeting 100,000 jobs by 2027
On June 6, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivered a keynote speech to officiate the National TVET Day as he debuted the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) 2.0 initiative with a pledge of 50 million Malaysian ringgit (12.4 million US dollar) in funding.
IAI kicks off Work Plan V with fresh focus on Timor-Leste
On June 5, the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Task Force convened its 79th meeting at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta. IAI Task Force 2026 Chairperson and Permanent Representative of Cambodia to ASEAN, Noy Choumneanh chaired the gathering.
Malaysia builds a chip industry but may lack the workers to run it
Malaysia is trying to climb the semiconductor value chain to become a highly lucrative Integrated Circuit (IC) design and wafer fabrication hub, leaving behind its conventional Assembly, Testing and Packaging (ATP) branding.
PLX Asia launched as first integrated business hub in Southeast Asia
On May 29, PLX Asia was established as Southeast Asia’s first integrated business-to-business (B2B) platform. This centralised hub is tailored specifically for private label and contract manufacturing at a time when the region is experiencing a massive yet fragmented boom across the food and beverage (F&B), health and beauty as well as household care sectors.
Malaysia gears up for TVET Day exhibition, targeting 200,000 attendees
Malaysia is set to host a three-day event celebrating its national Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Day from June 5 to 7 at Putrajaya Square, Kuala Lumpur. This exhibition is designed as a platform to strengthen the country’s fast-growing TVET ecosystem—an educational system providing industry-focused skills training through schools, colleges and training institutes to prepare learners for employment in technical, skilled and professional trades—with the aim of driving substantial human capital development.
ASEAN+3 economies face rising inflation in 2026
On June 2, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) published its second quarterly report of 2026, highlighting the region’s steady growth forecast at 4% as well as revised upward inflation projection to 1.8% from 1.4% this year.
Malaysia braces for snap election as coalition tensions mount
Malaysia is facing a potential snap election in the second half of 2026. The 16th General Election is formally scheduled for no later than February 2028. However, on May 29, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim indicated he would consider dissolving parliament early should internal alliance tensions deteriorate further.