ASEAN's Free Trade Area: 2015 a 'stretch goal'?

A compromise by Thailand and the Philippines over rice tariffs has led to new optimism that ASEAN can indeed establish a regional Free Trade Area by 2015. But domestic interests, development gaps and the Myanmar issue still present obstacles.

Larger economies such as the USA and European Union now prefer to negotiate trade agreements with individual countries, rather than the bloc as a whole. A region-wide Free Trade Agreement with China came into effect on 1 January 2010, but is now being renegotiated with ASEAN's largest economy Indonesia, after pressure from domestic industries.

Economic gaps are obvious between member states such as Singapore and Laos. A successful Free Trade Area would also necessitate improvements in transport and financial infrastructure across borders, to ensure the free movement of capital, goods and people.

article & source: Business World

Lexus wants 10% of Thai luxury auto market

Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, aims to increase its share of the luxury auto market in Thailand to 10% over the next five years.

Despite the economic downturn, Thai luxury sales grew 5% last year with a total of 7,700 vehicles sold. Projections indicate this trend should continue in 2011-12. Currently, Mercedes-Benz dominates the market (as it tends to do across Asia) with a 50% share.

Lexus sales increased by 6% last year, but its share of the Thai luxury market is still only 3.6%.

article & source: Bangkok Post

Malaysia & Thailand compared

With Malaysia's Prime Minister due to announce new liberalization measures to boost investment at next week's "Invest Malaysia" conference, The Malaysian Insider gives a brief comparison of investment rules between Malaysia and Thailand. Main areas are currency trade regulations, corporate/capital gains tax rates, and shareholding rules.

source & article: The Malaysian Insider

Singapore is World's Best Airport

Asian airports have shone in the 2010 Skytrax World Airport Awards, taking out six of the top 10 places and all of the top three, with Singapore's Changi Airport returning to World No.1.

South Korea's Incheon International and Hong Kong International took the silver and bronze places respectively. Kuala Lumpur came 5th, Beijing 8th and Bangkok 10th.

The World Airport Awards™ are based on the results from 9.8 million questionnaires completed by airline passengers in 2009/2010, covering more than 210 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates traveller experiences across 39 different airport service and product factors -  from check-in, arrivals, transfer through to departure at the gate. 


source: Skytrax