Rubric Economy

Economy
by Steve Suwannarat

Singapore’s unicameral legislature is set for renewal. A divided electorate could decree the end of the hegemony of the People’s Action Party. Fears of instability are likely to affect the economy, while negotiations with the United States on tariffs are underway. In a country with an aging population, immigration remains an unresolved issue.

| 02/05/2025
| SINGAPORE
by Fr Giorgio Licini *

It was supposed to be a land of promises for those who had always lived from subsistence farming. Thanks to the employment brought by the mine, they had access to modern education and healthcare. But the end of the licence and a vicious cycle of tribal struggles have sown death and desolation. The government of Papua New Guinea has recently negotiated the mine’s reopening. But with many unknowns about the future.

| 01/05/2025
| PAPUA NEW GUINEA

According to the SIPRI report, global military spending hit a new high in 2024, at US$ 2.7 trillion. China accounts for half of all military expenditures in Asia, with spending rising in the Far East Asia, especially by Japan. In the Middle East, Israel is investing 8.8 per cent of GDP in the military, the second-highest percentage in the world.

| 28/04/2025
| ASIA
by Steve Suwannarat

Despite the average age is still around 31, seniors over 65 are already 8.1 per cent of the more than 35 million Malaysians. Their share is bound to grow rapidly due to the combined effect of longer life expectancy and ageing in a society where care for the elderly is still almost entirely delegated to families.

| 28/04/2025
| MALAYSIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Through tax breaks and the commissioning of new small hydroelectric power plants, the government in Bishkek is resolutely pursuing a path of ecological transition. This will bring significant benefits for businesses, but doubts remain about the impact on the behaviour of individual citizens.

| 28/04/2025
| KYRGYZSTAN
by Lisa Bongiovanni

Between 2000 and 2020, the region recorded an urban population growth rate of around 2.3% per year - one of the highest globally. By 2050, more than half of the Pacific's population will live in urban areas.

| 25/04/2025
| OCEANIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

According to documents, hundreds of Uzbek farmers have handed over their property “voluntarily”, but many claim that this happened “under pressure from the internal affairs and prosecution authorities”. There are currently over 3,500 Chinese companies operating throughout the country.

| 23/04/2025
| UZBEKISTAN - CHINA
by Lisa Bongiovanni

The ESCAP summit on sustainable development is currently underway in Bangkok, focusing on those urban peripheries so dear to Pope Francis. The complaint: the Asia-Pacific region has the largest housing deficit in the world, and the development and enrichment of urban centres is not solving the problem. Meanwhile, climate change risks worsening the situation.

| 22/04/2025
| ASIA
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

Despite officially banning palm oil cultivation in 2021 due to its environmental impact, large companies involved in this market continue their activities in the country, where consumption of this ingredient remains high. The measure ultimately discourages the introduction of new plant varieties that could represent a solution to the problem, as they have a more limited impact on water resources.

| 19/04/2025
| SRI LANKA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

As part of the conversion to a war economy over the past three years, the Russian Attorney General's Office has confiscated 411 large companies from private individuals, with assets exceeding 30 billion dollars. Among the main managers of these operations are the two oligarch brothers closest to President Vladimir Putin, Arkady and Boris Rotenberg.

| 15/04/2025
| RUSSIA

President Subianto's announcement came during his visit to the Turkish capital yesterday. Turkey’s first fighter jet is set to replace the F-16s. The Indonesian government also plans to participate in submarine development with Turkey. In February, in West Java, the two leaders signed several agreements on trade and defence.

| 11/04/2025
| INDONESIA – TURKEY
by Giorgio Licini *

After a public consultation that ended on 4 April, the government is preparing to approve the new mining law that replaces the 1992 regulations. The risks of offshore mining and the call for a permanent moratorium. The church organisation also calls for specific regulations to prevent the ‘manipulation’ of remote and poorly educated communities. The controversial issue of land ownership.

 

| 10/04/2025
| OCEANIA

The sector is growing rapidly in the country. Most of the patients come from Indonesia, but Kuala Lumpur aims to become a global medical hub challenging Thailand in Southeast Asia. To do so, it aims to optimise services, streamline immigration and invest in international partnerships.

| 10/04/2025
| MALAYSIA
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

According to the Joint Apparel Association Forum, the 44% tariffs imposed by the White House risk causing a serious setback. Textiles make up 64% of Sri Lanka's exports for 1.8 billion dollars in 2023, with possible losses of up to 300 million dollars. Far-reaching impacts also for rubber and other sectors.

| 09/04/2025
| SRI LANKA

The strategic infrastructure in the south-west had a makeover thanks to Chinese support. For Prime Minister Hun Manet, the country will not allow foreign military bases on its territory, but is open to Chinese aid. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the country to promote China as the only reliable partner for the region, taking advantage of US disengagement and Trump's tariffs.

| 08/04/2025
| CAMBODIA – CHINA

The Hang Seng index is down by 13.22 per cent, its sharpest drop since 1997, in the wake of the trade war triggered by tariffs. Recession fears are also sinking Singaporean real estate companies. Massive interventions by a Chinese sovereign wealth fund contains losses on the Shanghai stock exchange.

| 07/04/2025
| ASIA

The latest figures released by the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) show a grim picture for 2024. Since the Gaza War started, more than 8,000 high-tech workers have relocated abroad. IAA boss calls for "immediate attention" for the sector. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu goes to Washington to meet Trump to discuss tariffs and hostages in Gaza.

| 07/04/2025
| ISRAEL - UNITED STATES
by Melani Manel Perera

Work has officially begun on the construction of a 120-megawatt power plant in the Trincomalee area. India and Sri Lanka have also announced the creation of the Colombo Security Conclave, a security cooperation forum that also includes Bangladesh, the Maldives and Mauritius.

| 07/04/2025
| SRI LANKA - INDIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

After much hesitation and meetings at the level of individual countries, now in Samarkand the European Union has openly declared its intention to ‘raise relations to the level of strategic partnership’ with the region as a whole. But local leaders, who aim to ‘diversify’ their foreign policy, are waiting to see how many resources Brussels will really put on the table.

| 07/04/2025
| CENTRAL ASIA

China has announced its countermove against US-made goods and new restrictions on the export of rare earths. Meanwhile, 50 years after the end of the Vietnam War, Hanoi deems 46 per cent tariffs imposed by the White House as  “unfair”, but it is open to mediation and does not plan to retaliate. In the meantime, however, Tô Lâm could go to Moscow in May for the Victory Parade.

| 04/04/2025
| CHINA – VIETNAM – UNITED STATES
by Vladimir Rozanskij

With the border agreement, after four years of deadlock, air links have been re-established and trade routes re-opened. The agreement could usher in a period of strong economic growth, especially for Tajikistan, the most underdeveloped country in all of Central Asia.

| 04/04/2025
| KYRGYZSTAN - TAJIKISTAN
by Mathias Hariyadi

Senior officials from the Ministry of Energy met with Monsignor Kleden to discuss development projects. The prelate confirmed the Church's opposition, to protect the population and the territory. In the area, 80% of the inhabitants are farmers. Behind Jakarta's pressure are the interests of multinationals.

| 03/04/2025
| INDONESIA

As the tariffs imposed by US President Trump heat up the trade war, the three countries are looking for new ways of working together. The summit got underway today until tomorrow in Seoul. The South Koreans and Japanese are concerned about tariffs on cars. Meanwhile, Beijing announces countermeasures if Washington continues the trade war.

| 29/03/2025
| SOUTH KOREA – CHINA – JAPAN
by fr. Giorgio Licini

In Oceania too, dependence on creditors has grown, a problem at the centre of Pope Francis' appeal for the Jubilee 2025. With clear political will, the serious situations in other countries could still be avoided, but there is still little awareness. On 24 May, a global 24-hour “Relay for Peace” will start from Samoa to raise awareness.

| 27/03/2025
| OCEANIA
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

A move to increase tax revenues, but risks undermining domestic production that had experienced a period of strong expansion. The association that brings together operators expresses great ‘concern’. For experts, a tax regime ‘that incentivises locally assembled vehicles’ is preferable.

| 27/03/2025
| SRI LANKA
by Steve Suwannarat

To reach an upper-medium level of development this decade, greater investments in energy are needed. For supporters, nuclear plants would guarantee stable and "clean" energy, and improve the environment at a critical juncture for traditional renewables. Moscow and Beijing would partner in infrastructure development.

| 26/03/2025
| CAMBODIA
by Sumon Corraya

The sector drives the Bangladeshi economy with 85% of total exports and a related industry worth 47 billion dollars. However, many workers are demanding payment of numerous months of arrears and bonuses linked to the festival celebrating the end of Ramadan. The empty promises of company management, with the police repressing the demonstrations.

| 26/03/2025
| BANGLADESH
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Debit cards and various kinds of talony, the ‘coupons’ for the lean years as in Gorbachev's perestroika, are becoming increasingly widespread and widespread in today's Russia. But with a thousand roubles charged per month, it's not much to cope with the economic crisis. And there are those who are once again calling for the prices of basic necessities to be regulated from above in the typically Soviet way.

| 26/03/2025
| RUSSIA

The US retail giant has reportedly asked Chinese companies to cut prices to compensate for the Trump tariffs. Chinese suppliers complain that they are already working with very narrow profit margins to compete. China’s Ministry of Commerce warns the US company that its interests in the Chinese domestic market are also at stake.

| 12/03/2025
| CHINA

Two Chinese universities are experimenting with a new device that replaces silicon wafers by adopting a revolutionary ternary system. Tests show a significant reduction in energy consumption for the calculations required by artificial intelligence. The stated goal is to make it the reference technology within 10-15 years.

| 10/03/2025
| CHINA
Editor's choices
 
by Vladimir Rozanskij
Cotton remains one of the country's main exports, but earnings are steadily declining. The problem stems from the large increase in cotton production in other countries, such as the United States and India, where stocks are at historic highs. And ...
| 16/07/2025
| TAJIKISTAN
 
by Dario Salvi
The founder of the Religious Freedom Data Center views settler attacks as a “disturbing development”. Israeli ministers and police legitimising it is worrying. A Judeo-centric ideology has “taken root”, but minority rights are ...
| 10/07/2025
| ISRAEL – PALESTINE
 
In the Upper House elections scheduled for 20 July, the ultra-nationalist party founded by Kamiya Sohei is trailing just behind the Liberal Democrats in the polls, who are at risk of losing their majority. Anti-globalists, opposed to LGBTQ+ rights and ...
| 10/07/2025
| JAPAN
 
According to anonymous sources, the dissident who publicly challenged "dictator Xi Jinping" in October 2022 and inspired the "blank paper" protest against the zero-COVID policy has been tried and convicted. Human rights groups are calling on Beijing ...
| 09/07/2025
| CHINA
 
The 62-year-old missionary in Bangladesh was elected this morning by the General Assembly underway in Rome. For the next six years, he will lead the institute founded by Bishop Angelo Ramazzotti, now present with 400 missionaries in 20 countries around ...
| 07/07/2025
| ITALY
 
by Alessandra De Poli
Four years after the death of the Jesuit who dedicated his life to defending the land rights of India’s indigenous peoples, the Bagaicha centre, which he founded in the State of Jharkhand, continues to fight for the poor. Despite threats and continuous ...
| 05/07/2025
| INDIA
 
An investigation by Finance Uncovered has revealed that almost US$ 40 million from state development funds from the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark have been invested in a company that operates digital surveillance infrastructure and technologies ...
| 04/07/2025
| MYANMAR
 
In the anniversary of the former British colony's transition to the People's Republic, the Hong Kong Democracy Council takes stock of the repression. Of the 161 convicted, 102 are still serving prison sentences. On 14 August, Jimmy Lai's ...
| 01/07/2025
| HONG KONG
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”