APR News

According to the survey outcomes, 51.8% firms chose “expansion” for their direction of business development over the next one to two years (up by 7.2 points from the previous survey (44.6%)). The percentage of firms that chose “remain the same” was 47.0%, down by three points from the previous survey. Although the business outlook did not greatly improve, these results show signs of a bright future. On the whole, many firms have a positive outlook on business development in Russia.
Regarding future personnel plans, about 40% of respondents are planning to increase the number of local employees, while more than half chose “remain the same.” On the other hand, nearly 90% chose “remain the same” in terms of the number of Japanese expatriates, and only 2.4% chose “increase.” This shows a relative tendency to increase the number of local employees.
Presentation with JETRO survey outcomes (in English)

To enable the ordinary ASEAN citizens to tap on the opportunities that ASEAN brings, the ASEAN Secretariat and other entities associated with ASEAN discussed how to increase collaboration and synchronise efforts in expanding outreach.
The discussion focused on ASEAN branding, leveraging the 50th anniversary of ASEAN as a momentum to foster collaboration among ASEAN entities and amplify awareness to the citizens of ASEAN. In his remarks, AKP Mochtan, Deputy Secretary-General for Corporate and Community Affairs of ASEAN underlined the importance of human interest stories in order to show how ASEAN citizens’ lives are enhanced due to ASEAN uniqueness, diversity, inclusiveness and connectivity.
The retreat was attended by representatives from ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Foundation, ASEAN Centre of Energy, ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, ASEAN Business Advisory Council, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, ASEAN Institute for Green Economy and ASEAN Supreme Audit Institution. It was supported by the German Government in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat.
Press-release at the official ASEAN web-site

The ASEAN Mineral Awards is a biennial award established to honour ASEAN mining companies which have made outstanding contributions toward the promotion of environmentally and socially sustainable minerals development in the ASEAN region. The Awards recognise contributions involving actual impacts on community development, implications on ASEAN minerals supply, human resource development, productivity and resource efficiency, and actual measures to address health, safety and environmental performance.
ASEAN Secretariat invites the public to join the first ever ASEAN Mineral Awards and share success stories and achievements in responsible and sustainable development of ASEAN’s mineral resources.

The first meeting of the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) Committee was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 9 to 10 February, 2017 to discuss work plans and priorities for the next two years.
“The AQRF is a valuable translation tool that will enable comparison of qualifications across the ASEAN Member States. Not only does AQRF help us understand, within a lifelong learning framework, the education and training systems of the Member States but it also facilitates recognition of qualifications across the region for purposes of student and worker mobility,” said Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon Bautista, former Chairperson of the AQRF Task Force.

Kazakhstan continues to withstand challenges related to lower oil prices and slower growth in Russia, China and Europe. The authorities’ response – targeted fiscal support, exchange rate (ER) adjustment, strengthened domestic liquidity management, and structural reforms focusing on the business climate and public administration – has helped stabilize conditions. While growth slowed in 2016, a pickup is expected in 2017.

At the press-conference with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop of Australia on February 7, 2017, Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi pointed out that whether the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the TPP or other regional arrangements are all potential approaches for achieving a greater Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). When encountering a road rock, there is always another way to go.

This commitment is included in the ASEAN Economic Community 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan approved by ASEAN economic ministers on February 6, 2017.
In particular, the plan includes a commitment to implement Post 2015 ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Work Programme to enhance economic cooperation between ASEAN and Russia and enhance and expand ASEAN free trade agreements framework.

On February 3, 2017 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2016 Article IV consultation with Australia.
Australia has enjoyed robust growth despite the commodity price and mining investment bust.
Nevertheless, Australia has not been immune to some elements of the “new mediocre.” Wage and price pressures have been weak, underemployment has risen, and private business investment outside mining has been lackluster.

Russia, India and Brazil will be the most attractive countries for investors among the developing economies in 2017. This year, investors’ attention will be focused on countries where there is an improvement of the political climate and where the markets are less vulnerable to external factors, such as the inauguration of Donald Trump and Federal Reserve policy.
On first place among emerging markets is Russia. For investors who rely on low interest rates and buying government securities, the ruble has great potential. According to the analysts the Russian national currency has the potential to recover 26% of its value over the next 12 months, as the local economy may receive an additional positive boost from more expensive oil.

The EEC Board Member - Minister in charge of Economics and Financial Policy Timur Suleimenov and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Shamshad Akhtar discussed prospects for further cooperation between the EEC and the UNESCAP during the meeting in Moscow on December 12, 2016.