ASEAN Economic News Brief: May 26, 2026

Vietnam: The green economy is expected to contribute over 10% of GDP by 2030, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. Investments in green infrastructure and smart technology are rising. Laos: To restore forest resources, the government plans to plant trees on 50,000 hectares this year. Singapore: Core inflation slowed to 1.4% in April, but the MAS raised its 2026 forecast to 1.5-2.5% due to energy cost pressures from the Middle East. Philippines: Auto sales dropped 19% in April due to high oil prices, while EV sales quadrupled. Myanmar: Export revenue from pulses, corn, and sesame reached $1.8 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Malaysia: Middle East conflict has caused logistics costs to surge by 50-80%, impacting agriculture and aviation. Thailand: Amazon plans to invest $33 billion in ASEAN infrastructure by 2030. Cambodia: Hun Sen met with a Korean delegation to discuss agricultural investment. Indonesia: Kao Indonesia warned of potential stagflation due to currency depreciation and weak demand.