Economy

31 October 2025
ASEAN leaders welcome East Timor's accession to the group in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26, some 14 years after the nation of 1.4 million people submitted its application, aiming to use membership to open up trading opportunities.
East Timor, Southeast Asia's youngest nation and one of its poorest, relies heavily on an oil fund to support the economy. The country's leaders tell Nikkei Asia of plans to develop other sectors. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
Economy

East Timor faces uphill task to cut oil dependence and create jobs

PM cites plan to set up National Development Bank to support new priority sectors

23 October 2025
Students protest near the parliamentary complex in Dili, East Timor, on Sept. 25. "It's important for the youth, anywhere in the world, to take a stand against injustice," one said. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
Politics

Protests roil East Timor as economic dissatisfaction grows

Wealth gap, injustice fuel student-led rallies in Southeast Asia's youngest nation

30 September 2025
Truong My Lan attends a trial in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Apr. 11. The property tycoon was sentenced to death after being convicted of financial fraud.
Your Week in Asia

Vietnam death penalty case, China business gauge, India rate decision

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

1 December 2024
Jose Ramos-Horta declares victory in East Timor's presidential election in Dili on April 21.
Interview

East Timor's president-elect says ASEAN membership a top priority

Ramos-Horta won Tuesday's presidential election with 62% of the vote

21 April 2022
A vendor waits for customers at a traditional market in Dili on Apr. 16: there are no income streams of note.
Opinion

How East Timor went from democratic success to failed petro-state

Hunger and hopelessness will persist without a complete economic overhaul

17 October 2020
Boys watch an Australian Navy ship maneuver off the coast of Dili, the capital of East Timor: the country's long-held dream to create a domestic petroleum industry is in jeopardy.
Opinion

COVID-19 wipes out East Timor's dreams of oil and gas riches

Chinese investment the only hope for project championed by Xanana Gusmao

26 September 2020
With exports and domestic consumption crashing, China, the world's second largest economy, could be on course for losses of up to $1.6 trillion this year, according to the ADB. 
Economy

ADB warns coronavirus threatens to chop 10% off global output

Bank says fiscal and monetary responses needed immediately to soften fallout

15 May 2020
A bridge construction site of the Bar-Boljare highway, pictured in June 2018: for Montenegro any concerns were far outweighed by the potential economic benefit of the new road.
Opinion

For developing world, Belt and Road Initiative is best deal around

China's infrastructure offer supports economic growth in Europe, Africa and Asia

6 May 2020
Tourist and school buses are seen at a parking lot near Kwai Chung Container Terminal in Hong Kong, April 1: The novel coronavirus outbreak has devastated the territory's tourism industry.
Economy

Pandemic to cut Asian growth to 2.2%, worst since 1998 crisis: ADB

Thailand, Hong Kong and seven other economies to shrink, China to slow sharply

3 April 2020
A child wears a mask in Thailand slum. The World Bank's forecast of a "third shock" could devastate economic growth and increase poverty across developing Asia. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Interview

World Bank warns of 'third shock' after coronavirus and trade war

Developing Asia urged to address expected poverty surge, financial distress

31 March 2020
Foreign students in Japan are allowed to work in unskilled-labor positions, such as convenience store work, for up to 28 hours per week. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Japan immigration

Japan intensifies crackdown on student visa overstayers

Number of countries subject to stricter checks to increase tenfold

11 February 2020
Greece has rejected China's plan to build an additional cargo terminal at Piraeus port amid concerns about growing Beijing influence.
Belt and Road

China drops $11bn anchors to expand Maritime Silk Road

State-owned operators Cosco and China Merchants dominate decade of spending

5 January 2020
Cambodian authorities in June ordered the destruction of Bun Kim Long's 80 pigs. Like many smallholder pig raisers across Asia, her business is in tatters. (photo by Shaun Turton)
Agriculture

African swine fever wipes out Asia's backyard pig farmers

Outbreak forcing a shift to commercial operations with biosecurity resources

11 October 2019
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