Economy

14 October 2025
Singapore's government said "Growth was weighed down by output declines in the biomedical manufacturing and general manufacturing cluster" . (Photo by Fumito Akiyama)
Malaysian Economy Minister Amir Hamzah, center, says a strategic partnerships with Mizuho Bank will reinforce the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone's role in driving sustainable and inclusive development, pictured on Oct. 1. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Finance

Asian banks race to join Malaysia's economic zone initiative

Mizuho follows UOB and others in backing companies investing in Johor

7 October 2025
The Johor-Singapore Causeway with a traffic jam heading from the Malaysian state of Johor in 2020.
Transportation

Malaysia-Singapore economic zone spurs call for convenient transportation

Cross-border travelers frustrated by lack of direct links fueling demand for illegal shuttles

5 October 2025
After decades of slow progress, the development of the ASEAN Power Grid, which will connect the 10 members of the bloc, is gathering momentum. (Nikkei illustration)
ASEAN Money

ASEAN's power grid dream gathers pace after decades of inertia

Decarbonization drive and industrial shift add urgency to integration

30 September 2025
Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong discusses U.S. trade tariffs at an economic task force meeting in the city-state on April 16.
Trump tariffs

US tariffs threaten $3.1bn of Singapore's pharma exports

Drug companies seeking clarification on whether qualify for exemption: deputy PM

27 September 2025
Companies, workers and investors worldwide are trying to understand what AI means for the labor market.
Technology

AI will be a 'real challenge' for employment: Chinese private equity CEO

Investors weigh concerns and opportunities as technology shakes up labor market

18 September 2025
Singapore, which relies on natural gas for more than 90% of its electricity, aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Energy

Singapore considers nuclear power to ease reliance on natural gas

City-state eyes small modular reactors with net-zero emissions target

9 September 2025
Ships crowd in waters off Singapore, where piracy and armed robbery have surged this year. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Crime

Piracy and armed robbery quadruples in Strait of Malacca region

Congestion slows ships as Mideast tensions push more traffic through Southeast Asia chokepoint

20 August 2025
Pedestrians walk down a road in Nihonbashi, central Tokyo.
Opinion

Asia's job markets can weather global economic uncertainty

From Tokyo to Shanghai, companies are rethinking hiring and betting on resilience

20 August 2025
Singapore's export-driven manufacturing sector expanded 5.2% from a year earlier during the three months though June.
Economy

Singapore lifts full-year GDP growth projection to 1.5%-2.5%

Economy expands 4.4% in second quarter as 'front-loading' provides boost

12 August 2025
ATMs from DBS, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. and United Overseas Bank are used in Singapore on March 14. Southeast Asia's three largest banks are bracing for "second order" effects of America's protectionist moves. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Finance

Singapore banks' profit highs fade as interest crunch mounts

DBS, UOB and OCBC grapple with fallen rates amid Trump tariff pressures

7 August 2025
OCBC CEO Helen Wong, who is retiring at the end of the year, says the Trump tariffs are having an impact on the Singapore-based lender.
Finance

Singapore's OCBC flags tariff headwinds as Q2 profit falls

Bank's income from interest drops as CEO prepares to step down

1 August 2025
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tells parliament on July 31 that he expects U.S. President Donald Trump to announce Malaysia's "reciprocal" tariff rate the following day.
Trump tariffs

Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia set to strike last-minute US tariff deals

Trump expected to announce Malaysian and Thai rates on Friday

31 July 2025
Economists surveyed by Reuters were split over the Singapore central bank's next move, with half predicting easing and the other half foreseeing no change. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Economy

Singapore keeps monetary policy unchanged despite US tariff risks

Central bank maintains stance as uncertainties loom

30 July 2025
Key ASEAN economies -- including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia -- are still scrambling to secure a tariff deal with the U.S. ahead of President Donald Trump's Aug. 1 deadline. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Trump tariffs

Trump tariff limbo blights Singapore, Thailand as ASEAN states deal

Malaysia, Cambodia also face uncertainty ahead of Aug. 1 deadline

24 July 2025
A view of the Tanjong Pagar and Brani container terminal in Singapore.
Economy

Singapore Q2 GDP growth ticks up to 4.3%

City-state expects 0% to 2% expansion for 2025 as US tariff looms

14 July 2025
Chief Investment Officer Rohit Sipahimalani says Temasek will be "much more careful" in investing in companies dependent on exports. (Temasek)
Finance

Temasek to keep investment strategy despite Trump tariffs

Singapore investor to focus on large domestic markets after portfolio value hits record

9 July 2025
A shopkeeper waits for customers at a shopping mall in Bangkok. The country's consumer price index has fallen for three straight months through June.
Inflation

Falling inflation in Southeast Asia fuels fears over demand

Thailand logs 3rd straight month of price drops as economic concerns weigh

9 July 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 24.
Opinion

Singapore must engage U.S. and China while keeping neighbors onside

Indonesia and Malaysia are anxious about city-state's deeper security ties with Beijing

7 July 2025
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Podcast: News Roundup

Singapore bets on expansion of economic engine Changi Airport

Tune in to Nikkei Asia's podcast, bringing the region's key news to global listeners

4 July 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 24. (China Daily via Reuters)
24 June 2025
An artist's impression of Changi Airport's fifth terminal, work on which began in May.
ASEAN Money

Changi Airport charts new course as Singapore's economic 'lifeline'

Terminal 5 aims to keep city-state's airport ahead of the competition

24 June 2025
Malaysian authorities and business executives discuss the progress of the special economic zone between Malaysia and Singapore at the Nikkei Forum Medini, Johor 2025, on June 18. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Business trends

Trump tariffs fuel interest in Malaysia's economic zone with Singapore

Johor agency receives 400 investment queries from around world, says CEO

18 June 2025
Filipino students and nuns take part in the One Billion Rising global campaign to end violence against women and advance gender equality, at St. Scholastica's College in Manila on Feb.. The Philippines has one of East Asia's highest gender equality levels, according to the World Economic Forum.
Gender

Philippines, Singapore gender equality high in Asia, but region lags Europe: WEF

Report shows global gap expected to take 123 years to close

12 June 2025
ShopBack has partnered with Starbucks to offer cashback rewards via its QR-code payment system at more than 130 outlets across Singapore. (Photo by Mayuko Tani)
Startups

Singapore's ShopBack rewards app scoops up inflation-hit consumers

Company expands partners beyond e-commerce sites, from groceries to eateries

11 June 2025
Indonesia has approved a $1.5 billion economic aid package that will provide cash handouts and rice.
Economy

Indonesia to hand out cash, rice as Southeast Asia girds for US tariffs

Thailand and Malaysia also ready assistance as 90-day pause is set to expire

11 June 2025
Children at a holiday celebration in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Vietnamese government is trying to ease child-rearing burdens by lowering education costs.
Demography

Vietnam scraps two-child policy as Southeast Asia births drop

Economic growth may sputter as 'demographic dividend' disappears

7 June 2025
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong speaks during a future of Asia in Tokyo on May 29. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
The Future of Asia 2025

Singapore deputy PM Gan calls for 'new alliances' amid U.S. tariffs

City-state's tariff negotiator warns rules-based trade order being 'undermined'

29 May 2025
Container ships at Jakarta International Container Terminal. Southeast Asian countries are offering to buy more U.S. products in tariff negotiations with Washington. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Trump tariffs

ASEAN countries struggle to resolve Trump's 'divide and conquer' tariffs

Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia on U.S. priority talks list but no firm deals yet

28 May 2025
People walk through Singapore's business district in April: The city-state maintained its GDP projections for the year, but noted Trump's uncertain tariff policies clouded overall regional outlook. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
Economy

Singapore keeps 2025 GDP growth target despite Trump tariff pain

City-state maintains upper end of projections at 2%, logging 3.9% growth in Q1

22 May 2025