42nd ASEAN Summit

President Prabowo Subianto will fly to Russia next week to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and attend several economic events in the European country, snubbing an invitation to attend the Group of Seven Summit in Canada.

2.INDONESIA OPENS US$12.3 BLN IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO GLOBAL INVESTORS -- JAKARTA GLOBE

The Indonesian government is inviting global investors to participate in national infrastructure projects worth approximately Rp 200 trillion (US$12.3 billion), with opportunities spanning sectors such as roads, housing, food, and renewable energy.

LAOS

1 COSTLY ELECTRICITY PRICE HURTING ECONOMY -- VIENTIANE TIMES

Lawmakers are urging the government to reconsider the recent increase in electricity prices, as it has become a burden to households and businesses, and is hurting economic growth. The government adjusted electricity tariffs to ease the pressure on the national power supplier from debts.

 2. URGENT NEED TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE -- VIENTIANE TIMES

The National Assembly highlighted the rising school dropout rates and healthcare quality. Representatives want the government to allocate additional budget to improve the quality of education and impose tighter regulations on entertainment outlets and beauty salons that offer cosmetic procedures.

 MYANMAR

 1. CLASSICAL MUSIC EYES UN’S INTANGIBLE HERITAGE LIST -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Officials are working to include Mahagita, Myanmar’s classical music, in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Myanmar has an inventory of about 2,200 cultural heritage items.

2. AFFORDABLE RICE FOR CONSUMERS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

The Myanmar Rice Federation announced that rice traders will sell rice at affordable prices every Wednesday and Thursday in Lanmadaw Township. Retailers are not entitled to make a profit of more than eight per cent of the market prices.

VIETNAM

1. REMOVING RED TAPES IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR -- VIETNAM PLUS

The Ministry of Construction aims to streamline processes to make the building sector more business-friendly. They will review issues such as the issuance of construction permits, the speed of project approvals, and overlapping regulations to enhance the sector's efficiency.

2. RISE IN RUSSIAN TOURISTS TO VIETNAM -- VIETNAM PLUS

More Russians are choosing Vietnam for their vacation and the numbers are forecast to hit 6.4 million this summer. The launch of new direct and charter flights, the strengthening of the Russian rouble and lower airfares are fuelling Russian-Vietnam tourism growth.

-- BERNAMA