January 23, 2026
Editor’s View: S&P Global forecasting just 27% renewables by 2030 against the Philippines’ 35% target exposes the gap between green energy auctions and operational reality. With 163 RE contracts terminated representing 18 GW of lost capacity, the issue isn’t ambition…it’s execution. Grid intermittency from solar pushes reliance back toward coal and gas for baseload power, whilst financing costs run 3%-4% higher than regional peers at 10%-11% WACC. Opening to 100% foreign ownership helps, but infrastructure bottlenecks and regulatory uncertainty remain deeper obstacles than capital availability.
Full article here: Philippines falling short of its RE targets, says S&P Global
January 23, 2026
Editor’s View: Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI addresses risks other regulators haven’t acknowledged yet – autonomous AI systems accessing sensitive data and executing real-world actions like payments. Announced at Davos by Minister Josephine Teo, the framework emphasises meaningful human oversight, accountability and risk-bounding measures whilst preserving innovation space. This isn’t theoretical governance; AI agents’ capacity for unauthorised actions creates genuine exposure. Singapore moving first gives it regulatory influence globally, particularly as financial institutions deploy agentic AI. The test is whether the framework proves workable enough for rapid adoption or becomes another compliance layer slowing deployment.
Full article here: Singapore launches framework to safeguard against rogue AI agents
January 22, 2026
Editor’s View: The IMF calling Indonesia “a global bright spot” with consistent 5%+ annual growth despite challenging external conditions validates Prabowo’s economic messaging at Davos. With inflation at 2%, budget deficit below 3% of GDP, and zero sovereign defaults, Indonesia’s macroeconomic fundamentals are genuinely solid. However, “bright spot” is a relative positioning in a difficult global environment, not exceptional performance. Prabowo’s confidence about accelerating growth requires execution on structural reforms and Danantara proving governance credibility. Investors distinguish between stable foundations and genuine acceleration. Indonesia has the former, delivering the latter demands more than fiscal discipline.
Full article here: IMF praises Indonesia’s economy, Prabowo sees faster growth
January 23, 2026
Editor’s View: The baht hitting five-year highs near 31 per dollar creates genuine economic pain for Thailand’s export-driven economy, with Finance Minister Ekniti warning every one-baht appreciation shaves 0.1-0.2 percentage points off GDP growth. With 2026 growth projected at just 2%, Thailand can’t afford further currency strength. The central bank, admitting forex intervention has minimal impact, reveals policy limits; speculative flows from gold trading and current-account surpluses overpower tools available. New rules for baht-denominated gold trading launching on January 29 seems like desperation more than strategy. The real bind is Thailand needs capital inflows to fund development but can’t tolerate the currency appreciation that accompanies them.
Full article here: Strong Baht Sparks Alarm Among Thailand’s Top Economic Officials
January 23, 2026
Editor’s View: Malaysia doubling minimum expatriate salaries to US$4,940 for senior managers and US$2,470 for skilled workers from June aims to boost local hiring but could backfire. Businesses reliant on foreign talent face sudden cost doubling whilst struggling to find qualified Malaysians for specialised roles. The policy assumes interchangeable labour markets – it doesn’t account for skill gaps, language requirements or regional expertise that expatriates provide. Firms now calculate whether maintaining Malaysian operations justifies doubled personnel costs or whether relocating to Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam makes more sense. Well-intentioned localisation that ignores market realities often achieves the opposite: companies leave, taking both expat and local jobs with them.
Full article here: Malaysia’s new expat salary rules dubbed ‘ridiculous’, stoking fears of talent drain
