Sontirat mulls CPTPP membership. Thailand is studying the pros and cons of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) that is due to take effect on Dec 30, said the Commerce Ministry. Six out of the total 11 members of the CPTPP have already ratified the partnership, said Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong. Those countries are Mexico, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada and Australia, he said. (Bangkok Post, 04/11/18)

State enterprises drive economy. State enterprises invested Bt310bn in 9M18, +45%YoY, and were the main force driving the economy, according to the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo). (Bangkok Post, 05/11/18)

State to lead way with Bt30bn investments in EECi. The government will invest Bt30 billion in the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) zone and expects the private sector will follow its lead with around Bt100bn in investments in the zone under the 20 year-project. (The Nation, 08/11/18)

Power price up 1.2% next year. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will raise the electricity charge for the January to April period in 2019 to an average of Bt3.6396/kWh (unit), up from Bt3.5966 currently. (Bangkok Post, 08/11/18)

Concession bid winners head for the Cabinet. The Ministry of Energy will forward to the Cabinet the auction winners of Erawan and Bongkot petroleum concessions in the Gulf of Thailand next month, while planning to select state agencies or state enterprises to join in the investments with a 25% stake in each field. (The Nation, 09/11/18)

Indonesia’s 3Q18 GDP growth slows as exports fade. Indonesia’s economic growth slowed in the third quarter, losing momentum after the previous quarter’s pick up and pointing to tougher conditions for the Southeast Asian economy, which has struggled with outflows from its financial markets. (Reuters, 05/11/18)

U.S. reimposes Iran sanctions, Tehran decries ‘bullying’. The United States on Monday restored sanctions targeting Iran’s oil, banking and transportation sectors and threatened more action to stop its “outlaw” policies, steps the Islamic Republic called economic warfare and vowed to defy. (Reuters, 05/11/18)

Democrats to push for big infrastructure bill with ‘real money’ in 2019. The incoming head of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee wants the White House to back significant additional federal funds to rebuild crumbling U.S. roads, bridges and airports, as President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday a deal could be had. (Reuters, 08/11/18)

Japan to provide loan to help Malaysia battle debt problem. The leaders of Malaysia and Japan agreed Tuesday that Japan will issue yen-denominated bonds of up to 200bn yen (US$1.8bn) to help the Southeast Asian country battle its large government debt. (Bangkok Post, 06/11/18)

Fed leaves rates unchanged, says U.S. economy strong. The U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Thursday but remained on track to keep gradually tightening borrowing costs, as it pointed to a healthy economy that was marred only by a dip in the growth of business investment. (Reuters, 09/11/18)