Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam are increasingly shaping ASEAN’s long-term economic trajectory. According to Juwai IQI Global Chief Economist Shan Saeed, their greatest strength lies not in competing with one another, but in the complementary roles they play across manufacturing, finance, technology, resources and services. By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH KUALA LUMPUR,…
With GDP per capita at US$15,085 and the economy expanding at 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, Malaysia is closer than ever to high-income status. But the journey from here to US$20,000 per capita will require more than growth — it demands structural reform, productivity gains, and unwavering institutional quality. Juwai IQI…
By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 – The US-Iran accord was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring months of conflict to an end. However, renewed uncertainty over the status of the strategic waterway almost immediately raised questions about the durability of the agreement and highlighted a broader geopolitical reality:…
FROM THE EDITOR – This edition of Global Dispatch, dated June 22, 2026, covers the week ending June 22, incorporating the latest developments from the first round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland, the fragile Lebanon ceasefire that nearly derailed them, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a series of significant scientific breakthroughs. All…
BY SHAN SAEED KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — During my visit to Indonesia in April 2026, one observation became increasingly clear: the future prosperity of nations will be determined not merely by their natural resources, industrial capacity, or technological prowess, but by how effectively they develop and deploy their human capital—particularly that of women. Across the…
