ASEAN Foreign Direct Investment News: ASEAN-China FTA Expanding

Welcome to the September edition of Dezan Shira & Associates’ ASEAN Regional Update, highlighting business and regulatory news in Singapore and the ASEAN region.

In this update we will examine FDI into Indonesia, Thailand’s new inheritance tax, an expanded China-ASEAN FTA, and new infrastructure links for India, Myanmar and Thailand.

 

Indonesia’s FDI for First Half of 2015 Best in ASEAN

Earlier this month, the Indonesian government unveiled statistics showing that the country received more foreign direct investment (FDI) than any other ASEAN member state. While Indonesia has faced some difficulties with the rupiah like other regional currencies losing some of its value against the dollar, the country remains a highly attractive investment destination.

Thailand Unveils New Inheritance Tax

Thailand recently announced the planned implementation of a new inheritance tax. Due to take effect from the beginning of next year, the inheritance tax will impose a levy on inherited assets over 100 million baht (US $2.8 million), with differing rates applying to direct descendants and non-descendants. Additionally, a gift tax was announced alongside the inheritance tax. The new levies reflect the government’s desire to boost revenue and social spending.

ASEAN and China Announce Expanded FTA to be Completed by End of Year

Officials from China and ASEAN both announced lately last month that they expect negotiations over an expansion of the monumental 2010 ASEAN-China free trade agreement (FTA) to be completed by the end of November. Building of the success of the original FTA, the expansion seeks to further reduce tariffs on a wider array of goods and services.

New Section of Three-Nation Highway Links India, Myanmar and Thailand

Earlier this month a new section highway along the East-West economic corridor of the Greater Mekong Sub-region was opened. Once entirely completed, the 3,200 km highway will link Moreh, India with Maesot, Thailand, thereby linking up with existing Thai and Indian highway systems, and incorporating Myanmar (a country sorely in need of infrastructure development) into a larger, pan-Asian transportation network. The highway project is an important facet of Indian Prime Minister Modi’s look east policy, and will serve as a spur in the regional integration of South and Southeast Asia.

Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)

BSP

Regulations for 2013 Contains relevant economic and financial regulations issued by the BSP.

CIRCULAR Contains BSP circulars issued during the period.

779-01.09.2013 Amendment to Regulation on Single Borrower’s Limit

780-01.10.2013 Syrian Pound Currency Exchange Facility

781-01.15.2013 Basel III Implementing Guidelines on Minimum Capital Requirements

782-01.21.2013 Amendments to Appendix 45 (Notes on Microfinance) of Section X361 of the Manual of Regulations for Banks

783-01.21.2013Amendments to Regulations on Relocation and Voluntary Closure/Sale of Branches/Other Banking Offices

784-01.25.2013 Amendments on Exclusions from Single Borrower’s Loan (SBL) Limit and Equity Investment Ceilings

785-01.25.2013 Amendment to the Regulations on Individual and Aggregate Ceilings on Loans, Other Credit Accommodations and Guarantees to Directors, Officers, Stockholders and Their Related Interests

CIRCULAR LETTERS Contains non-regulatory issuances of the BSP addressed to particular entities or categories of institutions.

CL-2013-001 01.08.2013Publication/Posting of Balance Sheet (BS) and Consolidated Balance Sheet (CBS)

CL-2013-002 01.08.2013 Publication/Posting of Statement of Condition and Consolidated Statement of Condition

CL-2013-003 01.08.2013 BPI Leasing Corporation – Revocation/Cancellation of Quasi-Banking License

CL-2013-004 01.16.2013 Approval by the CDA of the Plan and Articles of Consolidation of First Community Cooperative Bank of Misamis Occidental, Cooperative Bank of Davao del Sur & Cooperative Bank of Surigao del Sur to be known as Consolidated Cooperative Bank

CL-2013-005 01.17.2013 Approved Applications for New Banking Offices and Opened Banking Offices during the 3rd Quarter of 2012

CL-2013-006 01.18.2013 Lost Bangko Sentral Registration Document (BSRD)

CL-2013-007 01.23.2013 First Malayan Leasing and Finance Corporation – Change of Corporate Name and Adoption of Business Name and Style

CL-2013-008 01.29.2013 Lost Bangko Sentral Registration Documents (BSRDs)

MEMORANDA Contains guidelines or procedural requirements, clarifications, explanations, and interpretations of provisions of laws or of BSP circulars.

M-2013-001 01.14.2013 Regulatory Relief for Banks Affected by Tropical Depression “Quinta”

M-2013-002 01.11.2013 Guidelines in Assessing the Quality of Corporate Governance in BSP-Supervised Financial Institutions

M-2013-003 01.24.2013 MB Resolution No. 119.A dated 24 January 2013 Placement of the Capitol City Bank, Inc., A Rural Bank Under Receivership

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)

UntitledERC CASE NO. 2001-990 IN MATTER OF TE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE UNBUNDLED RATES PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.9136

ERC CASE NO. 2009-049 MC IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION, WITH PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF A CEASE AND DESIST/STATUS QUO ORDER

ERC CASE NO. 2011-064 MC NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION (NPC), FROILAN A. TAMPINGCO, JUAN CARLOS J. GUADARRAMA, ALFREDO L. LICUDINE, JR. AND CYNTHIA R. ENCARNACION,

ERC CASE NO. 2011-068 RC IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR RECOVERY OF ACTUAL FUEL AND LUBRICANT COSTS INCURRED FOR PERIOD MARCH 15, 2010 TO JANUARY 2011

ERC CASE NO. 2011-088 RC IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF: A) MAXIMUM AVERAGE PRICE (MAP) FOR THE REGULATORY YEAR 2012 AND B) TRANSLATION OF THE MAP (RY 2012) INTO A DISTRIBUTION RATE STRUCTURE FOR MERALCO’S VARIOUS CUSTOMER CLASSES, WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

ERC CASE NO. 2012-029 MC IN THE MATTER OF VIOLATION OF ERC ORDERS, RULES AND REGULATIONS

ERC CASE NO. 2012-042 MC IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP, OWN AND OPERATE DEDICATED POINT-TO-POINT LIMITED FACILITIES TO CONNECT TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY (MERALCO), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

ERC CASE NO. 2012-061 MC IN THE MATTER OF VIOLATION OF ERC ORDERS, RULES AND REGULATIONS

ERC CASE NO. 2012-066 MC IN THE MATTER OF VIOLATION OF ERC ORDERS, RULES AND REGULATIONS

ERC CASE NO. 2012-109 RC IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE REVENUE (MAR) FOR CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2013 AND THE PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE SCHEME (PIS) UNDER THE RULES FOR SETTING THE TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

ERC CASE NO. 2012-056 MC IN THE MATTER OF VIOLATION OF ERC ORDERS, RULES AND REGULATIONS

National Electrification Administration (NEA)

FINAL SUBMISSION OF SEP / BLEP MASTERLIST (2013-2015)                                                                                                                                                                      This refers to the series of Sitio Electrification Program (SEP)/Barangay Line Enhancement Program (BLEP) Regional Workshops held during the last quarter of 2012, wherein, the ECs’ sitio  focal persons have tentatively programmed various areas for funding/implemetation.

For more details, please read the following attached pdf file from NEA.

Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)

SECNotice is hereby given that the Commission En Banc in its meeting of January 13 2011 resolved to adopt the following standards’ as part of its rules and regulations: Read more…

Amendment of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 8, s. of 2000

The Commission En Banc in its meeting on December 20, 2012, resolved to modii)’ Memorandum Circular NO.8, s. of 2000 on “Records Services for Government Agencies “, to read as follows:

AMENDMENTS OF RULES PERTAINING TO THE DATE OF SUBMISSION OF THE
INTERIM SEMI-ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Read more…