Jan 21, 2025

I heard that ASEAN has revealed a new 2025 agenda at the Foreign Ministers Retreat. The retreat, held on January 19, discussed the coming regional agenda for 2025, marking the first major meeting under Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship year. The retreat also addressed key developments and details in ASEAN’s evolving agenda for 2025 on regional and global issues. This comes amid a flurry of meetings in the first month of 2025, with ASEAN digital ministers convening in Bangkok for meetings and ASEAN leaders attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. The agenda includes priorities such as progress on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which by one count could double the region’s digital economy by 2030.

In addition to this, the World Economic Forum issued a global risks report ahead of its annual meeting, examining risk assessment through various lenses and addressing geopolitical tensions in different regions. Indonesia also intends to maintain robust engagement with the US, acknowledging the contradiction of interests between some BRICS members and the US. Furthermore, there are concerns and underexplored opportunities for mitigation related to Cambodia’s China-backed billion-dollar Funan Techo Canal, as suggested in an article in Nature.

Lastly, the SaaS Metrics Foundation program is enrolling for its February cohort, offering bonuses and discounts for early enrollment. The program aims to simplify revenue recognition and help SaaS companies optimize their R&D budget and sales compensation plans. It also provides insights into fundraising events and offers the opportunity to join a digital SaaS community and course.

That’s all for now on the latest news in the financial domain.

Stay Well!