BANGKOK -- Thailand's central bank left its key interest rate unchanged for a second consecutive meeting on Wednesday as policymakers expect the economy to expand faster than anticipated, despite facing low and uneven growth across different sectors.
The Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee voted unanimously to maintain the one-day repurchase rate at 1 percent, keeping borrowing costs at their lowest level since September 2022, to support ongoing economic recovery under an accommodative stance. (Thailand-Bank-Rate)
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JAKARTA -- Indonesia is moving toward a circular economy in the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry to address challenges related to mineral supply, decarbonization, and sustainable resources, an official said Wednesday.
Ahmad Faisal Suralaga, director of downstreaming strategy and governance at the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry, said the government is no longer focusing only on extracting raw materials for battery production, but also promoting recycling. (Indonesia-EV-Battery)
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TOKYO -- The Japanese government is considering nationalizing factories that produce defense-related equipment such as ammunition, and plans to submit a relevant bill to parliament next year, Kyodo News reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The report said the measure is intended to ensure that Japan can sustain combat operations in the event of a contingency. (Japan-Nationalize Defense Plants)
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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's central bank said on Wednesday it would continue to step up measures aimed at encouraging foreign exchange (forex) inflows and supporting the ringgit.
The measures, including the Qualified Resident Investor program and ongoing engagements with government-linked companies, government-linked investment companies and corporates to repatriate and convert overseas earnings, will remain in place and be further intensified, Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) Financial Markets Committee (FMC) said in a statement. (Malaysia-Forex) Enditem
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