Malaysia is grappling with workforce challenges despite a low unemployment rate, Deputy Finance Minister Sim Tze Tzin revealed during a recent press conference. These challenges include mismatches between graduate qualifications and industry needs, high underemployment, and insufficient job opportunities for skilled graduates.

Vietnam's corporate bond market continues to navigate significant challenges despite a surge in issuances in 2024. A recent report by the Vietnam Investors Service and Credit Rating Agency (VIS Rating) reveals a mixed outlook, with growing debt burdens and repayment risks posing substantial threats to the financial ecosystem.

The Thai Cabinet has approved a carbon tax of 200 baht per ton of carbon emissions, Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul announced on Tuesday. The tax, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, will be incorporated into the existing oil tax structure, ensuring it does not increase retail oil prices or burden the industrial sector.