Future Southeast Asia News [22 Oct 2025]

The Future Southeast Asia Newsletter features transport and urban development news in Southeast Asia, edited by James Clark.

Future Southeast Asia articles

Latest article

• Batam, not Bali, should be the financial hub of Indonesia

Indonesia has proposed to turn Bali into a financial hub, but Batam would be a more suitable location.

Recent articles

• Southeast Asia Railways Report (2025) (Premium)

Brunei's Trans-Borneo Railway connections, Indonesia plans high-speed rail to Surabaya, Vientiane to Vietnam and Pakse by train, Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link on track, more delays for Thailand's high-speed projects though regional lines progressing, Vietnam's ambitious rail plans but still no new lines under construction.

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News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• ‘Major milestone’: Techo International officially inaugurated [The Phnom Penh Post]

• OCIC announces $100M waterway for new airport connectivity [Kiripost]

"Techo International Airport is slated to become a major transport hub after OCIC announced a planned $100 million waterway connecting it to the Bassac River, Funan Techo Canal, Kep and beyond."

• Old Phnom Penh Airport to be transformed into a park [Kiripost]

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Indonesia to build giant sea wall, protecting 50 mln people: Prabowo [Antara News]

• Whoosh, you are trapped (archive) [The Jakarta Post]

"Regardless of official statements, the state budget has borne, and will continue to bear, the consequences of the initial miscalculation of the Jakarta-Bandung high speed railway."

• High-speed rail debt must not delay Jakarta-Surabaya expansion: AHY [Antara News]

• Doubts over Bali’s readiness to become a financial hub (archive) [The Jakarta Post]

"The government has set its sights on turning Bali into a global financial hub as it seeks to move forward with the family office plan thought up by the previous presidential administration, but there are doubts as to whether the resort island is cut out for such a role."

• Indonesia’s Bali subway plan stalls over investor concerns and feasibility (archive) [SCMP]

• Jakarta to remove long-abandoned monorail columns by 2026 (archive) [The Jakarta Post]

🇱🇦 Laos

• Work to start on Vientiane-Hanoi Expressway Section Two, completion expected by 2030 [The Laotian Times]

• Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to open in December: Phiphat [The Nation]

• Laos to upgrade National Road No. 9 in Savannakhet, connecting Laos, Thailand, Vietnam. [The Laotian Times]

• Japan’s support to Laos reaches US$370 million in six years [The Star]

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Penang lost out in undersea tunnel project, court told [New Straits Times]

• Kuching's first KUTS ART station takes shape in Stutong as project gears for 2026 final quarter completion [Kuching Borneo]

 🇵🇭 Philippines

• DoTr completes pre-feasibility study for Mindanao Railway Project [Philippine News Agency]

• Five firms express interest in North-South rail contract [BusinessWorld]

• 'Ang bagal': Biz group piles pressure on Marcos admin to resolve flood control mess [ABS-CBN News]

🇸🇬 Singapore

• 10.8km of cycling paths in Toa Payoh completed [Land Transport Authority]

🇹🇭 Thailand

• High-speed rail linking Thailand’s three airports on brink of collapse [Khaosod English]

• Transport ministry halts plan to relocate three major bus terminals to Bang Sue Grand Station [The Nation]

• PM green lights new committee to drive electric train fare reform [Bangkok Post]

• Thailand and Laos advance railway bridge linking Nong Khai and Vientiane to boost regional logistics [The Nation]

• Thailand is spooked by Vietnam’s ascent – but what’s scarier is Bangkok’s lack of big ideas [Monocle]

• Phuket eyes transport hub status [Bangkok Post]

"Nine new projects set to improve mobility."

🇹🇱 Timor-Leste

• East Timor expects construction of first large solar plant to start next year [Reuters]

• Improving Timor-Leste’s transport infrastructure: ADB focuses on resilience [Funds for NGOs]

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Nha Rong Wharf area awaits renewal as HCMC scraps housing license, plans new park [VnExpress]

"A planned housing project near the historic Nha Rong Wharf in Ho Chi Minh City's Xom Chieu Ward is set to be halted to make way for a public park and widening of Nguyen Tat Thanh Street."

• HCM City targets full metro network within decade [Viet Nam News]

"Within 10 years, we will complete the urban rail network."

• HCM City, Dong Nai propose integrated metro system to connect major airports [VietNamNet Global]

• Vietnam inaugurates world's 2nd largest waste-to-energy plant in Hanoi [VnExpress]

• Hanoi launches urgent investment plan to combat flooding [VietNamNet Global]

• $150M Hoi An resort complex set for bank auction to recover debts [VnExpress]

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James Clark (LinkedIn)