Visa moves across the region this week, as China and Malaysia sign MoU to extend visa-free access for 5 years.

Whilst President Marcos in the Philippines signs an Executive Order authorising the issuance of the Digital Nomad Visa - but with a caveat that it will only be valid for nationals who also extend a digital nomad visa to Filipinos, limiting its efficacity from the off. Meanwhile, Thailand's PM orders an evaluation of the length of stay of its visa-free schemes.

The IMF downgrades the region's 2025 outlook vs its Oct 2024 forecasts, with Singapore seeing a drop of -0.5, Cambodia -1.8, Indonesia -0.4, Laos -1.0, Malaysia -0.3, Philippines -0.6, Thailand -1.2 and Vietnam -0.9.

Planes seem to be increasingly a pawn in the game of tariffs, as Thai Airways confirms its purchase of 45 Boeing 787-9s.

The Indonesian Transportation Minister is urging local airlines to try to score some of the Chinese Boeing jets, whilst MAG warns that operating costs could increase by 25% due to supply chain issues and the tariffs.

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