AnewZ Morning Brief - 17 March, 2026
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Japanese retailers Aeon and Sumitomo are set to significantly expand their operations in Vietnam, with plans to increase their presence and tap into the country's growing consumer market.
Aeon, Japan’s largest retail group, plans to expand its presence in Vietnam, aiming to grow the number of hypermarkets and general merchandise stores from 12 in February 2025 to nearly 100 by 2030. Sumitomo, another major Japanese conglomerate, is also planning to open around 10 supermarkets annually in Vietnam.
With a young population of over 100 million, Vietnam’s consumer market is expected to grow rapidly in Southeast Asia, attracting foreign investment. Aeon’s data highlights that processed foods and bakery items make up 20% of food sales in Vietnam, compared to 13% in Japan.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border crossing continues on Sunday (15 March), ensuring smooth and efficient transit for those arriving.
Kazakh voters have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. Exit polls showed that around 87% of voters have backed the new constitution.
The prevailing security situation in the region has done little to deter entrepreneurs from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) who continue to view Dubai as a premier and safe location for business.
China has raised the retail prices of petrol and diesel after global oil prices climbed sharply. The country’s top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced the move after reviewing international oil market trends.
Global financial markets remained on edge on Friday as the escalating war involving the United States, Israel and Iran continued to rattle investors, fuelling volatility in stocks and sending energy prices sharply higher.
China’s top leadership has unveiled a new push to turn advanced technologies into large-scale industrial priorities as part of the country’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, which will guide economic and social development from 2026 to 2030.
The European Commission sees no immediate impact on the European Union's security of oil supply from the escalating conflict in the Middle East, it said in an email to EU governments, seen by Reuters on Monday (2 March).
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