Download Southeast Asia - Mr Dean's Social Studies Webpage

The Economy and Environment
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Fertile plains and river valleys major
source of agriculture
Agriculture is the leading economic
activity
Rice main crop
Thailand and Vietnam world’s top
exporters of rice
3/4 of all workers in Laos, Cambodia
farmers
Flooded rivers irrigate paddies (flooded
fields)
Grow two crops a year, little modern
machinery used
Rubber is a cash crop in Thailand,
Indonesia and Malaysia
Sugarcane, coffee and spices other
regional exports
Many species of fish
found in rivers across
region
 Fish farming important
part of economy
 Southeast Asians
consume twice the
world average of
seafood
 Overfishing is a
concern
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Forests and Mines
 Major industry on mainland
 Myanmar is the major world supplier of
teakwood
 Industry has contributed to deforestation
 Mineral deposits Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand
 Malaysia world leading exporter of tin
 Oil deposits Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia
 Oil accounts for nearly all of Brunei’s
export income
 Indonesia is the regions largest petroleum
exporter
 Pipeline construction growth industry
Papua’s Resources
 Indonesia controls western half
of New Guinea
 Government has set area aside
for resource development
 Timber and mineral deposits
abundant
 Foreign countries come in and
extract resources but do little
to invest in health, education
or public services
Industry
 Rapidly growing, people leaving
farming for urban manufacturing
jobs
 During last part of 20th century
there was an economic boom
based on natural resources, cheap
labor and foreign investment
 Debts and financial corruption led
to economic crisis in 1997
 Countries have had to balance
growth with economic
responsibility
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Singapore SE Asia’s most developed economy
Ports, harbors and international trading links make it a major manufacturing
center
Free Trade Zone established 1965, attracted foreign investment
Moved into oil refining, electronics
To keep skilled workers country has invested in education
Malaysia diversified economy,
Rubber and palm tree oil major exports, also manufactures electronics and
building supplies
Developed heavy industry (steel making, auto assembly)
World’s leading exporter of microchips
Less Industrialized Countries
 Indonesia- late 1990’s political instability affected economic growth
 Major supplier of raw materials for world markets
 Labor force lacks skills for industrialization, needs foreign aid for
development
 Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar developing even slower
 Wars, political changes keeping countries from developing
 Laos landlocked, remains largely agricultural
 Communist policies to collectivize agriculture reduces incentive to get
ahead
 Rich in mineral resources, lacks modern technology to develop
 Vietnam growing population, inadequate infrastructure slow
development
 Literate population shows potential for growth
 Natural beauty of coastline potential for tourism
 Cambodia political problems slowed growth, lack of skilled workers
 Myanmar self imposed isolation prevents economic progress
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Physical geography affects transportation
and communication across region
 Water transportation the most common way
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to move people and goods
Shipping is an important industry in the
region
Quality of land transportation depends on the
degree of development in the country
More successful economies have better
transportation networks
Highways and railroads generally link major
cities
The physical geography of rural areas
make building transportation networks
difficult
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Communication networks
depend on level of
industrialization
Singapore most well
developed
communication networks
Use of the internet and
wireless communication is
growing
Governments typically
control radio and TV
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Countries in SE Asia are becoming more
interdependent
Organizations formed to promote trade,
development and economic stability
Seen as an alternative to foreign investment
Asian Development Bank (ADB), Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
ADB provides loans to support development for
agriculture, transportation and industrial projects
ASEAN’s main goals to promote economic
growth, cooperation among region’s countries
(free trade, reduction of tariffs)
Members try to balance diverse nation goals with
regional growth
2004 signed a trade agreement with Chinese
ASEAN member countries are working to form a
common economic market (like the EU) by 2015