Economy and commerce
Investment
Sanctions help Asian banks gain foothold in Myanmar
AT the CB Bank branch in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone near Yangon, there’s a dedicated “Japan desk”, where an employee of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ sits to handle any Japanese corporate business that comes their way. The Japanese bank’s presence at Thilawa is no ...
China and Laos say their rail project is on track
China and Laos are both committed to a high-speed rail project linking the Chinese southwestern city of Kunming with the Lao capital of Vientiane, officials from both countries said, and the project will go ahead despite delays. The line should eventually stretch through Thailand and Malaysia ...
Department draws up IP roadmap, targets red zones
An intellectual property reform roadmap featuring an action plan for the short, medium and long terms is set to go before Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha later this month. Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the Intellectual Property Department, said the department has completed the reform roadmap, which will ...
HCM City seeks green light for major PPP projects
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has submitted for Government approval a list of priority transportation and sanitation investment projects that will be developed in a Public Private Partnership format between 2016 and 2020. At present, the city is developing five major infrastructure projects with ...
India, Cambodia step closer to bilateral treaty to protect investments
India’s cabinet approved a new bilateral investment treaty with Cambodia on 28 July that is designed to provide mutual protections for investors of each company, the Indian government said in a press release. The treaty, which has yet to be ratified by Cambodian authorities, is expected ...
Farmers choose solar farm over endangered bird
When given a choice between renewable energy and wildlife conservation, people in Samut Sakhon have opted for a solar farm for financial reasons. Tractors and trucks loaded with soil were seen busily working in a field yesterday to fill a salt pan in Ban Khok ...
Taiwanese firms rush Vietnamese footwear sector
Taiwanese firms are increasing capital investment in the Vietnamese footwear sector to benefit from Vietnam’s new free trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the EU-Vietnam FTA, and the Vietnam-Korea FTA. On July 25, Taiwanese-owned Chinli My Phuoc One Member Co., Ltd. held the ground-breaking ceremony of ...
SEZs lure 39 projects worth B7bn
Investment is starting to flow into the government’s planned special economic zones with 39 projects worth 7.2 billion baht applying for promotional privileges from the Board of Investment. The Special Economic Zone Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, on 27 July acknowledged the investment ...
Laos, Singapore vow to enhance cooperation
Laos and Singapore are pledging to work together to promote trade and investment between the two countries after their trade volume climbed to US$72.5 million in 2015. As of 2016, investment from Singapore stood at US$187 million, ranking the country in eleventh place among all foreign ...
Lao PM calls for ASEAN nations to remain united
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called for ASEAN nations to remain united, play a stronger role within the region, and stay true to ASEAN’s principles. Mr Thongloun made the call during his opening remarks at the 49th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Vientiane on 24 ...
