Economy and commerce
China continues to court on Myitsone project ahead of commission presser

As the commission tasked with reviewing hydropower projects along the upper reaches of the Ayeyarwady River submitted its first report to the president this past week, Chinese state media has assured its nation of the ongoing “friendly and cooperative” Sino-Myanmar relationship. The China News article, ...
Mango producers struggle to meet Korean standards

It has been nearly a year since the government signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea that aimed to put Cambodian mangoes on the shelves of supermarkets in Seoul, yet local producers say there is little sign of any movement. According to In Chayvan, ...
ASEAN, Japan further enhance defence cooperation
ASEAN and Japanese defence ministers have agreed to further enhance their cooperation on politics, security, economics, and socio-cultural affairs. As a result of positive relations in these areas to date, Japan has become one of the most important dialogue partners and supporters of ASEAN. Lao ...
Rubber recovery boosts profits

Strong recovery of world rubber prices was expected to continue through the end of the year and increase revenues for local rubber firms, according to local securities companies. The world rubber price closed at 208.5 yen per kilo on November 11, 4.98 per cent higher ...
Sand extraction in Koh Kong province halted, ministry says

Facing mounting scrutiny over the country’s sand trade, the Ministry of Mines and Energy said on November 16 that all sand extraction had been suspended in Koh Kong province, where much of the country’s extraction takes place. “We have suspended it for a long time already,” ...
Trade GSP can’t make profit for Myanmar in short term

Some 5000 goods from Myanmar have been granted classification under the United States Generalised System of Preferences export scheme, however this will not see a rapid turnaround in profits, say industry figures. The United States trade representative body announced on its official website that preferential tariffs ...
Trump vows Paris Agreement pull out; world unites behind green economy

The 22nd United Nations climate summit began as a wonky, low-profile affair. Nearly 200 nations, finally agreeing to keep the world from burning up, began writing the rulebook by which the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement could be achieved, while seeking the trillions needed ...
Cambodia's labour ministry praises Trump's pledge to kill TPP

In the wake of Donald Trump’s surprise win in the US presidential election on November 9, Labour Ministry spokesman Heng Sour said on November 10 that the president-elect’s campaign promise to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal would restore the Cambodian garment sector’s competitiveness ...
Factory openings provide 50,000 new jobs

More than 100 new factories were registered during the first nine months of the year, creating over 50,000 jobs, a government spokesman said on November 10. Oum Sotha, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, said the ministry recorded 116 new factory openings from ...
Govt proceeds with planned Mekong hydro project
The government has informed the Mekong River Commission that it will proceed with the planned development of a new Mekong hydropower project in Pakbaeng district, Oudomxay province. The MRC Secretariat said on its website that it has received notification from the Lao government that Laos ...