Economy and commerce
Gov’t to borrow over $1B this year: report
The government expects to borrow nearly $1 billion from external creditors this year, primarily for infrastructure development, pushing the national debt over $6 billion, according to a report issued on November 4 by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. About a third of this amount, some ...
IMF urges more efforts to cool rapid credit growth
Rapid credit growth continues to pose a risk to financial stability in Cambodia, requiring more regulation to reduce the impact of a possible economic downturn and more adequate assessments of loan defaults in at-risk sectors, the International Monetary Fund said in its latest Article IV ...
Local MFI relaunched after South Korean buyout
Cambodia’s booming microfinance sector continues to attract international investors, with a South Korean financial institution the latest to buy out one of the Kingdom’s myriad microlenders. The Seoul-based Welcome Financial Group announced on November 4 that it had acquired the full shareholding of Green Central ...
Authorities meet on proposed Law of Treaties
Authorities from eight northern provinces met in Bokeo province recently to discuss a proposed draft law of treaties and international agreements. The draft law would be the first law issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would set the principles, regulations and procedures for ...
Miller execs resign amid price slump
Some 30 executive committee members of the Thai Rice Millers Association have stepped down amid criticism that rice millers are behind the recent slump in rice prices. The decision was declared by the the association’s president, Manas Kitprasert, during a news briefing Thursday. Mr Manas ...
Việt Nam to build more transparent gov’t, continue restructuring economy
Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh said on November 3 at the Việt Nam Summit 2016 that the country would continue to focus on restructuring the economy, renewing its growth model and integrating into the global production and value chain. Minh, who is also Minister of ...
B127bn earmarked for rice scheme
The government’s scheme to delay releasing 10 million tonnes of new rice supply to the market, aimed at propping up sinking prices, will use a combined 127 billion baht in loans and subsidies, says the chief of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. Of ...
Fierce competition for plastics sector
Plastic firms in Việt Nam face fierce competition and risk being acquired by foreign companies, experts said on November 2 at a conference in HCM City. Phạm Văn Bắc, deputy head of the construction ministry’s department of building materials, said the plastic industry had the potential ...
University needs to raise standards: PM
The National University of Laos should set its sights on national development, especially in terms of the quality of the graduates it is producing, as they are fundamental to the nation’s progress. The university is only in the initial stages of its success. There is still ...
Singapore firm plans Thilawa galvanising plant
Amid booming demand for high-quality construction materials, Meranti Singapore is planning to build a steel galvanising plant and paintline in Thilawa special economic zone. The firm intends to spend US$85 million on the facility, and is in discussion with the SEZ operator and potential local ...