Economy and commerce
Survey finds Thai government doing poor job publicising economic plans
Largely clueless about the government’s economic plans, a majority of the Thais believe officials should go on the road to publicise their initiatives to reignite the economy, a poll released on 17 September concluded. The survey of 1,200 people nationwide by the University of the Thai Chamber ...
Myanmar keeps ‘cordial’ relations with North Korea
A foreign ministry delegation is visiting North Korea this week to further diplomatic relations, although a senior official noted that arms deals were excluded under UN sanctions. U Kyaw Zeya, deputy director general of the foreign ministry, told The Myanmar Times that a delegation led by ...
Mega First shares jump 9.22% on news of Laos power plant
Shares in Mega First Corp Bhd soared 19 sen or 9.22% to as high as RM2.25 on 17 September on news that it has secured a power plant project in Laos worth RM2.15 billion. At 2.53pm, Mega First narrowed its gains to trade at RM2.22, still up 16 ...
Chinese vice premier meets ASEAN leaders
Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on 17 September met with leaders from Thailand, Myanmar and Laos ahead of an annual expo and business summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in southwest China. They will attend the 12th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment ...
Pact assessing loans to flood-hit farmers
The repayment of more than US$10 million in loans issued by Myanmar’s largest microfinance institution is in doubt as a result of devastating floods in upper Myanmar last month. Pact Global Microfinance Fund’s general manager for upper Myanmar, U Maung Maung, said the organisation is reviewing ...
Mega First gets hydropower concession in Laos
Power and quarry player Mega First Corp Bhd said an 80%-owned unit has secured a 25-year hydropower concession in Laos. The 260MW run-of-river project will cost the firm about US$500mil (RM2.15bil) and the company planned to fund it using internally generated funds and long-term debt. Keep reading ...
B200bn stimulus at the ready
At least 200 billion baht of the government’s budget is expected to be taken out from October-December as part of efforts to ramp up public spending and tackle cooling economic expansion. In the first three months of fiscal 2016 starting Oct 1, state agencies plan ...
Myanmar expects a more vibrant post-election economy
Foreign investors are being wooed to invest more in Myanmar to take advantage of the country’s ASEAN membership and geographic location, which should enhance its attractiveness after the election in November. “By the end of this year, the ASEAN Economic Community will be launched. That means our market will ...
Japan pledges 100bn yen in loans for Vietnam
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged on 15 September that his country will extend 100 billion yen ($835 million) in loans for Vietnam to boost the Southeast Asian economy’s infrastructural development, as Tokyo and Hanoi aim to strengthen ties on the economic and security fronts. Keep reading ...
New bourse rules to lure SMEs
Cambodia’s market regulator has released listing criteria for a new trading platform – with reduced accounting and capital requirements – aimed at making it easier for small- and mid-sized firms to list on the fledgling stock exchange, Sok Dara, deputy director general of the Securities ...
