Economy and commerce
Organising Vietnamese - Japanese second high-level dialogue on agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in coordination with Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held the second high-level dialogue on agricultural development cooperation in Hanoi on 12 August. At the dialogue, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat called on the ...
Customs red tape costs Vietnamese traders $10 billion a year: expert

Vietnam can help traders save US$10 billion every year by simplifying its customs procedures, which are now very time-consuming and complicated, an expert from a think tank has said. Nguyen Dinh Cung, head of the Central Institute for Economic Management, told an online conference on Tuesday that customs ...
China's currency devaluation could spark 'tidal wave of deflation'

China’s devaluation of the yuan has sent shockwaves through global markets. Edwards, of the bank Société Générale, argues that as well as creating a challenge for China’s Asian rivals, by making its exports more competitive, a cheaper yuan will send “a tidal wave of deflation” breaking ...
More investing in Laos' specific economic zones
Many more companies are planning to invest in special and specific economic zones (SEZs) in Laos after witnessing the potential to benefit from the coming regional integration, according to a recent report. Keep reading ...
Malaysia to open trade and industry office in Vietnam
The Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry will open a representative office in Hanoi latter this year to embrace economic links with Vietnam. Minister Mustapa Mohamed made the announcement to reporters after his attendance at a dialogue with members of the ASEAN Business Club. Keep reading ...
Yuan devaluation seen reigniting currency wars in Asia

A measure of the region’s 10 most-traded currencies excluding the yen is set to decline for a third year, its longest losing streak since 1997, amid signs the US will raise interest rates for the first time in a decade. The People’s Bank of China’s cut ...
About 71% of businesses satisfied with Vietnam's tax procedures reform

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and General Department of Taxation, under the Ministry of Finance, revealed a report on the satisfaction of businesses with the tax administrative procedures reform in 2014 in Hanoi on 11 August. Keep reading ...
Vietnam widens dong’s trading band after China devalues yuan

Vietnam’s central bank doubled the width of the dong’s trading band 12 August, a day after China further weakened its currency, pushing the yuan into its biggest devaluation in two decades. The State Bank of Vietnam widened the dong’s trading band against the U.S. dollar to ...
China devalues yuan by 2% to boost flagging economy

China has devalued its currency to boost flagging exports in a move that risks deepening the global currency war. After recent data showing falling exports and a stalling manufacturing sector, the central bank said on 11 August that it was allowing the yuan to weaken by nearly ...
SEZs seek to boost Thai-Laos partnership

Thailand and Laos have pledged to raise bilateral trade to US$8 billion over the next three years, driven mainly by underlined partnerships through special economic zones (SEZs). Thailand plans to develop SEZs in 10 provinces, six of which have been designated in the first phase ...