Economy and commerce
The next chapter for the Trans-Pacific Partnership
The future of trade and cross border commerce in Asia and the Pacific and the US role in Asia’s economy were put in doubt by Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) economic agreement. The TPP was the economic arm of ...
Demarcation complete, Luang Prabang eyes investment to push SEZ project ahead
Development of a US$1.2 billion special economic zone (SEZ) in Luang Prabang province has faced delays attributed to project demarcation now completed while its developer seeks further investment and financial backing. The plans for the zone include a 23-storey building, schools, hospitals, shopping centre, bank, ...
China’s squeeze on capital outflow felt in Cambodia
Stringent capital controls imposed by China’s central bank last November that scrutinise the outbound flow of money from the mainland have created uncertainty for Chinese investors looking at the Cambodian market and could jeopardise future and existing projects.Read more ...
Land-locked Laos on track for controversial China rail link
Construction of a 414 km railway line linking China to mainland Southeast Asia through Laos is underway in Phonesai village, about 30km north of Luang Prabang, the country’s ancient former capital and modern-day tourism center. A workers’ dormitory has been built under a banner in ...
Academics warn that China rail project could lead to bankruptcy
Academics have cautioned that the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed train project could end in bankruptcy and fail to develop sought-after technology in Thailand. Chulalongkorn University yesterday held an academic forum on the controversial Thai-Chinese partnership, with many academics saying they believed that the government had not completely ...
Vietnam’s black pepper race persists notwithstanding price dip
Though per-kilogram prices of black pepper in Vietnam have dropped 65 percent since their record high two years ago, local growers are still racing to increase production. After peaking at VND200,000 ($8.81) per kilogram in 2015, the price of black pepper in Vietnam has plummeted ...
Costs set to torpedo Krabi power deals
The auction results that awarded three private companies contracts to build a Krabi coal-fired power plant and deep-sea port are expected to be revoked after delays pushed construction costs higher. The Electricity Generating Authority (Egat) may have to open a new bid if the new environmental ...
Mandalay to China rice exports dip
Rice exports from Mandalay to China have dropped to almost nil due to finance difficulties caused by China’s decision to freeze 132 bank accounts of Myanmar citizens on June 14, said rice traders in the border region.The freezing of the bank accounts has caused difficulties ...
NA President hails Laos-Cambodia bilateral relations, cooperation
The Lao side highly values the relations and cooperation between Laos and Cambodia, President of the National Assembly (NA), Ms Pany Yathotou told her visiting Cambodian counterpart Heng Samrin in their meeting yesterday in the capital. Mr Heng Samrin is paying an official goodwill visit ...
Shaky outlook for black pepper
The rapid expansion of pepper cultivation in Cambodia coincides with the spice’s plummeting world prices, creating concerns that the glut of pepper ripening on vines across the Kingdom could further erode next season’s market prices and push the sector toward a collapse.Read more ...
