Economy and commerce
Problem of producing cheap biofuel from cassava solved
The state’s research agency and energy policymakers have finally discovered a way to produce biofuel from cassava at a competitive cost, says a senior Energy Ministry official. Previously the use of cassava in ethanol production was not viable despite the abundance of the shrub, because ...
New airline launches in Cambodia
JC International Airlines officially launched in Cambodia on March 18, bringing the number of local airlines to five. JC International Airlines CEO Dongyan Huang said the airline was registered as a local company with an investment capital of $50 million. She said the airline has ...
SteelAsia offers to revive defunct National Steel
To ride the infrastructure boom, SteelAsia Manufacturing Corporation has offered to acquire the mothballed National Steel Corporation in Iligan city. SteelAsia is the largest reinforced steel bar maker in Southeast Asia, while NSC was once the largest steel mill in Asia until it failed to ...
Denmark prohibits companies from selling Myanmar teak on European Union markets
Denmark last week placed an injunction on all Danish companies that prohibits them from selling teak imported from Myanmar on European markets. The ruling comes after evidence that Danish timber company Keflico had violated the European Union Timber Regulation was brought to light by the ...
Energizing EU-ASEAN trade
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström visited Manila recently to discuss trade with ASEAN Economic Ministers. The summit was a milestone in itself as the Ministers discussed the next steps toward the resumption of the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations as well as ways to enhance ...
Government help needed to improve SME market access
KT: How does FASMEC plan to help promote SMEs? Taing Por: In order to liaise with SMEs, FASMEC will open branches in 25 provinces nationwide in May. This will enable investors to be matched with provincial business partners. We will be focusing on SMEs in the ...
Still no warnings on some tobacco packs
Some tobacco producers who sell their products on the local market still refuse to place graphic images and health warnings on cigarette packaging despite a government decree on the matter coming into force several months ago. Mom Kong, the executive director of the Cambodia Movement ...
Laos, Malaysia keen to expand cooperative relations
Laos and Malaysia are keen to expand bilateral cooperation particularly in areas relating to investment, banking, finance, transportation, tourism, education and human resource development for mutual benefit. This was the outcome of a bilateral meeting held between Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and visiting Lao ...
PM urges Vientiane to tackle city's challenges
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has urged Vientiane authorities to strengthen their efforts to address various issues that are challenging development in the capital. Public debt and traffic congestion are among the main challenges and were tabled for discussion between the prime minister and authorities last ...
What Thailand can learn from Mexico on energy reform
As has been done for almost 80 years, Mexico last Saturday commemorated the so-called “Oil Expropriation Day”, a national holiday marking the nationalisation of the Mexican oil industry by the government of President Lazaro Cardenas in 1938. But this year’s celebration was particularly at odds with ...
