Economy and commerce
ASEAN officials work toward realising single aviation market
Senior officials from ASEAN aviation and dialogue partners continuously contribute their commitments to realise their vision and targets in relation to build up the comprehensive ASEAN Single Aviation Market, which is one of the key milestones in realising the AEC. The officials are currently attending ...
SEZs driving economic growth in the south
The establishment of Special and Specific Economic Zones and untapped tourism potential is expected to drive economic growth in Champassak province, a senior official has noted. Deputy Governor of Champassak province Mr Buasone Vongsongkhone told Vientiane Times on Tuesday that more entrepreneurs from China, Japan ...
Thai Wah eyes export boost
Thai Wah has budgeted Bt2 billion to expand its capacity to produce tapioca, cellophane noodles and other high-value products for export to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam this year under a plan to boost total sales to Bt10 billion in 2019. Ho Ren Hua, chief ...
Vientiane has business potential but needs more infrastructure
Vientiane still has a huge potential for businesses and investment since Laos is being integrated with South East Asian Nations, according to economists. However, economists recommended that infrastructure development including roads, water and electricity supply are crucial for facilitating and attracting more entrepreneurs to the ...
Savannakhet orders 253 furniture plants to shut down
Savannakhet provincial authorities have ordered 253 family-based furniture plants to shut down many of them operating without business licenses, while some are failing to meet set standards. Some 166 plants are operating without business licenses, while the 87 remaining plants approved by districts’ authorities failed ...
Chinese investors reconsider plantations as profits prove elusive in banana business
Some Chinese investors plan to shutter their banana farms in Laos and relocate to other countries while others plan to replace the yellow herbaceous fruit with other agricultural crops after sustaining losses. The northern province of Bokeo has been a major location for banana plantations ...
Potatoes to take root
Cambodia’s eastern Mondulkiri province will become the country’s first hub for potato growing after a successful pilot project, researchers say. Cheang Hong, of the Potato Research Center at the Royal University of Agriculture, said a team spent several months studying weather conditions, potato varieties and ...
Fight against corruption
The World Bank is to train police, prosecutors and court staff on how to combat money laundering and financial terrorism under a national scheme to fight corruption. The three-day training will be offered in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Unit to 37 employees from organizations including ...
Japanese, Singaporean banks finance controversial Indonesian coal plant
A consortium of Asian banks will provide US$3.36 billion in loans to support the expansion of the Tanjung Jati B coal-fired power plant project in the Jepara district of Indonesia’s Central Java province. Plans to expand Tanjung Jati B are part of a broader initiative ...
Fast-growing Cambodian bank eyes cross-border growth
When In Channy took over the Association of Cambodian Local Economic Development Agencies (Acleda) in 1993 he found himself managing an odd assortment of loan officers. “I was from a refugee camp in Thailand, some of my colleagues used to work for the government, and ...
