Trade
Trade policy and regulation
Vietnamese businesses worry about weak competitiveness
A survey found that only 32 percent of businesses have confidence in the competitiveness of their products, while others are worried about the increased presence of foreign goods. Chu Tien Dung, chair of the HCMC Business Association, said at the meeting between HCMC’s leaders and ...
CLMV parliaments share public investment experiences
The parliaments of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam shared experiences in monitoring and managing State budget and public investment during a conference in Phnom Penh on Monday. Addressing delegates at the launch of the conference, Cambodian National Assembly leader Heng Samrin said the event ...
ASEAN members reaffirm 90% tariff cuts under RCEP
ASEAN members are holding to their vow to cut import tariffs on 90% of products, amounting to 5,000-6,000 items under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, over the next 15 years. They also plan to push for the conclusion of negotiations this year. According to Commerce Minister ...
Bright prospects for steel firms despite challenges

Việt Nam’s listed steel companies can achieve higher growth in 2017 despite a volatile and predictable international market if they optimise operations and exploit missing links in the sector’s supply chain, experts said on March 13. Given recent international developments, global markets are likely to ...
Laos to pursue trade, business environment improvement
The government of Australia will contribute US$2.5 million in additional funding for the ongoing Second Trade Development Facility Project, aiming to improve trade and Laos’ business environment. An official launch ceremony for the additional financing took place on March 13 at the Ministry of Industry ...
Struggling with free trade
As Thailand continues to negotiate more free trade agreements, local businesses often struggle to reap the rewards of lower or zero tariffs offered for shipments. The Commerce Ministry reported exporters took advantage of US$52.5 billion worth of FTA preferences and lower tariffs allowed by the Generalised ...
Quang Ninh: Tonkin Gulf fishery logistics centre to be launched
The construction of the Tonkin Gulf fishery logistics center in Co To island district, northern Quang Ninh province, is expected to be put into operation in March, said Secretary of the district Party’s Committee Hoang Ba Nam. The project, started in 2009, has a total ...
Checks for rice exporters
More than 40 rice millers have applied for quality checks to allow for export to China but most have not yet reached a high enough standard, the Agriculture Ministry said. Applications were received in a second call for expressions of interest after 28 millers gained certification ...
Robust factory growth charted
Cambodia has seen a marked increase in industrialisation over the past five years, with the number of factories nearly doubling during that period and producing a broader range of goods for both export and domestic consumption, according to new unreleased government data. In the yet-unpublished ...
Laos, Vietnam speed up plans for Vientiane-Hanoi expressway
Laos and Vietnam have agreed to take the next steps to start construction of an expressway linking the capitals of Vientiane and Hanoi this year. The agreement was reached at a bilateral meeting held in Hanoi on Tuesday between Laos’ Ministry of Public Works and ...