Government
Budget
Lao Government renews award policy for veterans
The Lao government has renewed a policy that rewards veterans who excelled in the revolutionary fight for national liberation, with targeted groups to be awarded under the new system. Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong last month inked the eight-page governmental decree to replace the previous one promulgated ...
35 percent of Lao budget for debt repayment
The Lao government has instructed central and local state organisations to use up to 35 percent of the annual total budget allocated to them to repay debt they have accumulated. The instruction was part of debt payment measures resolved by the annual government meeting where the ...
Thai Cabinet approves another 5 billion
The Thai Cabinet has approved more measures worth Bt5 billion to support small and medium-sized enterprises in a bid to increase their competitiveness, Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang said. Keep reading ...
Cambodia's budget figures released
Cambodia’s Council of Ministers on 21 October approved its 2016 budget, which will increase 16.1 per cent from last year to $4.3 billion, with education set to get another significant injection of funds and the Labour Ministry also receiving a sizeable boost. The draft budget, which now must ...
ThaiHealth spending faces scrutiny
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered authorities to look into the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) to ensure its funds are being spent to improve people’s health and promote the well-being of the general public. Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on 12 October the premier’s order for comprehensive ...
Myanmar again near bottom of competition rankings
Myanmar ranked near the bottom of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2015-16 released on 30 September, placing 131st overall out of 140. The positioning represents little change on the rankings in the 2014-15 report, when Myanmar came 134th out of 144 economies. Keep reading ...
Southeast Asia’s transparency problem
Most countries in Southeast Asia do not have a transparent budget process, according to a global survey conducted by International Budget Partnership. The 2015 Open Budget Index used 140 observable facts and indicators to measure if a country’s budget system allows opportunities for adequate oversight and public ...
Lao debt accumulates to 29,107b, repayment measures outlined
At least 29,107 billion kip of debt has been registered so far and many provinces have not yet reported their figures, an official report has showed. The debt was accumulated by 20 central state departments, four provinces and the capital of Vientiane, Minister of Finance Dr ...
Vietnam to lose $77 million of tax revenue each year due to free trade pacts
The government has estimated that it will lose around US$77 million of tax revenue annually between 2016 and 2025, when new free trade agreements take effect and eliminate a majority of import duties. Keep reading ...
B200bn stimulus at the ready
At least 200 billion baht of the government’s budget is expected to be taken out from October-December as part of efforts to ramp up public spending and tackle cooling economic expansion. In the first three months of fiscal 2016 starting Oct 1, state agencies plan ...