Economy and commerce
State spending trusted to boost GDP

Despite muted sentiment in the fourth quarter, the government is highly confident the economy could end this year with an estimated growth of 3.2-3.3%. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said accelerated state spending on infrastructure projects and growing tourism will shore up economic growth in ...
Three Thai airlines face CAAT clampdown

Three Thai-registered airlines are experiencing a financial crunch after their operations were severely affected by a sharp drop in Chinese tourists. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand ordered the three airlines to devise financial rehabilitation plans in response. The number of tourists from mainland China to ...
Seaport complex licensed in Quảng Ninh

A US$300 million project, consisting of a seaport and industrial park at the Đầm Nhà Mạc area in Quảng Yên town in the northern province of Quảng Ninh, was granted an operating licence on November 18. Investors of the project are the CDC Corporation, headquartered in ...
Cambodia’s prized rice falls short at awards

Cambodia’s Phka Rumdoul variety of fragrant rice, which won the World’s Best Rice award for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014, narrowly missed its fourth crown at this year’s awards held in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand last week. Thailand’s own Hom Mali – ...
Cashew industry sets standards

The Việt Nam Cashew Association has set standards for cashew processing to nudge the industry towards cleaner production and ensure consistent quality. The standards, announced at the eighth Việt Nam Golden Cashew Rendezvous in Đà Nẵng last week, cover input materials, technical requirements and equipment involved ...
Amended investment law offers tax incentives, shortens concession period
Amendments to the Investment Promotion Law offer more tax incentives and shorter investment concession periods in a bid to attract more investors while ensuring closer scrutiny of their operations. A draft amendment to the law, which was passed by the National Assembly last week, shortens ...
Steel firm mulls factory in SSEZ
A Chinese steel company is in talks with Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone to set up an industrial facility in the zone, a marketing executive said on November 19. Gu Xia, section chief of SSEZ’s marketing department, said the Chinese company was currently reviewing the land ...
Viettel on course to achieve overseas sales target of $1.5b

Viettel Group’s is likely to achieve its ex-Việt Nam revenue target of US$1.5 billion this year, thanks to a sudden spurt in sales in some of its new markets. Laos and Cambodia are considered the two best and steadiest international markets for Viettel. Unitel, Viettel’s Lao ...
Government speeds up EEC projects

The government vows to rev up construction of planned development projects under the Eastern Economic Corridor, which it hopes will form a new engine to drive economic growth. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chaired meeting of the Committee for Special Development Policy in Special Economic ...
Govt to help rice farmers tap online channels

The Commerce Ministry will help farmers sell their rice directly to consumers in Thailand and abroad via social media and other online as well as offline channels. This is part of a bid to reduce dependence on middlemen as domestic paddy prices hit a 10-year low. ...