Economy and commerce
Private sector urged to get involved with infrastructure development
Infrastructure development under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model is taking shape in Laos as the government requires huge capital investment to improve road networks and other facilities. Lao economists have supported the initiative, saying that with the government’s limited funding, it’s critical to encourage the involvement ...
Canada beats U.S. in pork sales to China - feet, elbows and all
Canada has overtaken the United States as the top North American supplier of pork to China as farmers and meat packers in both nations battle for lucrative shares of the biggest global market. Canada’s pork sales to China, after a sharp rise last year, exceeded ...
One belt, one road: China’s grand enterprise
Dubbed by some as a modern-day Marshall Plan, China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative will build roads, ports and railway tracks along ancient trading routes to Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, OBOR is a China-backed ...
Trump withdraws U.S. from Paris Climate Accord; scientists respond
Donald Trump, who called climate change “a hoax” during his campaign, has withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, rejecting a pact that is being honored by more than 190 nations.The U.S. signed and ratified the agreement under President Obama, and it is ...
After TPP: The Future of US-Japan Trade Relations
When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with U.S. President Donald Trump in February, they agreed to convene a bilateral economic dialogue – led by U.S. Vice President Michael Pence and Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso – to “[explore] cooperation across ...
China tells Donald Trump there is an 'international responsibility' to act over climate change
There is an “international responsibility” to fight climate change, China’s Premier Li Keqiang has said in a clear message to Donald Trump ahead of his expected announcement that the US will withdraw from the historic Paris Agreement.Despite widespread reports of the US’s imminent departure, Mr ...
Southeast Asia tends to defenses in South China Sea
With Vietnam welcoming foreign warships to a key port and the Philippines building on a disputed island, Southeast Asian nations are working to reinforce their South China Sea claims in the face of an increasingly assertive Beijing.Japan’s Izumo helicopter carrier — one of the country’s ...
China, India and the global auto industry's transformation
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group’s acquisition of a 49.9% stake in Malaysian automaker Proton Holdings from DRB-Hicom is unlikely to trigger an immediate change in the Southeast Asian market overall. Japanese automakers, particularly Toyota Motor, hold overwhelming shares in the region. South Korean automakers have been ...
ASEAN exports and consumption are up, but for how long?
One weekend in late May, car dealerships in Singapore’s Queenstown were packed with families and middle-aged couples hunting for new cars. Brochures in hand, a 50-year-old businessman had been visiting showrooms of upscale brands such as BMW and Volvo, looking for a second auto. Singapore ...
Thailand's PMI falls to 49.7 in May
The Nikkei Thailand Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, fell marginally to 49.7 in May from 49.8 in April. A reading above 50 indicates economic expansion, while one below 50 points toward contraction. May’s data marked the second consecutive month of contraction. “Latest survey data ...
