Industries
Government, plantation managers trade blame
The managers of some of Cambodia’s most controversial agribusiness plantations on 21 July blamed their many land disputes on the government, accusing officials of failing to educate communities about the benefits of their giant farms. Rights groups blame economic land concessions for some of Cambodia’s worst problems, ...
Vietnam expected to export dairy products to China
Chinese agencies have said they are considering opening the market to Vietnam dairy exports through official channels. Domestic sources reported that in the talks with the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh requested ...
Concerns raised over a new super state agency
Instead of speeding up the equitisation process, Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment has stirred up controversy with proposal to set up another unit to supervise and manage state capital and assets in state-owned corporations. This super unit will directly manage the capital at 30 state-owned corporations ...
Cement suppliers all set for Laos-China railway
Senior officials have advised the Lao Vangvieng Cement Plant to produce sufficient supplies of cement in preparation for construction of the Laos-China railway. Vangvieng Cement Plant Deputy Director, Mr Chanthay Vongnakhone, told the press on 16 July that their three plants at Vangvieng were quite capable of ...
Yangon govt orders safety modifications to high-rise buildings under construction
Despite complaints from developers, a review committee for the construction of high-rise buildings has ordered safety modifications to 12 structures, stating that failure to follow Rangoon’s updated urban planning standards could cause harm to the city and its residents. Ye Min Oo, the review committee’s spokesperson, ...
Foreign garment, textile tech companies bank on Vietnam
Foreign companies providing technology solutions for textile, garment, and footwear production have been increasingly active in Vietnam, taking advantage of the expected growth of the industry. On July 7, French company Lectra announced the opening of its subsidiary Lectra Vietnam. “Vietnam is one of the most dynamic ...
Nearly 90% of garment factory jobs at risk of automation: ILO
Local industry experts responded on 10 July to a new report that warns the majority of Cambodia’s garment sector workers could lose their jobs in the coming two decades as automation and innovative technologies replace low-skilled labour and allow multinational producers to move their operations closer ...
Rice industry body president gets wary vote of confidence
Cambodia’s apex rice industry body held its annual general meeting on 2 July, with its members unanimously re-electing its well-connected incumbent president, Sok Puthyvuth, for a second term in what some are calling a dress rehearsal for his political ascendancy. Puthyvuth, the son of Deputy Prime Minister ...
ILO says factory conditions improving
The International Labor Organization said conditions in Cambodia’s garment factories have improved since it resumed identifying labor infractions at specific factories two years ago but noted significant ongoing problems in a report released on 1 July. The latest Synthesis Report, produced by the ILO’s Better Factories ...
Mineral exploitation pollutes towns, harms people's health
Mineral exploiters reap major benefits, but local residents living near the mines suffer as ore exploitation has negative consequences.On June 16, a red mud reservoir containing waste sludge from the titanium exploitation project of Tan Quang Cuong Company in Binh Thuan province broke down, leaving ...