Land
Public land lease
After massive growth, special economic zone will face hurdles
Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone Plc (PPSEZ) will suffer severely from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic this year after reporting healthy results in 2019, according to the company’s senior officials. In a speech by Tan Kak Khun, the chairman of PPSEZ at the opening of ...
Sorn Sarath
Myanmar COVID-19 Recovery Plan Won't Favor China's BRI Projects, Official Says
When Myanmar announced its seven-point economic relief plan to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 in late April, one item immediately raised eyebrows among China analysts in the country. The initiative’s third main objective is stated as “Easing the Impacts on Laborers and Workers”, and ...
NAN LWIN
Thailand Plus One: Poipet SEZ investment strategy
Poipet PP Special Economic Zone – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone Plc. – is aiming to become a higher value-added production hub, particularly for electronics, mechanical and automotive parts, according to its Chief Executive Officer. The zone will also utilize its close ...
Sok Chan
JICA to commence studies for deep-sea port at Dawei SEZ
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will commence preliminary studies for the construction of a deep-sea port at Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) this year, officials of the Dawei SEZ Committee said. “JICA first proposed the study in December 2019 but the process was waylaid by ...
Chinese Sugar Company Leases Parts of Cambodian Land Concession to Farmers
A Chinese sugar company with a large long-term land concession in Cambodia came under fire from NGOs Tuesday for leasing parts of the concession to local villagers, collecting rent instead of engaging in the activities stipulated in its contract with the Cambodian government. The Hengfu Group ...
RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong
Development of Dawei SEZ expected to be delayed again
Officials are expecting the outbreak of COVID-19 to slow the development of Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tanintharyi Region. “The virus is affecting the development process, including road construction,” said U Tin Htoo Naing, secretary of Dawei SEZ. Things are being delayed just as foreign investors ...
AUNG LOON
Idle Factories, Empty Trade Zone Highlight Coronavirus Impact on Southeast Asia
A Chinese special economic zone in Laos has fallen silent, workers in Cambodia staged a strike after their factory closed for lack of inputs from China, and Myanmar grappled with plant closures and layoffs, as the economic fallout from the coronavirus cascaded across the region. In ...
China’s Belt and Road detours downstream in Myanmar
Ethnic wars, security concerns and official foot-dragging have all conspired to stall China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) plan to build a high-speed railroad from its southwest down through Myanmar’s volatile northern regions to the Indian Ocean. But Beijing has an emerging alternate plan: Develop ...
Bertil Lintner
Special economic zones in Laos attract huge investments and create jobs
Twelve special economic zones (SEZs) established across the country have attracted investment of almost US$5.7 billion and created thousands of jobs for local people, a report this week showed. The zones’ developers have invested US$4.28 billion, individual companies invested US$1.36 billion, and the Lao government has ...
South-East Asia is sprouting Chinese enclaves
In a remote part of northern Laos, the bamboo forest gives way to cranes. A city is being carved out of jungle: tower blocks cloaked in scaffolding loom over restaurants, karaoke bars and massage parlours. The beating heart of Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (so ...
