News
MIST supports 10 travel companies
The Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) will support 10 innovative travel and hospitality companies in 2018. The programme, launched in 2016, is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Australian Government and the six-government Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office. Keep reading ...
Asean May See Divisions Amid Heightened U.S.-China Competition: Analysts
In the two decades since Asean was formed, it has failed to uphold its original mandate of maintaining cohesion among its members, experts have said. The rise of China, the United States’ uncertain position on the region and instability in its member states have led some ...
5 years on, the Belt and Road Initiative's contribution to Asian integration
Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, calling for economic cooperation focused on connectivity and aimed at achieving win-win outcomes. The BRI is an example of China’s determination to support globalization as the world faces uncertainties, such as rising protectionist ...
Transboundary EIAs could reduce conflict over river projects
In the Mekong river basin, massive infrastructure projects – dams, road, high-speed rail and ports – are under construction. While these projects will improve connectivity between countries, harmful environmental impacts need to be minimised. National level environmental impacts assessments that ignore cross border impacts are likely ...
4 megatrends affect Vietnam: WB official
At a national conference on Thursday in Vietnam’s Hanoi capital, Ousmane Dione, country director for the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam discussed four megatrends affecting Vietnam’s sustainable and competitive development. []Meanwhile, climate change poses a significant risk to Vietnam, he said, noting that rising sea-levels expose ...
Mekong delta provinces want more funds to tackle erosion
Ca Mau and Kien Giang Provinces seek greater government assistance for building embankments and planting protective mangrove forests. Keep reading ...
Can Southeast Asia weather a trade war?
In the face of growing economic protectionism, undergirded by a trade tiff between the United States (US) and China, Southeast Asian economies are bracing for the impact from a possible economic fallout. Over the past few months, US President Donald Trump has not minced his ...
ADB loan to boost highways
Thailand has gained a US$99.4 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help upgrade some of the country’s highways and improve road safety in the Northeast. []“Transport infrastructure is an important driver of growth for Thailand’s economy,” said Subramaniam. “Improving the country’s road network ...
MTCO heading for legal status
As 475 delegates gathered, last week, at the Mekong Tourism Forum its leaders – members of the Greater Mekong Sub-region group – were pondering over the ticklish issue of the office’s legal status. Keep reading ...
Coal-fired thermal power plants threaten Mekong Delta environment
Under the national power development plan in 2011-2020 (seventh plan) approved by the Prime Minister in 2016, a series of coal-fired power plants will be built in the Mekong Delta. Keep reading ...
