News
Big team to defend human rights policies at UN
Thailand has 46 officials in Geneva, more than any other country, for its second review at UN rights body. After years of international criticism over its human rights policies, a 46-member delegation is strong enough to defend Thailand’s position before the Human Rights Committee on ...
Laos showcases tourist attractions at Berlin trade fair
Laos put its tourism products in the spotlight at the world’s largest trade fair, the ITB (Internationale Tourismus Börse), held in Berlin, Germany, from March 8-12. According to the Tourism Marketing Promotion Department of the Information, Culture and Tourism Ministry, Laos was one of 187 ...
Laos, UK continue cooperation in education development
The Ministry of Education and Sports will continue its cooperation with the UK government in furthering the development of the country’s education sector. During his visit to Laos, Mr John Virgoe, Head of the South East Asia Department the department responsible for UK government policy ...
Laos to pursue trade, business environment improvement
The government of Australia will contribute US$2.5 million in additional funding for the ongoing Second Trade Development Facility Project, aiming to improve trade and Laos’ business environment. An official launch ceremony for the additional financing took place on March 13 at the Ministry of Industry ...
Japan wades in on Tonle Sap algae
The Japan International Cooperation Agency has agreed to oversee a project to help recover water quality in the Tonle Sap lake in response to the appearance of a large bloom of algae. The project is part of a wider five-year initiative to improve water quality in ...
US bombs recovered from Tonle Sap lake
A team of divers from the Cambodian Mine Action Center has recovered two large bombs dropped from US planes into Tonle Sap lake in Kampong Chhnang province. Heng Ratana, the director-general of the center, said the two 500-pound US-made MK82 aircraft bombs were found by his ...
Approach to disability questioned
Well-intentioned donor organisations working to assist the disabled often adopt an approach that is ineffectual in Cambodia, according to the doctoral research of Cambodian scholar Monyrath Nuth. Based at RMIT University in Australia, Nuth authored an extensive case study examining whether the “rights-based” approach to ...
KDIC puts Tomato Bank on the chopping block
Tomato Specialized Bank, the smallest bank in the Kingdom, is attempting to sell a majority stake in its operations in order to dilute the equity stake of its defunct majority shareholder while securing a partner able to help it meet the central bank’s revised minimum ...
Struggling with free trade
As Thailand continues to negotiate more free trade agreements, local businesses often struggle to reap the rewards of lower or zero tariffs offered for shipments. The Commerce Ministry reported exporters took advantage of US$52.5 billion worth of FTA preferences and lower tariffs allowed by the Generalised ...
Energy market opens up
Thailand has resumed liberalising its energy sector, opening it up to competition again after a decade of policy hiatus when global oil prices were well over US$100 a barrel. During this period, the costs of electricity and gas for the people were heavily subsidised by ...