News
Agricultural sector and SMEs to receive private bank loans
The Central Bank of Myanmar will make it compulsory for local private banks to grant a minimum percentage of their loans to the agricultural sector and the small and medium-sized enterprises sector, Central Bank director general U Win Thaw told the Myanmar Times. During a meeting held by ...
Mandalay GH short of blood, donors wanted
The Mandalay General Hospital — the largest medical facility in upper Myanmar — is facing a 30 percent shortage at its blood bank. National Blood Donation Bank pathology department specialist Dr Khin Mya Mon said many blood donors were needed to ensure the hospital’s blood ...
Power in South stable without Krabi plant: academics
Academics said on February 28 that the southern region would still have stable power generation in the near future even without the proposed Krabi coal-fired power plant, although Thailand would have to invest in some form of new power generation in the long term. Meanwhile, the Office ...
Thai mine ‘destroyed Myanmar water sources’
People in Heinda district in Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region have been deprived of clean water, amid claims that a tin mine operated by a Thai firm has contaminated the river and water sources with heavy metals. Looking out from the local temple, Myaung Pyo seems like ...
Forest department investigates sizeable seizures of smuggled timber
The forest department has launched an internal investigation in response to sizeable seizures of smuggled timber since late January. On Jan. 24, authorities seized more than 30 tons of smuggled teak from two containers at the Myanmar Industrial Port in Yangon. Further investigations led to ...
Hanoi vows to eliminate 2.5 million old, polluting motorbikes
The Hanoi authorities are trying to recall 2.5 million old motorbikes which discharge harmful substances to the environment. However, observers don’t think the solution is feasible. Hanoi has 6 million motorbikes and nearly 1 million cars of different kinds. These include 2.5 million motorbikes in use ...
Vietnam to cater more to Chinese tourists
The number of Chinese travelers to Vietnam in 2016 accounted for one-third of all foreign travelers. According to the Chinese tourism administration agency, in the last five years, the number of Chinese travelers has increased by twofold to 120 million. One out of every foreign travelers ...
GDP expected to grow at 6.8 percent: IMF
The International Monetary Fund has predicted that Laos’ Gross Domestic Product will grow at 6.8 percent this year, less than the government’s projected rate of 7 percent. The IMF Executive Board concluded the Article IV consultation [1] with Laos recently, describing Laos’ challenges in dealing ...
KOICA completes digital maps of Vientiane
A joint cooperation project between Laos and the Republic of Korea on the digital mapping of Vientiane, covering 4,600 hectares on a scale of 1 to 2,000 was completed recently, with a handover ceremony held in Vientiane on February 28. During the ceremony, the Korea International ...
Palm oil recovers from four-month low
Malaysian palm oil futures recovered late on February 28, tracking stronger prices after hitting their lowest level in nearly four months earlier in the day. Benchmark palm oil futures for May on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended the session 0.6 percent higher at 2,770 ...
