News
Laos, China and Vietnam join to combat wildlife trafficking
Frontline enforcement officers last from key provinces, ports and border posts in Laos, China and Vietnam completed an inter-agency field mission this week to share experiences, approaches and update the situation on wildlife smuggling networks along the major trade routes between China, Vietnam and Laos. Keep ...
SME sector faces risks and reward under NLD
Myanmar’s small and medium enterprises will face both opportunity and risk under the incoming National League for Democracy government, industry observers say. In particular, anexpected increase in foreign direct investment could separate the strong from the weak. Keep reading ...
Viet Nam hosts workshop on gender in rural transport
Some 80 delegates from 11 countries in the East Asia-Pacific region gathered in Viet Nam yesterday to discuss gender integration in rural transportation. The World Bank (WB) workshop, hosted in Ha Noi, is part of a regional Gender Capacity Programme for Rural Transport projects, including exchange ...
PTT facing new gas pipeline suit
The Office of the Ombudsman lodged a complaint with the Administrative Court Monday demanding PTT Plc return all gas pipelines to the state. The Ombudsman accused PTT Plc, and 10 other defendants, of not returning offshore natural gas pipelines to the state after the Supreme ...
Asean ministers, bank governors strengthen financial regional integration
Financial integration, financial service access, and financial stability have been the central issues in discussions among Asean finance ministers and central bank governors at the meeting in Vientiane over the past few days. The ministers and governors have agreed upon the direction of regional cooperation ...
Trade union law passes
The National Assembly of Cambodia on 4 April passed a contentious trade union law, just hours after a group of pro-union demonstrators and Daun Penh district security guards clashed violently outside.“They did not explain clearly what their intentions [were to retain articles in the law],” ...
Japanese ODA approved for transport, environment plans
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed agreements with Viet Nam to provide Official Development Assistance loans worth a total of 95.17 billion yen (US$847.39 million) to develop four projects. The ODA loans are expected to enhance the country’s competitiveness and promote environmental improvements. Keep reading ...
Daw Suu to get new powers under draft law
A draft law that would create a key pivotal post in government specifically designed for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar is to be debated in the upper house on 1 April, although a senior MP denied that she would in effect become prime ...
Drought killing next year's sugar crop
The El Nino weather phenomenon has played havoc with crops across Southeast Asia and beyond. Thailand, the world’s second-largest sugar exporter, will ship 20% less of the sweetener to international markets this year than last, and farmers fear the damage already inflicted on young cane ...
Wissanu confirms election to take place in 2017
The first general election in two years will definitely take place next year regardless of the referendum’s outcome although it may not be in July as planned earlier, according to Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. Keep reading ...