News
Three holdouts cloud ASEAN's future of open skies
ASEAN’s ambitious open-skies scheme has clearly missed the 2015 year-end deadline, and its full implementation appears elusive. Three members of the 10-nation bloc — Indonesia, the Philippines and Laos– seem reluctant to join the scheme for full liberalisation of Southeast Asia’s aviation sector. Keep reading ...
Downward spiral persists in exports of Lao coffee amid world price slump
The volume of coffee exports from Laos has decreased continually over the past couple of years due to a slump in coffee prices on the world market. Total coffee exports in 2014 reached 26,000 tonnes at an estimated value of US$60 million (Bt16.6 billion), which fell ...
Lao Government officials review drug issues
The Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision is attempting to address drug problems nationwide by working in cooperation with neighbouring countries. The annual meeting of the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision (LCDC) began on 5 January, to summarise the commision’s work ...
Thailand plans 2m more tonnes of G-to-G rice sales
The Thai government aims to sell over 2 million tonnes of rice this year on a government-to-government (G-to-G) basis. But it admits a renewed attempt to sell rice to Iran may hit a snag because of escalating political conflict in the Middle East. Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Commerce Ministry permanent ...
Somkid: Exports take back seat to local work
The Thai government is focused on stimulating the domestic economy and promoting community-based enterprises in the first half of the year as the global economic recovery appears set to remain sluggish. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said on 5 January at a cabinet meeting that in light ...
Vietnam beer sales up 10 pct amid rising competition
Vietnam’s beer production grew 10 percent in 2015 to 3.4 billion liters, with a new report saying the pace has slowed down from a decade ago due to competition with foreign brands. Saigon Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Company (Sabeco), the biggest player in the market, produced ...
Ho Chi Minh City now has 7.4 million motorbikes, and counting
Ho Chi Minh City now has 7.43 million motorbikes, putting serious pressure on its transport infrastructure, local media reported, citing the Department of Transport. Compared to 2011, the number of new bikes registered in the city has increased by around 2 million, according to a Tuoi Tre ...
Thai police websites hacked
Hacktivists took over four police websites, including the metropolitan police, on 4 January night, with messages demanding justice. Keep reading ...
Factory bosses accused of firing labour leaders, ignoring arbitration rulings
Factory bosses are flying in the face of rulings by the arbitration council, ignoring orders to compensate or rehire axed staffers, according to worker representatives. Factory workers pin the root of the troubles, including abuse and mass firings, on the new minimum wage instituted in September. ...
Riverside dwellers to get new homes
Families living in huts on the bank of the Ayeyarwady River will soon be able to rent affordable housing from the city, officials say. Twenty-two six-storey housing blocks containing 1584 apartments have been built in nearby Nyaung Kwe ward in Aung Myay Thar San township. The ...
