News
Japanese malls in Southeast Asia eye middle-class consumers
Japanese distributors have been opening shopping malls and department stores one after another to attract the increasing population of middle-income earners in Thailand, Malaysia and other major Southeast Asian countries. Other foreign and local companies are also opening commercial facilities in those countries, although their economies ...
Myanmar polls a success: international observers
Despite criticism of Myanmar’s “flawed” constitutional framework, international observers on 10 November gave a largely positive appraisal of the elections, commending a well-run election day while highlighting major issues such as an opaque system of advance voting. The Carter Center, the Asian Network for Free Elections, and ...
Post-election, kyat resumes its weakening trend
The kyat weakened against the US dollar this week as the greenback strengthened in international markets and business resumed in Myanmar following the 8 November election. Fears the election could spur currency volatility have not materialised, indicating a certain level of confidence in political developments and ...
Rubber market to be built in Mawlamyine, Myanmar
Myanmar’s first central rubber market will be built at Mawlamyine in Mon State as authorities seek to help the industry amid low prices and sluggish sales. Mon State is the country’s top rubber producer and the commodity is considered a “promising export” in Myanmar’s National Export ...
Thai-owned BAAC launches B42bn scheme to assist farmers
Thailand’s state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has launched three financial support programmes to help shore up paddy prices during the 2015-2016 harvest season. Keep reading ...
WHA eyes expansion into ASEAN, Myanmar
Stock Exchange of Thailand-listed WHA Corporation will set up fully integrated models in its four core businesses to meet expanding investment in ASEAN, though Myanmar investment will depend on the final election result. The company has restructured its operation over the past year to increase its ...
Myanmar Government accepts offer for talks
The Myanmar government has agreed to a request from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to meet for “national reconciliation” talks, a spokesperson said. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 10 November wrote to President U Thein Sein, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief ...
President congratulates NLD, promises peaceful power transfer
President U Thein Sein has congratulated the National League for Democracy on its landslide victory in the 8 November vote and promised a peaceful transfer of power, the party said. The NLD said in a statement this afternoon that Minister for Information U Ye Htut, a ...
Myanmar opposition victory resonates in Cambodia
Cambodia’s opposition leader on 10 November lauded the success of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party in Myanmar’s historic election, an outcome he said will help pave the way for his party’s own electoral victory. In a post on his Facebook page, Cambodia ...
ADB offers Cambodia loans for malaria, irrigation
The Asian Development Bank will loan Cambodia $64 million for two projects covering irrigation upgrades and malaria control, according to an ADB statement released on 10 November. Keep reading ...
