News
Thailand 'ready to bridge' G20 and G77
Thailand is ready to serve as a bridge linking the Group of 20’s major industrialised economies and the developing economies in the Group of 77, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says. Gen Prayut was speaking on September 4 as he attended the two-day G20 summit in Hangzhou, China ...
ASEAN and China to focus on RCEP
ASEAN and China intend to cooperate in production capacity as well support the finalisation this year of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said last week that a statement on the cooperation will be issued at the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, which takes place ...
Mekong forum focused on sharing responsibility for common prosperity: expert
The Mekong Forum 2016 served to foster dialogue among partners and agencies of Greater Mekong Subregion countries to pursuing their development targets, an expert said on August 29. “These include reducing poverty and inequality, generating inclusive growth, improving capacity development, and exceeding the sustainable development ...
Egat insists on going ahead with Thepa plant
Construction of the Thepa coal-fired power plant is set to begin in the second quarter of next year, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand said, even though many locals have refused to sell their land despite facing threats. Egat has so far insisted that it will ...
ASEAN to focus on jobs for addicts
ASEAN will deal with the narcotics problem by focusing more on healthcare and jobs for drug addicts as part of the bloc’s 10-year anti-drug action plan, says Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya. He was speaking on August 24 as he chaired the 37th meeting of ASEAN senior ...
China, ASEAN ‘need fast RCEP deal’
ASEAN’s trade relationship with China has reached a crucial turning point with the latest 2015 figures showing a 3-per-cent contraction, making it necessary to quickly conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, according to a top Chinese think-tank. Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World ...
Non-ASEAN investors now qualify for local privileges
Non-ASEAN-based investors who have already invested in ASEAN will now be eligible for privileges enjoyed by their ASEAN counterparts in five sectors: agriculture, fisheries, forestry, mining and industrial. The International Economic Policy Committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on August 22 approved a proposal by ...
Economic corridor transport projects expected to go to Cabinet soon
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak expects to propose the transport-system projects to serve the planned East Economic Corridor to the Cabinet in October. “If these projects are proposed to the Cabinet, they will go ahead swiftly, early next year. I’d like to see the East Economic ...
Targeted strategies to boost exports being devised
The ministry’s International Trade Promotion Department will allocate the largest proportion of its trade-promotion budget for ASEAN markets, focusing on Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Malee Choklumlerd, director-general of the department, said it had been allocated a budget of Bt2 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, and ...
Mekong river rising rapidly at Nong Khai
Water in the Mekong River at this border town is rising alarmingly and municipality officials are preparing to shut drainage outlet pipes to prevent water from the river seeping into the city and causing flooding, reports said. On August 17, the river level was 10.19 ...
