News
Hydro dams pace alarming
The inter-governmental consultation on the Pak Beng project, the third hydroelectric dam planned to be built on the Mekong River in Laos, tells us a lot about the future of dam building on this mighty international waterway.Read more ...
Uproar over new labour law
The private sector says local companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, are likely to be hurt by the new Royal Decree on Recruitment of Foreigners, as the tighter law with massive fines for employers could cut SMEs’ competitive advantage at a time when the economy has ...
Over 200 Migrant Workers Arrested in Thailand
More than 200 Cambodian migrant workers were arrested in Thailand last week for having inadequate or no working permits, and are waiting to either be deported or face charges in a Thai court, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry. In a statement released on Wednesday, ...
Laos-Thailand railway extension construction back on track
Construction of the Laos-Thailand railway extension linking the existing outer suburban station to central Vientiane is expected to begin at year’s end or early next year after the project was suspended in 2011. Deputy Director General of the Lao Railway Department under the Ministry of ...
Thailand plans to sign electricity accord with Laos and Malaysia
Thailand is preparing to sign a tripartite electricity-trading agreement with two neighbouring countries at the upcoming Asean Ministers of Energy Meeting. Energy Ministry permanent secretary Areepong Bhoocha-Oom said the agreement would pave the way for the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia electricity deal, enabling the Asean Power Grid to ...
Academics warn that China rail project could lead to bankruptcy
Academics have cautioned that the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed train project could end in bankruptcy and fail to develop sought-after technology in Thailand. Chulalongkorn University yesterday held an academic forum on the controversial Thai-Chinese partnership, with many academics saying they believed that the government had not completely ...
100 rai of violated land seized by officials on Koh Lanta
Department of Forestry and allied officials on Thursday seized about 100 rai of land in Phuket’s Koh Lanta that had been encroached upon by parties they described as “too powerful, unfazed by law and willing to threaten authorities with death”.More than 30 officials from several ...
Costs set to torpedo Krabi power deals
The auction results that awarded three private companies contracts to build a Krabi coal-fired power plant and deep-sea port are expected to be revoked after delays pushed construction costs higher. The Electricity Generating Authority (Egat) may have to open a new bid if the new environmental ...
Chinese rail workers ‘will be certified’
Two leading professional councils have said Chinese engineers and architects involved in the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed train project will have to be tested and certified by Thai councils.The Engineers Council and Architects Council said at a press conference in Bangkok yesterday that they ...
One map to benefit natural resources management
Government and private sector representatives of Laos and Thailand have exchanged information on using a geographic information system (GIS) to build a single map for improved natural resources management. One map via geographic information system will benefit natural resources management while saving time and budget ...
