Economy and commerce
Vietnam has one of the least powerful passports in Southeast Asia
Faring poorly on an international passport index, Vietnam possesses one of the least powerful passports in the region. Ranking 74th on the World Economic Forum’s Passport Index, Vietnam, together with Cambodia, possesses one of the least powerful passports in Southeast Asia. Citizens from the two countries can visit ...
Calls for new property investment law
Real estate associations have proposed amending the Law on Land and the Law on Trading Real Estate to create favourable conditions for investors in property investment. Le Hoang Chau, chairman of HCM City Real Estate Association, said the association proposed amending the two laws to permit ...
SMEs and start-up businesses: essential solutions to Vietnamese-French relations
President Francois Hollande met with the community of French start-up businesses in new technologies, French Viet Tech during his recent visit to Vietnam. The event opened additional opportunities for Vietnamese-French economic cooperation and improved the effectiveness, dynamism, and creativity of French enterprises in Vietnam. Small and medium-sized ...
PM weighs in on rice lending
Rice millers said on September 18 they welcomed the prime minister’s announcement that the government would make over $20 million in funds available shortly to support cash-strapped millers and prop up falling paddy prices.“We’ve been waiting for these loans for a long time like fish waiting ...
Investment grows at SEZs
Over US$1 billion has been disbursed in various business activities and the development of special and specific economic zones, driven by growing regional economic integration. Almost 300 companies from Laos and overseas are now investing in the SEZs, with a total registered capital of almost US$8 ...
Thai garment exports tipped to drop further
Thai garment exports are expected to continue to decline with more Thai manufacturers expanding to neighbouring countries to tap cheaper costs and better tariff benefits. Vallop Vitanakorn, an adviser to the Thai Garment Manufacturers Association, said after expanding investments to Cambodia and Vietnam over the past ...
Bokeo families relocate to make way for dam
Resettlement of communities from areas of the Nam Tha 1 hydropower project is 87 percent complete, with displaced families in Bokeo province having been moved to a new location. Assistant Managing Director of Electricite du Laos Mr Vilaphone Visounnarath, who is Head of the Resettlement Management ...
Industry leaders enthused by reinstatement of US trade benefits for Myanmar
Businessmen, industry leaders and members of government have expressed enthusiasm after statements from President Barack Obama that the US would soon re-admit Burma to the Generalized System of Preferences. President Obama notified the US Congress on September 14 that it would reintroduce Myanmar to the preferential trade scheme ...
Rivers, canals gradually dying in Mekong River Delta
Rivers and canals in the southwestern region are becoming depleted as they are not regularly dredged and cleared, and are encroached upon by people’s housing. There are 26 seaports, big and small in Mekong Delta. The dredging capability and canal network in the region are factors ...
Southeast Asia in Africa: A partner for development?
From the turn of the century onwards, Africa has been placed in the centre of the debate over emerging economies in the South. The continent has also been going through a period of economic growth starting from the beginning of the 21st century. Despite such ...
