Economy and commerce
Trade union bill changes passed
The Council of Ministers approved draft amendments to 10 articles of the Law on Trade Unions without modification on Friday, leaving some unions disappointed and claiming that the majority of their suggestions had not been included. Articles 3, 17, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 54, 55 ...
Long Kimmarita
Cambodia improves in WEF global competitiveness ranking
Cambodia, which has shed its status of ‘Sick man of Asia’ is becoming more competitive economically, and the world is starting to notice it. The 2019 Global Competitiveness Report, which was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Oct 8, ranked Cambodia 106th out of ...
Jose Rodriguez T. Senase
Push to boost cross-border economic ties with Mekong-Lancang countries
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Monday (October 7) that the Cabinet has approved a proposal for cross-border economic ties under the Mekong-Lancang cooperation framework. The director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiation has also been given the job of visiting Laos on October 8 to ...
Myanmar seeks to establish Myanmar-India-China economic corridor
As part of efforts to make Myanmar the doorway to ASEAN door, the government will try to establish a Myanmar-India-China economic corridor, says Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein. The potential for Myanmar to become a trade hub is good because of its location ...
Chan Mya Htwe
Politics of regional trade liberalisation
As multilateral trade negotiations have become unworkable, regional and bilateral alternatives are on the rise. In Thailand’s neighbourhood, the most consequential of these trade vehicles is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). As it missed the boat on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), ...
Thitinan Pongsudhirak
Hun Sen Slowly Selling Cambodia Down the Mekong River to China
Cambodia has seen a huge influx of Chinese investment, workers and tourists in recent years. Many in Cambodia are increasingly worried about the negative impact it is having. Sihanoukville, a once-sleepy beach town, symbolizes the transformation brought about by Chinese investment in Cambodia. The town of ...
Leading Thai economist blames inequality for Thailand’s ills
Thailand needs new thinking on its economy, moving away from the emphasis on growth and consumption to the quality of life rather than the quantity of things, said Pasuk Phongpaichit, Emeritus Professor in Political Economy, Chulalongkorn University. She made the remark at the Fukuoka Prize Symposium ...
Sirivish Toomgum
Winning the battle, losing the war?
Going by the sometimes breathless reports about how well Vietnam has done out of the US-China tariff joust, a reader would be forgiven for thinking that an authoritarian single-party state where farmers make up 40% of the workforce has been transformed into a kind of ...
Simon Roughneen
Cambodia’s rice farmers in serious danger
Half a million Cambodian farmers could possibly be looking at empty rice bowls if the European Union (EU) pushes through with the withdrawal of its Everything But Arms (EBA) trade preference. While the garment and footwear sectors stand to lose the most if the EBA trade scheme – ...
Jason Thomas
Kingdom rejects VN request
Cambodia rebuffed Vietnam’s request to provide nationality to its citizens living in Kratie, Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces, with officials saying law enforcement is the Kingdom’s responsibility. Chheang Vun, the head of the National Assembly’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Propaganda and Information, told ...