Economy and commerce
Visitors to Cambodia spike after Thai terror
The number of visitors crossing into Cambodia through Poipet City spiked after last week’s bombings at tourist sites in Thailand, according to a senior official in the Banteay Meanchey provincial tourism department. The number of tourists coming in through the border town per day has almost ...
Indonesian president vows to fund ‘massive’ maritime infrastructure program
President Joko Widodo vowed on August 16 to develop all of Indonesia’s frontier areas, including the Natuna Islands close to where it is embroiled in a dispute with China, and outlined plans to fund a massive maritime infrastructure program to accelerate growth in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. “We ...
Thailand gains clout as Southeast Asia's leading investor nation
Thailand has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s most enthusiastic investors in mutual funds as a growing middle class seeks ways to better manage its financial assets. “The Thai percentage is high, compared with the Southeast Asian average of about 10%,” said Yohei Kitano, senior analyst at ...
Authorities join private sector to rebuild tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand predicted that the country may lose 100,000 to 200,000 foreign tourists following the blasts, which would mean a loss of some Bt5 to Bt10 billion in tourism income this year. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said on August 16 that tourism authorities ...
Why 'partnerships for sustainable development' counts as an essential sustainable development goal
Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the 17th is the odd one out. As “Partnerships for the Goals”, it is a goal that helps you get to the other 16 goals. For most businesses committed to sustainable development, however, this 17th goal may be the ...
Malaysia leads top foreign investors in Champassak province
Malaysia tops the list of investors in Champassak province during the last nine months of this year, which covered 37 percent of all foreign investment in the province. This was as reported by Provincial Governor Dr. Bounthong Divixay when he and Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sonexay ...
Why China’s plan to build a new silk road runs through Singapore
As the son of a man who journeyed from China to Singapore and founded a shipping business a half century ago, Teo Siong Seng sees his life as one immersed in the ancient trading networks of Asia. So the managing director of the Pacific International Lines Group ...
ASEAN still has much to accomplish, FM Retno says at bloc's 49th anniversary
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations still has much to accomplish in the future as the regional bloc celebrated its 49th anniversary on August 15. Speaking during the celebration at the offices of the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Retno said she believes ...
Board of CRF seeks a double term
Just a month since their election, the leaders of the nation’s apex rice industry body have cast a motion to extend their terms – a move some have greeted with suspicion. On August 12, the board of directors of the Cambodian Rice Federation announced it ...
New commission to decide fate of Myitsone dam in Kachin State
President Htin Kyaw on Friday formed a new commission to evaluate all proposed hydropower projects on the Irrawaddy River prior to their going ahead. The commission is tasked with assessing the potential environmental and social effects of any proposed project—both up- and downstream—its possible impact on ...