Economy and commerce

Vietnam’s handicrafts face many challenges in producing and finding export markets, while integrating into the world economy although it has the potential for economic development. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre, there are nearly 1,750 traditional craft ...

More than 1000 activists of a Christian-based anti-narcotics group are to have police protection after getting the go-ahead from the Kachin State government to destroy over 1600 hectares (4000 acres) of opium poppy fields. Permission was received on 21 January to mount the mass operation in Waingmaw ...

Chinese solar companies are looking for opportunities in Thailand as an alternative growth destination to China, where the renewable power market has reached saturation point, according to BMI Research. Thailand is emerging as an attractive destination for renewable energy investment as the government looks to reduce the country’s reliance ...

Phanphet Agriculture Development Farm (PADF) is preparing to sell 10,000 tonnes of rice this year after negotiating exports with international partners. PADF President Mr Thongsavan Miboun told the media on 20 January the farm was doing its part to increase rice production and overseas sales. Keep reading ...

The Vietnam government has decided to transfer a major industrial park in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang to the local authority after its manager, PetroVietnam’s construction subsidiary PVC, failed to attract investors.    After acquiring Soai Rap Industrial Park, Tien Giang will find investors to fill ...

The decelerating world economy is having far-reaching effects on unemployment, with new research projecting that the number of people out of work will grow to nearly 200 million this year, with millions of additional workers left vulnerable in developing countries, including Cambodia. Global unemployment reached 197.1 ...

The Department of Fisheries does not expect Thailand to be hit with a red card by the European Union, citing positive signals from EU representatives over progress in dealing with illegal fishing during their visit to the country this week. Esak Pakdeekong, the department’s deputy chief, said ...

The capital of Laos is a low-rise, low-key city, especially when compared with the hulking high-rises and bustling streets of better-known Southeast Asian cities such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. But this once-sleepy city is fast shedding its sedate reputation due to a building boom ...

India is eyeing the huge opportunities in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) and wants Indian financial institutes to establish branches in the region to boost trade and investment between the two sides. Addressing the third India – CLMV Business Conclave held last week at the ...

Laos is now moving towards industrialisation and modernisation after experiencing a slight increase in the share that the industrial and service sectors represent in the overall economic structure. In contrast, the agriculture and forestry sector has declined significantly in the past decade as a result of ...