Economy and commerce
ASEAN members reaffirm 90% tariff cuts under RCEP
ASEAN members are holding to their vow to cut import tariffs on 90% of products, amounting to 5,000-6,000 items under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, over the next 15 years. They also plan to push for the conclusion of negotiations this year. According to Commerce Minister ...
Bright prospects for steel firms despite challenges
Việt Nam’s listed steel companies can achieve higher growth in 2017 despite a volatile and predictable international market if they optimise operations and exploit missing links in the sector’s supply chain, experts said on March 13. Given recent international developments, global markets are likely to ...
South Korea’s KAIR Airlines launches with A320 aircraft
South Korean start-up carrier KAIR Airlines has announced that it has selected an A320 to launch its new low-cost operation, with the firm ordering eight A320ceo aircraft. The new airline will be based in Cheongju in central South Korea and will focus primarily on services ...
Laos showcases tourist attractions at Berlin trade fair
Laos put its tourism products in the spotlight at the world’s largest trade fair, the ITB (Internationale Tourismus Börse), held in Berlin, Germany, from March 8-12. According to the Tourism Marketing Promotion Department of the Information, Culture and Tourism Ministry, Laos was one of 187 ...
Laos to pursue trade, business environment improvement
The government of Australia will contribute US$2.5 million in additional funding for the ongoing Second Trade Development Facility Project, aiming to improve trade and Laos’ business environment. An official launch ceremony for the additional financing took place on March 13 at the Ministry of Industry ...
KDIC puts Tomato Bank on the chopping block
Tomato Specialized Bank, the smallest bank in the Kingdom, is attempting to sell a majority stake in its operations in order to dilute the equity stake of its defunct majority shareholder while securing a partner able to help it meet the central bank’s revised minimum ...
Struggling with free trade
As Thailand continues to negotiate more free trade agreements, local businesses often struggle to reap the rewards of lower or zero tariffs offered for shipments. The Commerce Ministry reported exporters took advantage of US$52.5 billion worth of FTA preferences and lower tariffs allowed by the Generalised ...
Quang Ninh: Tonkin Gulf fishery logistics centre to be launched
The construction of the Tonkin Gulf fishery logistics center in Co To island district, northern Quang Ninh province, is expected to be put into operation in March, said Secretary of the district Party’s Committee Hoang Ba Nam. The project, started in 2009, has a total ...
Regions can approve up to US$5m investments
The maximum amount of investments which can be approved by regional and state governments has been set to US$5 million. Region and state investment commissions will now be able to approve proposals without having to seek permission from Myanmar Investment Commission, according to an announcement ...
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw told 44 state projects should be suspended
As Myanmar moves to slash government spending, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw was told that 44 of 52 projects by state-owned enterprises should be suspended. This was following a study by the assembly’s joint committees into the budgets for state-owned projects for the coming fiscal year. After ...
