Economy and commerce
Investment
Consultation on investment rules highlights land issues
A public consultation on the regulations that will accompany Myanmar’s new investment law threw the spotlight onto the country’s complicated land legislation once again. But although they acknowledge the barriers that land rules present to potential investors, officials in charge of the investment law regulations ...
Chinese keen to invest in Champassak's Khonphapheng SEZ
A Chinese company has told Lao authorities they want to invest US$10 billion in developing Khonephapheng special economic zone in Champassak province. Deputy Governor of Champassak province Mr Buasone Vongsongkhone told Vientiane Times on Tuesday that provincial authorities held talks with the company recently and ...
Solar pegged for urban expansion
Solar power has always been an easier sell in sun-drenched rural Cambodia, where millions of villagers live beyond the reach of electrical grids and those with connections face tariffs up to a staggering 3,000-riel per kilowatt hour. Declining prices of solar technology and a growing ...
Japan cold to China in TPP
Japan is cold to the notion of inviting China to join a pan-Pacific trade pact abandoned by US President Donald Trump, fearing such a step would boost Beijing’s clout and water down what was meant to be the “gold standard” for rules of trade. Nor are ...
Thai fintech sector calls for state support
The Thai FinTech Association has called on the government to increase its support for local tech startups and financial institutions to enhance their competitiveness and prevent foreign giants from monopolising the fintech market. “It’s time for the government to create a level playing field between ...
Cambodia to protect European patents
Cambodia is set to become the first country in Southeast Asia to recognise and protect European patents after the Minister of Industry and Handicrafts signed an agreement with the European Patent Office on January 24. The agreement, expected to come into effect in July, places ...
Renewed interest in Bangladeshi trade ties
Cambodia and Bangladesh made a fresh push on January 24 to revive dormant bilateral trade initiatives, with Phnom Penh hosting the first-ever conference and exhibition for a delegation of leading Bangladeshi companies. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Thailand and Cambodia Saida Muna Tasneem admitted trade between the two ...
More tourists, less revenue
The Ministry of Tourism released its annual report on January 24 during its yearly meeting, showing growth continued for the sector in 2016, while launching a campaign to eliminate unlicensed tourist establishments that ministry officials claim slowed revenue collection last year. International tourism arrivals increased by ...
Xieng Khuang promoting native cattle exports
Xieng Khuang province plans to expand the breeding of native cattle for domestic and overseas sales with the province already exporting almost 10,000 head per year. The province has promoted health programmes with vaccinations to protect local breeds from diseases and ensured that sufficient pasture ...
Mushroom’s SME programme crosses the borders
Mushroom Television Co is taking its hit SME programme “Young Self-Made Millionaire”, which has been airing on MCOT for five years, to Laos next month, and to Vietnam and Cambodia in March. “We expect the expansion will help our growth to reach 10 per cent ...