Economy and industry
Tra fish industry needs to improve product quality
Việt Nam’s tra fish (pangasius) industry has been urged to strongly improve its quality so as to compete with not only traditional rivals, but also its biggest tra fish importer – China. According to the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the domestic tra fish sector faces ...
The curse of hydropower?
As the world continues to suffer from climate change impacts, decarbonisation of the global economy is one of the most urgent needs faced by governments. This, though, will never be the only axis on which strategic political and economic decisions are taken. With more than a ...
Omair Ahmad
Vietnam's New Draft Development Guidelines on Rooftop Solar Power Systems from 1 July 2019
On 12 April 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam (“MOIT”) released the third draft (“Third Draft”) of the Decision of the Prime Minister on the mechanism for encouraging the development of solar power in Vietnam, applicable from 1 July 2019 (“Draft Decision”). Keep ...
Vietnam aspires to become a power in cybersecurity: minister
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung has stated that he expects Vietnam to become a strong country in terms of cybersecurity with its security manpower one of the best in the world and with high aspirations. He was speaking at the Vietnam Security Summit ...
Villagers In Pursat Risk Losing Everything to Dam Development
The Cambodian government last week announced an 80-megawatt hydropower dam on the Anlong Krouch river, which flows to the town of Pursat. ANLONG KROUCH VILLAGE, PURSAT PROVINCE — For Khieu Him and Bun Kim Eng, orange trees provide hope. The ethnic Chorng and Por indigenous minority villagers ...
Will China Undermine Its Own Influence in Southeast Asia Through the Belt and Road?
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China’s grand plan to revive ancient trading routes over both land and sea. Since its inception in late 2013, how China has influenced Southeast Asia through the BRI has become central to the debate on China’s keynote global outreach ...
Xue Gong
Southeast Asia's energy majors pivot sharply to green power
Southeast Asian energy companies, long dependent on fossil fuels, are rapidly turning to renewable energy to answer the mounting demand for electricity in the fast-developing region. In Indonesia, StarEnergy looks to capitalize on native geothermal resources, made possible by the more than 100 active volcanoes that ...
Hydropower dams linked to poverty and corruption
Countries that rely on large hydropower dams for their electricity suffer higher levels of poverty, corruption and debt than other nations, a study has found. The study by the University of Sussex and the International School of Management in Germany compared the security, political governance, economic development and ...
Lao Villagers Displaced by Nam Theun 2 Dam Say They Still Need Help

Lao villagers moved by government order from their homes 10 years ago to make way for a showcase hydropower project have new houses, schools, and clinics in their resettlement areas, but are still left without access to fishing areas or adequate land to farm, sources ...
ASEAN green infrastructure gets $1 billion boost
A $1 billion finance facility to support investment in ‘green’ infrastructure across southeast Asia was announced last week in Thailand. The new facility aims to serve as a spur for private capital and will provide loans and necessary technical assistance for sovereign sustainable transport, clean energy, ...