Economy and industry
Government cancels offshore oil field deal
Mirach Energy, the Singapore firm with a 48-percent stake in one of Cambodia’s offshore oil fields, announced last week that the government had canceled its deal with the firm and invited it to reapply with new investors. “MME noted in the letter to CPHL Cambodia that ...
World Bank helps Vietnam improve transport, flood control
The World Bank on 29 April approved more than US$500 million in support for improvements to road and bridge connections as well as flood control and sanitation conditions in Vietnam. The project aims to protect more than 255,000 residents and about 5,720 hectares out of 8,390 frequently ...
Billions planned to stem water shortages
Mandalay Region government is to spend billions bringing drinking water to more than 100 villages that they fear could run dry over the next few weeks. U Myo, deputy director of the region’s Urban Development Department, said on 22 April that K172.45 billion provided by the ...
Vietnamese tycoons compete with big foreign companies
In many ‘duels’, it is not the foreign giants with powerful financial capability and experience, but rather the Vietnamese conglomerates who are the winners. With a deal worth VND1.4 trillion, Anco has become the strategic shareholder of Vissan, the move that allows it to officially join the ...
Scenes from a drought
Across the country of Cambodia, water scarcity is threatening health and livelihoods. In what may be the worst regional drought in more than 50 years, brought on by an El Niño cycle exacerbated by climate change, water shortages have been declared in 18 of the ...
Vietnam tells Taiwan firm to dig up waste pipe amid "red tide" disaster
Vietnam has told owners of a Taiwanese-built steel plant to dig up a controversial waste pipe, even after it found no evidence tying its discharge to mass fish deaths that have triggered health fears and public anger. Environment Minister Tran Hong Ha declared illegal the waste ...
Fishery groups step up bid to avoid EU action
Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber was gravely concerned about the IUU issue and had tried its best to promote cooperation with private counterparts in the fishing industry to create a traceability system for products. Mr Poj insisted that, whatever ...
Abandoned Rohingya migrants reveal new smuggling route
Police apprehended 13 illegal Rohingya migrants left on a roadside in Chumphon province on 27 April, learning that the Malaysia-bound Muslims were being smuggled on a previously unknown route. Keep reading ...
Laos prepares for timber trade agreement with EU
The Technical Working Group of the Lao Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process has elaborated a first draft Timber Legality Definition in preparation for the first face-to-face FLEGT/Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) negotiations between Laos and the European Union. The two-day workshop brought together 50 ...
Gov't drought aid push underway
The Cambodian government on 25 April announced a range of assistance to help farmers affected by the worst drought the Kingdom has seen in 50 years. “The Ministry of Agriculture has researched rice and vegetables that are resistant to climate change,” said a ministry statement. “The ...
