People and government
PM raises doubts on ASEAN economic community

Prime Minister Hun Sen questioned on 1 June the extent of the ASEAN Economic Community’s commitment towards forming an inclusive economic region as countries continue to compete with each other for agricultural exports and inflows of foreign direct investment. Cambodia, which was the last member to join ...
Hard battle against wildlife crime

Lack of legal assistance from foreign countries means the fight against wildlife crime is still very tough. This is according to Nguyễn Duy Giảng, head of the Department for Prosecution and Supervision over Criminal Cases, under the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Việt Nam at press conference ...
Private sector urged to take advantage of investment tax incentive in second half
The Thai Finance Ministry on 1 June urged the private sector to begin making serious investments in the second half before the double tax deduction for expenses is discontinued by year-end. The ministry has amended the conditions for the double deduction, allowing projects that might not ...
Dozens of Myanmar fishermen released from prison in India

Over 100 Myanmar fishermen arrested in the Andaman Sea arrived at Yangon International Airport yesterday, after being imprisoned for years in India for fishing in its waters. “I have been jailed for over five years at Port Blair Prison,” said Ko Zaw Lin Aung, who grew ...
Customs pressures exporters to register with GDT

Cambodia’s Customs Department announced on May 27 that it would stop processing paperwork for import and export companies, and halt cross-border activity if they fail to meet today’s deadline for online tax registration. For companies that had yet to receive an official value-added tax licence by ...
World Bank provides US$30m for fight against poverty
The World Bank has agreed to provide a low interest loan of US$30 million to fight poverty in Laos, a government source has said. The Lao government will contribute another US$6 million bringing total funding from the three sources to US$52 million. This amount will be ...
Smoking claims over 100 lives every day in Vietnam

Vietnam is among countries where smoking is most widely prevalent, losing more than 100 people a day to the habit and facing a huge financial burden, according to official figures. Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that the Vietnamese smoking population is among the biggest ...
Development partners extend support for disabled people

International development partners have agreed to continue supporting disabled people’s organisations in Laos through capacity building for the authorities and organisational capacity, promoting equity and participation among disabled people. The signing of Memorandums of Understanding on the implementation of two disability projects took place on 30 ...
Business operators lack faith in local economy
Investors have expressed a lack of confidence in Thailand’s economy because of a decline in exports, the drought-induced expected slowdown in domestic consumption, and the sluggish global economy. Somkiat Anuras, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber’s Business Confidence Index was only ...
Australia refines its investment in Lao people
Australia has agreed to continue to build on its support of more than five decades in Lao human resource development needs, at a high-level review meeting held in Vientiane on 27 May. Ambassador Williams told the meeting Australia was keen to build on its extensive support ...