Economy and industry
Thailand urged to resume process to legalise migrant workers
Labour ministry officials from Thailand are due to resume talks on 8 January in Yangon with their Myanmar counterparts on the status of up to 3 million Myanmar migrant workers in the kingdom. If successful, the negotiations could lead to an agreement that would legalise the workers’ ...
ASEAN chair provides opportunities, challenges for Laos
Assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN this year offers Laos a great opportunity but the country will face numerous challenges in leading the bloc, a senior official has acknowledged. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Thongloun Sisoulith made the comment recently when speaking to Foreign ...
Brunei backs Laos' ASEAN chair preparations
The government of Brunei Darussalam has provided financial support to the Lao government as a contribution to the country’s work as the Chair of ASEAN this year. Keep reading ...
Thailand's TCC acquires Metro Vietnam for $704 million
Thai consumer goods group TCC Holding Co. Ltd has completed its acquisition of the Vietnamese operations of Metro for 655 million euros (US$704.1 million). TCC’s subsidiary TCC Land International Pte. Ltd. takes over Metro’s 19 stores and related real estate portfolio in Vietnam, the German company ...
Trade-friendly Vietnam now offers far more than just low-cost labor
Vietnam is seen by many foreign businesses as being a very attractive place to invest in and do business for many reasons, Francois Guibert, Chairman of the EU-ASEAN Business Council says. “Vietnam has a lot more to offer investors than just low-cost labor,” Guibert told Thanh Nien ...
Consulting Facebook, PM changes traffic law
Despite starting with a bang just a week ago, the Land Traffic Law has already been subject to two amendments from Prime Minister Hun Sen in direct response to a public outcry on Facebook, a stark contrast to the premier’s usual attitude toward online criticism. In ...
Labour rights groups surveyed ahead of meeting with Thailand
Myanmar labour officials are courting rights groups ahead of scheduled meetings with Thai counterparts later in the week. The consultation with local experts on 7 January will take place just before Thai officials land in Yangon for bilateral meetings on 8 and 9 January aimed at sorting ...
Vietnam airlines refuse to cut fares despite cheaper fuel, bigger revenue
Vietnam’s transport minister has called for lower airfares to match a sharp decline in fuel costs, but carriers say their tickets are already affordable. At a meeting on 4 January, Minister Dinh La Thang asked that Vietnam Airlines make its tickets cheaper after the national carrier reported ...
Two Malaysian firms plan agarwood venture in Laos
Two Malaysian companies plan to invest US$18 million (RM79 million) for the inoculation of agarwood in Laos that is expected to generate US$200 million in three years. Agriculture transaction company Aseagate (M) Sdn Bhd, forestry management company Richwood Capital Sdn Bhd, together with non-governmental organisation Global ...
Auditor proposes tax exemption review
The State Audit Organisation (SAO) has proposed that the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Customs review tax exemptions and provide detailed accounts of the implemented financial measures. The proposal was included in the audit report, as part of the final implementation report of the 2013-2014 state ...
