Economy and industry
Overpass mulled as solution to Vientiane's traffic snarls
Officials are wrestling with the problem of identifying a long-term solution to Vientiane’s chronic traffic jams and some are suggesting that an overpass might ease the situation. While no such scheme currently exists, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility to imagine that overpasses will ...
Ho Chi Minh City eyes $380mln of loans for waterway expansion
Ho Chi Minh City has asked for the central government’s help in taking out loans worth around US$380 million for a major dredging program to deepen one of its key waterways, local media reported on 9 November. The Soai Rap, a tributary of the Saigon River, ...
Work starts on Vietnam's 'Silicon Valley'
The construction of a hi-tech park following the model of the US’s Silicon Valley began in Ho Chi Minh City on 10 November. Keep reading ...
50% increase in Myanmar-Thai border trade
Yangon – Myanmar-Thai border trade value from April to October increased by 50 per cent to US$601.73 million, according to Thailand’s Commerce Ministry. Keep reading ...
Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia to ease visa rules for Chinese
Three of China’s neighbors in Southeast Asia are further easing their visa regimes to attract more Chinese tourists. Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance announced move to lower Chinese visitors’ visa-application fees in a new step to boost its tourism. Starting from 23 November, Chinese tourists’ visa fees ...
Japanese malls in Southeast Asia eye middle-class consumers
Japanese distributors have been opening shopping malls and department stores one after another to attract the increasing population of middle-income earners in Thailand, Malaysia and other major Southeast Asian countries. Other foreign and local companies are also opening commercial facilities in those countries, although their economies ...
Post-election, kyat resumes its weakening trend
The kyat weakened against the US dollar this week as the greenback strengthened in international markets and business resumed in Myanmar following the 8 November election. Fears the election could spur currency volatility have not materialised, indicating a certain level of confidence in political developments and ...
Rubber market to be built in Mawlamyine, Myanmar
Myanmar’s first central rubber market will be built at Mawlamyine in Mon State as authorities seek to help the industry amid low prices and sluggish sales. Mon State is the country’s top rubber producer and the commodity is considered a “promising export” in Myanmar’s National Export ...
Thai-owned BAAC launches B42bn scheme to assist farmers
Thailand’s state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has launched three financial support programmes to help shore up paddy prices during the 2015-2016 harvest season. Keep reading ...
WHA eyes expansion into ASEAN, Myanmar
Stock Exchange of Thailand-listed WHA Corporation will set up fully integrated models in its four core businesses to meet expanding investment in ASEAN, though Myanmar investment will depend on the final election result. The company has restructured its operation over the past year to increase its ...
