Economy and industry

Pandemic-hit Indian exporters, especially in labour-intensive sectors, are expecting their fortune to plummet further, as key competitor Vietnam has clinched a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU. The pact will raise competition between the Asian rivals for the lucrative EU market in a range of ...

Water levels in Southeast Asia’s largest river may be at its lowest in a century. Low rainfall, high temperatures and poor dam regulations are contributing to a historic low at the Mekong, affecting lives, the region’s agriculture and fishing industries and leading to rapidly drying taps. Chinese ...

Six years ago, Central Embassy, Bangkok’s newest shopping mall, celebrated its opening with aplomb, attracting several thousand local celebrities to a glitzy affair. This luxurious and futuristic-looking mall was described by Travel & Leisure as a “monster of a shopping complex”. During the same month, the World ...

Vietnam has emerged as an important investment spotlight for foreign investors. With GDP growth of 7 percent, import-export turnover of US$518 billion in 2019, and total registered capital of $362.58 billion by the end of 2019, the country continues to thrive in a wide variety ...

The internet shutdown in Myanmar’s conflict-ridden northwest, described by rights groups as the world’s longest, entered a second year on Sunday with locals and campaigners appealing for an end to the blackout as coronavirus fears grip the region. The Myanmar military has been embroiled in a ...

The EU-Vietnam free trade agreement will increase Vietnam’s annual GDP growth by 0.1 percentage points and boost exports of various sectors, HSBC says. Vietnam’s National Assembly Monday ratified the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) which will cut or eliminate 99 percent of tariffs on goods traded between the two ...

The first large-scale floating solar power facility in Thailand, with a capacity of 12.5 MW, has started supplying power to the grid, China’s JA Solar Technology Co Ltd (SHE:002459), which provided the solar modules for the project, said on Wednesday. The installation is located on an ...

The strategically vital Mekong subregion has been gaining salience in Beijing’s strategic calculations as China faces growing pushback from the US and other countries. The global pandemic appears to be consolidating a few trends in China’s ties with the Mekong nations. In this emerging scenario, it is likely ...

When Myanmar announced its seven-point economic relief plan to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 in late April, one item immediately raised eyebrows among China analysts in the country. The initiative’s third main objective is stated as “Easing the Impacts on Laborers and Workers”, and ...

Laos has plans to build a new coal-fired power plant in Sekong province in the southeastern part of the country, raising concerns among local residents and environmental groups who fear damage to area farmland and forests, sources in the one-party communist state say. Permission to carry ...