People and government
Laos, Cambodia to benefit from new border checkpoint

A new international border checkpoint linking between the Nong Nok Khiene area in Khong district of Champasak province and the Trapeang Kriel area in Cambodia’s Stung Treng province is scheduled to officially open next month. In fact the border checkpoint has been open to the public ...
Nok Air spreads wings with debut in China

Nok Air has solidified its intentions to extend its footprint into China with the planned debut of scheduled flights to Kunming and Guangzhou. China will drive the SET-listed budget airline’s accelerated international network expansion, expected to provide an impetus for future growth. While the airline ...
Gov’t scoops up more mining revenue

In the first eight months of the year the Ministry of Mines and Energy has already surpassed its annual target for non-tax revenue collection from sand dredging and construction material-related mining operations, collecting 117 percent of the $6.6 million outlined in the 2016 national budget, ...
Flooding remains severe in HCMC despite huge investment

HCMC is struggling with worsening flood issues despite huge spending on anti-flood projects over the years, said a recent conclusion signed by chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong on illegal land reclamation on the city’s drainage systems. A lot of streets in the city are submerged after heavy ...
Growth to continue but economy faces significant risks

Economic growth in Laos will remain buoyant however the region still faces significant risks to growth, according to a new World Bank report. The outlook of the Lao economy remains favourable overall but with increasing downside risks GDP growth is projected to remain at around seven ...
‘Footloose’ garment sector continues to drive growth

Despite an onset of risks—the uncertainty of upcoming elections, a looming E.U.-Vietnam free-trade deal and a rising U.S. dollar—the immediate outlook for Cambodia’s economy remains bright, a World Bank report released on October 5 says. But the country will have to address looming challenges now in order ...
Businesses still struggle with administrative procedures

Vietnam has made some strides in administrative reform but local enterprises are still grappling with administrative procedures relating to taxes, sub-licenses and inspections, heard at a meeting between National Assembly deputies and businesses on October 3. Aside from capital, market and technology, the business community needs ...
ADB offers Cambodia new $1B loan package
The Asian Development Bank has committed more than $1 billion in new loans to Cambodia over the next three years to help the country invest in infrastructure, education and other priorities, government officials announced on October 5. Finance Minister Aun Porn Moniroth announced the $1.09 ...
PM welcomes new WB Country Director in Vietnam

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated Ousmane Dione on his appointment as new Country Director for the World Bank in Vietnam at a reception at the Government’s headquarters in Hanoi on October 4. He said the WB is important to Vietnam and bilateral relations are being ...
Japan to help transform Laos

Japan and Laos have agreed on a joint plan to spur development in the landlocked Southeast Asian country during a meeting between their leaders. At their meeting held on the sidelines of the ASEAN summits here this week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Lao ...