COVID-19
Major Impact from COVID-19 to Thailand’s Economy, Vulnerable Households, Firms: Report
Thailand’s economy is expected to be impacted severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, shrinking by at least 5 percent in 2020 and taking more than two years to return to pre-COVID-19 GDP output levels, according to the World Bank’s latest Thailand Economic Monitor, released today. The COVID-19 pandemic ...
World Bank Thailand
Thai farmers are trying a new, climate-friendly way to grow rice
A new agricultural program in central Thailand is working with farmers to change the way they grow rice, in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies while saving water, time and money. The program, backed by the Thai government and German development agency ...
Skylar Lindsay
Laos to establish centre for food quality; no Covid-19 cases
Laos will establish the National Center for the Quality Inspection of Foodstuff and Beverage to ensure the product is safe for consumption. The National standards Certification and Quality Inspection Center under Laos Ministry of Science and Technology on Tuesday (June 30) signed a memorandum of agreement ...
Xinhua
COVID-19: A Magnifying Glass for the Mekong Region’s Data Ecosystem
By the time COVID-19 was announced as a Public Health Emergency at the end of January 2020, the need for more data to understand both the virus and its impacts was clear. Now, more than ever before, data are needed to support decision-making on developing effective solutions that ...
Myanmar: Project to Boost Agricultural Productivity, Support Farmers in Wake of COVID-19
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a $200 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to increase agricultural productivity and diversification and enhance market access for Myanmar farmers, with a strong focus on inclusion for smallholder farmers, women and other vulnerable ...
Kyaw Soe Lynn, WB in Myanmar; Nick Keyes, WB in Washington
A crisis for workers
Venue closure, curfew and state policies enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19 are affecting the labour force severely. Workers experience the impact in different magnitudes, with some getting less pay and seeing their working hours reduced. Others manage to work from home. Some lose ...
MELALIN MAHAVONGTRAKUL
After massive growth, special economic zone will face hurdles
Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone Plc (PPSEZ) will suffer severely from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic this year after reporting healthy results in 2019, according to the company’s senior officials. In a speech by Tan Kak Khun, the chairman of PPSEZ at the opening of ...
Sorn Sarath
The Mekong subregion in Beijing’s strategic calculus
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 ...
K. YHOME
Laos Declares Victory Over Covid-19
The government of Laos has declared victory over Covid-19 following the discharge of all 19 confirmed cases from hospital, with no new cases for 59 days. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith announced at a press conference yesterday that Laos had “gained an important victory in the first ...
Latsamy Phonevilay
PM announces Laos free of Covid-19
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has announced the Lao PDR is free of Covid-19 following the discharge of all 19 covid-19 patients from hospital and 59 consecutive days of no new infections. “As of today, June 10, 2020, the number of people infected with COVID-19 in our ...