Economy and industry
5G licence auction faces delay due to technicalities
The planned fifth generation (5G) licence auction on the 2600-megahertz spectrum is likely to be put off to 2018 due to a lack of well-designed frequency valuation principles and the transition to a new telecom regulatory body. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) initially ...
AirAsia JV in Vietnam aimed at expanding SE Asia operations
AirAsia is expanding its operations in Southeast Asia, with the proposed lowcost carrier (LCC) joint venture (JV) with Gumin Co Ltd and Hai Au Aviation Joint Stock Co. AirAsia is expanding its operations in Southeast Asia, with the proposed lowcost carrier (LCC) joint venture (JV) ...
Tourism as usual at Angkor Wat despite steeper fees
The steep increase in Angkor Wat ticket prices on February 1 did not discourage tourists from visiting the country’s chief tourist draw, as some feared, but it also did not reap any significant material gains for the government coffers, new data shows. Figures released on ...
Germany criticizes US orders on trade deficits
US President Donald Trump’s executive orders on trade deficits and import duty evasion are a sign that Washington plans to move away from free trade and international agreements, German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said on Saturday. Trump instructed his administration on March 31 to study the causes ...
Pakxe looks forward to new park with embankment construction set to start
Provision of compensation for people affected by the Mekong River Integrated Management Project in central Pakxe, Champassak province, is complete, paving the way for construction to begin this month. A project to extend the riverbank and create a green and relaxing public space similar to ...
Beware of illegal business ventures, central bank warns
The Bank of the Lao PDR has warned the public to be on the alert for individuals or companies that illegally convince people to deposit their money or buy shares in business schemes, lured by the promise of high returns or interest rates. The pledging ...
Full steam ahead for start of Laos-China railway
Hundreds of trucks carrying machinery and equipment for construction of the Laos-China railway have entered Laos after being delayed at the border, a senior government official has said. A special lane has now been allocated at China’s Mohan and Laos’ Boten border crossing to facilitate ...
Water management cooperation to flow from Laos, China joint efforts
Laos and China have agreed to further enhance cooperation in the field of water resources through a new Data and Information Centre in conjunction with river basin management plans. The centre and the River Basin Master Planning Project are set to formulate planning schemes for ...
Savannakhet immigration officials ordered to end border crossing fees
Immigration officials working at the second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Savannakhet province, which forms the border with Mukdahan province in Thailand, have been ordered to stop the collection of immigration and service fees. The Prime Minister’s Office last week issued a notice to the Deputy ...
ADB economist looks to PPP for infrastructure needs
Yasuyuki Sawada is the first Japanese national appointed as chief economist at the Asian Development Bank. In an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, he called for private-sector funding to meet the huge demand for infrastructure in Asia. This could be achieved through public-private partnerships ...