Economy and industry
China imports slump 17.7% in September: Customs
Chinese imports slumped by nearly 18 percent year-on-year in September, Customs said on 13 October, in the latest poor figures from the world’s second-largest economy. Keep reading ...
Thailand's NESDB confident in stimulus

The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) remains upbeat that the country’s economy will still manage growth of 2.7-3.2% this year as projected. Keep reading ...
Myanmar's economic growth to pick up again post-election: IMF

Reforms and monetary policy changes in the post-election period would boost slowing growth in Myanmar, said an International Monetary Fund official. Hoe Ee Khor, deputy director for Asia and Pacific at the IMF, said the involvement of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in setting regulations ...
Vietnam eyes better reservoir management

Vietnam must improve the management of its numerous reservoirs to protect the rights and interests of residents in the downstream areas, and to optimise the efficiency of its water management and hydropower projects, experts said during a conference on the subject last week. Experts said the ...
Yangon stock exchange risks opening under US sanctions
Myanmar’s first modern stock exchange risks falling under sanctions by the US Treasury when it eventually launches this year. The Yangon Stock Exchange is not designated specifically by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. However US officials have clarified that under US law it ...
Vietnam tourism authority supports controversial cable car near world's largest cave

Vietnam’s tourism administration agency has expressed support for installing a controversial cable car system near the world’s largest cave, Son Doong, news website VnExpress reported on 12 October. Nguyen Van Tuan, chief of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, was quoted as saying that the system, ...
Cambodia to invest $62M in China’s Asia Bank
The Council of Ministers agreed on 9 October to invest about $62 million in the fledgling Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which is expected to start operating by the end of the year. Keep reading ...
Laos' Khammouane province to study solar, wind power
The development of solar and wind power in Laos’ central Khammouane province is to be investigated following earlier mixed results, an official has said. The PP Electric Company in Vientiane has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Khammouane provincial Planning and Investment Department to conduct ...
Single gateway jitters in Thailand
With the Thai government exploring the pros and cons of initiating a single international gateway (single gateway), uncertainty is being felt in the country’s growing tech industry and e-commerce sector. The cabinet ordered relevant state agencies to report legal complications concerning the deployment of a single ...
Laos SEZs prove to be major job generators
Sixty-five companies from Laos and foreign countries including Thailand at the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone have created over 4,500 jobs for local people. According to Thongsay Sayavongkhamdy, a senior official from the Savannakhet provincial authority, from now until 2020, both local and overseas companies are expected to ...