Economy and industry
Dams destroy the Mekong and damage tourism
Every day thousands of tourists soak up life on the Mekong River, the seventh longest river in Asia. They take cruises, stay at boutique hotels or tuck into a grand lunch at a riverside restaurant. The river is the most compelling reason they travel to a ...
Don Ross
Assembly passes construction bill
The National Assembly unanimously approved the Draft Law on Construction on Monday. It is meant to strengthen the management of building projects and consists of 22 chapters and 111 articles. The draft law has been years in the making with technical officials from the Ministry of ...
Mech Dara
Push to boost cross-border economic ties with Mekong-Lancang countries
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Monday (October 7) that the Cabinet has approved a proposal for cross-border economic ties under the Mekong-Lancang cooperation framework. The director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiation has also been given the job of visiting Laos on October 8 to ...
Will climate change spell the end of coal and hydropower in the Mekong?
This year has been rough for the 70 million people who call the Mekong River basin home: a severe drought rocked the region for months before yielding to deadly flooding. The Mekong slowed to its lowest level in recorded history, knocking the world’s largest freshwater fishery—Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake—out of ...
Skylar Lindsay
Provincial Official in Laos Wants to Cancel Concession for Chinese Coal Company
Officials for the local government in Laos’ Houaphanh province say they want to cancel the survey contract of a Chinese coal company after learning that its operations in the province have caused hardship for villagers who have yet to see any compensation. The company reportedly damaged ...
New bridge boosts Thai-Myanmar ties
Bilateral border trade between Thailand and Myanmar is expected to flourish after the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge becomes fully operational, starting from Oct 30. Niyom Wairatpanich, vice-chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the bridge is vital to boost border trade between the two countries, ...
Phusadee Arunmas
Laos' Luang Prabang dam reaches key development stage
The Luang Prabang hydropower project has reached another key development stage after the government asked the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to host the prior consultation on the project. The government authorised the Vietnam Petro Power Corporation to build the Luang Prabang hydro plant in 2007. As ...
Ekaphone Phouthonesy
Myanmar seeks to establish Myanmar-India-China economic corridor
As part of efforts to make Myanmar the doorway to ASEAN door, the government will try to establish a Myanmar-India-China economic corridor, says Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein. The potential for Myanmar to become a trade hub is good because of its location ...
Chan Mya Htwe
Laos, Korea to partner in clean energy systems
Laos and the Republic of Korea are keen to set new heights for expanding their energy ties after becoming strategic partners in the hydropower sector. The Laos-Korea Energy Experts Joint Workshop, with the theme “Cooperation in the Power Sector”, was held in Vientiane yesterday as part ...
Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
ADB, DHD deal to provide first large-scale floating solar PV in Vietnam
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed a $37 million loan agreement with Da Nhim – Ham Thuan – Da Mi Hydro Power Joint Stock Company (DHD) to finance the installation of a 47.5 megawatt (MW) peak floating photovoltaic (PV) solar power facility on the ...
