Author: Peter Carlisle

Coronavirus Delays Construction on 90 percent complete Lao-China Railway The nearly-finished railway project that would connect landlocked Laos with China is facing construction delays due to manpower shortages resulting from the coronavirus crisis, according to local government officials. Laos, which reported its first two confirmed cases of the deadly virus only late last month, had […]

AboitizPower terminates $46m acquisition of Vietnam’s Mekong Wind Philippine-listed electricity giant Aboitiz Power Corp (AboitizPower) announced that its planned acquisition of Vietnam’s Mekong Wind has been terminated because some of the conditions of the deal were not met. “A condition precedent was not delivered, and the completion of the acquisition was not completed by the […]

Vietnam’s HCM City to suspend work on non-urgent construction projects HCM CITY — HCM City has suspended non-urgent construction projects until April 15 in an aim to strictly follow nationwide social distancing rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s Department of Construction has sent an urgent document to people’s committees in 24 districts and relevant […]

Laos Ministry Orders Temporary Suspension of Mining Activities, Hydropower Construction Ministry of Energy and Mines Suspends Mining and Hydropower Activities The Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines has ordered the temporary suspension of mineral processing plants and hydropower construction projects under a new notice issued yesterday. The notice, signed by Vice Minister of Energy and […]

Thailand’s Stark Corporation acquires Vietnamese cable makers for $240m Stark Corporation PCL of Thailand is acquiring Vietnam-based Thinh Phat Cables (Thipha) and Dong Viet Non-Ferrous & Plastic (Dovina) for a combined enterprise value of $240 million. The transaction will be implemented by Stark Corporation’s subsidiary Phelps Dodge International, the SET-listed firm said in a stock […]

JFE Meranti steel company forges ahead in Myanmar market Even though there’s been a drop in demand for the company’s coated steel products due to a slowing of construction activities, he said the COVID-19 outbreak would lead to a move away from relying on steel imports and global supply chains and toward more domestic production. […]

Aeon to open shopping mall in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, in 2023 Japan’s largest retailer Aeon is to open a shopping mall in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, in 2023. The Japanese retailer will partner with Myanmar conglomerate Shwe Taung Group to set up a joint venture in the country this year. The new Aeon shopping […]

Myanmar to face power shortages as VPower-backed emergency plants miss deadlines Driving past trucks laden with containers along the road that leads to the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the outskirts of Yangon, one can easily spot from afar the company logos of the many manufacturers and utilities providers which have their factories there. […]

Ascott to open Somerset-branded Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok serviced apartments in Bangkok The Ascott Limited will open a new 445-unit serviced apartment property in Bangkok, Thailand. The company said Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok is “opening soon” in Ratchadapisek-Rama 9, the new Central Business District of Bangkok. It will also be within walking distance from several […]