International News
Thai government approves US$9bn Pattaya airport expansion
A consortium led by Bangkok Skytrain and metro operator BTS has been given the green light by the government of Thailand to expand U-Tapao International Airport near Pattaya. The consortium, which includes Bangkok Airways and Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction, plans to build a third terminal and cargo and plane maintenance centres as well as create […]
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World’s fastest railway project in Japan delayed over environmental concerns
Construction of the world’s fastest magnetic levitation (Maglev) railway connecting Tokyo to Osaka in Japan has been halted by Shizuoka prefecture due to fears that it will strain groundwater under the tunnel, according to the Global Construction Review. In a live broadcast meeting, Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture Heita Kawakatsu refused to allow the proposed 9km-long US$84 […]
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ASEAN top leaders touch on green infrastructure development and sustainable tourism to bolster regional trade
What have ASEAN leaders learned from COVID – 19? Top ASEAN leaders recently held an online video conference gathering for the 36th ASEAN Summit on 26 June 2020 with representatives of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC). The meeting achieved a joint statement based on the theme of “Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN in 2020”. The […]
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ASEAN: Mega construction projects will rebound to reach US$2.9 trillion over the next five years
Increasing investment in ASEAN construction industry The COVID-19 crisis has left many economies across the globe, including the construction industry, closed for a months during the first quarter of 2020. For ASEAN, significant opportunities for the growing demand for construction machinery are expected to increase after 2020, due to large infrastructure projects and changing labour […]
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US$1.7 billion coal power plant set for Sekong
Singapore energy firm Evolution Power Investment Corporation (EPIC) has recently received approval from the government of Laos PDR to develop a US$1.7 billion thermal power plant in southern Laos’ Sekong province. The plant will reportedly generate 1,000 MW and will likely be powered by domestically extracted coal, according to a report in by ASEAN Today […]
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The Mekong River Commission delays discussions on Loa’s two hydropower projects
The Mekong River Commission has decided to delay decisions Laos’ two hydropower projects on the Mekong River due to concerns over the environmental impact of Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and others around the Mekong. According to the announcement of the Mekong River Commission on June 5, 2020. The first hydropower project, the Luang Prabang hydropower project, […]
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One Belt, One Road projects resumes work despite COVID-19 fears
China’s One Belt One Road Initiative in Cambodia is continuing as usual despite the ongoing recent lack of construction workers and supplies due to COVID-19, according to the Xinhua website on 02 June 2020. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the government has released strict measures to prevent the spread include 14-day quarantine and other precautionary […]
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COVID–19 gives the advantage to Vietnam leading ASEAN toward a Smart City Vision
COVID-19 pushes ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASNC) COVID-19 has tested Vietnam’s leadership of ASEAN. During its tenure as chair of ASEAN in 2020, the country has introduced five priority plans to be implemented by this year, including strengthening ASEAN institutional capacity and using the Industrial Revolution 4.0 to address social inequality. Among the five priority […]
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Cambodia economic slowdown most affected in CLMV due to COVID-19
If we look at the economic situation of the lower middle-income countries in the ASEAN bloc or the so-called CLMV– Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, the COVID-19 crisis has pulled the economies of these countries’ down to around 3.4%, the lowest level in the last two decades. Looking at the overall impact of COVID-19 on […]
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Hyundai eyes ASEAN market with first robotic plant in Indonesia
Hyundai Robotics, a subsidiary of Korean Hyundai Motors Company, was formed on 01 May 2020 to build its first industrial robotic automotive plant in Indonesia. This marks the first time that such a large and modernfacility has been installed in ASEAN. The decision to install the plant in ASEAN came after the company reached what […]
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