International News
Thailand Changes Strategy to Attract Chinese Investors, Extends 99-year Lease & 75% of Condo Ownership to Foreigners
Chinese investors are rapidly increasing their presence in Thailand’s property market, with over 100 billion baht invested in key economic cities over the past 15 years, according to Property DNA and updated by The Star on 06 August 2024. This trend is expected to accelerate further as the Thai government considers extending the leasehold period […]
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Japanese Companies Pull Out of China as Vietnam Becomes Next Destination
Japanese companies are becoming increasingly cautious about operating in China, as supply chain risks, anti-espionage legislation, and rising geopolitical tensions create an uncertain environment. A recent survey by Teikoku Databank reveals that the number of Japanese companies in China has decreased by 9.4% since its peak in 2012, with 13,034 businesses currently operating in the […]
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ASEAN FDI Soars to US$224bn, Cambodia Captures US$3.96bn Ranking 7th
ASEAN’s attractiveness as a stable, rapidly growing market has propelled foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to unprecedented heights, with the region securing an all-time high of US$224 billion in 2022. This investment surge, driven by ASEAN’s burgeoning population and increasing income levels, is also a result of the region’s strategic advantage as a key recipient […]
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AEON Mall Vietnam to Invest Over US$167m in Landmark Thanh Hoa Shopping Centre
AEON Mall Vietnam has secured approval from Thanh Hoa provincial authorities to invest over US$167 million in a large shopping centre spanning 10.5 hectares, set to become the largest commercial hub in the northern region of Vietnam. This significant investment, reported by VNEXPRESS on 4 August 2024, underscores AEON Mall’s commitment to expanding its footprint […]
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Global Supply Chain Shift from China, While Thailand Emerges as Key Player
Thailand has positioned itself as a prime investment destination in the ongoing supply chain reformation from China, attracting substantial investment across key industrial clusters over the next decade, according to Michael Glancy, Country Head of JLL Thailand. This shift, driven by the need for supply chain diversification, is detailed in a recent report by Jones […]
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Korea Pledges US$10 Million Cooperation Fund to Boost Mekong Development by 2027
The Republic of Korea has pledged to increase its financial contribution to the Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund to US$10 million by 2027, aiming to bolster sustainable development and environmental protection in the Mekong subregion. This commitment was announced in a press release on 28 July 2024. During the 12th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers […]
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Lao Gov’t Approves New 63 km Expressway Section from Oudomxay to Chinese Border
The Lao government has given the green light for the construction of the fourth section of an expressway, enhancing transport connectivity between Laos and China. This newly approved segment will span 63 kilometres, linking Oudomxay province to Boten in Luang Namtha province, a key border area with China, according to a report by Pasaxon on […]
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Indonesia Implements Cloud Planting Techniques to Mitigate Rain Impact on New Capital Construction
Indonesia is employing climate modification techniques known as cloud seeding to reduce heavy rains that have impeded the construction of its future capital, Nusantara. The new city, set to open on 17 August 2024, aims to alleviate issues faced by the current capital, including heavy traffic congestion and potential flooding, according to Business Times on […]
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Thailand Accelerates Completion of 873km High-Speed Rail Project Linking Bangkok to China’s Kunming
Thailand is fast-tracking the development of an 873-kilometre high-speed rail project that will connect Bangkok with the Lao-China railway, significantly easing the transport of people and goods from Bangkok to Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan Province. The project, estimated to be worth between US$5 billion and US$9.9 billion, is expected to be completed in […]
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Vietnam Seeks China’s Expertise for High-Speed Rail & 1,500 km North-South Railway Project
Vietnam is seeking China’s support for the development of its high-speed rail network, including the China-Vietnam cross-border railway project, to enhance trade between the two countries. On 25 June 2024, VnExpress reported that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed this request to Lou Qiliang, Chairman of China Railway Signal Information, during the World Economic […]
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