Than Ei lived in the Thilawa area near Yangon for years, growing vegetables in her backyard and sending her two children to school with money from her husband's construction job. Then came the government order to move. Than Ei's family was among 68 households relocated in 2013 to make way for the Thilawa SEZ, the first such industrial area in Myanmar, about 23km (15 miles) southeast of Yangon. Authorities said each family would get a home a few miles away, or a plot of land and money to build a house, as well as jobs in the new factories, with good wages. But six years on, Than Ei and others who moved say their incomes are lower than before, and they have only limited access to services. Many families sold their homes and left the area after they ran out of money, Than Ei said. "There is no land to grow vegetables or to keep chickens, and we are not close to transport or the market anymore," Than Ei said outside her one-room home in Myaing Thar Yar village. "My husband only got a job … [Read more...] about Land lost, families uprooted as Myanmar pushes industrial zones
Which industry most spurred economic growth
Vietnam’s renewables industry looking rosy
The energy industry is now looking to the private sector as a financial, source in order to develop, according to the World Bank Photo: shutterstock.com In 2018, the Vietnamese renewable power sector fared well, with solar and wind ventures being registered and starting construction. This was helped along by a big push in incentives via government policy in a bid to spur development in one of the most promising sectors, which remains largely untapped. According to the latest report of state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), 332 solar projects registered to the power master plan with capital of 22,300 megawatts (MW), in which 121 projects have been approved with 6,000MW before June 2019. Meanwhile wind projects had been approved with 4,000MW registered. “The developments in both wind and solar power show Vietnam’s efforts to meet the targets set in the Revised Power Development Master Plan VII to produce 10.7 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s renewables industry looking rosy
Metal industry exhibition builds community
The manufacturing and supporting industries converge annually at Metalex Vietnam, an international exhibition on machine tools and metalworking solutions, to discuss effective metalworking solutions, product launches, critical business intelligence, and collaboration opportunities for business growth in the emerging Vietnamese market. Reed Tradex’s Suttisak Wilanan believes in promoting regional connectivity Suttisak Wilanan, deputy managing director of Reed Tradex, one of Asia’s leading event organisers, delves into the event highlights and what visitors can expect at Metalex Vietnam 2018, slated to take place on October 11-13 in Ho Chi Minh City’s Saigon Exhibitions and Convention Centre. What is your outlook on the Vietnamese market and the investment environment? Vietnam has recently made steady progress in improving its investment climate, as evidenced by higher scores as it went up five places since last year to … [Read more...] about Metal industry exhibition builds community
Vietnamese expats bring Industry 4.0 talent home
Vietnamese expats bring Industry 4.0 talent home In order for them to contribute to Vietnam’s development and help it meet the challenges of Industry 4.0, the Vietnamese government has called on 100 young, talented Vietnamese people working overseas in the science and technology fields to come home and apply their skills and experience in the homeland. Tran Thi Nhu Hoa, deputy head of the Vietnamese Student Association in South Korea and one of the 100 people selected in the Vietnam Innovation Network Programme led by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, used just one word, “love”, to describe the feeling that overcame her as she was given this opportunity. Hoa proudly told VIR, “I am sure that I will return home to work for a university in Ho Chi Minh City. I will bring South Korea’s highest technology and transfer it to Vietnam.” The programme aims to gather and mobilise the best human resources from overseas Vietnamese experts and connect … [Read more...] about Vietnamese expats bring Industry 4.0 talent home
North Korea seen looking to China, not US, for help in any economic transformation
U.S. President Donald Trump may have promised that North Korea will become “very rich” on the back of American investment if Pyongyang ditches nuclear weapons but economists and academics who have studied the isolated country say it is China not the U.S. that will be the engine of any transformation. The nearest template would not be based on American-style capitalism, but China’s state-controlled market economy first championed by Deng Xiaoping, who became China’s leader in 1978, these experts said. China was just coming out of the turmoil of the 27-year reign of Mao Zedong, a period during which capitalism was banned and private businesses and property were seized by the state and placed under collective ownership. Deng introduced wrenching reforms that are widely regarded as creating the foundations of China’s economic miracle in the past 40 years. The changes were massive, the growth phenomenal, but most importantly the Chinese Communist Party has … [Read more...] about North Korea seen looking to China, not US, for help in any economic transformation