The Thai-Lao joint Luang Prabang Mekong Hydropower Project is reportedly 72% complete, as broadcast by municipal television on July 18 after both sides’ representatives inspected the site to assess construction progress.
Category: Economy
Cambodia Registers $24.5bn RCEP Trade Surge in H1
According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce on July 20, Cambodia’s trade with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries reached 24.5 billion US dollar in the first half (H1) of 2026, marking a significant 24% surge from 19.7 billion US dollar last year.
Hanoi to Advance Night-Time Economy, Targeting 30% Rise in Tourist Spending
On July 15, the Hanoi People’s Committee officially issued the plan titled “Development of the Night Economy in Hanoi for 2026-2030, With a Vision to 2045”. This marked the execution step of the master plan ratified on May 9 under Decision No. 2419/QD-UBND signed by Vice Chairman Trương Việt Dũng. Just last month on June 15, the administration approved a formal resolution regulating investment, business guidelines and tailored operating hours for late-night zones.
Malaysia’s Q2 GDP Advance Estimate Beats Forecasts With 5.8% Growth
Malaysia’s economy expanded 5.8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, accelerating from 5.4% in the first quarter and outpacing market expectations, according to advance estimates released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) on July 17.
Indonesia Begins $20bn Abadi Masela LNG Hub Construction
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto officially launched the groundbreaking of the Abadi Masela Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) National Strategic Project on July 16. He officiated the ceremony virtually via video conference from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
New Seed Restrictions and Mechanisation Support Announced for Myanmar’s Cotton Sector
On July 16, the Myanmar government issued an official warning prohibiting the sale, distribution and replanting of F2 hybrid cotton seeds, while simultaneously rolling out new agricultural mechanisation support for cotton farmers.
In the South China Sea, US$5.3 Trillion in Trade Rides on An Unsettled Dispute
Around 5.3 trillion US dollar in trade transits the South China Sea each year, a waterway whose legal status remains unsettled. A decade ago, precisely on July 12, 2016, the Arbitral Award issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague rejected Beijing’s claims over the sea. However, China’s refusal to recognise it leaves the rules governing one of the world’s busiest trade channels continuously contested. For the region’s economies, that ambiguity is not an abstraction but a durable risk to supply chains, energy flows and food security.
Vietnam Conglomerates to Invest US$200bn in Mega Infrastructure Projects
Six leading Vietnamese conglomerates, including Vingroup and Sun Group, reportedly plan to invest a combined 4.9 quadrillion Vietnamese dong (200 billion US dollars) in 40 mega-projects.
World Bank Forecasts Modest 3.8% Growth for Laos in 2026
On July 9, the World Bank published the June 2026 Laos Economic Monitor, revealing that the country’s economy will grow modestly at 3.8% in 2026.
Philippines Introduces 2026-2028 Strategic Investment Priority Plan
On July 10, the Luzon leg of the 2026-2028 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) Roadshow commenced in Makati City, the Philippines. It served as the official venue for presenting Manila’s newly revised fiscal incentives and high-value investment paths.