#Southeast Asia

Korean technology corporations are intensifying investment in Southeast Asia to diversify supply chains and leverage cost advantages, with Vietnam remaining a focal destination thanks to its strategic location and abundant labour force.

Vietnam maintained its third position in the number of investment deals and regained the third place in terms of total investment in startups in Southeast Asia.

The Thailand-Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia-Myanmar Business Forum 2023 took place from November 17-19 in Thailand’s Udon Thani province, promoting connection among enterprises in the five countries.

The Ministry of Finance, acting under the authority from the Government of Vietnam, on February 10 signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to become the eighth member of the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF).

Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Hungary reached a record high of more than US$1 billion in 2021, marking a second consecutive rise and making Vietnam the leading Southeast Asian exporter to the market.

Developing Asia will barely grow in 2020 as containment measures to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hamper economic activity and weaken external demand, according to a new set of forecasts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Vietnamese government is accelerating the construction of the Long Thanh international airport, a major national project in Dong Nai province. Once operational in 2025, it will become a leading airport in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam is among the top three target countries for phishing websites in Southeast Asia in the first half of the year, according to the global cybersecurity company Kaspersky.

Thai firm Gulf Energy Development Plc. plans to develop power plants in Vietnam and Laos to strengthen its presence in Indochina.

Blessed with over 128km of coastline and the largest lagoon system in Southeast Asia, covering up to 22,000 hectares, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue is making the most of its natural strengths to develop sea-based tourism.

From stunning beaches and elephant sanctuaries to adventurous underwater activities, Southeast Asia is home to remote regions where beauty is largely undiscovered.

While the digital revolution has already brought many benefits to Southeast Asia, the region has a unique opportunity to achieve even faster progress by reinforcing the foundations of its growing digital economy. 

A friendship exchange with Lao, Thai and Myanmar students pursuing education in the northern port city of Hai Phong was held in the locality on April 11. 

Vietnam aims to become the first country in Southeast Asia to put 5G into commercial operation in 2020, according to Japanese daily Nikkei.

Truong Thi Gach, 82, of the Cham ethnic group, is from a very long line of ceramic artisans. Her great-great grandmother made pottery, and now, her own great-granddaughter works in one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia, located 10km from the central coastal city of Phan Rang in Ninh Thuan province.

Southeast Asia has become Vietnam’s biggest iron and steel importer, making up 57.6% of the country’s total export volume in the sector, statistics show.

Vietnam scored the fastest growth in tourist arrivals in Southeast Asia last year, receiving some 2.9 million international visitors, up 29.1% from the previous year, according to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Thrillist, the New York-based travel site, has named Lan Ha Bay near the northern coastal city of Hai Phong as one of the best places to visit in Southeast Asia.

SEAF, a global impact investment manager headquartered in Washington DC (US) recently announced the launch of the SEAF Women’s Opportunity Fund (“SWOF”) for Southeast Asia.