The Election Commission (EC) has insisted it needs to examine the law to see if the government’s proposed value-added tax (VAT) refund for next year’s Chinese New Year shopping gives a pro-government party undue political advantage ahead of the next election. The Finance Ministry said it is looking into implementing the refund programme to provide an […]
Read MoreThe government has insisted that its plan to liberalize the tobacco industry will trickle down positively in terms of job creation and export outputs despite the product being largely consumed inside the country, prompting criticism from tobacco control activists. Aside from creating jobs and boosting exports, the proposed plan, which is part of a government […]
Read MoreMANILA, Philippines — Inflation likely eased to 6.3 percent in November from a near 10-year high of 6.7 percent in October as supply of agricultural products, particularly rice, started to normalize last month, according to the Department of Finance (DOF). In an interview, Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said its inflation projection is also within the inflation forecast of the Bangko […]
Read MoreThe Hanoitimes – Business conditions strengthened at the second-fastest pace in the survey’s history, second only to the record seen in the first month of data collection. The headline Nikkei Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ index (PMI) in November climbed from a 7-year high to 56.5 from 53.9 in October, signaling a sharp monthly improvement in the […]
Read MoreThe Ministry of Tourism has begun discussions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) over a $30-million loan to fund infrastructure in coastal provinces that would support tourism development. The government has announced plans to use the money to build two seaports in Preah Sihanouk province – in Sihanoukville and in the island of Koh Rong. […]
Read MorePETALING JAYA: Despite inflationary pressure building up, the overnight policy rate (OPR) is expected to be maintained at 3.25% next year if gross domestic product (GDP) growth does not slide below 4%, according to economists. When contacted by StarBiz, many of them concurred that inflationary pressure would build up but it would unlikely to justify a hike in the OPR. […]
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Thailand
