Cambodia seized more than 3.2 tonnes of elephant tusks hidden in a storage container sent from Mozambique, a customs official said Sunday, marking the country's largest ivory bust. Cambodian customs officials looking at ivory seized from a shipping container at the Phnom Penh port. Photograph: Ban Chork/AFP/Getty The discovery Thursday of 1,026 tusks at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port followed a tip from the US embassy, the official said, and highlights Cambodia's emergence as a key regional transit point for the multibillion dollar trade in illicit wildlife. "The elephant tusks were hidden among marble in a container that was abandoned," Sun Chhay, director of the Customs and Excise Office at the port, told AFP. He said the ivory was sent from the southern African nation of Mozambique and arrived at the port last year. The unidentified owner of the shipment did not arrive to pick up the cargo. Pictures of the massive haul showed long rows of confiscated tusks spread out on … [Read more...] about Cambodia seizes record 3-tonne haul of African ivory
Thailand cambodia vietnam 3 weeks
Vietnam gets to grips with CPTPP
Through the ratification of the CPTPP, Vietnam will be able to attract even more foreign investment to key technology sectors, Photo: Le Toan Tran Hoang Ngan has spent days studying the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He is not a negotiator of the deal, but a National Assembly (NA) member from Ho Chi Minh City recently provided with documents related to the agreement, before it was officially discussed at the NA last week. Initially, the deal was formed in 2005 as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. The US joined the TPP in 2008, and Vietnam quickly followed suit. In January 2017 the US withdrew from the deal, which was then inked in March 2018 under the new name of the CPTPP. “Why was Vietnam invited to join the TPP, though its per capita income is only $2,380, while the average of other member states is $30,000?” asked Ngan, who is also a senior economist. “I think member … [Read more...] about Vietnam gets to grips with CPTPP
Filipino giant URC harbours great ambitions in Vietnam
With unceasing efforts throughout its 15 years of operations in Vietnam, Universal Robina Corporation is keen on expanding market coverage to become an important part of the foreign direct investment community and contribute to the country’s development. Renato Salud (left), senior vice president of JG Summit, and Laurent Levan Universal Robina Corporation (URC), the first “Philippines Pan-ASEAN Multinational” with presence in Southeast Asia and Oceania, was recognised as one of the outstanding foreign-invested enterprises contributing to Vietnam’s development at the conference on 30 years of FDI attraction in Vietnam hosted last week by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. URC is the biggest subsidiary of JG Summit, one of the largest and most diversified Filipino conglomerates as well as one of Nikkei Asia Review’s Top 300 Asian companies. JG Summit has business interests in air transportation, banking, food manufacturing, hotels, … [Read more...] about Filipino giant URC harbours great ambitions in Vietnam
AIA reveals Vietnam facing critical illness ‘financing gap’
AIA Group (AIA) has found that people in Vietnam face a considerable “financing gap” where savings, current levels of insurance, and government health provisions may not be enough to pay for the treatment of critical illnesses such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes. The key findings in the AIA Healthy Living Index 2018 The findings are part of the latest AIA Healthy Living Index Survey (The Survey), the fourth since 2011, which highlights the prevailing health trends, motivations, and concerns for individuals and communities across the Asia-Pacific. In Vietnam, 57 per cent of people are concerned about the potential costs of critical illness. When asked to estimate the cost of treatment for cancer they expect they would have to bear, over half (58 per cent) estimate an amount that would have serious financial implications for them. 58 per cent of people think that the potential costs of critical illness would have serious financial implications for them … [Read more...] about AIA reveals Vietnam facing critical illness ‘financing gap’
Shaping future of Vietnam’s labour
The Vietnamese youth is optimistic about the changes Industry 4.0 will bring, Photo: Le Toan Source: World Economic Forum and Sea, one of Southeast Asia’s leading internet companies Last weeks’ visit to Vietnam by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), was quite special. He came to the country with a big gift, a great deal of novel ideas for Vietnam to go forwards sustainably within the unfolding Fourth Industrial Revolution. The gift was the Vietnamese-language version of his world-famous book titled “Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” which has already been translated into 29 languages. “Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution” draws on contributions by more than 200 of the world’s leading technological, economic, and sociological experts to present a practical guide for citizens, business leaders, social influencers, and policy-makers. It outlines the most important dynamics of … [Read more...] about Shaping future of Vietnam’s labour