ASEAN to Discuss China's Mekong Projects | Feb. 27, 2020, 11:37 a.m.

Chinese-funded projects along the Mekong River are increasingly facing pushback from governments and environmentalists in the region as water levels drop due to drought and the construction of large dams. In an attempt to address these concerns, Vietnam plans to add the Mekong River to ASEAN's agenda this year, Nikkei reports.

View All Analysis | Feb. 27, 2020, 10:31 a.m.

Browse our analysis section for news and articles on topics such as China's Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR), the Competing Visions of Japan, India, and other regional powers, and the stakes for U.S. policy.

Thai Telco Wins 5G Auctions | Feb. 18, 2020, 9:39 a.m.

Thailand's 5G development is moving forward with domestic mobile operators. The nation's largest telecommunications firm recently acquired several frequency bands key to providing high-speed internet and internet of things technologies, Nikkei reports.

Thailand: China's Investment Rises 5-Fold | Jan. 24, 2020, 9:39 a.m.

Chinese companies are constructing new factories in Southeast Asia in an effort to avoid U.S. tariffs, with Chinese direct investment in Thailand increasing fivefold in 2019.

Industrial Parks Boom in SE Asia | Nov. 19, 2019, 11:46 a.m.

As the U.S.-China trade war drives Chinese enterprises and other companies to relocate, Southeast Asian countries are constructing industrial parks and using tax incentives to attract manufacturers. As a result, Chinese corporate investment in Thailand is expected to increase by 30 percent this year, and foreign direct investment in Malaysia roughly doubled, Nikkei reports.

Huawei Offers Thailand Tech Center | Nov. 18, 2019, 9:25 a.m.

Huawei Technologies is lobbying to build Thailand's 5G network in order to strengthen its foothold in Southeast Asia. Thailand's economy is the second-largest in the region and important to Huawei, in order to secure a deal they have ramped up the offer to include building a tech training center in Bangkok, Nikkei reports.

Kickstarting Asian Water Infrastructure | Sept. 16, 2019, 9:53 a.m.

Many Asian cities, such as Jakarta and Bangkok, are threatened by rising sea levels. Unless delayed water infrastructure projects are accelerated, large sections of these cities will be underwater in the near future, Nikkei reports.

Thai BRI Rail Delayed | Sept. 12, 2019, 10:28 a.m.

Amidst discussions over the liabilities and feasibility of a $9.9 billion price tag, the Thai government has delayed a high-profile Chinese Belt and Road high speed railway project.

Thailand Plans $7.3B Rail | July 10, 2019, 11:13 a.m.

A company in Thailand has formed a consortium with China Railway Construction to build a $7.3 billion high-speed railway, Nikkei reports.

Thailand Pushes 5G Rollout | May 10, 2019, 9:05 a.m.

Last month, the Thai junta issued an order granting loan extensions of 60 million baht to three major telecom operators to stimulate 5G rollout. However, the loan extensions may not be enough to prod the companies into action, as 5G development could wind up costing as much as 100 billion baht, reports Nikkei.

Thailand Pushes China-Funded Rail | May 2, 2019, 9:09 a.m.

Thailand's prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Laos and China to accelerate the construction of a much delayed high-speed rail line between northeast Thailand and Vientiane in Laos, reports Nikkei.

Thai-Cambodia Rail Reopens | April 23, 2019, 9:08 a.m.

After a 45-year hiatus, Thailand and Cambodia reopened their cross-border railway service on Monday. With the rail service connecting the border town of Aranyaprathet in Thailand with Poipet in Cambodia, train passengers can now travel between the capitals of Bangkok and Phnom Penh, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Thailand Commits $2.78 Billion to Port | April 1, 2019, 9:22 a.m.

Thailand's government will invest $2.78 billion in Laem Chabang port, the core of Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor. The Thai government hopes to position the deep-water port to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong, reports Nikkei.

Southeast Asia Hastens 5G Shift | March 19, 2019, 9:07 a.m.

Thailand and Vietnam have announced plans to start 5G services as early as 2020. The Southeast Asian nations are scrambling to introduce 5G networks, determined not to fall behind developed nations, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Thailand's PTT Puts $4B Into Pipelines, LNG | March 1, 2019, 9:27 a.m.

Thailand's state-owned energy group PTT has earmarked around $4 billion for projects including pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals over the next decade, supporting the government's efforts to diversify the country's coal-heavy energy supply. More gas-fired plants are also expected to be built to support Thailand's growing energy demand, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

China’s Digital Silk Road and Southeast Asia | Feb. 19, 2019, 10:44 a.m.

Southeast Asia’s strategic importance for China, the United States, Japan, and others, and the advantages that will come with control over data flows, mean that the region’s decisions on digital infrastructure and internet governance will have implications that far transcend business outcomes.

China To Build 3,000 km Pan-Asian Railway Network | Jan. 9, 2019, 8:56 a.m.

Beijing is currently working on construction of a high-speed rail line in northern Thailand. Under its planned 3,000-km pan-Asian railway network, Chinese rail lines will extend even further south, stretching through Malaysia and feeding into Singapore, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

19 Projects to Watch in 2019 | Dec. 21, 2018, 11:20 a.m.

Reconnecting Asia tracks infrastructure developments across Eurasia, a vast landmass that includes 60 percent of the global economy. Every day, new infrastructure projects are announced, some are advanced, and others encounter obstacles. Here is a selection of projects and trends we will be watching in 2019.

Thailand To Develop HSR Network | Dec. 7, 2018, 8:27 a.m.

Thailand will spend more than $25 billion to build a high-speed rail network in a bid to transform the country into a regional rail hub. The Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok, when completed in 2020, is expected be Southeast Asia's biggest station with a capacity of serving 400,000 passengers daily.

$1.7B Thai Port Project Attracts Bidders | Nov. 28, 2018, 9:17 a.m.

Multiple companies have expressed interest in bidding for the $1.7 billion worth of contracts to expand the Map Thaput port into a major deep sea port -- part of a larger infrastructure drive to create a huge economic and business center in the east of the country.

China Railway Joins Bid for Thai HSR | Nov. 13, 2018, 9:49 a.m.

China Railway Construction will join a consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) to bid for the construction of Thailand's $7 billion high-speed railway project that will link three major airports.

$14B Projects Approved in Thailand | Oct. 31, 2018, 10:04 a.m.

The Thai government has approved four infrastructure megaprojects, worth a combined $14 billion, in an effort to rev up new investment in the country's Eastern Economic Corridor.

Japan, Mekong Nations Push Infrastructure | Oct. 10, 2018, 9:18 a.m.

The leaders of Japan and five Southeast Asian countries agreed to adopt a new policy that pushes forward more than 150 projects in the Mekong region using official development assistance from Japan.

Thailand Indirectly Seeks BRI Funding | Sept. 20, 2018, 11:03 a.m.

Envisioning a bilateral trade deal with Sri Lanka, the Thai government hopes to tap into opportunities from China's Belt and Road Initiative without directly dealing with China.

Thailand To Build $7B HSR | Sept. 19, 2018, 10:08 a.m.

In preparations to double airport capacity, Thailand plans to build a 220-km high-speed railway connecting three major airports by 2023.

Thailand's PTT Pursues $7B Rail Project | Sept. 11, 2018, 10:06 a.m.

Thai oil and gas group PTT is in discussions with potential partners to develop an estimated $7 billion high-speed train project as part of the country's Eastern Economic Corridor.

Modi Attends Regional Summit in Nepal | Aug. 30, 2018, 9 a.m.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi heads to Nepal for a meeting of the seven-nation BIMSTEC bloc, where improved trade and connectivity have the potential to help India counter Beijing's massive Belt and Road Initiative, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

Thailand Welcomes Chinese Investment | Aug. 24, 2018, 10:34 a.m.

Thailand is welcoming 500 Chinese companies over the weekend and is expecting to sign more than a dozen bilateral contracts that will link its Eastern Economic Corridor to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

SEA Fund Boosts Self-Reliance | Aug. 6, 2018, 9:07 a.m.

Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam have announced the The Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Fund. The fund aims to help Southeast Asia become more financially self-reliant and reduce its dependence on external economic and political giants, particularly China.

Read the full article [here](https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Southeast-Asian-fund-can-complement-Chinese-investment-by

Thailand to Build $7B HSR | July 10, 2018, 9:12 a.m.

Thirty-one companies from Thailand and abroad have expressed interest in bidding for the right to build the country's first high-speed railway, valued at $7.07 billion. The 220km route will link three major airports and will be the first large infrastructure project to be built in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Vietnam Builds ASEAN’s Largest Solar Plant | June 22, 2018, 10:06 a.m.

Vietnam plans to develop the largest solar plant in the ASEAN region, a 420-megawatt facility located in Tay Ninh in southwestern Vietnam. Talks are underway with several local and international financial institutions for project funding for the $420 million project.

Mekong Nations Start Infrastructure Fund | June 18, 2018, 8:28 a.m.

Five nations that share the Mekong River: Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam adopted a five-year master development plan during the 2018 ACMECS summit in Bangkok. The plan vowed to upgrade roads, power grids, and other pieces of infrastructure that connect and strengthen the region.

HK Company Invests $600M in Thai Port | May 9, 2018, 9:06 a.m.

In anticipation of a big trade increase along the BRI's Eastern Economic Corridor, Hong Kong-based Hutchinson Port Holdings has invested $600 million to open a new high-tech, fully automated terminal at Thailand's largest commercial port this June.

China Projects Face Push Back in SE Asia | March 26, 2018, 10:55 a.m.

Several local communities in rural Thailand have lobbied to block environmentally-damaging infrastructure projects backed by Chinese companies sparking similar actions across Southeast Asia.

Thai Conglomerate Seeks BRI Opportunities | March 22, 2018, 10:50 a.m.

Thai industrial conglomerate Siam Cement Group seeks investment possibilities in South China and India in the years ahead. China's Belt and Road Initiative gives the conglomerate an opportunity to sell more products as the initiative stimulates spending on construction and spurs an increase in private-sector investments.

New Infrastructure Fuels Thai-EEU Trade | Feb. 26, 2018, 10:14 a.m.

Infrastructure improvements within the Eurasian Economic Union have fueled interest in a free trade agreement between Thailand and the Russia-led bloc.

Thailand Courts Infrastructure Investment | Feb. 20, 2018, 10:38 a.m.

Thai deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak seeks investment to develop the Eastern Economic Corridor, including channeling more than $45 billion into infrastructure projects ranging from airports and ports to highways and roads.

Thai Economic Corridor to Attract $9.4B | Feb. 9, 2018, 9:48 a.m.

Thailand's parliament has approved a much-awaited law regarding the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor, series of economic zones the government hopes will attract $9.4 billion of new investment in 2018.

India Courts ASEAN to Counter BRI | Jan. 25, 2018, 10:10 a.m.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes all ten ASEAN leaders to New Dehli in an attempt to strengthen trade and connectivity with the bloc.

Thailand Slows High-Speed Rail Aspirations | Jan. 18, 2018, 10:48 a.m.

The Prime Minister of Thailand has instructed transport officials to reduce the maximum speed of the 670-kilometer Thai-Japanese high-speed rail.

World Bank: Safer Roads Boost GDP | Jan. 9, 2018, 5:53 p.m.

Quotes and Quotas is a weekly digest of powerful phrases and facts that help explain Asia’s infrastructure push.

China's High-speed Rail Hits Snags in SE Asia | Dec. 21, 2017, 9:39 a.m.

Chinese led high-speed rail projects across Southeast Asia, a core part of the Belt and Road Initiative, are lagging due to cost issues and trouble procuring land.

India, ASEAN to Propel Asia's Economy | Dec. 7, 2017, 9:34 a.m.

New projections show India's economy becoming third largest in the world, with other major ASEAN nations surging forward to propel Asian economic growth.

Thai Company to Develop Industrial Parks along Mekong River | Nov. 10, 2017, 10:02 a.m.

Thai company plans to develop industrial parks in its cheaper neighboring countries along the Mekong River, where it bets manufacturing will pick up.

European Business Call for Thai Government to Prioritize Kra Canal | Sept. 22, 2017, 9:53 a.m.

Mekong Region seeks to Strengthen Cross-Border Connectivity | Sept. 8, 2017, 9:09 a.m.

Thailand Contemplates $28B Kra Canal | Aug. 10, 2017, 8:19 a.m.

A group of influential businessmen and former generals in Thailand and reportedly urging Prime Minister, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to consider backing a $28 billion canal to Link the Indian and Pacific Oceans across the Isthmus of Kra.

$67B Thai Infrastructure Plan Needs Momentum | July 26, 2017, 8:45 a.m.

Thailand's ambitious $67 billion infrastructure plan could help boost economic growth, but to do so it must first move from the planning stages to implementation.

China: Thai High-Speed Rail Needs Quick Completion | July 25, 2017, 9:05 a.m.

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, met with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of Thailand yesterday to discuss the construction of a high-speed rail between southern China and Thailand's east coast, stressing the need for the project to be completed quickly.

"Thailand's Big Strategic Move" | June 23, 2017, 8:32 a.m.

Thailand's Prime Minister and head of the military government Prayuth Chan-ocha promised to kick-off $70.6 billion in infrastructure projects ahead of the 2018 election.