Trade and Travel in South East Asia

"Myanmar is winning more foreign friends while international criticism of the current and previous government's abysmal human rights records has all but ceased. Old adversaries in the United States and European Union have scrapped - or are planning to scrap - economic sanctions against the regime, and big-time multinational companies are preparing to lunge into what many seems to believe is Asia's last investment frontier."

"Mark Farmener, of Burma Campaign UK, says: “Often you can tell where someone’s sympathies lie if they use Burma or Myanmar. Myanmar is a kind of indicator of countries that are soft on the regime."

"In his State of the Union address, U.S. President Barack Obama defined America as a “Pacific power,” continuing his administration’s strategic shift to Asia as the United States disengages from Iraq and Afghanistan. In a speech that sharply focused on revitalizing the U.S. economy, President Obama placed an emphasis on opening new markets for American products, singling out China’s unfair trade practices in the process and announcing the establishment of a Trade Enforcement Unit to level the playing field."

Comprehensive cultural etiquette advice for visitors to Thailand.

"Thais are tolerant of individualism, but find comfort and security in being part of a group. Mai Pen Rai (never mind) is the Thai expression which characterizes the general focus of life - "it is to enjoy." Thais are productive and hard working while at the same time happy with what they are and what they have materially. They are smiling, pleasant, humble and patient people who laugh easily, speak softly, are slow to anger, and never try to cause anyone to lose face. Thais are very proud of their cultural heritage and enjoy talking about it with visitors. Thais are proud that they have never been ruled by a Western power."

"The failure of “military-crony capitalism” and a realization by generals that China alone could not bring Burma into the 21st century are at the heart of the new West-leaning liberalization, claims the latest edition of The Economist."

"No longer only a manufacturing hub for Japanese clothing companies, Thailand is becoming a centre for raw materials and design, thanks to high competency for high-technology production and added-value creativity."

"Just 450 km separate these two northern outposts of Southeast Asia which, roughly, lie on two different sides of the Shan Plateau. Yet they're worlds apart."

Thailand's consumer confidence slumped to the lowest level in more than a decade in November because of huge losses to the manufacturing sector, leading to massive layoffs and a possible drop in the Kingdom's investment attractiveness.

The Bank of Thailand has lowered its economic growth projection for this year to 1.8%, from the previous forecast of 2.6%, as a result of the floods.

With the flood crisis receding, the Thai Hotel Association (THA) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have teamed up with over 100 hotels to offer attractive discounts to visitors. The nationwide campaign, set to kick off on December 15 and run for a month, aims to boost arrival numbers by showing visitors that the country’s tourism industry is once again open for business.