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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asean/40019978

Cambodia To Push For Establishment Of RCEP Secretariat

SUN, SEPTEMBER 11, 2022

Analysts Believe There Will Be A Push To Establish A General Secretariat Of The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) In Cambodia At The 54th Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) This Week In Siem Reap.

Several Asean Economic Ministers’ Meetings are scheduled, including the Asean Ministers’ Meeting of RCEP.

The Commerce Ministry said on Friday that Cambodia was ready to work closely with all member states, partners and the Asean Secretariat to push for further efforts to rebuild the regional economic community and accelerate economic recovery.

Prime Minister Hun Sen will make the opening remarks at the two-day 54th AEM on September 14 under the theme “Asean Act: Addressing Challenges Together.”

At an August 3 meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Hun Sen called on Beijing, as a co-member of the agreement, to support the initiative of establishing an RCEP general secretariat of RCEP in Phnom Penh.

Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, believes Cambodia should use this opportunity to push for the establishment of an RCEP office in the country as these meetings will bring representatives of leading economies and signatories of RCEP.

“This is a good opportunity as Cambodia chairs Asean [this year] and is hosting meetings. Cambodia will be able to help solve many issues related to the ongoing economic crises in the region and the world,” he said. “I also believe there will be a push for discussion about establishing a secretariat office on RCEP in Cambodia, following a request by Prime Minister Hun Sen.”

He added that in order to implement the RCEP agreement smoothly, it will be necessary to have a separate RCEP general secretariat to facilitate implementation.

“The RCEP General Secretariat will function no differently from the Asean secretary-general. Cambodia will also enjoy certain economic benefits from the RCEP general secretariat,” Heng said.

He added that RCEP was the largest free-trade agreement in the world, with a combined population of 2,270 million, an economic volume of US$26 trillion, and a total export volume of $5.2 trillion, or 30 per cent of the total volume of the world.

Hong Vannak, an economist at the Institute of International Relations of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that as chair of Asean, it is a good time for the kingdom to introduce the idea.

“Obviously, Cambodia, along with other countries in the region, is in a hurry to reorganise their economies, to recover from the hit they took from the global pandemic,” he said.

“National incomes have dropped and spending has increased dramatically. Cambodia, for example, has spent nearly $3 billion handling Covid-19, including the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines,” he added.

The Phnom Penh Post

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asean/40019977

Crossing The Border For A Quick Thai Food Fix

SUN, SEPTEMBER 11, 2022

For Malaysians, Hat Yai Is Irresistible – Especially During The Weekends. Go To The Immigration Office In The Border Town Of Bukit Kayu Hitam And You Will Find Hordes Of Malaysian Travellers Queuing Up, Waiting To Enter Thailand.

Lorry driver Nazron Ahmad, 36, said was thrilled to take his family for a short break “after what felt like ages”.

“It’s been two years since we went across to Thailand,” he said on Friday.

Nazron’s nine-member “entourage” included his wife, their two children, a brother-in-law and other relatives.

“We plan to eat to our heart’s content,” he said, adding that the Khlong Hae floating market was on their itinerary as well.

As for health precautions, Nazron said they would all mask up when sharing spaces with strangers.

Rahimi Mohd Hanizam and Nor Eryanie Rizuan, both 24, said they were excited about the trip too.

It would be Rahimi’s first time in Thailand, though he has heard many stories from his wife about her holidays there.

“I can’t wait to take my husband there. It is a food haven,” Nor Eryanie said.

Before the pandemic, Nor Eryanie said she would cross the border at least five times every year with her friends.

The couple, who work as factory operators, said they would keep their masks on in public.

“It has become a way of life for us to have our faces covered,” Rahimi said.

A beautician, who wished to be known only as Mok, said she and her family had driven all the way from Ipoh.

“My last trip was three years ago. I used to go once a year,” she said, adding that she was keen to savour the food there.

“Even though we get to eat Thai food in Malaysia, it is not the same as having the real thing in Thailand,” said Mok, 38, who brought along her three children aged five, 10 and 12.

On the Thai side of the border, shops lining the streets at the crossing are seeing their business pick up again.

Kit Tomas, 60, who runs a snack shop right after the border crossing, said business is finally on the mend.

“It is still not back to what it was in 2019, but customers from all over Malaysia usually stop to buy something before they head home.”

He said the location of his shop, which was right at the end before the immigration point, meant that people tend to stop by if they wanted to get more snacks.

“Business is definitely picking up. Now, we can see people heading over to Thailand in busloads,” said Kit, who has been running his shop for the past 40 years.

Suraiya Mawarttee, 43, who sells the popular Thai delicacy of mango with sticky rice, said business has picked up since April when the border reopened.

“Malaysians have been making their way here since then. They stop over here before they make the 45-minute drive to Hat Yai. And on their way out of Thailand, they stop to buy from us so they can have a snack on their way home,” she said.

She acknowledged that there would be a big crowd during the school holidays, “but even on normal days, I see vans and cars packed with tourists”.

The Star

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asia-pacific/40019975

Tokyo Goes Solar With Policy For Mandatory Panels In New Buildings

BY LINE : THE JAPAN NEWS

SUN, SEPTEMBER 11, 2022

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Has Made Installation Of Solar Panels Mandatory On Some Newly Constructed Homes, As Part Of A Policy To Promote The Use Of Solar Power.

The city government is eying 2025 for the launch of the solar power initiative, the first of its kind in Japan.

“The promotion of decarbonisation is essential,” said an official at a metropolitan government energy task force meeting on Friday.

Home builders who construct and sell at least 20,000 square metres of Tokyo floor space per year will be among about 50 companies obligated to install solar panels.

However, the percentage of new builds that must have solar panels installed will differ from district to district, taking into consideration the fact that the amount of sunlight that reaches panels differs depending on where homes are built.

The figure will be 30 per cent in the downtown wards of Chiyoda and Chuo, where many high-rise buildings and condominiums are located, and some areas outside of the capital’s 23 metropolitan wards; 85 per cent in Meguro and Setagaya wards and the Tama region, which comprise mainly low-rise residential areas; and 70 per cent in Musashino and the capital’s remaining wards.

As solar panels have a lifespan of 20-30 years, the Tokyo government will also create a recycling system in preparation for mass disposal in the future. The leasing of solar panels will also be possible and a system will be created to offer subsidies to home buyers and leasing companies.

A mid-sized home builder has expressed concern that mandatory installation of solar panels could drive up costs and make it difficult to sell properties. In response, the Tokyo metropolitan government vowed to enhance support measures before the programme begins.

From the spring of 2025, new homes nationwide will have to conform to energy-saving performance standards, such as using materials with high levels of thermal insulation.

The metropolitan government has decided to launch its solar power initiative at the same time as the national energy-saving standards programme to reduce the burden on homebuilders.

“To realise decarbonisation, it is essential to spread awareness among the people of Tokyo,” Governor Yuriko Koike said at Friday’s meeting. “I hope this will be a turning point in history that will make people say, ‘Tokyo has changed.’”

The Japan News

Asia News Network