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fatehbaz · 2 years ago

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Fragrant Frontier: Global Spice Entanglements from the Sino-Vietnamese Uplands. Edited by Sarah Turner, Annuska Derks, and Jean-Fracois Rousseau. Published in 2022 by Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Press. Part of the series NIAS Studies in Asian Topics.

Open access e-book available. (All blurbs, quotes, and reviews in this post are excerpted from: niaspress.dk/book/fragrant-frontier)

Publisher’s “about the book” blurb:

“Since its inception over two millennia ago, the spice trade has connected and transformed the environments, politics, cultures, and cuisines of vastly different societies around the world. The ‘magical’ qualities of spices mean they offer more than a mere food flavoring, often evoking memories of childhood events or specific festivals. Although spices are frequently found in our kitchen cupboards, how they get there has something of a mythical allure. In this ethnographically rich and insightful study, the authors embark on a journey of demystification that starts in the Sino-Vietnamese uplands with three spices – star anise, black cardamom, and cassia (cinnamon) – and ends on dining tables across the globe. This book foregrounds the experiences of ethnic minority farmers cultivating these spices, highlighting nuanced entanglements among livelihoods, environment, ethnic identity, and external pressures, as well as other factors at play. It then investigates the complex commodity chains that move and transform these spices from upland smallholdings and forests in this frontier to global markets, mapping the flows of spices, identifying the numerous actors involved, and teasing out critical power imbalances. Finally, it focuses on value-creation and the commoditization of these spices across a spectrum of people and places. This rich and carefully integrated volume offers new insights into upland frontier livelihoods and the ongoing implications of the contemporary agrarian transition. Moreover, it bridges the gap in our knowledge regarding how these specific spices, cultivated for centuries in the mountainous Sino-Vietnamese uplands, become everyday ingredients in Global North food, cosmetics, and medicines. Links to online resources, including story maps, provide further insights and visual highlights.”

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NIAS Press also provides “about the author” blurbs:

“Sarah Turner is Professor of Geography at McGill University. She is a development geographer specializing in ethnic minority livelihoods, agrarian change, and everyday resistance in upland northern Vietnam and southwest China. She also works with street vendors and other members of the mobile informal economy [...] in urban Southeast Asia. [...] [S]he is also an editor of the journals Geoforum and Journal of Vietnamese Studies. Annuska Derks is an [...] is a social anthropologist interested in social transformation processes in Southeast Asia, in particular in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Also widely published, her research focuses on migration, labor, gender, as well as the social lives of things [...]. Jean-François Rousseau [...] is a development geographer with research focusing on the relationships between agrarian change, infrastructure development – especially hydropower dams and sand-mining – and ethnic minority livelihood [...].”

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NIAS Press quotes a couple of book reviews. From Janet Sturgeon of Simon Fraser University:

“This compelling study – one of the best integrated volumes I have read – traces the precarious livelihoods of ethnic minority farmers producing spices under two related processes. The first is global commodity chains, which the chapters follow from node to node along long-standing relations of trust. The second is misguided state-driven interventions to limit farmers’ land and get them to produce monocrops. These combined processes threaten farmers in the borderlands between Vietnam and China, while international traders of these lucrative spices become rich.”

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Available to read, for free, at NIAS Press.

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togtok · 11 months ago

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Country Overview

Laos, officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Asia.

It shares borders with five countries: China to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar (Burma) to the northwest.

Covering an area of approximately 236,800 square kilometers (91,428 square miles), Laos is a predominantly mountainous country with diverse landscapes.

The Mekong River forms a significant part of its western boundary and plays a crucial role in both transportation and agriculture.

As of 2021 estimates, Laos has a population of around 7.

4 million people.

The capital city is Vientiane and serves as the political and economic center of the country.

Buddhism is widely practiced by most Laotians; it shapes their way of life and culture.

Laos has seen rapid economic growth in recent years due to increased foreign investments in hydropower dams, mining projects, and tourism.

Its economy primarily relies on agriculture which accounts for about 25% of its gross domestic product (GDP).

Major crops include rice, corns, vegetables, coffee beans.

The nation holds abundant natural resources such as timber forests and mineral deposits like tin ore gold copper gypsum lead coal oil reserves.

However,, maintaining sustainable development while preserving these resources poses challenges for Laos.

Tourism has also become an important sector for Laos' economy; visitors are attracted by its stunning landscapes including waterfalls like Kuang Si Fallsqq famous historical sites such as Luang Prabang – a UNESCO World Heritage site – that showcases unique architectural fusion between traditional Laotian styles with European influences from French colonization.

Despite progress made in recent years,, Laos still faces certain developmental challenges.

Poverty remains prevalent among many rural communities due to limited access to basic services such as education healthcare infrastructure safe drinking water internet connectivity In summary,, Laos is an enchanting country nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia.

Its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and warm-hearted people make it a unique and fascinating destination to explore.

National Currency

Laos, officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic, has its own currency called the Lao kip (LAK).

The kip is the official and only legal tender in Laos.

The current exchange rate of the Lao kip varies but generally hovers around 9,000 to 10,000 kips for one US dollar.

The value of the kip against other major currencies like the euro or British pound is also comparatively low.

Although it is possible to exchange foreign currencies at banks and authorized money exchange counters in major cities like Vientiane and Luang Prabang, it may be more convenient to use local currency for transactions within Laos.

In smaller towns or rural areas where tourism may be less prevalent, it might be difficult to find establishments that accept foreign currencies or credit cards.

While traveling in Laos, it is recommended to carry some cash in Lao kip for day-to-day expenses such as food, transportation fares, entrance fees to historical sites or national parks, local market purchases, and other typical expenditures.

Credit cards are accepted at larger hotels, upscale restaurants or shops catering primarily to tourists.

However, please note that a surcharge might apply when using credit cards due to processing fees imposed by local businesses.

It's important for travelers visiting Laos to consider their financial requirements ahead of time and plan accordingly by exchanging their desired amount of currency either prior to arrival at international airports or upon arrival through authorized channels.

Additionally, keeping a small amount of US dollars as emergency backup could prove beneficial in case of unexpected situations where accessing cash becomes challenging.

Remember that knowing about current exchange rates before traveling can help ensure you have an idea about how much your home currency will convert into Lao kip when exchanging funds during your stay in Laos.

Exchange Rate

The official currency of Laos is the Lao kip (LAK).

Please note that exchange rates can vary and fluctuate over time.

As of September 2021, the approximate exchange rates for some major currencies are: - 1 USD (United States Dollar) = 9,077 LAK - 1 EUR (Euro) = 10,662 LAK - 1 GBP (British Pound) = 12,527 LAK - 1 CNY (Chinese Yuan Renminbi) = 1,404 LAK Please keep in mind that these rates are subject to change and it is recommended to check with a reliable source or bank for the most up-to-date exchange rates.

Important Holidays

Laos, also known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a country in Southeast Asia that celebrates several important festivals throughout the year.

These festivals are deeply rooted in traditional beliefs and customs of the Laotian people.

Here are some of the significant festivals celebrated in Laos: 1.

Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year): Pi Mai Lao is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Laos.

It takes place from April 13th to 15th, marking the beginning of the New Year according to the traditional Buddhist calendar.

During this festival, people engage in water fights, visit temples for blessings, build sand stupas symbolizing renewal and purification, and participate in cultural activities.

Boun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival): This ancient festival is held during May and marks an attempt to summon rain for bountiful harvests.

Villagers construct gigantic rockets made from bamboo filled with gunpowder or other flammable materials that are then launched into the sky with great fanfare and competition.

Boun That Luang (That Luang Festival): Celebrated towards November each year at That Luang Stupa – Laos' national symbol – this religious festival gathers devotees from all over Laos to pay respect to Buddha's relics enshrined within That Luang Stupa complex located in Vientiane capital city.

Khmu New Year: The Khmu ethnic group celebrates their New Year on various dates depending on their community but usually falls between November and January months each year following ancestral rituals comprising dancing performances, colorful costumes portrayal etc.

Awk Phansa: Occurring at different times across October or November based on lunar calendar's full moon day following three months duration rainy-season retreat period 'Vassa' being followed by Theravada Buddhist monks; it commemorates Buddha's descent back down to Earth after his celestial sojourn during monsoons.

These festivals play a vital role in preserving the cultural heritage of Laos and are an excellent way for locals and visitors alike to experience the rich traditions, vibrant costumes, traditional music and dance, as well as delicious food that define Laotian culture.

Foreign Trade Situation

Laos is a landlocked country located in Southeast Asia, sharing borders with several countries including China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

It has a population of approximately 7 million people and its economy heavily relies on agriculture, industry, and services.

In terms of trade, Laos has been striving to expand its international connections.

The country primarily exports natural resources such as minerals (copper and gold), electricity generated from hydropower projects, agricultural products (coffee, rice), textiles, and garments.

Its main trading partners include Thailand, China, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea among others.

Thailand plays a crucial role in Laos' trade activities due to their geographic proximity.

Many goods are transported via road networks across the border facilitating the movement of products between the two countries.

China also plays an important role as a major investor in infrastructure projects such as dams and railways.

However , it is worth mentioning that Laos faces several challenges in its trade sector.

Limited infrastructure development along with bureaucratic procedures can hinder smooth trade operations.

Additionally , the lack of skilled workforce poses challenges for attracting foreign investments.

To boost trade activities , Laos has been actively engaging in regional integration efforts through memberships with organizations like ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) .

This provides opportunities for market access via preferential tariffs within member countries.

Despite these challenges,Lao's government continues to work towards attracting more foreign investment by improving business regulations,making it an attractive destination for investors .Better transportation infrastructure developments are underway which will help enhance connectivity with neighboring countries thus helping facilitate smoother cross-border trades .

Overall,Lao's trade situation shows potential opportunities but also some hurdles.Its rich natural resources along with efforts towards regional integration show promise,but improvements must be made to attract more investments that can contribute towards sustainable economic growth for the country.

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rajeshwaria · 1 year ago

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Purchasing renewable energy: Fueling the Future of Your Organisation

Originally Published on: Spendedge | Resources for Energy and Utilities

• The renewable energy market (wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, ocean energy, biomass) is developing as a result of subsidies and rising demand. • Hydropower accounts for the largest share of the world's renewable energy sources at 17 percent.Around 12% of the world's electricity is generated by wind and solar. • Renewable energy projects continue to be as shaken by supply-side problems as their fossil fuel rivals are, despite the all-too-obvious benefits. • Businesses are unable to get the most out of the purchase of renewable energy due to the uneven distribution of crucial input materials, a small number of manufacturers with substantial impact, and the concentration of resources in fewer hands. • Additionally, when joining, example, a renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme, enterprises must deftly handle the ethical and sustainable problems lining their supply pathways.

Business growth based on trends in renewable energy:

• Corporate renewable energy procurement and expanding use of renewable energy can help businesses achieve social and environmental goals, but CPOs should find the financial "hard numbers" just as appealing. • From a financial standpoint, investing in renewable energy will reduce utility costs, satisfy the expanding energy needs of businesses, and lessen their susceptibility to volatile fossil fuel prices. • In addition, there are lucrative tax breaks, credits, exemptions from the VAT, interest-free loans, and other benefits for making investments in green technology (e.g., Malaysia's 100% tax exemption from 2013 to 2020). • Importantly, suppliers are offering goods at lower prices as a result of subsidies for green energy.

Inequitable allocation of key resources and related supply risks:

• The concentration of essential raw materials in some nations is a major problem that slows down the global spread and rapid growth of renewable energy projects. • For instance, China produces around 45% of the world's solar-grade silicon, the key component in photovoltaic cells. • High-performance permanent magnets for large offshore wind turbines are made of rare earth elements (REEs), and China is once more the source of up to 60% of the world's REE supply. • Australia, Burma, the US, and Thailand each received a portion of the remaining REEs. • The danger of overconcentration, which might result in supply disruptions and skyrocketing prices in an era of political unpredictability, geopolitical turmoil, and trade conflicts, cannot be understated. • These are undoubtedly obstacles to purchasing green energy for businesses.

Oligopolistic dominance issue:

• This connects to the earlier notion of the concentration of strategic resources in a smaller number of hands. • The expansion of renewable energy has boosted demand for related machinery. • However, a small number of powerful vendors still control a sizable portion of the market, creating formidable hurdles to entry for new competitors. • Consider the instance of the industry for huge hydro turbines. More than three-quarters of that market is controlled by just a few of significant producers in Austria, China, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the US. • From polysilicon to solar modules, Chinese firms boast up to 80% of the global market for solar panels.There are 15–16 companies from China, Germany, Israel, Japan, and Spain that control more than 95% of the global market for solar PV inverters. • Together, nine Chinese companies control more than 70% of this market. • In such oligopolistic economies, there is often less competition, more cartelization, higher pricing, and fewer options for consumers. • These are, of course, disincentives for any independent power producer procurement programme for renewable energy.

Influence of sustainability and ethical issues on multiple levels:

• The transition of humanity away from fossil fuels and towards zero-emission electricity is being sped up by renewable energy. • But there is speculation that the construction of new renewable energy facilities will have some negative effects on the environment. • Ironically, the usage of solar energy could increase the mining of raw minerals like silver and aluminium that are needed to make solar panels and mounting frames. • In Guatemala, heavy metal poisoning of water sources is thought to be a result of silver mining. • Meanwhile, Australian miners have increased their extraction efforts, driving out native people. • When supply chain actors are found to be in violation of numerous ESG (environmental, social, and governance) regulations, procurement organisations in the renewable energy industry run the danger of paying hefty fines, facing legal action, and even suffering reputational harm.Using forced labour, compromising worker safety, and contributing to environmental damage are examples of such infractions.

The importance of purchasing renewable energy for corporate growth strategies:

• Businesses are facing increasing stakeholder pressure to assess their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduce those emissions year over year, and publicly track the results of their "greening" initiatives and environmental effect. • The purchase of renewable energy, for example through a renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme, is a surefire way to satisfy legal requirements, create clean energy jobs, improve community well-being, and enhance the impression that significant others have of the business.

Why Pick SpendEdge?

• As was previously said, purchasing renewable energy offers a plethora of enticing advantages for organisations across the three ESG pillars. • Buyers must avoid non-compliant, dishonest, fraudulent, and financially unstable providers for these promises to materialise. • They might subject customers to needless legal proceedings and fines, and even worse, they could damage carefully built brand reputations.Additionally, operational downtime needs to be considered. • Our corporate renewable energy procurement specialists help buyers of renewable energy build alliances with suppliers who are committed to adhering to all legal criteria for renewable energy generation and sales. • These professionals have more than two decades of real-world experience. • The performance of potential suppliers is evaluated using a variety of factors (such as hazards associated with forced labour or child labour, occupational hazard prevention strategies, etc.) in our supplier evaluation framework. • At the same time, our category managers evaluate suppliers based on their inventiveness, such as the usage of productivity-boosting software solutions. • The overall goal is to assist CPOs in getting the most value out of their renewable energy expenditure by gaining a thorough understanding of renewable energy policies, guidelines, and incentives and establishing direct links between these and procurement costs.

Success stories: How market knowledge and cost savings from SpendEdge revolutionised the procurement of renewable energy.

• Our customer is a producer of automobile accessories looking to invest heavily in wind and solar energy in order to quickly decarbonize business operations, take advantage of different tax incentives, and maximise ROI. • After conducting the necessary due diligence, the client started working with our expertise in corporate renewable energy procurement almost immediately after the company was introduced to us by one of our long-standing clients. • The client wanted our procurement experts to find clients for long-term engagement as well as gain a deeper grasp of the renewable energy environment in particular nations. • For the procurement of renewable energy, our study took into account the regulatory environments of six significant geographic regions as well as 15 sample nations in each region. • According to their certifications (RECS, GoO, I-RECs, or no certification), countries were graded.Countries were assigned positions within each region based on the level of regulatory rigour and the price cap on renewable energy. • For each of the aforementioned country markets, we also calculated the proportion of renewable versus non-renewable energy sources. • In order to determine which nation in each region is best suited for acquiring renewable energy, the complexity and scope of the difficulties involved in renewable energy procurement were also analysed at the country level. • Importantly, our specialists determined the typical unit cost of renewable energy for each national market. • For the customer to connect with renewable energy providers over a longer period of time in significant geographic marketplaces, our study will serve as a baseline. • The negotiating tool that renewable energy purchasers who want to get the most out of deals require is reliable procurement intelligence. • Our experts can assist you in gaining the upper hand in supplier negotiations because they have years of experience in corporate renewable energy procurement.Contact us right away.

#renewable energy #procurement #resources #Spendedge

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trendytechreviews · 2 years ago

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southeastasianists · 5 years ago

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Fishermen in northeast Thailand say they have seen catches in the Mekong River plunge, while some farmers in Vietnam and Cambodia are leaving for jobs in cities as harvests of rice and other crops shrink.

The common thread driving these events is erratic water levels in Asia’s third longest waterway.

Water flows along the 4,300km (2,700 mile) Mekong shift naturally between monsoon and dry seasons, but non-governmental groups say the 11 hydroelectric dams on China’s portion of the river – five of them starting operation since 2017 – have disrupted seasonal rhythms. This threatens food security for the more than 60 million people in the Lower Mekong that rely on the river for a livelihood, they say.

“Naturally, Mekong water rises and decreases slowly about three to four months from highest to lowest levels,” said Teerapong Pomun, director of the Mekong Community Institute, an NGO focused on water resource management and based in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

“[But now] the water levels fluctuate almost every two to three days all year, and every year, because of the dams.”

Beijing has taken issue with assessments that accused Chinese dams of causing shifts in Mekong water levels, especially a United States think tank report on April 13 that said China was withholding water upstream, citing satellite data. China said the report failed to recognise that low rainfall caused a drought in 2019, the worst to hit the region in 50 years.

Whatever the argument, the food supply and livelihoods for tens of millions of people are at stake. The coronavirus pandemic is adding another twist to the troubling dynamic.

“The situation in the Mekong is worrying as the prolonged drought poses dire threats to regional countries from various aspects, particularly in terms of food security,” said Zhang Hongzhou, a research fellow with Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “It will certainly adversely affect Beijing’s relations with the Mekong region countries.”

The Mekong River nourishes wetlands known as Asia’s rice bowl thanks to the high nutrient loads the river disperses. Because so many people live off and from the river, disruptions to its water levels can be devastating.

“Farm crop yields decrease, animals die, which has a huge impact on the livelihood of people as their life depends on natural resources,” said Bunleap Leang, the executive director of 3S Rivers Protection Network, an NGO that works to support dam-affected communities in northeastern Cambodia.

Mekong water levels fell to a record low in July last year, causing Vietnam, the world’s third-largest rice exporter, to declare a state of emergency for the five provinces in the Mekong Delta that produce more than half the country’s crop. Local authorities have warned the drought could run into May or longer.

In April, the US Department of Agriculture forecast that 2020 rice yields in Vietnam would fall by 3.3 per cent from the previous estimates because of the drought and subsequent saltwater intrusion, leaving the harvest 0.9 per cent lower for the year.

Farmers are especially hard hit because when the water level falls, they have to buy more fuel for water pumps so their costs increase at the worst time, Pomun said. This is driving farmers from their rice fields to find other work, while Thai fishermen on the Mekong are pulling in empty nets, he said.

Besides the impact on agriculture, the Mekong and its tributaries make up the largest freshwater fishery in the world and catches are a mainstay of the diet for local people. Fish account for as much as 82 per cent of animal protein consumed locally, according to a report by the Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental organisation representing Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

The inland fisheries of the Mekong basin are a “lifeline” for the people of the region, said the MRC on its website, which warns of “severe” consequences from disruption to the catch, especially as the population of the Lower Mekong is estimated to rise to 100 million people by 2025 from the current 60 million.

Those consequences are already arriving, according to a 2018 report by the MRC, which was updated in January last year.

“Fisheries production is expected to decline substantially upstream because of the hydropower dams and their impacts on migration, habitats and primary production,” it said.

The report looked at different scenarios for fisheries based on water resource projects going out decades. It forecast a possible 40 per cent drop in fish catches through 2020 and as much as 80 per cent less by 2040.

The report shows that as populations are forecast to increase along the Mekong, fish stocks are likely to collapse through a combination of the dams, illegal fishing prompted by shortages, and climate change.

In Cambodia, fish catches have plunged in Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest inland lake that inflates in size with Mekong seasonal flows. The MRC report expected Tonle Sap annual average fish production to fall from 350,000 to 260,000 tonnes by 2020, and to 200,000 tonnes by 2040.

China’s dam-building ambitions on the river, which originates in the Tibetan Plateau and is known as the Lancang in Chinese territory, can be traced back to the 1950s, when engineers conducted surveys of the river in Yunnan province in southwest China.

From the 1980s, China ramped up hydroelectric dam construction on rivers to meet growing power demand as its economy began a blistering period of growth, eventually to unseat Japan in 2010 as the world’s second-largest economy. A total of 14 dams were envisioned for the Lancang and 11 are now in operation with others planned or under construction.

China also exported its hydropower know-how to developing countries further down the Mekong, especially Laos and Cambodia, where Chinese companies financed and built a number of projects. They include the Nam Ou 1 Hydropower Dam about 40km upstream from the city of Luang Prabang in Laos and the Lower Sesan 2, the biggest in Cambodia.

The damming of the Mekong in recent decades has generated repeated concerns about environmental damage, social upheaval and the value of the economic trade-off.

Concerns about food security in the region moved back into the spotlight last month when research and consulting company Eyes on Earth Inc said satellite data showed China had above-average rainfall from May to October last year, but withheld the water behind its dams during the drought.

Citing these findings, Brian Eyler, Southeast Asia programme director of the Stimson Centre, a Washington-based think tank, said China’s dams had effectively “turned off the tap on the Mekong River”.

China and the MRC contested these findings, with Beijing saying it was unjustified to blame its dams for the drought.

In a statement on April 21, the MRC said “more scientific evidence was necessary to conclude that the 2019 drought was in large part caused by water storage in Upper Mekong dams.” It added that water flows “from China were higher than normal for the 2019 and 2020 dry seasons”.

The Mekong body said that while upstream dams had altered seasonal flows of the river, the drought was “due largely to very low rainfall during the wet season with a delayed arrival and earlier departure of monsoon rains, and an El Nino event”.

However, the commission said that more sharing of data and transparency was needed between the four members and its so-called dialogue partners, China and Myanmar.

“A transparent data-sharing arrangement on how water and related infrastructures are operated will help everyone manage risks and avoid misperception,” Dr An Pich Hatda, the MRC secretariat’s chief executive officer, said in the statement.

Experts say the Mekong’s water levels fluctuate every two to three days all year round because of the hydroelectric dams. Photo: AFP

Harris Zainul, an analyst with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia, said the coronavirus pandemic could become a factor in the Mekong water disputes. Covid-19 has prompted lockdowns in many countries, which can block farmers from getting food to markets.

“If this were to happen, then countries, including those downstream of the Mekong, would be more sensitive towards the adverse effects arising out of lower water levels on the Mekong,” Harris said, adding that it could cause a public backlash against China in Mekong nations and prompt demands for action.

Beijing has said it works with downstream nations on water management through the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) established in 2015 by China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. China is the largest trading partner for the Mekong members.

At an LMC summit in February, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his counterparts from the five Mekong states that Beijing had increased water outflows from the Lancang to mitigate the drought in the Mekong region.

China had suffered, too, he said. In Yunnan province, the local government said the region was hit by the worst drought in a decade, with average rainfall dropping 18 per cent.

Pomun said part of the problem was a lack of transparency and cooperation from China, and that downstream villagers were often caught off guard by an unexpected release of water from China’s dams. When water was released without warning, crops on the riverbanks became flooded, he said.

“That is why we ask for transparency as we need to find out how much per cent of the drought is caused by the dams and how much is caused by climate change.”

Pomun said he was worried the coronavirus pandemic might worsen the situation as countries turned inward to protect their own natural resources.

People would “keep the water to themselves more, to produce electricity for the economy, for their own country”, he said.

#agriculture #food security #water security #vietnam #mekong river #myanmar #cambodia #thailand #laos

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bountyofbeads · 5 years ago

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France's Macron calls Amazon rainforest fires an 'international crisis'

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/23/americas/amazon-fires-macron-g7-intl-hnk/index.html

The Amazon is burning because the world eats so much meat

By Eliza Mackintosh | Updated 1 hour ago Aug 23, 2019 | CNN | Posted August 23, 2019 12:48 PM ET |

(CNN) - While the wildfires raging in the Amazon rainforest may constitute an "international crisis," they are hardly an accident.

The vast majority of the fires have been set by loggers and ranchers to clear land for cattle. The practice is on the rise, encouraged by Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's populist pro-business president, who is backed by the country's so-called "beef caucus."

While this may be business as usual for Brazil's beef farmers, the rest of the world is looking on in horror.

So, for those wondering how they could help save the rainforest, known as "the planet's lungs" for producing about 20% of the world's oxygen, the answer may be simple. Eat less meat.

It's an idea that Finland has already floated. On Friday, the Nordic country's finance minister called for the European Union to "urgently review the possibility of banning Brazilian beef imports" over the Amazon fires.

Brazil is the world's largest exporter of beef, providing close to 20% of the total global exports, according the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) -- a figure that could rise in the coming years.

Last year the country shipped 1.64 million tonnes of beef -- the highest volume in history -- generating $6.57 billion in revenue, according to the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec), an association of more than 30 Brazilian meat-packing companies.

The growth of Brazil's beef industry has been driven in part by strong demand from Asia -- mostly China and Hong Kong. These two markets alone accounted for nearly 44% of all beef exports from Brazil in 2018, according to the USDA.

And a trade deal struck in June between South America's Mercosur bloc of countries and the European Union could open up even more markets for Brazil's beef-packing industry.

Speaking after the agreement as announced, the head of Abiec, Antônio Camardelli, said the pact could help Brazil gain access to prospective new markets, like Indonesia and Thailand, while boosting sales with existing partners, like the EU. "A deal of this magnitude is like an invitation card for speaking with other countries and trade blocs," Camardelli told Reuters in July.

Once implemented, the deal will lift a 20% levy on beef imports into the EU.

But, on Friday, Ireland said it was ready to block the deal unless Brazil took action on the Amazon.

In a statement Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar described as "Orewellian" Bolsonaro's attempt to blame the fires on environmental groups. Varadkar said that Ireland will monitor Brazil's environmental actions to determine whether to block the Mercosur deal, which is two years away.

He added Irish and European farmers could not be told to use fewer pesticides and respect biodiversity when trade deals were being made with countries not subjected to "decent environmental, labor and product standards."

In June, before the furor over the rainforest began, the Irish Farmers Association called on Ireland not to ratify the deal, arguing its terms would disadvantage European beef farmers.

Deal or no deal, Brazil's beef industry is projected to continue expanding, buoyed by natural resources, grassland availability and global demand, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

And, with that growth, comes steep environmental costs.

Brazil's space research center (INPE) said this week that the number of fires in Brazil is 80% higher than last year. More than half are in the Amazon region, spelling disaster for the local environment and ecology.

Alberto Setzer, a senior scientist at INPE, told CNN that the burning can range from a small-scale agricultural practice, to new deforestation for mechanized and modern agribusiness projects.

Farmers wait until the dry season to start burning and clearing areas so their cattle can graze, but this year's destruction has been described as unprecedented. Environmental campaigners blame this uptick on Bolsonaro, who they say has encouraged ranchers, farmers, and loggers to exploit and burn the rainforest like never before with a sense of impunity.

Bolsonaro has dismissed accusations of responsibility for the fires, but a clear shift seems to be underway.

And if saving the rainforest isn't enough to convince carnivores to stop eating Brazilian beef -- the greenhouse gas emissions the cattle create may be.

Beef is responsible for 41% of livestock greenhouse gas emissions, and that livestock accounts for 14.5% of total global emissions. And methane -- the greenhouse gas cattle produce from both ends -- is 25 times more potent that carbon dioxide.

An alarming report released last year by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, said changing our diets could contribute 20% of the effort needed to keep global temperatures from rising 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Namely, eating less meat.

Still, global consumption of beef and veal is set to rise in the next decade according to projections from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

A joint report predicted global production would increase 16% between 2017 and 2027 to meet demand.

The majority of that expansion will be in developing countries, like Brazil.

France's Macron calls Amazon rainforest fires an 'international crisis'

By Helen Regan and Jessie Yeung |

Updated 11:55 AM ET Published Aug 23, 2019 | CNN | Posted August 23, 2019 12:57 PM ET |

(CNN) - French President Emmanuel Macron has angered his Brazilian counterpart by calling the wildfires blazing in the Amazon rainforest an "international crisis" that should be on the agenda at the G7 summit in Biarritz.

"Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest -- the lungs of our planet which produces 20% of our oxygen -- is on fire. It is an international crisis," Macron tweeted Thursday.

"Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss this emergency first order in two days!" he said, adding the hashtag #ActForTheAmazon.

On Friday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterated Macron's stance and said that international cooperation is needed to protect rainforests.

A Downing Street spokesperson told CNN that Johnson believes that "we need international action to protect the world's rainforests" and he "will use G7 to call for a renewed focus on protecting nature and tackling climate change together."

Earlier, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said that he would be ready to block a trade deal between the European Union and South American trade bloc MERCOSUR unless Brazil acted on the Amazon.

Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro blasted Macron's offer as "sensationalist" and accused him of using the fires for "political gain."

"I regret that President Macron is seeking to instrumentalize an internal issue in Brazil and in other Amazonian countries for personal political gains," Bolsonaro tweeted.

"The suggestion of the French president that Amazonian issues be discussed in the G7 without countries in the region participating is reminiscent of a colonial mindset inappropriate in the 21st century," he said in a second tweet.

The G7 nations are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US.

Brazil's space research center (INPE) said this week that the country has seen an 85% increase in fires this year, compared with the same period last year. More than half were in the Amazon region, spelling disaster for the local environment and ecology.

And 99% percent of the fires result from human actions "either on purpose or by accident," said Alberto Setzer, a senior scientist at INPE. The burning can range from a small-scale agricultural practice, to new deforestation for a mechanized and modern agribusiness project, Setzer told CNN by email.

Environmental organizations and researchers say the wildfires were set by cattle ranchers and loggers who want to clear and utilize the land, emboldened by the country's pro-business president.

Amnesty International on Thursday said responsibility for the fires "lies squarely with President Bolsonaro and his government," adding that his government's "disastrous policy of opening up the rainforest for destruction (is) what has paved the way for this current crisis."

In a Facebook Live video Thursday, Bolsonaro suggested multiple parties -- including ranchers, NGOs and indigenous communities -- could be to blame.

"Who carries this out? I don't know. Farmers, NGOs, whoever it may be, Indians, whoever it may be," Bolsonaro said. He went on to say there are "suspicions" that ranchers are behind the forest fires and appealed to the Brazilian people to "help us" combat the blazes.

'LOOKING AT UNTOLD DESTRUCTION'

The Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest in the world and accounts for at least 10% of the planet's biodiversity.

It's home to huge numbers of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles -- 75% of which are unique to the Amazon. A new plant or animal species is discovered there every two days.

But the forest and its inhabitants are facing an unparalleled threat from deforestation -- 20% of the Amazon biome has already been lost to mining, logging, farming, hydropower dams and roads, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Deforestation accelerated more than 60% in June 2019 over the same period last year, INPE's data shows. The Amazon lost 769 square kilometres, a stark increase from the 488 sq km lost in June 2018. That equates to an area of rainforest larger than one-and-a-half soccer fields being destroyed every minute each day.

The Amazon forest also produces about 20% of the world's oxygen and is often called "the planet's lungs."

Before the fires, land conversion and deforestation caused the Amazon to release up to 0.5 billion metric tons of carbon per year, according to the WWF. Depending on the damage from the fires, that release would increase, accelerating climate change.

"The Amazon is incredibly important for our future, for our ability to stave off the worst of climate change," said Christian Poirier, the program director of non-profit organization Amazon Watch. "This isn't hyperbole. We're looking at untold destruction — not just of the Amazon but for our entire planet."

ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE BLAMING BOLSONARO

More than two-thirds of the Amazon are located in Brazil and environmental groups accuse Bolsonaro, who has previously said he is not "Captain Chainsaw," of relaxing environmental controls in the country and encouraging deforestation.

When running for president, Bolsonaro made campaign promises to restore the economy by exploring the Amazon's economic potential. Now, environmental organizations say he has encouraged ranchers, farmers, and loggers to exploit and burn the rainforest like never before with a sense of impunity.

The pro-business Bolsonaro has hamstrung Brazil's environmental enforcement agency with budget cuts amounting to $23 million -- official data sent to CNN by Observatorio do Clima shows the enforcement agency's operations have fallen since Bolsonaro was sworn in.

The director of Brazil's space research center INPE was recently fired after defending satellite images that showed deforestation was 88% higher in June than a year earlier -- data which Bolsonaro characterized as "lies."

"The vast majority of these fires are human-lit," said Amazon Watch's Poirier, adding that even during dry seasons, the Amazon -- a humid rainforest -- doesn't catch on fire easily, unlike the dry bushland in California or Australia.

Farmers and ranchers have long used fire to clear land, said Poirier, and are likely behind the unusually large number fires burning in the Amazon today.

This year's fires fit with an established seasonal agricultural pattern, said CNN meteorologist Haley Brink. "It's the best time to burn because the vegetation is dry. (Farmers) wait for the dry season and they start burning and clearing the areas so that their cattle can graze. And that's what we're suspecting is going on down there."

#science #amazon #brazil #south america #the americans #climatechangeisreal #climateaction #climate crisis #climate change #u.s. news #rainforest #environmetalists #environment

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adnanmaximize · 3 years ago

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Hydropower Market Potential Growth, Key Manufacturers, Top Leading Countries, Challenges and Forecast 2021-2027

Hydropower Market size was valued at US $214.34 Bn in 2020 and the total revenue is expected to grow at 5.9% through 2021 to 2027, reaching nearly US $320.17 Bn.

Hydropower Market Overview:

Hydropower Market: Report Scope the latest industry report on the Hydropower Market assesses the opportunities and current market landscape, offering insights and updates on the corresponding segments for the forecasted period of 2021-2027. The report contains a complete analysis of major market dynamics as well as detailed information on the Hydropower market's structure. This market research report provides unique insights into how the Hydropower market is expected to grow from 2021 to 2027.

The primary goal of the Hydropower market research is to provide detailed information on market opportunities that are assisting in the transformation of Hydropower enterprise. Report provide projected growth rates along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for forecasted period to enable readers to better understand the monitoring and assessment of the Hydropower market, as well as to discover lucrative opportunities in the market.

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Market Scope:

Maximize Market Research, report provide overall market insights for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors in the Hydropower Market. The information and data offered in the report may be used by all stakeholders in the Hydropower Market, as well as industry professionals, researchers, journalists, and business researchers.

Maximize Market Research, report provides a unique research approach to conduct detailed research on the Hydropower market and make conclusions on the market's future growth factors. Primary and secondary research methodologies are combined in the research approach to assure the authenticity and validity of the conclusions in this report.

The report discusses the Hydropower Market's drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges. The research helps to identify the market growth drivers and determining how to utilize these factors as strengths. Restraints can assist readers in identifying traits that are restricting the Hydropower Market, as well as reducing them before they become an issue. This will assist readers in comprehending the aspects that will influence your ability to capitalise on possibilities.

Segmentation:

by Capacity• Small Hydro Power Plant(Upto 1 MW) • Medium Hydro Power Plant(1MW to 10 MW) • Large Hydro Power Plant (Above 10 Mw)

by Application• Residential • Commercial • Industrial

Get more Report Details

https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/hydropower-market/73888/

Key Players:

• GE Energy • CPFL Energia S.A • Sinohydro Corporation • Andritz AG • IHI Corporation • Alstom Hydro • China Hydroelectric Corporation • China Three Gorges Corporation • ABB Ltd. • Gerdau S.A • The Tata Power Company • OJSC Bshikirenergo • EDP Energias do Brasil • Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais • Duke Energy Corp

The competitive landscape shows the market share of major key competitors, as well as their key development plans and current financial performance over the previous five years. This information is anticipated to help businesses understand their competitors on a level. Furthermore, the reports feature company profiles, product offers, critical financial data, country-level research, and a synthesis of demand and supply variables that influence market growth.

Regional Analysis:

Geographically, Hydropower Market report is segmented into several key regions are as follows,

Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)

Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)

North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada.)

South America (Brazil etc.)

The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt.)

Furthermore, the study covers market size, growth rate, import and export, as well as country-level analysis, integrating the demand and supply forces of the Hydropower Market in these countries, which are impacting market growth.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Hydropower Market:

COVID-19's influence on the Hydropower Market was examined in this research. During this crisis, the report examines the Hydropower Market's alternatives, demanding conditions, and difficult possibilities in detail. In terms of funding and market expansion, the paper briefly examines the COVID-19's merits and limitations. The study also contains a set of concepts that should aid readers in developing and planning company strategies.

The report considers consultations to overcome past disruptions and foresees potential ones in order to improve preparation. Businesses can use the frameworks to design their strategic alignments in order to recover from such disruptive trends. Maximize Market Research analysts can also assist readers in breaking down a complex circumstance and bringing resiliency to a situation that is uncertain.

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#Hydropower Market Hydropower Market Growth Hydropower Market Trends

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cambodiainvestment333 · 3 years ago

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Cambodia Investment Opportunities in 2021

Investing in different properties in Cambodia is considered as one of the best Cambodia Investment Opportunities. It has been a well-known fact that Cambodia has been successfully attracting foreign investments due to its natural resources like gold, hydropower, timber, and other rare resources. Foreign investors have shown a positive attitude towards Cambodia Investment opportunities mainly because of its stable economy and favorable environment. It also offers lucrative short and long term returns.

As per the latest statistics, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Cambodia reached US$ 13.2 billion last year. A large number of private companies from global markets like USA, UK, Singapore, China, and others are making investments in various business ventures in the country. As a result, the country's economy has seen positive development and growth. This has further helped the government to enhance its revenue generation capacity and attract more FDI in the future.

There are several advantages of investing in Cambodia. First, capital is easily available. Foreign investors can raise finance in the country easily, as the domestic banking system is developed and excellent cash flow. Second, there is a vibrant and competitive market for real estate in Cambodia. Most large construction companies from countries such as China and India are focusing their attention on projects in the country.

Another important advantage is the low cost of labor in Cambodia. The price of labor is significantly lower than that of Vietnam and Thailand. Due to this, many companies are opting for offshore labor rather than hiring local workers in their project development activities. Cambodia is offering attractive investment opportunities because it has a very favorable external financing option, low taxes, strong legal framework, and good government regulation and support. The recent boom in internet technology has also made the world economy very competitive and Cambodia is well positioned to capitalise on this development. The country is well positioned for international expansion and it has made great advancement in infrastructure and other departments.

Another important aspect is the political stability of the country. The last two decades has seen significant changes in Cambodia's political structure. For example, the Khmer Rouge were abolished and the country now enjoys multiparty government. It is evident that the current government is stable and enjoying the benefits of a multi-party democracy. The transition to democracy in Cambodia has been smooth and it is an open question whether it will face problems in the future. However, it shows that Cambodia is not only able to adjust to external pressure, but it has the capacity to adapt to its internal environment as well.

Cambodia is an ideal destination for investments in infrastructure and development. There are numerous projects under way in the country. Some of the popular projects include the construction of healthcare facilities, roads, bridges, and energy projects. These projects are creating more jobs and improving living standards. Hence, investing in Cambodia is a worthwhile venture for any company involved in the development of the country.

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jaydenh24 · 3 years ago

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Small Hydropower Market Size 2021 Industry Analysis by Import, Export Consumption, Supply And Demand, Price, Revenue, Gross Margins and Forecast to 2028

Energy is a very common and most environmental, economic and development issue faced by the world. Small hydropower is a type of renewable and clean source of energy which generates electricity by converting the mechanical energy of running water into electric energy. This process is very much similar to the traditional hydroelectric systems.

Small hydropower market will reach at an estimated value of USD 3.60 billion and grow at a rate of 2.10% for the forecast period of 2021 to 2028. Increasing rural electrification in developing and underdeveloped countries is a vital factor driving the growth of small hydropower market.

Get Sample Copy of Report@ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-small-hydropower-market

Increasing financial incentives and assistance in the form of low-interest loans, grants, renewable purchase obligations, and feed-in-tariffs for small hydropower is the vital factor escalating the market growth, also rising investments in renewable and small hydropower projects in response to climate change, increasing positive outlook on renewable energy, rising global electricity consumption, rising energy demand on account of the rising population across the world, along with the need to decrease dependence on the conventional source of power generation are the major factors among others driving the small hydropower market. Moreover, rising integration of Iot with hydropower and increasing positive outlook toward small hydropower dams to sustain life in rural communities will further create new opportunities for the small hydropower market in the forecast period of 2021- 2028.

However, increased stream expansion limitation, unstable supply and rising climate and logistics cost challenges are the major factors among others acting as restraints, while rising number of substitutes with less prices will further challenge the growth of small hydropower market in the forecast period mentioned above.

This small hydropower market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localised market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographical expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on small hydropower market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

Inquire About Report@ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-small-hydropower-market

Global Small Hydropower Market Scope and Market Size

Small hydropower market is segmented on the basis of capacity, type and component. The growth amongst the different segments helps you in attaining the knowledge related to the different growth factors expected to be prevalent throughout the market and formulate different strategies to help identify core application areas and the difference in your target markets.

Based on capacity, the small hydropower market is segmented into Up to 1 MW and 1-10 MW.

On the basis of type, the small hydropower market is segmented into mini hydropower and micro hydropower.

The small hydropower market is also segmented on the basis of component into electric infrastructure, electromechanical equipment, civil works and others. Electromechanical equipment has been further segmented into turbine, generator and other equipment. Other equipment has been further sub segmented into inlet valves gates, penstock, governors, and auxiliarie. Others have been further segmented into engineering, structural, management, environmental mitigation, and project development.

Small Hydropower Market Country Level Analysis

Polymer coated fabric market is analysed and market size, volume information is provided by country, capacity, type and component as referenced above.

The countries covered in the small hydropower market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Israel, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

Browse Complete Report@ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-small-hydropower-market

Asia-Pacific dominates the small hydropower market due to increasing investments in off-grid energy generation and rural electrification, rising investments in renewable and small hydropower projects in response to climate change, increasing positive outlook on renewable energy and rising electricity consumption in this region. Europe is the expected regions in terms of growth in small hydropower market due to hiking financial incentives and assistance in the form of low-interest loans, grants, renewable purchase obligations, and feed-in-tariffs for small hydropower in this region.

The country section of the small hydropower market report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points such as consumption volumes, production sites and volumes, import export analysis, price trend analysis, cost of raw materials, down-stream and upstream value chain analysis are some of the major pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.

Competitive Landscape and Small Hydropower Market Share Analysis

Small hydropower market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies’ focus related to small hydropower market.

The major players covered in the small hydropower market report are Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA, ANDRITZ, General Electric, TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Siemens Energy, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Gilkes, Natel Energy, Statkraft, FLOVEL Energy Private Limited, SNC-Lavalin Group, HNAC Capacity Co., Ltd, Kolektor, Canyon Hydro., Fortum, Derwent Hydroelectric Power Ltd and RusHydro, among other domestic and global players. Market share data is available for global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America separately. DBMR analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

Global Small Hydropower Market, By Capacity (Up to 1 MW, 1-10 MW), Type (Mini Hydropower, Micro Hydropower), Component (Electric Infrastructure, Electromechanical Equipment, Civil Works, Others), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Germany, France, Italy, U.K., Belgium, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific, U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028

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sofarsolar · 4 years ago

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708kW SOFARSOLAR Inverter Installed in Cambodia's Ministry of Transport, Unlimited Potential for New Energy Development

The development of new energy economy is the historical trend and inevitable choice of the world today, becoming the source power of economic development in many countries and occupying a particularly crucial strategic position in the national economy.

Cambodia, a country with better lighting in Southeast Asia, is endowed with the unique development potential of new energy, and in recent years breaking through the barriers of traditional energy and upgrading the strategic position of new energy as well, aiming to become the leader of new energy in Southeast Asia. At present Cambodia's Ministry of Transport successfully connected a 708kW photovoltaic power station to the power grid, once again demonstrating the country's determination to develop new energy. It is reported that the proportion of solar power generation will be increased from 1% in 2018 to 20% in the next few years.

As the supplier of PV grid-connected inverter for the power station, SOFARSOLAR has provided SOFAR 60000TL, a popular model in Southeast Asia. The inverter integrates many characteristics of high efficiency, stability, safety and intelligence such as: the highest efficiency reaching 98.7%; built-in real-time accurate MPPT to ensure power generation and high revenue; built-in input secondary lightning protection, IP65 protection, no fuse design, built-in anti-island and other safety protection to ensure the service life; built-in sound and light alarm, remote power on &off support, remote upgrade, real-time monitoring and other functions, to provide convenience for operation, maintenance and monitoring. Since the launch, it has performed eye-catching in industrial and commercial projects, and won high praise from domestic and foreign markets. The installation of this new model of SOFARSOLAR by Cambodia's Ministry of Transport has established the vital position of SOFARSOLAR brand and products in the photovoltaic market of the country.

Cambodia is rich in solar energy resources, with more than 8,000 MW of solar power generation potential. However, according to the statistics of the Cambodian Power Corporation, about 25% of Cambodia's electricity depends on imports, most of which come from Vietnam and Thailand. With the shift of local focus on energy development direction, the demand for new energy has increased significantly. The 708kW photovoltaic power generation project of the Ministry of Transport is one of the representatives, which is a milestone showing the unlimited potential of the Cambodia's photovoltaic market.

SOFARSOLAR says that solar power projects are a more attractive option in Southeast Asia due to the shorter construction period and less cost than hydropower dams and fossil-fuel power stations. In the future, SOFARSOLAR will rely on its own advantages, adhere to the national "One Belt And One Road" strategic policy, deepen local cooperation, and continuously put stable and reliable grid-connected inverters, energy storage inverters and batteries to the market, so as to benefit more Cambodian people.

#SOFARSOLAR Cambodia SolarInverter SofarInverter SOFAR60000TL NewEnergy SOFARSOLAR_News

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adityarana1687-blog · 4 years ago

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Underwater Concrete Market is Anticipated to Witness Higher Demands Till 2025.

The global underwater concrete market size is expected to reach USD 229.80 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing adoption of underwater concrete on account of improved technological efficiency pertaining to the concrete placing is expected to propel growth. The demand for the product is expected to grow on account of the growth in the underwater repairs of the existing underwater structures. In addition, the development of advanced admixtures such as superplasticizers and anti-washout admixtures is expected to translate drive the demand over the next nine years.

The industry exhibits a number of technological advancements pertaining to the chemicals used for improving and adjusting the workability, adhesive strength, and setting time of the cement used in the underwater concrete. In addition, the demand for chemicals such as carboxylates and cellulose is expected to lead to an increase in the strength of the concrete, leading to industry growth.

Rising demand for luxury amenities in the developed economies is expected to result in an increase in the construction of swimming pools, which is expected to fuel growth. The decline in the global price levels of Portland cement is expected to result in a reduction in the price of the product, leading to market growth. The industry is characterized by the presence of a dedicated supply chain network among the raw material suppliers, manufacturers, and construction companies. In addition, the industry exhibits integration with a majority of manufacturers involved in the production of raw materials.

U.S. underwater concrete market revenue, by application, 2014 - 2025 (USD Million)

To request a sample copy or view summary of this report, click the link below: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/underwater-concrete-market

Further key findings from the report suggest

Hydropower energy harnessing constructions accounted for over 29% of the global consumption volume on account of high hydropower capacity expansion primarily in Asia Pacific and North America

The use of admixtures in the product accounted for over 11% of the market revenue on account of technological developments leading to the production of advanced admixtures with superior strength, workability, and anti-runoff properties

The underwater concrete market in China is expected to register a CAGR of over 9% by revenue, from 2016 to 2025 on account of significant marine infrastructure developments coupled with the growing adoption of hydropower as an alternate energy source

Key companies operating in the industry include CEMEX, Conmix, Heidelberg among others. The companies in the industry are involved in mergers, acquisitions and capacity expansions as the major strategies to increase the market presence and annual revenues

Grand View Research has segmented the global underwater concrete market on the basis of raw material, application, and region:

Underwater Concrete Raw Material Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

Admixtures

Aggregates

Cement

Others

Underwater Concrete Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

Hydropower

Marine

Shore protection

Underwater repairs

Tunnels

Swimming pools

Others

Underwater Concrete Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Central & South America

The U.S.

Canada

Mexico

Germany

The U.K.

Spain

China

India

Japan

Thailand

Indonesia

Vietnam

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

#Underwater Concrete Market

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amrutam · 4 years ago

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Hydropower Market Size 2020 Demand, Global Trend, News, Business Growth, Top Key Players Update, Business Statistics and Research Methodology by Forecast to 2026

Hydropower Market Report Coverage: Key Growth Factors & Challenges, Segmentation & Regional Outlook, Top Industry Trends & Opportunities, Competition Analysis, COVID-19 Impact Analysis & Projected Recovery, and Market Sizing & Forecast.

A recent market research report added to repository of Credible Markets is an in-depth analysis of “Global Hydropower Market”. On the basis of historic growth analysis and current scenario of Hydropower market place, the report intends to offer actionable insights on global market growth projections. Authenticated data presented in report is based on findings of extensive primary and secondary research. Insights drawn from data serve as excellent tools that facilitate deeper understanding of multiple aspects of global Hydropower market. This further helps users with their developmental strategy.

This report examines all the key factors influencing growth of global Hydropower market, including demand-supply scenario, pricing structure, profit margins, production and value chain analysis. Regional assessment of global Hydropower market unlocks a plethora of untapped opportunities in regional and domestic market places. Detailed company profiling enables users to evaluate company shares analysis, emerging product lines, scope of NPD in new markets, pricing strategies, innovation possibilities and much more.

Request for Sample with Complete TOC and Figures & Graphs @ https://www.crediblemarkets.com/sample-request/hydropower-market-832445?utm_source=Amruta&utm_medium=SatPR

Key players in the global Hydropower market covered in Chapter 4:

NHDC Limited THDC India Limited Ranhill Berhad Vinacomin NHPC Limited Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Tuas Power Ltd Aboitiz Power Butwal Power Company National Power Corporation Senoko Energy Pte Ltd Hedcor, Inc. AES Corporation SJVN Limited Nepal Electricity Authority Sarawak Energy Berhad Tenaga Nasional Berhad Orissa Hydro Power Corporation Chilime Hydropower Company Bhote Koshi Power Company First Philippine Holdings Corporation Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Vietnam Electricity NEEPCO Formusa PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara Karnataka Power Corporation Limited Silkes Hydropower Pvt. Ltd. Himal Power Ltd Maharashtra State Power Generation YTL PowerSeraya Pte Ltd NTPC Limited JSW Energy Limited

In Chapter 11 and 13.3, on the basis of types, the Hydropower market from 2015 to 2026 is primarily split into:

Large Hydropower Small Hydropower

In Chapter 12 and 13.4, on the basis of applications, the Hydropower market from 2015 to 2026 covers:

Civil Commercial

Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, and market share and growth rate, historic and forecast (2015-2026) of the following regions:

United States, Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland, Sweden, Poland, Belgium, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Rest of the World

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry Expert @ https://www.crediblemarkets.com/enquire-request/hydropower-market-832445?utm_source=Amruta&utm_medium=SatPR

Some Points from Table of Content

Global Hydropower Market Report 2020 by Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Market Size, Forecast to 2026

Chapter 1 Report Overview

Chapter 2 Global Market Growth Trends

2.1 Industry Trends

2.1.1 SWOT Analysis

2.1.2 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

2.2 Potential Market and Growth Potential Analysis

2.3 Industry News and Policies by Regions

2.3.1 Industry News

2.3.2 Industry Policies

2.4 Industry Trends Under COVID-19

Chapter 3 Value Chain of Hydropower Market

3.1 Value Chain Status

3.2 Hydropower Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis

3.2.1 Production Process Analysis

3.2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure of Hydropower

3.2.3 Labor Cost of Hydropower

3.2.3.1 Labor Cost of Hydropower Under COVID-19

3.3 Sales and Marketing Model Analysis

3.4 Downstream Major Customer Analysis (by Region)

3.5 Value Chain Status Under COVID-19

Chapter 4 Players Profiles

Chapter 5 Global Hydropower Market Analysis by Regions

5.1 Global Hydropower Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Regions

5.1.1 Global Hydropower Sales by Regions (2015-2020)

5.1.2 Global Hydropower Revenue by Regions (2015-2020)

5.2 North America Hydropower Sales and Growth Rate (2015-2020)

5.3 Europe Hydropower Sales and Growth Rate (2015-2020)

5.4 Asia-Pacific Hydropower Sales and Growth Rate (2015-2020)

5.5 Middle East and Africa Hydropower Sales and Growth Rate (2015-2020)

5.6 South America Hydropower Sales and Growth Rate (2015-2020)

Chapter 6 North America Hydropower Market Analysis by Countries

Chapter 7 Europe Hydropower Market Analysis by Countries

Chapter 8 Asia-Pacific Hydropower Market Analysis by Countries

Chapter 9 Middle East and Africa Hydropower Market Analysis by Countries

Chapter 10 South America Hydropower Market Analysis by Countries

Chapter 11 Global Hydropower Market Segment by Types

Chapter 12 Global Hydropower Market Segment by Applications

Chapter 13 Hydropower Market Forecast by Regions (2020-2026)

13.1 Global Hydropower Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate (2020-2026)

13.2 Hydropower Market Forecast by Regions (2020-2026)

13.2.1 North America Hydropower Market Forecast (2020-2026)

13.2.2 Europe Hydropower Market Forecast (2020-2026)

13.2.3 Asia-Pacific Hydropower Market Forecast (2020-2026)

13.2.4 Middle East and Africa Hydropower Market Forecast (2020-2026)

13.2.5 South America Hydropower Market Forecast (2020-2026)

13.3 Hydropower Market Forecast by Types (2020-2026)

13.4 Hydropower Market Forecast by Applications (2020-2026)

13.5 Hydropower Market Forecast Under COVID-19

Chapter 14 Appendix

14.1 Methodology

14.2 Research Data Source

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The report can answer the following questions:

• North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America market size (sales, revenue and growth rate) of Hydropower industry.

• Global major manufacturers’ operating situation (sales, revenue, growth rate and gross margin) of Hydropower industry.

• Global major countries (United States, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain, China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Brazil, C. America, Chile, Peru, Colombia) market size (sales, revenue and growth rate) of Hydropower industry.

• Different types and applications of Hydropower industry, market share of each type and application by revenue.

• Global market size (sales, revenue) forecast by regions and countries from 2019 to 2026 of Hydropower industry.

• Upstream raw materials and manufacturing equipment, industry chain analysis of Hydropower industry.

• SWOT analysis of Hydropower industry.

• New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Hydropower industry.

Impact of Covid-19 in Hydropower Market: Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to almost every country around the globe with the World Health Organization declaring it a public health emergency. The global impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are already starting to be felt, and will significantly affect the Hydropower market in 2020. The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought effects on many aspects, like flight cancellations; travel bans and quarantines; restaurants closed; all indoor/outdoor events restricted; over forty countries state of emergency declared; massive slowing of the supply chain; stock market volatility; falling business confidence, growing panic among the population, and uncertainty about future.

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Thanks for reading this article you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe, MEA or Asia Pacific.

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medicalnewstoday · 5 years ago

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Turbine Motor Market research to Witness a Healthy Growth during 2019 - 2029

Turbine Motor Market: Introduction

The turbine motor is also called as turbine generator and the major function of turbine motor is to produce electricity. The turbine motors vary for different application in power generation. The turbine motors are used widely in wind turbines and other power plants. The key advantages of turbine motor is the requirement of air is 1/3rd less than that of pneumatic vane motor and the power to weight ratio is one half of the latter.

The turbine motors are manufactured by meeting motor controls of IEC and NEMA. The under construction of renewable energy power plants to generate electricity for the future demand is expected to drive the global turbine motor market. The leading players in the turbine and turbine motor market are focusing on investing in research and development to create massive wind turbines by turbine manufacturers for both onshore and offshore applications.

Turbine Motor Market: Market Dynamics

The growing trend towards the green energy production and micro power plants have been driving factors for the market growth of turbine motors. The major challenge for the global turbine motor market is the high capital cost and maintenance that are involved and this will have a negative impact on the market growth.

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The wind energy production and developing economies plans to enhance their wind energy capacity is driving the global turbine motor market. The global power giants such as Siemens, ABB and General Electric are acquiring new gas turbine power plant projects to install turbine motors and diagnostic services in Middle East countries such as Iran, Iraq etc. In addition to that, the steam turbine projects for the retrofitting business and modernization projects are driving the turbine motor market but it is expected to grow at a steady pace.

Turbine Motor Market: Market segmentation

The global turbine motor market can be segmented into type, and application.

On the basis of power rating, the global turbine motor market is segmented into:

Less than 300 W

300 to 500 W

500 to 1,000 W

1,000 to 5,000 W

Above 5,000 W

On the basis of electric output, the global turbine motor market is segmented into:

On the basis of phase type, the global turbine motor market is segmented into:

Single Phase

Three Phase

On the basis of installation base, the global turbine motor market is segmented into:

Onshore

Offshore

On the basis of application, the global turbine motor market is segmented into:

Wind Turbine

Gas Turbine

Hydro Turbine

Steam Turbine

Turbine Motor Market: Regional Outlook

The green energy production in developed economies such as US, Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Japan is keeping the global turbine motor market to have a linear growth trend. It is expected that the same trend will continue the same in the forecast period due to the government initiatives to reduce carbon footprints in developing economies such as India, China, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Thailand, and Indonesia. Further, the developed economies such as Germany are investing in combined wind and hydro power projects which will be a major trend in the forecast period and it will drive the global turbine motor market.

The turbine motor market is gaining a rapid growth potential in APAC region especially in countries such as China, Australia, India, and Indonesia. These countries are investing heavily in green energy production and to enhance their wind energy capacity especially in wind and hydro energy which is driving the sales of wind turbine motor. The turbine motor market is posing a strong growth due to new power plant projects for new hydropower stations in India and China as these countries will play a significant role in the global turbine motor market.

Turbine Motor Market: Key Market Participants

Some of the key market participants in the global turbine motor market are:

ABB

ATB Riva Calzoni S.p.A.

A-Wing International Co., Ltd

DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH

Hangzhou Lectstyle Trade Co., Ltd.

Hoyer Motors

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.

Shanghai Dagan Industry Co., Ltd.

Siemens

Suzlon Energy Limited

TD Power Systems Private Limited

WEG

Yantai Petroleum Machinery Co., Ltd.

YAWATA Electric Machinery Mfg. Co., Ltd.

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The turbine motor market research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the turbine motor market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The turbine motor market research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application, installation base, phase type, electric output, and power rating.

#Turbine Motor Market

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southeastasianists · 7 years ago

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In the deep valleys of northern Laos, the Nam Khan River – a major tributary of the mighty Mekong – slices through extraordinary scenery. Towering, mist-covered mountain ranges; a sublimely preserved Unesco heritage-listed city that was once a royal capital; rippling rice paddies and fishing villages are just some of the dreamy scenes along its banks. Since 2015, though, it has also flowed through two massive, Chinese-built hydropower dams, the last of which was completed one year ago.

The dams were designed by Power China and built by the state-owned, Chinese energy construction firm Sinohydro – the biggest hydropower dam company in the world. The estimated $314m it cost to build the pair of dams was covered by soft loans to the tiny, landlocked country by the Export–Import Bank of China at an interest rate of 2% per year.

They’re just two of the projects that are part of the Lao government’s goal to export massive amounts of power to Thailand and Vietnam through a proposed 72 dams and become the ‘battery of Southeast Asia’. One of the more recent dams, the Nam Khan 3 Hydropower Project, opened its towering floodgates just over a year ago, transforming a nine-square-kilometre valley that was once home to thousands of farmers and fishermen into a wide and still reservoir. Most have taken resettlement packages and relocated to the Samaky Sai camp, a dusty village of new concrete cube homes. While the area has modern amenities such as plumbing and electricity, what it lacks are the resources the villagers were accustomed to surviving on – tillable soil; firewood; fish.

It’s this sort of give and take that makes Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy vision, the One Belt, One Road endeavour (also known as BRI), “probably the most important issue facing the region”, according to one economist. Governments from Laos to Lithuania are being given access to massive amounts of capital for new projects and infrastructure overhauls as Xi presses ahead with plans to build a ‘new Silk Road’, but it’s on China’s terms.

As one of the poorest members of Asean, Laos is becoming increasingly dependent on Chinese aid, investment and construction. Over the past few years, Beijing has helped the developing nation build not just hydropower projects, but also major highways, mines and monolithic hotels to fuel a growing tourism industry. In the past six months, troops of Chinese construction workers have drilled and hammered away at the bones of another example of Chinese-funded infrastructure: a single-track, high-speed, electrified, mixed-traffic railway line that will soon stretch 420km from the Yunnan border to the Lao capital, Vientiane. It’s part of a sprawling project that will one day connect freight and passengers through eight Asian countries. With cost estimates at $6 billion – again through soft loans provided by Beijing – the railway is 70% owned by China Railway and 30% by the Laos government and is set to be completed by 2021.

These two infrastructure developments join hundreds of other Chinese projects around the globe that involve the superpower underwriting billions of dollars of infrastructure investment in countries along the original Silk Road, linking up China with Western Europe through a web of railways, roads and ports that run through the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. The BRI will not only provide markets for China’s industrial overcapacity, it will facilitate trade, strengthen regional and global diplomatic ties, find a more profitable home for China’s massive foreign-exchange reserves and ensure it has energy efficiency.

This extraordinary, almost unprecedented, economic and geopolitical development by a single nation will span more than 60 countries and see Chinese goods and technology stream into Europe through new maritime routes and a Chinese-owned port in Greece. New, high-speed train lines will fan out across the globe, linking up Jakarta and Bandung, Hungary and Serbia, and Malaysia and Singapore; tunnels will be built in Israel; a $54 billion highway will link China to a deep water port in Pakistan. Just like the ancient Silk Road quested by Zhang Qian in 130BC, the routes are multiple and interweaving; there is no one belt or road, but rather a complex network.

Unsurprisingly, BRI has been met enthusiastically in Southeast Asia, a region that for the most part is in dire need of development to remain economically competitive, but short on domestic funding to make it happen. BRI promises countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar not just infrastructure but also trade, technology, tourism and an industry lift, while for China, it provides a platform to develop deeper ties with Asean and a market for its technology and services.

“It’s a multidimensional story,” said Hal Hill, a professor of Southeast Asian economies at Australian National University.

“We have got a highly controversial and abrasive president in the US and, by comparison, China’s sending out all the right messages to the rest of the world that, as the alternative global superpower, they are interested in development, not attacking people, so the soft power story is really important,” he said, adding that it was a win-win situation: China’s surplus, while declining, was still huge at about $3 trillion, and that needed to be recycled, while infrastructure was something that every nation needs more of.

The vehicle for BRI projects will mainly be the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which, although in principle a multi-lateral institution, is steered by China, which has also established a $40 billion Silk Road Fund. Other Chinese policy banks are expected to invest up to $1.3 trillion in BRI over the next few decades; in 2015, China transferred $82 billion to three state-owned banks for BRI projects.

But when it comes to emerging economies such as Laos, the multimillion-dollar question is who will pay for infrastructure such as the train. “It’s almost certainly going to be soft loans and not grants. And that means debt,” Hill said. But if Laos’ $6 billion train doesn’t turn out to be commercially viable, who picks up the tab for it? “It all comes down to careful, rigorous cost-benefit scrutiny and evaluation – hard in any country but especially in China and Laos, which are not the most transparent of places,” he said.

“Every interaction of this kind tends to have a mix of motives – altruism, humanitarianism, naked self-interest and strategic tactical interest. Would you trust America? Should East Timor trust Australia? What is clear is that One Belt, One Road is probably the most important issue facing the region, especially the poor contiguous states of Indochina, right now,” he said.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has historically been one of the largest infrastructure providers in Asia. Jayant Menon, the lead economist at the ADB’s office for trade and regional cooperation, acknowledged that the region possessed an infrastructure deficit that “even 10 ADB’s couldn’t fill”. Yet he stressed that countries that were already heavily indebted – such as Laos and Cambodia – needed to be selective over where investment was going.

“There is a real risk of non-essential projects being financed for the wrong reasons. China has its own strategic perspectives,” he said. One of these, he believes, is the new high-speed train line in Laos, which he said would not have a good return in terms of welfare improvement to the poor. “From experience we have learned that these fast train projects will only work when there is high density and high disposable incomes. Laos has neither. I think it’s very risky for the Lao economy.”

Rather, Menon said infrastructure such as ports and airports should be the priority, such as the new $880m international airport proposed for Siem Reap. The Cambodian government awarded the construction contract to Chinese state-run Yunnan Investment Holdings. “Tourism is an important growth industry, so improving facilities will help,” said Menon.

“But what we have learned at the ADB is that physical infrastructure is only half the story,” he added. “Policy needs to work to ensure the infrastructure is used to its maximum – especially when it comes to border crossing transit and transport agreements. So a lot of the existing infrastructure is not even fully utilised right now.”

Another consideration developing countries should keep in mind, added Hill, were fluctuating exchange rates: if the debt were in Chinese renminbi and it appreciated, debt would rapidly increase. Further, because countries such as Cambodia and Laos tend to have weak bureaucracies, they don’t have well-developed analytical think tanks and have typically been aid dependent. “They have a mentality of waiting for foreign assistance. When the official development assistance (ODA) is in grant form, they don’t need to analyse so much. They need to change that mindset,” said Hill. A level of unease has lingered amongst some Asean governments and organisations over dependence on China and political motivations that could lead to ‘debt bondage’.

Another issue is whether friction in the South China Sea could have a negative impact on China’s vision. At an International Institute for Strategic Studies security summit in June, Malaysian defence minister Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said “the dream for countries in our region for better infrastructure and stronger economies” would be futile if hostilities continued. “I think China has realised that without stabilising the South China Sea they can’t realise the maritime Silk Road,” said Chheang Vannarith, chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies. “Things will cool right down in the region regarding the South China Sea – Xi Jinping’s legacy hangs on it, and he only has five more years to build it.”

Still, the general perception from Southeast Asian politicians appears to be that the benefits outweigh the risks. According to ADB statistics, the region will need $26 billion in investment by 2030 to meet regional infrastructure demands. At a tourism meeting in Siem Reap last month, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen remarked that he expected the “excellent” BRI policy to lead to a significant spike in tourism in the Kingdom.

China has been Cambodia’s biggest external lender since 2010, investing in hydropower dams, roads, bridges, satellite cities, industrial factories and ports that are closely linked to the BRI. In Cambodia’s north, a joint venture between China Huaneng Group and the local Royal Group is developing the $900m Lower Sesan 2 hydropower dam, while China Communications Construction has already pumped more than $1.6 billion into 16 highway projects in the country, including a 190km expressway linking the capital with Sihanoukville on the coast, expected to break ground this year.

According to Vannarith, most important was that the Cambodian government linked the BRI with its own national development strategies and goals. “But Hun Sen still doesn’t have a clear action plan. Cambodia needs $600m in infrastructure development and logistics networks to maintain our current rate of economic growth. China has sought our consultation on this, rather than just coming in with its own policy and asking us to implement it, as the World Bank and US do. We need to be getting proposals to China. All the talk is there, but the implementation is still lacking,” he said.

Also worth noting, Vannarith said, were projects where social and environmental impact studies had not been completed. “We need to manage infrastructure in a sustainable way. Areng Valley [a dam project postponed and then halted due to widespread community opposition] is an example of a project that didn’t work because there was a lack of consultation and environmental impact assessment. Investment is about benefiting the local people, we need to engage them and inform them on what ways infrastructure benefits them,” he said.

In fast-rising Myanmar, whose GDP growth was at 7.7% this year, news emerged in May that China was willing to abandon a suspended, controversial $3.6 billion dam project in Myitsone due to protests and civil unrest. Meanwhile, Chinese plans to sponsor a $20 billion road and railway linking the deep-water port at Kyaukphyu with Kunming in Yunnan have hit a snag due to opposition in Myanmar over security issues and community consultation. For the most part, however, China has found little trouble in getting big projects off the ground in developing Southeast Asian countries.

Meanwhile, Asean nations with more robust ‘first world’ infrastructure such as Singapore, Malaysia and even Thailand have another incentive to embrace Xi’s vision: to remain in China’s orbit. “China has been the most important locomotive for the region and the world so it’s critical they stay connected,” said Hill. But with the BRI bringing regional connectivity on an unprecedented scale, could Singapore’s most important asset – its position as the premier trade and financial centre between the Indian Ocean and South China Sea – be weakened?

“I think Singapore only stands to gain from BRI,” said Menon. David Wijeratne, PwC’s growth markets centre leader in Singapore, agreed, saying the city-state’s free trade, low tax regimes, absence of foreign exchange controls, diversified talent pool and sound legal systems positioned it as an ideal facilitator of investments into less business friendly, developing BRI nations. “These platforms in Singapore will be critical meeting points for companies with similar commercial interests along the value chains,” he said. The city-state has assets under management of $1.8 trillion, and last year it was the top destination for foreign direct investment linked to the ‘new Silk Road’.

Back in in Laos, construction continues to rocket along on the $6 billion train. Huge factories have sprouted around cities such as Luang Prabang, in which local and Chinese workers manufacture railway parts along assembly lines. Hill pointed out that China’s development model has historically been quick and efficient but did not tend to lead to much local knowledge transfer. “They come in with the whole package and just get things done,” he said. Indeed, in the four years it took to build the Nam Khan 3 Hydropower Project, about 300 Chinese workers poured into the remote valley.

Some locals got jobs on the project, and Southeast Asia Globe met one such person on the muddy banks of the reservoir last month. This middle-aged former farmer, who declined to give his name, now earns about $200 a month as a truck driver for the dam, and has used the income he’s generated to build a boat and floating restaurant on the reservoir geared towards local weekend tourists. Other villagers, he said, have been employed as maintenance staff, while engineers tended to come from Vientiane.

“For the past few years, we’ve heard as much Chinese [language] here as we have Lao,” he said. “For me, the dam has made a positive impact on my life. It’s easier to access schools and hospitals. I do miss the old way of life. At the site that we were relocated to, the river is a trickle and there are no fish. It is not black and white. I have a more comfortable life now, but many poorer people are struggling. If you don’t have a job, it’s hard to eat – you cannot grow food now, you have to buy it. But this is development.”

#Southeast Asia #China #Silk Road #Economic Development

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ericfruits · 6 years ago

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Rapid economic growth props up Cambodia’s strongman

DRIVING ALONG Hun Sen Boulevard—named after the man who has led Cambodia since 1985—a shiny Mercedes-Benz dealership appears in the litter-covered scrubland, its chunky white vehicles nestled behind thick plate glass. Beyond, the cranes and towers of Phnom Penh loom. They speak to the riches Mr Hun Sen’s authoritarian rule has brought to a minority. But even the majority can testify to a rapid economic recovery since the end of the long civil war in the 1990s, and the final extinguishing of the Khmers Rouges, a Maoist movement that had forced all Cambodians to become subsistence farmers in the 1970s. Between 1995 and 2017 Cambodia grew at an average rate of 7.7%; GDP per person rose from $321 in 1994 to $1,137 in 2017, after accounting for inflation.

Foreign money has flooded in and Cambodia’s economy, which war and the Khmers Rouges had destroyed, has quickly revived. In the decade to 2015 more than 1.6m jobs were created in construction, garment-making and the hotel business, reckons Miguel Eduardo Sanchez Martin of the World Bank. Workers support family members left behind in villages. The proportion of Cambodians living below the Cambodian poverty line—$0.93 a day—declined from almost 48% in 2007 to 13.5% in 2014. Inflation remains in check partly thanks to widespread use of the American dollar. And a budget deficit that was left over from the global financial crisis has largely been tamed.

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Economic progress, however, has been accompanied by political regression. Mr Hun Sen’s administration has hounded its opponents and locked up its critics. Trumped-up tax charges were used to close an independent newspaper in 2017. That year the country’s Supreme Court also dissolved the main opposition party. One of its leaders is under house arrest; the other, in exile. An election last year proved farcical: the ruling party won all 125 seats in the National Assembly.

After a more competitive contest in 2013 garment workers staged protests against rigging for months. The government tried to win them over by gradually raising their minimum wage to $182 a month. This time things are quiet. One businessman admits he is pleased the election was so peaceful. No doubt encouraged by the calm, Mr Hun Sen talks of introducing a minimum wage for other industries as well.

It is harder for the government to buy off foreign critics, however. In protest at the strangulation of democracy, the European Union has threatened to cancel tariff-free access to the European market for Cambodian goods under a concessionary regime called “Everything But Arms”. This will hurt, given that clothing is Cambodia’s main export, bringing in around $5bn a year, and Europe its biggest market. Overall, two-fifths of the country’s exports wend their way there. Garment factories, in particular, are easy to relocate; some firms are reportedly already contemplating moving to Vietnam or Bangladesh. Languid European procedures give the Cambodian government 16 months or so to repent or prepare. Mr Hun Sen shows no contrition, but also few signs of preparation.

Cambodia’s infrastructure is straining under the pace of growth. Blackouts have become frequent as hydropower generation, which meets about half Cambodia’s energy needs, has been curtailed by drought. The country plans to buy additional power from neighbours such as Thailand, but this will further increase already heady electricity prices. Transport costs are eye-watering, too, since all but the biggest rural roads are unpaved.

Bureaucracy also needs battling. Roughly half of Cambodia’s workforce are still farmers, many of them stuck tending tiny paddyfields. Agribusiness could help raise their productivity and incomes. But Sela Pepper, a four-year-old firm, initially encountered not encouragement but red tape as it tried to build Cambodia’s only pepper-processing plant. The firm’s marinated peppercorns have a sour tang; trying to get the business going left a similar taste, recalls Soeng Sopha, the general manager: “It was all extremely difficult.”

Other bosses moan about corruption. Cambodia ranks 161st of 180 countries in Transparency International’s latest corruption index, alongside Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The head of Cambodia’s European chamber of commerce says “unfair competition” bothers his members. Yet there is little chance the kleptocratic elite would permit sweeping attempts to root out the problem. Mr Hun Sen himself likes to sport flashy watches and gleaming SUVs.

A fourth headache for investors is a shortage of skilled workers. Cambodia’s young population should aspire to more than driving tour buses and sewing sequins, reckons Chheng Kimlong of the Centre for Governance, Innovation and Democracy, a think-tank in Phnom Penh. “We are far behind the region in spending on education,” he says. Rural schools often lack textbooks, let alone internet connections. This makes a mockery of new schemes promoting employment in the digital economy.

Instead of getting to grips with these problems, the government appears to be counting on China. “Hun Sen thinks that China will be waiting over the cliff with a safety net,” says Sophal Ear of Occidental College in America. Ties are indeed close. Chinese businesses, the largest source of foreign investment, had pumped a cumulative $12bn into Cambodia by the end of 2016. Dozens of casinos and the vast majority of garment factories have Chinese owners. Chinese buyers are also a force behind the construction boom, picking up properties in developments such as Diamond Island in Phnom Penh and in the resort town of Sihanoukville. (According to the Ministry of Land Management nearly 6,000 construction projects valued at more than $11bn have been approved in the past two years.) Of the 6m tourists who came to the country last year, almost a third were Chinese. Xi Jinping, China’s president, visited in 2016. In January he promised almost $600m in aid over the next three years.

It is unlikely that Chinese investors will be as enthusiastic if Cambodia loses tariff-free access to its main market, however. And whether the European Union pulls the plug or not, Mr Hun Sen seems more focused on stifling dissent than on economic reform. Sooner or later, that will sap the growth that underpins his longevity.

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline "Fast and loose"

https://econ.st/2PfJpaT

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