On 2 October 2023, the Ministry of Commerce (“MOC”) introduced its e-commerce registration system, known as eComReg, during an awareness-raising event held at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce (“UMFCCI”) in Yangon. Individuals and entities engaging in e-commerce activities are now required to register via this new system. Who needs to be […]

The draft Customs Bill of 2023 aims to establish fiscal responsibility and transparency in the collection of import revenue and the facilitation of trade. This bill has been revised to incorporate contemporary provisions for revenue collection, the expansion of import and export trade, the promotion of business activities, and the growth of new industrial sectors. […]

The latest regulations introduce a novel concept, defining a “public interest entity” based on the minimum workforce employed. According to the FRC, for a corporation or institution to be classified as a public interest entity, it must have a workforce of at least 50 individuals. In these regulations, “workforce” encompasses all individuals engaged within an […]

The framework consists of 66 rules along with various forms and exhibits, aimed at ensuring a level playing field, efficiency, transparency, and orderliness in trading commodity derivatives contracts. These rules serve to protect the interests of investors and the public while fostering the growth of the commodity derivatives market. Key highlights The new regulations cover […]

On September 19, 2023, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council held a direct thematic meeting to discuss important issues related to Resolution 98/2023/QH15 (“Resolution 98”) on pilot implementation of particular policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City. Within the framework of the meeting, the authority has approved a list of various projects, including […]

To boost the inflow of remittances and allow for more flexibility, the Bangladesh Bank has granted permission to licensed payment service providers (“PSPs”) to facilitate the receipt of wage remittances from abroad in collaboration with globally-recognized online payment gateway service providers, banks, digital wallets, card networks, and foreign PSPs. To implement this, PSPs will be […]

Aiming to regulate the production, import, and sale of drugs and cosmetics and protect against the production and sale of adulterated drugs and cosmetics in the country, the Bangladesh Parliament passed the Drug and Cosmetics Act 2023. The new law repeals the Drugs Act, 1940 and the Drugs (Control) Ordinance, 1982. In a change from […]

This article provides a re-cap of some key policy and protection provisions set out in one of the major bilateral treaties that have been concluded between Vietnam and the United States of America – Agreement “On Trade Relations” (2000), as well as a summary of key investment incentives in Vietnam.

The Ministry of Commerce (“MOC”) has now classified e-commerce, defined as the practice of selling goods or services through an online consumer platform on the internet, as an essential service under Section 4(c) of the Essential Supplies and Services Law via Notification No. 50/2023 dated 21 July 2023. Coupled with this, the MOC issued an […]

In order to implement the provisions of the Investment Law dated 15 October 2021, the Royal Government of Cambodia adopted Sub-Decree No. 139 ANKr.BK (the “Sub-Decree”) on the Implementation of Investment Law dated 26 June 2023. Notable updates under the Sub-Decree are as follows:   1. New Procedure for QIP Registration In order to obtain […]

The amendment to the Bangladesh PPP Act seeks to limit the powers of the PPP Authority in terms of financial and administrative powers and the performance of its functions. Prior to the amendment, the PPP Authority had the right to independently carry out its functions, that has now been changed, with authority back in the […]

BTMC intends to establish textile mills and/or textile-related linked industries and support facilities at Feni, Bangladesh at the existing site of Dost Textile Mills Ltd. through a PPP. BTMC is inviting interested bidders and bidding consortiums to participate in the selection of a private partner through an international competitive bidding process as per the terms […]

Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (“BTMC”), under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, intends to establish textile mills and/or textile-related linked industries and support facilities at Magura, Bangladesh at the existing site of Magura Textile Mills Limited through a PPP. BTMC is inviting interested bidders and bidding consortiums to participate in the selection of a private […]

On 23 May 2023, the Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce (“MOC”) issued a new importer and exporter registration (“IMPEX”) order via Notification 35/2023, replacing the Registration (Imports and Exports) Order 42/1954 issued under the Control of Imports and Exports (Temporary) Act 1947 and the Export and Import Bulletin No. 6/2018 issued by the […]

This article addresses a possible misunderstanding of Cambodia’s Transfer Pricing (“TP”) regulations as set out in Prakas 986 on Rules and Procedures for Division of Income and Expense between Related Parties (“the Prakas”).

On 6 March 2023, the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia issued a Sub-Decree on the Requirements and Procedures for Business Combinations (the “Sub-Decree”), which will be enforced in six months. Its enactment is part of the government’s efforts to improve and strengthen the enforcement of the Competition Law. The aim of the Sub-Decree […]

Per Section 97 of the 2017 Myanmar Companies Law, companies must file their first annual return (“AR”) with the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (“DICA”) through the MyCo system within two months of the date of incorporation. Previously, no supporting documents were required; however, an announcement on the DICA website dated 1 April 2023 […]

To reduce environmental pollution, the Bangladesh government has issued the Environmental Conservation Rules 2023 and repealed the prior ones that were enacted in 1997, with immediate effect. Like the previous rules, industrial units and projects are classified into four categories—green, yellow, orange, and red—based on their activities and level of environmental pollution. The green category […]

On 10 February 2023 the Government of Vietnam issued Decree no. 03/2023/ND-CP (the “2023 VCC Decree”) regulating the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Vietnam Competition Commission (referred as “VCC”) which was previously mentioned in Law on Competition no. 23/2018/QH14 dated 12 June 2018 (the “Law on Competition”). The article discusses the role […]

On 1 April 2023, the Trademark Law will come into effect according to the State Administration Council’s Notification No. 82/2023 dated 10 March 2023. Implementation of the law is being done in phases. Prior to its effectiveness, during “Soft Opening Phase 1”, which is currently ongoing, the Myanmar Intellectual Property Department (“MIPD”) under the Ministry […]