Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

Myanmar’s economy continues to show resilience despite the ongoing global slowdown and domestic uncertainties, according to a new World Bank report released on January 15.

The World Bank and the Ministry of Finance signed a financing agreement for a grant worth US$10.5 million to promote integrated urban development and transport connectivity along a new Bus Rapid Transit corridor in Ho Chi Minh City, on January 15.

From January 13th to the 14th, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross led a Presidential delegation to attend Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei’s inauguration and congratulate the Guatemalan people on a successful democratic transition of power. The delegation underscored the United States’ commitment to development and prosperity across the country and intends to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to catalyze up to $1 billion in private sector investment in Guatemala over the next three years. This investment is part of America Crece, a U.S.-government program designed to spur economic growth throughout Latin America. Other delegation members included U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Luis Arreaga, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CEO Adam Boehler.

The World Bank Board of Directors approved a US$ 50 million loan to finance the project “National Urban Cadaster and Municipal Support,” on January 10. The initiative will support the development of the urban cadaster and will provide technical assistance to 22 municipalities located in the provinces of Lima, Chiclayo, Lambayeque and Piura in the use of this tool to optimize urban management, disaster risk management and tax collection.

Vietnam will enjoy the fastest economic growth in Southeast Asia in 2020, according to a new forecast from British multinational investment bank HSBC.

On January 10,2020 the National Audit Office (NAO) reports that the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) poor management of three critical infrastructure projects on its nuclear-regulated sites has contributed to a combined cost increase of £1.35 billion and delays of between 1.7 and 6.3 years. After problems in the early stages of the projects, the MoD has made progress, with some of the construction now complete. However, it still needs to manage the remaining commercial risks and learn the lessons for future projects.

https://www.nao.org.uk/press-release/managing-infrastructure-projects-on...

In a win for online shoppers, Facebook and eBay have signed up to agreements to better identify, investigate and respond to fake and misleading reviews after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) told them to address this issue.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging drivers to fuel up their cars before the federal carbon tax hits Alberta on Jan. 1, 2020.