On January 9, 2025, the Lao official gazette published the newly amended Decision on Trade Inspection Implementation No. 0019/MOIC, dated January 6, 2025. This decision aims to establish principles and rules for trade officers to inspect, fine, and take measures against violators of trade laws and their related regulations on business competition, business operations, and intellectual property rights to protect consumers and business operators in Laos. Changes in Trade Inspection Procedures Previously, trade inspection officers, operating independently under the central Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) or the provincial-level Department of Industry and Commerce (DOIC), were responsible for administrative raid actions focusing exclusively on intellectual property issues. However, following the enactment of Decision No. 0019/MOIC, trade inspection officers will now be grouped into the Trade Officers Unit, which will also include business competition officers and consumer protection officers. This unit will conduct and participate in raids, considering not only intellectual property laws but also competition and consumer protection laws when imposing penalties on infringers. Trade Inspection Authority Levels Trade inspection implementation is overseen by authorities at three levels: Central level: Department of Business Competition and Trade Inspection, MOIC. The MOIC handles trade inspection work covering all provinces in Laos. Provincial level: DOIC offices in provinces and Vientiane handle trade inspections covering two or more districts. District level: Office of the Industry and Commerce offices in districts. Violations Individuals, legal entities, and organizations violating the newly amended trade inspection decision, the Decree on Trade Inspection, or other related regulations will be educated about the issue, warned, disciplined (for government servants), fined, subject to compensation for damage incurred, or punished by the relevant laws, depending on the gravity of the violation. Trade Violations Violations of trade laws and regulations concerning business operations will result in fines and additional measures. Examples include:

As from July 1, 2025, as part of its ongoing efforts to digitalize and streamline the delivery of public services, the Vietnamese government will officially conduct administrative procedures, both online and offline, only via electronic identity (“e-ID”) accounts on the VNeID platform. In particular: Online administrative procedures carried out via the National Public Service Portal or via information systems for administrative procedures at the ministerial or provincial level are required to be implemented by using e-ID accounts only. When receiving dossiers, authorities will be required to check and verify the e-IDs of companies or individuals responsible for conducting administrative procedures. Further, it is worth noting that to complete the registration of an e-ID account for a company, the legal representative of the company must hold a level-2 e-ID account. Compliance Considerations Vietnam’s first regulation of e-ID accounts for individuals and organizations was issued in Decree No. 59/2022/ND-CP dated September 5, 2022, on electronic authentication and identification. This decree was subsequently replaced by Decree No. 69/2024/ND-CP dated June 25, 2024, which governs the same matters. Registration and operation of e-ID accounts are centralized through VNeID, a digital ID app developed by the National Population Data Center under the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam. Although the registration of e-ID accounts for companies is not explicitly mandated by law, the absence of an e-ID account may hinder companies from completing administrative procedures, including licensing and reporting obligations. Such non-compliance could consequently result in administrative penalties. To mitigate unexpected non-compliance and administrative fines due to the lack of an e-ID account, companies should be well prepared for and implement the registration of a company e-ID account as soon as possible.

On April 2, 2024, the Cambodian Competition Commission (CCC) issued Decision No. 087 on Requirements and Procedures of Exemptions under the Law on Competition, outlining the requirements and procedures for requesting exemptions for agreements or activities that could prevent, restrict, or distort competition in Cambodia. Franchise agreements often include clauses such as price fixing, exclusive supply arrangements, or territorial restrictions, which could potentially raise concerns under the Law on Competition. Therefore, it is necessary for both franchisors and franchisees to understand how the law applies to their agreements and whether an exemption request may be required. Some arrangements under franchise agreements may fall within the scope of prohibited practices under the Law on Competition. These include horizontal and vertical agreements, abuse of dominant position, and anti-competitive business combination. If a business owner contemplates that their franchise agreement could be interpreted as anti-competitive, they must assess whether to apply for an exemption. Key Criteria for Exemption Under Decision No. 087, the CCC may grant an exemption if the applicant can demonstrate that the proposed agreement or activity meets all four of the following conditions: Significant and identifiable benefits: The agreement must provide clear technological, social, or economic benefits such as cost efficiencies, qualitative efficiencies, initiations of new technologies, or environmental and sustainable benefits. Necessity of the agreement/activities: These benefits must not be achievable without the proposed agreement or activity. The applicant must show that prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition are essential to realizing the benefits. Benefits outweigh harm: The positive impacts must significantly outweigh any adverse effects caused by the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition, and the benefits should be likely to materialize within one year. No elimination of competition: The agreement must not eliminate competition in any substantial aspect of goods or services. Application and Supporting Documents

On June 1, 2025, Thailand’s Office of Central Company and Partnership Registration of the Department of Business Development opened a public hearing period on its draft notification regarding criteria and supporting documents for establishment of partnerships and limited companies in which foreign nationals are involved as investors or have signing authority. The draft notification requires applicants for registration of establishment of partnerships and limited companies to submit financial evidence of the capital contributions made by each Thai partner or shareholder in the following cases: When a partnership or limited company has partners or shareholders who are foreign nationals holding shares or equity amounting to less than 50% of the total capital contribution or registered capital in the partnership or company; or When a limited company has no foreign shareholders but has a non-Thai director who is an authorized or co-authorized signatory. The amounts shown in this financial evidence must be in accordance with the capital contribution or shareholding amount of each Thai partner or shareholder. Evidence can be provided in one of the following forms: Financial evidence issued by a bank to verify or demonstrate financial status. Copy of bank statement for the past six months. Copy of personal income tax or corporate income tax document (Form PorNgorDor.90 or PorNgorDor.91 for individuals; Form PorNgorDor.50 or PorNgorDor.51 for corporate shareholders). Any other supporting document showing the source of funds used for the capital contribution. The consultation period will be open until June 20, 2025, and the draft may be subject to additional revisions before it is finalized and made legally binding.