Pyihtaungsu Hluttaw Law No. 9/2019—Myanmar’s new Consumer Protection Law—was enacted on March 15, 2019, repealing the previous law and providing a clearer legal framework for the protection of consumers in Myanmar. The date of implementation is March 15, 2019, with the exception of the product label requirement, which will enter into force one year after the date of enactment.  

On December 11, 2018, the Board of Investment (BOI) issued two new announcements: one canceling the International Headquarters (IHQ) and International Trade Centers (ITC) categories of activities for investment promotion, and one introducing a new category called International Business Centers (IBCs).

Vietnam’s Central Party Steering Committee recently issued a strong directive ordering strict policies emphasizing improved consumer protection. Specifically, Directive No. 30/CT/TW on Strengthening Party Leadership and State Management Responsibility in Consumer Protection (Directive 30) was issued on 22 January 2019.

In recent years, Vietnam has become a magnet for high-tech investment, especially in the areas of mobile phones and mobile phone components, electronics, and software development. In step with the recent pronouncements of Vietnam’s leaders to continue promoting Vietnam as a leading destination for investment in this space, the government greeted the Year of the Pig by issuing a new decree setting forth strong incentives for investors in the science and high-tech sectors.