Japan is to provide grant aid of USD 5 million for the acceleration of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) clearance programs in Laos.
DOC Uses Production Cost in India as Comparison to Impose High Anti-Dumping Duty on Vietnamese Honey Exported to US
Vietnamese honey exported to the United States is facing a high anti-dumping duty, affecting Vietnamese beekeepers and the raw honey-related food processing industry in some states of the United States.
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 4 April 2022 – On November 17, 2021, the DOC announced a preliminary conclusion that Vietnamese honey was being dumped into the United States with a margin of between 410.93 and 413.99 per cent (Buon Me Thuot Honey JSC – 413.99 per cent, Dak Lak Honey JSC – 410.93 per cent) and imposed a respective temporary tax while the dumping margin of the remaining four countries, Argentina, Brazil, India, and Ukraine, was from 6.24 to 49.44 per cent.

On January 3, 2022, the DOC announced that it would impose a retrospective tax on honey shipments imported from Viet Nam from August 25, 2021. It is expected that the conclusion will be finalised by the DOC in April 2022.
Since the US has not recognized Viet Nam as a market economy, the DOC uses the costs in India as a basis for comparison with Viet Nam’s export prices instead of the data provided by Vietnamese enterprises.
The DOC used the weighted average price of inputs imported into India including finished honey from New Zealand, Australia (three times higher than the purchase price of raw honey in Viet Nam), and honey barrels (eight times higher than the actual purchase price in Viet Nam). This does not reflect accurately the reality of honey production in Viet Nam and is the main reason for the high dumping margin of Vietnamese enterprises.
The preliminary conclusion has negatively impacted exporters and the lives of 35,000 Vietnamese beekeepers, mainly in poor economic areas facing difficulties during the pandemic, affecting the ecological balance and crop productivity in the locality.
On the other hand, the US honey producers only meet 25 per cent of domestic demand and cannot supply the US market with the amount of raw honey required for food processing.
Therefore, the application of anti-dumping duties that are too high for Vietnamese honey and will cause damage to the food processing industry and directly affect the interests of US honey consumers.
In the context of supply chains affected by the pandemic and increased gasoline prices, stable honey supply from Viet Nam would contribute to stabilising food prices using raw honey for consumers and ensure the employment of laborers in the food processing industry in some US states such as Indiana, benefiting bilateral trade for the two countries.
Lancer Dermatology Announces Partnership with Forefront Dermatology
Since opening the clinic in 1983, Dr. Harold Lancer has grown his Beverly Hills-based dermatology practice into a world-renowned mecca with a celebrity cult-following. Currently, the practice is a global destination for celebrities, socialites, and even members of royal families. Dr. Lancer’s work ethic, integrity, approach, and results make him one of the most sought-out dermatology professionals, piquing the interest of Forefront Dermatology. The team at Lancer Dermatology consists of tenured nurses and skilled aestheticians who have been personally trained by Dr. Lancer to deliver the highest level of service and care to their patients.
The partnership between Lancer Dermatology and Forefront Dermatology will allow the legacy and state-of-the-art care that Lancer Dermatology is known for worldwide, to expand beyond the Beverly Hills clinic for many years to come. By opening satellite locations across the nation, even more patients will be able to experience the state-of-the-art care that Lancer Dermatology is celebrated for, even if they are unable to visit the Beverly Hills practice.
“The highlight of my career was when I opened the doors to my Beverly Hills clinic in 1983, and every day since then I have had the pleasure of treating my patients with unparalleled care. I am proud to partner with Forefront Dermatology to extend the legacy we have created at Lancer Dermatology to make our state-of-the-art experience and treatments even more accessible,” said Dr. Harold Lancer, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Founder of Lancer Dermatology and Lancer Skincare.
“For many years, we have had the goal to extend the state-of-the-art approach of Lancer Dermatology practice beyond the Beverly Hills clinic. When Forefront Dermatology approached our team, it was clear that their preeminent expertise in expansion was in perfect alignment with our goals. Through this partnership, we are thrilled to be expanding our legacy, without sacrificing on quality of care,” said Tracey Sameyah, CEO of Lancer Skincare.
“Our partnership with Dr. Lancer and the Lancer Dermatology Team is consistent with our approach to partnering with Board-Certified Dermatologists and Surgeons that are committed to physician leadership, innovation, and exceptional patient experiences and outcomes. We are thrilled to partner with Dr. Lancer on expanding access to dermatology care and leveraging the expertise and strong reputation he has garnered over the past 30 years,” said Betsy J. Wernli, MD, President of Forefront Dermatology.
The Beverly Hills clinic will remain unaffected by the partnership, with no changes being made to the day-to-day operations or existing staff of distinguished nurses and aestheticians. Dr. Lancer’s international skincare brand, Lancer Skincare, will also remain a separate entity, owned solely by Dr. Lancer, with no changes to the award-winning products that bring to life his philosophy of “from practice to product.”
Lancer Dermatology is moving faster than ever to make its state-of-the-art care and approach more accessible and available to everyone. For more information about Lancer Dermatology, please visit LancerSkincare.com or @drlancerrx.
About Lancer Dermatology
The goal at Lancer Dermatology is to provide each patient with expert skin care and a personalized, first-class experience. Lancer Dermatology offers state-of-the-art care in aesthetic, cosmetic, medical and surgical dermatology treatments. The Lancer Dermatology team consists of tenured nurses who have been personally trained by Dr. Lancer to deliver the highest level of service and care to our patients. Dr. Lancer believes that the best way to foster trust and commitment amongst patients is to have a knowledgeable and familiar team at his side. The Lancer Nursing Team is an elite and talented group of professionals who are always on hand to assist with all patient consultations and procedures. Dr. Lancer’s skilled aestheticians possess decades of experience providing customized services and treatments to patients. Trained by Dr. Lancer himself, the aesthetician team is comprised of multilingual, highly-professional and sought-after experts who are proficient in The Lancer Method protocols as well as all of the Services & Technologies offered exclusively at the Lancer Dermatology Clinic. With revolutionized procedures and tools, the team is able to provide a personalized, best-in-class experience to every patient.
#Lancer
Refinitiv Announces Winners of Inaugural Indonesia FX Awards
The FX Awards aim to promote transparency and liquidity in the Indonesian foreign exchange market and to recognize its importance to the broader Indonesian economy. Award winners were determined based on trading activity on Refinitiv’s FX trading platforms.
In July 2021, Refinitiv launched its leading global electronic trading Matching service in Indonesia, which represents Indonesia’s first interbank electronic marketplace for the trading of Rupiah. Refinitiv Matching offers users in Indonesia access to deeper liquidity pools, increases market participation, enhances price discovery and helps regulators maintain a fair and transparent marketplace.
Foreign exchange remains one of the world’s most actively traded asset classes. The average daily volume (ADV) of foreign exchange trading across Refinitiv’s FX platforms globally totaled $491 billion in January 2022, with the average daily volume for spot trading at $97 billion.
“Bank Indonesia appreciates Refinitiv as the first provider for the Multi-matching System in our domestic market. We welcome any external providers in supporting the domestic market as long as they are committed to build Indonesia’s money market and as long as it complies with Bank Indonesia regulation. I also give my highest appreciation to all the banks participating in the new platform and I hope transactions through ETP Multi-matching will continue to increase in the future. As we move forward, efforts to develop FMI will continue to be taken. Yet, Bank Indonesia realizes that we can’t do it alone, we have to work together to achieve a desired state of a modern and advanced money market,” said Destry Damayanti, Senior Deputy Governor from Bank of Indonesia.
“This marks our inaugural FX Awards in Indonesia, and we are heartened by the strong support from the local trading community. We would like to extend a big congratulations to all the winners. Refinitiv has had a presence in Indonesia since 1984, and as one of the world’s largest providers of financial markets data and infrastructure, we are committed to supporting an efficient, transparent and resilient financial marketplace in Indonesia,” said Nigel Fuller, Sales Director, FX Trading, Asia at Refinitiv.
The 2022 Indonesia FX Award Winners are as follows:
- Best Market Maker: PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
- Most Active Bank: PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
- Most Volume Traded: Deutsche Bank AG (Jakarta Branch)
- First Trade on Matching: PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and PT Bank Mega Tbk
- First Mover: PT Bank Maybank Indonesia Tbk
- Most Active FXall Bank (Taker): PT Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk
- Most Active FXall Bank (Maker): PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
- Most Active Corporate: PT Pertamina (Persero)
- Best BPD Bank: PT. Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat & Banten, Tbk
- Rising Star BPD Bank: PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Tengah
For further information on Refinitiv’s FX solutions, visit here.
About Refinitiv, an LSEG business
Refinitiv, an LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) business, is one of the world’s largest providers of financial markets data and infrastructure. With more than 40,000 customers and 400,000 end users in approximately 190 countries, Refinitiv is powering participants across the global financial marketplace. Refinitiv provides information, insights, and technology that enable customers to execute critical investing, trading and risk decisions with confidence. By combining a unique open platform with best-in-class data and expertise, Refinitiv connects people with choice and opportunity – driving performance, innovation and growth for its customers and partners. www.lseg.com
#Refinitiv
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Steel Material Company Gunung Prisma Aids Nangela Village in Building Bridge

Global steel distribution company, Gunung Prisma, headed by Liwa Supriyanti, collaborated with the Sehati Gerak Bersama Sukabumi Foundation to aid in this bridge building project. It procured and distributed the building materials and other infrastructure required to build the bridge.
Uplifting the Lives of Nangela Villagers
Prior to the construction of the bridge, villagers could only access the city by wading through the water to cross to the other side of the riverbank. At low tide – where the river is at a depth of 50cm – crossing over might still be possible. However, when it rains heavily and floods, the water level of the Cicurug River reaches the height of an adult’s chest – becoming dangerously high. This makes it impossible to cross the river.
“Some of the villagers were very sick, but we had to wait several hours for the river’s water levels to go down before we could safely cross over to the other side,” one of the villagers recounted.
With the inauguration of the bridge, the lives of villagers do not need to be determined by the changing levels of the river. All five hamlets of Nangela Village – Salaeurih, Cikupa, Cikuya, Sukaskirna, and Caringin – can now access the city’s schools, hospitals and other public amenities. Additionally, it opens up opportunities of enterprise for the villagers. Nangela’s natural resources of cardamom can now be more easily transported and traded.
Gunung Prisma Bridges the Divide
As a steel distribution company, Gunung Prisma is perfectly positioned to contribute to a social project such as this one. But it does so also because the director of its company, Liwa Supriyanti, is a strong supporter of social responsibility and social development. By tapping on the network and resources her company provides, she can significantly contribute to the community.
“So we hope that with the construction of the bridge, the social and economic level of the community can increase. We are happy to share and care for the community,” said Liwa.
Chairman of the Joint Sukabumi Sehati Gerak Foundation, Andri Kurniawan, also appreciates the assistance of Gunung Prisma. According to Andri, this assistance has provided invaluable benefits to the community.
“That’s why we are very grateful. Moreover, Gunung Prisma has provided infrastructure assistance several times in Sukabumi. Hopefully this involvement sets an example for other companies,” said Andri.
About Gunung Prisma
Gunung Prisma is a global company that provides holistic steel solutions, collaborating with more than 25 suppliers from countries around the Asian continent, from Singapore to Japan to China. It offers a range of quality steel products, including long, flat and downstream products to be used to construct infrastructure and manufacture vital products.
#GunungPrisma
About Liwa Supriyanti
Liwa Supriyanti is a prominent leader in the steel trade industry and was appointed head of Gunung Prisma in 2017. She makes corporate social responsibility her main priority, donating and organising charity projects to uplift communities.
#LiwaSupriyanti
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Laos Confirms 1,038 New Cases of Covid-19
Laos has recorded 1,038 cases of Covid-19 across the country today.
President Halimah Yacob and Tanoto Foundation Unveil Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians Sculpture at Gardens by the Bay

Independent philanthropic organisation Tanoto Foundation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto commissioned the internationally-renowned blown-glass art piece to commemorate the Gardens’ 10th anniversary. The spectacular Ethereal White Persians will be a permanent installation, suspended over the water, atop the Cloud Forest Mountain.

Anderson Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation, said, “We are honoured to have President Halimah Yacob and Minister Desmond Lee with us to unveil the new sculpture. Tanoto Foundation’s work has been driven by our mission to provide equal opportunities to the community, mainly through education, medical research and youth leadership. Similarly, we believe access to internationally-renowned art, such as Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians, should be for all in Singapore to enjoy. We are thankful to be collaborating with a like-minded partner, Gardens by the Bay, which shares similar values in terms of availing accessibility and fulfilling our roles as social-levelers in Singapore.”
The decision to make Ethereal White Persians a permanent feature was influenced by the overwhelming response to Chihuly’s Glass in Bloom exhibition, which was held in Singapore last year at the Gardens. With this permanent art sculpture at the Cloud Forest, Singaporeans can now experience one of Dale Chihuly’s most famous art pieces anytime.
Anderson added, “At nine feet tall and an assembly of 97 individual glass pieces, the Ethereal White Persians by Dale Chihuly is awe-inspiring. It is also a vision of hope, a testament to human resilience and perseverance. He has stayed true to his pursuit of pushing something as fragile as glass to new forms, creating ambitious and stunning installations in prominent landmarks across the globe. The Persian series is a culmination of a year’s experimentation by Dale Chihuly – it signifies perseverance, the pursuit of excellence, and reflects the positive spirit of constantly pushing boundaries to open new horizons. We hope this art piece can inspire many Singaporeans.”
Leslie Chihuly, President & CEO, Chihuly Studio, said, “Last year, we had the incredible opportunity of mounting Dale’s first major garden exhibition in Asia, at Gardens by the Bay. We are honoured that this installation will remain in the Gardens for all to enjoy, and we are grateful to the Tanoto Foundation for making this possible.”
About The Tanoto Foundation
Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto based on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to realise his or her full potential. Tanoto Foundation programmes stem from the belief that quality education accelerates equal opportunity. We harness the transformative strength of education to realise people’s full potential and improve lives. Tanoto Foundation focuses on making an impact in three main areas: improving learning environments, future leaders development, as well as medical research and sciences.
https://www.tanotofoundation.org/en/
#TanotoFoundation
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Laos Tourism Ministry Proposes Full Reopening
The Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism has sent a proposal for a full reopening of the country to the Prime Minister of Laos for consideration.