Nordic News, Business and Life in Asia
Norway’s Halten Bulk has signed a contract with Chinese yard Jiangsu SOHO Marine Heavy Industry to build two 7,100 DWT bulk carriers, with options for two more, according to The …
Norwegian company orders new ships from China Read More
A post dated 16 February 2026 set out FAQs on China’s visa-free entry arrangements for ordinary passport holders. The guidance says citizens of 50 countries can enter visa-free for up …
China’s embassy releases guidelines on updated visa-free entry policy Read More
As darkness fell over Bangkok, Scandinavians and Thai guests filled the Danish Embassy’s garden for an open-air night of Nordic cinema at the 2026 Nordic Film Festival. Friday the 13th …
Hundreds gathered at the Danish Embassy: Here’s what happened after sunset Read More
Chinese New Year 2026 begins on 17 February and marks the start of the Year of the Horse. Across China and in several Nordic cities, public events, themed dinners and …
Chinese New Year: What you can experience in China and the Nordic countries Read More
Norway’s Minister of International Development Åsmund Grøver Aukrust visited Indonesia on February 11-13 following his Vietnam trip on February 9-10, holding high-level meetings in Jakarta on climate, development financing and …
Norway and Indonesia advance climate and development cooperation during ministerial meetings Read More
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi met Norway’s foreign minister Espen Barth Eide on 14 February. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Wang said China …
China’s and Norway’s foreign minister at Munich Security Conference Read More
Norway has funded the renovation of a peace operations center in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Philippine peace authorities and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila officially handed over the …
Norway steps in to strengthen peace in the southern Philippines Read More
The EU Delegation in Singapore issued a joint statement on 13 February after the execution of Malaysian citizen Lingkesvaran Rajendaren. The statement was also backed by the diplomatic missions of …
Norway joins EU statement criticising Singapore execution Read More
Indonesia and Norway have launched talks on the fifth phase of their results-based carbon emission reduction initiative, known as RBC-5. Indonesia’s forestry minister Raja Juli Antoni said the talks began …
Indonesia and Norway start 5th phase talks carbon reduction Read More
Vietnam has encouraged Norway to increase investment in renewable energy projects as the country plans to invest an estimated $136 billion in expanding its power system, according to Báo Nghệ …
Vietnam pushes Norway over $136 billion energy plan Read More
Guests from the Nordic community in Bangkok were invited to the opening ceremony of the Nordic Film Festival at the Royal Danish Embassy in Thailand on Thursday night on 12 …
Nordic Film Festival opens at Royal Danish Embassy in Bangkok Read More
Thailand is preparing to roll back one of its most generous entry policies. The government plans to reduce visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of 93 …
Big change for nordic travellers: Thailand plans to cut visa-free stay Read More
Chinese car brands made up nearly 14% of all new car sales in Norway in 2025, according to data reported by Reuters. The figures, based on research from automotive consultancy …
Notable growth: China gains ground in Norway Read More
Norwegian seafood exporters now have a new direct route to China. On 24 January 2026, Suparna Airlines officially launched weekly cargo flights between Oslo Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, …
Norway strengthens China trade with new direct air route Read More
Norfund has invested USD 4 million in a plastic recycling company in Vietnam to expand production at a plant near Ho Chi Minh City. The funding will support Circular Plastics …
Norfund invests USD 4 million in plastic recycling expansion in Vietnam Read More
The Norwegian government has confirmed that Norwegian organizations were targeted by the China-linked hacker group known as Salt Typhoon, Bank Info Security reports. The acknowledgment appears in the latest annual …
Norway confirms China-linked cyber espionage Read More
Vietnam and Norway held a series of high-level meetings on 10 February to advance bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, green growth, and sustainable development. Politburo member and Minister of Foreign …
Vietnam and Norway deepen multilateral and multisectoral cooperation during High-Level meetings Read More
Police in Da Nang have uncovered a large operation producing and selling fake products branded as Jotun, a Norwegian paint manufacturer, according to Vietnam News. According to local police, officers …
Counterfeit Jotun paint operation uncovered in Da Nang: Three suspects charged Read More
Thailand has dropped nine places to 116th in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with its score declining slightly from 34 in 2024 to 33 out of 100 in 2025, …
Thailand slips further behind Nordic countries in corruption ranking Read More
In Nordic democracies, election night usually brings clarity. Votes are counted, winners are declared, and within hours the political direction is clear. In Thailand, the first morning after an election …
Thailand heads for coalition talks after election Read More
Police on Koh Samui arrested a 27-year-old Norwegian national after an alleged assault on a Thai driver and the theft of a pickup truck in the Mae Nam area, local …
Norwegian man arrested on Koh Samui after assault and pickup truck theft Read More
Two contemporary dance solos by Norway-based choreographers Tony Tran and Sun Phitthaya Phaefuang will have their Thailand premiere at the Chiang Mai Performing Arts Festival, according to TimeOut. Performances began …
Norwegian choreographers present Thailand premiere of dance solos Read More
Nordic Film Festival will take place again next week in Thailand, according to the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The festival has been held in previous years and …
Nordic Film Festival in Bangkok returns Read More
The Royal Malaysian Navy is set to receive deliveries of Norway’s Naval Strike Missile in March, the Strait Times reports. Malaysian defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia …
Malaysia navy will receive Norwegian missiles in March Read More
As questions linger over the situation along the Thailand-Cambodia border, Thai authorities have moved to reassure European partners – including Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway – about safety conditions in …
Border concerns lead to review of Nordic travel advisories Read More
Norwegian salmon is changing direction. Where exports once flowed west toward the United States, they are now increasingly heading east – to China, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council. …
China dramatically increases purchases of Norwegian salmon Read More
Dongfeng, a Chinese state-owned company, plans to build a large electric car assembly factory in Fredrikstad, Norway, according to NRK. Dongfeng has signed an intention agreement to establish the plant …
Chinese company plans electric car factory near NATO port in Norway Read More
Alcohol sales were banned nationwide in Thailand last weekend in connection with the parliamentary election. This weekend, the same restrictions will once again be in force, according to the Royal …
Alcohol ban returns this weekend ahead of Thailand election Read More
Two mine detection dogs were flown from Cambodia to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 February. The transfer was confirmed by Cambodian Mine Action Center. CMAC director-general Heng Ratana said the …
Norwegian People’s Aid sends Cambodian mine-sniffing dogs to Bosnia Read More
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has appointed international sports marketing agency Druid Sport as its official commercial representative for China, according to a statement from the company. Under the agreement, …
Norwegian Football Federation names Druid Sport as commercial representative for China Read More
Norway’s Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, will visit Vietnam to hold meetings with Vietnamese authorities and partners on 9-10 February, according to the Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi. The embassy …
Norway’s Minister of International Development to visit Vietnam Read More
Norway has launched a year-long review of its international development policy, called “Project Turning Point”. Norwegian Minister of Foreign development, Asmund Aukrust, said Norway will keep its aid target at …
Norway starts “Turning Point” review of aid policy, signals stronger Asia dialogue Read More
The UNHCR says in a new press release that the Government of Norway has contributed 1m$ to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. UNHCR said the funds will help cover humanitarian …
Norway gives 1m$ to UNHCR for Rohingya refugee aid in Bangladesh Read More
Finland is considering restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms, drawing inspiration from Australia’s recently introduced ban, as concerns grow over the impact of digital platforms on young people. …
Finland looks to Australia as debate grows over banning children from social media Read More
Norwegian and Swedish recycling technology companies will play a central role in Singapore’s new nationwide Beverage Container Return Scheme, which launches on 1 April and is expected to handle more …
Nordic recycling technology powers Singapore’s bottle return system Read More
Norwegian salmon company Mowi opened its first processing plant in Thailand on 28 January 2026. The facility is a partnership with CP Axtra, part of Thailand’s CP Group. Under the …
Mowi opens first salmon processing plant in Thailand Read More
Norway is continuing to support Cambodia’s mine action efforts through capacity development under a new partnership agreement signed on 26 January. The agreement was signed between Cambodian Mine Action and …
Norwegian People’s Aid renews support for Cambodia demining work with new agreement Read More
Norway and Indonesia have signed a joint declaration on a “Partnership for a Prosperous and Sustainable Future,” dated 26 January 2026. The declaration was agreed by Indonesia’s foreign minister and …
Norway and Indonesia sign new partnership declaration Read More
A jealous argument between a Thai woman and her Norwegian-Thai husband ended in an explosion in Chonburi, police said. Four people were injured, according to Khaosod English. Rescue workers reported …
Norwegian-Thai man injured in homemade bomb blast during domestic dispute in Chonburi Read More
Hong Kong has used a series of Year of the Horse receptions in Sweden and Norway to highlight new trade and investment opportunities between the Nordic region and Asia. The …
Hong Kong uses Year of the Horse events to promote trade ties with Sweden and Norway Read More
Indonesia and Vietnam have confirmed that they will accept an invitation from United States President Donald Trump to join his newly established Board of Peace, a move that has sparked …
Indonesia, Vietnam accepts invitation to Trump’s Board of Peace – Nordic countries decline Read More
Singapore-based offshore engineering group Seatrium and Norwegian contractor Aibel have both filed arbitration proceedings over disputes related to their consortium agreement for the DolWin 5 offshore converter platform in the …
Seatrium and Aibel enter arbitration over North Sea offshore wind platform Read More
Telenor has entered into an agreement to sell its ownership stake in Thailand’s leading telecom operator True Corporation, ending a 25-year presence in the Thai market. According to a stock …
Telenor to exit Thailand after 25 years, selling True stake for about NOK 39 billion Read More
A large fire has destroyed hundreds of shelters in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. More than 2,000 people were displaced, aid agencies said. No casualties has been …
Norwegian Refugee Council calls for help after fire in Cox’s Bazaar Read More
Thai police in Pattaya issued a formal warning to a Norwegian tourist after a reported public nudity incident, Thaiger reports. Officers responded on 22 January near Beach Road Soi 13/3 …
Norwegian tourist warned by police after public nudity report on Pattaya Beach Read More
The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Innovation Norway and Norwegian firm Orkel held a “Waste Burden to Energy Resource” forum on 15 January. The event took place at Seda Vertis North in …
Norway and Philippines discuss mobile “round bale” waste solution for island communities Read More
Thai authorities have rejected claims circulating online that foreign nationals will be limited to entering Thailand visa-free only twice a year. The warning was issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Digital …
Thai authorities deny rumours limiting visa-free entry for foreigners Read More
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration deported a 34-year-old Swedish national back in November 2025. The man was suspected of serious violent crimes in Sweden, according to Indonesian authorities. Acting Director …
Indonesia deported Swedish man wanted for violent crimes Read More
Malaysian subsea digital infrastructure provider OMS Group has signed contracts with Norway’s Ulstein to design and build two cable-laying vessels. OMS Group said the order is aimed at meeting growing …
Malaysia’s OMS Group orders two Ulstein cable-laying vessels for 2028 delivery Read More
Several Southeast Asian countries have eased visa rules over the past year, helping drive a strong rebound in international tourism and making travel in the region simpler for foreign visitors. …
Visa-free entry expands across Southeast Asia Read More