AEC Briefs

 Thailand's long-established and popular international restaurant chain Coca has announced that it will launch a new outlet in Yangon in time for the Chinese New Year. 
Coca Yangon, one of three new outlets that will be open by early next year, will be located inside the Yangon International Hotel with its own separate entrance and parking area. 
Coca's famous wok dishes and a la carte Thai appetisers have made the restaurant famous since the first outlet opened in central Bangkok 59 years ago, and many of these original delicacies will continue to play a major part on the menu. To keep pace with culinary trends, the latest Coca outlet will introduce a new 'fresh market' concept, as well as a unique choice of freshly made noodles prepared in-house and a wide selection of the brand's deservedly famous house-made dumplings. 
“Fresh, locally sourced fresh vegetables will be a key feature and on display in the restaurant for diners to select. We have also prepared al la minute with quality imported meats and carefully selected seafood dishes on the menu. The addition of a dedicated fresh noodle room is actually a first for COCA. It's a new, exciting concept that we are happy to shout about as we start the Year of the Rooster," said Trevor MacKenzie, managing director of Coca and Mango Tree Restaurants Worldwide. –The Nation
 Yangon Book Plaza to launch traditional Myanmar slate
 In commemoration of the first Yangon Book Plaza in Myanmar, and to revive ancient Myanmar tradition, Myanmar slate is going to be available at the market.
“We aim for it not only to sell books but also to attract tourists. So, we are planning to introduce Myanmar traditional products. 
“There will be a Myanmar handicraft shop in Yangon Book Plaza and we are going to distribute slate and slate pencils in Myanmar through Yangon Book Plaza,” said San Mon Aung, who is arranging the launch of the plaza.
Preparations for opening the plaza are about 80 per cent complete. It is expected to open in January. 
It will be located on the fifth floor of Lamadaw (Thanzay) in downtown Yangon and will include more than 30 publishing houses, old book shops and coffee shops as well as a location for new books.—Myanmar Eleven
 First Lao data centre opens in Xaythany
 The first official data centre in Laos opened on Tuesday in Vientiane, aiming to provide modern information systems and secure storage solutions in the country.
The newly opened data centre, which will be known as the Lao Energy Efficient Data Centre, was first launched as an initiative in 2014 |under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
About US$20 million (Bt 713 million) was used in the construction of the data centre, supported by the Japanese government.
The centre is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems in Laos, Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Dr Boviengkham Vongdara confirmed.—Vientiane Times
 France, VN to forge stronger ICT co-operation
 Vietnam’s Minister of Information and Communication Truong Minh Tuan has expressed hope that French businesses, with their advantages in capital and information and experience in international business, will continue investing in Vietnam.
At a meeting with French Minister of State for Economy, Industry and Digital Technology Bertrand Pailhes during his visit to France from November 26 to November 29, Tuan said that since the two countries established their strategic partnership in 2013, bilateral co-operation had thrived in all fields, including information and communication technology (ICT).
France is the largest European provider of official development assistance to Vietnam for developing telecommunications infrastructure, contributing to the growth of the ICT sector and economic development.— Viet Nam News