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CHINA
China and Chile put free trade agreement into effect. China Economic Net, 2 October 2006.
China and Chile’s free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to eventually exempt 97 per cent of all traded goods from import tariffs, went into effect on 1 October 2006. China will lift tariffs on 2,834 products imported from Chile, including copper. Chile will give duty free status to 5,891 commodities from China, including vegetables, fruits and mechanical and electrical equipment. China has agreed to maintain tariffs on 7,391 products imported from Chile, while 7,750 exported products will be charged levies by Chile. China is Chile’s second largest trading partner, with copper contributing to 30 per cent of China’s imports from Chile.
Accessed on 2 October
< http://en.ce.cn/Business/Macro-economic/200610/02/t20061002_8814600.shtml >

China asks New Zealand to let workers in as part of free trade agreement. Bilaterals, 3 October 2006.
China wants New Zealand to admit skilled workers on temporary permits as part of a planned free trade agreement. New Zealand responded that it would want key concessions if it agreed to more access for Chinese workers and it would also want to protect the country’s labour force and working conditions in any agreement.
Accessed on 5 October < http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=6123 >

China and Republic of Korea agree to start talks on free trade area. China View, 13 October 2006.
China and the Republic of Korea agreed to start negotiations on a free trade area as soon as possible. At a meeting, the two countries discussed how to carry out medium and long-term trade cooperation, focusing on environmental protection, energy preservation and high-tech cooperation. The two sides pledged to promote trade facilitation, expand mutual investment and bring economic cooperation to a new level. The trade volume between the two countries hit US$ 100 billion in 2005.
Accessed on 16 October
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/13/content_5200815.htm >

CENTRAL ASIA REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION (CAREC) FORUM
Central Asia agrees on plan to improve links. The Financial Times, 23 October 2006.
Members of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Forum have agreed a joint development plan to improve transport links and remove barriers to trade and investment. They also agreed to work more closely on challenges such as environmental protection and to develop a cadre of officials skilled in regional cooperation. CAREC’s comprehensive action plan, which is backed by a promised US$ 2.3 billion in lending from multilateral agencies in the three years to 2008, reflects growing consensus on the importance of cross-border cooperation for central Asia. CAREC includes Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. More than half of the planned loans will be spent on transport infrastructure, with US$ 1.2 billion going to road construction and upgrading, and smaller sums for better railways and an improved fleet for Tajikistan State Air. However, the forum is also focusing on the need for transport “software” such as better-run border points, shared standards for vehicles and more consistent trade policies.
Accessed on 23 October
< http://www.ft.com/cms/s/df6b7776-6223-11db-af3e-0000779e2340.html >

EUROPEAN UNION
New strategy puts EU trade policy at service of European competitiveness and economic reform. European Commission, 4 October 2006.
The European Commission has adopted a new strategy to integrate trade policy into the European Union’s competitiveness and economic reform agenda. The policy review sets out a strategy for opening new markets abroad for EU companies and ensuring that European companies are able to compete fairly in those markets. It also commits Europe to ensuring that its own markets remain open.
Accessed on 5 October < http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do? >

INDIA
India and EU decide to sign trade and investment agreement. Hindustan Times, 13 October 2006.
A joint statement released at the end of the seventh EU-India Summit called for "a broad-based bilateral trade and investment agreement". The agreement will give the two economies easier access to each other’s markets for goods, services and investments, besides dealing with complaints of tariff and non-tariff barriers from importers on both sides. In 2005, trade between the EU and India grew by 20 per cent to about 40 billion euros.
Accessed on 16 October
< http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1819729,001302530000.htm >

ORGANIZATION OF PETROLEUM EXPORTING COUNTRIES (OPEC)
OPEC cuts oil production by 1.2 million barrels. ABC News, 20 October 2006.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has decided to cut production by 1.2 million barrels a day. OPEC is currently producing about 29.5 million barrels of oil per day. The cuts are the first time OPEC trims its output since December 2004, when oil traded slightly above US$ 40 a barrel and the cartel lowered its official production quota by 1 million barrels a day.
Accessed on 23 October < http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=2589894 >

REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Republic of Korea to introduce import safeguards for FTA with ASEAN. Bilaterals, 16 October 2006.
The Republic of Korea plans to introduce special safeguard measures to protect local companies from import surges that may occur once its free trade pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) goes into effect. The Korea Trade Commission (KTC) said the country’s trade and industrial damage protection law would be revised to counter any negative impacts from the FTA. The safeguards could be maintained for one to three years and could be imposed within one month of receiving a complaint by local companies. The rules would also apply to the FTA with the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA), made up of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, which went into effect in September 2006.
Accessed on 17 October < http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=6232 >

SINGAPORE
Singapore and Peru conclude third round of FTA talks. Channel News Asia, 29 September 2006.
Singapore and Peru have concluded their third round of negotiations for a FTA that will strengthen trade and investment relations. Significant progress was made on a range of issues during this round of negotiations with the rules of origin, investment, e-commerce and dispute settlement chapters being completed successfully. The chapters on trade in goods, customs procedures, trade in services, Government procurement and technical barriers to trade are near completion and only a few outstanding issues are left to be resolved.
Accessed on 2 October
< http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/233160/1/.html >

VIET NAM
Viet Nam and Japan to start free trade talks next year. Channel News Asia, 19 October 2006.
Viet Nam and Japan have agreed to start talks next year on an FTA that they hope would almost double their trade by 2010. The two sides decided to facilitate favorable conditions for business circles hoping to expand two-way trade volumes. Viet Nam also promised to create favorable conditions to receive a flow of new investment from Japan in various fields including high-tech industries. Japan is the number two market for Vietnamese exports after the United States of America and the fourth-largest exporter to Viet Nam after China, Singapore and Taiwan Province of China. Japan is the largest official development assistance donor to Viet Nam, having pledged US$ 11 billion from 1992-2005, about one third of total international aid to the Viet Nam.
Accessed on 20 October
< http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/236461/1/.html >

Imports in transit to be tax-exempt. Viet Nam News, 24 October 2006.
The General Department of Customs announced that goods temporarily imported into Viet Nam, such as commercial samples, equipment or marketing materials to be used in trade fairs or for demonstration purposes, will be exempted from import duties by 2007. Under current regulations, these temporarily imported goods are subject to import tax, and then the tax is repaid when the goods are re-exported. By next year, the Customs Department will implement ‘ATA Carnet’ (ATA refers to Admission Temporaire – Temporary Admission), a system to track temporarily imported goods. ATA Carnet will facilitate the importation of these sorts of goods by bypassing customs formalities. Enterprises choosing to participate in the ATA Carnet system will only be required to pay a Carnet fee, after which they will be eligible to bring goods into participating countries without paying import taxes. ATA Carnet is used in 63 countries and territories worldwide.
Accessed on 25 October
< http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02ECO241006 >

CHINA
China and ASEAN speed up tariff reduction process. China Daily, 11 October 2006.
China and the 10 members of ASEAN are speeding up the tariff reduction process to facilitate the establishment of the China-ASEAN free trade area. China’s average tariff on ASEAN countries’ goods was slashed from 9.9 per cent to 8.1 per cent last year, while the ratio will drop to 6.6 per cent next year. China has disclosed a tariff reduction plan according to which the average tariff level will continue to drop to 2.4 per cent in 2009, and finally in 2010, which is the scheduled time for the establishment of the China-ASEAN FTA, 93 per cent of products from ASEAN countries will be tariff-free. ASEAN countries have also made similar arrangements, e.g. Thailand reduced its average tariff for Chinese products from 12.9 per cent to 10.7 per cent last year, while it plans to further lower it to 2.8 per cent in 2009.
Accessed on 11 October
< http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-10/11/content_705533.htm >

INDIA
Centre to set up 14 land customs hubs. Financial Express, 30 September 2006.
India will invest Rs 850 crore over the next three years to develop 14 land customs stations. These include eight along the Bangladesh border, four along the Nepal border and one each along the border with Pakistan and Myanmar. Of the total amount, Rs 70 crore will be invested at Moreh customs station in Manipur, the only functional land customs station through which trade across the land route along 1600 kilometers of the Indo-Myanmar border takes place.
Accessed on 2 October < http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=141928 >

INDONESIA
Changes in Indonesian Customs regulations. Air Cargo News, 6 October 2006.
Effective from 1 October 2006, advanced cargo manifest reporting is now required by Indonesian Customs. The regulation targets shipments destined for Indonesia, detailing that House AWB (FHL) data (an industry message standard), in EDI format, must be sent by the forwarder to the Indonesian customs system via the Traxon data network (cargo community system) or the airline’s homepage. The required data are the same as the United States Automated Manifest System (AMS) regulations and they must be transmitted at least two hours prior to departure of the aircraft. A penalty will be imposed on cargo delivery delays caused by customs clearance if data is not transmitted.
Accessed on 9 October < http://www.aircargonews.net/article.asp?art_id=1077 >

PAKISTAN
Maximum power to the officials working under the Valuation and Post Clearance Audit Departments. Business Recorder, 5 October 2006.
The Central Board of Revenue has issued a notification, specifying that the officials of the Valuation Department and the Post Clearance Audit Departments would exercise powers of Customs officials within their assigned areas of jurisdiction. Valuation officers, appraisers, principal appraisers, assistant director, deputy director, additional director and director-general of Customs valuation have been empowered to operate under the Customs Act of 1969.
Accessed on 5 October
< http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=483640&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate= >

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Customs payments to be made in roubles only. Kommersant, 30 September 2006.
Effective from 1 January 2007, all importers and exporters will have to pay customs duties and taxes in roubles. The decision has been taken to enforce an article from the law on the 2007 Federal Budget that abolishes an option of paying taxes (such as VAT on imports) and export and import duties in roubles or any foreign currency. Currently, no more than 10 per cent of customs payments, or 250 billion roubles annual customs dues, are made in roubles. However, the Ministry of Finance still welcomes paying taxes in foreign currencies.
Accessed on 2 October < http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=708999 >

Minister of Economy of the Russian Federation proposes removal of aluminum import duties to ensure competition. MosNews, 10 October 2006.
Following the announcement of a merger of Russian aluminum producers and a Swiss trader, the Minister of Economy proposed canceling import duties on aluminum. As the new holding will control 100 per cent of the Russian market, the minister said that the State should take proper measures to ensure competition on the Russian market to prevent monopoly prices for aluminum. He added that these measures should concern foreign trade regulations and import duties, suggesting to remove all barriers and admit global competitors so that the new holding would not raise prices.
Accessed on 11 October
< http://www.mosnews.com/money/2006/10/10/grefaluminiumcompetition.shtml >

Russian customs to appraise market value of seized merchandise. Cellular News, 20 October 2006.
The Federal Customs Service has ordered that one of its divisions set up a system for appraisal of seized merchandise. Following the appraisal, the merchandise is to be transferred to the Russian Federal Property Fund, Federal Court Bailiff Service or units of the Interior Ministry. The move is aimed at creating a single database of seized merchandise and at establishing efficient control over income from the seized merchandise sales. Seized merchandise is believed to be a major source of corruption.
Accessed on 23 October < http://www.cellular-news.com/story/19964.php >

VIET NAM
Import duties on pharmaceuticals to fall. Viet Nam News, 2 October 2006.
The general tax rate levied on pharmaceuticals will be gradually reduced to 0-0.5 per cent, against the present 0-10 per cent. The Department of Pharmaceutical Management expects that within five years of Viet Nam’s official admission to the WTO, the average tax on pharmaceuticals will be 2.5 per cent. Likewise, the average tax rate applied to cosmetics is set to decrease from 44 to 17.9 per cent. Tariffs on pharmaceuticals are set to change too, 47 product categories which have import duty rates of 10 and 15 per cent will see lower tariffs. Ninety per cent of pharmaceutical materials and 100 per cent of specialist drugs in Viet Nam are now imported from overseas.
Accessed on 4 October
< http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=06BUS021006 >

BANGLADESH
Training on non-tariff rules launched. The Daily Star, 16 October 2006.
In a bid to help shrimp exporters cope with the non-tariff trade regulations imposed by the European Union, the Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) with support from European Commission started a training programme on non-tariff rules. The target groups under the programme are Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), shrimp farms, shrimp hatchery operators, depot operators, feed millers, ice-plant operators in the shrimp zone, Government agencies concerned and fisheries-related educational institutions.
Accessed on 16 October < http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/10/16/d61016050356.htm >

BHUTAN
Bhutan lifts poultry import ban on India. WorldPoultry.Net, 23 October 2006.
Two months after India declared itself bird-flu free, Bhutan has lifted an eight-month import ban on poultry, eggs and related products from India. Bhutan originally imposed the indefinite ban in February after an outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza virus occurred in poultry in India’s Maharashtra state. India declared itself free of the virus on 12 August 2006, based on a report of the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL). The lifting of the ban comes with several conditions aimed at minimizing the risk of egg-borne and poultry meat-borne.
Accessed on 25 October
< http://www.worldpoultry.net/ts_wo/worldpoultry.portal/enc/_nfpb/true/ >

EUROPEAN UNION
European Union allowed to ban altered foods. Trade Observatory, 30 September 2006.
The World Trade Organization said European countries were within their rights to ban genetically modified foods on health and environmental grounds. The organization left respective Government rules in place without saying if genetically modified foods are dangerous. Officials of the United States and the EU said they would study the WTO report before deciding on any appeal. They have 60 days to do so.
Accessed on 5 October < http://www.tradeobservatory.org/headlines.cfm?refid=89149 >

European Union extends Asia shoe tariff. BBC, 4 October 2006.
Imports of leather shoes from China and Vie Nam to Europe will continue to face steep punitive tariffs, under an agreement reached by Governments of the European Union. In future, imports from China will face tariffs of 16.5 per cent, and imports from Viet Nam will face a 10 per cent levy. The European Commission had earlier this year introduced emergency tariffs on imports of leather shoes, to protect European manufacturers from unfair competition. But those tariffs were only temporary - and for the past few weeks EU Governments have been arguing about whether or not to introduce more permanent restrictions. The agreement is a success for Italy, which claimed that unfair competition from manufacturers in both countries was driving its own shoe producers out of business. Italy said that thousands of jobs had already been lost in the sector because of cheap imports and countries such as France, Poland, Portugal and Spain have backed its stand. The duties were opposed by a large number of member States - including Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom who saw them as an unwelcome barrier to trade. The now agreed upon compromise means that the new tariffs will enter into force for just 2 years, and not the five years recommended by the European Commission.
Accessed on 5 October < http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5405898.stm >

INDIA
Government OKs anti-dumping duty on Chinese CDs. The Financial Express, 9 October 2006.
India has imposed an anti-dumping duty of up to Rs four per unit on recordable compact discs from China; Hong Kong, China; Singapore and Taiwan Province of China. The Optical Disc Manufacturers Welfare Association argued that the move would create a level-playing field for Indian manufacturers of compact discs. The imports from China attract a maximum anti-dumping duty of 9.4 cents per piece, while from Singapore the duty is 6.4 cents, Taiwan Province of China 7.5 cents and Hong Kong, China 4.9 cents.
Accessed on 10 September
< http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=142868 >

Anti-dumping duty on Thai and Chinese tires. The Business Standard, 12 October 2006.
Effective from 9 October 2006, India has slapped a provisional anti-dumping duty on tires imported from China and Thailand. Valid for six months, the Ministry of Finance will see a levy of duties at the reference price of US$ 99.10 for a complete tire set — comprising a tire, tube and rubber flap — having a rim diameter over 16 inches. The earlier reference price on which duties were imposed was around US$ 39. Owing to a massive price advantage, the sale of imported tires has doubled over the years. A pair of imported commercial vehicle segment tires cost around Rs 17,000, in comparison with the Rs 24,000 of those produced by Indian companies.
Accessed on 12 October < http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php? >

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Islamic Republic of Iran bans rice imports. The Dawn, 7 October 2006.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has imposed a ban for a period of two months on import of all kinds of rice varieties from all rice producing countries in a bid to provide protection to the local farmers.
Accessed on 9 October < http://www.dawn.com/2006/10/08/ebr10.htm >

JAPAN
Government to ban all imports and ships from Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Daily Yomiuri, 12 October 2006.
Japan decided to impose an import ban against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and prohibit port entry by all ships of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea after the latter has conducted a nuclear test. The measures went into effect on 20 October and will be valid for six months. In 2005, Japan’s exports to and imports from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea reached about 6.9 billion yen and 14.5 billion yen, respectively. Between January and September, ships from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea made 578 port calls at Japanese ports.
Accessed on 12 October < http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20061012TDY01005.htm >

Japan agrees to cut bluefin tuna catch after admitting over-fishing. The Guardian, 17 October 2006.
Japan has agreed to nearly halve its annual catch of southern bluefin tuna after admitting that years of over-fishing had left stocks at dangerously low levels. The over-fishing was uncovered when Australian investigators found the amount of tuna sashimi being sold in Japanese markets was more than double its agreed quota. Japan admitted it had exceeded its 6,065-tonne quota by 1,500 tonnes in 2005 and agreed to cut its catch to 3,000 tonnes a year for five years from 2007.
Accessed on 17 October < http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1923869,00.html >

MYANMAR
Myanmar lifts ban on second-hand machinery imports after 18 years. The Myanmar Times, 15 October 2006.
For the first time since 1989, the Ministry of Industry has allowed private businesses to import second-hand machinery to be used in the industrial sector. For 18 years, since the Foreign Direct Investment Law was introduced, only new machinery has been allowed to be imported. Under the new rules, machinery less than 10 year old will be eligible to be imported. The ministry will also consider fuel consumption and condition of used machinery when reviewing import license applications. Import duties for second-hand machinery will be the same as for new equipment in the same category.
< http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/MyanmarTimes17-337/b002.htm >

REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Payment to farmers to top two trillion won next year. The Korea Herald, 3 October 2006.
A record 2.42 trillion won in State subsidies will be allocated for rice farmers next year to help them cope with the gradual opening up of the country’s agriculture market. The sum for direct payment to farmers under the Government’s 2007 budget proposal is a 24 per cent increase of the sum earmarked for 2006. The 2.42 trillion won accounts for 20 per cent of the 12.1 trillion won the Ministry of Agriculture is requesting for its 2007 budget. It is also the first time that the annual direct payments, which include fixed direct payment and variable direct payment, will exceed 2 trillion won. The direct payment system aims to help sustain the income of rice producers who face greater market competition amid growing bilateral, regional and global trade pacts. The ministry underlined that subsidies would be tailored to help farmers cope with market liberalization, especially as the Republic of Korea pursues an FTA with the United States.
Accessed on 4 October
< http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/10/03/200610030056.asp >

VIET NAM
Egypt to impose anti-dumping tax on Vietnamese lamps. Viet Nam Net, 2 October 2006
The Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has decided to impose the anti-dumping tax rate of US$ 0.32/unit on Viet Nam-made fluorescent lamps. The duration of the tax imposition will be five years, effective from 22 August 2006. The tax rate may be adjusted by MTI after its annual review of imports from Viet Nam. MTI has also decided that China-made fluorescent lamps will be charged US$ 0.35/unit anti-dumping tax. The tax rates will be US$ 0.33/unit for Thailand-made products, US$ 0.17 for a specific Indian company and US$ 0.37 for other Indian companies. Regarding Indonesian products, one company will be imposed with a tax of US$ 0.17/unit and others US$ 0.32/unit. The lawsuit against foreign fluorescent lamp producers was filed on 29 September 2005 when two Egyptian companies accused Vietnamese enterprises and others of dumping their products in Egypt. In early 2006, the EU also decided to levy the anti-dumping tax rate of 66.1 per cent on Viet Nam-made fluorescent lamps.
Accessed on 3 October < http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2006/10/618032/ >

CAMBODIA
Cambodia lifts its ban on 3G phones, but no video allowed. M&C Tech, 4 October 2006.
Cambodia has lifted its ban on third generation (3G) mobile telephone systems, with the exception of video applications. In May 2006, 3G phones were banned on the grounds that they may be used to transmit pornography. The now allowed package offers high-speed internet access and television access from a limited number of local stations.
Accessed on 6 October < http://tech.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1208006.php/ >

E-ticketing to be used on all internal flights. China Economic Net, 17 October 2006.
The China Air Transport Association (CATA) has stopped providing paper tickets and instructed sellers to issue e-tickets. The decision is in line with an International Air Transport Association (IATA) move that requires its 261 member airlines to abandon paper tickets by the end of 2007. E-tickets will be issued once the current batch of paper tickets has been used up. The change currently only applies to domestic flights. The wide use of e-ticketing is expected to lower operational costs, which could lead to lower prices.
Accessed on 17 October
< http://en.ce.cn/Industries/Aerospare/200610/17/t20061017_8998381.shtml >

INDIA
Phone-based agriculture information service opened for farmers. OneWorld South Asia, 4 October 2006.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has opened a phone-based information service for farmers: ‘Soochna Se Samadhan Sewa’. Based on an interactive voice response system (IVRS) the farmers can access the service by dialing a phone number to register their query. The system stores the call on a web-based application and knowledge workers seek answers from experts and provide these back to the farmers within 24 hours.
Accessed on 5 October < http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/140355/1/1893 >

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Islamic Republic of Iran, Armenia and Georgia sign MoU on supply of electricity. Islamic Republic News Agency, 30 September 2006.
Energy ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Armenia and Georgia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Yerevan on an agreement for supply of electricity. The MoU stresses the importance of boosting tripartite cooperation in the field of energy. The Islamic Republic of Iran will supply electricity to Georgia via Armenia and vice-versa.
Accessed on 3 October
< http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-237/0609300607131519.htm >

Islamic Republic of Iran launches first private mobile network. Turkishpress, 21 October 2006.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a new mobile phone network with SIM cards provided by the country’s first private operator. The distribution of 300,000 SIM cards has started in the cities of Tehran, Mashhad and Tabriz. The service provider will distribute 2.3 million of these post-paid SIM cards by March 2007 and plans to offer pre-paid SIM cards in the near future. Currently, the number of mobile phone subscribers in the Islamic Republic of Iran numbers 10.6 million out of a nearly 70-million population.
Accessed on 23 October < http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=147600 >

MALAYSIA
Malaysia to issue up to 4 WiMAX licenses. The Business Times, 11 October 2006.
Malaysia plans to issue up to four WiMAX licenses to boost broadband coverage and penetration rate. WiMAX stands for World Interoperability for Microwave Access. It is similar to the current popular WiFi technology used by most laptops, but has a higher capacity and can cover a larger area. The Minister of Energy, Water and Communications said that three to four licenses were planned, but that maybe at the beginning only two licenses would be granted.
Accessed on 17 October
< http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Wednesday/Nation/BT590687.txt/Article/ >

MYANMAR
Myanmar to raise oil production. Myanmar Times, 16 October 2006.
The State-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) is to increase onshore oil production to 10,000 barrels per day before the end of the year. Myanmar produces about 20,000 barrels, or 40 per cent, of the 50,000 barrels of diesel and petrol it consumes each day and imports the remainder from Singapore and Malaysia. Maintaining import levels has become an ever-greater drain on Government finances in the face of rising global oil prices in recent years. To help offset the cost of oil imports, the Government in August 2004 launched a programme to utilize the country’s vast natural gas reserves for transportation purposes. So far, some 9000 diesel and petrol vehicles have been converted to run on compressed natural gas.
Accessed on 23 October
< http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/MyanmarTimes17-338/b003.htm >

PAKISTAN
Efforts geared up to introduce mobile banking. The Dawn, 19 October 2006.
The Ministry of Information Technology has directed the country’s telecom regulator and services providers to work closely with the central bank and remove hurdles in the way of introduction of electronic mobile banking in Pakistan. Mobile phone banking services have been successfully launched in various countries of the region, including the Philippines where it offers the consumers a virtual wallet providing a convenient way of transferring and remitting funds through SMS. The codes and messages exchanged in the process can then be converted to cash at widely deployed distribution channel locations and even retail outlets.
Accessed on 23 October < http://www.dawn.com/2006/10/20/ebr8.htm >

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Papua New Guinea power utility to get US$ 43 million upgrade. Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center, 2 October 2006.
Papua New Guinea Power will spend kina 120 million (US$ 43 million) to upgrade, renovate and replace existing facilities and equipment at the Rouna Two hydro power station. The project will see the replacement of 40-year-old equipment and result in greater quality and reliability of power supply to customers in the Port Moresby.
Accessed on 2 October < http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2006/October/10-02-09.htm >

VIET NAM
Viet Nam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic sign deal on industrial cooperation. Viet Nam Net Bridge, 1 October 2006.
Viet Nam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic signed an MoU on cooperation in industrial development on 30 September 2006. The two sides agreed to cooperate in developing the electricity sector and in exploring, exploiting and processing coal and minerals in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, particularly at potassium mines in central Lao People’s Democratic Republic. They will focus on the construction of Xekaman 3 hydro-power plant, which has started and is scheduled to complete in 2009. The two sides will continue other hydro-power projects and build power transmission lines, including those from Xekaman, and Attopeu of Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Da Nang and Pleiku of Viet Nam.
Accessed on 3 October < http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2006/10/617734/ >

CHINA
China to improve yuan renminbi reform, currency regulator says. China Economic Net, 20 October 2006.
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China announced that it would continue to improve its exchange-rate regime and increase the quality of its management of foreign-currency reserves. China had the second-largest-ever trade surplus in September, which contributed to raising the nation’s foreign-currency reserves to almost US$ 1 trillion, a record for a single country.
Accessed on 20 October
< http://en.ce.cn/Markets/Currencies/200610/20/t20061020_9053160.shtml >

First small commodity index launched. Chinese Government’s official Webportal, 23 October 2006.
China has officially launched the country’s first small commodities index in Yiwu, China’s largest distribution center for small commodities, in the eastern province of Zhejiang. The index system has 23 specific sub-indices, which are chiefly composed of three parts, namely small commodity price indices, small commodity market prosperity indices and single monitoring and measuring indices. Apart from reflecting the changing trends of commodity prices, the index will also serve as a barometer of market prosperity, dealers’ confidence and the market operation situation. The quintessence of the index includes a last week price index published on every Tuesday and a last month prosperity index at the beginning of every month. The index is available on the websites of the Ministry of Commerce and the Yiwu city Government as well as some authoritative publications.
Accessed on 23 October < http://english.gov.cn/2006-10/23/content_420452.htm >

INDIA
India to sign bilateral investment protection agreement with Ethiopia. The Financial Express, 19 October 2006.
India will sign an investment protection pact (BIPA) with Ethiopia as part of measures to increase the flow of capital as well as trade between the two countries. Among the benefits that the BIPA gives to investors are tax holidays of up to five years, exemption from import duties, Government guarantees against nationalization, duty incentives and foreign exchange remittances.
Accessed on 20 October < http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=6258 >

MYANMAR
Foreign investment in Myanmar at record. MSN Money, 16 October 2006.
Foreign investment in Myanmar has hit its highest-ever total since it opened to outside investors in 1988, reaching more than US$ 6 billion in the 2005-2006 fiscal year. Thailand is Myanmar’s largest investor, with investments being made mostly in the power sector. Other major investment come from India and China. More than half of cumulative investment in Myanmar comes from fellow members of ASEAN. The United States and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the Government to improve human rights.
Accessed on 20 October
< http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp >

Bangladesh to invest in new Myanmar industrial zone. The Myanmar Times, 20 October 2006.
Myanmar is expected to establish a new special industrial zone (SIZ) in Rakhine State and invite foreign investment mainly from neighboring Bangladesh which had originally proposed the SIZ.
Accessed on 20 October < http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/MyanmarTimes17-338/b004.htm >

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands seeks residency incentive to boost investment. Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center, 2 October 2006.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will re-introduce a permanent residency programme for individuals who invest at least US$ 200,000 in the commonwealth. The programme will target Japanese and Chinese investors.
Accessed on 2 October < http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2006/October/10-02-03.htm >

SINGAPORE
Singapore and Slovakia sign investment guarantee agreement. People’s Daily Online, 14 October 2006.
Singapore and Slovakia have signed an Investment Guarantee Agreement (IGA) that gives investors of both sides greater certainty by clearly setting out investment norms and protection.
Accessed on 18 October
< http://english.people.com.cn/200610/14/eng20061014_311654.html >

VIET NAM
Viet Nam and Czech banks join forces to finance projects. Thanh Nien News, 2 October 2006.
The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and the Czech Republic’s Export Bank (CEB) signed a funding agreement for a cement facility as well as an MoU on investments in seven potential projects in construction and the energy sector, estimated to cost US$ 1.7 billion. The seven selected projects include another cement plant with annual capacity of 1.4 million tonnes; a 200 MW hydroelectricity plant; a 2,400 MW thermal-power plant; a 225 MW hydroelectricity plant, a 80 MW hydropower plant, a facility with annual production capacity of between 100 and 150 tonnes; and a project to set up a turbine manufacturing joint stock company for hydropower plants.
Accessed on 3 October < http://www.thanhniennews.com/business/?catid=2&newsid=20682 >

Southern metro industrial zone designed for overseas Vietnamese. Thanh Nien News, 9 October 2006.
Ho Chi Minh City is considering establishing an industrial zone exclusively for overseas Vietnamese investors. The planned zone would cover a 330 ha-site and call on investment projects on high-tech and electronics. The HCMC Overseas Vietnamese Business Club stated that overseas Vietnamese enterprises strongly supported the project and some investors from Canada, France and the United States had already confirmed their investments into the zone if the proposal was approved. There are some 3 million overseas Vietnamese in 90 countries and territories around the world. Over 300,000 of them are top scientists or experts in other fields like economics, politics, culture and arts.
Accessed on 10 October < http://www.thanhniennews.com/overseas/?catid=12&newsid=20937 >

China’s largest privately-owned shoemaking corporation has engaged a lawyer to file a lawsuit against the European Union’s anti-dumping tariffs which have been opposed on 7 October 2006.

Read the whole report from the People’s Daily online
< http://english.people.com.cn/200610/24/eng20061024_314527.html >
Accessed on 25 October 2006

… New Zealand opens up seasonal jobs for Pacific Islanders?

New Zealand announced a major seasonal work scheme for Pacific Islanders to fill horticulture and viticulture jobs when no New Zealanders are available, starting from April 2007.

Read the whole report from the Pacific Magazine
< http://www.pacificislands.cc/news/2006/10/25/ >
Accessed on 25 October 2006

… Opium cultivation in Asia’s Golden Triangle has fallen significantly?

Opium poppy cultivation in the Golden Triangle of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Thailand, the world’s second largest source of the raw material for heroin after Afghanistan, fell 29 per cent in 2006.

Read the whole report from the United Nations News Centre:
< http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20265&Cr=drug&Cr1= >
Accessed on 17 October 2006

… Russian customs officers have discovered a pipeline that was pumping vodka to Latvia?

The tunnel has been laid six feet underground to pump home-made vodka across the border. The pipeline was discovered when local council workers started digging holes to plant trees in the area.

Read the whole report from the Ananova:
< http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2022498.html >
Accessed on 5 October 2006.

… the European Union has set ambitious energy goals?

An action plan to cut Europe’s energy consumption by 20 per cent before 2020 has been outlined by the European Commission. More than 75 measures include tougher energy standards for electrical goods, a low-energy building strategy and more fuel efficient cars.

Read the whole report from the BBC:
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6060608.stm >
Accessed on 20 October 2006

… Viet Nam is in serious shortage of well educated CEOs?

According to a recent survey by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) p to 43.3 per cent of corporate managers in Viet Nam do not have high school degrees.

Read the whole report from Viet Nam Net Bridge:
< http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2006/10/617932/ >
Accessed on 3 October 2006

Information is taken mainly from secondary sources and UNESCAP accepts no responsibility for its accuracy. Mention of any companies and their products does not imply endorsement by the United Nations.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.