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Sino-United States of America textile agreement takes effect on 1 January 2006. China View, 1 January 2006.
The Sino-United States textile agreement took effect on 1 January 2006, imposing quotas on certain clothing and textiles from China by 2008. A total of 21 types of clothing and textiles have been placed under the import restrictions, including cotton trousers and man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses. The agreement provides for a progressive increase in imports of major textiles and apparel products from China, by 10 to 15 per cent in 2006, 12.5 to 16 per cent in 2007, and 15 to 17 per cent in 2008. Meanwhile, pullovers, men’s trousers, blouses, t-shirts, dresses, bras, flax yarn, cotton fabrics, bed linen, table and kitchen linen of Chinese origin exported to the European Union have also been put under quota restrictions, according to an agreement reached by China and the EU in June 2005.
Accessed on 4 January < http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/01/content_3996310.htm >

China, Mali sign economic cooperation agreement. Bilaterals, 14 January 2006.
China and Mali have signed an agreement on enhancing cooperation in four aspects, namely to intensify political dialogue and consultations on key issues; to promote economic and trade cooperation - China will take further steps to encourage investments in Mali, while Mali will strive to increase the direct export of cotton and other products to China; to actively explore ways to promote cooperation in agriculture, telecommunications services, health, culture, tourism and personnel services, giving priority to projects fundamental to Mali’s economic and social development; and to promote the Sino-African partnership within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
Accessed on 16 January < http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=3561 >

INDIA
Green signal for CECA with Malaysia. The Financial Express, 9 January 2006.
The Joint Study Group (JSG) appointed by India and Malaysia to examine the feasibility of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) has given a green signal, stating that the proposed CECA was feasible and mutually beneficial in expanding bilateral economic linkages. A CECA is a free trade agreement not only in goods but also incorporates services and investment. India, at the moment, has a CECA only with Singapore.
Accessed on 11 January < http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=113905 >

INDONESIA
Indonesian Government to open more free trade zones. Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board, 18 January 2006.
Indonesia will open more free trade zones in the country in several areas that are considered to have potential, such as Bitung, Bojonegara or Dumai. In 2004, the House of Representatives had already approved a bill on the development of Batam island into a free trade zone, but the then President of Indonesia declinded to sign the draft law. With the positive signal given by the executive, the legislative body can resume the discussion on the bill on the Batam free trade zone.
Accessed on 18 January < http://www.bkpm.go.id/en/news.php?mode=baca&info_id=2855 >

MYANMAR
Border trade zone with China to open before February. People’s Daily online, 17 January 2006.
Myanmar has announced that a trade zone, namely the Muse 105 Mile Zone, in Myanmar's border town of Muse linking China's Ruili in Yunnan province, would be opened before February. The border trade zone covers an area of 150 hectares. Myanmar has opened six border trade points with China, of which Muse stands as the one with greater trade transactions. The country plans to open more such points to further enhance bilateral trade with China.
Accessed on 18 January < http://english.people.com.cn/200601/17/eng20060117_235907.html >

PAKISTAN
Free trade regime between Pakistan and China from 1 January 2006. The Daily Times, 30 December 2005.
Pakistan and China have launched the free trade regime under the Early Harvest Programme (EHP) on 1 January 2006. More than 3,000 categories of products enjoy zero tariff. 486 categories of Chinese goods exported to Pakistan enjoy the zero-tariff treatment, mainly vegetables, fruit, stone materials, textile machinery and organic chemical products. Meanwhile, China gives zero-tariff status to 769 categories of goods imported from Pakistan, mainly vegetables, fruit, stone materials, cotton fabrics and man-made fabrics. For those products with lower tariffs, China cuts its tariffs by 27 per cent on 1,671 kinds of products from Pakistan, and Pakistan cuts tariffs by an average range of 22 per cent on 575 kinds of products from China.
Accessed on 4 January
< http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C12%5C30%5Cstory_30-12-2005_pg7_23 >

SINGAPORE
Singapore-India partnership foundation launched. New Kerala, 14 January 2006.
The Singapore-India Partnership Foundation (SIPF) was launched on 14 January 2006. The aim of SIPF is to strengthen the social, economic, political and cultural linkages between the two countries. The foundation will drive initiatives that promote study visits of influential people and opinion makers, while fellowships and awards will be given to outstanding individuals from various fields of the two countries.
Accessed on 16 January < http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=86525 >

Singapore plans trading and logistics platform to stay ahead of competition. Channel News Asia, 17 January 2006.
Singapore is planning to launch an e-procurement platform, TradeXchange, for shippers, importers and exporters. TradeXchange will be managed by Singapore Customs, the Info-Com Development Authority of Singapore and the Economic Development Board. Apart from procurement, the platform will provide users with a common marketplace to address other commercial needs as well as access to various regulatory systems. Users will also be able to link up to overseas cargo and warehousing systems. The project is expected to be implemented in October 2007.
Accessed on 18 January
< http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/188618/1/.html >

SOUTH ASIA FREE TRADE AREA
SAFTA comes into effect on time. Webindia 123, 1 January 2006.
The South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) came into effect on 1 January 2006, paving the way for free trade among the countries belonging to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Under the Trade Liberalization Programme, scheduled for completion by 2016, the customs duties on products from the region will be progressively reduced. However, under an early harvest programme for the Least Developed Member States, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are to bring down their customs duties to 0-5 per cent by 1 January 2009. The Least Developed Member States are expected to benefit from additional measures under the special and differential treatment accorded to them under the agreement.
Accessed on 4 January
< http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=207083&cat=Business >

VIET NAM
Viet Nam-United States WTO talks conclude. Viet Nam News Agency, 18 January 2006.
The ninth round of talks on Viet Nam's WTO accession took place in Ha Noi from 16 - 18 January. The talks focused on three major areas - services, taxes and multilateral matters. On taxes, the two sides considerably narrowed remaining differences in industrial taxes, agriculture taxes, goods and non-tariff barriers relating to trade. On services, they made marked progress in such sensitive areas as banking, insurance, and post and telecommunications, and also reached agreements on many other important fields. Multilateral matters, including State-owned enterprises and rights to business, distribution, law-making programmes and others, have also seen progresses.
Accessed on 19 January <http://www.vnagency.com.vn/NewsA.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2&CATEGORY_ID=30&NEWS_ID=183270>

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
World Trade Organization to review Bangladesh’s trade policies. News Today, 16 January 2006.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) will review Bangladesh’s import, export and overall trade policies in September 2006 to see whether these policies comply with international standards. The final review will take place on 11 September 2006 in Geneva under the WTO’s regular trade policy evaluation programme of the least developed countries, which takes place once every six years.
Accessed on 18 January < http://www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=1/16/2006#1795 >

MALAYSIA
Customs vows to combat under-declarations. Bernama, 13 January 2006.
Malaysian Customs has announced to strengthen the combat against under-declarations. The verification unit which handles the entry of goods into the country, will be expanded, adding more personnel in critical areas like the ports and airports in Selangor, Johor and Penang. The unit will not inspect goods at the entry points but instead it will scrutinize the documentary evidence. Furthermore, Customs’ investigating officers and the intelligence unit will be strengthened.
Accessed on 16 January < http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=175410 >

Duty waived on import of 81 items from Malaysia. Pakistan Times, 3 January 2006.
Pakistan has announced customs duty exemption on the import of 81 items and reduced the import duty to 5 per cent on import of 44 items from Malaysia under the Pakistan-Malaysia Early Harvest Programme (EHP) that took effect on 1 January 2006. The items included ornamental fish, carp sweet potatoes, palm nuts and kernels.
Accessed on 4 January
< http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006/01/03/story_3-1-2006_pg5_2 >

NEPAL
Nepal cuts tariff on 125 items. People’s Daily, 10 January 2006.
Effective from 14 January, Nepal has cut customs tariffs on about 125 third-country import items, including two-wheelers, electronic goods, television sets, musical equipment and power generating sets, among others.
Accessed on 11 January < http://english.people.com.cn/200601/10/eng20060110_234279.html >

PHILIPPINES
Palace cuts tariff on ASEAN petrochemicals to five per cent. INQ7, 20 January 2006.
The Philippines issued an executive order that lowers tariff rates on petrochemicals from Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to five per cent from the present seven to ten per cent. Duties are reduced on 41 tariff lines covering raw materials for plastic products and finished goods, such as polymers of ethylene, propylene or of other olefins, styrene and vinyl chloride or of other halogenated olefins. Also on the list are coverings of plastics for floors, walls and ceilings; plates, sheets, film, foil and strips of plastics, and plastic twine, cordage, ropes and cables.
Accessed on 20 January
< http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2006&mon=01&dd=20&file=2 >

PAKISTAN
Three more customs station at western border to be set up. The Daily Times, 11 January 2006.
The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has decided to establish three additional customs stations to facilitate trade with the neighboring countries. The first customs station will be set up at the border point 250 adjacent to Gobd and Kalato in the Kech district at Pakistan-Islamic Republic of Iran border. The second customs station will be established at Judhar border point 139 adjacent to Mushkhel in Kharan district at Pakistan-Islamic Republic of Iran border and the third customs station will be established at Gaznali in Noshki district at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Accessed on 11 January
<http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C01%5C11%5Cstory_11-1-2006_pg5_8>

Central Board of Revenue restructures customs wing to meet new challenges. The Daily Times, 19 January 2006.
The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has restructured its customs wing to meet international trade challenges as well as of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Customs Organization. A new section for the WTO has been established to study and analyze developments in WTO negotiations on trade in goods, trade in services, trade-related investment measures, government procurement and trade policy review.
Accessed on 19 January
<http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C01%5C19%5Cstory_19-1-2006_pg5_13>

REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Farm goods to receive special tariff protection. Joong Ang Daily, 31 December 2005.
Effective from 1 January 2006, the Republic of Korea has imposed emergency tariffs of over 1,000 per cent on a list of agricultural and poultry products if imports of the products exceed a specified amount. By 31 December 2005, 44 products had so far been designated, including ginseng, buckwheat, red beans and wheat powder. The special tariffs will apply until 31 December 2006. The tariffs have been devised to protect the local agricultural and poultry industries from abrupt increases in imports or a sudden drop in prices for imported products.
Accessed on 4 January
< http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200512/30/200512302043441709900090509051.html >

THAILAND
Anti-corruption measures for Customs Department. The Bangkok Post, 19 January 2006.
The Customs Department, which recurrently ranks among the most corrupt state agencies in the country, has launched a programme that will impose new fees on traders as part of an anti-corruption drive to eliminate the payment of “tea money” to expedite shipment processing. Exporters, now charged 200 baht per container, will see costs increased to 500 baht under the programme. In July, the Customs Department will move to fully electronic processing to further improve efficiency and cut opportunities for corruption.
Accessed on 19 January < http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/19Jan2006_biz38.php >

VIET NAM
Car importers to enjoy 10 per cent tax cut. Nhan Dan, 4 January 2006.
From early 2006, car importers in Viet Nam will be liable to pay an import tax rate of 90 per cent, down by 10 per cent from the current rate. The new tax rate will be applied to passenger cars of 10 seats upwards, sport cars, racing cars, 4 WD cars, diesel cars and internal combustion engine cars with cylinder capacity of 1,800-4,000 cc.
Accessed on 4 January
< http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/281205/business_3tin.htm >

Government passes tax free list for ICT products. Viet Nam News Agency, 17 January 2006.
The Government has approved in principal the Ministry of Finance’s list of information and communications technology (ICT) products and its roadmap for tariff reductions until 2010 under the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) trade agreement. 325 ICT products, including computers, printers, telephones, mobile phones, cameras, and digital media discs would be tax free. All of the listed products were given a preferential import tax rate of five per cent this year. A total of 228 products are to be given tax-free status in 2008, another 25 will be tariff exempted by 2009 and the remainder by the end of the decade. ASEAN countries signed a framework agreement in 2000 to improve the competitiveness of the regional ICT sector and narrow the digital-development gap through liberalisation of commerce, service and investment in the sector. As part of the agreement, ASEAN members pledged to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed on ICT products in three phases.
Accessed on 18 January
< http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=06BUS170106 >

CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES)
Unable to approve 2006 caviar quotas, CITES urges exporters. United Nations Press Release, 3 January 2006.
The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has announced that it is unable to approve the 2006 export quotas for caviar and other sturgeon products until exporting countries provide more information about the sustainability of their sturgeon catch. The 169 member countries of CITES have set strict conditions for permitting caviar exports. Countries sharing sturgeon stocks must agree amongst themselves on catch and export quotas based on scientific surveys of the stocks. The information recently provided by the sturgeon-exporting countries bordering the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea/lower Danube River, and the Heilongjiang/Amur River on the Sino-Russian border indicates that many of the sturgeon species in these shared-fishing grounds are suffering serious population declines.
Accessed on 11 January < http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/envdev879.doc.htm >

HONG KONG, CHINA
Controls for Hong Kong, China textile export to EU to take effect. China View, 6 January 2006.
Modified control arrangements for Hong Kong, China's textile exports to the European Union will take effect from 15 March 2006. Exports, including re-exports, will require either a consignment-specific export license or a textiles notification under the Textiles Trader Registration Scheme to cover each consignment. Cut-and-sewn garments will also be subject to the production notification requirement.
Accessed on 11 January
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/06/content_4019930.htm >

INDIA
India reduces base import price of edible oils. The Financial Express, 3 January 2006.
India reduced base import prices of palm and soybean oils in line with market prices on 2 January 2006. Of the approximately 11 million tonnes of edible oils India consumes per year, it buys nearly half in the form of palm oils from Malaysia and Indonesia and soft oils from Argentina and Brazil. The base import price of crude palm oil has been cut to US$ 417 a tonne from US$ 433, while that of crude soybean oil had been reduced to US$ 497 a tonne from US$ 510. India fixes base prices to calculate customs duties to prevent the loss of revenue due to under-invoicing by importers. Traders pay import duties on base values irrespective of the prices paid for the oil.
Accessed on 4 January < http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=113375 >

India exempted from import certification. Hindustan Times, 20 January 2006.
The United States Department of Commerce has announced the removal of the import certificate requirement with respect to India and six other nations in eastern Europe, namely Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The United States, in 2004, had made a commitment to review the import certificate requirement for India as a part of the United States-India High Technology Group discussions. In the course of the discussions about the barriers to high tech trade, the import certificate requirement was identified as a non-tariff barrier to expanded trade.
Accessed on 23 January < http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1603339,00050001.htm >

JAPAN
New United States beef import ban in Japan. BBC, 20 January 2006.
Japan announced that it will re-impose a total ban on US beef imports after a shipment contained carcass parts that could have posed a risk of BSE. In order to protect consumers from mad cow disease, Japan only accepts meat from cattle that is less than 21 months old and carcasses that have had their spinal cords, vertebrae, brains and bone marrow removed. The sudden re-imposition of the ban happened after a 390 kg shipment of meat from New York was found to have some of the banned material still attached. The United States said it would launch an investigation into how the problem occurred and planned to send a group of experts to Japan.
Accessed on 23 January 2006 < http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4631580.stm >

SINGAPORE
Singapore to Lift two-year ban on United States beef imports. Bloomberg, 17 January 2006.
Singapore, which suspended beef imports from the United States in December 2003 after a cow in Washington state tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) disease, stated that it will lift the ban “as soon as possible”. Singapore usually bans beef imports from countries affected by BSE for six years. The city-state will now take a “risk management approach” to allow beef imports from selected countries affected by the disease. After having completed a documentary and on-site review of the United States system for mitigation of risk, Singapore is now finalizing operational details on lifting the import ban on beef from the United States. Singapore is one of many Asian market that's lifting or considering dropping the ban on beef from the United States since December 2005, following similar decisions by Japan; Hong Kong, China; the Republic of Korea and Thailand.
Accessed on 18 January
< http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aCaWSOkmglxc&refer=asia >

SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka lifts ban on chick imports. Channel News Asia, 3 January 2006.
Sri Lanka has partially lifted a ban on poultry imports and allowed farmers to bring in one-day old chicks to maintain a steady supply of chicken and eggs. Sri Lanka slapped a ban on all poultry imports in October 2005 amid fears of a global bird flu pandemic.
Accessed on 4 January
< http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/186407/1/.html >

THAILAND
Thailand lifts import ban on United States beef. Bangkok Post, 4 January 2006.
Thailand has decided to lift its ban on beef imports from the United States. The lifting of the ban, imposed in 2003 after BSE fears in the United States last year, is on condition that authorities of the United States certify in writing that every shipment is free from BSE.
Accessed on 6 January < http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=70998 >

Thai Government asks refiners to cut oil imports. Chron.com, 17 January 2006.
The Government of Thailand has asked for cooperation from local oil refineries to reduce the country’s oil imports by 10 per cent this year to help the country's economy. Thailand imported 830,000 barrels of oil per day last year totaling 640 billion baht (US$ 16 billion). Local oil refineries have cooperated with the government to lower oil imports since last year. Imports fell from a peak of 1.29 million barrels per day in May to 760,000 barrels per day in November.
Accessed on 18 January < http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/3591831.html >

VIET NAM
Ban on processed poultry imports removed. Viet Nam Net, 4 January 2006.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand has instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to abolish the import ban on processed poultry products and to reconsider the ban of import on live fowls from countries free of avian influenza. Furthermore, he requested the Ministry of Finance to, in collaboration with MARD, submit a policy encouraging poultry breeders and processors to change to concentrated breeding and slaughtering modes.
Accessed on 6 January < http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2006/01/529094/ >

CAMBODIA
Cambodia opens public telecom enterprise to compete in open market. East Day, 6 January 2006.
Cambodia launched its first public enterprise on 5 January to provide oversee fixed telephone lines with the 023 prefix. The public enterprise - Telecom Cambodia - is funded by and staffed by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication and will be fully privatized by 2008. Telecom Cambodia will take 700 employees from the Ministry of Posts along with US$ 40.3 million in assets.
Accessed on 11 January
< http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/business/userobject1ai1773493.html >

Cambodia plans first nationwide broadband wireless infrastructure. Wireless IQ, 12 January 2006.
A Cambodian Internet service provider has announced that it will soon offer tiered and bundled packages of high-speed Internet access and other data applications, available via wireless system. The first phase of the project will focus on Phnom Penh before expanding to other major cities in Cambodia in 2006. The project aims to quickly establish a nationwide broadband infrastructure to meet the growing demand for broadband connectivity and innovative applications throughout Cambodia.
Accessed on 16 January < http://www.wirelessiq.info/content/topstories/1137.html >

COOK ISLANDS
Pearl Authority to be resurrected. Pacific Magazine, 16 January 2006.
The Cook Islands pearl industry is witnessing a comeback. The interim board of the Cook Islands Pearl Authority (CIPA) will appoint a chief executive soon, hoping to revive the defunct body from a decade ago. This follows a report that pearl exports increased by 84 per cent to $NZ 2.9 million in 2004-2005, confirming a steady recovery from the effects of an algae outbreak in early 2001 . CIPA was set up by the Government in 1994 to control and monitor the industry and help pearl farmers market their pearls. Funding was provided by the Asian Development Bank for an initial three-year period. In 1996 the body was expected to be self sufficient but it became redundant when it was no longer funded and because of opposition to it from the industry. Farmers, at the time, were suspicious of the CIPA and saw it as government interference within their industry.
Accessed on 19 January
< http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=19579 >

INDIA
Centre to bring in reforms in farm sector. Press Trust of India, 3 January 2006.
The Mister of Agriculture announced that the central Government would undertake reforms in the agriculture sector by amending relevant laws, including one to allow farmers to store their produce in warehouses and sell it at an opportune time. Until now, only the elite class if the agriculture sector had the privilege of storing their produce and choosing the best time for selling their produce.
Accessed on 4 January
<http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/$All/8FD6BAD8441253D3652570EB0048AF07?OpenDocument>

West Bengal Government reduces power tariff for agricultural sector. Economic Times, 13 January 2006.
Ahead of the assembly election in the West Bengal, the Government on 13 January announced reduction in power tariff for agricultural consumers from 60 per cent to about 25 per cent, with effect from 1 February 2006. Over 80 per cent small and marginal farmers will benefit from this decision. Earlier in January, hundreds of electricity consumers had lunched a hunger strike in protest against enhanced power tariffs, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Accessed on 16 January < http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1371646.cms >

NEPAL
India funds optic fiber network in Nepal. South Asian Media, 11 January 2006.
On 11 January 2006, the East West Optical Fiber Project, a cooperation between India and Nepal, formally came into operation. The optical fiber cable (OFC), laid along the 904-kilometer East-West highway, was built with the grant assistance of Rs 1.18 billion provided by India. The backbone of OFC, which runs from Bhadrapur in the East to Nepalgunj in the West, covers 79 stations on the route and connects 70 per cent of Nepal's population. Besides providing essential telecommunication links, the project is also expected to make significant contributions to the overall information technology development of the country.
Accessed on 11 January <http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=263126&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN>

SINGAPORE
Singapore to focus research and development on three areas in next 10 years. People’s Daily online, 4 January 2006.
Over the next 10 years, Singapore will focus its research and development (R&D) efforts on three areas, namely biomedical sciences; environmental and water technologies; and interactive and digital media. The National Research Foundation (NRF) will earmark an initial sum of S$ 5 billion (about US$ 3 billion) to fund R&D projects in these areas. NRF expects to double the number of jobs in these three areas to 80,000 and triple their annual value-added to the country 's economy from the present S$ 8.9 billion to S$ 27 billion by 2015. Moreover, NRF will identify five sectors in the next five years, which can grow well and help make the city-state's economy strong enough to deal with competition from India and China in 10 years.
Accessed on 16 January < http://english.people.com.cn/200601/04/eng20060104_232636.html >

SRI LANKA
Industrial Development Board invests in leather products and shoewear development centre. Daily News, 3 January 2006.
The Industrial Development Board (IDB) has invested Rs 5 million to set up a leather products and shoewear development centre. The project, an initiative of the national programme of the Ministry of Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion, is to create self-employment opportunities. The Ministry aims to train 100 unemployed as a first stage at the centre. It will facilitate them to start their own business under the guidance of the IDB.
Accessed on 4 January < http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/01/03/bus02.htm >

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
President of the United States of America to request US$ 52 million for Asia-Pacific Energy Partnership. Bureau of International Information Programmes, 12 January 2006.
The President of the United States will request US$ 52 million in his budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins on 1 October 2006 to support the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate (APP), an initiative that aims to promote clean energy technologies in the Asia-Pacific region and international cooperation in other energy areas. APP, which brings together government and business representatives from Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States, is committed to meeting energy needs and protecting the environment by combining the ingenuity of the private sector, the efficiency of markets and the strength of the public sector.
Accessed on 16 January < http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive/2006/Jan/13-786505.html >

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Russian Federation to build US$ 2.7 billion refinery and plant. AMEInfo, 9 January 2006.
Syria has signed a MoU with a Russian company for the construction of a US$ 2.7 billion refinery and petrochemical plant in Deir-ez-Zor. The project, to be completed in five years, will be built over a 650 hectare surface. The petrochemical plant will have an annual capacity of 1.6 billion tons of gasoline. The refinery will produce about 140,000 barrels of refined products daily. An estimated 2,500 jobs are expected to be created.
Accessed on 11 January < http://www.ameinfo.com/75393.html >

VIET NAM
Cambodia, Viet Nam, Thailand sign oil spill response pact. Than Hnien News, 13 January 2006.
Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam signed a framework for cooperation in tackling oil spills in the Gulf of Thailand. The tripartite oil spill contingency plan aims to improve the capacity of each country as well as the Gulf of Thailand region in preventing and responding to oil slicks. It is centered on sharing information, conducting research, outlining projects, training personnel and carrying out joint activities against oil spills when they occur.
Accessed on 16 January < http://www.thanhniennews.com/politics/?catid=1&newsid=11971 >

EURASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Eurasian Development Bank foundation agreement signed in Astana. Kazinform, 12 January 2006.
An agreement on foundation of the Eurasian Development Bank has been signed on 12 January as a part of the working visit of the President of the Russian Federation to Kazakhstan. The Eurasian Development Bank’s nominal capital will amount to one and a half billion dollars. Its headquarters will be in Almaty in Kazakhstan and a branch will be opened in St. Petersburg.
Accessed on 16 January < http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=139069 >

FRENCH POLYNESIA
Euro debate takes center stage in parliament. Pacific Magazine, 18 January 2006.
French Polynesia is debating on the introduction of the euro. French Polynesia has already engaged in a study to replace the old French pacific franc (CFP), which is often regarded as obsolete. The euro’s introduction, however, would require an endorsement of all three French Pacific dependencies (French Polynesia, but also New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna) that are still using the CFP. If this happens, then it is anticipated that the Euro could become the French Pacific’s currency by 2007. In recent months, EU and French monetary and financial experts have visited French Pacific to assess the feasibility and the possible timeframe of such a move. In the business sector, support for the euro has been strong in all three French Pacific countries and territories.
Accessed on 19 January
< http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=19654 >

HONG KONG, CHINA
Hong Kong, China offers new perks to woo foreign funds. Business Times, 10 January 2006.
Hong Kong, China has introduced three new incentives to make itself more attractive to foreign funds. The incentives include a plan to exempt foreign investors from paying capital-gain tax. Currently, profit tax is levied at 17.5 per cent. Hong Kong has also just recently abolished estate duty. Furthermore, a capital entrant programme was launched two years ago, where any foreigner who invests HK$ 6.5 million in property or portfolio will be able to get resident status.
Accessed on 11 January
< http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Tuesday/Corporate/20060110013028/Article/ >

INDONESIA
Indonesia, Malaysia agree to avoid double taxation. Antara, 13 January 2006.
Indonesia and Malaysia reached an agreement on 11 January on avoiding double taxation on individuals as well as on business companies. The two countries also agreed to cooperate in border control, business as well as investment in various sectors.
Accessed on 16 January < http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=8231 >

KYRGYZSTAN
ADB supporting banking and capital markets development in Kyrgyzstan. Asian Development Bank, 5 January 2006.
A US$ 15.5 million loan of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will support the development of the banking sector and capital markets of Kyrgyzstan. The project aims to enable the country's financial sector to effectively mobilize savings and provide alternative sources of funding for productive investment and job creation. In particular, the programme will help enforce banking legislation and regulation, close banking sector regulatory gaps and promote competition. It will also strengthen the supervision of the securities market to improve market transparency, protect investors and remove policy distortions. The loan comes from the concessional Asian Development Fund. It carries a 24-year term, including a grace period of 8 years, with interest charged at 1 per cent per annum during the grace period, and 1.5 per cent per annum thereafter.
Accessed on 6 January
< http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2006/9079_Kyrgyz_Republic_banking/default.asp >

LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Lao People’s Democratic Republic to expand small savings fund project to 47 poorest districts to help reduce poverty. VOA News, 3 January 2006.
After its success in Nasaythong, Vientiane, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic plans to expand the small savings fund project to the 47 poorest districts across the nation which are targeted in the national poverty eradication efforts. The small savings fund project was started by the Lao Women's Union with the help of Thailand's Community Development Institute, which has agreed to inject more fund into the project.
Accessed on 4 January < http://www.voanews.com/lao/laos-today.cfm >

MALAYSIA
Malaysia to initiate moves to attract more FDI. Business Times, 4 January 2006.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia will initiate various measures to attract more overseas companies to relocate their regional offices to Malaysia in 2006. Selected captains of industries and heads of companies from other countries will be invited to Malaysia while local teams will be sent to targeted companies in Singapore and Hong Kong, China to promote Malaysia as a regional base. The ministry will also introduce an Industry Leaders Programme, where selected leaders from targeted chambers of commerce and industry, industry associations as well as chief executive officers of selected companies will be invited as guests of the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority where they will be kept updated on investment opportunities in Malaysia. Moreover, to attract investments in new growth areas, the Government will offer pre-packaged incentives to targeted companies in areas like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, optoelectronics, nanotechnology, photonics and engineering supporting industries.
Accessed on 4 January
< http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Monday/Column/20060104021855/Article/ >

Sixteen banks to offer new trade finance products to SMEs. Bernama, 16 January 2006.
Sixteen banks in Malaysia offer Multi Currency Trade Finance (MCTF) and Indirect Exporter Financing Scheme (IEFS) under both conventional and Islamic financing to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from 16 January 2006. MCTF provides financing to Malaysian direct exporters in ringgit and major foreign currencies in the form of pre- and post-shipment financing. IEFS provides ringgit financing to indirect exporters without recourse, whereby the participating banks will discount their trade invoices arising from the supply of goods and services to direct exporters. The new trade finance products are introduced to encourage greater participation by SMEs in the export markets, especially in the non-traditional markets as well as trade with members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Accessed on 17 January < http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=175833 >

REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Foreign exchange liberalization to be quickened by two years. The Korea Times, 11 January 2006.
The Republic of Korea has decided to move up its original target date for fully liberalizing the local currency market by two years. The decision was reached amid fears that the heightened volatility of the won-United States dollar exchange rate would impair the international price competitiveness of the Republic of Korea’s exports. The proposed acceleration of the foreign exchange market liberalization schedule is forecast to help the Korean economy resolve the current structural problem of the Republic of Korea’s currency market, which is glutted with foreign exchange reserves, especially the United States dollar.
Accessed on 16 January < http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200601/kt2006011117285211880.htm >

VIET NAM
Viet Nam’s Ministry of Finance submits securities draft law. Yahoo News, 12 January 2006.
Viet Nam’s Ministry of Finance has submitted a final draft of the Law on Securities to the Government after amending it seven times to solve limitations on securities as well as the securities market. The ministry said the law will have clauses in accordance with international rules to regulate activities of domestic and foreign investors. However, foreign investors’ shareholding activity on Viet Nam’s securities market has not been stipulated specifically by the law. The content will be stipulated by Government regulations in accordance with Viet Nam’s integration process.
Accessed on 16 January < http://au.news.yahoo.com/060112/3/xk1t.html >

Local authorities to approve D 300 billion projects. Viet Nam Bridge, 16 January 2006.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) will further decentralize the approval of investment projects. Under the plan suggested by MPI, local departments of planning and investment are authorized to approve projects with total registered capital of up to D 300 billion. Examination will be carried out on projects of D 300 billion and higher, or projects named in the list of conditional fields of investment. Project examination would also be undertaken in a renewed way so as to arrive at final decisions sooner.
Accessed on 18 January < http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2006/01/533003/ >

Read the full report from China View:
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/17/content_4064330.htm >
Accessed on 18 January 2006

… Hong Kong, China’s offices are Asia-Pacific's most costly?
Hong Kong, China office space is Asia-Pacific's most expensive, followed by Tokyo and Seoul.

Read the full report from Channel News Asia:
< http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/186746/1/.html >
Accessed on 11 January 2006

… Singapore port handled a record of 23.2 million shipping containers in 2005?
2005 has been a record-breaking year for Singapore's maritime and shipping industry. Vessel arrivals reached 1.15 billion gross tonnes, crossing the one billion mark for the second time in history. The Singapore port also handled a record 23.2 million shipping containers.

Read the full report from Channel News Asia:
< http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/economicnews/view/187902/1/.html >
Accessed on 16 January 2006

… Viet Nam Customs loses U$31.5 million to tax fraud?
Customs agencies nation-wide reported losses of D 500 billion (US$ 31.5 million) since Viet Nam implemented the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Agreement in 2004.

Read the full report from Viet Nam News Agency:
< http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02ECO140106 >
Accessed on 16 January 2006

… Women constitute only six per cent of employment force in Indian medium and large scale industries?
Only six per cent of the total number of employees working in medium and large scale industries constitute women, with 18 per cent in medium and 4 per cent in large companies. The incidence of women employed at managerial levels of companies was just 16 per cent at junior levels, 4 per cent each at the middle and senior levels, and almost nil in organizational leadership positions.

Read the full report from One World South Asia:
< http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/125696/1/ >
Accessed on 17 January 2006

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