Myanmar to Provide the Next Wave of Asia’s Domestic Helpers
Dec. 18 – Burmese Aiyees and Amahs are poised to be the next wave of new domestic helpers in Hong Kong after the Myanmar Consulate announced this week that it is now open to companies applying for Technical Employment Service Center Licenses. These licenses are required by employment agencies to import foreign workers, including maids. […]
Japan-ASEAN Meeting With China As A Looming Spectre
Dec. 13 – The Japan-ASEAN summit takes place today in Tokyo, with China – who is not attending – likely to be playing the role of the bogeyman at the meetings. China is involved with serious diplomatic and political tensions with both Japan and several ASEAN members, with the Philippines, Japan and Vietnam in particular very […]
Google Builds Presence in Asia as Internet Usage Soars
Dec. 13 – Asia’s internet market is now home to two state-of-the-art data centers operated by Google, the company’s first such centers in the region. The data centers, located in Taiwan and Singapore, were opened this week as the industry giant seeks to capitalize upon the region’s growing base of internet users. In total, Google […]
TPP Negotiations Conclude with No Deal in Sight
The latest round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations have concluded in Singapore this week with no deal in sight. Delegates, however, estimated that if everything goes smoothly at future talks, there may be a TPP deal by April of next year.
China Clarifies Corporate Income Tax Policies for Shanghai FTZ
Dec. 12 – China’s Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation jointly issued the “Circular on Corporate Income Tax Policies for Outbound Investment with Non-monetary Assets and Other Asset Restructuring Transactions by Enterprises in the China (Shanghai) Free Trade Zone (Caishui [2013] No. 91, hereinafter referred to as ‘Circular’)” on November 15, which […]
WikiLeaks Releases New TPP Documents
Dec. 10 – WikiLeaks released two new Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) documents last night that detail deep divisions and disagreements between negotiating states. The release of the two leaked documents comes as talks in Singapore intended to finalize TPP negotiations enter their fourth day. One document, containing excerpts from internal government commentary on the state of […]
WTO Delivers Historic Trade Deal
On Saturday, the World Trade Organization (WTO) successfully reached an agreement on streamlining customs procedures that is expected to boost global economic output by as much as US$1 trillion and create more than 21 million jobs worldwide.
Credit Outlook in Asia Pacific Remains Positive
Dec. 5 – A report released last week by Moody’s Investor Service entitled Asian Credit is Stable, Despite Strengthening Headwinds projects that the overall credit quality of sovereigns, corporations and financial institutions in Asia Pacific will be stable over the next 12 months. According to the report, telecommunications companies, property developers, utility companies and refiners […]
Vietnam Set to Increase Minimum Wages from December 31, 2013
Dec. 4 – The government last week passed a new decree that will increase minimum wages throughout Vietnam as of December 31, 2013, which will be effective for enterprises, co-operatives, household businesses, foreign companies and international organizations operating in the country. Replacing Decree 103/2012/ND-CP, the new Decree 182 will implement increases of up to VND2.7 […]
The Future of E-Commerce in Asia-Pacific
Dec. 3 – A recent report by Forrester Research Inc. predicts that business-to-consumer online retail sales (e-commerce) in the Asia-Pacific region’s five largest markets will soon surpass sales in North America and Europe combined. Most notably, e-commerce in China and India is expected to grow rapidly between 2014 and 2018. Forrester Research, an independent technology […]