World Bank: Singapore and Hong Kong Best for Business
Oct. 30 – Singapore and Hong Kong have ranked first and second in the World Bank’s “Doing Business 2014” report. These Asian financial centers have retained the highest rankings for the past eight years due to regulations that facilitate the “ease of doing business” for small and medium-size enterprises. The World Bank report analyzes regulatory […]
Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor Builds Steam
A renewed emphasis on regional cooperation was among the key issues discussed this week during Indian PM Singh’s visit to China. Both sides agreed to further dialogues on the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, a strategic economic partnership proposed by the long-standing BCIM Forum.
China and India Agree on Border Dispute Protocol
Bangladesh & Myanmar trade corridor between China & India also discussed Oct. 24 – China and India have agreed that in the event of any conflict along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) they will not revert to using force or threats, and will actively seek to prevent any form of armed conflict or unnecessary […]
EU’s Updated GSP to Impact Asian Exporters and Manufacturers
Oct. 24 – The European Union (EU), accounting for 20 percent of global imports and exports, plays a massive role in Asia’s markets. EU-India trade, for example, grew from €28.6 billion in 2003 to €79.9 billion in 2011. Furthermore, ASEAN as a whole represents the EU’s largest trading partner after the U.S. and China, with […]
Asian Development Bank Predicts Asia Energy Future
Oct. 16 – In its study of the energy outlook for the Asian region, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) created two possible future scenarios: business as usual (BAU) or the more positive “alternative case.” Specifically, the BAU case “reflects the impact of existing policies and current technology levels on future energy demand and energy choice, […]
Who in Asia Can Afford a U.S. Default?
Op-Ed Commentary: Chris Devonshire-Ellis Oct. 14 – As China becomes increasingly shrill in its condemnation of the prospect of a U.S. default, an interesting question begins to arise – which Asian economies could withstand such an event? Xinhua, China’s official government news agency, said that as American politicians continued to flounder over a deal to […]
China & Vietnam Make “Substantial Progress”
Oct. 14 – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, holding a press conference with Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Tan Dung, said that “the relationship between China and Vietnam has made substantial progress.” He further noted that the two sides have “made a breakthrough in bilateral cooperation” after pledging to set up three joint work groups to advance maritime, […]
China Ramps Up Trade With Thailand
Rice, Rubber & Railways Oct. 14 – Following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Indonesia and Malaysia a week ago, Prime Minister Li Keqiang now gets the job of promoting Chinese interests in Asia with visits to Thailand and Vietnam. In Thailand, China has agreed to boost bilateral trade through a deal to increase its […]
HSBC Infrastructure Report: Asia Will Boom
China, India, Malaysia & Vietnam All Big Users, U.S. Manufacturers Big Winners Oct. 11 – According to the recently released HSBC Global Connections Trade Report, emerging markets are expected to be the cause of a surge in infrastructure trade. The report analyzed 23 countries and anticipates infrastructure-related trade to increase by an average of 9 […]
Despite Slowing Growth, Asia Remains a “Global Growth Leader”
Oct. 11 – Growth in the Pacific and East Asia is expected to average 7.1 percent in 2013, a small decline from last year’s growth rate of 7.5 percent, according to a report released this week by the World Bank. Despite this decline, however, the region remains the “global growth leader” and will account for […]