Economy & Trade

The World Bank has forecast a greater GDP growth rate in South Asia for the next two years, provided that several countries in the region, particularly India, are able to maintain major structural reform. East Asia, meanwhile, is predicted to experience a slump in GDP growth.

South Korea is set to invest $US 56.86 million into developing Myanmar’s infrastructure, according to the Southeast Asian nation’s state-run media. Money is expected to be invested in the construction of new model villages, schools, power stations, and research and technology centers in a deal which may improve Myanmar’s future investment appeal.

This week, Malaysia and Indonesia became embroiled in a tax race-to-the-bottom on their international exports of crude palm oil (CPO). In an effort to maintain steady sales, both Southeast Asian nations are now lowering the tax on their CPO exports, and the rest of the world look set to take advantage.

DELHI – Indiens neuer Minister für Telekommunikation, Recht und Informatik, Ravi Shankar Prasad, verspricht die Förderung eines stabilen und transparenten Wirtschaftsklima für ausländische Investoren und deutet damit eine baldige Abschaffung des kontroversen, rückwirkenden Steuersystems an. Kurz nach seiner Amtseinführung vergangene Woche, gab Prasad folgende Erklärung ab: „Im Großen und Ganzen muss die Einführung rückwirkender Bestimmungen […]

In this issue of Asia Briefing, we forecast the effects of ASEAN Economic Community on foreign investment into the region in the lead up to 2015. Following this, we highlight what is happening in some of ASEAN’s hottest industries for investment, including electronics, information and communications technology, textiles and medical devices.

India and China have signed agreements aimed at strengthening their respective economies, with $US 20 billion to be invested into India’s infrastructure over the next five years. However, the amount is less than what was expected, and talks were overshadowed by a recent border dispute between the two Asian superpowers.

Australia and Singapore have this week signed an innovative memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see the mutual exchange of trade repository data, or OTC derivatives. The pact is the first of its kind, and aims to allow for a greater level of transparency in trade between the two counties.

DELHI – Am 26. Mai wurde Indiens frisch gewählter Premierminister Narendra Modi offiziell ins Amt eingeführt. Ihm zur Seite stehen seine 23 Unionskabinettminister und 22 Staatsminister. Unter Berücksichtigung seines Wahlversprechens „minimale Regierung und maximales Regieren“ hat Modi die Anzahl aller ministeriellen Posten stark gekürzt, indem er mehrere Ministerien zusammengelegt hat. Nach Aussage von Bloomberg ist […]

Hongkong – Hongkongs Minister für Handel und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung Gregory So hat jüngst betont, wie wichtig der schnelle Abschluss der Verhandlungen bezüglich eines Freihandelsabkommens zwischen Hongkong und ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ist. Nach Beratungstreffen mit den fünf größten Handelskammern Hongkongs ließ er verlauten, dass die Herausforderung für ein Abkommen in dessen rascher Ratifizierung […]

The Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) and Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) have announced plans to link their two respective markets. The deal follows a similar one signed by China and Hong Kong earlier this year, and is undoubtedly important for investors seeking alternative ways to penetrate the Chinese market.