China Imposes Bans on Tourist Shopping
China clamps down on tourists defacing monuments and the practice of obtaining shopping kickbacks Oct. 3 – China has issued several new laws that will impact upon its domestic tourists in a step to decrease the amount of unruly behavior both at home and overseas. One of the new regulations includes a ban on tours […]
China 43rd in Global Human Capital Index
Developed ASEAN Nations Fare Well In Scoring Oct. 3 – The World Economic Forum has released a new global Human Capital Index that measures a country’s ability to make the most of its workers. The report states that “the key for the future of any country and any institution lies in the talent, skills and […]
China to Allow Greater Tolerance of “Traditional Faiths”
Oct. 1 – According to sources closely tied to the government, Chinese President Xi Jinping is concerned with his countries moral decline and obsession with money, and has been further promoting China’s three traditional faiths – Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism – in the hope that they can counter societal corruption. The sources have told Reuters […]
Selling to China & India’s Middle Class – It’s a Vietnam Manufacturing Play
China is no longer the powerhouse of manufacturing that is once was. The reasons for this shift and the growing importance of Vietnam and India are examined in this article.
The Pan-Asia Indicator
Chris Devonshire-Ellis, founding partner of Dezan Shira & Associates, has spent close to 30 years in Asia and travels extensively around the region looking at where the new opportunities for foreign investments lie. Here is his annual quick round up concerning Asian nations and their immediate opportunities and problems.
Singapore Tightens Employment Rules for Foreigners
Sept. 24 – The Singapore government today announced rules that will require companies operating in the country to consider Singaporeans for skilled job vacancies before turning to candidates from abroad. Commencing August 2014, firms with more than 25 employees must advertise a vacancy for professional or managerial jobs paying less than S$12,000 (US$9,605) a month […]
Singapore and the EU Finalize Free Trade Agreement Draft
Singapore and the European Union (EU) have finalized the draft for their free trade agreement, the first such agreement between the EU and any Southeast Asian nation. The agreement seeks to increase market access between the two nations by liberalizing trade through the removal of tariff and technical barriers.
Sri Lanka Reopens Northern Rail Line After 23 Years
Sept. 18 – Sri Lanka has reopened its Northern “Yal Devi” rail line for the first time in 23 years in the aftermath of the civil war with the Tamil Tigers. With the line rebuild costing some US$185 million, the route once again opens up routes to Jaffna and the adjacent cities and towns, as […]
Establishing a Trading Company in India
By Dezan Shira & Associates, Delhi Office Sept. 17 – India is fast emerging as a global trade dynamo with its vast natural resources and huge supply of skilled labor. Undertaking considerable industrial deregulation and other structural reforms, regulators in India recognizes that strong exports are critical for overall economic growth and poverty reduction. As […]
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Meets in Kyrgyzstan
Sept. 16 – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held its annual summit in Kyrgyzstan last Friday to discuss issues such as how to boost economic cooperation and combat terrorism. The members of the SCO are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In addition to its current members, the SCO also has a number of observer […]