Economy & Trade

Apr. 22 – Scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) near Manila are currently in the process of perfecting a strain of salt-tolerant rice for wider field testing. The scientists have successfully bred a variety of rice that is salt-tolerant, which could enable farmers to reclaim coastal areas rendered useless by sea water and […]

By Sondre Ulvund Solstad Apr. 19 – Chinese companies increased their investments in Europe by as much as 21 percent in 2012, solidifying its position as the main destination of Chinese Outward Foreign Investment (ODI). In total, Europe was the recipient of US$12.6 billion of Chinese investment last year, which now represents approximately 33 percent […]

By Sondre Ulvund Solstad Apr. 12 – The ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) entered into force on March 29, 2012, aiming to create a free and open investment environment through the consolidation and expansion of existing agreements between the ASEAN member countries. In replacing its two precursors, the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and ASEAN Investment […]

Apr. 11 – Singapore-Myanmar economic ties were further bolstered this week thanks to the opening of International Enterprise (IE) Singapore’s Overseas Center in Yangon, Myanmar. The center opened during the Singapore-Myanmar Business Forum with support from the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). In […]

This is Part XIII of our ongoing Letters from America to Asia Series, featuring opinions and observations on America’s trade relations with China and emerging Asia from Chris Devonshire-Ellis. Apr. 10 – I’ve attended two prominent annual U.S.-Asia investment events this past week, namely the Hot Markets Watch in Cincinnati, and the Asia-Pacific Business Outlook […]

Apr. 9 – While Hong Kong has been on a double taxation agreement (DTA) signing spree in the past few years, Singapore is the Asian queen of DTAs, boasting 69 comprehensive DTAs, roughly triple that of Hong Kong. In 2011 alone, Hong Kong’s DTAs with Austria, Ireland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and […]

Apr. 4 – On March 26, the BRICS group of emerging nations (which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) passed the Cooperative Framework for BRICS in Trade and Investment (hereinafter referred to as the “Framework”) during the Third Economic and Trade Ministerial Meeting in Durban, South Africa. The Framework intends to promote […]

Apr. 3 – The European Union (EU) has been a key trade partner for many Asian countries over the last decade. This trend is likely to continue as over 90 percent of world demand is generated outside the EU, causing the organization to reach out and negotiate free trade agreements (FTAs) with key Asian countries. […]

Mar. 29 – The fifth annual BRICS summit concluded in Durban, South Africa, on Wednesday with the big news being the announcement of a BRICS development bank and a currency stabilizing mechanism. The leaders of the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – expressed their intent to sign an agreement to […]

China will house about 200 million people above 60 years in 2015, and workers coming to retirement age are expected to add an unprecedented 10 million retirees per annum to that figure. India, however, is poised to provide the vast bulk of the global labor pool. By 2020, the average Indian worker will be 29, while the average Chinese will be 37.