Economic Cooperation Forum Held Despite Tensions in the South China Sea

Last week, the eighth Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum was held in Nanning, China, despite the heated state of Sino-Vietnamese relations following recent clashes in the South China Sea and resultant rioting in Vietnam.
Modis’ Election Triumph May Usher In a New Era for India

New Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose BJP party have won a majority in the Indian Parliament, may prove to be the right man in the right place to secure India’s development and provide the platform that could spark a cycle of growth over the coming years.
China to Fund Its Own Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

China’s Finance Minister, Lou Jiwei, has proposed the establishment of an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with available capital of USD$50 billion, mostly to be funded by China.
Tax Incentives and Concessions for Holding Companies in Singapore

Singapore offers a number of favorable tax incentive schemes and concessions aimed at attracting foreign investment. In this article, we outline the city-state’s one-tier corporate tax system and highlight the tax benefits a holding company can avail.
Singapore Set to Sign Off on FATCA

The United States and Singapore have reached a landmark agreement on tax information sharing this week that will see Singapore sign off on the United States’ Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), according to a U.S. Treasury Department spokesman.
China to Overtake the U.S. as World’s Largest Economy this Year

In a recently published study, the World Bank’s International Comparison Program (ICP) has predicted that the Chinese economy will likely overtake the U.S. by the end of 2014.
China Pushes for Asia-Pacific Free Trade Agreement

As challenges face TPP and RCEP negotiations, China has proposed a third option – the Free Trade Area of Asia Pacific.
Calls for Asia to Invest in More Bilateral Deals Rather than the TPP

The Asian Development Bank has suggested that the time spent on negotiating “mega” trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would be better spent consolidating more bilateral trade agreements.
Asia Region Funds Passport Receives New Stamp of Approval From Six Member States

On April 17 a consultation paper on the proposed Asia Region Funds Passport (ARFP) was issued by a group of six Asia-Pacific nations composed of Singapore, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand.
India Seeks Investment from Hong Kong for Infrastructure Development

In an effort to attract increased foreign funding for the country’s 12th five-year plan, India is stepping up efforts to court investors from Hong Kong and mainland China.