Economic conditions
South Korea's vice agriculture minister, Park Hae-sang, has reassured the public that the decision to lift the country's import ban on U.S. beef is not linked to ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the United States. The move follows Seoul's announcement on
Economic conditions
Malaysia is tackling its acute labour shortage by expediting the issuance of visas and work permits for foreign skilled workers, particularly in new growth sectors such as agriculture, bio-technology, and Information Communication Technology (ICT). To facilitate public dealings with the Immigration Department, two new Federal Territory branches will be set
Economic conditions
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has launched an initiative to build an intellectual property right protection network in three years to support domestic enterprises' participation in the global market. The program aims to foster 300 notable brands and 1,000 large enterprises with international competitiveness by the
Economic conditions
Vietnam's service sector faces significant challenges as the country prepares to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), with experts warning of the potential loss of market share to foreign companies. However, a trade ministry official has downplayed these concerns, citing the country's commitment to open its
Economic conditions
The United Arab Emirates' President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a significant piece of legislation, the Consumer Protection Federal Law. This new law is designed to safeguard the rights of consumers in Abu Dhabi, ensuring they are treated fairly and justly in all transactions. According
Economic conditions
Central Bank governor Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi has predicted that inflation rates in the UAE could be significantly reduced in 2007, citing the expected decrease in rents due to a surge in the construction of new housing units. Despite high rents being a major contributor to current inflation rates,
Economic conditions
The World Bank has published a tender for the services of consultants to provide assistance in establishing a new autonomous agency, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), under the Competition Law and Policy Project. The project aims to set up a quasi-judicial body that will investigate, adjudicate, and analyze competition
Economic conditions
China's economic growth, which reached a decade-high of 11.3% in the second quarter, is expected to slow down slightly in the second half of the year due to the government's macroeconomic control measures, according to the World Bank. The bank's latest quarterly report
Economic conditions
As the South Korean economy shows signs of slowing down, the ruling Uri Party is pushing for an extension of tax incentives for smaller companies, research and development, and wage earners and farmers. This move is seen as a response to the government's plan to scale back or
Economic conditions
A group of US senators has sent a letter to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, urging him to resume imports of US beef, warning that failure to do so may lead to the abandonment of a proposed free trade agreement between the two countries. The senators argue that other Asian
Economic conditions
Malaysia has announced that from November, all foreign workers registered in the country will be required to carry workers' cards embedded with security features, including biometric fingerprint systems that cannot be forged. The new cards will be color-coded according to employment sectors, enabling workers to move around freely while
Economic conditions
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has urged Bangladesh to reassess its fuel price policy to reduce its dependence on public borrowing, which exacerbates inflation. At a press briefing, ADB country director Hua Du highlighted the steep margin between wholesale and retail prices of essential goods, causing immense hardship for ordinary
