Economic conditions
China's Vice Minister of Finance, Zhu Zhigang, announced the government's consideration of offering preferential tax policies to support small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) with low profit margins. SMEs create a significant number of employment opportunities and drive innovation, but face challenges in capital and information. The
Economic conditions
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party is struggling to agree on the length of time it will take to lower the maximum interest rate on consumer loans and the exceptions that will permit rates above the cap. The party aims to lower the maximum rate to 15-20% by abolishing the
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
Health care industry
The Taiwanese government has announced plans to ban the live poultry trade and slaughter in traditional markets around the country, starting from April 2008, in a bid to prevent avian flu outbreaks. The ban will give those involved in the live poultry trade and slaughter a six-month grace period to
Health care industry
The Australian Beverages Council has unveiled new guidelines, signed off by almost all major soft drink manufacturers, to reduce sugar-sweetened drink sales to primary schools and limit direct marketing to children. The measures include a ban on selling such drinks in primary school canteens and a prohibition on advertising them
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
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
