Business Asia articles from March 2002

Business Asia archives from March 2002

Learning the wrong lesson. (Frontline).(Joseph P. Estrada, ex-Philippine president)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... IT'S BEEN JUST 13 months since mass protests and impeachment drove ex-Philippine president Joseph Estrada from office. The episode reminded Filipino voters why they doubt their government; investors were reminded why many steer clear of the...

Slowing outlook. (Update: the latest trends and controversies).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... IN WHAT COULD be bad news for other Asian economies, China's economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter, and the Government said it expects a "grim" global economic environment this year. The Chinese economy expanded 6.6 per cent in the last...

Asia Fact File. (Update: the latest trends and controversies).(population, age groups)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... ASIA FACT FILE Population breakdown In this Fact File, we break down Asia's populations via age groups. 0-14 yrs 15-64 yrs 65 yrs+ (%) (%) (%) Australia 20.64 ...

Word of mouth. (Update: the latest trends and controversies).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... "In 1975, everybody wore the same clothes. Now people pick their own clothes." US PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH'S RESPONSE WHEN ASKED BY STUDENTS DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO CHINA WHAT THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE WAS FROM WHEN HE FIRST VISITED IN...

Go figure: following are some significant numbers or statistics relating to Asia-Pacific nations</p>. (Update: the latest trends and controversies).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... 60 The number of illegal banks China has closed in the Guangdong province in the last 14 months. 5.4 Taiwan's unemployment rate (in percentage) in January. It was the first time in 16 months that the rate did not rise. 21.7 The amount...

Winners. (Stop Press).(Rafael Buenaventura, Central Bank, Philippines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Rafael Buenaventura, head of the Philippine's Central Bank, is finally seeing the fruits of his long labour. It's been a busy time for Buenaventura -- he's cut interest rates 18 times since December 2000, that's more than the US Federal...

Losers. (Stop Press).(McDonald's Corp,, Beijing, China)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... McDonald's Corp, which has run fast-food outlets in China for 12 years, will remove its signature golden arches from 30 of 81 outlets in Beijing after city officials called the advertising "unsuitable". Beijing's Government wants to remove...

Keep an eye on. (Stop Press).(General Motors Corp., Suzuki Motor Company Ltd.; new vehicle)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... General Motor's first new vehicle built in Japan in 70 years is proving to be a flop. Even dealerships in busy locations are only showcasing the sporty compact in stints since it went on sale in November. The first fruit of the General...

Taking the lead; China, South Korea and Australia: the top three economies in Asia. (Cover Story).(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... A DIVERSIFIED AND REFORMED South Korea, a stable and robust Australia, and the growing giant China, will be Asia's leading economies for 2002, economists predict. China, South Korea and Australia are expected to power ahead and, unlike...

Going for growth: Beattie talks trade; Queensland continues to be one of the country's leading export States, with export growth of 15 per cent in the last year. Business Asia asked Premier Peter Beattie what his trade priorities are for the Sunshine State in 2002. (Queensland).
March 1, 2002... Q: What key area will the State be focussing on in terms of trade for 2002? The key area for Queensland is an increase in the State's engagement with overseas markets, and the creation of jobs at home through a healthy export sector. ...

TradeCoast notches up wins. (Queensland).(Australia TradeCoast)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Australia TradeCoast's (ATC) wide scale promotions locally and internationally are paying off, with more than 7600 businesses now in the ATC area. ATC was formed four years ago out of an alliance between the Department of State...

Beattie praises Award winners; Queensland Premier Peter Beattie comments on his State's success both at the local and national level of Export Awards. (Queensland).
March 1, 2002... THE PREMIER of Queensland's Export Awards are a highly visible and tangible recognition of the effort, innovation and sheer determination of the State's top exporters. The Awards also promote awareness in the community of the importance of...

APC's higher profile. (Queensland).(Australian Premium Coals Proprietary Ltd., Australian Export Awards FreightCorp Mineral Award)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Last year's winner of the Australian Export Awards FreightCorp Mineral Award, Australian Premium Coals (APC), says the honour has reinforced relationships, lifted the company profile and provided recognition of the efforts put into making the...

Award nominations to open in May. (Australian Export Awards).
March 1, 2002... THE RACE for the 2002 Australian Export Awards will begin in earnest soon, with applications for export businesses opening in May. Companies interested in entering this year's Awards must first apply to their relevant State/Territory Export...

ABC beams into Asia. (Media).(ABC Asia Pacific)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BECOMING A significant regional broadcaster and raising revenue will be the key goals of ABC Asia Pacific. The new television service, beaming an extensive range of programming into Asia Pacific homes, was officially launched by the...

Finalists to be announced soon. (2002 Best Business Hotels In Asia Awards).
March 1, 2002... THE FINALISTS for the 2002 Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards will soon be announced, with the event judges meeting later this month. The judges will go over the many nominations received from hotels around the region eager to be involved...

Macau's new casino kings. (2002 Best Business Hotels In Asia Awards).(Steve Wynn, Sheldon Adelson)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... MACAU, THE FORMER Portuguese colony near Hong Kong, has opened the doors of its US$2 billion ($3.9 billion) casino industry to Las Vegas billionaires Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson, ending the four-decade monopoly of local tycoon Stanley Ho and...

Macau -- China will convert a never-completed Soviet-era Ukrainian aircraft carrier for use as a floating hotel in Macau after the end of a long delay in Turkey, the China-owned Hong Kong Commercial Daily reported.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Macau -- China will convert a never-completed Soviet-era Ukrainian aircraft carrier for use as a floating hotel in Macau after the end of a long delay in Turkey, the China-owned Hong Kong Commercial Daily reported. The carrier Varyag, now in...

Hong Kong -- Mandarin Oriental International Ltd's profit last year fell a greater-than-expected 76 per cent because fewer people stayed at the Hong Kong-based company's hotels as the world economy slowed and concern about terrorism hurt travel.
March 1, 2002... * Hong Kong -- Mandarin Oriental International Ltd's profit last year fell a greater-than-expected 76 per cent because fewer people stayed at the Hong Kong-based company's hotels as the world economy slowed and concern about terrorism hurt...

Beijing -- Hilton HHonors, one of the world's leading guest reward programs, has added Air China, the national carrier for the People's Republic of China, to the program's family of travel partners.(Hilton Hotels Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Beijing -- Hilton HHonors, one of the world's leading guest reward programs, has added Air China, the national carrier for the People's Republic of China, to the program's family of travel partners. Travellers may now earn 800 Air China...

Bangkok -- Thai Airways International Pcl, this year's second-best performer among Asian airlines, said passenger ticket sales may rise at least four per cent this quarter as rising demand prompted the carrier to provide extra flights.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Bangkok -- Thai Airways International Pcl, this year's second-best performer among Asian airlines, said passenger ticket sales may rise at least four per cent this quarter as rising demand prompted the carrier to provide extra flights. Thai...

Freighters float despite tough times; supply chains around the world are feeling the strain of the economic downturn, but Australian freight forwarders, logistics companies and express services are battling on relatively unscathed. (Overseas Trading).(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2002... THE FACT that Australia has a healthy balance of goods and services produced for export rather than relying on a particular sector has allowed the country to continue growing despite the surrounding decline, according to Peter Yin, FedEx...

Owens ups Australian presence. (Freight Forwarding).(Owens Global Logistics opens cold storage facility at Melboune's Tullamarine Airport)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... OWENS GLOBAL Logistics has opened a new terminal at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport -- a move which deepens the New Zealand-based company's penetration across the Tasman. CEO of the Owens Group David Ritchie said while customers could be...

Privatisation to push toll's growth. (Freight Forwarding).(transport operator Toll Holdings)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST transport operator Toll Holdings recently announced a 52 per cent increase in earnings before interest and tax for the last six months of 2001. The announcement, made in February, follows hot on the heels of the...

China 100 days young as a WTO member. (Taurus).(World Trade Organisation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... LATE LAST YEAR at Doha, Qatar, at the Ministerial Plenary meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), China was readmitted to the WTO along with Chinese Taipei. Hong Kong-China has always been a member of the WTO and, of course, many years...