Business Asia articles from March 2005

Business Asia archives from March 2005

Australia's achievers: Overseas Trading is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Trailblazer Awards 2005. We've selected 15 of Australia's top home-grown exporters--the companies who are leading the country's increasingly successful export drive.(2005 TRAILBLAZER AWARDS)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2005... Agribusiness MURRAY GOULBURN From small beginnings as a co-operative in 1950, Murray Goulburn has developed into a leader in the Australian dairy industry and a major player in global dairy trade. The same determination, drive and...

Austrade gears up for continued improvement in export values; Austrade's chief economist, Tim Harcourt has used an analogy to help Australia's general public understand exports, comparing the sector with the animation blockbuster 'The Incredibles'.(REPORT FROM AUSTRADE)
March 1, 2005... Tim Harcourt said exports contribute to community wealth and that's why every self-respecting market economist has exports on their radar screen this year and they're on the 'to do' list of every central banker and treasury official. "The...

Export infrastructure--the right approach to part of the problem.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
March 1, 2005... The report into the capacity of Australia's infrastructure to handle growing exports should now form the basis of a major Council of Australian Governments review into infrastructure generally, the Business Council of Australia said recently....

Bonding with the US: the SME solution: Australia's Free Trade Agreement with the United States (AUSFTA) has opened a wealth of new opportunities for business, but tapping into this vast export market presents unique challenges, particularly for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) exploring the exciting possibilities.(REPORT FROM EFIC)(small and medium enterprises)
March 1, 2005... The opening of the US Government Procurement market, estimated to be worth $200 billion annually, has been hailed widely as a potentially lucrative source of new business for Australian companies. The US is the largest purchaser of goods and...

EFIC and Westpac to explore new working capital product.(REPORT FROM EFIC)
March 1, 2005... The Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, has welcomed the establishment of an alliance between the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) and Westpac to explore the potential of a new financial product to assist small and medium-sized...

EFIC & NEXI co-operate in overseas projects; the export credit agencies of Australia and Japan have joined forces to assist exporters in securing overseas contracts where both countries are involved as suppliers.(REPORT FROM EFIC)(Japan's Export Credit Agency)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... EFIC signed a Reciprocal Reinsurance Agreement with Japan's Export Credit Agency (ECA), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI)in April 2005. The agreement is a framework for close cooperation between the two ECAs in providing...

L'Estrange and Chester join EFIC board.(Export Finance and Insurance Corporation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Micheal L'Estrange is Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Prior to his current appointment, L'Estrange served as Australia's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and was previously appointed by the Prime Minster...

Who's winning? The shape of global competition: we are delighted to bring this exclusive and special paper by the Australian Industry Group on Australia's export competitiveness with the rest of the world.(SPECIAL REPORT: AIG)
March 1, 2005... Australia's record current account deficit has raised attention about the nation's flagging export performance. Export volumes in the 1990s grew strongly (by 7.5 percent per annum), under the influence of a super-competitive low Australian...

Asia Pacific regionalism: Mark Vaile speaks out; Australian Trade Minister presented an executive paper on global trading and Asia Pacific regionalism in Santiago, Chile recently. Here is his presentation.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2005... "I'm very pleased to open this discussion on the global trading system. I am particularly pleased that I am able to share with you some positive observations about the WTO negotiations. Three years ago, a new round of trade negotiations was...

India--mystical no longer: Bob McMullan draws attention to what Australia should do.(FOCUS ON INDIA)
March 1, 2005... India remains the great untapped trade opportunity for Australia. I was involved in a Senate inquiry into Australian relations with India 15 years ago. We concluded then that Australia's relationship with India suffered from "benign neglect" or...

The market to watch: many people believe that the 21st century will be China's. China is already transforming the global economic landscape, yet it will not be alone. In India, there is an economy with a potential to match or even exceed China in the longer run.(FOCUS ON INDIA)
March 1, 2005... Under the stewardship of what Indians locally often refer to as the Dream Team--Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy head of the India Planning Commission--the country is in the...

China's provinces speak out; the Governor of Yunnan Province promotes investment to APEC heads: Yunnan--a piece of land with numerous business opportunities. Following are remarks by Mr Xu Rongkai, Governor of Yunnan Province, at the closing banquet of ABAC recently.(SPECIAL REPORT FROM ABAC: YUNNAN)
March 1, 2005... Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen and friends, the 2nd Session of ABAC 2005, convened in the Chinese capital city of Beijing, has concluded today. On this occasion, I recall a verse from a Chinese poem that goes to the effect that...

Climate for change: the PRC's accession to the World Trade Organisation provides many lessons for other developing countries.(CHINA: REFORM)
March 1, 2005... Developing a rule of law in the People's Republic of China (PRC) has been closely associated with the country's deepening economic reforms. The law has played an important role in promoting economic policy and openness, and this has helped...

Management challenges with banks in China: the pace of reform, sound corporate governance framework and management approach must take into account the environment in which the banks operate. The general health and sustainability of the economy requires more than just sound business acumen and political stability. The evolution of a strong and stable financial system is just as crucial.(CHINA: MANAGEMENT)
March 1, 2005... On many fronts, there is intense interest in banking in China. Chinese banks and the Chinese governments are focused on recapitalising certain large banks and executing restructuring plans to prepare for potential listing on domestic and...