Business Asia articles from October 2003

Business Asia archives from October 2003

The Asian currency question.(Frontline)(Column)
October 1, 2003... An extraordinary thing is happening in economies around Asia: currencies are rising and governments are letting it happen. It's not clear the tolerance will last--in fact, history suggests it won't. Japan alone, for example, has spent at...

US and Japan boost Asia's hopes.(Update)
October 1, 2003... Asia's economies may rebound this year as the US and Japan recover from their doldrums, latest figures show. The US economy grew at a 3.3 per cent annual rate from April through June, the most since last year's third quarter and more than...

Tourism rise.(Asia Fact File)(Illustration)
October 1, 2003... Singapore's tourism sector was hard hit by SARS earlier this year, but things seem to improving. Here are the latest figures for tourists visiting the city state. August 2003 Arrivals YoY% Total 601,819 -10.4...

India.(Update)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... India's Central Bank Governor Y V Reddy leas reiterated that reducing the country's fiscal deficit remained a "challenge" for Asia's third-biggest economy. The Government's recently proposed act to rein in Government spending "is a step in...

Indonesia.(Update)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Indonesia may raise telephone charges before the end of the year to make its telco industry more attractive to overseas investors, a senior government official said. If rates aren't raised this year, the Government may wait until after July's...

Japan.(Update)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Japan and South Korea are in the final stages of preparations for talks on a free-trade agreement, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun may agree to proceed with...

Philippines.(Update)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Philippine Central Bank has cut its 2003 export growth forecast, despite imports--an indicator of future overseas sales--showing signs of picking up. Central Bank Governor Rafael Buenaventura said exports this year would probably rise three...

Singapore.(Update)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Singapore and Australia have signed an agreement to lift restrictions on he number of flights Singapore Airlines and Qantas can operate between the two countries, which allows them to pick up passengers at other ports enroute. The airlines will...

Taiwan.(Update)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Taiwan's export orders rose more than a 10th for a third straight month in August, buoyed by sales in laptop computers, flat-panel displays and cell phones consumers in China and the US--the island's top two overseas markets. Orders rose 11 per...

Vietnam.(Update)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Vietnam is preparing a new offer to make faster progress toward its 2005 target for entry into the World Trade Organisation, the Foreign Ministry said after WTO members said the country's previous terms weren't good enough. Foreign Ministry...

Forces in finance: what the region's leading treasury and finance ministers are doing to prevent another crisis.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2003... While security and terrorism are sure to be the hot topics at the annual meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders in Bangkok later this month, there is another issue that the region's businesses will be hoping receives...

Asia's leaders in style and luxury: the 2003 Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards: after months of voting, business travellers from across the region have had their say on which are the best hotels in Asia.(2003 Best Business Hotels In Asia Awards)(Grand Hyatt group)(Industry Overview)
October 1, 2003... The Grand Hyatt Shanghai has been crowned the Best Business Hotel in Asia for 2003, ending the impressive two year reign of city compatriot the Portman Ritz-Carlton. The Grand Hyatt Shanghai also won the title of Best Business Hotel in...

The Westin Shanghai--modern luxury at the bund.(Advertorial)(Company Profile)
October 1, 2003... A breathtaking three-tiered cantilevered gloss staircase, striking artwork, lush greenery and an airy spaciousness bathed in natural light, provide a welcoming ambience at The Westin Shanghai. Opened in October 2002, it is one of the city's...

2003 Best Business Hotels in Asia awards.
October 1, 2003... OVERALL BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN ASIA BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN CHINA WINNER: GRAND HYATT, SHANGHAI THE NEWS Grand Hyatt Shanghai general manager Edward Tai says the future is bright for his hotel, thanks to a pick up in the global...

Korean film industry takes on Hollywood: in the second of a series of articles focusing on South Korea, Sarah Hill * looks at South Korea's film industry and its right to stave off Hollywood dominance.(South Korea In Focus)(Industry Overview)
October 1, 2003... Negotiations over a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between South Korea and the United States have halted whilst South Korea debates whether to scrap its controversial screen quota policy. For five years now, the film industry in South...

Opportunities and risk in complex region: while Asia Pacific is outgrowing most other regions in the world and offers many opportunities for exporters, the region is also faced with high risk.(Overseas Trading)
October 1, 2003... It's quite a complex story to tell about Asia," Donnelly said. "There are some overall regional drivers, but there are a lot of individual country risks as well to come to grips with." Donnelly says exporters face a different set oil risks...

Market more competitive: DHL.(Freight Forwarding)(Industry Overview)
October 1, 2003... The global freight forwarding industry has undergone rapid change, thanks to the consolidation of major players, technological innovation and an increasing trend towards outsourcing. Gary Edstein, area director Oceania for DHL Express, said...

FedEx may move Asia hub from Subic Bay.(Freight Forwarding)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Fedex said it may move its main Asian hub to Guangzhou, China or to a former US Air Force base in the Philippines, from its eight-year-old facility in the South-East Asian country. Last month, FedEx signed an agreement with the Guangzhou...

Thailand boost as exports surge.(Export Opportunities)
October 1, 2003... Thailand is fast positioning itself as the stand out economy in South-East Asia, thanks to a boost in domestic consumption and a strong performance in exports. Today, Thailand's economic growth is only second to that of China, and the...

What now after Cancun?(Comment)
October 1, 2003... Recent events at the WTO meetings in Cancun were disappointing. Negotiations stalled over the "Singapore issues" (trade and investment, competition policy, standards and the like) and most of the trade ministers left empty handed. There were...

Mitsubishi wants No1 exporter title.(Comment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Mitsubishi Australia has its eyes firmly set on becoming the number one car exporter in the country, following a $1 billion investment boost from its parent company in Japan. The project will see two new models released in the next four...