Asia News

Related Travel Information

US, Southeast Asia sign trade, liberalisation pact

US, Southeast Asia sign trade, liberalisation pact The United States and 10 Southeast Asian nations signed a trade and investment agreement on Friday that opens the door to possible free-trade talks. US trade representative Susan Schwab signed the trade and investment framework agreement in Malaysia with the 10 member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). The can-do spirit of the members of Asean reflects the can-do spirit we are so proud of in the United States, Schwab told reporters after signing the pact. The Tifa with Asean represents an important step forward in the trade relationship

S. Asia free trade agreement comes into force

S. Asia free trade agreement comes into force The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Wednesday announced the formal enforcement of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement with effect from Jan. 1, 2006, state run Radio Nepal reported Thursday. The agreement on SAFTA was signed in Islamabad during the 12th SAARC summit in January 2004, and all the member states have since completed all formalities including ratification, the radio quoted a press statement released by SAARC Secretariat as saying. The entry into force of the agreement thus launched the SAFTA,

Try people responsible for deal with Asia Energy

Try people responsible for deal with Asia Energy Awami League (AL) yesterday demanded trial of the people responsible for the agreement with the Asia Energy Corporation concerning Fulbaria coalmine development in 1994 during the BNP regime. Terming it an "imbalanced agreement" they said the BNP government has to take responsibility for the agreement. Addressing a press conference at the Dhanmondi AL office in the capital, the former planning minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir demanded that the energy adviser should say whether he would hold those including the then energy minister responsible. He urged the government to change, cancel or write the sections of the

PCB wants extra ODI as compensation for Asia cup postponement

PCB wants extra ODI as compensation for Asia cup postponement Lahore: After acceding to the BCCI's request to postpone the Asia Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) now expects, as a quid pro quo, India to play six one-dayers as against scheduled five when they arrive here next month. PCB chief Sharayar Khan has announced the postponement of the six-team Asia Cup, scheduled from February 16-18, citing the ''valid reasons'' put forward by the BCCI and said the tournament will be held later at a mutually convenient date. The BCCI sought the postponement to allow Indian players rejuvenate before the England series

Free trade agreement brings hope to southern Asia

Free trade agreement brings hope to southern Asia The landmark South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement, which holds the promise of boosting international commerce and trade in one of the world's poorest regions, officially came into effect yesterday. The free-trade pact is considered to be by far the most important decision taken by the seven-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) during its 20-year existence. Nearly 23 percent of the world's population lives in the SAARC region which is just three percent of the world's area. SAARC nations including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan initially agreed to the