PM Lee urges Europe to build up stake in Asia
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged Europe to build up its own stake in Asia and share in the region’s prosperity as China and India continue to surge forward.
He also highlighted that there are opportunities beyond those two countries and ASEAN should not be overlooked.
Mr Lee added he hoped Singapore can have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) one day.
Mr Lee was speaking to 180 government and business leaders at the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During his speech, Mr Lee outlined the changes in Asia, and how Singapore responded to the new Asian landscape by stepping up investment in research and development as well as restructuring its economy.
More: channelnewsasia.com
Related Travel Information
Head to Asia but don't overlook ASEAN, PM Lee urges French businessmen
PARIS : Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged government and business leaders in Paris to head east and have a stake in Asia's promise and prosperity.
But he added that there were other options outside China and India, like ASEAN.
Mr Lee also met French President Jacques Chirac.
The two leaders discussed anti-terrorism efforts in Asia and Europe, and cooperation between the two countries.
Both of them expressed the desire to deepen ties.
Other issues on the agenda were efforts by ASEAN countries to enhance investor confidence
Ivanhoe to swap coal unit for stake in Asia Gold
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) will exchange its coal division in Mongolia with Asia Gold Corp. (ASG.V: Quote, Profile, Research) for a majority stake in the small explorer, Ivanhoe said on Wednesday.
Ivanhoe, currently with about a 47 percent stake in Asia Gold, will acquire 82.58 million common shares, which will boost its holding to 88.8 percent on a fully diluted basis.
As part of the transaction, Ivanhoe has agreed to extend an interim working line of credit to Asia Gold of up to $10 million. The deal is subject to
Africa: World Bank Study Urges Africa Trade With Asia
Africa should embrace growing trade relations between the continent and Asian giants China and India, the World Bank says.
In a new study, the Bank notes the growing Asian investment in Africa, saying it holds growth potential for the continent.
The study, Africas Silk Road: China and Indias New Economic Frontier, recommends an array of trade and investment reforms within and between these regions to deepen the growing South-South ties.
This new Silk Road potentially presents to sub-Saharan Africa -- home to 300 million of the globes poorest people -- a significant and rare opportunity
IKEA to Build Asia-Pacific Logistics Hub in China
(SinoCast Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)SHANGHAI, Mar 31, 2006 (SinoCast via COMTEX) --On March 28, IKEA Group of Sweden, the biggest furniture retailer in the world, declared to build its biggest Asia-Pacific logistics center in Fengxian district of Shanghai with a budgeted investment of over USD 120 million.
China has been the biggest procurement market of IKEA-the conglomerate of the furniture retailing industry. And the annual turnover of IKEA reaches 14.8 billion euros.
Official of IKEA (Asia-Pacific) Hu Dawei said that distribution and logistics are two vitals of furniture retail industry. This logistics distribution center will
Asia should build anti-corruption coalitions: WB
HANOI, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Asian countries should build wide anti-corruption coalitions with the participation of people from different social classes, an official of the World Bank (WB) said here on Friday.
The construction is quite necessary, especially in the countries which have poor management environment and serious corruption situation, WB director on charge of international relations, Vinay Bhargava, said at a meeting on introducing his book entitled "Challenging Corruption in Asia: Case Studies and a Framework for Action."
The book recommends Asian countries review the menu