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South-Southeast Asia trade pact likely by July

South-Southeast Asia trade pact likely by July Dhaka _ A free trade pact between seven South and Southeast Asia nations is likely to be in place by July 2006, according to Bangladesh's foreign minister. Ministers and senior officials from India, Nepal, Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Bangladesh have been meeting since Sunday in the Bangladeshi capital to review areas of co-operation within the group, known as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation, also known as Bimstec. ``We had a very successful and substantive meeting. You can term it as a turning point for Bimstec,'' Foreign Minister M.

India to launch South Asia free-trade pact

India to launch South Asia free-trade pact The Indian cabinet approved on Thursday the introduction of a pact with its neighbours from Jan. 1 to promote free trade and economic ties in South Asia, home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s population. Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said India would initially cut customs duties by five percent for goods imported from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal after the launch of the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement. Although some member countries are yet to ratify the pact, Indian officials said New Delhi would go ahead with implementing the agreement from Jan.

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

Malaysia is TRWs most important mart in S-E Asia

Malaysia is TRWs most important mart in S-E Asia US-BASED TRW Automotive, one of the worlds 10 largest automotive suppliers with US$13 billion (US$1 = RM3.64) revenue annually, says Malaysia is its most important market in South-East Asia. TRW sales and business development director Gordon Bennet said Malaysia generates about half of its revenue in the region. Our revenue in Asia Pacific is US$700 million (RM2.5 billion) and South-East Asia makes up about 10-12 per cent of this, he said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Showing its commitment here, Bennet said, TRW has made Malaysia its IT development centre for South-East Asia,

Roos enter Asia, with no players

Roos enter Asia, with no players The Socceroos have been left high and dry by a fixture that falls outside designated FIFA windows, in the middle of the A-League's playoff series and on a day Hiddink will be at reins of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. But indications from the Asia Football Confederation were not promising yesterday, with AFC communications director Clare Kenny saying: "We haven't received an official request from Australia to postpone the match but even if we do it's unlikely in a World Cup year there would be much scope to change the dates. "A final decision