MPR faction plans investment forum<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: In a bid to boost investment in the country, the
\nRegional Representative Faction of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) in collaboration with the association of local
\ngovernments in Indonesia is scheduled to hold a regional
\ninvestment forum in Jakarta from July 2 to July 4.<\/p>\n
Faction deputy chairman Bambang Soeroso said the Indonesian
\nInternational Regional Investment Forum 2003 was aimed at
\naccelerating regional investment in conjunction with global
\neconomic competition.<\/p>\n
\"This forum will act as means to promote the economic
\npotential of regencies and municipalities to both foreign and
\ndomestic investors,\" he told reporters at a press briefing on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Bambang said that despite the fact that 2003 had been declared
\nby the government as the year of investment, there was little to
\nindicate that investment had been flowing into the country.<\/p>\n
The organizing committee had registered 100 regencies and more
\nthan 30 private investors to take part in the forum.
\nInternational lending institutions such as the Asian Development
\nBank (ADB) and the Islamic Development Bank had also agreed to
\nparticipate. -- JP<\/p>\n
;Agencies;
\nANPAf..r..
\nMoneyMatter-China-Thailand-tariff-pact
\nChina, Thailand sign tariff pact
\nJP\/16\/Money<\/p>\n
China, Thailand sign tariff pact<\/p>\n
BEIJING: China and Thailand have accelerated the establishment
\nof a Sino-ASEAN free trade zone by offering mutual tariff-free
\ntreatment on 188 agricultural products, state press said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
They include 108 edible vegetables and 80 edible fruits and
\nnuts.<\/p>\n
The zero tariffs will take affect from October 1, according to
\na Sino-Thai agreement signed here Wednesday by Chinese Minister
\nof Commerce Lu Fuyuan and Thai counterpart Adisai Bhotharamik,
\nthe Xinhua news agency said.<\/p>\n
The exemptions were drawn up under the Framework Agreement on
\nComprehensive Economic Cooperation between China and the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations.<\/p>\n
China exported US$8.47 million worth of vegetables and $13.72
\nmillion worth of fruits to Thailand in 2002,<\/p>\n
Its imports of vegetables and fruits from Thailand hit $114
\nmillion and $70.55 million respectively last year. -- AFP<\/p>\n
;Agencies;
\nANPAf..r..
\nMoneyMatter-Mideast-WTO
\nMideast countries to join WTO
\nJP\/16\/Money<\/p>\n
Mideast countries to join WTO<\/p>\n
MANILA: Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are opening up
\nto tourism by seeking to join the World Tourism Organization, the
\ngroup said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Francesco Friangelli, secretary-general of the tourism
\nindustry body, told a regional meeting that the four Middle
\nEastern countries, along with Bhutan and Bermuda, had \"indicated
\ntheir desire to join or rejoin\" the organization.<\/p>\n
He said it might seem unusual that oil-rich countries \"with no
\nproblems with balance of payments\" would be turning to tourism.<\/p>\n
But these moves showed that these countries were \"thinking in
\nthe long-term,\" in creating new jobs for their nationals and
\ntrying to diversify their economies which are dependent on oil
\nexports.<\/p>\n
Friangelli, in the Philippines for a tourism conference, said
\nhe was expecting word soon that Oman was also willing, adding
\nthat even Libya and Iran were now preparing tourism master plans.<\/p>\n
Because of the expected entry of so many Arab countries, the
\nWorld Tourism Organization was \"now in the position to introduce
\nthe Arabic language\" in its operations. -- AFP<\/p>\n
;Agencies;
\nANPAf..r..
\nMoneyMatter-IMF-loan-Pakistan
\nIMF clears $123m loan for Pakistan
\nJP\/16\/Money<\/p>\n
IMF clears $123m loan for Pakistan<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) unlocked a
\nUS$123-million chunk of a five-year loan program for Pakistan on
\nWednesday after reviewing its economy.<\/p>\n
The decision brought total loans disbursed so far under a
\nfive-year, $1.47-billion assistance program to $738 million.<\/p>\n
IMF directors granted a waiver for Pakistan's failure to
\nprepare a revised financial restructuring plan for the Water and
\nPower Development Authority by April 15.<\/p>\n
The money was extended under special low-interest terms for
\npoor countries.<\/p>\n
\"The Fund commends the authorities for Pakistan's strong
\nmacroeconomic performance, in a context of global economic
\nweaknesses and a difficult regional security environment,\" IMF
\ndeputy managing director Eduardo Aninat said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\"Most structural reforms planned through April were broadly on
\ntrack except for limited progress on privatization owing largely
\nto regional security concerns that resulted in a lack of investor
\ninterest, and for setbacks in energy sector reforms.\" -- AFP<\/p>\n
;Agencies;
\nANPAf..r..
\nMoneyMatter-Iraqi-oil-export
\nIraqi oil exports to start Sunday
\nJP\/16\/Money<\/p>\n
Iraqi oil exports to start Sunday<\/p>\n
BAGHDAD: Iraq will resume exporting oil from Sunday, the head
\nof the State Oil Marketing Organization Mohammed al-Juburi told
\nAFP on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"Loading Iraqi petrol stocks from the Turkish terminal of
\nCeyhan on the Mediterranean Sea will begin on Sunday, when
\npumping will also begin,\" the official said.<\/p>\n
The shipments will be taken from stocks of some eight million
\nbarrels of Kirkuk crude from the northern fields at the Turkish
\nterminal of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean, and two million barrels
\nof Basra Light lifted in the south. -- AFP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-faction-plans-investment-forum-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}