Taiwan's business sophistication ranks second in Asia:-
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Taiwan has been ranked second in Asia in business sophistication, enhancing the country's productivity and competitiveness, the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) said Saturday, citing a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF). more...

The Orissa government has urged the Centre to write off the cooperative loans pending against the weavers :-
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The Orissa government has urged the Centre to write off the cooperative loans pending against the weavers in the state on the lines of the loan waiver scheme for the farmers.

Loans worth Rs 285 crore, extended by different weavers' cooperative societies, are pending for recovery in the state. more...

Mega projects approved for boom in export industries:-
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The Punjab government has approved several mega industrial development-oriented projects for bringing boom in export industries of Sialkot, on the special direction of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. PML-N Central Leader & MNA Khawaja Muhammad Asif disclosed this while talking to local traders, industrialists and exporters at Sialkot here. more...

Energy savings in ICT sector could help firms to go green :-
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Businesses around the world have been ramping up their efforts to go green. Experts said on Wednesday one aspect of their operations, which could offer major energy savings, is the information communications technology sector.  more...

Oil & Gas Industry :-
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The improving economic scene, both here in the U.S. as well as worldwide, is the main driver of the current oil rally that has seen the commodity settling around the $80 per barrel level. But high levels of product inventories (particularly gasoline), along with still higher supplies, will limit any sustained crude gains, in our view. But way too many factors weigh on oil prices, from OPEC decisions and geostrategic tensions to the value of the U.S. dollar and seasonal variables, to definitively size up each one of them for their respective impact on prices.   more...

London: Ideal offshore market for ICT business :-
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UK is the second largest offshore market after the US and its appetite is large and growing. Largely driven by cost saving and higher efficiencies, the market provides easier mobility and home office regulations not to forget the ready talent pool of UK nationals, who are well-versed with the "Indian Offshore Delivery model," noted a member of the UK trade and investment mission on Wednesday.  more...

Hong Kong: Speech by SCED at Hong Kong International Computer Conference (English only) :-
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Following is a speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Computer Conference 2009 this morning (November 5): more

Fifteenth Azerbaijan International ICT Conference Kicks Off in Baku :-
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A conference commenced here Thursday as part of the BakuTel, 15th Azerbaijan International Telecommunications and Information Technologies Exhibition. The conference focuses on communications market, communication system for mobile and stationary devices, application of modern technology solutions and other issues. more

E-governance solution for improving MCD functioning :-
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The MCD will soon be able to provide effective single-window services to Delhiites and integrate the information system across all its departments and offices through an ambitious e-governance project. more

Parliament's communications chairperson is optimistic, despite blaming ICASA, government and Parliament for SA's ICT doldrums :-
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Parliament's communications committee chairperson, Ismail Vadi, blames regulator ICASA, the Department of Communications and Parliament for the country's ICT malaise.

In a speech delivered earlier this week, at the University of the Witwatersrand, Vadi said the country's ICT policy had drifted into the doldrums after it had been a trendsetter for some time. more

Tangaliya gets GI status :-
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It is the story of the revival of a dying indigenous craft that evolved in Saurashtra around 700 years ago. The Tangaliya shawl — which uses a unique weaving technique and was almost on the verge of extinction — has been given GI (Geographical Indications) recognition by the Central government. It is among the few handicrafts of Gujarat — others being Sankheda furniture, agate of Cambay, and Kutch embroidery — to get this recognition. more

India takes drug seizure issue to WTO council :-
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The seizure of another consignment of Indian generic drugs, in transit, has pushed India to drag the issue to the TRIPS Council, a high-level body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dealing with intellectual property issues. more

US urges India to improve its IPR enforcement regime :-
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The US urged India to enhance its Intellectual Property Rights enforcement regime to avoid missing out on the foreign investment prospective of one of the world's fastest growing economies. Ron Kirk, the US trade representative, identified that India needed to strengthen in the area of intellectual property rights in order to attract more investment from US companies and protect its own entrepreneurs. He pointed out different sectors like pharmaceuticals, education and software for investment in an economy forecast to grow at about 6.5% in the current year.  more...

EU Issues New Report on IPR Enforcement outside Europe :-
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Increased cooperation between the European Union and the developing world is strengthening intellectual property enforcement in poorer countries, according to a new report from the European Commission. While the protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) still faces many challenges in these countries, there have been considerable improvements in enforcement, the report found. more..

Taiwan to raise IPR with China :-
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Taiwan's legislature yesterday decided to ask the executive branch of government to raise the issue of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in the fifth round of cross-Taiwan Strait talks between Taipei and Beijing. more

Dussehri mangoes now a GI product :-
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It’s really good news for the mango growers. The globally famous variety of Dussehri from the Malihabad belt got registered under Geographical Indication (GI) Act this summer. GI registration is a mark of authenticity and it facilitate in marketing the product. The mangoes from the belt would have registration printed on the cartons and each mango also might have stickers of brand authenticity on them. more

GI System to help farmers and boost economy: KIPO :-
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The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) assumes that 24 trademarks specifying place of origin shall be registered by the year end, which is thrice the 8 geographically specified trademarks registered in 2008. more

GI status sought for Bhagalpur silk fabrics and sarees :-
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Press Trust of India / New Delhi October 21, 2009, 11:21 IST A group of organisations have sought Geographical Indication (GI) status for silk fabrics and sarees produced in Bhagalpur division of Bihar. more

GI registration for Orissa handloom products :-
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In a bid to empower economically backward weaver community in the state, the Orissa government has identified at least eight handloom sub-products for Geographical Indications registration. more

'Share of SMEs in credit flow has increased':-
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In the last one year, while overall credit flow declined, credit to the SME sector grew an encouraging 28%. In an interview with ET’s Ravi Teja  Sharma, IDBI’s executive director and SME head, TR Bajalia, however points out that the money raised isn’t going into expansion projects.  more

Govt's free SME super plan via Medicare :-
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The federal government has announced it will deliver a free superannuation clearing house service free of charge for small businesses with less than 20 employees through Medicare Australia.  more

Government to announce aid-package for SME’s :-
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A multi-million aid-package for small and medium sized enterprises and sole traders is to be announced in next Monday’s Budget. The news was announced yesterday by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech who explained that the aid-package, intended to assist small businesses will be over and above the EU funds that so far has seen a total of 288 beneficiaries. more

Agriculture, SME branches now mandatory for banks in Bangladesh :-
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The central bank is set to ask private commercial banks to open agriculture and SME branches from next year to boost lending to farmers and small businesses across the country.

Bangladesh Bank as the regulator took the decision yesterday and is expected to issue a circular next week. more

SMEs Need To Reinvent, Reposition Strategies In Manufacturing Sector :-
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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) need to reinvent and reposition their business strategies to find new markets and avenues for growth in the manufacturing sector, said National SME Development Council (NSDC).

In its annual SME Report 2008 released here today, the NSDC said re-engineering processes would also help reduce production costs and make SMEs more competitive. more

Will RBI tighten the screws? SMEs worried :-
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Small companies across the country have gone into a tizzy following the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy on Tuesday. Many are seeing the tone of the policy as alarming. The Central Bank according to them, is only likely to tighten the screws on liquidity.  more

SDRS Playing an Important Role in Helping Distressed SMEs :-
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The Small Debt Resolution Scheme (SDRS) is playing an important role in helping distressed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to restructure and reschedule non-performing loans (NPLs) and non-performing financings (NPFs), in the current economic crisis more

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