Search Results for: Malaysia

BY KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN Union (EU) anti-fraud agency OLAF has helped uncover three rules-of-origin frauds costing EU coffers millions of Euros. In one case, an OLAF-German police inquiry has uncovered the loss of Euro 50 million in duties by the illicit rerouting of Chinese energy-saving lamps via Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and Tunisia to evade 66.1% anti-dumping duties on China-made lamps; Euro 7 million of avoided taxation has been recovered.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) has exempted from its standard free trade rules for a further six years countries involved in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme combating ‘blood diamond’ sales.

Its current waiver was to expire December 31 and protects trade restrictions undertaken by participating countries preventing rough diamonds being exported to non-signatory states.…

SAEED AKHTAR BALOCH, in Lahore

PAKISTAN’S paint sector – one of its largest industries – has shown an impressive growth over the last few years, mainly because of boost in housing and construction activities.

Unfortunately, being one of the more unorganised sectors in the country, with many small manufacturers, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact number of paint producing units, production and sales data, but figures available from government agencies reveal the industry achieved 25-30 % growth in last five years, with an impressive spurt of 15-20% growth in the financial year ended June 2006, which could be sustained in the medium-term if the housing sector continues growing at its current pace.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has warned of a continued surge in counterfeits of cigarettes entering the European Union (EU), with more than 32.6 million fake packets seized by customs officials last year. That said, this actually represents a fall in numbers from 2004, being 78% of the 41 million seized in that year.…

BY MONICA DOBIE

AMERICAN researchers say paint manufacturers continue to produce and sell consumer paints with dangerously high levels of lead in countries with weak environmental health controls. A University of Cincinnati study found 75% of all tested paint in India, China and Malaysia contained high levels of lead, with more than 50% of samples 30 times higher than the permitted US standard.…

BY MONICA DOBIE

LEAD manufacturers may be able to increase sales by offering their product to paint companies in developing countries without restrictions on consumer paint production, US researchers have indicated.

The University of Cincinnati analysed 80 consumer paint samples of various colours and brands from India, Malaysia, China and Singapore to determine the amount of lead and compare them with the US’s stringent standards.…

BY MONICA DOBIE

AMERICAN researchers have found that paint manufacturers continue to produce and sell consumer paints with dangerously high levels of lead in countries with weak environmental health controls. A University of Cincinnati study, to be published in the journal Environmental Research, found 75% of all tested paint in India, China and Malaysia contained high levels of lead, with more than 50% of samples containing levels 30 times higher than the permitted US standard.…

BY PAUL COCHRANE, in Amman

JORDAN is undertaking a root and branch reform of its higher education sector to better match the needs of its economy and regulate the burgeoning private sector.

With no statistics on the number of students enrolled in specific subjects, the country’s ministry of higher education is working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on a study to better coordinate the needs of the market and graduating students.…

BY MATTHEW BRACE

INDONESIA’S paint and coatings industry continues to develop, with growth in sectors being led by increases in exports of furniture, and the introduction of new coatings products and systems.

Overall increased domestic demand for paints and coatings in Indonesia has led some companies to expand.…

BY MATTHEW BRACE, in Sydney

RECENT positive advances in the paint and coatings industry symbolise general satisfaction with Malaysia’s business outlook. It might not have the cheapest labour in Asia but the workforce is skilled, productive and highly competitive. Access to infrastructure (especially ports) for exports is also reported to be good.…