Search Results for: Climate change

SHIPPING container manufacturers in China have been struggling to deal with the country’s new string of environmental regulations aiming to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions – effectively forcing them to switch from solvent-based to water-based paints.

The changeover, proposed by the China Container Industry Association and endorsed by the government is occurring in two stages, with container factories located in southern China required to only use water-based products for all containers, other than certain specialised containers, since July 1, 2016; this to be followed by factories in the rest of China from April 1 this year.…

THE HONG Kong and Pakistan government have signed a comprehensive agreement on avoiding double taxation. Pakistani tax paid by Hong Kong companies will be credited against Hong Kong taxes on the same profits, with the reverse applying for Pakistan companies. Pakistan’s withholding tax rates for Hong Kong residents on royalties and fees for technical services (both currently 15%) will be capped at 10% and 12.5% respectively.…

EUROPEAN Union (EU) governments have agreed proposed regulations that will introduce, from September 2018, new real-world emissions (RWE) tests to measure the number of particles emitted from modern petrol engines under actual road driving conditions. The decision is the third in a series of technical test models approved by the EU, as it mandates how auto manufacturers move away from relying on laboratory tests of emissions, which sometimes do not reflect what pollution is emitted from tailpipes on roads.…

THE EUROPEAN Commission’s bumper energy package presented on November 30 – boasting a 30% binding energy efficiency target and measures to promote renewable energy, deregulate electricity prices and achieve a more co-ordinated grid system – has been largely welcomed by utilities.…

Indian poultry farmers have slowed the breeding of chicks to lower their costs after demand fell sharply following the central government’s unexpected announcement that large currency notes – valuing 86% of total cash in the economy – were no longer legal tender.…

PHOTOS posted on the Chinese microblog platform Weixin (commonly known in English as WeChat) from the Indonesian holiday island of Bali recently are emblematic of key trends in China’s cosmetics and personal care markets, notably booming ecommerce sales. Over 100 Chinese sales managers – technically self-employed and operating on commission – flew to Bali as guests of USANA Health Sciences Inc, which in 2010 acquired BabyCare Ltd, a China-based direct selling company that develops, manufactures and sells nutritional products.…

OPPORTUNITIES may abound for suppliers in Japan’s newly liberalised household electricity market, but for the time being, a handful of regional utility giants still retain the lion’s share of sales.

Analysts had predicted the Japanese government’s granting of consumer choice over the source of their energy purchases would stimulate growth in innovative and renewable energy, and undermine sales in power generated from fossil fuels and nuclear.…

HUMAN resources specialists are advising Vietnam’s government and private sector to get smarter over their personnel policies if it wants to maintain the productivity improvements that have helped pull this southeast Asian country out of poverty.

A report released in October (2016) by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) on the issue has cited research from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to highlight Vietnam’s strong record: the report notes that Vietnam’s productivity grew 184% from 1991-2012, far surpassing Thailand’s 85%, Singapore’s 81% and Malaysia’s 80% growth over the same period.…

A new high tech clothing factory has been opened in the city of Pohar, in southwest Russia by the regional government of Bryansk, which will boost demand for technical textiles worldwide, potentially boosting Russia’s hard-pressed textile sector.

The Bryansk oblast operates the plant – which started operations in October – through an afflicted company in which it shares control with private investors.…

Her Excellency Sara Al Madani ventured into the business world at a time when very few Emirati women dared to do so. Defying gender and cultural norms, she started her fashion label Rouge Couture at the age of 15.

Eager to give a new twist to the abaya (the robe-like dress worn by some Muslim women), she went on to create dozens of unconventional designs of the traditional garment and opened three branches of her boutique in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).…