Search Results for: South Africa

Keith Nuthall
SRI Lanka was to increase its international airport departure tax from July 1 from SLRupees 1,000 (US$10.29) to 1,500 (US$15.44), outstripping rival destinations in the region. Although Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority officials stressed the extra money would be spent on Columbo’s Bandaranaike airport, the island’s press has noted Indian airports charge INDRupees 150 (US$3.22) departure tax on south Asian nationals and INDRupees 500 (US$10.73) on other travellers and Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport charges between NEPRupee 900 (US$11.89) and 1,100 (US$14.54).…

BY SWINEETHA DIAS WICKRAMANAYAKA
THE CREATION of standards certification schemes or the development of industrial parks for the leather industry should be promoted by south Asian governments, said the South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC). This would help meet developed country demands for products that are not made with banned chemicals, by sweat shops or that cause environmental damage.…

BY RICHARD HURST
SOUTH African petrochemicals giant Sasol recently announced the planned construction of a new “multi-million US dollar” 1-octene production petrochemical plant at Secunda, in South Africa. This hydrocarbon molecule imparts elasticity, flexibility, impact resistance and strength to plastic consumer products.…

BY PHILIP FINE

AN AREA of northern Bolivia is to be the focus of an innovative Canadian aid mission designed to offer advice on preventing landslides in communities pock-marked with small mines, notably those for gold prospecting.

Canada will fund a team of scientists to help the community of Chima, a remote gold-mining village that was hit by a deadly landslide last month; the specialists want to ensure that they do not suffer from a repeat the tragedy and to help such communities better deal with such disasters, if they do occur.…

BY RICHARD HURST
SOUTH African petrochemicals giant Sasol recently announced the planned construction of a new “multi-million US dollar” 1-octene production petrochemical plant at Secunda, in South Africa. This hydrocarbon molecule imparts elasticity, flexibility, impact resistance and strength to plastic consumer products.…

BY ALAN OSBORN
THE EUROPEAN Commission has given the Spanish government two months to provide full information about the environmental impact of its highly controversial National Hydroelectric Plan (NHP) or face a possible action in the European Court of Justice. The Commission says Spain has not responded to a request for information made last September on how it assessed a proposed hydro-electric project in the catchment area of the River Ulla in Galicia.…

Keith Nuthall
WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) wine and spirits rules of origin register talks chairman Eui-yong Chung, of South Korea, has released his draft proposal designed to end the long running negotiations. It tries to crystallise positions so a deal can be struck at the WTO TRIPs council, July 2-3.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
POLITICAL pressure is rising on negotiators at the WTO tasked with striking a deal over a geographical indication register for traditionally made wines and spirits. WTO members have long debated the issue and have not bridged the gap between countries such as the USA, which want a powerless register for guidance on protected terms and the EU and its allies, which want registration to grant compulsory worldwide protection.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
POLITICAL pressure is rising on negotiators at the World Trade Organisation tasked with striking a deal over a geographical indication register for traditionally made wines and spirits. WTO members have long been debating the issue and have not been able to bridge the gap between countries such as the USA, which want a powerless register for guidance on protected terms and the EU and its allies, which want registration to grant compulsory worldwide protection.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
DRINKS industry lobbyists are waiting for the imminent release of a draft proposal to create a deal at the World Trade Organisation over a geographical indication register for traditionally made wines and spirits. WTO members have long tried to bridge the gap between the USA, which wants a powerless register for guidance on protected terms and the EU, which wants registration to grant compulsory worldwide protection.…