World population is estimated at 6.8 billion people, of which close to two billion live in poverty, 925 million are undernourished, 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation, about one billion can’t read a book or sign their name and 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related illnesses. Yes, the percentage of population…
After the United States, China is the second largest economy in the world. It has long been recognised as the fastest-growing globally, having recorded annual average growth rates in excess of 10 percent over the last quarter-century. In Q2 2010, China’s economy was valued at $1.33trn, and it is estimated that by the end of…
Double-dip recession or not, global consumers are retaining a crush on their personal electronic goods and super-smart mobile devices. Even in tough economic times, the confluence of advances in computing, communications, mobile handsets, digital content and growing worldwide adoption of the internet is fueling new purchases and creating a mobile revolution. Not surprisingly, this consumption…
Double-dip recession or not, global consumers are retaining a crush on their personal electronic goods and super-smart mobile devices. Even in tough economic times, the confluence of advances in computing, communications, mobile handsets, digital content and growing worldwide adoption of the internet is fueling new purchases and creating a mobile revolution. Not surprisingly, this consumption…
The Indian economy is the 10th largest in the world and has the 4th largest GDP in terms of purchasing power parity. The economic growth of this country has been the second fastest during the current decade of the 21st Century. The GDP growth has been nine percent during 2006-08 and has shown tremendous resilience…
Deemed one of the most prestigious projects in the Sultanate of Oman, the Port boasts the four largest shipping lines. Business is booming. Both its terminals saw double digit growth in the past five years, with general cargo growing at over 20 percent per annum, despite the onset of the recession. We spoke to the…
Haitham Abdou, director of marketing and product strategy for the ITS group, the biggest supplier of Islamic banking solutions in the world, confessed he was shocked to read Pope Benedict praising Islam’s bankers in the pages of the official Vatican newspaper. However, Abdou said, the article convinced him that Islamic banking is now ready for…
In China, FDI policy has shifted from inbound to outbound investment. Furthermore, outbound investment is migrating up the value chain from resources through knowledge-based industries. China’s huge financial resources provide a sound foundation which needs to be supplemented with information and tools to assist Chinese companies to make objective investment decisions. Everyone is aware of…
Brazilian transfer pricing legislation, in force since January 1997, has been changed to help businesses reduce the risk of tax contingencies; improve the management of its rules; reduce duplicate taxation; and optimise tax impacts through mechanisms of control of the strengths and weaknesses of the risks and opportunities related to it. This legislation stipulates…
In 2011, GRUMA will likely face various challenges. Thanks to the company’s preparation – much as in previous years – its strategic business approach will allow it to move forward with great success. The Mexican multinational, with 93 plants strategically located to sell its products in 102 countries throughout America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, is…
