• East Asia

    Israeli ambassador tells of the creative economy’s driving force

    As Korea sets its sails to make a “creative economy,” which will create new jobs through the development of science, technology and IT, it looks to the start-up nation of Israel as a model. Israel has a population of 7.8 million and an area of approximately 20,700 square kilometers, about…

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  • ‘Well-being’ as buzzword in Korean marketing

    How well do you understand Korean consumers? In the little insight below, I will summarize some points to help stakeholders understand the Korean consumers better. They may be very simple, but are indispensable for your success in the very complex and delicate market situation in Korea. Koreans are found to…

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  • East Asia

    Pedestrians walk in Tokyo as 0.2 percent economic growth reported

    Pedestrians walk on the crosswalk in Tokyo, Japan, on March 8, 2013. The Japanese economy expanded at an annualized rate of 0.2 percent in the three months through December in inflation-adjusted terms, up from preliminary data, the government data showed Friday. <Xinhua/Kenichiro Seki>

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  • East Asia

    Asia leaps toward regional economic unity

    Asia plans to take a great leap forward in regional economic integration during the next decade, as the United Nations continues to intensify the promotion of South-South cooperation among member states. According to a recent report by the Inter Press Service, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the…

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  • Double-digit growth continues for home appliances market in SE Asia

    The rising affluence of consumers is stimulating sales of major domestic appliances in Southeast Asia. According to the survey conducted last December by GFK Asia based in Singapore, the consumer market in the sector worth of the washers, air-conditioners, refrigerators and microwave ovens has grown by a healthy 13 percent…

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  • East Asia

    Market-friendly policies expected

    Hyun Oh-seok, the nominee for the deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs, is expected to place top priority on maintaining a balance between economic growth and social welfare, to restore the middle class and revitalize the sluggish economy. “I think we should carry out policies to boost our…

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  • East Asia

    Bailout feared to cause moral hazard

    Private lenders use Park’s debt plan as marketing tool Saving debt-crushed families is good for the economy, says incoming President Park Geun-hye. But critics are sounding the alarm on her plans for intervention, arguing that using taxpayer’s money to rescue the more needy borrowers will cause the nation to fall…

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  • East Asia

    ‘GHnomics’ shaping up slowly

    President-elect vows to focus on addressing debts, welfare issues Change and happiness were the watchwords of Park Geun-hye’s presidential campaign. But converting the huge hopes and expectations she has generated into practical policies will be a difficult challenge for the incoming Korean president set to inherit an economy crippled by…

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  • East Asia

    Mahindra objects to Ssangyong audit

    Mahindra & Mahindra, the Indian owner of Ssangyong Motor, said Monday that it objects to an audit by the National Assembly and that if it is pursued, it could affect the firm’s investment plan to the tune of 1 trillion won. “Funds for this (1 trillion won) investment will have…

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  • East Asia

    ‘Hanwha move complies with Park’s rules’

    A member of President-elect Park Geun-hye’s transition team Sunday welcomed Hanwha Group’s move to put about 2,000 “temporary” workers on regular payroll as part of efforts to improve job security and access to employment benefits. “The Hanwha move complies with the President-elect’s principle,” the member said, adding that the issue…

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