Islamabad—Pakistan
and Indonesia would sign Preferential Trade
Agreement (PTA) early next year to boost
economic activities and exploit trade potential
between the two countries. Both the countries
have agreed to sign Preferential Trade Agreement
which has now entered the final stage and is
likely to be inked by both the governments in
the coming year,” Ambassador designate to
Indonesia, Sanaullah told APP in an exclusive
talk here.
Karachi—Pakistan-Sri Lanka FTA needs revision to
enhance export quota of Pakistan agro-based
products. A seminar will be held on the second
of next month wherein trade experts, KCCI
members and High Commissioner of Sri Lanka will
discuss modalities to increase the bilateral
trade. This was agreed in a meeting between
President KCCI Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad and
Consul General of Sri Lanka , V.S. Sidath Kumar
here at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, said KCCI statement here on Tuesday.
Helsinki—Finnish-German telecom equipment maker
Nokia Siemens said on Tuesday that it could
reduce its 64,000-strong workforce by seven to
nine percent, or by 4,500 to 5,800 jobs, in a
cost-cutting drive. The cost-cutting is to
“improve financial performance and return to
growth” by reducing 500 million euros (732
million dollars) in annualised operating
expenses and production overheads by 2011, the
company said.
Singapore—Rice prices are unlikely to return to
records next year as supplies from Thailand and
Vietnam, the world’s biggest exporters, may be
enough to cover Indian and Philippine
shortfalls, an agricultural economics professor
said. Globally, the market fundamentals are
still relatively sound,” said Eric Wailes, a
professor at the University of Arkansas, in an
interview today. “I would be surprised if we hit
the kind of prices that we had in the spring of
2008.”
Islamabad—Ufone announces its nomination for
Telecoms World Awards Middle East as the Best
Brand of the Year 2009. It is pertinent to
mention here that Ufone is the only Pakistani
Telecom company to be amongst the finalists for
these awards from nominations of over 30
operators from the Middle East.