More Trade News in Brief – Week 41 (1 – 7 October 2012)

* ASEAN Adopted the WCO Data Model

 

The ASEAN adopted the World Customs Organization (WCO) Data Model as a tool to assist the development of customs procedures to enhance trade facilitation.

 

More here.

 

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* Pakistan is the new Member of The Global Forum on Tax Transparency

 

Pakistan has joined as the 111th member  the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes.

 

Check here.

 

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* Bangladesh accedes to the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention

 

Bangladesh deposited the instrument of accession to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention) with the World Customs Organization (WCO).

 

Click for more here.

 

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First EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue

5 June 2012, Islamabad

 

On the first EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue the two sides expressed their intention on improve bilateral cooperation

and shared views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

 

More on the EU’s Press Release.

More Trade News in Brief – Week 22 (21-27 May 2012)

* OECD Launches New Version of Your Better Life Index

 

22 May 2012

 

The OECD released the second year pioneering Your Better Life Index – an online, interactive index that allows people to measure and compare their lives.

 

The index permit to compare the well-being of your life based on 11 topics – housing, income, jobs, community, education, environment, governance, health, life satisfaction, safety and work-life balance.

 

For more information on the Your Better Life Index:

• Create your Better Life Index: www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org
• Read more: OECD Better Life Initiative

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* U.S. and EU Cut Aids

 

U.S. cuts aid to Pakistan by $33 million as punitive move for the physician’s 33-year sentence for high treason.

 

More details here.

 

EU’s Parliament proposed new macro-financial assistance regulation which ensure that countries close to the EU (Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood), will be obliged to meet stricter conditions in order to receive aids from EU.

 

Please read more here.

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* New UN Website on Sustainable Development Projects

23 May 2012

The United Nations (UN) launched a new online database to strengthen partnerships between sustainable development projects in developing countries.

For further information kindly refer to UN’s webpage.

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* Exporter Dynamics Database from World Bank

 

The World Bank release the new Exporter Dynamics Database which offers exporter characteristics in 45 developed and developing countries.

 

More here.

Pakistan Ready for EU GSP Plus FTA

10 May 2012, Islamabad, Pakistan

 

The Pakistan’s authorities states that their country is now ready to engage with the European Union (EU) on Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) plus and a Free Trade Agreement.

 

The president Asif Ali Zardari said this while addressing a gathering of EU diplomats at “50th Anniversary of Pak-EU Relations”.

Pakistan and GCC States’ Trade Agreement

Pakistan and the GCC States are accelerating the process to conclude the deal for a Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible.

The main aim of the deal is to facilitate every potential investor and trader from both sides. A special attention is paid to investment, market access, enabling environment and non-tariff barriers negotiations.

The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG‎), also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), is a political and economic union of the next states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.

India–Pakistan New Trade Relations

23 April 2012, Attari, India

 

Officials from both countries have promised to open their markets to each other by the end of the year.

They have already liberalized some commercial ties and inaugurated a new border depot, there is even talk of opening new crossings to facilitate commerce.

 

Both countries’ central banks are exploring opening branches across the border.