Six-fold increase in Myanmar’s foreign investment reported, driven by China

September 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government Tuesday approved nine foreign investment proposals worth Rs.74.61 crore on the recommendations of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). However, the board rejected the proposal of Goldman Sachs for waiving off the Press Note 1 that stipulates government approval for new foreign investment proposals or technical collaboration where the foreign investor already has a joint venture in the same or allied field.

September 2nd, 2009 China to buy $50 billion of first IMF bondsBEIJING — China has agreed to buy $50 billion of the International Monetary Fund's first bond issue in a move that will help to strengthen the body's lending ability and diversify Beijing's foreign holdings. The agreement announced Wednesday by the Washington-based IMF comes as the body tries to raise money to finance lending, especially to developing countries, to help economies weather the global downturn.

August 17th, 2009 BEIJING - China received $5.36 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in July, down 35.7 percent year on year, said Ministry of Commerce spokesman Yao Jian Monday. China's total export-import volume between January and July decreased by 22.7 percent year on year to $1,146.71 billion.

July 21st, 2009 MUMBAI - Reliance Capital plans to enter the investment banking business over the next year, even as the company is looking to sell part stake in the insurance business to unlock shareholder value, its chairman Anil Ambani said here Tuesday. "At Reliance Capital, we continually scan the horizon for new business avenues.

July 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India along with China will again emerge as the preferred destinations for foreign investors, the research arm of global rating agency Moody's said Wednesday. "Investment opportunities in China and India will soon be in hot demand again.

July 15th, 2009 China's foreign reserves rise to $2.13 trillionBEIJING — China's foreign reserves rose to $2.13 trillion at the end of June despite a trade slump, data showed Wednesday, and analysts said that suggested the flow of foreign money into stocks and real estate was rising. The reserves, already the world's largest, expanded by 17.8 percent or $186 billion over the first half of the year, the central bank said.

July 15th, 2009 Foreign direct investment in China falls 6.8 pctBEIJING — Foreign direct investment in China fell in June for the ninth straight month but the decline was less severe than in May, data showed Wednesday, adding to signs of an economic recovery. Investment in June totaled $9 billion, down 6.8 percent from a year earlier, said Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian at a news conference.

July 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Despite the global slowdown, the chemicals sector witnessed the highest growth in foreign investment in 2008-09, says a report by an industry lobby. The report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) released Sunday said the chemicals sector (other than fertilisers), attracted $749 million last fiscal as compared to the $229 million it attracted the previous year - an increase of 227 percent.

July 2nd, 2009 China trade falls in June but decline less severeBEIJING — China's exports fell again in June, but the decline was less severe than in May, a deputy commerce minister said Thursday. Chen Jian, speaking at a news conference, said he had no detailed data for June, which are due to be reported next week.

June 15th, 2009 Foreign direct investment in China falls 17.8 pctBEIJING — Foreign direct investment in China fell in May for the eighth straight month as the global economic crisis battered trade and corporate finance, the Commerce Ministry said Monday. Foreign direct investment in May totaled $6.4 billion, down 17.8 percent from the same month last year, while the number of new approved foreign companies reached 1,649, down 32 percent year-on-year, ministry spokesman Yao Jian said at a news conference.

April 28th, 2009 Foreign investment to Vietnam declinesHANOI, Vietnam — The global recession has taken a toll on foreign investment and tourism to Vietnam in the first four months of the year, the government said Tuesday. Foreign investment pledges fell 72 percent to $6.4 billion as of April 20, the General Statistics Office said in a statement.

April 24th, 2009 China reports 76 percent increase in gold reservesBEIJING — China has increased its gold reserves by 76 percent since 2003 to 1,054 tons and now ranks fifth among nations with the biggest holdings, a state news agency reported Friday. The figure reported by the Xinhua News Agency would rank China behind the United States, Germany, France and Italy in reserves, according to data from the World Gold Council, an industry group.

April 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Thursday launched an India Business Forum (IBF) in China, a lobby to promote bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. The IBF will act as a forum for promoting India-China trade through collective and consensual approach and will also work with the Indian embassy in Beijing and others towards 'building brand India', the CII said in a statement released here.

February 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government has rationalised the foreign investment norms as there is a tightening in the global markets, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said here Thursday. 'Government has rationalised calculation of FDI (foreign direct investment).

January 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian Inc. needs to shift its focus from trade to investment in order to compete with China, Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh said here Monday.