infrastructure

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang emphasizes China’s willingness to work harder to create a favorable environment for foreign investors. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stresses that the country’s planned rules on Internet domain names will not affect companies’ “normal operations.” China will set up its first overseas permanent military base in Djibouti. China’s Railway Rolling Stock Corp. aims to win large amounts of business in the developed world. In the face of US Senatorial concerns, Syngenta AG insists a China National Chemical Corp. takeover would not raise security issues. Japan may finance a multi-billion dollar deep-sea port project in Patimban, Indonesia. JR Tokai and its American partner Texas Central Partners (TCP) are going to ask the US Federal Railroad Administration to set new rules allowing an ultrahigh-speed to be built to Japanese bullet train specifications. Mercedes-Benz Korea not rolling along as far as the Korean government is concerned. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion probes if Korean companies should relocate from the shuttered Kaesong Industrial Complex to Vietnam. Korean businesses and association, in collaboration with the government, will establish a public-private consultative council to boost overseas Korean construction business. Thai Democrats challenge financing model for Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed train line. Vietnamese inward foreign direct investment for the first quarter of 2016 surges over the comparable period a year earlier.

China’s inward foreign direct investment in 2015 hits record levels. China plays hard with Mister Softee. Uber Technologies hails local partners to build up its presence in China and win favor with local governments. Japanese firm becomes first foreign firm to obtain permission to sell automobile insurance in Myanmar. Korean construction firms witness dramatic drop in overseas construction contracts. Indonesia does not necessarily subscribe to Netflix’s planned entry into the country. New Thailand-Singapore double taxation treaty has important implications for Thai investment in Singapore. Singaporean health care players stand ready to exploit a more favorable environment in China’s health care sector. FDI flows into Vietnam hit record in 2015. Vietnam’s State Bank of Vietnam publishes rules about foreign financial institutions planning to establish non-banking financial companies

Google Play app store ready to play in China. Chinese investment in the American financial sector dwarfs American investment in the Chinese financial sector. U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade meeting reportedly yields agreement on the protection of trade secrets and opens Chinese market further to certain types of American firms. Payoff of GlaxoSmithKline’s measures to recover from its 2014 China bribery scandal remain unclear. MOFCOM touts China’s opportunities to Japanese firms and hopes they will invest in “emerging sectors.” Premier Li Keqiang says China will invest $1 trillion overseas in the next five years. Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI) and contract work continues to record impressive results. Chinese firm private firm outward FDI (OFDI) shows impressive growth. Chinese OFDI in Africa, though, collapses. China promises $10 billion in infrastructure loans to Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries. Chinese train company motoring along in Malaysia. China National Corporation for Overseas Economic Cooperation fires up over Mexican energy sector investment. Chinese companies power up nuclear energy cooperation with Argentina. Japan opens its purse strings to win more infrastructure deals and counter China. Japan expresses its displeasure to Indonesia about Indonesia’s awarding of a high-speed rail contract to China. Japanese public private fund steps forward to finance Texas high-speed rail. Indonesia will act to revise its negative investment list to exclude e-commerce companies.

China dials up new leadership at its telecommunications giants. Tsinghua Unigroup attempts to chip away at opposition to its purchase of Micron Technology. China investors see stable investment returns on offer in the UK. China’s Yunnan province pushes infrastructure construction to support the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) and other initiatives. Alibaba given 6-month extension to operate in Taiwan while Taiwan appellate body review its case. Japan strives to strengthen its medical and pharmaceutical firms. Japan and Mekong River nations adopt “Mekong Industrial Development Vision.” Japan and China competition to build high-speed railway in Indonesia reaches its final stages. Korea touts its advantages and pursues new policies in order to double inward foreign direct investment (FDI). Korea orders recalls of select Ferrari cars, Harley Davidson motorcycles, and Volvo trucks due to various defects. Toyota puts the brakes on Prius production in Thailand due to tariff dispute. Foreign business leaders in Thailand believe Erawan Shrine bombing will not influence FDI inflows. Investors express complain about the vagueness of Vietnam’s new foreign investment guide.

China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) makes it difficult for foreign IT firms to bank on IT sales in China. Apple Pay encounters business and regulatory obstacles to entering China. China State Administration of Taxation (CSAT) moves to tighten tax loopholes lead to calls for better regulatory predictability, transparency, and service. China’s anti-corruption drive pushes investors to consider the risks and offsetting measures. Japan to raise maximum fines for theft of domestic trade secrets. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) emphasizes its strong commitment to Indonesia’s infrastructure building plans. Complaints over wage practices and working conditions at its suppliers push Japanese Fast Retailing Co. to enhance supplier monitoring. US Transportation Department to fine Japan’s Takata Corp. US $14,000 per day until it fully complies with the former’s investigation into Takata’s defective air bags. The CEO of the Korean Research-based Pharma Industry Association (KRPIA) calls for Korea to reduce government involvement in medical pricing and reimbursement. PT Freeport Indonesia and Papua comes to agreement that will see the mining company build a smelter in Papua.