"Pacific Rim trade ministers on Saturday expressed their strong resolve and political will to conclude the ongoing global trade liberalization talks under the World Trade Organization by the end of the year during their meeting in Arequipa, Peru. APEC sources said the ministers agreed to seek a WTO ministerial meeting with an eye to reaching an agreement on 'modalities,' or negotiation frameworks with numerical targets for lowering tariffs and subsidies, by July or August at the latest.

Agreement on the modalities is a focal point of the Doha Round. The ministers also agreed to promote technological cooperation in agriculture for increased productivity and to try and eliminate export controls and other measures that block free trade."

"With China's high population density in urban areas, it is inevitable that cities get more attention in the country's overall plan of curbing threats from earthquakes. In the quake-prone areas, the urbanization process should not be solely driven by the historical track of development, the free market or the choice of industrialization. Our neighboring country, Japan, has a good lesson to offer as a country seeing both frequent earthquakes and a high population density.

According to their applied researches, seismic hazard prevention should be integrated with the urbanization strategy. In the early stage of urbanization, Japan paid a lot of attention to making their constructions more resistant to seismic activities. But they soon learnt that the technologies for modifying construction of buildings were not the key to protecting people's lives. The geological situation of the city, like the location of active faults, should be included in working out local plan of earthquake-readiness."

"Development of gas fields on East Timor's doorstep could bring vast wealth to Asia's youngest and by several measures poorest country. Yet its lack of a skilled population may prevent it from garnering those riches. East Timor said it wants to get a greater value-added stake in the Sunshine field including, through construction of an LNG plant on Timorese soil. That would cost about $15 billion.

But industry analysts contend that the East Timor option is fraught with risks, including political instability, low education levels, especially on the south coast, where the proposed plant would be locate, and poor physical infrastructure. The study comes as East Timor moves to pass legislation that would create the National Petroleum Authority, whose membership will include Norwegian advisors and a seven-person board of directors. The authority should begin work next month, though exactly what changes this will bring to the industry are unclear."

"Central banks in developing countries are worried about cost push inflation: workers pressing for higher compensation to offset rise in food prices. World leaders have to face some challenges in the area of trade and distribution than in production. It is domestic hoarding by traders and the export curbs by about 40 producing countries, including China, India and Vietnam, that have caused the international scarcity.

Countries with good water and land resources, but lacking in oil, should raise their self-sufficiency level in food grains. Fiji, in the early 1980s, was meeting 60 percent of rice consumption by producing rice. But due to pressures from rice exporting countries, rice cultivation incentives were discontinued."

"Japan has promised to continue investing effort and support to help three countries in the Mekong region -- Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia -- achieve $1,000 per-capita GDP within the next decade. Under the Japan-Mekong Region Partnership Program, Tokyo said it would support the fundamental values of people in the region such as democracy and the rule of law, the integration of the regional economy, and fostering of collaboration, as well as the expansion of trade and investment between Japan and the Mekong region.

The private sector have been urged to work actively to promote trade and investment in these countries while the Japanese government would enhance the safety of investment activity through bilateral investment agreements with Cambodia and Laos. Japan aims to convey its own experience in areas such as cross-border transit and customs procedures."

"Vietnam may have to begin importing coal from 2012 to meet rising domestic demand. Vietnam is currently China's largest overseas coal supplier, but domestic demand is expected reach 37 million tons by 2010, while production may be 47 million tons. If all local power plants run according to plans, Vietnam will need to import coal in the coming years.

Vietnam is currently China's largest overseas coal supplier, and a halt to exports would force China to seek alternative producers. Vinacomin, which mines more than 90 percent of Vietnam's coal supplies, produced 41 million tons last year, and exported 23.8 million tons."

"Private equity investors are making their first foray into Cambodia's unruly financial sector, with three foreign-managed funds hoping to raise a total of $450 million for projects in tourism, manufacturing, agri-business and other sectors. They are also looking to help local companies prepare to list on Cambodia's first stock exchange, which is due to start late next year.

Europe is responding first. Investors made a lot of money in Vietnam and they are looking for the next big story in Asia. Investors, however, are still faced with the uncertainties of pouring money into developing economies like Cambodia, where financial institutions remain weak and plagued by corruption."

"The Bangladesh government is preparing a policy to finance the power sector with private partnership. The government is planning to have a 51 percent share while its private partners will have 49 percent. The government emphasized the need for setting up coal-fired power plants to lessen the pressure on gas consumption so that gas can be used as fuel in vehicles and industries and the production of fertilizer.

Even though gas reserves will lessen considerably in next one decade or so, Bangladesh has adequate coal reserves. Energy experts have suggested strengthening negotiations with India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar for regional cooperation in the energy sector."

"About ten Indonesian banks are planning to change the status of their syariah units into syariah commercial banks, according to Indonesia's central bank. Bank Indonesia has been encouraging the development of syariah banks by increasing syariah services, opening more branch offices, including conversions from syariah units to syariah banks and reducing the capital required for the establishment of syariah banks.

The assets of syariah banks in the first quarter of 2008 had reached Rp37.6 trillion, and those of conventional banks Rp1,800 trillion. Several of the banks set to change status to syariah commercial banks are to be taken over by an investor from Saudi Arabia."

"With just 20 percent of Cambodian households enjoying reliable access to electricity, the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy envisions large-scale hydroelectric projects as a solution to the country's chronic power shortages. In its most recent Power Development Plan, covering the years 1999 to 2016, the ministry earmarked 14 potential sites for development by 2018.

Construction has started at two -- including Kamchay -- with another six now undergoing feasibility studies. However, local and international NGOs have expressed concern that large-scale dam developments could have negative impacts on the environment and local communities that far outweigh their benefits as a source of cheap power."

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