A Thai Region Where Husbands Are Imported

A Thai Region Where Husbands Are Imported - NYTimes.com

Free donuts as Krispy Kreme opens in Bangkok

Above, shoppers line up at Siam Paragon yesterday as Krispy Kreme opened its first outlet in Thailand.

Free donuts as Krispy Kreme opens in Bangkok | CNNGo.com

Medical Tourism Recovering in Thailand

Medical Tourism Recovering in Thailand - CNBC.com

Captain's Release Sparks Furor in Japan

The Chinese boat captain captured by Japan and arrested for being in territorial waters claimed by Japan has been released after China began to withhold exports of rare earth minerals to Japan late last week.  That has sparked a furor in Japan, where many Japanese citizens believe the government caved in to China.  Now, China is demanding an apology and compensation from Japan, something Japan has flatly denied it will do.  Japan in turn is seeing compensation from China for damage caused to its naval vessels during the incident.  Above, protesters rally in Hong Kong with signs saying "Japan Get Out."

Captain's Release Sparks Furor in Japan - WSJ.com

China Imposes a Steep Tariff on U.S. Poultry

A year ago, President Obama imposed a stiff tariff on tires from China in an antidumping case. Less than two days later, the Chinese began an investigation into whether the United States harmed China's poultry industry by exporting chicken parts for less than it cost to produce them. Now, China has decided to impose tariffs on American poultry of up to 105.4%. The United States exports about $4 billion a year of chicken products, of which $678.2 million went to China last year. It is one of the few industries in which the U.S. maintains a positive trade balance with China.

China Imposes a Steep Tariff on U.S. Poultry - NYTimes.com

Top Executives Find It Pays to Spend Time in Asia

Kasper Rorsted, CEO of German company Henkel (above), just spent nearly six weeks working in Asia, an unusually long time away from headquarters for a CEO.  His trip spanned 9 countries and involved nearly 100 meetings.  The company makes 14 percent of its sales and 20 percent of its profits in Asia Pacific, and nearly 20 percent of its employees are based in the region with that number poised to grow to one-third in the coming years.  Many companies are now considering moving headquarters to Asia, or splitting their headquarters to include a "co-HQ" in Asia.  Once Cisco executive puts it this way: after changes in trade, manufacturing, development and research, "the next phase of globalization will be the decentralization of headquarters functions."

Top Executives Find It Pays to Spend Time in Asia - NYTimes.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

One-on-One With Thailand's PM

Thailand's economy is one of the best performing in Asia, as this video demonstrates.

One-on-One With Thailand's PM - CNBC.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Thai Property Fundamentals Very Sound

Thai Property Fundamentals Very Sound - CNBC.com

China's Premier Threatens Japan Over Boat Dispute

Japan's arrest of a Chinese fisherman in disputed waters is causing a major rift between China and Japan. For the Chinese, this is a chance to show domination over a former invader. For Japan, it's a chance to stand up to a growing power. For the U.S., it's a chance to countervail China's growing influence in the region. No resolution is in sight.

China's Premier Threatens Japan Over Boat Dispute : NPR

Ikea Expects to Double Buying of Goods in India

Swedish furniture giant Ikea is privately held, which means it does not have to worry about declaring dividends to shareholders.  As such, its strategy is driven by long term growth, not short term profits.  The company therefore adheres to a management style that is not always the norm.  For example, Ikea will not form joint ventures even if local law requires it.  This week, Ikea CEO Mikael Ohlsson (above) announced IKEA is scrapping plans to open stores in India because of the local requirement that foreign retailers partner with an Indian partner and own a maximum of 51% of the Indian operation.  In spite of that, Ikea plans to spend about 1 Billion Euros in the next three to four years on Indian suppliers, mainly in textiles and fabrics.

Ikea Expects to Double Buying of Goods in India -- NY Times.com

Toiling Far From Home for Philippine Dreams

The town of Mabini, in the Philippines, is filled with large new homes much more luxurious than standard Filipino homes.  They are largely unoccupied, built by the 15% of the town's citizens who are OFWs -- Overseas Filipino Workers.  Working mainly as maids, nurses or service workers, these Filipinos return money to the Philippines as remittances, which rose from $7.6 billion in 2003 to $17.3 billion in 2009.  These payments now account for more than 10% of Phillipines' GDP and are the main factor driving the country's economic growth.

Toiling Far From Home for Philippine Dreams - NYTimes.com

U.S. Steps Up Criticism of China’s Practices

China spends $1 billion a day to maintain the value of its currency against the US Dollar.  By buying its own currency, it artificially maintains the currency at around 6.7 RMB to the USD, allowing its exporters an advantage in important foreign markets.  Now, the Obama administration, led by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (above), is stepping up attacks on China and its trade practices, including currency manipulation, theft of intellectual property, and continued market restrictions for U.S. products and services.

U.S. Steps Up Criticism of China’s Practices - NYTimes.com

A Thai City of Sleaze Tries to Clean Up

For years, Pattaya has been known as a sleazy, drug-infested town rife with prostitution and organized crime.  Now, the beachside town, only a two hour drive from Bangkok, is re-inventing itself as a family-friendly resort with luxury hotels, shopping malls, fancy restaurants, and polo tournaments.

A Thai City of Sleaze Tries to Clean Up - NYTimes.com

Boeing Received Illegal Aid, WTO Says

A preliminary report by a WTO dispute panel ruled that Boeing received illegal aid from the federal government as well as Washington state.  Airbus is jumping on the report claiming that it vindicates their claim of illegal aid to Boeing, but Boeing and American officials are urging restraint until the report is made public
Boeing Received Illegal Aid, WTO Says - WSJ.com

Volvo's Big China Gamble

When Chinese car manufacturer Geely bought Swedish car manufacturer Volvo, it announced plans to expand the Volvo brand in China, where it is currently tiny (selling only 24,000 cars last year, in a market of over 13 million).  Yesterday, Geely group chairman Li Shufu revealed much more ambitious plans -- Volvo will build as many as three assembly plants in China, each capable of producing 100,000 cars a year, and all for sale in China.  This would cement Geely as one of China's largest auto makers, and may position the ambitious Chinese company for global growth.

Volvo's Big China Gamble - WSJ.com

EU Raises Tariffs on Wheels

At the urging of wheel manufacturers in Europe, the European Union has agreed to extend antidumping duties on aluminum wheels from China, and to raise those duties to more than 23%.  The move was fiercely opposed by car manufacturers like BMW and Volkswagen, who fear that their businesses in China may be affected by retaliation by the Chinese government.

EU Raises Tariffs on Wheels - WSJ.com

Cuba to Cut State Workers in Tilt Toward Free Market

More than 85% of Cuba's 5.5 million workers are employed by the communist state.  Now, in a recognition that this is a failed policy, the government has announced plans to lay off half a million workers and create hundreds of thousands of private sector jobs.  Up next: a recognition that private wealth is good?

Cuba to Cut State Workers in Tilt Toward Free Market - WSJ.com

Chinese Remake the ‘Made in Italy’ Fashion Label

Prato, Italy, is now home to Europe's largest concentration of Chinese.  In this city, in the heart of Tuscany, they work for over 3,200 companies making low-end clothes, shoes, and accessories, often with materials imported from China.  Their products get the exclusive "Made in Italy" label, and now Italians are growing resentful at how the Chinese are beating them at their own game.

Chinese Remake the ‘Made in Italy’ Fashion Label - NYTimes.com

Entrepreneurs Rise in Ashes of India’s Caste System

In India, the caste system has worked for decades to keep members of the lower caste from advancing.  That's changing in India's southern region, where entrepreneurship and the growth of high tech businesses has allowed people like Chezi Ganesan (above), to rise to riches.  In India's north, however, progress is much slower, as this NY Times report illustrates.

Entrepreneurs Rise in Ashes of India’s Caste System - NYTimes.com

A Very Curious IKEA UK Commercial