Trade in Srilanka

Sri Lanka reported a trade deficit corresponding to 965 Million USD in January of 2012. Historically, from 2003 until 2012, Sri Lanka Balance of Trade averaged -1038.2000 Million USD success an all time high of -239.5000 Million USD in September of 2003 and a record low of -2974.0000 Million USD in December of 2011. Sri Lanka exports mostly textiles and garments (40% of total exports) and tea (17%). Others include: spices, gems, coconut food, rubber and fish. Main export partners are United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Italy. Sri Lanka imports petroleum, textile fabrics, foodstuffes and machinery and transportation equipment. Main import partners are India, China, Iran and Singapore. This page includes a chart with chronological data for Sri Lanka Balance of Trade.

The balance of trade is the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports in an country over a certain period of time. A positive sense of balance of trade is known as a trade surplus and consists of exporting more than is imported; a negative balance of trade is known as a trade deficit or, informally, a trade gap. The balance of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as international aid. If the current description is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position. The Balance of Trade is identical to the divergence between a country's output and its domestic demand - the difference between what goods a country produces and how many goods it buys from abroad; this does not contain money respent on foreign stocks, nor does it factor the concept of importing goods to produce for the domestic market.

Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation Ltd., is a fully government owned , well established organisation functioning under the purview of the Ministry of Co-operatives and internal trade. STC has been in the big business over more than 30 years whilst catering to both public and private sectors.

Today, the company deals with a wide range of products namely, Office Stationery and Equipments, Construction and hardware items, ICT Products, Office Furniture and Interior Decors, FMCG, Automotive Batteries & Tyres, Agricultural Products, Chemical Products etc. In addition, STC has taken steps to market world reputed brands such as 'Double A' photocopy papers, Frostair Airconditioners, Yokohama tyres, HP & Fugitsu Laptops, 'Exide' automotive batteries, 'Orange' Electrical items etc.

STC operates under the guidance of the government with a long term goal of developing Sri Lanka by providing the very best to consumers, and ensuring stability in market price for various goods, and thereby protecting consumer welfare. With this in mind the STC has partnered with Intel, Microsoft, and HP Lanka to make computing affordable and in doing so developing and laying a springboard for IT usage.

Under this scheme, laptops and desktop computers will be offered at very reasonable prices on installment-based payment schemes that can be tailored to suit any budget. HP computers will be powered by Intel processors and Genuine Microsoft operating systems while being maintained under HP’s three-year company warranty, ensuring the security and longevity of the product, and offering the very best experience to the shopper, and in doing so driving the growth of IT in the nation.

"To develop and promote Sri Lanka's foreign trade relations at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels by the effective implementation of rule trade policy, with a view to raising the standards of living and realizing a higher quality of life through the increase of total production, income and employment levels, thereby actively causative to the overall economic growth of Sri Lanka".

P.D Fernando, the new Director General of Department of Commerce was felicitated by the NCE at the Council Meeting held in May at the Taj Samudra.

He was presented with a plaque in recognition of his invaluable military to exporters, during his many years of service at the Department of Commerce to overseas Trade Missions. Fernando was known among many exporters as a person who had always strived to assist Sri Lankan exporters to the best possible extentby effectively engaging the bureaucrats and other relevant persons in overseas markets, who were impediments to Sri Lankan exporters. He requested member exporters of the meeting room to unhesitatingly

Sri Lanka is a South Asian island is situated 29 km off southeastern coast of India. Palk Strait separates Sri Lanka from India. It is 350km (217miles) elongated and it's maximum width is 180km (112miles). Its total land area is about 64.740 sq. km.

Sri Lanka has its own contrasts; its own fortunes and misfortunes. Over thousands of years travellers to this small island were surprised by its physical beauty and the richness of its culture. Many described it as a Paradise Isle and as the Pearl of the Orient. Then for many years it went from beginning to end a difficult period under colonial rule. At present it goes through its most difficult times in its history due to the continuing ethnic conflict.

For Centuries, Sri Lanka has been associated with the international trade in gems & jewellery, and has been referred to as the “Cradle of Treasures” due to its wealth of precious gemstones. The art of jewellery making and Sri Lanka’s gem industry have been widely acclaimed in literary works dating as far back as 250 B.C in the Legends of Arabia, folk-lore of China,India, Indonesia and in the tales of early European travelers to the East, which describe in grate detail the fabulous gems & jewellery of Sri Lanka.

The Earth’s greatest meditation of fine gems could be found within Sri Lanka’s land area of 65,525 square kilometers. Geo-scientific opinion estimates that 90% of the Island’s land mass is potentially gem bearing. Sri Lanka ranks with Burma, Brazil, South Africa and Thailand as one of the five most important gem bearing nations of the world.

A unique feature of Sri Lanka’s gem mines is that an assortment of gems such as Spinels, Corundums (Blue and Star Sapphires, Rubies) Cat’s Eyes, Zircon and many others are found in a single gem pit. Gem mining in Sri Lanka is almost entirely confined to sedimentary deposits. Gems as a resource belongs to the management, however licenses for mining could be obtained for privately owned lands.  Most often gem mining is done in agricultural lands during off-season.

The techniques of mining and processing in Sri Lanka though labour intensive is very efficient compared with gem mining in other developing countries and the recovery of fine gems as small as one millimeter or less is assured.  shield of the environment is ensured by law.

Product

Sri Lanka’s breathtaking natural heritage is blessed with over 150 varieties of gems  including Blue, Pink and Yellow Sapphires, Rubies, Padmaradchas, Star Sapphires, Star Rubies, Alexandrites, Cats’ eyes, Spinels, Aquamarines, Topazes, Zircons, Garnets, Tourmalines, Moonstones, Quartzes and variety of rare gems. Amongst the outstanding gem stones that Sri Lanka has produced in the up to date era is the Blue Giant of the Orient (466 cts), Logan Blue Sapphire (423 cts), Blue Belle of Asia (400 cts), Rossar Reeves Star Ruby (138.7 cts), Star of Lanka (393 cts. Star Sapphire) and Ray of Treasure (105 cts. Cat’s Eye). The first three gems are on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, USA.  The Blue Sapphire is Sri Lanka’s gem supreme and can be considered, the highly prized of all gems. It is second only to the equilateral in hardness. The Blue sapphire is the National Stone of Sri Lanka.

Skilled labour at competitive rates combined with a global reputation as a country with a friendly and forward looking investment climate has created an beautiful base for cutting and polishing diamonds in Sri Lanka.
The country’s highly literate and trainable work force is the locomotive of its success as a cutting centre. Adaptability to new technology has helped the industry produce polished diamonds with high quality makes it is increasingly recognized internationally.
Sri Lanka ’s specialty is small diamonds of extraordinarily high quality, which are imported sawn or cleaved rough. In addition to the traditional brilliant cut, many cutting companies handle other specialized shapes and cuts, particularly tapers, baguettes and princes etc.
The industry in Sri Lanka is highly organized and the factories are equipped with modern bruting machines and polished wheels mainly from Belgium, Israel, Thailand, India and China.

 Sri Lanka’s jewellery makers have refined their hereditary skills over centuries, to attain the highest standards in exquisite craftsmanship and sophisticated creativity with the modern touch. With the addition of the latest expertise in design and construct, and a new focus on design excellence, Sri Lanka is emerging as a design centre offering high quality jewellery collections of Silver, Gold & Platinum.

Jewellery of Sri Lankan origin is hallmarked by an autonomous Authority, having membership in The Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (Hallmarking Convention) and the International connection of Assay Offices.  The Gemological Laboratory certifies the validity of gemstones.

The laws in Sri Lanka guarantees copyright protection of designs. Simplified import-export procedure offers intercontinental buyers peace of mind and ease of operation when dealing with Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s membership of the conference on the ATA carnet, facilitates the smooth transportation of jewellery.

An Import Export Gem Office at the Cargo Village at the International Airport in Katunayake expedites the clearance of rough gemstones and export of cut & polished gems, jewellery and diamonds.

A Sri Lanka-Korea Economic Co-operation Committee was set up on 4th November 1982, under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The objectives of the committee are to attract Korean investment to Sri Lanka, to promote two-pronged trade between the two countries with weight on the promotion of exports to Korea, to encourage the transfer of expertise from Korea to Sri Lanka and to encourage the growth of tourism from Korea to Sri Lanka. Over all, the economic co-operation board has met nine times, five times in Sri Lanka and four times in Korea.

Trade in Srilanka

 

In relation to coconut fibre and fibre based products, there is significant potential to further expand exports of bristle, twisted fibre, geo textiles, coir fibre pith, various kinds of brushes, door mats, matting as well as rubberised coir based products for the automobile industry. There seems to be a number of areas where upward interest has been observed in new applications for rubberised coir fibre, such as in civil construction weed killer mats. These can also be explored.

The trend for environmentally friendly biodegradable natural products like geo textiles manufactured from coir fibre, has opened opportunities for export to Korea.

There is also a lot of potential to expand exports of activate carbon to Korea since the total imports are in the region of about 12,000 million tons per year.

Other products with enormous potential are floricultural products particularly rooted plants, uprooted cuttings/cane, tissues, cultured plants, cut flowers, cut pretty leaves and flower seeds.

There is also opportunity for exports of calibrated gemstones, diamonds and jewellery, with prospects for collaboration with Korean partners.

Since Korea imports more than US$ one billion worth of garments, in attendance are also enormous prospects for export of Sri Lankan textiles and textile based products, which at the moment is only Rs. 200 to 300 million.

Other potential product areas are limonite, graphite and silica sand, canned and processed fruits and juices, processed gherkins, baby corn, essential oils and spices.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB commonly known as the EDB) is the premier state organisation dealing with the promotion and development of exports. It was established in 1979 under the Sri Lanka Export enlargement Act No. 40 of 1979, and now functions under the Ministry of Industry & Commerce.

The Chairman is the Chief Executive who is assisted by the Director General and the Additional Director General. Its day-to-day functions are carried out by several divisions each of which is headed by a Director.

The Export Services Division provides assistance and creates opportunities for local professional services companies including ICT,BPO,KPO and Electronic harvest to extend their business worldwide, thereby increasing export sales and employment prospects in the country through integrated programmes such as supply development, quality improvement and training, initiate product development and adaptation of such products / services to export market requirements.  It offers assistance for the ICT/BPO/KPO exporters for market development and consultative services to small and mid-sized businesses and sponsors & co-sponsors educational seminars and training programs for exporters and potential exporters. 

In the Gulf region, the UAE is the largest export market for Sri Lanka, the largest source of imports to Sri Lanka, and the largest investor in Sri Lanka. The UAE is also home for a large number of Sri Lankan expatriate workers among Gulf countries. The number of tourists from the UAE visiting Sri Lanka is also on the increase and the UAE has become the largest tourist supplier among the Gulf countries to Sri Lanka in 2011.

ri Lanka has been trading with the UAE for a significant period of time and it continues to remain one of Sri Lanka's major trading partners ranking 7th position of top export market to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka exported US$ 246 Mn worth of goods to UAE in 2010. The total trade between the two countries was at US$ 570 Mn in 2010, an increase of US$ 65 Mn compared to the figures registered in 2009. However, the balance of trade has been in favour of the UAE. Interesting to note that the two way trade jumped to US$ 807 Mn during January – September 2011, pushed up by rice and oil imports which accounted for over one third or USD 267 million of imports from UAE.

Tea, natural rubber, coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, cashew nuts, essential oil, fruits and vegetables, processed food, sea food, rubber products and toys are the chief export commodities from Sri Lanka to the UAE. However, tea has been the major export commodity (accounting 60%) of Sri Lanka to the UAE.

Among the items imported from the UAE, crude oil, diesel, gas oil and lubricants are the major trade in commodities accounting for 24% of whole imports. Other items include urea, lentils, iron & steel and machinery & parts.

Trade in Srilanka

Trade in Singapore

Singapore Gifts & Premiums Fair (SGPF) is Singapore's Best and Longest running trade show of its kind. The 13th edition of this show will showcase the latest promotional products, retail gifts and specialty printing & packaging products. SGPF has been widely recognised as THE show exhibited by quality and leading suppliers and attended by genuine buyers from the region. SGPFair 2012 is organised by BizLink Exhibition Services, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings, supported by Promotional Products & Giftware Association (Singapore) and Singapore Convention & Exhibition Bureau.

Trade in Singapore

Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia is your priority business event for Southeast Asias building market. The exhibition is focused on BUILD GREEN featuring eco-friendly, energy efficiency building materials, design and architecture for the future of sustainable environments and incorporates critical content that enhances your competitive advantage and knowledge of the BUILD GREEN sector. The event brings together industry practitioners, professionals and key buyers across the regions to learn, network and do business with Southeast Asias developing economies.
Asia Expo - Singapore will be staged at the 'Five-star' Sands Expo & Convention Center, Marina Bay, Singapore. This brand new extravagant venue is Singapore's new landmark. Being one of the Asia's largest convention and exhibition centres, this multi-functional venue is just next to the Marina Bay Sands Casino & Hotel, shopping malls and transport access points, commanding a host of modernised exhibition facilities. Measuring over 120,000sft, the grand venue can feasibly fit with 2,000 trade booths on the fairground and 250 conference rooms, and accommodate a total number of 45,000 visitors at a time, ensuring the most effective exhibition services for both exhibitors and buyers.
International Furniture Fair Singapore will be a showcase of over 120,000 designed furniture and accessories. It will deal in the residential equipments, office furniture, antique, classic and garden furniture, the built furniture, custom furniture, lighting, materials for making furniture, machinery and tools, woodworking and more. It will bring an opportunity for the customers to know that what exactly new is available in the furniture market as per their requirements and their budget.

Trade in Singapore

The visitors can discover modern accessories and latest designs in the furniture fair. Last year, lots of exhibitors came to the expo and exhibited their foreign and domestic furniture at the International Furniture Fair Singapore.
Asia Expo - Singapore will be staged at the 'Five-star' Sands Expo & Convention Center, Marina Bay, Singapore. This brand new extravagant venue is Singapore's new landmark. Being one of the Asia's largest convention and exhibition centres, this multi-functional venue is just next to the Marina Bay Sands Casino & Hotel, shopping malls and transport access points, commanding a host of modernised exhibition facilities. Measuring over 120,000sft, the grand venue can feasibly fit with 2,000 trade booths on the fairground and 250 conference rooms, and accommodate a total number of 45,000 visitors at a time, ensuring the most effective exhibition services for both exhibitors and buyers.
Asian Work Boat 2013 will be the most significant worldwide work boat exhibition in Asia. It will showcase the latest and most innovative, high quality products in the maritime industries, port technology and maritime services from throughout the globe. It will attract large numbers of high quality vessel owners, operators, builders, designers, government personnel and maritime equipment suppliers for all types of work boats.
More than 3,000 top quality visitors from 40 countries including Norway, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, New Zealand and others will attend the Asian Work Boat 2013. It is one of biggest event in Singapore.
Sea Asia Singapore 2013, Asias premier maritime conference and exhibition will return to Singapore for its 4th showing on 9-11 April 2013. Held in conjunction with Singapore Maritime Week 2013, the event will bring together CEOs, presidents, decision-makers and maritime professionals from diverse sectors of the global shipping industry. The 3-day conference and exhibition promises to provide a spectacular galore of diverse products and services, with vast networking opportunities and the chance to learn from thought-provoking conference sessions led by influential speakers.
The Economy of New Zealand is a market economy which is greatly dependent on international trade, mainly with Australia, the United States of America, China and Japan. It is strongly dependent on tourism and agricultural exports, and has only small manufacturing and high-tech components. Economic free-market reforms of the last decades have removed many barriers to foreign investment, and the World Bank has praised New Zealand as being the most business-friendly country in the world.

Trade in Singapore

Regional and bilateral free trade agreements have become an important part of New Zealand's international trade policy. New Zealand has used free trade agreements also known as closer economic partnerships to liberalise trade between economies. A Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with Thailand was negotiated in 2004 and implemented in 2005. Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with Chile, Brunei and Singapore known as the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership were concluded in 2005. Negotiations for further agreements with Malaysia were undertaken in 2006, but failed to reach a conclusion. The historic FTA with China was signed in Beijing in April 2008.
On 27 February 2009 New Zealand and its close partner Australia signed a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN regional block of 10 countries it is estimated that an FTA with ASEAN would boost aggregate GDP across the 12 countries by more than US$48 billion over the period 2000-2020 with an additional US$3.4 billion to New Zealand alone.
   
Traditionally, barriers to trade were addressed mainly through reductions in tariffs. But to create open markets in the 21st century, Europe needs to look beyond tariff reduction to the trade barriers that lie behind borders. As tariffs fall, these barriers - such as restrictive regulations or standards - become increasingly important. There is therefore a need to step up our engagement with the major emerging economies, particularly in Asia, where there is potential for growth.
This is why the European Commission proposed a new generation of competitiveness-driven bilateral free trade agreements with key partners, in which economic criteria is a primary consideration. The Commission will ensure that these agreements are a stepping stone for future liberalisation, not a stumbling block, by building on the WTO: tackling issues which are not ready for multilateral discussion and by going beyond the market opening that can be achieved in the WTO.

Trading at one's best and making the best trades are goals shared equally by buy- and sell-side institutional traders. And yet, what enables some to consistently reach their mark?

At FlexTrade Systems, we maintain that having access to a sophisticated and integrated array of resources, including innovative and flexible technology, gives traders the edge to perform optimally on every trade and achieve best execution.

We develop cutting edge functionality and workflows that support traders who want to lead, not follow, create rather than copy, and optimize returns for their clients and firm without compromise.

Trade in Singapore

Trade in Austarlai

Australia reported a trade deficit equivalent to 285 Million AUD in May of 2012. Historically, from 1971 until 2012, Australia Balance of Trade averaged -369.3 Million AUD reaching an all time high of 3478.0 Million AUD in June of 2010 and a record low of -3651.0 Million AUD in February of 2008. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, particularly wheat and wool, minerals such as iron-ore and gold, and energy in the form of liquefied natural gas and coal. Australia is a major importer of machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines and telecommunication lasers. Its main trading partners are: Japan, China, The United States and New Zealand. This page includes a chart with chronological data for Australia Balance of Trade.

The balance of trade is the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports in an economy over a certain period of time. A helpful balance of trade is known as a trade surplus and consists of exporting more than is imported; a negative balance of trade is known as a trade deficit or, unceremoniously, a trade gap. The balance of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as international aid. If the current account is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position. The Balance of Trade is matching to the difference between a country's output and its domestic demand - the difference between what goods a country produces and how many goods it buys from abroad; this does not include money respent on foreign stocks, nor does it factor the concept of importing goods to produce for the domestic market.

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) assists Australian businesses to expand their business outside Australia with information about export markets, grants and assistance and promotes and supports productive foreign venture and international education in Australia.

The principal roles of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service are to facilitate trade and the movement of people across the Australian border while protecting the community and maintaining appropriate obedience with Australian law; to efficiently collect customs revenue; and to administer specific industry assistance schemes and trade measures.

DECO is responsible for administering controls on the export of defence and dual-use goods, and the granting of authorisations to export, in the form of permits and licenses. Items subject to control are listed within the Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL). The dual-use categories include Chemicals, Toxins, Materials Processing, Electronics, Computers, Telecommunications and Information Security, Sensors and Lasers, Navigation and Avionics, Marine and Aerospace and momentum sectors. 

Your gateway to Australian Financial Services licensing and regulation. The Financial Services Gateway is an online portal to help international visitors understand Australia's regulatory environment, guiding probable investors to banking, superannuation, insurance and funds administration information.

Trade in Austarlai

Australia and New Zealand's biggest annual celebration of all things fair trade is coming soon. With events, activities and promotions happening across both countries, Fair Trade Fortnight gives each of us the opening to celebrate the life-changing difference our fair trade choice makes for millions of developing country farmers, producers, their families and communities.  

The first one that was sent out just wouldn't start. Called up the company, they agreed to replace it but would not pay for postage of returning it.
The second one they sent out had a broken fuel tank cover which wouldn't stay on.
Called up the company, the sales rep. told us that it wasn't such a big deal, but as a favour to us, he would be willing to exchange for another chainsaw.
We refused and asked for a refund, but the group would only agree to refund of 80% of cost of the chainsaw, as they didn't think a broken fuel cap was an issue.
They also refused to refund any postage costs that were incurred, despite the products they had sent out being faulty. 

Australia has always been a trading nation. Its political, colonization and cultural links with other countries have been reinforced by trade and investment, with its high reliance on imports such as electrical appliances, cars, clothes, footwear, PCs and watches being a reminder of these trade links. The influx of imported products has benefited Australia but in recent decades, the reliance on them has caused problems for its economy. Such problems have incorporated trade deficits, whereby the value of imports has exceeded that of exports by between $12 and $20 billion each year. They also include foreign debt in money owed overseas, which has increased from roughly $19 billion to $527 billion since the 1980s, as well as causing unemployment. Australia's current trade and trade and industry policies, particularly its push for stronger trading links with Asia-Pacific countries, reflect the attempt at tackling these ongoing problems.

Although Australia relies heavily on its overseas foreign outlay and employers, with hundreds of foreign companies operating in Australia, it is also a high exporter of goods, services and capital, with 60% of its exports going to the Asia-Pacific region. Agricultural goods and minerals dominate Australia's exports, as do some of its service firms such as Qantas which is well known overseas, especially in its region. This chapter will explore Australia's trade links in its membership with regional trading blocs and agreements, and its shift away from its traditional trading partners such as Britain, and the types of goods exported.

Trade in Austarlai

For many years, Britain was Australia's major trading partner, with its acquire of Australian farm products and supplies to Australia of consumer goods. Britain's trade with Australia has declined since the 1960s, so that it now ranks sixth behind Australia's top five trading partners. Australia still exports primary products such as minerals, wheat and fruit to Britain and other western European countries despite the decline in trade. However, Japan has develop into Australia's largest trading partner with its importing of Australian wool, and minerals such as coal and iron ore. Other regional Asian countries have become major importers of Australia's primary products, especially wheat. Japan and also the United States have replaced Britain as Australia's main source of consumer goods. As well as supplying food, raw materials and insincere goods, Australia currently provides services such as education, training and software development to its Asia-Pacific neighbours.

Australia belongs to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group (1989). APEC began in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies, and has 18 member nations located around the Asia-Pacific Rim that includes Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United States and Vietnam. The significance of APEC can be seen in its member countries' increase in exports, valued at approximately US$2.5 trillion and representing about 43% of total world exports, as well as imports, valued at approximately US$2.4 trillion and representing about 44% of total world imports in topical years. More than half of Australia's exports go to APEC countries and about 40 percent of imports and much of its foreign investment come from these. Australia seeks from APEC the promotion of free trade in the region and other countries, to protect and project regional interests in wider negotiations such as the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations and to develop cooperative projects in improving the economic routine of member countries and the region in general.

  Australia's first trading agreement in its region was the New Zealand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (1965), which was a response to Britain's move away from trade in the British Commonwealth to join the European Economic Community (ECC). This was followed by a call for closer trade and industry ties and the signing of the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER) in 1983. In 1988 the two countries agreed to implement free trade in goods from 1990 and discussions are ongoing for increased harmonisation of competition policy, banking and accountancy regulations, as well as mutual links in migration, tourism, transport, and the relaxing of export subsidies between the countries. Points of friction remain on issues such as Australia's strict quarantine laws. CER is recognised as one of the world's most successful free trade agreements.

A high level of foreign investment into Australia has allowed faster advance of its domestic resources. In 2003, foreign investment into Australia reached $904.4 billion, up by $47.4 billion or 5.5 percent on the previous year, with direct investment rising 8.4 percent to $233.5 billion. Australia's government has a regional headquarters program aimed at encouraging global companies to establish regional bases in Australia by stressing its economic strengths, cultural diversity and stability. It has further used this to promote its image as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific with strong trade and cultural links with countries in this region. In the late 1990s, Australia's unique stability and economic strength was shown by its remaining relatively unscathed by the Asian Financial Crisis, which was caused by a boom of international lending to the region followed by a sudden withdrawal of funds. Many Australian companies retained a presence in countries hit by the crisis such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Australia has since benefited from honouring its district trade links now that conditions have improved. Further, its ability to adapt to such crises has now been seen by many overseas investors to be proven. Such investors with a regional base in Australia include American firms, Dow Chemical, Hewlett Packard and Microsoft, the Finnish firm, Nokia, and German firm, Siemens.

Another major Asia-Pacific trading bloc is the connection of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area (AFTA). Australia's exports to AFTA countries exceed exports to either the European Union or North America. Its member countries include Burma, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. AFTA's future goals coincide with Australia's regional trading aims. These goals include liberalising trade in ASEAN by progressively removing tariff and non-tariff barriers, attracting foreign investors, and adapting ASEAN to the rise of other district trading blocs.

The law in most countries requires that a signature on a document be witnessed or other procedures applied before the document can be used for legal purposes or in a court of law. Solicitors, justices of the peace, and notaries public normally perform these functions in Australia, but the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) may also be authorised to do so. 

Trade in Austarlai

DFAT provides notarial army, or the legalisation of documents, to Australians, or people planning to use documents in Australia, through its State/Territory offices in Australia and its diplomatic missions overseas.

Following over a decade of uninterrupted growth, the Australian economy is now feeling the effects of the pressures of the global economic crisis and is in a period of minimal or zero growth. While consumer demand has been strong and the housing sector robust, the real story regarding growth in GDP forecast for 2009 is .05%, A mild recovery in fiscal growth, to 1.2% may arrive in 2010 but could be as late as 2011. 

The unemployment rate for 2008 was estimated at 4.2 per cent and is forecast to rise to 5 per cent by the June quarter 2009 and 5¾ per cent by the June quarter 2010.

The Reserve Bank of Australia will continue to cut interest rates in the first quarter of 2009, despite the fact that inflation is calculate to remain well above the bank’s target. Headline consumer inflation accelerated to 5% year on year in the third quarter of 2008, up from 4.5% in the previous quarter. The forecast is that inflation will ease to 3.1% in 2009 and 2.6% in 2010. 

Imports of goods rose by AUD$5.6 billion in the third quarter of 2008, to AUD$59.8 billion. Imports of consumer goods fell, in a reflection of the deteriorating outlook for consumer confidence in Australia.

The general tariff reduction on industrialized goods has now fallen to 5 per cent. Duties on passenger motor vehicles (PMV) and parts components has been reduced from 10% (General rate of customs duty) to 5% on 1 January 2010. Duties on textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) have fallen to 10% since 1 January 2005 & will be the same rate as other manufactured goods - 5% in 2015.Pharmaceuticals
Trade in prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals between Australia and Canada have been enhanced through a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) signed in March 2005. This agreement allows manufacturers batch certifications to be recognised by one without re-analysis by the other. In addition, the agreement reduces compliance costs and shortens delays in the marketing of Canadian curative/drug products in Australia and vice versa.   

The High Commission in Canberra is primarily involved in market access issues and the development of industrial, economic and systematic cooperation with Australia. It facilitates strategic alliances and investment. It also handles business development and trade enquiries in the following sectors: government and defense procurement; aerospace; agriculture, food and beverages; fish and seafood products, agricultural technology and equipment; education; forest industries; metals, minerals and related equipment, services and technology; and science and technology, and is responsible for business progress in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. Canberra co-operates with the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney and the Consulate and Trade Office of Canada in Auckland.

We serve Canadian clients in all sectors. Based on our knowledge of the market, the following sectors offer the greatest opportunities for Canadian companies:

Aerospace & Defence | Agricultural Technology & Equipment | Agriculture, Food & Beverages | Environment and Renewable Energies | Fish & Seafood Products | Forest Industries| Information and connections Technology (ICT) | Life Sciences | Metals, Minerals & Related Equipment, Services & Technology | Service Industries and Capital Projects (including road and rail network and Transportation)

Trade in Austarlai

Drug Trade in Bangladesh

Crime in Bangladesh is at hand in various forms. Organized crime include drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, murder for hire, fraud etc. Other criminal operations engage in human trafficking, robbery, corruption, black marketeering, political violence, terrorism, abduction etc.

Bangladesh is a transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries. According to the Annual Report for 2007 in print by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Bangladesh has become the main transit point for trafficking of heroin to Europe from Southeast Asia. The report noted that the porous borders between Bangladesh and India make a payment to the cross-border trafficking of narcotics.There are three routes used for trafficking of heroin into Bangladesh: by courier from Pakistan, by commercial vehicle or train from India, and by sea (Bay of Bengal) or by road from Myanmar.

An estimated 100,000 people work in the drug trafficking commerce in Bangladesh.

According to police reports, homicide has increased in the country in recent years. Between 2001 and 2003, a total of 10,331 cases of homicide were reported in Bangladesh^.

Bangladesh is on top of the list in Software piracy in the Asia Pacific region^.Software vendors lose 102 million US dollars every year^.There is no strict law to stop the crime in this country.

In our recent political history corruption became a buzzword in all our public sectors and even in our private organizations.Bangladesh has been acknowledged as the most corrupt country in the world for consecutive four years by Transparency International.Corruption means to draw any profit or benefit that goes touching law and harms others interest.Corruption done by many ways like bribery,favouritism,extortion,fraudulence and deception etc.Corruption is a social crime.Capitalistic economic system,unequal distribution of wealth,gap between wealth and poverty,economic insolvency,high living cost,unemployment are the social and economical causes of corruption. In a poor and underdeveloped country like Bangladesh the effects of corruption in country and politics are very devastating.If government officials are corrupt people do not get good service from them.If politicians and policy-makers are corrupt .It affects country's overall development.By corruption a group of people earn lots of means and lead luxurious life.This creates social gap between poor and rich people. Corruption in the educational systeam lowers down standard of education .All this corruption seriously harms the image of our nation and also create economic and social crimes. It is also a social problem.Due to corruption only a group of people gain but a majority of people suffer.It has became a serious national problem.we must eliminate the problem from the society.

Among the trafficking routes to Bangladesh, the vast forests and terrain areas of hill tracts and the Bangladeshi, Myanmar and Thai Fishing Trawlers are being safely used for trafficking heroin into Bangladesh.

It is alleged that heroin produced in North Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and India is by and large trafficked into  foreign countries through Calcutta, Madras and Mumbai routes of India and through Thailand and Rangoon. But the International drug barons and the Mafia network also find Bangladesh as a out of harm's way and alternate  trafficking  routes when the Indian and Myanmar routes become risky.

Bangladesh, with its longest borders with India on 3 sides and with Myanmar to the northeast has become very risky and vulnerable for drug trafficking and abuse. 

It has been spread over from urban areas to rural areas. The most frequently used drug is heroin, thereafter, phensidyl (Codeine based cough syrup) illegally transit from India and the third highest is cannabis. Bangladesh have borders with India on its three sides excluding the south, which stands on the Bay of Bangal. The three border routes are as follows:

The western routes with India are – Darshana, Zibannagar of Chuadanga, Hili and Birol of Dinajpur and Moghulhat, Aditmari, Durgapur, Fulbari, Nageshwari of Kurigram and Nawabgonj, Rajshahi, Meherpur & Debhat and Kaligonj of Khulna and Benapole, Chowgacha of Jessore.

n the otherside of Indian boundaries, there are factories/industries of manufacturing codeine based narcotics (with ‘Phensidyl’ as trade name) and are being trafficked into Bangladesh, where BSF and BDR are  guarding borders on their respective sides.

Codeine – ‘A’ class narcotic liquid has been trafficked into Bangladesh by bus, truck packed in different baggages and luggages through the above border areas in the trade name of phensidyl and also drugs are smuggled into by ships, fishing trawlers and by airways. It seems that Bangladesh has been all the time more used as a ‘transit country’ for heroin shipments using Dhaka Airport and the seaport of Chittagong as exit-points.

About 100,000 people, including 30,000 women and children, are involved in illegal drug trade in Bangladesh, the country's Department of Narcotics be in charge of (DNC) said Wednesday.

drug trade

"It is unfortunate for us that we have failed to control the use of narcotics," DNC director general (DG) Humayun Kabir told reporters Wednesday, on the eve of the globally observed anti-drugs day on June 26.

Drug addicts spend at least 460 million taka (about 6.57 million U.S. dollars) on narcotics every day, leading English newspaper The Financial Express reported Thursday quoting the DNC DG.

Kabir said there was no specific government data on the number of drug addicts or drug use in the country.

Two weeks ago, an odd incident took place while this reporter was en route to Dhaka from Cox's Bazaar, riding a renowned luxurious AC bus. The expedition was smooth all the way; however, it came to a halt when the bus suddenly stopped near the Kanchpur Bridge. It was at the crack of dawn; the passengers were waking up, all bleary eyed, some wondering what was going on. They found the bus blocked by a police vehicle. Another police vehicle was blocking the way behind the bus. A few police officers in civilian clothing carrying pistols got on board. They claimed to have been tipped off that there was a member of a drug peddling ring travelling with us, smuggling heroin and 'yaba' to Dhaka. Each and every passenger was searched, along with their luggages. After pointed for half an hour, the officers found four small packets of heroin, tucked inside a mobile phone packing box along with the phone, in the luggage carrier of the bus. While everyone was getting over the shock from what had just been found, two of the officers got busy estimating the worth of the catch. "I think each of those packs has around 250 grams of heroin," whispered one cop to the other. According to them, the total amount of heroin was about one kilogram, approaching from Myanmar through Cox's Bazaar. Police search is almost a usual occurrence on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, as it is in Nageshwari alongside Rangpur-Dhaka highway, and on the Jessore-Dhaka highway. But drug traffickers are still mostly out of reach of the law enforcement agencies. According to a source, more than 400 drug dealers are administration this illegal business at about 374 spots in Dhaka city. A number of godfathers, including ward commissioners of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), and one listed fugitive 'top terror' are in control of the entire business in the capital. Despite law enforcers' routine and special raids to combat the prohibited drug trading, the situation virtually remains unchanged as most of the arrested drug dealers resume their businesses after securing bail from the court. The arrested drug peddlers can easily get out of jail due to the loopholes in police reports in connection with the cases The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) sources said that the amount of drugs seized is only 10 per cent of the total drugs smuggled into the country. Some 100,000 people are engaged in this illegal trade, and 30 per cent of those charged with drug industry are women and children. Most of the drugs sold in the drug dens are heroin, cannabis and phensedyl, as they are most preferred by the drug addicts; yaba, on the other hand, is a 'fashionable drug'. Sale of these drugs, especially phensedyl, openly takes place under the very nose of the law enforcing agencies. Drug addicts, mostly youngsters - both male and female - gather at different drug spots from afternoon till midnight. The traders normally adopt new ntactics to increase their business.According to some intelligence sources, the
highest number of illegal drug spots has been identified in Dhaka's Jatrabari, Demra, Shyampur and Kadamtoli thanas, where 93 drug dens are active. About 87 sellers are dealing at those spots. "I think it will be very difficult to remove drugs from the city because Bangladesh lies on one of the most central drug trafficking routes in the world," said an official from DNC. According to DNC, there are two major drug trafficking routes that are being used to smuggle huge amounts of illegal substances around the world, with each consignment being significance thousands of dollars. One of these routes starts from Golden Triangle, ending up in Canada via Myanmar, Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Middle East, Europe and the US. The other route starts from Golden Crescent, ending up in Canada via Pakistan, Middle East, Africa, Europe and the US. Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent are the two major opium-producing areas in Asia. Golden Triangle covers the mountains of Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand; Golden Crescent overlaps the mountainous territories of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Apart from this, NDC marked another route that goes from beginning to end Bangladesh, India, Middle East, Indian Ocean, Europe, the USA and Canada. The vast forests and hilly terrains of Southeast Bangladesh provide shelter to the drug smugglers. Bangladeshi, Burmese and Thai fishing trawlers are recurrently used to bring heroin into Bangladesh. As mentioned in various intelligence reports, heroin produced in North Myanmar, Laos,Thailand and India is generally trafficked to foreign countries through Kolkata, Chennai(formerly named Madras) and Mumbai of India, Thailand and Yangon of Myanmar. However,international drug barons and the mafia find Bangladesh as a safe alternative way when the Indian and Burmese routes become risky. Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of International Relations at Dhaka University, stated that goods worth more than US $3.5 billion are smuggled every year. Visiting extensively alongside the Bangladesh-India border, this reporter found that Indian border authorities help smugglers in trafficking drugs into Bangladesh; they are even involved in human trafficking. This watching was also backed up in a top national intelligence source. According to the Border Guards Bangladesh headquarters, drugs worth more than Tk 4.538 billion including heroin, cocaine, opium, charas, phensedyl and marijuana was seized earlier this year from the Bangladesh-India border. Phensedyl, a cough syrup that is banned in Bangladesh and one of the choicest substances namong the youngsters, is quite easy to supply. nThere are more than hundreds of mini factories near the Indian wall of the border that produce
phensedyl. It is strictly prohibited in Kuchbihar, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya; any physician who prescribes this drug will be punished. Reliable sources from the Indian side of the border said to this reporter that these drugs originate from India and gain access to Bangladesh
through the porous border, under the patronage of RAW officials.A senior official of the Directorate of Narcotics admitted that the inflow of drugs from India can hardly be checked. Despite many attempts, only 5 per cent of the total quantity of smuggled drugs is seized by Bangladesh border authorities; the drug pushers manage to smuggle the rest using road, rail and water ways. Bangladesh is a signatory to all the three UN Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 and the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1990. Obligated under these conventions and being in the close proximity of the two major heroin-producing areas, Bangladesh has full various measures to stop, or atleast restrict, imports. However, there has been very little progress. There are several drug trafficking routes between India and Bangladesh. The western routes go through Darshana, Jibonnagar ofChuadanga, Hili and Birol of Dinajpur,Moghulhat, Aditmari, Durgapur, Fulbari, Nageshwari of Kurigram, and Nawabgonj, Rajshahi, Meherpur and Debhat, Kaligonj of Khulna, and Benapole, and Chowgachha of Jessore. Eastern routes are through Akhaura, Jhautala, Sadullahpur, Nawgaon, Singer Beel, Col Bazaar, Gangasagar and Kasba of
Brahmanbaria, Bibirbazar, Chagalnaiya, Maharajganj and Gutuma of Feni, Barkal and Baghaichari of Rangamati, Chittagong, Teknaff of Cox's Bazaar, and Dighinala, Panchari, and Matiranga of Khagrachari. Northern routes include Haluaghat (Telikhali/Karaitali/Surjyapur/Bandarkata/Munsirhat/ Munshipara) of Mymensing and Durgapur (Bijoypur and Bhabani area) of Netrokona and Bangla Banda, Bhurungabari, Jhenaigati, Sunamgonj and Tamabil. Investigation by this reporter revealed that there are three important drug wholesaling spots in Dhaka city: Amin Bazar at Gabtali, Ashulia at Uttara and Chittagong road near Jatrabari. These three locations are the safe spots for the rewarding drug trading and dumping house. 'The drugs are carried into the capital through Jessore Road inside coconuts," said a drugs carrier from Amin Bazar. The 'goods' are then sold at various points of Mirpur 1, Gabtali and Amin Bazar, currently single-handedly controlled by the notorious armed group GangchilBahini."Besides drugs, they also sellarms which are smuggled through the Indian border," said a tea stall owner from Ashulia. "Most of these drugs and arms are wrapped in plastic and dumped under water in the lake in Ashulia, or are hidden near the lake premises," he shared. "When daylight breaks, the retailers fro mthe city arrive to buy them, which they in turn sell to their customers in Dhaka,"added the tea stall owner.Interestingly, last year the expense of DNC to extract illegal substances was Tk 183,199,589 but drugs recovered were worth much less. It is funny that DNC claimed to have held only 9.5 kg heroin last year, while a DNC insider told this reporter that the actual quantity was a lot more. DNC is headed by a director general. It has a sanctioned manpower of 1,283, but the existing manpower totals 868. A DNC official asserted that it is difficult to run the operation with such inadequate manpower. However, the intelligence agencies regarded the statement as a funny excuse. All we can do now is hope that the concerned authorities will get just about to take appropriate and effective means to put a stop to drug trafficking in this country. 

drug trade

Dhaka: Bangladesh has become the prime transit route for trafficking heroin to Europe from Southeast Asia, according to a report from the International Narcotics Control Board 2007 annual report that was released on Wednesday.

Dhaka: Bangladesh has become the prime transit route for trafficking heroin to Europe from Southeast Asia, according to a report from the International Narcotics Control Board 2007 annual report that was released on Wednesday.An independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body which implements UN drug-related conventions, the INCB also blamed a lack of resources and training of law enforcement agencies for Bangladesh's failure to 'properly implement' its drug control policy.

Bangladesh police are quoted in the report as saying that the Chittagong seaport is the "main exit point for drugs leaving the country," while the rest is smuggled out through Sylhet and Chittagong airports.

The report also cites press reports of couriers trying to smuggle heroin to Europe on their way from Pakistan through the Zia international airport in Dhaka.

The report observed that the use of Bangladeshi courier services for drug trafficking is on the rise, with drugs shipped primarily to Canada and South Africa, citing the seizure of 550 kilograms of ephedrine in February 2007. 

On July 28, 2010 an article was published in the Telegraph (Kolkata, India) under the heading 'Glare on African drug cartels' written by Pankaj Sharma. The article focused on the increased participation of African nationals, especially Nigerians, in the regional drug trade. Among other things, the article quoted one unnamed customs official as saying that these African (Nigerian) syndicates who traditionally operate from the heroin trafficking routes (the drugs are trafficked from the Golden crescent in Afghanistan through Pakistan) in the Western border of Pakistan and India are increasingly using the North Eastern states (in this case the drugs are trafficked from the Golden triangle of Myanmar) for achieving their business purposes.

So what does this have to do the current or future scenario in Bangladesh? Barely 24 hours after this article was published in Kolkata, only 252 km away in a city called Dhaka, a Nigerian national Afolayan Oladipupo Zaccheaus was apprehended in the Shahjalal International Airport trying to smuggle six kilograms of heroin estimated to be worth 6 crore taka to Malaysia using Bangladesh as the transit country. Credit for this discovery lies with a customs official named of Rasheda Parveen. The customs official at Departure gate no. 3 noticed some anomaly in the colour of the steel handle of the luggage. She immediately suspected that something was amiss. Had the steel handle been vacant i.e. if there was nothing inside the handle, the scanners would have displayed a slightly different colour. As it turned out, she was right, the steel handles did contain something -- 58 small foil packs with white powder inside a total of 10 aluminium packs. Zaccheaus tried to flee the scene but was quickly apprehended by the Armed Police Battalion. His partner Ratmi Aziz however, managed to escape. examination in the case is currently ongoing.

This is hardly the first time that foreigners have been caught for drug trafficking in Bangladesh. As his passport shows, Zaccheaus himself has been to Bangladesh seven times. This year alone, he has been in Bangladesh four times. "He is very familiar with our country," comments Shahidul Mannaf Kabir, Superintendent, Department of Narcotics Control, Airport in-charge, the agency that is handling the exploration. "I asked him in Bangla, 'what is your name' and he replied promptly. As he was taken to the prison cell, he shook hands with all the other prisoners and exchanged courteous greetings. I was astounded by the astuteness of this foreigner. He knows that he is likely to languish here for some time and under such circumstances he needs to be on good terms with the other local prisoners."

His words were echoed by an officer of an elite law enforcement agency: "He has been in Bangladesh seven times. What do you think he was here for? Playing football for Rahmatganj?" quips the officer on condition of anonymity. "Since the 80s, Nigerians are regular visitors to this country. The High Commission of Bangladesh has been giving them tourist visas on a regular basis, no questions asked. Bangladesh is not exactly a tourist's paradise, especially not for citizens of another third world country situated in another part of the world. There are many international students who come to Bangladesh from those parts of the world and their presence in our country is mutually beneficial. About the others I have my reservations." while we're on the subject, Zaccheaus was posing as a stock lot broker of ready-made garments, although he has always been travelling to Bangladesh on a tourist visa. An identity card found on him dating back to 2008 reads that he is a member of Rahmatganj Muslim society.

Zaccheaus's passport has revealed that he is a regular traveller and his places of frequent visits include India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, UAE, Nepal and the Philippines.

In recent years, Nigerians have been heavily involved in Indian drug trafficking, ranging from Mumbai on the West coast to the North Eastern states, often known as the seven sisters. UAE, the last destination of Zaccheaus, has also been suffering from operations of international crime syndicates.

The world’s major heroin smuggling route.

In June 2006 the arrest of a footballer Ozor Michael in Nepal revealed the existence of a flourishing global drug syndicate linked to Afghanistan and Europe. Michael was a footballer in a top Nigerian club. His passport raised worries among Nepalese narcotics officers as it revealed that he had travelled on a very suspicious route -- Afghanistan, Dubai and Doha. Like many Nigerian drug traffickers arrested before and after him, Michael claimed that it was his love for football that brought him to this country.

In Thailand, Nigerians also have a heavy hand in drug trafficking operating from the capital city Bangkok. The presence of foreigners in other places is too conspicuous and drugs are brought from the Burmese border by Thai local smugglers who then sell it to the Nigerian 'mules' who carry the merchandise by air to their destined places. Bangkok has one of the world's busiest airports and accordingly this makes smuggling drugs a lot easier. Proximity to the Golden Triangle of Myanmar has made Thailand a haven for local and international drug syndicates. Nigerian syndicates also activate in other South Eastern countries in conjunction with local criminals.

Zaccheaus has himself claimed that in the last few days he has been to Cox's Bazaar and Comilla. Cox's Bazaar lies near Teknaf, the main border town with Myanmar, which is the second largest producer of heroin after Afghanistan. Comilla lies in close proximity to the border with Tripura, the gateway to the seven sisters. As mentioned earlier, Nigerian organised groups are very active in the North Eastern states of India. So it would have seemed appropriate that he had good reasons to be in Comilla or Cox's Bazaar for his 'business' purposes.

However, there is one setback in this initial testimony. In Bangladesh, foreigners are a rare sight, especially in the countryside, and they attract a lot of attention from curious onlookers, many of whom have never seen an outsider in their life. Consider the fact that this particular foreigner is a drug trafficker and it would be literally impossible for him to be involved in underhanded dealings in most places in Bangladesh without attracting the undue attention of hundreds of locals. “He is definitely not telling us the truth. By stating Comilla and Cox's Bazaar as the places he last visited, he is only trying to misdirect the investigation and cover up the point in Dhaka from where he actually receives the supplies,” says Shahidul Mannaf Kabir. “We shall hopefully get to the bottom of the whole affair once he is placed on remand.” The magistrate court granted three days remand on August 3.

A law enforcement official specialising in Narcotics expresses similar views. “The Nigerians cannot operate clandestinely unless they are in the posh areas of Banani and Gulshan where the sight of foreigners are more common and they can mix among their own people,” he says. The official requesting anonymity also expressed disappointment concerning the immigration system of Bangladesh.

“The airport is operated by 18 different agencies. There is little co-ordination between the different agencies. As far as the Immigration Police is concerned, they can only check the passports, make sure they are not forged and then authorise the traveller. They cannot open the baggage, which is done by the Customs officials. The background officials have played little role in stopping the flow of drugs from the international airports,” says the official. “Most custom officials are more occupied with other affairs from where they can derive an income.” He, however, praised the efforts of the official who had detected the white powder but maintained that such people were a rarity. “The system needs an overhaul. Bangladesh has long been a transit point for trafficking drugs to other countries and the vast majority of the consignments pass through the international airports, especially the one in Dhaka.”

The international illegal drug syndicates change their modus operandi almost instantly when their contraband goods are seized by the law enforcing agencies, he said. They also change their routes and the system of carriage making it extremely difficult for DNC members to detect their movements.

Meanwhile another official of the department said that a total of 7,881 kilograms of heroin, 25,961 bottles of contraband Indian Phensidyl syrup, 240 kilograms of cannabis, 49 of cannabis plants and 1437 ampoules of Pathedine, 14,50,210 poppy foliage and other contraband drugs were seized between January and May".

Despite attempts to stop smuggling of drugs, such as heroin and Yaba tablets from Burma to Bangladeshthe armed forces and other law enforcing agencies cannot seem to control the rampant trade in drugs. It continues unabated, an intellectual said.

In Bangladesh the middle class, including students are into the use of Yaba tablets and other drugs coming from Burma forcing the Bangladesh government to crack down against drug users and dealers. The surplus drugs, including Yaba tablets are dispatched to other countries, said an observer.

The members of law enforcing agencies and the staff members of the DNC are in a position to nab the dealers and retailers. But the ring leaders of the drug mafia and godfathers remain out of reach as they are well organized and equipped with sophisticated firearms and telecommunication gadgets.
 

 The governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh on Monday decided to initiate cooperation in counterterrorism, counter narcotics and drug trafficking.
The fifth round of Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral consultations was held here with Pakistani side led by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Bangladesh handing over by its Foreign Secretary M Mijarul Quayes.
During the three hour-long discussion, including the lunch hosted by the foreign secretary in honour of the foreign secretary of Bangladesh, the two sides held a detailed overview of political, economic and trade, defence, cultural, educational and consular issues.
"The two foreign secretaries agreed to give fresh impetus to the promotion of bilateral relations and a comprehensive partnership," said the foreign office spokesman, Abdul Basit, in a statement. They agreed to the holding of next meeting of Joint Economic Commission and biannual consultations at senior officials' level."
It was also decided to initiate support in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics and drug trafficking besides facilitating visas and enhancing connectivity by direct shipping and more air links, he said. Basit said the next round of bilateral consultations would be held in Dhaka in 2011.

drug trade

 

Teade in UK

The United Kingdom reported a trade deficit equivalent to 4421 Million GBP in May of 2012. Historically, from 1955 until 2012, the United Kingdom Balance of Trade averaged -1157.8 Million GBP reaching an all time high of 2946.0 Million GBP in March of 1981 and a record low of -6067.0 Million GBP in August of 2005. The United Kingdom is the world's fifth-largest trading nation, highly dependent on foreign trade. It must import almost all its copper, ferrous metals, lead, zinc, rubber, and raw cotton and about one-third of its food. The United Kingdom's exports manufactured items like telecommunications equipment, automobiles, automatic data processing equipment, medicinal and pharmaceutical products and aircraft. Its main trading partners are European Union countries, The United States, China and Japan. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Balance of Trade.

The balance of trade is the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports in an economy over a certain period of time. A positive balance of trade is known as a trade surplus and consists of exporting more than is imported; a negative balance of trade is known as a trade deficit or, informally, a trade gap. The balance of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as international aid. If the current account is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position. The Balance of Trade is identical to the difference between a country's output and its domestic demand - the difference between what goods a country produces and how many goods it buys from abroad; this does not include money respent on foreign stocks, nor does it factor the concept of importing goods to produce for the domestic market.

The information provided on this site is not intended to be distributed to, or used by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject ETSL, ETHK or their affiliates to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction or country. Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in this site constitutes a solicitation or offer by ETSL or ETHK or any affiliates to buy or sell any securities, foreign exchange, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service.

Past performance is no guarantee of future performance or success, whether actual or historic. System response and account access times may vary or fail due to a variety of factors including market volatility and trading volumes, market conditions, system and software errors, Internet traffic, outages or other factors beyond ETSL, ETHK or their affiliates' control.

This web site is managed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Trade Statistics unit, and operates alongside the main HMRC website for the purpose of publishing and hosting UK trade statistics data.

These statistics record the movement - for trade purposes - of goods between the UK and both EU and non-EU countries.

They are collected from the EU-wide Intrastat survey and from Customs import and export entries, both administered by HMRC.  he UK remains firmly committed to the multilateral system of free and fair global trade, as governed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Whilst this will always provide the best route for trade liberalisation, FTAs can bring real economic benefits if they are implemented in the correct way. Even following a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda (the current round WTO trade negotiations), obstacles will still remain in place for businesses, and FTAs could help tackle these.

Free Trade Agreements can bring real economic benefits to UK business, offering deep and comprehensive market opening.  For example, the EU-South Korea FTA will bring a £1.4 billion reduction in Korean tariffs on EU industrial exports, half of which will be immediate, and could deliver £500 million of economic benefits annually to the UK economy.

The EU is currently negotiating a number of FTAs. Including with South Korea, India, Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), Canada, Ukraine and Singapore. The EU already has FTAs with South Africa (since 1999), Mexico (since 2000) and Chile (since 2002).

According to Royal Mail Packetpost instructions, it is recommend that all items are sent via the Post Office(TM), as all items will receive a proof of posting (which helps cover against fraud, and also without which you cannot claim for any loss or damage against Royal Mail). If posted in a pillar-box, the customer should be aware of having no proof of posting. To find your closest Post Office(TM) location, visit the branch finder or go to www.royalmail.co.uk and select 'branch finder'. We're constantly updating the trade-in programme with new titles. Please check back often to see what's been added.

There is a yawning chasm between the way the Tory government treats its friends in the City and the public at large. 

UK trade

After the latest rate fixing scandal, Bank of England governor Mervyn King described the banks' behaviour as shoddy and deceitful, but Cameron is still not backing a public inquiry. Why?

Instead, we learn that one of Barclays' top bosses has been appointed to the NHS Commissioning Board and given a say over its finances. What a disgrace - we don't want a banking culture - mired in deceit - brought into our NHS.

While the bankers and financiers enjoy smoked salmon and champagne at Wimbledon, families across the public sector have had their pay frozen and struggle to put food on the table and to pay their bills.

It's time to stop the cronyism and start building an economy based on fairness and opportunity for all - not just for the few. 

The Trade Delegation of the Russian Federation in the United Kingdom as a governmental body is acting on the basis of the bilateral intergovernmental agreement and representing economic interests of Russia in this country.

The Trade Delegation is one of the organizers of the functioning and active provider of the solutions for the Russia-Britain Intergovernmental Steering Committee on Trade and Investment and its working groups on High-tech, Energy, Construction and Aviation/Aerospace. The Committee is considered to be one of the most effective forms of the support to business.

trade balance

For the United States and United Kingdom, our economic well-being is inextricably linked to one another. We are each other’s largest investors, and largest foreign employers. Our mutual language, common history and shared values make business collaborations between Britain and America easier and more prosperous. We are home to innovators and entrepreneurs who are building the economies of the future.

This page is a portal to explore doing business with the UK. You can find out more about the incomparable bonds of UK-US trade and investment. You can learn about the core strengths of the UK economy. And you can find resources for your business to expand into the UK with the help of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

Economists said that net trade did probably make a positive contribution to the UK economy in the final quarter of 2011 but would probably not be enough to avoid overall growth being virtually flat or even negative thanks in part to a slump in consumer spending.

There were also warnings that the government's hopes of rebalancing the economy away from domestic demand towards manufacturing and foreign trade will be hard to realise this year.

"Exports appear to have regained a modest upward trend in recent months, which is likely to have persisted into December. Trade is nevertheless unlikely to contribute strongly to UK economic growth in 2012, which looks set to be a challenging year as signs of improved demand from countries such as the US and China are likely to be countered by weak demand in the eurozone," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit. "The longer term outlook is one where 2012 looks set to be a challenging year for UK exporters."

The news of falling exports and official figures showing a dip in growth in Britain's key European trading partner Germany renewed calls for exporters to look further afield to emerging markets.

"The UK is pinning much of its hopes on exports to power the recovery, but with our main markets struggling it's imperative that exporters look to new, faster-growing, markets if they are to play their part," said Andrew Goodwin, senior economic adviser to the Ernst & Young Item Club.

"The UK lags well behind other developed economies, such as Germany, in its penetration of emerging markets, but with our traditional markets facing a long, hard struggle, the time is right for UK exporters to make that move."

In November, despite the ongoing eurozone crisis, there was a slight rise in exports from the UK to its most important trading area. Exports to the European Union edged up – albeit by less than £0.1bn – while exports to non-EU countries fell £0.4bn from October.

Vicky Redwood at Capital Economics the rise in exports to EU countries was surprising but unlikely to be sustained.

"We doubt that the recent resilience will last as eurozone demand weakens. The recent rise in the pound to a 16 month high against the euro won't help either," she said.

The ONS said the overall drop in exports was driven by lower exports of silver to non-EU countries, including India.

At the same time, imports rose £0.4bn, driven largely by goods coming in from EU countries and slightly higher imports from non-EU countries, which reached a record level. The overall rise in imports was driven by higher imports of chemicals largely from EU countries, including Ireland.

The ONS said the trade deficit for goods and services taken together widened to £2.6bn from £1.9bn as the services surplus held steady.

trade balance