The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a loan worth up to USD987m for Bangladesh, to aid the government in undertaking numerous reforms, including a restructuring of the tax regime, to boost the nation's appeal to investors and secure a downward debt trajectory.
World Trade Organization member states have approved trade aid to be granted on an exceptional basis to Pakistan by the European Union to support the country in its recovery following massive floods in 2010.
The Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries, on January 20, agreed to start
work on developing recommendations to “further strengthen, streamline and operationalize”
current guidelines on the accession process of LDCs, as called for in a decision
by the Eighth WTO Ministerial Conference last month.
United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk has announced the outcome of
the 2010 Annual Review under the Generalized System of Preferences programme,
as well as the results of the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act Eligibility Review.
Vriens and Partners, an Asia-focused corporate advisory firm, has issued its 2011
‘Good Governance for International Business’ index of 19 economies
in the Asia-Pacific region, in which Singapore has edged out Hong Kong for the
number one position.
Among draft decisions on intellectual property rights set to be tabled at the World Trade Organisation's December ministerial, concessions have been proposed for least developed countries in their efforts to introduce WTO-compliant frameworks for the protection of intellectual property
rights.
The International Monetary Fund has welcomed measures taken by Bangladesh in its
June 2011 FY2012 Budget to increase the country's tax-to-GDP ratio but has said
more needs to be done to achieve the financial targets set by the government.
The Indian government is expected to formally notify Pakistan of its decision to withdraw its opposition to a preferential tariff scheme being offered by the European Union to Pakistan following devastating floods in early 2010.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in its World Investment
Report 2011, points out that, while global foreign direct investment has
not yet bounced back to pre-crisis levels, some regions, and particularly Asia,
show a better recovery than others.
Bangladesh’s 2011-12 Budget, introduced to parliament by Abul Maal Abdul
Muhith, the Minister of Finance, totals a record BDT1.64 trillion (USD21.7bn),
supported by tax revenues which are expected to increase by over 20%.
Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh have signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. The accord was signed by Faruk Khan, the visiting Bangladeshi minister of commerce, and Hamad S. Al-Bazai, Saudi Vice Minister of Finance.
The Bangladesh National Board of Revenue has predicted that its target for revenue collection for this year will be beaten despite any political instability.
The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Finance has announced the initialling
of an agreement with Bangladesh for the protection and promotion of investments, to complement
the double tax agreement initialled by both parties in May 2010.
The GSM Association has issued a report which reveals how mobile sector-specific
taxation impacts on the development and deployment of mobile broadband in developing
countries.
Bangladesh has called upon India to make good its commitments to freer trade, and remove barriers that have created a significant trade imbalance favouring Indian exports.
Speaking in Dhaka, Bangledeshi Finance Minister, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith announced that in an effort to increase the country’s tax-take, efforts to increase compliance would have to be redoubled, with efforts channeled in particular towards encouraging businesses to declare and remit Value-Added Tax.
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