Thursday, August 11, 2011
10th edition of Asia Festival 2011 in Barcelona
Asia Festival, the annual festival devoted to Asian culture organized by Casa Asia, is reaching its 10th edition. This year's festival will mainly focus on Central Asia and it will take place in Barcelona between Friday, September 16th and Sunday, September 25th, 2011. The program includes music from Kazakhstan, Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, Iran and China, as well as the exhibitions of shadow theatre from Indonesia and of the fighters of the Naadam Festival from Mongolia. Most of these performances are free, but interested people are recommended to visit http://festivalasia.es/eng/entradas.html in order to get accurate information on the condition of each of the shows. Detailed information on the previous editions of the festival can also be obtained by visiting http://festivalasia.es/eng/ediciones.html.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Catalan companies in promotional mission for food products in Singapore and Malaysia
From http://www.icex.es/icex/cda/controller/pageICEX/0,6558,5518394_5519005_6366453_4507542,00.html (in Spanish)
The Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) included 5 companies from Barcelona province and 1 from Tarragona province among the 45 companies that showcased their wines and food products in Singapore and Malaysia between July 26th-28th, 2011. The goal of this promotional mission was to back their introduction and distribution in these Asian markets. Total Spanish exports to Singapore in 2010 totalled 686 million euros, a 21% increase in comparison with exports in 2009, of which 26 million euros corresponded to the food and drinks industries. Total Spanish exports to Malaysia in 2010 totalled 225 million euros, of which 13 million euros corresponded to the food and drinks industries.
The Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) included 5 companies from Barcelona province and 1 from Tarragona province among the 45 companies that showcased their wines and food products in Singapore and Malaysia between July 26th-28th, 2011. The goal of this promotional mission was to back their introduction and distribution in these Asian markets. Total Spanish exports to Singapore in 2010 totalled 686 million euros, a 21% increase in comparison with exports in 2009, of which 26 million euros corresponded to the food and drinks industries. Total Spanish exports to Malaysia in 2010 totalled 225 million euros, of which 13 million euros corresponded to the food and drinks industries.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Unemployment in Catalonia reduced by 5,525 people in July
From http://www.expansion.com/2011/08/02/catalunya/1312295459.html (in Spanish)
According to official statistics, Catalonia was the third autonomous community with the greatest reduction of unemployment in July after Galicia and Valencia. The number of jobless people in Catalonia decreased by 5,525 during the previous month, which represents a decrease by 0.96%. Greatest percentual reduction has happened in Girona (2.4%), followed by Tarragona (1.9%), Barcelona (0.7%) and Lleida (0.2%).
According to official statistics, Catalonia was the third autonomous community with the greatest reduction of unemployment in July after Galicia and Valencia. The number of jobless people in Catalonia decreased by 5,525 during the previous month, which represents a decrease by 0.96%. Greatest percentual reduction has happened in Girona (2.4%), followed by Tarragona (1.9%), Barcelona (0.7%) and Lleida (0.2%).
Catalonia's long-term rating downgraded
From http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/business/moodys-downgrades-catalonias-long-term-rating (in Spanish)
The international rating agency Moody's Investors Service has downgraded by one level Catalonia's long-term rating, together with other Spanish autonomous communities such as Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia and Valencia. Catalonia's rating has been downgraded from A3 to Baa1 due to Moody's expectation that the region will still deviate widely from the deficit limit for the year, despite the efforts done by present Catalan government of reducing deficit by 1.2% in comparison with 2010.
The international rating agency Moody's Investors Service has downgraded by one level Catalonia's long-term rating, together with other Spanish autonomous communities such as Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia and Valencia. Catalonia's rating has been downgraded from A3 to Baa1 due to Moody's expectation that the region will still deviate widely from the deficit limit for the year, despite the efforts done by present Catalan government of reducing deficit by 1.2% in comparison with 2010.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Singapore entrepreneurs travel to Catalonia to learn from its gastronomy
From http://www.expansion.com/2011/07/21/catalunya/1311275284.html (in Spanish)
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="432" caption="Restaurant Can Jubany (image from Restaurant Can Jubany website)"]
[/caption]
A group of 20 entrepreneurs and directives from Singaporean companies have traveled to Catalonia in order to learn about its food industry and its gastronomy. This visit has been arranged by the government of Singapore, that helps companies to learn from innovation done by other countries, and Catalonia has been the chosen one in the food sector. The Singaporean delegation has visited companies such Europastry, Gallina Blanca and Damm, and they have been surprised by the high level of robotization in the production process of the latter. They have also visited the baker and chocolate expert Enric Rovira, as well as restaurants Via Veneto, Can Jubany, and the new foundation created by El Bulli owner Ferran Adrià, Fundació Alícia, a research centre focusing on technological innovation in kitchen science and the dissemination of agronourishment and gastronomic heritage.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="432" caption="Restaurant Can Jubany (image from Restaurant Can Jubany website)"]
[/caption]A group of 20 entrepreneurs and directives from Singaporean companies have traveled to Catalonia in order to learn about its food industry and its gastronomy. This visit has been arranged by the government of Singapore, that helps companies to learn from innovation done by other countries, and Catalonia has been the chosen one in the food sector. The Singaporean delegation has visited companies such Europastry, Gallina Blanca and Damm, and they have been surprised by the high level of robotization in the production process of the latter. They have also visited the baker and chocolate expert Enric Rovira, as well as restaurants Via Veneto, Can Jubany, and the new foundation created by El Bulli owner Ferran Adrià, Fundació Alícia, a research centre focusing on technological innovation in kitchen science and the dissemination of agronourishment and gastronomic heritage.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Taiwan leaps up to #6 in the world competitiveness ranking in 2010
From http://www.cepd.gov.tw/encontent/m1.aspx?sNo=0015529 (in English)
According to the newest edition of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY), the competitiveness of Taiwan's economy has kept on improving during 2010, as shown by the advancement of two positions, from #8 to #6, the best results ever achieved. The world ranking is led by Hong Kong (formerly in position #2), followed by the United States of America (formerly in position #3) and by Singapore (formerly in position #1). The rest of the Top 10 countries are Sweden (#4), Switzerland (#5), Canada (#7), Qatar (#8), Australia (#9) and Germany (#10). Spain is ranked at position #35. The scoreboard of the 59 most competitive countries in the world during 2010 can be downloaded at the IMD website.
According to the newest edition of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY), the competitiveness of Taiwan's economy has kept on improving during 2010, as shown by the advancement of two positions, from #8 to #6, the best results ever achieved. The world ranking is led by Hong Kong (formerly in position #2), followed by the United States of America (formerly in position #3) and by Singapore (formerly in position #1). The rest of the Top 10 countries are Sweden (#4), Switzerland (#5), Canada (#7), Qatar (#8), Australia (#9) and Germany (#10). Spain is ranked at position #35. The scoreboard of the 59 most competitive countries in the world during 2010 can be downloaded at the IMD website.
Good expectations for Taiwan economy on the second half of 2011
From http://www.cepd.gov.tw/encontent/m1.aspx?sNo=0015636 (in English)
According to the release of the latest edition of World Economic Climate report, the general evaluation of Taiwan’s economy is satisfactory and there are good expectations for the second half of 2011, with an expected slight improvement in overall economic performance and private consumption. The World Economic Climate report is issued by German CESIfo Group.
According to the release of the latest edition of World Economic Climate report, the general evaluation of Taiwan’s economy is satisfactory and there are good expectations for the second half of 2011, with an expected slight improvement in overall economic performance and private consumption. The World Economic Climate report is issued by German CESIfo Group.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)