MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL is to provide the payment mechanism for transactions made through TradeHubAsia.com, an electronic trading activity centre serving the Asia-Pacific region.
Member financial institutions throughout the region will issue a co-branded TradeHub Asia.com commercial card during the third quarter of 2000.
TradeHubAsia.com managing director Chris O'Connell says: "Trade financing and settlement are major barriers to the internationalisation of trade for SMEs.
"MasterCard, through its global banking network, is creating a breakthrough product that TradeHubAsia.com can now deliver through its network of national Tradehubs."
Much expected of South Koreans
THE NEED FOR SOUTH KOREAN FIRMS TO acknowledge, and achieve, higher standards is the focus of a report released by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the US (Kocham) and the Federation of Korean Industries New York office (FKI).
The survey, prepared by KWR International, measures the opinions and perceptions of targeted US opinion leaders working in the US, Asia and Europe as well as several English-speaking foreigners working for western firms. Individuals representing business, government, academia, non-profit and financial institutions and the media were included.
"This survey identified many changes in the perceptions of US opinion leaders since Kocham/FKI released its first opinion leader survey in early 1997," Kocham president Young Man Kim says.
"While favourably crediting Korea's remarkably rapid recovery from the 1997 financial crisis, US opinion leaders now judge Korean businesses with higher standards than in the past. They stress that Korea is no longer a developing country, and that Korean companies need to adopt a higher benchmark if they are to maintain their long-term competitiveness," Young says.
TDC expands Middle East reach
THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (TDC) HAS OPENED AA REGIONAL office in Dubai to help expand Hong Kong's trading activities in the Middle East.
The office, serving 15 Arab countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran, boosts the Council's presence in the region, which dates back two decades.
Business potential in the region has prompted the establishment of the office, says Michael C C Sze, the TDC's executive director. "Our decision underlies the importance we place on the enormous business potential in the Middle East, and our recognition of the pivotal role of Dubai in the region.
"Dubai is the gateway to the Gulf, North and East Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. Together these represent a huge market of 1.4 billion consumers. This region is one of the most stable and attractive emerging markets in the world."
The regional office now offers fully fledged services to companies planning to do business with Hong Kong.
REGIONAL ROUND-UP
SINGAPORE SEARCH
Looking for contacts or products from Singapore? "From 'additives' to 'zippers', you'll be amazed at how extensive our database is," boasts eguide.com.sg. It offers a directory of Singapore's products and services, with information on companies, location maps and business news and events.
DONGGUAN COURSES
Hong Kong manufacturers with production bases on the mainland may benefit from a series of training courses on advanced manufacturing technology and management. The courses, being held in Dongguan until March 2001, are aimed at skills upgrading in five major areas: plastics, metal, automation, management and tooling. They are jointly organised by the Product Development and Innovation Institute of the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Dongguan State Commission of Science and Technology. Contact the HKPC on at 2788-5556 or via fax on 2788-5543.
CUSTOMER FIRST
NetCel360, a regional e-Business Service Provider (eSP) for Asian enterprises, multinationals and Internet companies, has launched an e-Business Customer Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The 39,000-square-feet facility offers office space housing a regional data centre and customer contact centre.
NETALONE NOT ALONE
Netalone.com, an e-commerce Application Service Provider (ASP) and Software AG, a software solutions supplier, have agreed to pursue business opportunities jointly. The agreement enables Netalone to take advantage of the Frankfurt-listed company's products to develop and offer e-business solutions for SMEs and dotcom companies in Asia.
OPEN SESAMI
SESAMi.com, an end-to-end B2B e-commerce solutions provider and operator of SESAMi.NET, has expanded its Asia presence with the opening of its office in Hong Kong.
PRINT PERFECT
Xponet.com, a Singapore-based developer of B2B e-commerce solutions, has launched a vertical Internet application for the printing industry. Xponet.com connects print buyers and sellers via the Internet through the portal, XpoPrint. Services providers will be able to call for quotations and share information pertaining to specific projects, while the customer will save time in procuring and managing a printing project.