VietJetAir to finalise $ 6.1 bn Airbus order

VietJetAir to finalise $ 6.1 bn Airbus order

 

Hanoi (AFP)

 

Communist Vietnam's first private airline, VietJetAir, said Wednesday that it was close to finalising a $ 6.1 billion order for 62 Airbus aircraft.

 

The deal is expected to be signed at the Singapore Airshow next month, VietJetAir's managing director Luu Duc Khanh told AFP.

 

VietJetAir and Airbus signed a letter of intent in September for the purchase of 62 A320 medium-haul aircraft worth US$ 6.1 billion at catalogue prices, and for options for another 30.

 

The low-cost carrier began operating in late 2011 and is the first private airline in Vietnam to offer domestic and international flights.

 

It currently serves 11 cities in Vietnam plus Bangkok.

 

Last year, the carrier took delivery of a ninth leased A320.

 

The letter of intent was for 14 of the current single-aisle A320 model and 42 of the new A320Neo due to enter into service in 2015, which promises airlines considerably better fuel efficiency.

 

Another six planes will be the longer A321 version, which can be configured with up to 220 seats.

 

While VietJetAir has a good foothold in the Vietnamese market, analysts say it is facing stiff competition in the low-cost segment in Southeast Asia, behind Malaysia's Air Asia, Lion Air of Indonesia, Singapore's Tiger Airways and Jetstar of Australia.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 28 Tuesday January 2014 The Roman)

 

Asia-Pacific leaders on track to sign trade deal by year end

Asia-Pacific leaders on track to sign trade deal by year end

 

[caption id="attachment_9201" align="alignnone" width="722"] (US Secretary of State John Kerry (second from right) speaks with his country's Trade Representative Michael Froman, as New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (second from left) speaks with his Trade Minister Tim Groser at the Trans-Pacific Partnership meet in Bali, Indonesia on Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013. The United States and 11 other nations negotiating an Asia-Pacific trade pact say they are on track to agree on a comprehensive deal before the year's end. (PHOTO: AP))[/caption]

 

BALI (AP) - The United States and 11 other nations negotiating an Asia-Pacific trade pact say they are on track to agree on a comprehensive deal before the year's end.

 

A statement issued by the 12 leaders on Tuesday after an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali said they have made "significant progress" in setting standards for trade in goods and services, and for investment and public procurement.

 

It said they had agreed "to resolve all outstanding issues with the objective of completing this year a comprehensive and balanced, regional agreement."

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry stood in for President Barack Obama, who stayed home to deal with the debt stalemate.

 

The nations include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam.

 

(The Straits Times, 8 Tuesday October 2013 The Roman)

 

 

EU and Singapore unveil new free-trade agreement

EU and Singapore unveil new free-trade agreement

 

(Reuters, BRUSSELS)

 

The EU and Singapore yesterday submitted for approval one of the world’s most comprehensive free-trade agreements, which the EU sees as a stepping stone toward a wider deal with southeast Asia.

 

The chief negotiators of both sides presented the entire text of the agreement yesterday after initialing each page of the roughly 1,000-page document.

 

Subject to approval in Singapore and by the 28 EU member states and the European Parliament, the agreement should enter into force late next year or early 2015.

 

Trade in goods between the two topped 52 billion euros (US$70.4 billion) last year and in services 28 billion euros in 2011.

 

Mutual investment has reached 190 billion euros.

 

The EU sees a free-trade deal as opening the door to a deal with other members of ASEAN, which has set a goal of economic integration by 2015.

 

The EU and ASEAN launched free-trade talks in 2007, but abandoned them two years later, the EU choosing instead to conduct bilateral talks with individual members.

 

The European Commission is already negotiating free-trade agreements with Malaysia and Vietnam, and it launched talks in March with Thailand.

 

Singapore has a population of just 5 million people, against about 600 million for the whole of ASEAN, but accounts for about a third of all EU-ASEAN trade and more than 60 percent of all investment between the two regions.

 

The deal goes beyond many other free-trade accords in committing to open up public procurement, an area where the EU has many leading suppliers, and agreeing on technical standards in areas such motor vehicles, electronics and green technologies.

 

For example, a car made according to EU standards would be accepted for sale in Singapore.

 

The EU also gains better protection of “geographical indications,” region-specific products such as Parma ham or champagne.

 

EU tariffs on virtually all items from Singapore would disappear over five years.

 

Singapore has committed to its existing zero tariffs on EU imports.

 

Singapore is likely to benefit from reduced tariffs for pharmaceutical and petrochemical products.

 

In services, particularly financial, the agreement would ensure the right to sell directly or establish branches in each other’s markets.

 

(Taipei Times, 21 Saturday September 2013 The Roman)

 

TPP, Discussion chief meeting started, to conclude later this year

TPP, Discussion chief meeting started, to conclude later this year

 

ＴＰＰ、年内妥結へ論点整理　首席会合が開幕

 

環太平洋連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉に参加する日本や米国などは９月１８日から、米ワシントンで首席交渉官会合を開催。

 

交渉の年内妥結に向け、難航する分野を中心に、協議を前進させるための論点の整理に取り組む。

 

会合は２１日までの予定。

 

日本からは鶴岡公二首席交渉官が出席。

 

ワシントンでは２０～２３日に関税撤廃をめぐる分野別協議も実施。

 

これと並行し、日米が２国間の関税交渉をする方向で調整している。

 

ＴＰＰ交渉に参加する１２カ国はインドネシア・バリ島で１０月に開く首脳会合での大筋合意と、年内妥結を目指している。

 

（共同通信）

 

（琉球新報、2013年9月19日）

 

 

TPP, the chief meeting started, to conclude later this year

 

From 18 September, the United States and Japan, 12 countries, to participate in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement negotiations held the chief meeting in Washington.

 

Mainly in areas towards the end of the year conclusion of the negotiations, the difficulties, to address the issue of organizing to advance the talks.

 

Meeting scheduled for up to 21 September.

 

Koji Tsuruoka chief negotiators attended from Japan.

 

Sectoral consultation over the tariff elimination also conducted 20 September to 23 September in Washington.

 

In parallel with this, it is adjusted in the direction of the United States and Japan to the tariff negotiations between the two countries.

 

12 countries to participate in the TPP negotiations aims and broad agreement on the summit meeting that opens in October in Bali, Indonesia, the agreement will be later this year.

 

(Kyodo News)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 19 Thursday September 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 19 Thursday September 2013 The Roman)