ASEAN leaders last month signed adeal on trade and services with China,bringing them a step closer to establishingthe world's biggest free trade area, Xinhua Agency reported. The agreement, which covers telecommunications,transport, tourismand other services, will take effect fromJuly, according to the agreement releasedin Cebu (central Philippines). The spokesperson said under the agreement, China and ASEAN countries would further open the services sector in order to provide improved … [Read more...] about CHINA: ASEAN, China sign trade, services deal
air freight
Gateways
Dubai-based new cargo operator, Liwa Air, which started service toAfghanistan last year with one AN-74 and two TU-204Cs, has expandedits services throughout the Arabian Peninsula. The carrier, headed byformer Etihad CEO, Robert Strodel, also operates out of Doha andBahrain. A third Tupolev freighter will soon join the fleet, while Liwa isnegotiating the lease of an Airbus A310F. This freighter will be deployedon the route between the UAE and Leipzig/Halle in eastern Germany.In 2010 Liwa plans to … [Read more...] about Gateways
Impractical security bill unlikely to survive in US Senate
There are hopeful signs that a bill, which calls for intensified screening of aircargo on passenger aircraft heading toward the US, which already passed by theDemocratic-controlled Congress last month, is unlikely to survive in the Senate. The provisions were part of a House bill that was promoted as the first legislationto pass in Congress this year with the approval meant to signal new leadership'spriorities in pushing through security recommendations of the commission thatinvestigated the … [Read more...] about Impractical security bill unlikely to survive in US Senate
Dnata gets room to grow at last
With the opening of a new cargo terminal,Dnata will finally get some much needed roomto breathe at Dubai. Peter Conway explores theimplications, and the handler’s plans for thenew airport at Jebel Ali. There will be an almost audible sighof relief at Dubai handlers Dnata atthe end of February, as its new cargoterminal – formerly known as phasethree of the Freezone Logistics Centre,now dubbed FreightGate 5 – finallycomes on line. The new facility will in effect be a … [Read more...] about Dnata gets room to grow at last
China seeks Q-Post's assistance
China seeks Q-Post's assistance The Chinese postal authorities havesought the co-operation of the Q-Postin developing a customer-friendly planwith which they felt could win visitorsduring the Olympic Games 2008 to beheld in Beijing, and the Asian Games(in 2010), Gulf Times reported. Speaking to the newspaper, chairmanand chief executive of the QPostAli Mohamed al-Ali said that theassociation with the Chinese sportsauthorities would help the postalcorporation receive more customersin … [Read more...] about China seeks Q-Post's assistance
France's La Poste reports profit for 2006
French national postal operator LaPoste said it will record a 700 millioneuros net profit in 2006, up by about25 percent on the figure of 557 millioneuros for 2005. La Poste noted that its balancesheet would be hit by an exceptionalreform-linked contribution of 2 billioneuros to the national pension financingsystem at the end of this year. Internalinvestment this year on new hubs inLorraine and Val de Loire and themodernisation of the postal network(1,100 offices) reached 1.2 billion euros,up … [Read more...] about France's La Poste reports profit for 2006