CHINA OPENS FOREIGN POLICIES TO MEET GROWING INSURANCE DEMANDS
China Opens Foreign Policies to Meet Growing Insurance Demands China Expands Information Regulations to Internet Users Credit Card Regulations in China Price Reductions for German Telekom Customers French Wine Industry Suffers Losses from Nuclear Boycotts Washington, D.C. Responds to Cuba's Attack US News and World Launches Fast Company Magazine Heineken Capitalizes on Growing Beer Demand in Emerging Markets Philippines Liberalizes Vehicle Industry to Attract Foreign Investment KMart to Sell Czech and Slovak Stores Does Rising Unemployment Indicate Recession? Newsweek and Most Group Launch Joint Venture, Itogi Magazine, in Russia .....check back for more news this month!	Beijing, CHINA -- Foreign companies are encouraged by more liberal policies to establish their presence in China to meet the growing demand for insurance. Insurance industry growth is expected to outstrip national economic growth over the next 20 years and authoritative sources project the industry will develop at a rate that will achieve parity with other countries. To date, 88 institutions have been set up in China, among them are 52 foreign insurance and reinsurance companies. Another 50 life insurance companies are applying to open offices in China this year, also encouraged by China's 1.2 billion population that could make it the biggest market for life insurance in the world. Industry sources expect insurance companies from Hong Kong and Taiwan to gain a substantial share of the China market even though leading insurance companies from the United States, Europe and Japan are also establishing their presence in this market. To attract foreign business know-how/talent and infrastructure, the People's Bank of China (PBoC -- the nation's central bank) is considering speeding up its application procedures for foreign funded insurance companies that wish to establish a presence in China. Guangzhou is expected to be the next city after Shanghai to open its insurance industry to foreign investors. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
May 1995 June 1995 July 1995 August 1995 September 1995 October 1995 November 1995 Vietnam - special edition December 1995 January 1996 February 1996 April 1996 May 1996 June 1996 July 1996 August 1996 September 1996 October 1996 November 1996 December 1996/ January 1997 February 1997 March 1997 April 1997 May 1997 June 1997 July 1997 August 1997 September 1997 October 1997 November 1997 December 1997 January 1998 February 1998 March 1998 April 1998 May 1998 June 1998 July 1998 August 1998 September 1998 October 1998 November 1998 December 1998 January 1999 February 1999 March 1999 April 1999 May 1999 June 1999 July/August 1999	CHINA EXPANDS INFORMATION REGULATIONS TO INTERNET USERS
	CHINA -- Further regulation of information is evidenced by a new law that requires internet and other information networks to register with China's Ministry of National Security. Internet users who are not registered may be punished according to regulations adopted in January. What are your thoughts on this?
CREDIT CARD REGULATIONS IN CHINA	PRICE REDUCTIONS FOR GERMAN TELEKOM CUSTOMERS
Beijing, CHINA -- Promotional tie-ins with credit card companies (i.e. airlines, car manufacturers, department stores, etc.) are not anticipated in China anytime soon. A new regulation on credit cards issued by the People's Bank of China effective April 1st, stipulates that, without approval from PBoC, commercial banks may not issue credit cards in mainland China. It also stipulates that non-financial and non-banking institutions as well as mainland based representative offices of foreign financial organisations are forbidden to do business in this field. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE)	Bonn, GERMANY -- With the growth of online communications, the Deutsche Telekom Board of Management just approved a tariff package (on 2/20/96) that reduces prices for residential customer service and online users. This package also reduces the monthly basic prices for Euro-ISDN access later this year (7/96). For example, basic multiple access will be reduced to DM 44, instead of DM 59. The standard access, which has additional features, will cost DM 46 (previously DM 64), and the added-features access will cost DM 51 (previously DM 69). (Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
FRENCH WINE INDUSTRY SUFFERS LOSSES FROM NUCLEAR BOYCOTTS	WASHINGTON, D.C. RESPONDS TO CUBA'S ATTACK
FRANCE -- French wine industry suffers losses from nuclear boycotts. International boycotts against French nuclear testing in the South Pacific have caused French wine lists to be eliminated, orders cancelled and sales promotions have been postponed. The boycotts have been most effective in Japan and northern Europe, where sales plummeted 50%. Industry experts estimate that Bordeaux will suffer losses of at least $200 million due to the nuclear boycott. And exports of Beaujolais Nouveau dropped about 15% (or 910,000 gallons) vs. industry estimates from previous years. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE)	Washington D.C., USA and Havana, CUBA --The recent Cuban shooting attack on two Miami-based private aircrafts north of Cuba fuels further measures from Washington. Legislation under consideration in Congress would deter foreigners from investing in Cuba as well, thus ensuring that Castro doesn't get economic salvation from dollar-carrying outsiders. Despite the US embargo, it is still common to see throngs of Cubans in Havana, patronizing well-stocked stores where the only currency accepted is the once-forbidden but now widely embraced American dollar. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
US NEWS and WORLD LAUNCHES FAST COMPANY MAGAZINE	PHILIPPINES LIBERALIZES VEHICLE INDUSTRY TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT
Boston, USA -- U.S. News and World Report recently launched a new business magazine, Fast Company, aimed at younger readers, under age 45. Their target audience is the young-minded business person -- old enough to make a difference, but young enough to be different, according to founding editor William Taylor. And their content focuses on the companies and people making a difference in the business environment -- in the US and overseas. Their second issue is due out on newsstands March 5th. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE)	Manila, PHILIPPINES -- Philippine President Fidel Ramos just announced his approval for full liberalisation of the country's vehicle industry. This new policy is likely to make cars available and more affordable to the poor and attract more foreign investments. The car industry is currently represented by more than 10 companies from South Korea, Europe and Malaysia. Liberalization makes the market far more attractive to foreign car makers, including the US Big 3 (Chrysler, Ford and GM). Recent liberalization may also be in response to the Philippines competition with Thailand over which country will attract GM's US$550mil - $1bil car plant to the region. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
HEINEKEN CAPITALIZES ON GROWING BEER DEMAND IN EMERGING MARKETS	KMART TO SELL CZECH AND SLOVAK STORES
Amsterdam, the NETHERLANDS -- Growing demand for beer in emerging markets has attracted Heineken's attention. Heineken acquired Italian brewer, Birra Moretti SpA, in a deal estimated to be worth up to US$170 million. This gives Heineken a 38% market share and makes them the market leader in Italy. This recent acquisition is part of Heineken's overall acquisition strategy designed to cash in on lucrative emerging markets worldwide. Currently, 77% of Heineken's income is derived from Europe and North America, though consumption has declined (1.2% in Europe) or remained flat (in the US) since 1985. During the same period, beer consumption in Latin America jumped 70% and in Asia Pacific, 114%. While the emerging markets of Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa account for 45% of beer sales by volume they currently only generate about 25% of profits. Profits are clearly expected to increase in these markets. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE) NEWSWEEK AND MOST GROUP LAUNCH JOINT VENTURE, ITOGI MAGAZINE, IN RUSSIA Newsweek and Russia's Most Group formed a joint venture to launch a new weekly publication in Russia called Itogi at the end of this month. This magazine targets local intellectuals, businessmen and financiers in Russia; it contains Russian stories written by Russian journalists and has exclusive rights to reproduce Newsweek articles in each issue - up to 15% of the 80 page weekly. The magazine will be printed in Finland and seek advertisers from the United States.	Eastern Europe, CZECH REPUBLIC and SLOVAKIA -- During the first week of March, KMart Corp., the 2nd largest retailer in the US announced plans to sell six KMart stores in the Czech Republic and seven in Slovakia to Tesco P.L.C. (of UK) for approx. US$117.5 million. They began operation there in 1992, when they purchased these outlets from the government. After this sale, KMart will continue to operate 2,168 KMart stores and Super Centers with 134 international outlets. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE) DOES RISING UNEMPLOYMENT INDICATE RECESSION? Shanghai, PR CHINA - Washington, D.C., USA - Bonn, GERMANY -- Unemployment figures continue to rise in leading world economies of PR China, the USA and Germany. Despite such indicators, leaders deny that our economies are headed into a recessionary climate. Shanghai, for instance, is in the midst of the world's biggest building boom after decades of neglect and has plans to start or complete 40 key infrastructure projects in 1996. Economics Minister, Guenter Rexrodt, said the high level of unemployment was an unbearable burden, but that the economy was not headed into a recession. And the US continues to report improvement despite decreased spending/savings and a growing number of under-employed. (Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
.....check back for more news this month!

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