■ Ecnomics
Local demand to drive growth
The economy will expand 4.01 percent next year and 4.36 percent in 2007, with growth momentum led by domestic demand, according to the Chung-hua Institution for Economic Research. The privately run institute estimates Taiwan's economy will probably expand 3.65 percent this year. Next year, the economy is expected to grow 4.34 percent in the first quarter, 4.18 percent in the second, 4.01 percent in the third and 3.55 percent in the fourth, the institute said. The government's statistics bureau on Nov. 17 raised its economic growth forecast for this year to 3.8 percent, from 3.65 percent, and that for next year to 4.1 percent from 4 percent.
■ Automakers
Mazda pays workers to walk
Japan's fourth-largest automaker, Mazda Motor Corp, is recommending its employees walk to the office, rather than commute by car, as part of an effort to improve their health and protect the environment, a company spokesman said on Friday. Those meeting a set of requirements by going to the office on foot are eligible to receive ¥1,500 (US$12) a month, Mazda spokesman Ken Haruki said. Mazda is the first Japanese automaker to encourage its employees to walk and offer an incentive of money, he said. The company's 20,000 workers at domestic plants are all eligible. The company has no plans to include those working outside Japan, Haruki said. He said the allowance will be given to any Mazda employees who live more than 2km from the office and walk more than 4km in round trips at least 15 days a month. Employees can get off a train or bus on their way to the office and take a walk over the distance to meet the requirements, Haruki said. Yamaha Motor Co introduced a similar eco-walk commutation system for its employees a year ago.
■ Mobile phones
China to launch 3G soon
China will implement high-speed, third-generation (3G) cellphone services in the first half of next year, the state-run China Daily reported, citing Wang Bingke, deputy director general of the reform and operation department of the Ministry of the Information Industry. This is the first time that China has specified a timetable for the launch of the technology, the report said. Wang made the remarks at the China Information Technology & Economic Conference 2005 in Beijing of Friday. China has promised to offer 3G services and digital TV broadcasting for the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, so it is the right time to push for the large-scale deployment, the report cited Wang as saying.
■ Electronics
Intel plans Indian investment
Intel Corp may announce plans tomorrow to invest US$500 million in India, the Business Standard reported, without saying where it got the information. Intel chairman Craig Barrett may make the announcement during a visit to New Delhi, the newspaper said. Half the investment will be spent on Intel's research laboratory in India and the rest will be used to set up a factory for low-cost personal computers, the paper reported. The PC will be priced at 11,000 rupees (US$240), making it the cheapest PC with an Intel chip, the Standard said. The computer is being designed to be sold in the rural regions of India, where three-fifths of the country's 1.1 billion people live, the paper said.
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