Tue, Aug 26, 2008 page11

• Business Briefs

  • STAFF WRITER, WITH AGENCIES
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  China mulls stimulus plan

  Beijing is considering an economic stimulus plan worth US$54 billion, including tax cuts and government spending to prop up growth, state media reported yesterday.

  The 370 billion yuan (US$54 billion) proposal, which has yet to be finalized, includes 220 billion yuan in fiscal spending and 150 billion yuan in tax cuts, the Economic Observer reported, citing unnamed sources.

  The proposal is meant to “give the economy some breathing room” following a slowdown after monetary tightening, the report said, adding that the Ministry of Finance is to work out the plan’s details.

  ‘Carbon cashbag’ unveiled

  South Korea announced plans yesterday for a discount scheme to encourage consumers to buy more energy-efficient products.

  Consumers who buy such products will receive carbon points that can be used to pay utilities, transport and other bills or to buy other appliances, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.

  The “carbon cashbag” system will begin in October.

  “It aims to spread the culture of reducing greenhouse gases and promote a shift in consuming patterns to energy-efficient and less carbon-emitting products,” the ministry said in a statement.

  Chi Mei raises wharf stake

  Chi Mei Corp (奇美實業), parent of a local manufacturer of LCD display panels Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp (奇美電子), has decided to invest an additional NT$420 million (US$13.38 million) to expand the development of petrochemical wharves at Anping (安平) Harbor in Tainan City, the Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau (KHB) said yesterday.

  When the third and fourth wharf development projects are completed, the cargo throughput capacity of the Chi Mei wharf operations at Anping Harbor will be increased by 120,000 tonnes annually to a total of 738,000 tonnes, a KHB official said.

  In order to reduce delivery distance, lower potential risk to petrochemical vehicles and improve the flow of materials, Chi Mei invested NT$500 million several years ago to construct two 200m long, 11m deep petrochemical wharves as well as 16 storage tanks and related facilities.

  Chi Mei’s 16 storage tanks, constructed in conjunction with KHB in the first and second wharf development projects, were completed in October, allowing a cargo throughput capacity of 611,000 tonnes annually.

  Court extends FAT immunity

  Taipei District Court yesterday granted Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT, 遠東航空) a 90-day immunity extension starting last Saturday, while it ponders whether or not to grant FAT’s earlier request for corporate restructuring.

  Without the immunity extension, FAT debtors and shareholders have the right to take over the company and disrupt the ailing airliner’s restructuring efforts.

  Last Friday, the company was finally able to raise NT$30 million to pay for half a month’s salary to its employees. Airline staff have been working without pay for more than six months.

  NT dollar ‘relatively stable’

  The New Taiwan dollar was “relatively stable,” the central bank said in a faxed statement yesterday.

  The NT dollar fell 0.2 percent yesterday, or NT$0.006, to trade at NT$31.43 against the greenback on turnover of US$815 million.

  The currency’s loss was smaller than those of the South Korean won, the Singapore dollar and the yen, the central bank reported.

  The currency traded near a six-month low after the government reported the slowest pace of growth in more than a year. GDP rose 4.32 percent in the second quarter from a year ago, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics said on Friday.
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