Fri, Dec 25, 2009 page10

• World Business Quick Take

  • AGENCIES
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  ■AVIATION

  Airlines seek new venture

  US carriers United and Continental and Japan’s All Nippon Airways asked for approval for a new joint trans-Pacific venture to compete against other global alliances. The airlines filed an application with the US Department of Transportation for antitrust immunity “to create a more efficient and comprehensive trans-Pacific network, generating substantial service and pricing benefits for consumers.” The airlines said the venture would enable them to compete more effectively with other global alliances. Approval would give them authority to jointly manage trans-Pacific activities including scheduling, pricing and sales. The announcement came a day after the US Justice Department said a tie-up of British Airways and American Airlines for trans-Atlantic flights would lead to “competitive harm” and called for restrictions on the deal.

  ■AUTOMOBILES

  Share know-how: Chavez

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told foreign automakers on Wednesday to share their technology with local businesses or they will be told to leave the country. Chavez gave the ultimatum to Ford, GM, Toyota and Fiat during a public ceremony in Caracas. There was no immediate response from the companies, which all have assembly plants in Venezuela. If his demand isn’t met, Chavez said, “I invite you to pack up your belongings and leave. I’ll bring in the Russians, the Belarusians, the Chinese.” Last year, auto plants in Venezuela produced 135,042 cars and trucks. But Venezuela’s currency controls have the industry struggling to obtain the cash they need to import enough parts and pay down debts.

  ■IRELAND

  Immigrants returning home

  Tens of thousands of immigrants who flocked to Ireland to seek work during its Celtic Tiger economic boom appear to have gone home during the recession, official data out on Wednesday showed. A Central Statistic Office (CSO) analysis of personal public service numbers (PPSN) that are needed to get a job or claim welfare showed that of the 967,800 foreigners assigned numbers from 2002 to last year, only 425,600 were working at some time during 2008. The number of PPSNs allocated to foreigners fell sharply last year to 154,834, a 28 percent drop from the 2007 figure of 215,265. The CSO said the largest drop was for the EU accession states, which fell by over half to 65,700. The number of PPSNs issued peaked at 226,807 in 2006. The CSO said the economic downturn contributed to the low first-year employment rate for last year, when only 48 percent of immigrants got jobs.

  ■MALAYSIA

  Unpopular tax watered down

  Malaysia has watered down an unpopular property gains tax, saying the 5 percent levy will only be imposed on properties sold within five years of purchase, reports said yesterday. Prime Minister Najib Razak reportedly said the decision was made following appeals from industry groups, and that the government would forgo tax revenue amounting to 200 million ringgit (US$59 million) a year. “We are willing to forgo a substantial amount of revenue so that the sector can expand and grow,” he was quoted as saying by the Edge financial daily. The tax, imposed on financial gains made on the sale of a property, was announced by Najib in the budget for next year in October. It is being reintroduced after being removed in 2007, in a move aimed at broadening Malaysia’s tax base to finance various development projects.
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