Archives for Business

Sri Lanka: Why foreign investment should come

March 11, 2015 | | No Comments

The end of civil war brings fresh opportunities Foreign investment is a hot topic at the moment. The idea mostly, in the current climate, invokes criticism and anger, such as the recent Guardian opinion piece that lamented the selling off of British and London infrastructure to foreign investors. To compound this, there has been general ill feeling from some quarters due to a view that European, and particularly British, condemnation of the conflict in the Ukraine and

Cambodian garment workers seek higher wages to make ends meet

Cambodian garment workers seek higher wages to make ends meet

December 28, 2014 | | 1 Comment

After multiple violent riots demanding a higher minimum working wage, garment workers in Cambodia struggle to make ends meet, and continue to work to get more attention focused on their plight. Last December, five people were killed as a result of clashes with police in Phnom Penh, the site of many of the country’s garment and textile factories In Cambodia alone, there are thought to be over 620,000 workers in 960 garment and footwear factories, where at least 91

Small businesses aren’t hurt by giant competitors, sales are boosted if they can “stick it to the man”

Small businesses aren’t hurt by giant competitors, sales are boosted if they can “stick it to the man”

December 12, 2014 | | No Comments

Small businesses that fear competing giant neighbors may need to think again. According to research by a joint team of university scientists, having a large competitor nearby may actually boost the sales of small businesses, but this depends on whether a small business can successfully “stick it to the man” in “framing the game.” “When the owner of Los Angeles’s Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf could not stop Starbucks from moving in next door, he at first admitted

Lowering interest rates in China lift global markets

Lowering interest rates in China lift global markets

November 25, 2014 | | No Comments

World markets rose following China’s interest rate cuts and comments made by the European Central Bank. China’s Central Bank has cut the interest rate on annual deposits to 2.75 percent from 3.00 percent in an attempt to revive the economy. During the first half hour of opening trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose to 1.00 percent to new record high at 17,866 points. In Britain, the mining sector rose three to five percent, driven by economic growth expectations–based on sales of

Deforestation Now Driven by “Globalization and Commercialization” – Report

Deforestation Now Driven by “Globalization and Commercialization” – Report

October 24, 2014 | | No Comments

The nature of deforestation has changed dramatically in recent years, according to a new study by Chalmers University Scientists. Deforestation today is driven by globalization and commercialization to a large and increasing degree–international trade is contributing to deforestation through a demand for beef, soy, palm oil and timber. “From having been caused mainly by smallholders and production for local markets, an increasing share of deforestation today is driven by large-scale agricultural production for international markets,” said Martin

Coke, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper Snapper Reported Second Quarter Sales and Profits Showing Consumers Prefer Stevia and Sugar over Aspartame, the Artificial Sweetener in Most Diet Varieties–But Scientists Are Still Debating About Sugar

Coke, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper Snapper Reported Second Quarter Sales and Profits Showing Consumers Prefer Stevia and Sugar over Aspartame, the Artificial Sweetener in Most Diet Varieties–But Scientists Are Still Debating About Sugar

July 30, 2014 | | No Comments

Last week, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr. Pepper Snapper all revealed their second quarter earnings report. Coca-Cola’s soda sales were flat in North America and its revenue fell 1.4 percent, despite a sales volume increase in other parts of the world. PepsiCo suffered a two percent fall in both profit and soda sales volume. Dr. Pepper Snapper reported an increase of over one percent of revenue and its soda sales volume climbed two percent. These numbers reflected consumers’