ICCI meeting ends

ILAM: The fifth annual general meeting of Ilam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) concluded here on Friday. At the programme presided over by ICCI president Himalaya Karmacharya, three founder members and four successful entrepreneurs were honoured. Founding members Yuddha Prasad Baidya, Pasang Lama, and Gorakh Barahi and entrepreneurs Hanuman Das Agrawal, Dinesh Mittal, Pawan Agrawal and Dipesh Baidya were honoured. — RSS

Iran, Japan oil deal

TEHRAN: Iran expects a two billion dollar deal with Japan to develop its Azadegan oil field to be finalised in the next two weeks after differences were overcome. “There are no longer differences over the price and an understanding has been reached,” Iran’s representative said. “The leaders of the two countries now must approve the terms of a contract and I think the agreement will be finalised in the next two weeks.” — AFP

Contribution to GDP

BEIJING: The total operating revenue of China’s top 500 companies in 2005 accounted for more than three-quarters of the the total GDP. The total of $1.8 trillion accounted for 77.6 per cent of China’s GDP. Although the figure was not a ‘direct indicator’ of the companies’ contribution to the Chinese economy, it could ‘reflect the important role and influence’ they had in a more general sense. — AFP