Cleaner fuel agenda

ABU DHABI: Cleaner fuel and the latest production technology in the Gulf countries would be the focus of the second annual Middle East fuel symposium scheduled to be held here early next year. According to organisers from the World Refining Association, February 2008 symposium will address concerns covering all facets of the fuel industry from strategic planning to technological perspective. It will outline updates on the future of motor, aviation, marine and bunker fuels in the Middle East and review the region’s refining projects involving production of cleaner fuels, including low sulphur diesel. — HNS

Consumer inflation

HANOI: Vietnam consumer prices rose by 8.39 per cent year-on-year in July, a sharp increase on the previous month. According to the General Statistics Office’s preliminary report, food prices, which form more than 40 per cent of the basket of goods on which the Consumer Price Index is based, were up by 11.13 per cent from a year ago, with rice and other grains increasing by 15.03 per cent. Housing and construction materials cost 10.93 per cent more, while gold was up by 5.51 per cent and the dollar rate against the dong rose by 0.95 per cent. — AFP