BIZ BRIEFS

NEPSA committee

KATHMANDU: Nepal Statistical Association (NEPSA), an organisation of professionals, has been formed under the convenorship of Dr Rudra Suwal, deputy director of Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), states a press release. Other members of ad-hoc committee are Mrs Gangadevi Dawadi, Damodar Gyanwali, Ramhari Gaire, Maheshchandra Pradhan, Gyanendra Bajracharya, Rabindra KC, Ananda Raj Aryal and Suman Raj Aryal. — HNS

Taiwan economy dips

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s index of leading indicators for October stood at 108.9 points, down by 1.2 per cent from September, showing signs of an economic slowdown. In September, the index of leading indicators registered a revised 0.5 per cent month-on-month increase. The index is used as a gauge for the economy’s direction in the coming three months. — AFP

Investors driven out

MANILA: The high cost of electricity is driving away hundreds of foreign investors from the Philippines, leading to huge job losses and anemic economic growth. Industry leader Oscar Lopez urged the government to slash taxes and royalties, and to plan well ahead for the needs of the next generation despite overcapacity that he said has plagued the sector since 1999. Despite surplus generating capacity, the average industrial tariff here is 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, about double that of neighbors and FDI rivals Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. — AFP