Where Pakistan Stands Among Top Rice Exporting Countries, an Analysis of Competitiveness

Under the umbrella of WTO, the reduction in trade barriers has forced the policy makers to focus on the export competitiveness. Rice is an important source for foreign exchange earnings for the economy of Pakistan, keeping in mind of this fact, the competitiveness of Pakistan＇s rice with other major exporters was examined by applying revealed competitive advantage. The domestic consumption trends of rice among the major rice exporting countries were also analyzed in the current study. The results revealed that as compare to other major exporters of rice in the world, Pakistan had high competitive and comparative advantage in the production of rice. The comparison of the movements in comparative advantage indices for Pakistan with the major world rice competitors/exporters showed that Pakistan possessed relatively high comparative and competitive advantages in rice production. The declining domestic per capita consumption of rice and increasing trends in competitiveness for Pakistan clearly revealed the expected potential of higher growth which meant that rice exports from Pakistan could continue to play an important role for the earnings of foreign exchange. In order to exploit the potential benefits of rice exports, we need to strengthen the competitiveness in rice sector of Pakistan.

Coral reef ecological pump for gathering and retaining nutrients and exporting carbon:a review and perspectives

How coral reefs with high productivity and biodiversity can flourish in oligotrophic tropical oceans has inspired substantial research on coral reef ecosystems.Increasing evidence shows that similar to water in an oasis in the desert,there are stable nutrient supplies to coral reefs in oligotrophic oceans.Here,with emphasis on the fluxes of organic matter,we summarize at the ecosystem level(1)the multiple input pathways of external nutrients,(2)the storage of nutrients in reef organisms,(3)the efficient retaining and recycling of dissolved and particulate organic matter within coral reef ecosystems,(4)the distinctly high phytoplankton productivity and biomass inside and near oceanic coral reefs,and(5)the export of reef-related organic carbon to adjacent open oceans.These properties enable coral reefs to function as ecological“pumps”for gathering nutrients across ecosystems and space,retaining and recycling nutrients within the ecosystem,supporting high phytoplankton productivity,and exporting organic carbon to adjacent open oceans.Particularly,the high phytoplankton productivity and biomass make waters around coral reefs potential hotspots of carbon export to ocean depths via the biological pump.We demonstrate that organic carbon influx is vital for coral reef ecosystems’carbon budget and carbon export.The concept of the coral reef ecological pump provides a framework to improve the understanding of the functioning of the coral reef ecosystem and its responses to disturbance.Prospects of the coral reef ecological pump in coral reef studies are discussed in changing oceans driven by human activities and global change in the Anthropocene.

Exporting to Internationalise： Only a Small Percentage of Emerging SMEs From Developing Countries Succeed When a Large Majority Fail

Small and Medium Enterprises （SMEs）, account for more than 95% of all businesses in many countries. These foster economic development and are significant contributors to employment and wealth generation. An observed phenomenon is the increased momentum of internationalization of SMEs in the developed world. A concern however, is the small percentage of the SMEs from developing countries emulating this trend. Also unexplained are： （1） What makes a small percentage of SMEs in developing countries succeed in internationalizing their businesses when the large majority fail？ （2） What provides the differential advantage to the growth businesses？ Therefore, this paper attempts to address the research question ＂what impacts the owner-managers＇ （OMs＇） perceptions of internal and external barriers have on the internationalization process of the SMEs in a developing country？＂ The data was gathered from OMs of SMEs using a mail survey. Export growth was used as the dependent variable in the study. The differential performance of growth and non-growth SMEs in foreign markets is elucidated in relation to the OMs＇ perception of informational, operational, marketing, and environmental barriers to growth. Significant differences were found between growth and non-growth businesses in relation to the OMs＇ perception of the above barriers investigated.

Development and Outlook of the Four Major LNG Exporting Countries in the World

Overview of global LNG trade development In recent years,the global trade volume of liquefied natural gas(LNG)has maintained a rapid growth trend,breaking the 300 million tons mark for the first time in 2018,with an average annual growth rate of 7.7%in the past five years.In 2020,the trade volume of LNG increased to 487.9 billion m3(356.1 million tons).Due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on LNG supply and demand,the increase of LNG trade in 2020 was quite limited,standing at only 4.1 billion m3,far below the growth level in 2019(50.2 billion m3)(Fig.1).

Auto Production and Sales Surpassing 30 Million Vehicles for the First Time in 2023 Exporting Volume Approaching 5 Million Vehicles

In 2023,auto production and sales in China respectively achieved 30.161 million vehicles and 30.094 million vehicles,respectively YOY up by 11.6%and 12%.Export business and NEV became the driving force for the increase in auto market.On January,11th,China Association of Automobile Manufacturers(CAAM)disclosure the above data.

Exporting Language Teaching Methods from Canada to China

本文认为,要尽快确立一套准则,以解决如何把在某一国家形成的教学法,移植到另一教育制度不同的国家这一问题。 文中分析批判了三种错误概念,认为:1.科技的发展与社会的发展不能等同,科技先进的社会不一定有先进的社会体制,反之亦然;2.科学理论和教育理论在教学中起着不同的作用,而教育理论是选择科学理论的前提;3.任何教学法都不只是科技发展的结果,而是带有某一社会价值观念的影响的,因此不是放之四海而皆准的真理。 基于上述理由,本文作者认为中国不能盲目照搬外国的教学法,中国的传统教学方法源于其社会、文化传统,不应一概否定。

CRISIS FOCUS An Exporting Way Out?

With a consumer base increasingly hesitant to readopt spending habits,the U.S. economy seems to be caught in a tight spot. But the country still boasts a solid manufacturing base and remains a world leader in technology. So is it possible for the United States to switch to an export-driven growth model,and what efforts should be made for such a transition? Zhao Zhongwei,a senior researcher with the Institute of World Politics and Economics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,discussed these issues in an article recently published in the Shanghai Securities Journal. Edited excerpts follow:

The Exporting Survey of China Footwear Text by Chen Dayu

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Township Enterprises Engage in Exporting

A middle aged woman from Shandong Province showed us her embroidered shirt. The shirt was made of chiffonelle, with embroidered flowers on the front. The shirt was very cool and comfortable, beautiful and dignified, and priced reasonably. These cotton shirts are mostly sold overseas. Shandong Weifang Woolen Clothing Factory is a union of 15 township-owned enterprises in several cities

High ownership concentration and exporting of emerging market firms： evidence from Peru

Despite the extraordinarily high ownership concentration widely observed in emerging market firms as a result of institutional voids, there is little research on how this high ownership concentration affects the exporting behavior of emerging market firms. From principal-agent and institutional perspectives, we hypothesize that high ownership concentration has a negative relationship with export intensity, because, in emerging markets, highly concentrated ownership bridges the interests of owners （principals） and managers （agents） so that principals must be prudent in exploring risky international markets. Moreover, we hypothesize that export country diversification strengthens the relationship between ownership concentration and export intensity, because broad geographic dispersion increases risk exposure and principal-agent problems. Empirical analysis based on a panel dataset for publicly listed firms in Peru from 2005 to 2014 supports the hypotheses. The study highlights the risk aversion attitude activated by ownership concentration, an attitude that protects emerging market firms from overconfidently exploring international business opportunities. The study extends the conventional literature on the interface between ownership concentration and international business in an emerging market context. We also discuss the generalizability of the findings to other emerging markets, e.g. China.

Does Green Food Certification promote agri-food export quality?Evidence from China

The construction of a food certification system plays a vital role in upgrading export quality, which previous studies have largely overlooked. We match China's industry-level data of Green Food Certification with its HS6-digit export data of agri-food products to quantify the impact of Green Food Certification on export quality. We identify the significant and positive effect of Green Food Certification on export quality. The 2SLS estimation based on instrumental variables and a range of robustness checks confirm the validity and robustness of the benchmark conclusions. Further analysis discloses that Green Food Certification improves export quality by raising agricultural production efficiency and brand premiums. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of Green Food Certification varies across regions, notably improving the quality of agri-food products exported to developed regions and regions with high levels of import supervision. Furthermore, among various product types, Green Food Certification significantly improves the export quality of primary products and products vulnerable to non-tariff measures. The above findings could guide the future development of agri-food quality certification systems, potentially leading to a transformation and promotion of the agri-food trade.

Heme homeostasis and its regulation by hemoproteins in bacteria

Heme is an important cofactor and a regulatory molecule involved in various physiological processes in virtually all living cellular organisms,and it can also serve as the primary iron source for many bacteria,particularly pathogens.However,excess heme is cytotoxic to cells.In order to meet physiological needs while preventing deleterious effects,bacteria have evolved sophisti-cated cellular mechanisms to maintain heme homeostasis.Recent advances in technologies have shaped our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern the biological processes crucial to heme homeostasis,including synthesis,acquisition,utilization,degradation,trafficking,and efflux,as well as their regulation.Central to these mechanisms is the regulation of the heme,by the heme,and for the heme.In this review,we present state-of-the-art findings covering the biochemical,physio-logical,and structural characterization of important,newly identified hemoproteins/systems involved in heme homeostasis.

Changes in calcium accumulation and utilization efficiency and their impact on recycling,immobilization,and export across the oil palm cycle

Effective calcium(Ca)management is crucial for optimizing oil palm cultivation and enhancing crop yield.This study aimed to gain insights into the dynamics of Ca concentration,accumulation,exportation,immobilization,and recycling in various oil palm organs relative to plant age.The experiment was conducted at the Agropalma enterprise site in the northeastern region of Para State,Brazil,evaluating seven plant age treatments:2,3,4,5,6,7,and 8 years old.Employing a completely randomized design with four replications.The results demonstrated an age-related increase in Ca concentration in petioles,rachis,arrows,male inflorescences,peduncles,and fruits.Furthermore,Ca accumulation exhibited an upward trend in all organs with progressing plant age.Notably,the study revealed an enhanced Ca use efficiency across all plant organs in correlation with the age of oil palm cultivation.These findings underscore the dynamic nutritional demands of oil palm,influencing Ca immobilization,cycling,and export throughout its developmental stages.

Impact of BRICS Trade Facilitation on China's Exports Using Cross-Border E-Commerce

With the rapid growth of the global digital economy, cross-border e-commerce, as an emerging form of trade, has gradually become a powerful engine to promote the development of global trade. BRICS is an important force in the global economy, and the progress of the BRICS countries' trade facilitation level has an important impact on the global trade environment. This paper conducts an in-depth study of the dynamic changes in BRICS trade facilitation from 2013 to 2022, and uses an extended gravity model to analyze the specific impact of this change on China's exports using cross-border e-commerce. The results show that although the BRICS countries have made some progress in trade facilitation, the overall level still needs to be improved, and there are obvious differences among member countries. However, the improvement of trade facilitation among BRICS countries has undoubtedly brought significant positive effects to China's exports using cross-border e-commerce.

The “New Three” Brings More Growth for China-E.U. Railway Express

Recently,a China-Asia transit train,loaded with second-hand cars,auto parts,and electronic products,set off slowly from the China-Kazakhstan Logistics Base in Lianyungang,heading to stations such as Almaty in Central Asia,and to more distant European stations.This express marks the 410th China-Europe(Central Asia)train launched from Lianyungang this year,indicating that the first half target had been completed 25 days in advance.Public data shows that the annual transportation value of the China-E.U.Railway Express has increased from USD 8 billion in 2016 to USD 56.7 billion in 2023.Export goods have gradually expanded from initial IT products such as laptops and printers to more than 50,000 categories including clothing,shoes,hats,auto parts,daily necessities,food,wood,furniture,chemical products,and machinery equipment.

An analysis of agarwood trade patterns,historical perspectives,and species identification challenges:repercussions for importing nations

Background:Agarwood,primarily derived from the Aquilaria and Gyrinops genera,holds significant economic importance.However,there is a lack of comprehensive investigations providing guidance to importing nations regarding cultivation quantities and expected yields of Agarwood from distinct species.This study aims to address this gap by exploring the historical context and trade evolution of Agarwood,highlighting its global importance,and the challenges associated with securing accurate species information.Method:On-site visits to Agarwood cultivation sites were conducted to gain a nuanced understanding of Aquilaria species and their cultivation requirements.Additionally,a thorough analysis of global export and import data for Agarwood products over the last decade was undertaken.Results:China Mainland emerged as the leading exporter of Agarwood,averaging an annual export value of USD 1 million.India’s substantial exports challenge the prevailing notion of limited Agarwood production within its borders.Hong Kong and Singapore are pivotal distribution hubs,while Hong Kong and Taipei feature prominently as import destinations.Our analysis uncovers anomalies in the representation of Agarwood producers from 2001 to 2008,suggesting potential misclassification of Aquilaria Agarwood as Gyrinops in global export information.These findings underscore the urgency of investigating classification and reporting practices in the Agarwood trade.Furthermore,A.filaria emerges as a notable source,while A.malaccensis is decline in prominence.Conclusion:This study provides crucial insights for policymakers,stakeholders,and industry players seeking to make informed decisions in the Agarwood trade landscape.The results highlight the need for accurate species identification,classification,and reporting practices to ensure sustainable cultivation and trade of Agarwood.

Pairing Off for Sustainability

Chinese“sustainable city”expertise is leading globally now and could contribute to African urban development with French expertise.I made my first trip to China in the fall of 2004.I was in charge of a project that provided training to 150 Chinese graduates by French architecture firms within AFEX(French Architects for Export,a non-profit association).

Analysis of the Impact of Technical Trade Barriers on the Export of Toys-Based on Analysis of Zhejiang,China

Technical barriers to trade,as a non-tariff barrier,have an increasing impact on the international market.As a major province in toy exports,Zhejiang Province’s toy export trade is therefore greatly hindered.This article aims to explore the impact of technical trade barriers on toy exports in Zhejiang Province and analyze countermeasures.Through literature review and some empirical analysis,it is found that technical trade barriers have greatly promoted the development of Zhejiang’s toy industry;however,they have also subjected it to impacts and pressures such as cost and technology.In response to the impact of technical trade barriers on toy exports,this article proposes corresponding countermeasures to avoid such barriers:firstly,establish a quality management system that complies with export product regulations to ensure that the products produced can meet international requirements and standards;secondly,reduce dependence on overseas markets;then enhance one’s own technology,and strengthen product innovation,in order to enhance the international competitiveness of the product and oneself;in addition,we should also explore diversified markets and expand the sales channels and coverage of our products.

Export Competitiveness and Sustainable Development of the Ukrainian Timber Industry

This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the export dynamics within the Ukrainian timber industry, emphasizing its pivotal role in the national economy. The study begins by outlining the research objectives, context, and innovative methodologies, setting the stage for a deep dive into the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable and competitive trade. It explores Ukraine’s rich forest biodiversity across varied vegetation zones and its geopolitical significance. Detailed evaluations of forest resource management, policy frameworks, and institutional support form the core of the analysis. Challenges such as imbalanced export structures and legal inconsistencies are critically examined. The research employs trade gravity models and competitive indicators like the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Market Share (MS) to assess factors influencing exports and to forecast potential growth areas. The findings inform strategic recommendations aimed at enhancing export capacity through market diversification, brand development, and legal stability. The conclusion highlights the need for strategic interventions to harness Ukraine’s timber resources sustainably, balancing economic gains with environmental stewardship.