First Foreign-invested Microfinance Venture Launched
MicroCred Nanchong, the first wholly foreign invested microfinance bank in China, has started a trial operation in Nanchong, Sichuan province. The bank, with an aggregate investment of RMB55m, is a joint venture between MicroCred, International Finance Corp, FW Bankengruppe and American International Group. It will target small firms, rural households and self-employed businessmen with a portfolio of credit, secured and mortgage loans, ranging from RMB5,000 and RMB75,000. The minimum loan period is three months, and the maximum is 18 months.
Schenker China and MOC Seek Fraud Case Agreement
Schenker China Ltd and the Ministry of Communications have issued a
joint notice confirming that they are in discussions to reach an
agreement following a fraud notice served by the MOC in August. Joint
investigations revealed that a Schenker employee had committed fraud by
generating false documents and absconding with payments for licences.
The MOC has since confirmed valid NVOCC licences for Schenker China
Ltd, and confirmed that the company can continue to carry out shipping
operations and business agreements in China through its other legal
entities, Schenker International (HK) Ltd and Schenker Logistics
(Shanghai) Co. Ltd, while other NVOCC licences for SCL are being
issued. All other operations of SCL, such as airfreight, warehousing
and trucking, remain unaffected.
First Federer, Now Nadal Stumbles in Shanghai
Twenty-four hours after world number one Roger Federer succumbed to
Chilean Fernando Gonzalez’s power play in Shanghai, Spain’s world
number two Rafael Nadal was beaten in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, by
compatriot David Ferrer. Despite winning the first set, Nadal seemed
ill at ease and his service was repeatedly broken in the second and
third sets. Though he rallied slightly from 5-1 down in the final set,
Ferrer took the match with a cross-court winner on his own serve.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s world number three Novak Djokovic appears to be
heading for home, after losing his second round-robin match in straight
sets to France’s Richard Gasquet. Ferrer leads the group with two wins
and will play Gasquet (one win, one loss) in his final round-robin
match on Thursday. Nadal (one win, one loss) will play Djokovic (two
losses).
Last update : Wednesday, 14 November 2007
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