According to a study by Mercer, India-based multinationals have been forced to a address numerous new policy issues. The most common issues that multinationals have had to deal with are those pertaining to international assignments. Companies have been trying to reduce costs by hiring local staff instead of making an expatriate assignment.

In an effort to maintain steady economic growth, the government aims to steer investment into five key areas including agriculture, energy saving and emissions reduction, economic restructuring, independent innovation, and social undertakings. Furthermore, high-energy consuming sectors will be regulated in how much they can expand. The government will focus on these five areas to help competitive enterprises out of difficulty.

Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. group, Mazda Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. all increased both domestic sales and exports to foreign countries in July. Global economic slowdown had automakers worried that exports would fall in the month of July, but the three major automakers reported no such decrease in exports. Toyota group increased exports by 10.2% and domestic output by 4.7% as compared to one year earlier.

Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), a state-owned lender, will spin off its sharia unit into a joint-venture with Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD). BNI will probably get a 20 to 30% stake while ICD will have the remainder. Due to this joint-venture, BNI should increase the number of customers in the Middle East.

By the end of 2008, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)expects to increase revenues. In the first half of this year, the BSP had a net loss of P7.59 billion, much lower than the loss of P31.73 billion during the same period last year. Expenses in June, though, increased to P39.60 billion as compared to only P28.45 billion last year. The BSP expects to improve its financial position because the central bank is not facing the heavy inflows of foreign exchange that it experienced last year.

Though planning to lower corporate taxes for business this year, the government and the Grand National Party (GNP) have decided to postpone any lowering of corporate taxes until next year. Fiscal revenues are needed to relieve the economic strain on Korean households. Because of the postponement, W8.4 trillion is expected to be generated.

According to a senior government official, investment in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will hit RS 2 trillion by the end of 2009. The government has given official approval to 513 SEZs and 138 others have been granted in-principle approval till date. Investments in SEZs should generate approximately 8 million jobs.

The budget proposal by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics was approved by the Cabinet. The expense budget for the 2009 fiscal year will be NT$1.83 trillion, a 6.9% increase from the 2008 fiscal year. Expenditure in education, science and culture will use the largest portion of the budget at 18.7%.

Thailand's healthy economic growth this year is due mostly to an increase in exports and high farm prices. Thailand grew 5.9% in the first half of the year while many nations faced recession. Prices for rice, cassava, natural rubber, palm oil, and sugarcane increased, allowing incomes in the agricultural sector to soar.

Economists from the Ministry Finance and National Development and Reform Commission questioned JPMorgan's report on China's economic stimulus package. JPMorgan reported that China's stimulus package would be worth somewhere between $33 billion and $67 billion. Economists speculate that these estimates are too high.