China Outbound: Intellectual Property Rights in ASEAN & Evaluating Modi’s India

June 10, 2016 Posted by China Briefing Reading Time: 4 minutes

In this edition of China Outbound, we focus on the evolving regulatory landscape across ASEAN nations, with expected changes for intellectual property rights in ASEAN, as well as the HR implications of Vietnam’s new criminal code. We also track India’s movements as the country signed the OECD Multilateral Competent Authority agreement to pressure multinational corporations to become more transparent in their business dealings in India. The agreement comes at a time when India is attracting more FDI than China, but concerns remain about the micro economy. We discuss the Modi government and its plans for the future of India.

The ASEAN Economic Community and What it Means for Intellectual Property

In 2015, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was officially fully established. In some ways similar to the economic unity of the EU, the broad aims of the AEC are to develop (1) a single market and production base, (2) a region of more equitable economic development, and (3) a globally integrated economic region. To achieve these, trade barriers will be removed or reduced and standards across a number of sectors (i.e. cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and medical devices) will be harmonized.

Leveraging Vietnamese Customs to Block Counterfeit Exports

Vietnam has made a concerted effort to bring its national legislation into line with international IPR standards in recent years. Accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007, and its compliance with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), signified a marked improvement to IP protection in the country.

Layoff Violations Under Vietnam’s Updated Criminal Code

Recently implemented, an updated version of Vietnamese criminal code raises penalties for illegal termination of employees. Effective from July 01 2016, Code No. 100/2015/QH13 lays out punishments, including serious fines and even jail time, for those found to be terminating or coercing the termination of employees illegally.

Setting Sail in the Sea of Java: An Introduction to Indonesian Aquaculture

As the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia is among the most important producers of aquaculture globally. In 2001, Indonesia ranked fourth in aquaculture output and has since increased its fishery exports to US $4 billion in 2015. Though Indonesia’s aquaculture industry has begun to make strides, it is still far from realizing its full potential.

India Signs OECD Country-by-Country Reporting Agreement

In an ongoing effort to increase transparency by multinational enterprises (MNEs), India joined Canada, Iceland, Israel, New Zealand and the People’s Republic of China in becoming the 39^thsignatory to the OECD ‘s Multilateral Competent Authority agreement for the automatic exchange of Country-by-Country reports (CbC MCAA). Factors Shaping India’s Positive Economic Outlook.

Two Years into the Modi Government – How are Things Shaping Up For India?

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked its two year anniversary on May 26 of this year. Given its overwhelming mandate in the 2014 general elections, the Modi government has been held to a high standard. A bounty of electoral promises has also resulted in big expectations, particularly, in the domain of economic and institutional reform, infrastructural growth, business competitiveness, and foreign policy.

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Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com.

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