02 March 2004 Tuesday 10 Muharram 1425 US sees Pakistan major supplier: Post-quota world ISLAMABAD, March 1: Pakistan would retain a large part of its business with the United States and in some cases may emerge as a competitive alternative to China in the event of final phase-out of quotas on January 1, 2005. ... Pakistan, Iran to sign seven agreements: JEC meets tomorrow ISLAMABAD, March 1: Pakistan and Iran are likely to sign seven agreements in various fields to enhance trade and cooperation between the two countries. ... UN to involve private sector in war on poverty UNITED NATIONS, March 1: A UN commission seeking to enlist local businesses in the global war on poverty urged developing nations on Monday to pursue policies that encourage savings, investment and innovation. ... MoUs signed with Indian traders NEW DELHI March 1: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster trade ties and beef up cooperation ... BoE ordered to release files in BCCI case LONDON, March 1: Britain's central bank lost an appeal on Monday to keep sensitive internal documents under wraps in a lawsuit seeking an almost one billion pounds ($1.87 billion) over its role in the world's biggest banking fraud. ... Opec to raise production JAKARTA, March 1: The president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, on Monday said the cartel will automatically raise its output to pressure high world crude prices down. ... Malaysia to issue Islamic bank licence KUALA LUMPUR, March 1: Malaysia's central bank said on Monday it was on track to issue up to three Islamic banking licences to foreign firms this year as part of plans to become a regional Islamic financing hub. ... Iraq crude exports decline LONDON, March 1: Iraqi crude exports fell in February to about 1.48 million barrels per day (bpd), down 7.5 per cent from January as storms disrupted loadings at the country's sole operating port, shipping sources said on Monday. ... Japan govt debt seen doubling by 2017-18 TOKYO, March 1: The Japanese government's debt pile could nearly double by the 2017/18 fiscal year to top 900 trillion yen ($8.3 trillion), according to calculations by Japan's postal service body. ... Fresh milk, flour, ghee prices rise KARACHI, March 1: The month of February saw no let-up in price-hike as prices of wheat flour, fresh milk, ghee and cooking oil, some pulses and vegetables and some rice varieties registered upward movement. ... BD ranked 56th in globalization index 2004 DHAKA, March 1: Drawbacks in economic integration and technological connectivity have brought down Bangladesh's rank in a list of countries with linkages to the global economy. ... EU imposes sanctions on US goods BRUSSELS, March 1: The EU imposed millions of dollars' worth of sanctions on US goods ranging from jewellery to textiles on Monday, carrying out a threat aimed at getting Washington to change a disputed system of export tax breaks. ...

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