Cheap Investment Property Bulgaria

Agreements and Treaties. Italy is a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the 1972 Protocol and the 1988 UN Drug Convention. In December 2000, an international conference was held in Palermo, Italy, for the signing of treaty on transnational crime. The treaty must be ratified by a quorum of 40 countries before it comes into force. This new treaty will strengthen governments against serious crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, trafficking of human beings and arms trafficking. As a member of the European Union, Italy participates in the Dublin Group, UNDCP Pompidou group, Europol, the EU Commission, and attendant committees and working groups.Cultivation/Production. There is no known coca bush cultivation in Italy. However, opium poppy grows spontaneously in the southern part of Italy and the island of Sicily. It does not present a threat due to the low alkaloid content. [Read More]

Europe and Central Asia

Corruption. Corruption has been the most significant problem within Georgia's law enforcement agencies. Georgia's anti- corruption efforts continue to be hampered by the widespread tolerance of corruption within Georgian society. During 2001 the Government of Georgia formed a commission to reform the law enforcement agencies (so-called "power ministries"). The commission developed a strategy for reorganization that was forwarded to the Georgian National Security Council; however, no significant changes were made. In any case, none of these proposed measures can truly ameliorate the situation given the low wages of officials and poor standard of behavior from those in charge that nourish wide-scale, low level corruption. The new hope of eradicating corruption within the system emerged with the appointment of a new Minister of Internal Affairs, who has publicly and repeatedly announced his commitment to combating corruption and the trafficking ... [Read More]

Europe and Central Asia

AlbaniaI. Summary Drug trafficking is a significant problem in Albania, which is a major transit country for heroin from Afghanistan and Turkey destined for markets throughout Europe. Organized crime groups use Albania as a transit point for drug and other types of smuggling due to the country’s strategic location, weak police and judicial systems, and porous borders. The most common illegal drugs are heroin, marijuana, and to a lesser extent, cocaine. Heroin is typically transported through the "Balkans Route" of Turkey-Bulgaria-Macedonia-Albania, and on to Italy, Greece and the Netherlands. Cocaine is smuggled from South America, via the United States, Italy, Spain, Greece or the Netherlands, and ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: State Dept. Official Cites Intellectual Property Benefits

In assessing the state of intellectual property protection overseas, we see two complementary and positive trends in recent years. First, we observe a significant, if not readily quantifiable, increased appreciation of the benefits inherent in effective protection of intellectual property rights. More and more, our trading partners are beginning to understand that their future growth and development depends in large part on their becoming active players in the global knowledge-based economy. They also are coming to appreciate that strong intellectual property protection is necessary to create an attractive investment climate. In short, economic self-interest is becoming a very important factor in enhancing intellectual property protection overseas. Our trading partners' actions to improve intellectual property protection and enforcement benefit their companies and our companies. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Subsequently, in the period from July 2001 to July 2003, international credit rating agencies (Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, FITCH and JCRA) upgraded Bulgaria credit rating ten times.  JCRA has recently assigned investment credit rating to Bulgaria.  Bulgaria is one notch below investment credit rating according to Standard and Poor’s and FITCH, and two notches below investment credit rating according to Moody’s. ...

Greece  is the top foreign investor, with $632.8 million, or 12.3% of total foreign investment, followed by Germany, with $620.9 million, or 12% of total foreign investment, and Italy, with $540.2 million, or 10.5% of total foreign investment. ... [Read More]

American Embassy Hanoi - Bilateral Trade Agreement

Why the Bilateral Trade Agreement is Necessary Under U.S. law, The United States cannot extend Normal Trade Relations to countries in transition like Vietnam without a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The purpose of the Agreement is to ensure trade rules are clear, to stimulate and increase trade, and to help Vietnam achieve economic integration, including accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Is Vietnam Facing Unusually High Standards? Is the US Asking Vietnam to Do More than the WTO Requires?Absolutely not. The United States wants to establish commercial relations with Vietnam on the same basis as it has with other countries, including developing economies in transition, e.g., Bulgaria, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. These relations are based on international norms including those of the WTO. Moreover, the United States recognizes tha ... [Read More]

Prosperity Paper No. 3

The system stimulated the development of the Chilean capitalmarkets by increasing domestic savings and channeling them forinvestment in market instruments through the private pensionfunds. By the end of 1990, PFA assets amounted to a 26.6 percentshare of GDP, compared to a 3.6 percent share at the end of 1982.While most investments are in government securities, investmentin company stocks and bonds has increased steadily, reaching 13percent of all investments in 1990. PFAs are currently allowed toinvest up to 5 percent of their portfolios in private firms. Thegovernment also limits the firms in which PFAs may invest; of the260 companies currently listed on the Santiago exchange, PFAs caninvest in 40, with most of these being newly privatized SOEs.Eight companies capture 50 percent of the investments. Despitethese constraints, PFAs have played a significant role incorporate finance: between 1985 and 1990, the stock and bondmarket experienced a dynamic growth of 200 percent, with pensi ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Profits are defined as any proceeds for sale of personal property in excess of the basic cost for such property.  ...

Foreign Investor Interest. Serbia and Montenegro as a whole is likely to attract significant foreign investor interest.  With the political stabilization of Serbia, for the first time investors are likely to investigate more closely and seriously opportunities in Southeast Europe.  Serbia and Montenegro stands a good chance to attract significant foreign capital as it is one of the largest markets in the SEE.  Adherence to the current economic reform program and further liberalization of the market could propel Serbia and Montenegro ahead of other SEE countries that started reform programs earlier.  Both Serbia (FRY) and Montenegro have enacted liberal foreign investment legislation to stimulate foreign investment. ... [Read More]