The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €500 million ($576.75 million) green loan to support Iberdrola’s Windanker offshore wind farm, a renewable energy project under construction in the German Baltic Sea. The financing is backed by a guarantee from the Spanish export credit agency Cesce, marking the first use of a joint EIB–Cesce guarantee to promote green projects led by Spanish companies outside Spain. Windanker, Iberdrola’s third large-scale offshore wind development in the region, will add 315 megawatts of capacity, enough to power around 600,000 homes annually. The facility will use 21 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-236 DD turbines, each…

Indonesia maintained a strong trade surplus in September, driven by robust manufacturing exports that offset declines in coal shipments amid falling global energy prices, according to data released by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) on Monday. Total exports reached $24.68 billion in September, up 11.4% year-on-year, while imports rose 7.17% to $20.34 billion, resulting in a surplus of $4.34 billion, the country’s 65th consecutive monthly surplus. Non-oil and gas exports accounted for nearly all of the growth, climbing 12.79% to $23.68 billion. BPS Deputy for Distribution and Service Statistics, Pudji Ismartini, reported that non-oil and gas exports from January to September stood…

Korea’s workwear market has reached a new milestone, growing to an estimated 1.5 trillion won last year as uniforms increasingly merge fashion with functionality. Once limited to industrial sites, workwear has transformed into a mainstream fashion category embraced across generations and professions. According to U.S. market research firm SkyQuest, the industry’s expansion has been driven by multiple factors, including the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, tighter industrial safety regulations, and the post-pandemic shift toward business casual attire. Industry observers say the influx of Millennials and Gen Z into field jobs has reshaped perceptions of workwear. Younger workers now…

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney concluded his visit to Singapore on October 29, marking the final leg of his first official tour of the Indo-Pacific region. The visit was part of the government’s broader mission to double non-U.S. exports within the next decade and attract greater international investment to Canada amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. Throughout his visit, Carney positioned Canada as a stable, high-value destination for global capital and a dependable trading partner. He held meetings with leading investors and business executives to explore opportunities for deeper investment in Canadian industries. Singapore remains Canada’s largest source…

Türkiye is setting its sights on achieving a record $43.7 billion in automotive exports in 2026, as outlined in the 2026 Presidential Annual Program. The country plans to strengthen its global market presence while advancing its green and digital transformation in the automotive sector. The program prioritizes the development of next-generation production technologies to enhance competitiveness in both the automotive and supply industries. Domestic technological capacity will be reinforced across all stages, from design to production, ensuring alignment with the global shift toward sustainable and digital mobility. Authorities will track the progress of projects under the Mobility Vehicles and Technologies…

Pakistan’s Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to accelerating transport and trade cooperation with Iran, signalling a renewed push to strengthen economic ties between the two neighbors. During a meeting in Islamabad with Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moqaddam, Khan said that Pakistan will take all necessary steps to facilitate import and export operations and ensure the swift implementation of trade agreements already reached. He announced that a joint session between Pakistan’s Ministry of Communications and the Iranian Embassy will be convened soon to review ongoing initiatives and expedite progress on key connectivity projects. Highlighting recent…

The Northern Cape High Court has ruled that private conservation facilities may be granted permits to export rhino horns, a landmark judgment that has drawn praise from conservation breeders but immediate disapproval from the South African government. Judge Lawrence Gerald Lever delivered the ruling, overturning the provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform’s decision to deny permits to rhino breeder Hendrick Diedericks for exporting white rhino horns. Lever stated that the department had misinterpreted the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), noting that it “does not as a blanket provision prohibit…

Singapore, Chile, and New Zealand have begun negotiations for a plurilateral Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA), announced on Friday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in South Korea. At the launch event, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed optimism for a ‘substantial outcome’ by the next APEC Summit. The proposed pact will focus on new categories of environmental goods and services, including sustainable aviation fuel, carbon credits, and trade-related climate measures. These topics were identified following several rounds of discussions under a joint working group on trade and the green economy established in November 2024. PM…

India is aiming to expand its global rice export share from the current 40% to 60%, Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) National President Prem Garg announced on Thursday during the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) in New Delhi. Speaking to ANI, Garg said India has now become both the world’s largest producer and exporter of rice, surpassing China. “This year, we’re not only the number one rice exporter, but also the number one producer in the world. We’ve surpassed China, so we need to export more rice. We want to take our 40% share to 60% so our farmers can…

Korea’s Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo has urged Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members to embrace open plurilateralism and strengthen collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy to address growing challenges in the global economy. Speaking at the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Gyeongju on Thursday, Yeo highlighted the region’s central role in global trade and production, noting that APEC economies account for 61% of global GDP and 49% of world trade. “Amid profound shifts in the global economy, there is no better time than now to rekindle the spirit of openness and cooperation,” he said. The two-day ministerial meeting serves…