The Weekly News Update is a weekly roundup of business news from around the Asia-Pacific region, covering Fusion Consulting's core industry practices: chemicals, consumer & retail, financial services, industrial & logistics, information & communication technology, life science and media & leisure. If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in subscribing, please forward this email to them and copy knowledge@fusionc.com.     China's water and wastewater treatment sector   Huge demand exists in China for clean water with ample opportunities for  investors, water companies or water technology suppliers in the municipal and  industrial water supply and wastewater treatment market. Market-oriented  regulatory changes have lowered pricing risk, and opened up the sector.    Find out what the needs, solutions and opportunities are.

Industrial & logistics

China - Shipbuilding tonnage up 30% in 2007 Source: Xinhua, 2 March 2008 China's shipbuilding tonnage jumped 30% to 18.9 million tons in 2007, of which 14.9 million tons of ships in tonnage were exported. According to the National Development and Reform Commission, the number of exported tonnage rose 25.6% and the export value rose 51.1% to US$12.2 billion. China, the world's third-largest shipbuilder after Korea and Japan, grabbed 23% of the world's market share, four percentage points higher than in 2006. China's new shipbuilding orders in tonnage soared 132% to 98.5 million tons in 2007. The figure accounted for 42% of the world's total, up 12 percentage points from 2006. The new amount raised the total orders in tonnage the country held to 158.9 million tons, 33% of the world's figure. The market share was nine percentage points higher than in 2006. Korea - Kumho seals purchase of Korea Express Source: Korea Herald, 4 March 2008 Kumho Asiana Group has signed an official contract to buy a controlling stake in Korea Express, the nation's largest overland shipping company, for W4.1 trillion (US$4.4 billion). The group's two affiliates - Asiana Airlines and Daewoo Engineering & Construction - were chosen as preferred bidders for the purchase of 24 million new shares of Korea Express last month. The 24 million shares are equivalent to a 60% stake in the company. Kumho Asiana Group hopes that the takeover will help the company tap into the fast-growing logistics market. Korea Express is expected to benefit the shipping business of Asiana Airlines, the nation's second largest air carrier. Singapore - NorSun to set up solar wafer factory Source: Channel NewsAsia, 4 March 2008 Norwegian company NorSun is pumping in US$300 million into a new solar wafer factory in Singapore. The facility will produce mono-crystalline wafers which will be used for high-end solar cells, further strengthening Singapore as an emerging key player in the sector. NorSun has become the second solar wafer manufacturer to set up in Singapore, after Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), also from Norway. The factory, which will be NorSun's largest production centre in the world, is expected to produce at least 120 million mono-crystalline wafers every year.The mono-crystalline wafer is the first of its kind in Singapore and is more efficient than the multi-crystalline wafers that are more popular currently.     View an example of our experience in this industry. Back to list of articles.  Visit our website to sign up for free intelligence on Asian markets.

This Weekly News Update is a free newsletter, providing a round-up of the week's Asia-Pacific news from our core industry practices. If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in subscribing, please forward this email to them and copy knowledge@fusionc.com.

Fusion Consulting is a business intelligence consultancy providing clear strategic advice on Asia-Pacific markets. With offices in Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong and 400 industry consultants in 16 countries, we conduct custom research and consulting to help companies understand their markets, compete more effectively and grow into new areas of opportunity. Email more@fusionc.com or visit www.fusionc.com for more information.