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Dear ?NAME?,      Offshore Services & Equipment   Offshore exploration continues to breach new frontiers, driven by new finds,  technology and surging energy demand in China and other growth economies.  Opportunities abound for equipment and services vendors able to meet the sector's  exacting demands. Find out where the opportunities lie.  In the news this week  l 4-Jan-08 Malaysia's Islamic hub taking shape

Maybank has established its Islamic banking subsidiary, Maybank Islamic Berhad, effective 1 January 2008. Moving ahead, Maybank will consider selling a stake in its Islamic bank. The regulation allows for up to 49% of its Islamic banks to be sold to foreign investors. Malaysia has also introduced tax breaks and relaxed rules to become a centre for Islamic finance. Meanwhile, Bahrain-based Unicorn Investment Bank became the first foreign bank to obtain a licence to establish an Islamic bank under the Malaysian International Islamic Financial Centre initiative. Malaysia is expected to issue more licences to foreign banks planning to conduct Islamic banking in multiple currencies to turn Malaysia into a global Islamic banking centre. Click here to view this week's articles for all industries.    What you don't know can hurt you  Receive all the key news on your markets, industry and competitors each  week, with alerts for important breaking news, and avoid information  overload with human filtering. Find out more about our Market Monitoring   Service and web-based Intelligence Plaza system by emailing   marketing@fusionc.com.

Chemical China - Petrochemical multinationals move faster in China India - Petrochem industry fears free trade with the Gulf India - Plastic producers seeks raw material unit

Consumer & retail Australia - Retail sector to enjoy strong growth in 2008 India - Retail FDI may come in three phases Indonesia - Retail law may limit Carrefour's expansion

Financial services China - Construction Bank, Bank of America start leasing JV Malaysia - Bahrain bank gets Islamic licence Vietnam - Great Eastern unit bags insurance licence

Industrial & logistics China - FedEx holds positive view to express market China - SAIC Motor merge with Nanjin Auto India - Energy sector needs US$150 billion investment

Information & communication technology   China - 2007 semiconductor sales growth slows India - IT market revenue to grow 24% in 2008 Japan - Sony to exit rear-projection TV sector

Life science India - Pfizer transfers four brands to J&J India - Pharma giants change strategy India - Finland companies target Indian markets

Media & leisure China - Online game market concentration rate to go down India - FDI cap on select broadcast areas may be hiked to 74% Korea - IPTV law passed

Previous issues

Epoxy producers in Japan strengthen setup to meet surging demand [14-Dec-07] Foreign firms buy into Taiwan's banking sector [7-Dec-07] Eyes on booming Asian luxury goods market [30-Nov-07] Korean petrochemical industry remains bullish [23-Nov-07] Korea braces for integration of its financial markets [16-Nov-07] Japan's beer makers seek diversification [26-Oct-07]

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