Volume 4 Number 305 Tue. April 06, 2004       Advertise with The Daily Star -- Advertising on the Website    Advertising in the Printed E dition-- Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Political Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Business   Reduce Vat on retail stores Shop owners ask govt Retail shop owners have demanded reduction of value added tax (Vat) on their stores situated in city corporations and district and upazila headquarters, but proposed outlets in Dhaka and Chittagong city   Ban deposit collection from non-members Steering committee on microfinance bodies suggests The government-constituted steering committee on microfinance has suggested imposing a ban on microfinance institutions' deposit collection from non-members.   Bangladesh fair begins in Sydney today Move to secure bigger pie in Australian market A three-day single country trade fair of Bangladesh begins today in the Australian city of Sydney aiming to secure a larger export market down under. SAP AG eyes bigger business software mkt in Bangladesh Subcontinent chief talks to The Daily Star SAP AG, a leading business software provider, considers strengthening its presence in Bangladesh market which has 'huge prospect', a senior official of the company said yesterday in Dhaka.   New credit rating agency launched A local credit rating firm formally launched its activities yesterday aiming to extend help to all the stakeholders of the capital market.   CSE calls for bringing all listed cos under CDS The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) has urged the regulators to bring all listed companies under the central depository system (CDS).   Russia close to resolving key WTO dispute with EU A top Russian official said Monday he expected to strike a deal over domestic natural gas subsidies with the European Union within months, one of the top stumbling blocks to Russia's membership in the   AB Bank signs agreement with Commercial Bank of Ceylon Arab Bangladesh Bank Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding with Commercial Bank of Ceylon Limited for trading on repo/reverse repo against T-bills/bonds and other government securities.   Asian Paints launches 3 outlets Asian Paints (Bangladesh) Limited has inaugurated three outlets recently in Sylhet, Srimongol and Kushtia, says a press release.   Solutions seminar on Travel held in Middle East The first solutions seminar on Travel organised by Galileo International was held in the Middle East recently.   New DMD of Mercantile Bank AKM Shahidul Haque has been promoted to the post of deputy managing director (DMD) of Mercantile Bank Limited.   Recovery in global trade gathers pace, risks loom WTO sees over 4.5pc growth in 2003 A weak dollar and buoyant activity in China helped global trade grow last year, but uncertainty about the US and European economies coupled with volatile oil prices could dampen prospects of further expansion,     Advertisement