logo
New Zealand, Indonesia Sign Halal Trade Agreement

New Zealand, Indonesia Sign Halal Trade Agreement

Barnama6 hours ago

WELLINGTON, June 16 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Indonesia have signed a landmark halal cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening trade ties and unlocking new opportunities for New Zealand's red meat and dairy sectors, according to the New Zealand government on Monday, reported Xinhua.
Indonesia, with its population of 280 million and rapidly growing middle class, imported over NZ$1.1 billion (US$664 million) in New Zealand dairy and meat products last year, said New Zealand Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay.
The new Halal Cooperation Arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market, said the government statement.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pakistan to uplift IT sector to boost economic growth, foreign exchange
Pakistan to uplift IT sector to boost economic growth, foreign exchange

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Pakistan to uplift IT sector to boost economic growth, foreign exchange

ISLAMABAD, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that his country has been making prudent policies to uplift the information technology (IT) sector to boost economic growth and generate foreign exchange. "A sustainable and advanced information communication technology system is being established to position Pakistan as a central hub for the IT sector in the region," the prime minister said while chairing a meeting on IT. In this regard, he said that local companies will be provided with a skilled workforce to enable them to meet international standards and generate foreign exchange, adding that steps are being taken to formulate modern training programs for youth and establish a training ecosystem in the country. Calling young workforce a valuable asset for Pakistan, Sharif said that information technology training was being provided in schools, colleges, and universities, besides ensuring IT training in summer camps during the ongoing summer vacations. During the ongoing summer vacations, over 146,000 students will receive IT training and 2,000 students will be trained in advanced IT courses to become employable. Through collaboration with international partners, he said efforts were underway to provide IT training to an additional 80,000 students in major cities, and through online classes in remote areas of the country.

Credit scores decline for millions as U.S. student loan collections restart
Credit scores decline for millions as U.S. student loan collections restart

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Credit scores decline for millions as U.S. student loan collections restart

NEW YORK, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Americans are seeing their credit scores suffer now that the U.S. government has resumed referring missed student loan payments for debt collection, reported The Associated Press on Monday. After 90 days of non-payment, student loan servicers report delinquent, or past-due, accounts to major credit bureaus, which use the information to recalculate the borrower's score. Falling behind on loan payments therefore can affect an individual's credit rating as severely as filing for personal bankruptcy. "A lower credit score makes it harder or more expensive to obtain car loans, mortgages, credit cards, auto insurance and other financial services at a time when inflation, high interest rates, and layoffs have strained the resources of some consumers," noted the report. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that in the first three months of 2025, 2.2 million student loan recipients saw their scores drop by 100 points, and an additional 1 million had drops of 150 points or more. Declines that steep may mean the difference between a manageable credit card interest rate and an unmanageable one, or approval or rejection of an application to rent an apartment, it added. The U.S. Department of Education paused federal student loan payments in March 2020, offering borrowers relief during the economic chaos of the coronavirus pandemic. Though payments technically resumed in 2023, the Biden administration provided a one-year grace period that ended in October 2024. Last month, the Trump administration restarted the collection process for outstanding student loans, with plans to seize wages and tax refunds if the loans continue to go unpaid.

Mongolia issues e-visas to 11,484 foreigners in first 5 months
Mongolia issues e-visas to 11,484 foreigners in first 5 months

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Mongolia issues e-visas to 11,484 foreigners in first 5 months

ULAN BATOR, June 16 (Xinhua) -- A total of 11,484 foreigners were granted Mongolian e-visas in the first five months of 2025, an increase of 2.8 times year on year, local media reported on Monday, citing Mongolia's Immigration Agency. During the period, the country's immigration agency issued 12,268 residence permits, and extended 14,430 residence permits. The residence permit issuance increased 76.3 percent. Currently, Mongolia's economy relies heavily on export of mineral resources. Tourism is considered one of priority areas for diversifying the economy. The government has decided to continue the "Years to Visit Mongolia" tourism program until 2028. Mongolia launched e-visa system on Oct. 1, 2021. According to the Mongolian Tourism Organization, Mongolia has attracted a total of 226,364 foreign tourists since the beginning of 2025.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store