The EU's water policy directive to go into force
The European Union announced the entry into force of its water policy directive, effective after 22 December 2003. This new directive mandates all EU countries to set environmental goals for surface water, underground water, and protected areas to be attained in 12 years, as well as the monitoring plans to be implemented in 6 years after the directive's entry into force. To meet these environmental goals, the member states are to introduce relevant policy measures in 9 years. They will also be required to designate the river basin districts and formulate management plans, and to set effective water pricing based on sound economic analysis.

China's West Development marks good prospects
Backboned by the West China Development Policy since 2000, the western region in China forecasts bright prospects for further development and business opportunities. The Government of China is currently promoting 50 major development projects in the region, while making efforts for infrastructure construction with the investment of 7,300 billion RMB. The cities in the western region are evolving with differing specialties, namely, Sichuan for electronics, Shanxi for aerospace, Chong King for automobile production, and Yunnan for travel and tourism. Today, foreign investment in the western region accounts for only 5% of the total foreign investment to China, therefore Korean corporations may benefit from making prior investment to this region. The cities with good prospects for investments are: Sichuan, Chong King, Shanxi, Guangxi, and Yunnan for manufacturing industries; Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guihou for resource development; Sichuan, and Shanxi for IT; and Guanxi and Yunnan for border trades.