Dr. Jörg Krämer


Since spring 2009, the global economy has been growing again. However, there are significant risks. The euro-zone suffers from a sovereign debt crisis, high US unemployment has hardly fallen and growth in China may slow down markedly. Dr. Jörg Krämer, Chief Economist of Commerzbank, critically analyses these risks. He gives an outlook for the US, European and Asian economies and demonstrates what this could mean for FX and fixed income markets.


About the speaker

Dr. Jörg Krämer has been Chief Economist of Commerzbank since 2006. Prior to that, he was Chief Economist of Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank in Munich and Chief Economist of Invesco Asset Management Deutschland GmbH in Frankfurt. Dr. Krämer began his career at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, where he received his PhD from Prof. Dr. Horst Siebert, the former President of the institute. Since 2009, Dr. Krämer is a member of the ECB Shadow Council.

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Dutch participation in master planning of West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD)
Stage 2 Public Engagement Exercise Consultation

Conceptual plan on WKCD by Dutch architecture firm OMA is presented at the Stage 2 of public consultation. Other conceptual plans include works by planning teams of Foster + Partners and Rocco Design Architects. The public engagement exercise consultation started on 20 August and will last until 20 November. During this period, roving exhibitions with models of the 3 conceptual plans will be held in various districts throughout Hong Kong.

General public can complete  a questionnaire to comment on the conceptual plans. For more information and exhibition details: www.wkcda.hk

DutchCham Member Survey 2010
The Results

As many of you will know, from December 2009 to January 2010 KnowNow conducted the biannual member survey for DutchCham. The results were recently presented to the staff and board of DutchCham. While we are working with your feedback, we would like to share the first results with you:

First of all many thanks to all members for participating so freely! The response of 26.4% gives a strong basis on which DutchCham can keep improving her service to all the members. And of course all your input is of great use to the new team at the office.

But over to the results now: You, the members give a 7.0 (out of 10) for the overall performance of DutchCham.

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Hong Kong’s New Tax Treaties - Is HK going to conquer the world?

Pieter de Ridder, tax lawyer at Loyens & Loeff

On Monday 22 March 2010, The Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury of Hong Kong, Professor K.C. Chan and the Minister of Finance of the

Netherlands, Mr J.C. de Jager, signed a comprehensive agreement for avoidance of double taxation (CDTA) between the Hong Kong S.A.R. and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The CDTA applies to taxes on income and intends to avoid double taxation as well as to prevent tax evasion. Both Mr De Jager and Professor Chan underlined that the signing of the CDTA will contribute to the expansion of mutual investments and the strengthening of the economic relations between the Netherlands and Hong Kong.

The tax seminar held by Pieter de Ridder, tax lawyer at Loyens & Loeff on May 14th focused on the implications of business executives/ owner of Hong Kong's New Tax Treaties. Pieter explained how company can maximise the benefits from the treaties. Pieter de Ridder, is a member of the International Tax practice group and has been based in Asia since 1991. He heads the firm's Singapore office and has become one of the few regional tax experts in Asia. He worked in Jakarta and Hong Kong from 1990 through 1995 and has been based in Singapore since 1996. He specialises in Asian tax planning and deals with a wide variety of business sectors. In this context, he works closely with local tax and legal experts in the various Asia Pacific countries.

Pitchfix Asia and Promoclip Asia at the International Premium Incentive Show 2010, Tokyo

Innovative products and designs, new and eco-friendly materials, and an emphasis on
"capturing the hearts of women consumers" characterised the latest International

Premium Incentive Show at the Tokyo Big Sight international exhibition centre.

The fair featured 243 exhibitors and attracted

a total of about 68,000 visitors over its 14 to 16 April run. The look of the showwas slick, with bright and colourful, well-appointed booths and, not
surprisingly, a cornucopia of free giveaways. Domestic exhibitors dominated, both in numbers and with superior style and presentation know-how.

There were no "country pavilions" this time, with most of the non-Japanese exhibitors sharing a reasonably favourable location adjacent to the main display area.

Please find the full article here