Winema Gaven

So in my last post I made two bold predictions on the economy in the coming century, that emerging markets in Asia and Africa will be the driving force of many of the changes we see in the world.

East Timor

Is a war torn nation that no one knows much about, or has even heard of. The currency of choice here is single American dollars. The country is extremely poor and lacks almost any infrastructure of any kind. Will any entrepreneurs step up and make a difference in this country? Where there are problems, there is opportunity.

Sri Lanka

I have a friend who recently raised 30 million from the largest telecom in the country after being in the country for just 3 months. They now have the ENTIRE e-commerce marketplace to themselves. They are quite literally; they are the only company doing e-commerce at scale in the entire country. After a few weeks of operation, they eclipsed 101 employees today. Their headliner is a daily deals site / group-on clone: anything.lk

Burma

I’ll report back from Myanmar next week, as I’ll be jumping on a plane to head there shortly. For those who are interested in visiting, the visa situation is a pain! I decided to go last minute to attend a conference, and although I qualify for a “visa on arrival” the process is anything but clear. You need a letter from a Burmese business with address IN Myanmar (as well as permission from a ministry). Full details are available at this site. It is much, much easier to arrange a visa in advance at a local embassy.

Indonesia

From what I’ve seen so far from Indonesia, I enjoy this country. However, corruption at the lowest levels, as dealing with police (or the local banjar) can be burdensome for entrepreneurs. As for most places around the world, it’s best to enjoy your time here, follow the rules and don’t make too much noise. Although it is one of the largest emerging markets, if you are going to start a business here, you better have a great understanding of the culture, a well-connected local partner and deep pockets. I’ve written about starting a business in Bali in this post. If you are able to start a business, you’ll find incredible local talent for an inexpensive rate. The workforce is (by and large) more technically skilled than many other countries in the region, and there are great developers and designers.

South Korea

Korea is a place I don’t know much about. From an outsiders perspective, it’s not an emerging market, it seems expensive and difficult to penetrate as a foreigner without extensive time and effort. Although I have Korean friends who I know and love, it doesn’t attract me from an a macro-economic perspective and I can’t see this economy having the growth potential of others in the region. It is very well developed, and in many ways the polar opposite of its neighbor to the north…

North Korea

North Korea is the last frontier of Asia – hidden behind a communist veil, much of the society is kept in secrecy. I do know some people who have been able to visit and do business in the country. Believe it or not, they run a consultancy that teaches social skills. I guess that proves that maybe there is a market in NK? Recently it came out that Google is trying to penetrate into the economy here, and bring peace to the people. This is an admirable goal in my mind, and displays how the free market and private business can accomplish something that bureaucracy and governments could never accomplish in the country – freedom, peace and profitability.

China

China is intimidating. A huge market full of opportunities. Learn more on how to incorporate a company and do business in China.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is amazing, I love spending time in this country and it is just so damn entertaining to go out for a night on the town in this city. Hong Kong has a great culture – its not overbearing with centuries of tradition, but its deep enough to have caught its voice and be able to proudly proclaim: this is what it’s like to be Hongkongnese.

Hong Kong simultaneously both IS and IS NOT China. Technically, it is a “special administrative republic” and Hong Kong S.A.R. is an exemplar for an efficient free market economy, yet for all intents and purposes, is subservient to the centrally controlled Mainland. Although the quality of life, language, way of doing business, food, travel documents, and a lot of other things are completely different – Hong Kong IS china.

The food and the people are great, the city is so much fun, and Hong Kong is the best place to open a bank account. Scratch that, it is the 2nd best place in the world for banking and starting a business, right behind…

Singapore

Singapore is THE best place in the world to start a business. I’ve written about Singapore city here and also here. I have a deep respect for the ability of the government to spur entrepreneurship and innovation, and raise the quality of life for a society. Living here is a joy, and I love being here for that reason, now if I could only find some interests outside of my work…

Thailand

I write too much about this country already. I’m redacting my previous statements on the LOS. There is “nothing” to see in Thailand, please move along… My advice to backpacking tourists looking to “find themselves” and “see elephants” and “ladyboys” is to stay for a day, visit Phuket and then get out. We never wanted you here anyway.

For those of you who want to see the real Thailand… I recommend at least a year on the ground. Learning the language, starting a business, getting a multiple entry visa in Thailand through a Thai Company, and living in Bangkok city.

Cambodia

Cambodia is the future rice bowl of SE Asia. Along with Thailand and Vietnam, this is where the bulk of food will be produced in the 21st century. it’s also a very young society, and its developing quickly. I’ve seen ventures fail here (premium beer, commerce) and other succeed (citizenship by investment, property investment, fund management, rice, micro lending) the business field is wide open. Read more about Cambodia here. Read more about Cambodia’s Flag Theory and How to Get Cambodian Citizenship | Frontier Investing | Private Equity

Vietnam

Vietnam has an emerging tech community. You would not believe the talent that comes out of this country in terms of technical ability. The currency is a dong, and the government makes it near impossible to start a business unless you know the right people. Even the locals have to go and stand in a room and be read a number in order to start a company here. I spoke to a young girl that did it herself (instead of pay a company rough $200). From the beginning, you should only pick a venture that the government will LIKE – because if they don’t like you – bye bye. Take for instance Facebook – which saw a countrywide ban when groups starting popping up opposing the incumbent party. Check this article on How to set up a Vietnam LLC for further information.

Philippines

Ahhh the Philippines. The friendliest people on earth. Despite having one of the lowest GDP per capita, they have one of the highest happiness ratings. The women here are very intelligent. If you want to set up a business here, make sure you have strong females on your side, and great government connections. They are open to foreigners doing business, but all of the guys I know here that have had success know when to show their palms, and when to show their teeth. REAL power rules.

If you are interested in setting up a company in the Philippines, or learning more, check out this post on why it’s more fun in the Philippines…

There is a lot of opportunity here; partially displayed by the fact that Google is setting up a HQ in the Philippines. As a societal whole, you really want to root for them. They have the potential, they could do better, and they even know it themselves (see this commentary called “get real Philippines” or just look at the town slogans “aim high!”

Here’s a guide through the world of offshore savings and a recommended approach to protecting your nest-egg against inflation.

• Protect against inflation – The real return savers actually make from interest rates is the actual profit you are left with after taking the effects of the currency’s inflation into account. Inflation is the rise in prices for goods and services over a period of time – usually calculated annually. When weighing up a rate offer, deduct the known inflation percentage to find out how much you’ll actually end up. Advisers also tell savers to include the impact of tax when estimating a potential profit to ensure an accurate projection of likely returns.
• Protect against bankruptcy – Following a period of intense merger activity within the offshore savings sector, all savers should check that their accounts are not spread amongst deposit-takers owned by the same parent institution. If so, only a portion of your overall savings nest-egg may qualify for compensation if a deposit-taker goes to the wall.
• Protect against lack of compensation rights – We’ve seen the collapse of two Icelandic banks in offshore Britain (Landsbanki Guernsey and Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander Isle of Man) so we know the worst does happen to some savers. It is essential to always interrogate a jurisdiction’s financial compensation scheme before putting a penny of your hard-earned cash with any of its financial institutions.
• Protect against ID fraud – It is imperative you comply with identity protection procedures initiated by your deposit-taker. Your part of the bargain in the fight against fraud is never reveal passwords and security codes to anyone. If savings accounts are managed online, never leave a computer screen bearing the details. Do not fall victim to an email scam asking you to re-register your personal details. Real financial institutions would never compromise their customers in this way.
• Protect against adverse terms and conditions – Always read the small print of any terms and conditions when opening an account. Look out for penalties in the form of loss of interest against withdrawals made outside the notice terms and ways in which you could miss out on introductory, or loyalty bonuses.
• Profit by comparisons – it pays to research the rates paid by deposit-takers. Be sure to compare like with like and don’t be taken in by a new rate offer that is well above the market average. Those tempting percentages could be slashed once savers have been caught in the net.
• Profit from a competitive market – Today’s market is more competitive than ever. To put it bluntly, financial companies want savers more than they do borrowers. Select a handful of consistent top league payers and do your research to find out which one really wants to reward your customer loyalty.
• Profit by tracking market movements – Rates paid are still pegged to a currency’s base rate set by central banks. If you saving in sterling, euros and US dollars, make sure you stay abreast of these currencies’ base rates to gauge the rate offers on your accounts.
• Profit by locking away for longer – Recent economic conditions aside, the best paying accounts are those that lock savers into a fixed term – we’re talking a couple of percentage points’ difference. Calculate how long you can manage without accessing your savings pot and match that period with a provider’s best fixed term offer.
• Profit by saving regularly – Get the best from regular savings with products that encourage and reward such good habits.

There is a common misconception that having an offshore company means that you are doing something illegal.  The truth is that having an offshore company can benefit your business in a number of very legal ways.  If you are looking at offshore company formation, there are a number of tips that you need to know about.  These tips will ensure that the offshore company formation process works for you.

Have a List of Questions

The first tip that you need to know about is to have a list of questions ready which are related to your business.  These questions should include why an offshore company will work for your business.  You should also consider who will be involved with the business and what your business exit strategy will be if something were to go wrong.  Any question that you have about forming an offshore company should be put on the list and you need to have this with you when you visit an advisor.

Choosing the Right Advisor

DIY offshore company formation is not recommended because there is a lot of knowledge that you will not have.  This is why you will need to choose the right advisor to help you start your offshore company.  The advisor will need to have extensive knowledge about different offshore locations and how you would form a company in these locations.

When you meet with the advisor, you will need to find out about their experience and training.  You should also ask them the questions on the list that you have.  If they are able to adequately answer all of the questions, you should consider working with them.

Choosing the Right Jurisdiction

One of the most important aspects of offshore company formation is choosing the right jurisdiction.  Not all jurisdictions will work for your company and it is important to know this.  You should look for a jurisdiction that has a good and long-standing reputation as well as being a stable country.  The company tax of the jurisdiction should also be looked at.  There are some popular jurisdictions such as Hong Kong and Belize, but you should ask your advisor for more information.

When looking at jurisdictions, you should also consider the other laws that govern the country.  There are some countries that have stricter regulations for certain types of businesses and you need to know about this.  You need to stay within the legal framework of the jurisdiction so knowing what this framework is will be important.

Know the Costs

There are many services that can help you form an offshore company, but not all of them will have their costs on their website.  This is why you need to discuss the costs of using the service early to determine if the company is within your budget.  The costs will typically include setup fees as well as the annual renewal fees.

Offshore company formation is not something that you should do yourself.  However, there is a lot of research that you should do before you contact and advisor or choose a jurisdiction.

A non-UK domiciled but resident client has used the remittance basis since 2008/09 and made an election under TCGA 1992, s 16ZA. Remittances have been made to the UK from a mixed offshore fund.

My non-UK domiciled client has used the remittance basis since 2008/09 and made an election under TCGA 1992, s 16ZA. He remitted a significant amount of funds to the UK in 2011/12 from a “mixed fund” foreign bank account (one of several).

The deposits have been analyzed between (broadly) income, gains and clean capital for every year. However, my queries concern the treatment of withdrawals that are not remittances to the UK or transfers to other foreign bank accounts.

First, it would appear that income, gains and capital of the fund should not be allocated to the alienation of funds used for personal foreign expenditure (e.g. payment of a foreign electricity bill). Is this correct? Such items would, of course, deplete the bank account without any unremitted funds being matched.

Second, $20,000 was withdrawn in 2009/10 to acquire some foreign shares that were sold at a $5,000 loss in 2010/11 (the $15,000 proceeds being deposited in the same bank account).

I have treated the withdrawal as an “offshore transfer” thereby preserving the source of the $20,000 under the anti-avoidance rules (ITA 2007, s 809R (4)). I am also aware of the requirement to trace foreign income and gains through a series of transactions (see HMRC’s manuals at RDRM35030) that prevent, for example, reinvested income being converted into gains.

My question is how the $15,000 receipt should be analyzed if the source of the original acquisition was $8,000 income, $3,000 gains and $9,000 capital. Is $8,000 income deemed to be deposited first, followed by $3,000 gains and finally $4,000 capital?

I cannot find a rule governing the order of priority. If the loss was large enough, some unremitted income could be “lost”, potentially giving double relief for the capital loss (reduction of unremitted income and the capital loss). Surely this cannot be right?

Could any readers shed light on this?

Reply from Nick Harvey, Dixon Wilson

The use of funds that are held overseas and used for personal foreign expenditure is treated as an offshore transfer on the basis that they are not onshore transfers because any transfer that does not fall within ITA 2007, s 809Q is automatically within ITA 2007, s 809R(5).

This is subject to the anti-avoidance rule in s 809R (6), which states that the funds transferred should not fall within s 809Q before the end of the tax year and, on the basis of the best estimate that can reasonably be made at that time, s 809Q will not apply in relation to them (ie that the funds subject to the offshore transfer are not subsequently remitted to the UK and there is no expectation that they will be in future).

Clearly, if the money has been spent on a foreign electricity bill, there is no such prospect and, as such, the personal foreign expenditure will result in a proportional reduction of the unremitted foreign income, capital gains and clean capital in the account.

With regard to Dollared’s second query, accounting for the original investment as an offshore transfer appears to be the correct approach. The problem, as Dollared states, is in interpreting the derivation principle where an investment containing the unremitted income and gains is sold at a loss.

HMRC’s Residence, Domicile and Remittance Basis Manual at RDRM35030 does address a similar scenario where £25,000 of unremitted income is used to purchase a car which is subsequently brought to the UK at a time when the car is worth just £14,000.

In this case, HMRC state that they would treat the original £25,000 income as remitted. Unfortunately, the manuals do not cover the position if the car was sold abroad and the £14,000 was remitted to the UK.

One would hope that a purposive approach enables one to limit the income and gains remitted to the amount of funds received in the UK. Any other approach would make it impossible, in many scenarios, to disclose remittances on a “worst case scenario” basis.

For example, a remittance of £100 from a mixed fund which has been in existence for decades should be accepted by HMRC as a remittance of £100 income if the taxpayer does not wish to pay for the professional costs of analyzing the funds passing through the account since inception.

However, if the derivation principle is taken to its extreme, there is nothing stopping an inspector arguing that the £100 could have derived from income of £1m which was invested (very) badly indeed.

It is arguable that each element of the $15,000 proceeds should be proportionally reduced (giving $6,000 income, $2,250 capital gains and $6,750) and full disclosure made on the 2011/12 tax return.

However, it may be more prudent to treat the proceeds in the way suggested by Dollared because this will provide the highest tax take. If the loss was larger (say $12,000), it would be sensible to treat the proceeds of $8,000 as no longer containing any clean capital or capital gains so that a subsequent remittance would be treated entirely as income of $8,000 (assuming taxable remittances are limited to the amount received in the UK as suggested above).

I am not sure that I agree with the suggestion by Dollared that such an approach could result in double relief (as a result of the reduction of unremitted income and the benefit of the capital loss). What if the $20,000 investment had become completely worthless?

The income/gains attaching to the offshore transfer could clearly never be remitted, but one would imagine that the capital loss (arising perhaps through a negligible value claim) in these circumstances would still be allowable under TCGA 1992, s 16ZA.

Dollared’s queries are a good reminder that the mixed fund rules are often unworkable in practice and my own experience is that HMRC will accept a pragmatic approach.

Closer look... remittances from foreign income or gains

The reply from Nick Harvey raises the issue of remittances derived from foreign income or gains. HMRC’s Residence, Domicile and Remittance Basis Manual at paragraph RDRM35030 provides examples of calculating the amounts of remittances from abroad where non-cash value is involved. In each of the examples, the person involved is a remittance basis user.

In HMRC’s “example 3”, Johanna is a remittance basis user whose son has guitar lessons with a master guitarist, Kurt, every week. Johanna has a timeshare apartment in Morocco and pays £8,400 from her relevant foreign earnings each year which allows her to use the apartment for four weeks every year.

In 2013/14, rather than pay Kurt in cash for the guitar lessons, they agree that he may use the apartment for two weeks in June 2013. Here the consideration (the use of the Moroccan apartment) for the service provided in the UK derives indirectly from Johanna’s relevant foreign earnings and the amount remitted is related to the amount of income and gains from which the consideration derives, i.e. £4,200.

In example 4, Marianne purchased a car abroad for £25,000 from her foreign chargeable gains. The car is therefore treated as derived from foreign income and gains. Instead of bringing it straight to the UK, the car is kept in Italy.

A few years later she brings the car to the UK for the use of her and her daughter. At this time the approximate market resale value of the car is £14,000. However, the amount remitted is still £25,000, i.e. an amount equal to the chargeable gains from which the property was derived.

HMRC’s example 5 shows the converse. Ali purchases a sculpture in Sweden in 2012/13 for £80,000 using relevant foreign earnings. He gives the sculpture to his wife who keeps it at her mother’s home in Stockholm.

In 2015/16 Ali’s wife brings the sculpture to the UK. The sculptor has become famous, and the work has appreciated in value to £120,000.

As a result of Ali’s wife bringing the sculpture from Sweden to the UK, Ali has made a taxable remittance of £80,000 in 2015/16, i.e. the original amount of foreign income used to purchase the sculpture.

Zu Beginn ist hier ein Zitat, das eine Menge Leute seit geraumer Zeit vertraut ist, und es geht wie folgt aus: "die ' Erde ' ohne ' Kunst ' ist nur ' eh. '" Obwohl es ein bisschen Humor gibt, bedeutet es die Wahrheit. Kunst gibt uns eine Menge Bedeutung und es muss nicht schön sein, geschätzt zu werden. Aber in das Geschäft der Kunst einbezogen werden, erfordert sorgfältige Maßnahmen und Gedanken.

Die Einbindung von Kunst braucht oft das Fachwissen eines professionellen Art Consulting-Dienstes, um mehr Vorteile und positive Ergebnisse zu erzielen. Suchen Sie den Service, der mit Devin Fitzpatrick Art Consultants ähnlich ist, um Ihnen in ihrem künstlerischen Venture sehr zu helfen. Sie würden nicht viel Problem beim Kauf oder Verkauf einer Kunstwerke zum Beispiel, wenn Sie einen Art Consultant neben Ihnen haben.

Jeder von uns hat unterschiedliche Bedürfnisse, so dass es schwierig sein könnte, jemanden zu finden, der alle Ihre individuellen Anforderungen bieten könnte. Aber mit einer sorgfältigen Forschung und Auswahl, konnten Sie den künstlerischen Berater finden, den Sie brauchen. Im folgenden sind einige grundlegende Tipps, die Ihnen helfen, finden und wählen Sie die beste Art Consulting Service für Ihre Interessen.

Gründliche Untersuchungen durchführen

Sie können zu Fuß oder einfach mit dem Internet suchen. Und um die Dinge einfacher zu machen, können Sie dies mit Ihren Freunden, Verwandten oder Nachbarn diskutieren, die den Service eines künstlerischen Consultant erworben haben. Mit diesem können Sie ehrliche Empfehlungen zu gewinnen und könnte sogar die Liste diejenigen, die Sie vermeiden sollten.

Wählen Sie diejenige, die versteht

Das Geschäft, das Kunst beinhaltet, ist immer noch ein Geschäft, aber immer daran erinnern, dass, um die Ergebnisse, die Sie suchen, müssen Sie mit jemandem, der wirklich versteht sie arbeiten zu erhalten. Auf diese Weise können Sie mit dem Berater diskutieren alle Ihre Anliegen und Präferenzen mit nichts halten Sie zurück. Ähnlich wie die Dienstleistung von Devin Fitzpatrick Art Consultants, sollten Sie wählen, die ein breites Verständnis hat und könnte flexibel im Umgang mit den Unterschieden der einzelnen Kunden. Denken Sie daran, dass ein qualifizierter Art Consultant-Service könnte so etwas mit ihrer langjährigen Erfahrung Umgang mit vielen Menschen in der Vergangenheit tun.

Berücksichtigen Sie Ihr Budget

Getting the Service of a Art Consultant könnte ein bisschen teuer, so müssen Sie sicherstellen, dass Sie den Dienst von einem mit Ihrem Budget leisten können. Wählen Sie die, die Sie sich leisten können und hat ihren Bedingungen einschließlich Ihres Budgets zugestimmt.

Devin Fitzpatrick Art Consultants legt großen Wert auf die Beziehung zwischen dem Kunden und dem Berater. Beide Seiten sollten ein gegenseitiges Verständnis haben, um mit einem wertvollen Ergebnis zu enden. Es könnte Ihnen eine Menge Mühe am Anfang nehmen, aber wenn Sie sorgfältig wählen, die Sie arbeiten werden, wird alles glatt gehen am Ende.

Phil Devin Real Estate can be of great help if you’re looking for a good residence in Australia, and its real estate service has gained a lot of good feedbacks and reviews from different people, thus it is one of the most trustworthy agencies in the area. It has also been a huge part of many fulfilled real estate needs of different people. Phil described it as a “small-boutique type agency environment” that targets to provide a better service and better results to each client.

Phil Devin developed a reliable knowledge on real estate from his many years of service. With his skills, there’s a guarantee that you will get the service and results you deserve. You can also be certain of a positive outcome with Phil taking care of your real estate concern.

Its official site offers many lovely homes for sale or for auction. In this article, we’re going to discuss some of those properties in case you’re looking for some. To begin with, one property is located in Loganholme and is described to as a good investment opportunity because you can be sure of your investment return with its long-term tenant already in place.

A two-storey house, on the other hand, is located in Daisy Hill. It has a refreshing paint that could give you a calm feeling and is placed in a good spot as well. Your family will surely find the property convenient with its size and features. It is near to good schools, thus you won’t have any problems with the schooling of your children. You can also reach the freeway with just a short drive.

There’s also a property that could match the needs of any family and it is located in Holland Park. It offers a peaceful surrounding and has a good space. A two-storey house in Hope Island might also catch your interest with its proud and high ceilings, and a glass fenced pool. The living area is perfect for family bonding because it offers a huge space. If you prefer to live in Holland Park West, a newly-built-look property might suit your style. It was recently renovated and has a low ongoing maintenance and low body corporate fees.

The official website of Phil Devin Consultants offers great convenience to its clients since all the residential properties available for sale/for auction, and properties that have been sold, are all listed properly on the site.

Moreover, it also offers easy access in requesting for an appraisal, searching for an available residence for rent, requesting maintenance, and submitting a tenancy application. Get in touch with Phil today, so that you too can experience the good real estate service of Phil Devin Real Estate Consultants.

About Us

Speak to anyone who has experienced the PROCESS of buying or selling Real Estate and often their findings are a combination of stress, disappointment and ultimately compromise! One of my many goals is to ensure your next move is a positive one.

I started Phil Devin Real Estate with one simple mission:  "To deliver RESULTS that exceed our clients EXPECTATIONS".

What does this mean for you?

- I know you're busy and I respect your time. When we set an appointment and I’ll be there.

- When I say something can be done…you can count on it.

- I don't try to snow people or hide information. I'm all about disclosure.

- I’m not in it for any one transaction - I’m in it for the long haul…the lifelong relationships.

- That means I’ll work to get the result you deserve.

Ultimately when you buy or sell with me, it comes down to your decision, what's right for you. My goal is to make sure you have enough information to make a decision you can be happy with down the track. When you choose me to help you buy or sell your home you can count on responsive, quality, comprehensive and personalized service.

"Disappointment is the difference between what a client EXPECTS and what the Agent DELIVERS"

I know that my clients are craving to deal with a 'professional' who can 'listen' to their individual wants and needs and provide solutions for them!

Phil Devin is that professional!

Planning a vacation includes selecting your destination, a place to stay and a transportation service that will get you the places in your itinerary. You need to be extra careful and pay attention to everything so you could have a memorable vacation ever. The very first thing you need to decide is the places you like to visit and the activities you want to do. Choose places that can help you relax and forget your work commitments.

The next to be considered is the accommodation. Make sure to book a comfortable place for your stay and of course, within your budget. Do some research online for hotel promos and do not forget to read trusted reviews to serve as a guide in choosing the most desirable hotel in your destination. If you already have a schedule for your trip, book your accommodation as early as possible so you could take advantage of potential cost-saving options they may offer for early bookings.

The next area of concern is the transportation service you are going to avail. There is numerous reputable chauffeur service available to cater your transportation needs. Tokyo MK Taxi has long been serving the people of Japan, Korea and the United States as a global company providing high-quality taxi and chauffeur service at a very reasonable price. They offer not just a ride in comfort and style, but an easy and stress-free way to travel and arrive at your destination. Tokyo MK Taxi features Lexus group enthusiasts and cars included in their vehicle fleet are Lexus 600hl, Lexus 460, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota Hiace and Nissan Fuga Hybrid and much more. With over 212 types of taxi and 58 different models of luxurious vehicles, we can provide the right chauffeur car service for everyone’s needs. For more details, you can visit their website.

When you hire Tokyo MK Taxi, you get the best customer service without having to wait in lines, deal with incompetent drivers or pay more than you should. You can travel with your own personal space and with a sense of security.

'Practice what you preach' is exactly what the Tourism Ministry does with its “go-digital” campaign. The ministry not only applies the "go digital" philosophy to its promotional activities, it also brings it to its office.

An area called War Room M-17 was launched last year, located on the 16th floor of Sapta Pesona Building, Jakarta. The area features interactive dashboards showcasing tourism promotions for Indonesia, other countries, tourism destinations, top 10 priority destinations and human resources institutions.

“This is big data, a combination of small and corporate data as well as social media. The data is very important and can become an early warning system for the tourism ministry to know what’s happening out there,” said the Tourism Minister, Arief Yahya.

This is also the place where the ministry monitors what other countries such as Thailand and Vietnam are doing in order to attract Chinese tourists, for example.

When Thailand is clicked on the dashboard, destinations such as Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya will show up on the screen along with a list of current events there and information about access, cuisine, security, cleanliness, accommodation and other services.

Körd biltjänster komma till hands om tider som vi behöver komma någonstans och gör inte vill driva. Individer som söker efter en trevlig resa upplevelse kan också hyra chauffeured bilarna till deras föredragna händelser och destinationer. Hitta bäst chauffeured tjänsteleverantören att njuta av en minnesvärd reseupplevelse. Här är några saker som är viktiga för att få bästa bland resten:

Tjänsterna som erbjuds

En bra chaufför serviceföretag bör vara flexibla när det gäller typ av chauffeured tjänster som erbjuds. De bör erbjuda sina tjänster för corporate resor och transfer till flygplatsen samt att kunna njuta av resor med elegans och stil till speciella evenemang som proms, reunion, bröllop och födelsedagar. De skall uppfylla professionella normer genom att leverera enastående service som ingen annan och bör också kunna vad det tar att planera och genomföra varje tjänst på lämpligt sätt.

Högklassig fordonsflotta

En sak att tänka på är bilarna. Raden av chauffeured bilar ett företag har kan berätta mycket om nivån på tjänster som det kan erbjuda. Som kund har du möjlighet att välja det fordon som du älskar mest för din reseupplevelse. Med mer än en modell och varumärke att välja från, kan Tokyo MK ge en smidig resa till sina kunder med lyxiga bilar som gör det möjligt för dem att komma fram till sin destination med stil och finess. MK Taxi har Lexus grupp entusiaster bil limo alternativ som LS600hL och Lexus LS460. Andra typer av lyxig bil som erbjuds av företaget är: Mercedes-Benz S500L, Toyota Alphard, Toyota Crown Royal Saloon, Nissan Fuga Hybrid, Toyota Hiace och BMW ActiveHybrid 7 L.

Chaufförerna

Chaufförer är mer än bara drivrutiner. De är tillgångar i ett bolag som de ansvarar för att en klient har den mest positiva reseupplevelse. Därför välja ett företag med högt utbildade professionella chaufförer med effektiv kommunikation kompetens och kan ge en enastående kundservice. Detta innebär en chaufför ska behandla deras passagerare med största respekt, artighet, föregriper passagerarens behov och bör ha en förståelse när delta i en konversation med passageraren eller att avstå från att prata. En bra chaufför bör också vara väl-kunniga på lokala vägar och vägar att få dig till din destination säkert och snabbt samt erbjuda intressanta platser om det är något en passagerare vill veta om.

JAKARTA, NETRALNEWS.COM - The Jakarta Great Sale Festival (FJGS) 2017 is expected to increase the number of tourists visiting the country's capital city, a Jakarta tourism official stated.

"The FJGS program has continued to improve every year, and it is expected that the number of tourists will also increase through this activity," Head of Jakarta Tourism and Culture Service Catur Laswanto noted at a press conference on the FJGS 2017 in Jakarta on Thursday.

Laswanto remarked that Jakarta has an advantage in the form of numerous shopping centers and malls that make the capital a tourist destination.

"Unlike other regions that have natural wealth that makes them a tourist destination, Jakarta has several shopping centers, and this is a tourist attraction," Laswanto emphasized.

The tourism official is optimistic that the FJGS 2017 will be able to compete with various shopping festivals in other Asian countries, as the products on offer are more complete and are available at lower prices.

"I laud the implementation of the FJGS 2017. Hopefully, this activity will continue to grow from time to time. We hope the FJGS would become a leading event in Jakarta," Laswanto affirmed.

This year, the FJGS will be held from June 2 to July 12, 2017. This event will be followed by 81 malls or shopping centers, 40 traditional markets of the Jakarta market operator PD Pasar Jaya, and 12 hotels and retailers from shopping centers.

During the FJGS 2017, a midnight shopping program or Midnight Sale will be held every week alternately in 27 shopping centers in Jakarta. In addition to the shopping program, the FJGS 2017 will also hold social activities.

In collaboration with the Jakarta Red Cross, the FJGS committee will hold Mass Blood Donation events in 36 shopping centers in Jakarta during the FJGS 2017.

“Paper or plastic?” It’s a fairly innocuous question that cashiers at retail stores ask as you complete your shopping experience, but how you answer that query can have a far reaching impact on Galveston’s environment.

Plastic bags are one of those modern conveniences that became commonplace before we even took a moment to consider their environmental impact. But Joanie Steinhaus, campaign director, Gulf Coast for the Turtle Island Restoration Network, which partnered with the Surfrider Foundation Galveston Chapter to develop the Bring the Bag Campaign, says plastic bags have become a scourge to the environment for a number of reasons.

“Plastic bags don’t biodegrade; they break down into tiny particles that are found throughout the water and soil,” Steinhaus said. “They also absorb toxins, and we know that fish and birds consume these micro plastics. Plus, they are a significant source of litter and contribute to flooding by getting stuck in storm drains.”

The Bring the Bag campaign was launched in 2014 as an education and outreach initiative to bring attention to the potentially devastating ecological effects created by plastic bags and to encourage the use of reusable bags. Steinhaus says studies show that the use of reusable bags helps to eliminate an estimated 22,176 plastic bags per person over their lifetime.

Galveston city council members are in the process of considering a ban on the use of plastic bags on the island, and the Bring the Bag Campaign is helping to support that effort by providing information to the public and reaching out to businesses to garner their support. Part of that outreach will include Galveston Bring the Bag Day, scheduled for April 22. City leaders are encouraging businesses to reduce and eliminate plastic bags and are educating island visitors to be good stewards of the environment.

“We have multiple businesses on the island that have made the decision not to use plastic bags. We have also done outreach with homeowner’s associations, businesses, hotel and lodging associations and others so we can understand what impact a plastic bag ban would have on merchants. Plastic bags cost much less than reusable bags, so one thing we’ve discussed is forming a co-op to help businesses make the transition (to reusable bags).”

Brownsville, Austin and South Padre are among a handful of Texas cities to enact anti-plastic bag bans, but subsequent efforts on the part of cities are being met with resistance in the form of threatened lawsuits. Steinhaus was part of a group that traveled to Austin this month to voice opposition to Senate Bill 103, which seeks to prevent cities and counties from enacting plastic bag bans on the basis that it is a decision that should be made at the state level, rather than local.

Steinhaus said there are many ways for interested volunteers to help the cause. For more information on how to get involved, visit Bringthebag.org.

By William F. Whelan, guest columnist and Senior VP, Branch/Government Banking, Capital Bank.

As the 2017 tax season gets underway, Capital Bank of New Jersey is urging all customers to take extra precaution when filing their return to prevent their exposure to tax fraud.

“Fraudsters are using very clever tactics to get a hold of your personal information and submit false tax claims,” said David J. Hanrahan, Sr., President and CEO. “Consumers must be suspicious of any communication from the IRS—through e-mail, text or social media—that requests personal information, and should keep a watchful eye out for missing W-2s and mail containing sensitive financial information.”

Tax identity fraud takes place when a criminal files a false tax return using a stolen Social Security number in order to fraudulently claim the refund. Identity thieves generally file false claims early in the year and victims are unaware until they file a return and learn one has already been filed in their name.

To help consumers prevent tax ID fraud, Capital Bank of New Jersey is offering the following tips:

1. File early. File your tax return as soon as you’re able, giving criminals less time to use your information to file a false return.

1. File on a protected Wi-Fi network. If you’re using an online service to file your return, be sure you’re connected to a password-protected personal network. Avoid using public networks like a Wi-Fi hotspot at a coffee shop.

1. Use a secure mailbox. If you’re filing by mail, drop your tax return at the post office or an official postal box instead of your mailbox at home. Some criminals look for completed tax return forms in home mailboxes during tax season.

1. Find a tax preparer you trust. If you’re planning to hire someone to do your taxes, get recommendations and research a tax preparer thoroughly before handing over all of your financial information.

1. Shred what you don’t need. Once you’ve completed your tax return, shred the sensitive documents that you no longer need and safely file away the ones you do.

1. Beware of phishing scams by e-mail, text or phone. Scammers may try to solicit sensitive information by impersonating the IRS. Know that the IRS will not contact you by e-mail, text or social media. If the IRS needs information, they will contact you by mail first.

1. Keep an eye out for missing mail. Fraudsters look for W-2s, tax refunds or other mail containing your financial information. If you don’t receive your W-2s, and your employer indicates they’ve been mailed, or it looks like it has been previously opened upon delivery, contact the IRS immediately.

If you believe you’re a victim of tax identity theft or if the IRS denies your tax return because one has previously been filed under your name, alert the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. In addition, you should:

• Respond immediately to any IRS notice and complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit.
• Contact your bank immediately, and close any accounts opened without your permission or tampered with.
• Contact the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit records:
  • Equifax, Equifax.com, 1-800-525-6285
  • Experian, Experian.com, 1-888-397-3742
  • TransUnion, TransUnion.com, 1-800-680-7289
• Continue to pay your taxes and file your tax return, even if you must do so by paper.
• More information about tax identity theft is available from the FTC at ftc.gov/taxi theft and the IRS at irs.gov/identity theft.

Capital Bank opened for business in Vineland in 2007.  Currently, it has four locations—two in Vineland, one in Woodbury Heights, and one in Hammonton. Capital Bank lends money to businesses and individuals throughout South Jersey, is an Approved SBA Lender and a New Jersey EDA Premier Lender. It is also 5-Star rated by BauerFinancial (BauerFinancial.com). For more information about Capital Bank, visit capitalbanknj.com.

Remember, your financial information is at risk all the time. Fraudsters will always come up of new intricate ways to trick you from giving credit card details. Here are some advices to protect yourself from scammers.

Shred any receipts or papers with a credit card details on it.

Fraudsters can be dumpster divers, which mean, they can use tossed rubbishes to obtain financial information from you. For this reason, it is best to shred receipts and bank statements before dumping them in the trash.

Keep your PIN private

Do not use the same PIN code on all your cards and avoid using personal information such as your birthdate in your PIN code. If you are going to withdraw, cover up your PIN number when typing and be wary of your surroundings. It is also not advisable to write your PIN number on a piece of paper.

Phone passwords

Passwords must be protected on a high level. If you use the same password on all your accounts, it is time to change it. Change the password on all your accounts and cards as it makes it easy for a fraudster to access all your accounts if all of them have the same passcodes.

Moreover, do not save your passwords on your computer and as much as possible, set a security pin on your mobile phone and computers to avoid unauthorized people from accessing sensitive information inside your device.

Phone calls from your bank

Do not let your guard down especially when you are in a public place or in an internet shop doing online banking. And if you are talking to your bank, do it in a secure and private place where no one can hear any banking details about your transaction.

One of the scam tricks fraudsters do is by trying to lure you using phone calls. They may pretend that they are from the bank and asking you to provide banking details. If this happens, don’t be afraid to ask questions and verify their identity first before providing any important information.

Viruses

To protect your computer from malicious software and spyware, install anti-virus software and make sure to keep it running and updated especially when you are online.

Emails

Beware of suspicious emails. Fraudsters use electronic mailing to trick their victims into giving financial details. They usually pretend to be from your bank and will request that you confirm your banking details. If an incident like this happens, don’t provide information and don’t click any suspicious links in the email as it may contain malware that can steal data from your computer. Remember that a bank will never send an email to threaten you or will request any financial details of you.

Online transactions

Do not trust websites easily especially if you are making online transactions. Do not give away personal and financial details unless that site is reputable.

Since its beginning, Tyre&Auto Southbourne Group has been committed to helping its customers take care of their car. And if you’re currently having a hard time looking for the right tyre for your vehicle, Tyre&Auto is the ideal place to seek out the best solution for your remedy without getting scammed. Their team is equipped with sufficient know-how in handling your car concerns.

The market nowadays has boomed and it has a lot of different types of tyres available for any kind of vehicles. But finding the right one for your car might be an arduous task for you, but worries aside because Tyre&Auto can lead you to the right tyre.

Tyre&Auto Southbourne Group takes into consideration your every car concern. You can really rely on their car services such as brake checks, MOTs, free seasonal checks, and of course, finding the perfect tyre for your car. This family-run company can be a place you can always go to in case of car problems.

Renewing the tyres of your vehicle might need careful thought and Tyre&Auto Southbourne Group can assist you in choosing the right one for your car. Size, climate, and your way of driving are some of the important aspects to consider when deciding which tyre to use.

The sidewall of the tyre indicates imperative information about the tyre such as its size, section width, aspect ratio or profile, radius, load capacity and speed rating. Factors that could affect the life of your tyre may include: driving in inner city conditions as opposed to motorways or the mileage per annum is either high or low. Considering those aspects, Tyre&Auto Southbourne Group can provide more help.

Contact the local depot of Tyre&Auto for more necessary assistance in finding the right tyre for your car. Their team is always prepared to address and answer any of your concerns regarding your car.

• Committed to providing an excellent car service to any individuals is what Tyre&Auto Southbourne Group is known for in Southbourne. The company has been delivering a reliable and honest service to their customers for several years now and their team is constantly receiving good reviews for their smart and practical service.

   

  Tyre&Auto Southbourne Group could indeed provide utmost care to your car with their meticulous work. Each manager is equipped with extensive experience in this particular field. George Mandair, as well as other managers, usually gets good feedbacks from the customers. It’s nothing surprising for a trustworthy service. People with car related concerns can count on the capabilities of the company in giving solutions to their problems.

   

  Tyre&Auto Southbourne Group has been involved in the trades in South Coast of Hampshire, building their firm reputation throughout the years. It is also a family run company that can truly handle any of your car problems with proper care.

   

  Included in their services are brake checks, car servicing, searching for good tyres, MOTs, as well as free seasonal checks. You can also obtain a quick tyre quote and reserve your tyres for fitting through their online service.

   

  The company always target to provide convenience to their customers and as a result, they also offer a local collect and a return service to them. We suggest to ask them about the service when you booked since their team can answer and address any of your other car concerns.

   

  All of their depots can also check your car’s windscreen wipers and can conduct a full engine overhaul. Many customers have been satisfied with their ability in handling car works. What’s more is the company’s good selection of free service checks.

   

  You may contact the local depot of Tyre&Auto Southbourne Group for further information about their car services.

(Bloomberg) -- Amazon Web Services, the cloud-hosting arm of Amazon.com Inc., opened new data centers in the U.K. as it seeks to stay abreast of competitors in offering cloud computing services to government and health-care customers.

The new data centers, announced in a statement on Wednesday, follow decisions by IBM and Microsoft Corp. in the past two months to expand their cloud computing infrastructure in the U.K.

The U.K. data region, which comprises two zones, each consisting of multiple data centers, is the 16th Amazon Web Services operates worldwide and it’s third in Europe. A fourth in France has already been announced and will open next year.

Governments are increasingly moving computing functions into the cloud. But they are often required for regulatory and security purposes to hold data within their national borders. The same applies for sensitive health-care information. Meeting these demands is one reason cloud providers are rushing to open more data centers around the globe.

"This is a great enabler for data that has to remain in the U.K., like health-care," Chris Hayman, who manages Amazon Web Services’ British government accounts, said in an interview.

Liam Maxwell, the U.K.’s national technology adviser, said in a statement that the government had saved 3.5 billion pounds ($4.4 billion) so far by choosing to host data in the cloud rather than on its own servers.

Financial-service firms are also often concerned with minimizing the time it takes to connect to trading venues, another reason to expand in the U.K., said Teresa Carlson, vice president for worldwide public sector operations for Amazon Web Services. “The U.K. is a really important part of the world, being a center of the financial industry,” she said.

The decision to build new data centers in the U.K. predates the country’s June vote to leave the European Union, Carlson said. But giving customers the ability to store data in the U.K. has taken on increased importance since the Brexit vote as clients worry about whether British data privacy rules will diverge from European standards. “Now, whether the U.K. is in Europe or not, they have their own region,” she said.

Amazon Web Services declined to specify exactly how many facilities it operates in the country, how many people will be employed or how much money it will invest.

Karen Bradley, U.K. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said in a statement that Amazon’s action “is a strong endorsement of our approach to the digital economy” and “shows a clear confidence in the U.K. being open for business and one of the best places in the world for technology companies to invest in and grow.”