28 Percent of US Immigrants Come from Asia

In operation until 1954, the immigration station processed over 12 million immigrant steamship passengers.

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) reports that 28 percent of all immigrants in the United States – about 11 million – hail from Asia. Asians are the second largest immigrant group after Latinos, with nearly half coming from the Philippines, India and China and residing in California, New York and Texas.

Asian immigrants are perceived as “model minorities” who work hard, do well, and don’t complain. In the American imagination, they do not seem to share the challenges faced by other immigrant groups.

Nearly half of Asian immigrant adults have a college degree or higher. Among all immigrants, Asians are more concentrated in management, information technology, and science and engineering. A majority of immigrant doctors and nurses are from Asia.

MPI estimates that Asian immigrants accounted for 11 percent of all unauthorized immigrants in 2010. The Department of Homeland Security counts among the undocumented 280,000 Filipinos, 200,000 Indians, 170,000 Koreans and 130,000 Chinese.

Read more at WNYX New York Public Radio

Photo by wallyg at Flickr.com

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Philippine Export Agency Expects 10 Percent Export Growth

The Export Development Council (of the Philippines) was created by virtue of Republic Act 7844, otherwise known as the Export Development Act of 1994. It was created with the purpose of developing and overseeing the implementation of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) and coordinating the formulation and implementation of policy reforms to support the Plan.

Based on a plan recently presented to Philippine President Aquino, the EDC expects annual export growth to be within 10% in merchandise shipments until 2013. This target relies on exporting more to neighboring countries like China whose economy continues to expand, and Japan which many expect to recover fast despite the Tsunami catastrophe. The plan was approved by the President.

Sources: Export Hub & EDC Website

Photo by edison.sy at Flickr.com

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$1B Investment Plan in the Philippines Bared by Coca-Cola

Photo by Svadilfari at Flickr.com

Coca-Cola disclosed its plan to spend $1 Billion over the next five years to expand its presence and operations in the Philippines as part of its global plan to focus more on emerging markets. A recent upgrade in global standing of the Philippines by Goldman Sachs to include the country in its “Next Eleven” list may have been one of the reasons why Coca-Cola is investing this much. With a population of 91 million and a stable manufacturing and service-based economy, the Philippines offers several good investment options for the likes of Coca-Cola.

$2 Billion investment is also alloted for China while it is also buying its largest bottler in North America for more than $12 Billion.

Source: Bullfax.com

Jollibee gives up operations in Taiwan and Shanghai

Philippine fast food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) has given up its operations in China’s Taiwan and Shanghai and chosen to focus on “building bigger brands” in other parts of China.

JFC gave up its 70 percent stake in Lao Dong Pte. Ltd. which operates Lao Dong restaurants in Taiwan. It also terminated its franchising agreement with Chun Shui Tang Tea House and shut down its stores in Shanghai.

Read more at Individual

Lamoiyan Corp to Export Hapee Products to China

Filipino-owned Lamoiyan Corp., the manufacturer of the Hapee toothpaste brand, will be exporting its products to China, the company’s top official said. Cecilio Kwok Pedro, the company’s president and chief executive, said they have decided to be more aggressive and enter the Chinese market. Lamoiyan has been exporting its products to Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Pa-pua New Guinea and the Middle East [...]

Read more at PhilStar.com.

SM to Build 3 Malls a Year in China

SM retail tycoon and billionaire Henry Sy will be building 3 malls a year in China as an expansion strategy ro rebound from the global recession. SM Prime Holdings Inc. is expected to spend 5.5 billion Pesos in China this year. According to Forbes magazine, Henry Sy is estimated to be worth $2.7 billion. SM Prime expects to open one mall in 2010 and increase the pace to 3 malls a year by 2013. About 20% of the Philippine’s consumer spending is done through SM’S malls and stores, and the company gets 33 cents of every U.S. Dollar spent by families of Filipinos working abroad. SM Prime doesn’t sell retail space, instead preferring long-term recurring rental income and will apply the same principle in China. It will focus on the mainland’s emerging cities because their development and consumers’ profiles closely resemble those at home.

Click here to read the Bloomberg.com article.