FRA Claims Report Shows More Support for Forestry Investment Returns

FRA has said that further evidence to illustrate the potential returns involved with timberland investments has been published this week.

Seattle, United States, July 13, 2012 -- The research and analysis consultancy is referring to a new report that shows that forestry investors putting their cash in Scottish forests last year, saw healthy returns. The JPD UK Forestry Index has reported that forestry investments in Scotland saw returns of 34.8 per cent in 2011, according to reports in The Scotsman newspaper.

This kind of rate of return is very impressive and will prove an extremely attractive draw for anyone considering alternative investments going forward,” claimed FRA’s analysis partner Peter Collins.

FRA advocates alternative investments and, in particular, forestry investment as a means to generating good returns while ensuring that investments help to maintain forested areas safeguard the industry for generations to come.

The JPD Index was at its highest ever last year, with analysts claiming that this reflected the fact that timber prices and demand are rising off the back of the growing appetite for raw materials in developing economies, such as China and India.

The demand for timber in the UK has also grown off the back of a rise in the use of wood as fuel and the growing efficiency of the sawmill facilities in Scotland, which help to generate strong yields from timber harvests.

FRA supports sustainable forestry projects, such as the non-native plantations run by Greenwood Management in Brazil. This kind of project allows people to invest directly in timberland without having to wait until their trees mature to enjoy the returns.

Forestry investment in growing increasingly popular as people want something tangible in exchange for their investments following the economic crisis,” added Mr Collins. “Forestry investments regularly outperform more traditional asset classes, including property, stocks and bonds, in terms of ROI.”

About Forestry Research Associates

Forestry Research Associates is a research and advisory consultancy that focuses on forestry management, sustainability issues and forestry investment around the globe.

Media Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394

BusinessVibes Presents China's B2B Market Insight

The global B2B networking platform - BusinessVibes, would like to share some figures and facts about the development of China's B2B market.

London, UK, July 13, 2012 -- Over the recent years, the rapid growth of China’s economy has attracted a massive attention from all over the world as it has created large number of business opportunities for both local and foreign companies of different size or scale, while B2B E-Commerce is definitely one of those markets with prospective benefits in China. The global B2B networking platform - BusinessVibes, which has always treasured the B2B market and newly developed business opportunities in China since BuinessVibes successfully started business in China two years ago, now would like to share some figures and facts about the development of China's B2B market.

According to the data from China’s Ministry of Commerce, China’s total E-Commerce market was recorded $928 billion in trade in 2011, which was 29.2% increase from previous year, and now representing 12.5% of country’s GDP. It is also estimated that China’s E-Commerce market, consisted both B2B and B2C, will surpass the US’ by the year of 2015.

As for the B2B market, China’s B2B online transaction volume topped $595.6 in 2010, up by 15.8% year on year. So far, China has over 9,200 B2B E-Commerce companies, rose 21.3% year on year, with combined revenues to $1.5 billion. Alibaba held the largest market share with 63.5%, followed by Hong Kong-based Global Sources with 5.3%, Made-in-China.com with 3.4%, Netsun Toocle with 2.9%, and HC International's HC360 with 2.5%.

In 2010 the China’s B2B sector raised $550 million in capital from 42 investors, including 35 VCs, as well as two IPOs that raised a combined $389 million and five mergers. China's e-commerce companies directly employed more than 16 million people in 2010. The number of people indirectly employed reached more than 12 million, and is expected to grow to 19 million by 2012, reported by Netsun Toocle.

The Consulting Group iResearch also reports that China’s E-Commerce revenue in Q1 2012 reached $275.9 billion, which was 25.8% higher than the same period last year. B2B still held a leading position among all the market segments of China’s E-Commerce, representing about 84.5% of the total E-Commerce transaction. Although B2B’s foreign trade and market share in China may face some challenges from impact of European debt crisis and the shrink of international demand, China’s B2B market will be still in the gradual booming trend over the next few years.

As a prestigious global B2B networking platform which is closely involved in China’s B2B market, BusinessVibes will be able to offer members with the database of more than 24000 Chinese companies, associations and event organizers. BusinessVibes can also help local and foreign companies to easily and quickly find partners, buyers, suppliers, and joint venture partners to shorten sales cycle, as well as get informed about latest business events in China.

Media Contact:
Lise Martineau
Marketing Executive - Europe
BusinessVibes Network International Inc
8 Wimpole Street
London W1G 9SP
+44 20 7291 0883
Follow us on Twitter @businessvibes for daily updates

Luxury Travel Ltd To Launch Exotic Beach Break to Quan Lan Island, Northern Vietnam

Luxury Travel has just unveiled a new exotic beach break to Quan Lan Island, Quang Ninh Province, Northern Vietnam for Hanoi based holidaymakers.

Hanoi, Vietnam, July 13, 2012 -- As a creative local tour operator and full service DMC, Luxury Travel often unveils new ideas, as well as develops new concepts and travel experiences to satisfy any travel desire. A personal concierge is assigned to each client to ensure that Luxury Travel meets and exceeds all your expectations.

Luxury Travel Advisor Team has visited their destinations, and has personally checked out the finest hotels, resorts and restaurants designed for discriminating travelers. Luxury Travel has just unveiled a new exotic beach break to Quan Lan Island, Quang Ninh Province, North Vietnam for Hanoi based holidaymakers. It takes travelers 5 hours away from Hanoi by various mean, van, hydrofoil, tuk tuk but it worths a break to the most remote beach.

This 4 day trip is designed for families, expatriates and holiday makers who want to be the first to discover exotic islands and beaches. The island features high mountains which lie within the area of Bai Tu Long Bay to the east, functioning as a protective screen for the villages. With a population of about 4,000 farmers, fisherman and their families, Quan Lan Island is still a wild and less explored destination due to its distance and wilderness. Its pristine beauty features an unspoiled environment, which makes this destination more precious. Not too long ago, this was still a place without electricity! The island boasts a natural charming beauty with deep blue water and white sand stretching over kilometers and is very ideal for relaxation, sightseeing and other light activities. For those people who would like to discover something new and fresh, this is the perfect destination!” said Linh Doan, Marketing Executive of Luxury Travel Ltd.

The price starts from US$ 393 per person from 6 people in a twin share in beach front villas and includes all transportation (van, hydrofoil, tuk tuk), meals, entrance fees and the services of an English or French-speaking guide. This offer is valid until 30 Sept 2013.

If you look want luxury, stay away, but for super scenery, a fabulous ocean view, the best and simplest seafood anywhere and cheap, then, I’d recommend you Quan Lan Island. The summer is the best time to be on holiday in Quan Lan Island (from April to September). The landscape is reminiscent of landscapes to Bali, Indonesia. There are 3 beaches: Son Hao, Minh Chau and Viet My. Son Hao is probably the best beach, with 2 km of clean, white sand, a great view, and nice waves. In Hai Van Resort, all houses are on stilts or villa style, with some of the villas facing to the ocean. The island has no electricity, and so we so from 6 pm to 6 am you will rest and enjoy the natural calm. I recommend you experience the island for yourself before it changes.” Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd.

About Luxury Travel Ltd
Vietnam-based Luxury Travel Ltd is a long established Asian specialist in the art of travel and serves today’s most sophisticated travelers, in luxury privately guided and fully bespoke holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel excels in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences to fulfill the most sophisticated traveler’s expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd. has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent award: Best Luxury Tour Operator.

For more information and booking, visit http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com.

Media Contact:
Link Doan
Luxury Travel Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Str.,
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
84439274120