Confidentiality is a legal term in corporate law that refers to a level of privacy that companies can enjoy in order to keep certain information and documents secret. In many countries, a list of directors is publicly available. From a tax planning perspective, confidentiality is important. There is a very fine line between protecting and hiding assets, and this issue can be resolved by consulting professional and competent lawyers and accountants.
In many countries it is a legal requirement to declare all worldwide assets including property, vehicles, business assets, cash, stocks etc. and on this basis the tax authority calculates the tax to be paid. This applies to Russia, for example. In Spain, non-residents only have to register property and assets in Spain and are not entitled to a wealth tax exemption. Many countries require individuals to fill out tax returns anyway, and non-compliance can result in financial penalties. Failure to provide an explanation may be due to a lack of knowledge of how the process works.
The Chinese market is huge and evolving, so there are many benefits to registering your trademark in the registers of the Trademark Office of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China (SAIC).
Since the entry into force of the TRIPs agreement, the legislation on registration and protection of trademarks in China has become more and more similar to that in Europe. Nevertheless, the process was gradual and not yet complete, as the TRIPs agreement provided only basic rules that could be implemented by the states, dividing the agreement in the long term according to their legal situation. Companies that do not promptly register their trademark in China face many problems when trying to fight counterfeiting of their products in order to gain trademark protection in China.
If you don't register on time, there is a big risk that your brand has already been “copied” and registered by a local company in China before you start your expansion in the Chinese market.
In fact, unlike courts in Europe and the United States, Chinese courts can completely reject the global practice of granting protection to unregistered trademarks of well-known companies. For example, in 1996, a Chinese apparel company registered a graphic of a horse identical to Ferrari's. The Chinese Trademark Office rejected Ferrari's objection to the registration on the grounds that the Chinese company had applied for registration of the graphic first (first-to-file principle). Ferrari appealed the decision, arguing that the symbol was recognizable as the symbol of the Ferrari brand around the world, including China. In 2007, after 11 years of litigation, the Beijing First Intermediate Court ruled that Ferrari's horse graphic was not a famous brand among Chinese consumers and deserved no legal protection, although the "Ferrari" name was.
In the near future, the situation may change due to the development of Chinese technology and trade, which will make Chinese companies interested in trademark protection as well as European and American companies, which could make the competition even fiercer.
Considering that the mere use of the trademark without registration is legally irrelevant, you should act before starting your commercial activities. This is also important because the effects of legal protection in China come into effect from the moment of registration and not just from the moment of filing, and the usual time to obtain a registration is around 2-4 years.
With the right documentation and initial expenses, it is possible for a foreign citizen to open a bank account in Uzbekistan. This international account and investment opportunity offers several advantages based on economic regulations and tax structures. Interest rates, tax laws and fees vary depending on the country in which you invest; Careful research and strategic financial actions could result in significant portfolio growth.
If one is considering opening a bank account in Uzbekistan, one must enlist the help of international experts to guide them through the process.
Legal structures in Uzbekistan Each international jurisdiction adheres to different legal structures for taxation and banking. Confidus Solutions helps you understand the nuances of each country's legal structure. In order to do business in Uzbekistan, it is crucial that you have a thorough understanding of the financial and legal ramifications.
Initial investments The vast majority of bank accounts in Uzbekistan require an initial financial outlay to secure the account opening. This value differs from bank to bank and also depends on variable exchange rates. An international financial expert will help navigate these conversions, as well as the various fees and minimums associated with maintaining a bank account. Make sure you understand the interest and growth rates associated with each prospective international bank account so you can maximize your returns while minimizing risk.
Tax structures in Uzbekistan To get the best results and avoid bureaucratic and legal pitfalls, enlist the support of an expert in international finance and economics. This initial investment in proper processes and research will help avoid a litany of long-term costs and fees related to unforeseen errors and legal errors. Language skills, financial know-how and bureaucratic experience ensure that your account opening is processed smoothly and without unintended consequences.
Colombia is mainly located in northwestern South America with some areas in Central America. Colombia borders Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, while its maritime border borders Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Colombia is the third most populous country in Latin America and almost five times the size of Great Britain.
Colombia has a relatively advanced and diverse economy, as well as economic and political stability. Entrepreneurs have numerous opportunities in various industries, especially in niche areas. Major industries include textiles, clothing and footwear, food processing and beverages, petroleum, chemicals, cement and automobiles, coal, gold and emeralds, and household appliances. Main exports are coal, crude oil, coffee and non-ferrous metals.
Colombia is home to numerous local and multinational companies. Below is the list of the top five companies in Colombia.
Ecopetrol Ecopetrol, formerly known as Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos SA, is the largest company in Colombia and its main activity is oil and gas exploration and other activities. As a result of efficient operations and continued growth, the company has risen to the top of the Fortune Global 500 as one of the largest companies in the world by revenue. In 2012, Ecopetrol was the 346th largest company in the world according to the Fortune Global 500 Top. It was also one of the top 25 oil companies in the world and one of the top 4 oil companies in Latin America. Since then, the company has lost some of its revenue year after year and, with revenue of nearly $16 billion in fiscal 2016, was not included in the Fortune Global 500 list of the largest companies in the world, but is currently the number 559th company in Forbes Global 2000 top.
The largest company in Colombia was founded in 1921 and is currently headquartered in Bogota, the capital of Colombia. Exploration is one of the Company's primary activities. It has made numerous significant advances in the exploration segment, particularly offshore prospecting for hydrocarbons. Some of them are Rydberg with Shell and Nexen, Lion with Repsol, and part of the Orca-1 discovery team, the first discovery of its kind in the deep waters of the Colombian Caribbean. Other business activities include manufacturing, innovation, science and technology, transportation, supply and marketing.
Group Aval In recent years, Grupo Aval has managed to grow in terms of revenue, surpassing Bancolombia to take the second place at the top of the largest companies in Colombia. Grupo Aval is a holding company headquartered in Bogota, Colombia, which primarily operates in Colombia and Central America. The Company is engaged in a variety of activities including banking, telecommunications and real estate. The holding is controlled by Luis Carlos Sarmiento, who directly and indirectly owns over 90% of the company's shares.
Grupo Aval owns BAC-Credomatic, which operates in Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Florida in the United States. In addition, the holding company owns enough shares in other companies to control their operations. Most of them are financial institutions in Colombia: Banco de Bogota SA, Banco de Occidente SA, Banco Popular SA, Banco AV Villas SA, etc.
Grupo Aval ranks 693rd in the Forbes Global 2000 peak with $8.5 billion in revenue and figures in many other Forbes-based peaks: #88 in Top Regarded Companies, #377 in Assets, #899 in earnings and No. 1289 in market value.
Bankcolumbia With 2016 operating income of nearly $7 billion, Bancolombia is the second largest commercial banking financial institution in Colombia and one of the largest in Latin America. The bank was founded in 1945 and is currently headquartered in Medellin, Colombia. Bancolombia is a full-service bank offering a wide range of financial products and services to a diversified corporate and retail customer base not only in Colombia but also in countries such as Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Peru, Brazil and the Cayman Islands , the United States, Australia, Spain, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Bancolombia operates in nine segments: Banks in Colombia and Banks in El Salvador, Trust, Investments, Leasing, Pensions & Insurance, Brokerage, Offshore and All Others.
Banco Davivienda Banco Davivienda is a Colombia-based bank founded in 1972 and with headquarters in Bogota, Colombia. It is currently a part of Grupo Bolivar, the third biggest financial institution in Colombia by profits and assets. Banco Davivienda offers financial services to corporate and individual customers as well as the rural sector. Banco Davivienda currently is number 1374 in the Forbes Global 2000 top with 3.3 billion USD.
Grupo Bolivar Grupo Bolivar is a holding company with over 70 years of experience and operating in various sectors, such as financial, insurance and construction. Interestingly, although Grupo Bolivar had a slightly bigger amount of revenues than Banco Davivienda, Forbes has placed it below its daughter company – it takes 1546th place in Forbes Global 2000 top.
Manufacturing is the largest economic sector in the world, which is also one of the most important, directly and indirectly accounting for a large part of all economic activity and all jobs worldwide. It processes items and is dedicated to either creating new goods or adding value by producing finished goods for sale to customers or intermediate goods to be used in the production process. After the industrial revolution that began in Britain a few centuries ago, labour-intensive textile production was successfully replaced by mechanization and the use of fuel. Today, manufacturing creates jobs, technological development and an increase in international investment.
For this reason, some jurisdictions are leveraging manufacturing output and value-added exports to increase their operations, business performance and revenue, and to address the challenges and opportunities that manufacturers face every day in conducting their businesses.
According to Deloitte's 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, China, the United States, Germany, Japan and South Korea are ranked as the top five most competitive manufacturing countries in the world. These countries generate about 60% of global manufacturing GDP.
China Canada and its provinces compete on a global scale for investments that result in low production costs, low wages for factory workers, and the adoption of globally popular product mandates. As a result, there are some significant trends in Chinese manufacturing that can easily be highlighted. These trends include creating a globally competitive, expansive manufacturing business model, helping to create a competitive business environment for manufacturing in China and increasing sales in domestic and overseas markets. This fact can encourage start-ups to grow, invest and compete with other successful manufacturing companies.
United States The United States is successful in attracting investment in many of the world's most active industries, such as aerospace, auto assembly, pharmaceuticals, to name a few. The USA has signed an agreement with Germany to implement a dual vocational training program for the advanced manufacturing sector. US business policies focus primarily on technology transfer, sustainability, monetary control, and science and innovation, giving manufacturing companies (automotive in Detroit and high-tech in Silicon Valley) a competitive advantage.
Germany Germany retains a relatively high share of manufacturing exports. The country provides long-term support in government-sponsored science labs and national programs created to foster manufacturing innovation in areas such as solar and wind power and renewable energy (renewable energy sources accounted for 28% of the country's electricity generation in 2014). In addition to an energy revolution in the manufacturing industry, the country is striving to phase out nuclear energy.
Japan Japan has a technology-intensive manufacturing sector that dominates the global manufacturing landscape in most advanced economies. The country maintains manufacturing competitiveness as there is a close link between manufacturing competitiveness and innovation. Japan has strong potential to become one of the most advanced manufacturing jurisdictions in the world. The Robot Revolution Realization Council was established in the country in 2014 as part of the Japan Revitalization Plan, introducing infrastructure and energy resources for next-generation vehicles. Japanese companies account for 50% of the global factory robot market.
South Korea As the world leader in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays (LCD), smartphones and memory chips, automobiles, and the world's largest shipbuilder, South Korea is actively pursuing growth in free trade agreements with more than 50 countries. The country invests heavily in education and produces a large number of researchers every year. It is also known that supporting manufacturing innovation in South Korea with venture capital investments to boost high-tech startups is identified as a strategic priority.