Importing Countries Research Articles

Sustainable Disease Control of Phytophthora cactorum in a Strawberry Nursery by Adapting the Growing System

The Netherlands is one of the most important countries for the production of strawberry transplants in Europe. Regulations for pesticide use and water quality become more strict each year, which is a challenge for this sector. Strawberry plants are grown from tips and raised in trays on a trayfield. One of the main plant diseases in strawberry is caused by Phytophthora cactorum. The dispersal of the disease is facilitated by sporangia and zoospores splashing from the surface of the trayfield onto the transplants in the trays. In this research, we compared, in three consecutive years, the traditional growing system with a new system in which the trays are elevated and splashes from the trayfield reaching the transplants are minimized. In two of the three years, we show that the new growing system without the use of any fungicide against P. cactorum performs as well as or even better than the traditional system with the use of the permitted pesticides. Data about Phytophthora occurring in air samples and in splash water collected at different heights support the hypothesis that the decrease in splash dispersal underlies the success of the elevated trayfield. This shows the potential of re-designing growing systems to become less dependent on pesticide use.

Evaluation and digital mapping of agricultural and animal waste as sources of biomass energy in Turkey

In this study, the available energy potential (AEP) from agricultural and animal waste in Turkey in 2021, which is an important agricultural country, was calculated using Turkish Statistical Institute data and presented with digital maps prepared using the ArcGIS program. It was determined that Turkey has a total of 4.6 × 108 GJ of AEP, 3.7 × 104 GJ from agricultural wastes and 8.7 × 107 GJ from animal wastes. Furthermore, 81.06% of the AEP is composed of agricultural wastes, and 18.94% is animal wastes. Şanlıurfa has the highest AEP from agricultural wastes (4 × 107 GJ), while Konya has the highest AEP from animal wastes (4.3 × 106 GJ). The provinces with the highest AEP from the total of agricultural and animal wastes are Şanlıurfa (4.2 × 107 GJ) and Konya (3.4 × 107 GJ). With the energy produced from biomass orginating from agricultural and animal waste, nearly 40% of Turkey’s energy needs will be met. The use of agricultural and animal biomass for energy supply will have various benefits for Turkey. The main benefits are: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution, reduction of energy imports into the country, and disposal of agricultural and animal waste.

Islamism and nationalism: how did old enemies become new allies?

AbstractHistorically, religion and nationalism were opposing forces in many countries. Recently, however, they began to converge as part of rising populist movements globally. In the Muslim world, the partnership between Islamists and nationalists has become evident in several important countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Malaysia. This merging of Islamism and populist nationalism in the last decade signifies a third period in the Muslim world, following the era of secularist domination (1920s–1970s) and the era of Islamization (1970s–2010s). Some Islamic conservatives might regard the unification of religious and nationalist forces as beneficial to their conservative agenda. Nonetheless, this comes at the high cost of discrimination against Muslim minorities in several countries, such as India, Israel, the United States, and France. Beyond Muslim-majority countries and Muslim minorities, the global trend of advancing a religious-nationalist agenda threatens minority rights. This trend poses a major challenge to democracy, equal citizenship, and minority rights worldwide.

Enhancing energy security and efficiency through a regional integration policy: The case of the Southern Cone

This paper addresses the knowledge gap concerning foreign exchange risk in energy transactions within the Regional Initiative Energy Integration System of the Southern Cone Countries (SIESUR) of the Latin American region. Focusing on the cross-border electricity, it investigates the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the transaction model in SIESUR: US dollar-denominated cross-border energy contracts with a time lag between invoicing and payment. The objective of this paper is to estimate foreign exchange risk exposure and propose mitigation solutions. Analyzing foreign exchange risk of energy trading among SIESUR member countries reveals substantial financial costs hindering electricity integration. Energy importing countries, facing greater exposure of their local currencies and weakened bargaining power, are particularly vulnerable. A Monte Carlo simulation model, using historical exchange rate data, highlights significant currency volatility, emphasizing the substantial foreign exchange risk exposure within SIESUR. Notably, cost overruns of energy imports due to foreign exchange risk exposure can reach 12.6% of transaction value. Through a global analysis, potential strategies for risk management are explored to foster electricity exchange expansion. Efforts to mitigate foreign exchange risk are crucial for advancing electricity integration within the SIESUR region. This study underscores policy implications for enhancing regional energy security and promoting sustainable development.

Research on the Reform and Transformation of Singapore's Political Election System and Political System

Singapore is an important country in Southeast Asia, which has been established for less than 60 years. In the early days of its establishment, its survival situation was very difficult. But under the struggle of the People's Action Party (PAP) led by Lee Kuan Yew and the "founding generation" of the people, Singapore has harmoniously coexisted with different ethnic and religious groups and has forcefully embarked on a rapid development path. According to data released by the World Bank, as of 2022, Singapore's per capita GDP has reached over 82000 US dollars and has been steadily increasing for many years. The People's Action Party has won every election since its founding and has been in power ever since. However, as the public increasingly enjoys the oversight and balance of the government by the opposition in parliament, the party's support rate for the election has gradually declined, and its vote share in the most recent election has dropped to 60%. The rapid development of Singapore since its founding cannot be separated from the continuity policies implemented by the fixed ruling party, which attract a large amount of foreign capital investment. However, the people's call for democracy forces the ruling party to face strong opposition in the upcoming general election. For the ruling party, more support from voters for the opposition party has entered an irreversible path. This article will explore the path of political system reform in Singapore.

Asymmetric relationship between crude oil price and remittance inflows in a small island economy: Evidence from non-linear ARDL approach

Sri Lanka's economy heavily depends on remittance inflows to finance its import of essential and intermediate goods. A decline in remittances could severely limit the country's import capacity, affecting overall economic growth and development. This study investigates the impact of crude oil prices on Sri Lankan remittance inflows from 1980 to 2020, while accounting for per capita GDP, financial development, and exchange rates as additional explanatory variables. Employing a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model, the analysis reveals significant asymmetric effects of oil price shocks on remittance inflows. In the short run, positive oil price shocks lead to increased remittance inflows, whereas negative shocks reduce them. However, in the long run, both positive and negative oil price shocks have an adverse impact on remittance inflows. Furthermore, changes in per capita GDP, financial development, and exchange rates also play a crucial role in influencing remittance inflows. The findings highlight Sri Lanka's vulnerability to global oil market fluctuations and suggest policy measures to mitigate these risks. Key recommendations include diversifying labor export markets, enhancing financial infrastructure, and reducing dependence on remittance inflows to sustain import capacity and promote long-term economic resilience.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN TIMES OF CRISIS: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND LITERATURE REVIEW

The aim of this study focuses on the analysis of entrepreneurship education in crisis situations from a bibliometric perspective. The findings reveal the distribution of frequently occurring keywords and their co-occurrence, highlighting terms such as "entrepreneurial intentions", "innovation", "education" and "impact of Covid-19." The analysis also identifies keywords like "higher education", "economic crisis", "sustainable development" and "self-efficacy" which are connected to entrepreneurship and crisis education. Furthermore, the study recognizes key authors contributing significantly to entrepreneurship education research and identifies five important countries in the field. The research suggests that entrepreneurship in crisis situations faces challenges related to students' perceptions and expectations. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted businesses and universities, leading to innovative ideas in the education sector to mitigate the pandemic's effects on students and their studies.

Forecasting the export competitiveness of Peruvian coffee in major importing countries usingautoregressive integrated moving average modeling

The study analyzes the export competitiveness of Peruvian coffee in international markets using the ARIMA model to forecast export trends. The objective is to identify factors influencing the sector's profitability and sustainability. Time series of export volumes and prices were evaluated, revealing that the ARIMA model allows for accurate predictions of future trends. The results suggest that the Peruvian coffee sector faces challenges related to international price fluctuations and global competition. Emphasis is placed on the importance of efficiency in production and export processes to maintain and enhance the competitiveness of Peruvian coffee in the global market.

Broadening energy resilience: How does the digital economy affect the global energy value chain?

The frequent occurrence of global economic black swan events has affected the development of the global energy value chain (GEVC) and exposed countries to considerable uncertainty. However, digital economy development can offer new solutions and perspectives for countries to mitigate external shocks, ensure energy security and improve energy resilience. This study examines 71 countries from 2010 to 2019, innovatively obtaining GEVC from input–output tables to explore the impact and mechanism of the digital economy on GEVC in terms of countries’ dimensions of participation and position. The relevant results are threefold. First, the digital economy increases countries’ participation in GEVC and pushes them to move downstream of the GEVC. This result still holds after robustness tests. Second, the mechanism test demonstrates that the digital economy can influence factor allocation and innovation to affect countries’ GEVC participation. Third, the effect of the digital economy on a nation's ability to participate in the GEVC varies depending on the external and internal threats that the nation faces. This study enriches the research on global value chains and has important implications encouraging countries to advance digital economy development, navigate external shocks and accelerate digital economy and GEVC integration.

Organoids research progress in gynecological cancers: a bibliometric analysis.

Gynecological cancers (GC) pose a severe threat to the health and safety of women's lives, and organoids, as in-vitro research models, have demonstrated significant advantages in simulating tissue characteristics and drug screening. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in research outcomes related to organoids in GC. However, there has been no bibliometric study concerning. Publications related to GC and organoids from 2010-2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). We conducted a bibliometric analysis and visualization using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the Bibliometrix R Package. This analysis included the spatiotemporal distribution, author, sources, references, and keywords. A total of 333 publications were included. The number of annual publications indicated an explosive phase of development since 2019. The USA was the most important country in terms of cooperation, publication output, citation and centrality. University of California system ranked first in productivity among institutions, and HIPPO Y is the most relevant author in the research field. CANCERS published the most documents, and NATURE is the most cited sources. Analysis of Keywords and References, it is possible to establish the trend, and find the hotspots in the research field. This bibliometric analysis delineated global landscapes and progress trends in GC organoids research. This study emphasized that organoids can effectively replicate the original tissue or tumors, providing a good in-vitro model for research on tumor-related mechanisms and showing significant advantages in drug screening and efficacy clinical prediction. Additionally, as preclinical models, they provide compelling evidence for personalized therapy and prediction of patient drug responses.

The Geological Characteristics, Resource Potential, and Development Status of Manganese Deposits in Africa

Manganese is a critical metal extensively used in steel production, battery manufacturing, and the chemical industry. Manganese deposits are widely distributed globally, with African manganese deposits holding a particularly significant position. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of manganese resources in Africa and analyzes the main types and genesis of the deposits. It also explores the significance of African manganese resources within the global manganese industry and examines the exploration, development, production, and trade status of African manganese ore, revealing dynamic changes and trends within the industry. Africa plays a key role in global manganese resources, with its reserves and resources accounting for 69% and 51% of the global totals, respectively. South Africa is the largest manganese producer, while Gabon and Ghana are also important countries in terms of manganese resources. Based on the host rock and genetic types, African manganese deposits primarily include banded iron formation (BIF)-hosted, black shale-hosted, karst-hosted, and volcanic sedimentary deposits. Additionally, manganese exploration projects in Africa are active, with significant production growth in South Africa and Gabon, and Africa’s standing in the global manganese market is steadily increasing. Trade data also indicate that South Africa dominates manganese exports in Africa and globally. Despite fluctuations in global export volumes, African manganese exports remain high. The prospects for Africa’s manganese industry are promising, and further strengthening of manganese exploration and development will help enhance Africa’s influence in the global manganese market, making a more significant contribution to global industrial and economic development.

China's International Trade of Parrots from 1981 to 2022 Based on the CITES Trade Database.

Parrots are popular with pet consumers and are one of the most traded groups of live birds around the world. China has been considered as an important country in bird trades, but we know little about China's import and export of parrots. Using the latest data available from the CITES Trade Database, we analyzed China's import and export of CITES-listed live parrots from 1981-2022 to better understand the patterns and dynamics of these trades. China imported 155,339 parrots of 173 species and exported 608,987 parrots of 42 species during the study period with an annual average of about 18,500 individuals, accounting for c. 5% of the global average number. The most imported parrots to China were Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) and Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), while the most exported ones were Fisher's Lovebirds (Agapornis fischeri), Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis), and Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus). Since the early 21st century, China's imports of parrots gradually increased, but exports decreased more pronouncedly, making China's international parrot trade volume declining in the past 20 years. China's international parrot trade routes also changed over time, with the destination of parrot exports shifting from Europe to Africa and the Arabian region, while more parrots being gradually imported from countries in South America and Africa. The vast majority of parrots exported from China were captive-bred non-native species like Fisher's Lovebirds, while a substantial proportion of imported parrots were wild-sourced and the proportion has been increasing in the last decade. The fact that China exported much more parrots than imported suggests existence of large-scale parrot farming and domestic parrot trade in China. Attention needs to be paid to monitoring China's import of increasing proportion of wild-sourced parrots from South America countries and its potential impacts on their wild populations. Close monitoring of and more studies on domestic and illegal parrot trade are essential to fully understand the role China plays in the international trade of parrots.

Does Google Analytics Improve the Prediction of Tourism Demand Recovery?

Research shows that Google Trend indices can improve tourism-demand forecasts. Given the impact of the recent pandemic, this may prove to be an important predictor of tourism recovery in countries that are still struggling to recover, including South Africa. The purpose of this paper is firstly, to build on previous research that indicates that Google Trends improves tourism-demand forecasting by testing this within the context of tourism recovery. Secondly, this paper extends previous research by not only including Google Trends in time-series forecasting models but also typical tourism-demand covariates in an econometric specification. Finally, we test the performance of Google Trends in forecasting over a longer time period, because the destination country is a long-haul destination where more lead time may be required in decision-making. Additionally, this research contributes to the body of knowledge by including lower frequency data (quarterly) instead of the higher frequency data commonly used in current research, while also focusing on an important destination country in Africa. Due to the differing data frequencies, the MIDAS modelling approach is used. The MIDAS models are compared to typical time-series and naïve benchmarks. The findings show that monthly Google Trends improve forecasts on lower frequency data. Furthermore, forecasts that include Google Trends are more effective in forecasting one to two quarters ahead, pre-COVID. This trend changed after COVID, when Google Trends led to improved recovery forecasts even over a longer term.

Influential Mechanism Research of Environmental Control on Chinese Textile Export Trade

This study constructs a regression model of textile industry export trade. The panel data of nine importing countries or regions from 2006 to 2022 are used to verify whether environmental control has short-term cost effects and long-term technical effects on Chinese textile industry export trade. First of all, the panel data from 2006 to 2022 are empirically analyzed for the short-term effects. The results show that the cost effect of environmental control makes environmental control inhibit the export of textile industry in the short term. Then, the same panel data is used to empirically analyze the impact of environmental governance input on textile export trade, that is, the long-term effects. The result shows that the technical effect of environmental control is greater than the cost effect in the long run. It means environmental control has a role in promoting the export of textile industry. Finally, combining the influence factors of textile export trade, two suggestions are put forward from the enterprise level. This study constructs a regression model of textile industry export trade. The panel data of nine importing countries or regions from 2006 to 2022 are used to verify whether environmental control has short-term cost effects and long-term technical effects on Chinese textile industry export trade. First of all, the panel data from 2006 to 2022 are empirically analyzed for the short-term effects. The results show that the cost effect of environmental control makes environmental control inhibit the export of textile industry in the short term. Then, the same panel data is used to empirically analyze the impact of environmental governance input on textile export trade, that is, the long-term effects. The result shows that the technical effect of environmental control is greater than the cost effect in the long run. It means environmental control has a role in promoting the export of textile industry. Finally, combining the influence factors of textile export trade, two suggestions are put forward from the enterprise level.

Vigilancia Inteligente del Comercio Exterior: Detección de Anomalías en las Importaciones del Ecuador con Minería de Datos

This study employs advanced data mining techniques to comprehensively analyze Ecuador's import data spanning three decades, from 1990 to 2021. By leveraging the k-means clustering algorithm, we meticulously identified anomalies within tariff items. The study utilized a comprehensive dataset that encompassed tariff items, years, and critical variables such as import volume, CIF and FOB values, import cost, and trade attractiveness. The data mining model generated insightful reports that accurately pinpointed an omalous patterns in tariff items. These reports empower experts to delve into the underlying causes of these anomalies, enabling them to make well-informed decisions to optimize Ecuador's import strategies. Our research underscores the transformative potential of data mining in detecting import anomalies, providing valuable intelligence for the strategic management of Ecuador's foreign trade. The findings contribute significantly to the prevention of customs fraud and unfair trade practices, ultimately enhancing the competitiveness of the country's import sector.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FDI AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN INDIA. A TIME SERIES APPROACH

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has gained importance after the second world war. In broader sense Foreign Direct Investment incorporates the establishment of up to date and advanced facilities, mergers and acquisitions, investing the profits earned from other overseas business activities, providing loans to other companies etc. In narrow sense the Foreign Direct Investment means investment in the country other than the investors own country. FDI can be better understood by studying the real reason that why the companies have shown interest in investing abroad rather than exporting and outsourcing their products to domestic firms. In due course of time many theories and approaches were developed to explain FDI. Although several researchers have tried to explain the phenomenon of FDI, we cannot say there is a generally accepted theory, every new evidence added some new elements and criticism to the previous ones. FDI in India is playing a noticeable role in the growth and development of the country. India is one of the important countries of the world which is able to receive substantial amount of FDI. The present study has made an effort to see the relationship between the FDI and Economic growth in India. GDP has proxies for economic growth. First the Johansen cointegration test result shows the long run relationship between variables and the Granger causality test result exhibits that there is unidirectional Granger causality between FDI and GDP. Next the Multiple Regression model result presents that the estimated coefficients on FDI & exports have a positive relationship with GDP. Therefore, it is statistically revealed that FDI and Exports are instrumental in influencing the level of economic growth in India. India is having certain drawbacks like Weak infrastructure, Complicated tax structure, Restrictive labor laws, Bureaucracy and Corruption. Unless and until these challenges are met with, India will never compete with China regarding FDI inflows. KEYWORDS: Foreign Direct Investment, Gross Domestic Product, Economic Growth.

Data policy restrictions and cross-border E-commerce: Evidence from China

In the era of digital economics, data has become a crucial factor in driving cross-border e-commerce (CBEC). We examine the impact of data policy restrictions on CBEC, focusing on the Chinese context. Using a theoretical framework that analyzes the costs and benefits of data protection regulations, we delve into the economic effects of these policies. The results show that data policies in importing countries have a substantial negative impact on China’s CBEC exports. The heterogeneous analysis shows that this negative impact is stronger for products that are more differentiated, industries that are more highly-digital and high-tech, and countries with higher income. We also estimate the moderating role of data comparative advantage. The results reveal that the trade-inhibiting effect of data restriction increases with the enhancement of importing countries’ data comparative advantage. Finally, economic freedom in the importing country can mitigate the negative impact of data policy restrictions.

KINERJA DAYA SAING TEH HIJAU INDONESIA DI PASAR INTERNASIONAL

Tea commodity is one of the export commodities that can contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Indonesian plantations. Indonesia’s tea production fluctuates but tends to decline, resulting in declining tea exports. Indonesia’s tea production is dominated by 78% black tea, 20% green tea, and the remaining 2% other types of tea. Although green tea has lower exports than black tea, Indonesia’s green tea market share has a better market share. The purpose of the study was to determine the comparative and competitive competitiveness of green tea exports, as well as the position of Indonesia’s green tea export competitiveness (HS 090220) in the international market. The data used starts from 2011-2022 with 6 destination countries namely Poland, Germany, Taipei, Pakistan, Malaysia, and China. The analysis used is RCA (Revealed Comparative Advantage), EPD (Export Product Dynamic), and ISP (Trade Specialisation Index) analysis. The results of the analysis showed that Poland has the highest RCA value of 29.99 and followed by Germany, Taipei, Pakistan, and China which have strong competitiveness. While Malaysia has a weak competitiveness with an RCA value of 0.34. The results of the EPD analysis obtained that Poland is in the Rising Star position which means that Indonesian green tea has a competitive advantage and is experiencing a positive increase in market share, while China and Pakistan are in the Lost Opportunity position. Malaysia is located in the Retreat position, which means that Indonesian green tea does not have a competitive advantage, while Germany and Taipei are in the Falling Star position. ISP results obtained Indonesia as an exporter country and has a strong competitive position in Pakistan. Indonesia as an importer country and has a weak competitive position in China.

Urgency of Implementing Indonesian Halal Certification in International Trade (Case Study of Chicken Meat Imports from Brazil)

Discussions regarding the halal industry have been very prominent in recent years. Therefore, many issues related to the halal industry are written about and used as research objects. Halal products must have certain specifications so they can play in the halal market. These specifications require certain qualifications that are closely related to halal standards. This research aims to explain the urgency of implementing halal certification in Indonesia in international trade (case study of chicken meat imports from Brazil). The first research result is that as a global food organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has the idea of halal products. Nevertheless, FAO's main focus is currently limited to food products. FAO has not fully protected regulations relating to the guarantee of halal products for countries around the world. FAO provides ratification to each country regarding halal product regulatory policies. The only FAO requirement is that the exporting country must receive halal certification to demonstrate that the product is halal, although this can still be requested by the importing country. The second is that Indonesia has stipulated that although not all products in circulation must have halal certification, some must. Article 135 PP No. 39 of 2021 and Article 125 PP No. 39 of 2021.

ВПЛИВ ВІЙНИ НА МІЖНАРОДНІ ТРАНСПОРТНІ ПЕРЕВЕЗЕННЯ УКРАЇНИ

The article found that the full-scale war in Ukraine had a strong impact on international transportation. The structure of the volume of cargo transportation and the number of transported passengers were analyzed. It was determined that there is uncertainty in the market of international freight transportation of Ukraine during the studied period. On the one hand, the war had a negative impact on the country's economy and led to a decrease in the volume of cargo transportation. On the other hand, Ukraine is an important transit country through which key logistics routes connecting Europe and Asia pass. It was established that the blocking of air transport and sea trade, with the exception of the "Grain Initiative", led to a radical change in the structure of domestic import/export and the leadership of land corridors. Global transformations in world trade caused by the war in Ukraine also affected the configuration of existing supply chains, Ukrainian exports were completely reoriented towards the EU. It is indicated that Ukraine's signing of an agreement on visa-free transport cooperation with the European Union has opened up new prospects for bilateral international road transport, freeing Ukrainian carriers from the need to obtain permits for flights to EU countries. However, there are also negative trends that affect the growth of transport services and, as a result, decrease the competitiveness of transport companies. A list of legislative and regulatory innovations and organizational measures aimed at improving international transportation is given. It is argued that a successful solution for the recovery of the country will be the integration of the Ukrainian economy into the EU economic system with the help of various European logistics and infrastructure projects. It was determined that the key factors in the normalization of transportation were: the conclusion of the "Grain Initiative" with the UN and Turkey, which allowed to unblock the ports of Great Odesa; signing the Agreement on the Liberalization of Road Freight Transportation with the EU; development of border infrastructure, in particular, increasing the capacity of existing road and railway checkpoints, as well as the opening of new ones; increasing cargo handling in the ports of the Danube port cluster.