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The economy of Asia comprises more than 4 billion people (60% of the world population), living in 46 different states. Six further states lie partly in Asia, but are considered to belong to another region economically and politically. There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... Map of countries by 2006 GDP (nominal) per capita (IMF, October 2007). ... A millionaire is a person who has a net worth or wealth of more than one million United States dollars, euros, UK pounds or units of a comparably valued currency. ... CIA figures for world unemployment rates, 2006 Unemployment is the state in which a person is without work, available to work, and is currently seeking work. ... Income, refers to consumption opportunity gained by an entity within a specified time frame, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. ... The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the largest multilateral source of grant technical assistance in the world. ... The world economy can be evaluated in various ways, depending on the model used, and this valuation can then be represented in various ways (for example, in 2006 US dollars). ... The economy of Africa consists of the trade, industry, and resources of the peoples of Africa. ... The economy of Europe comprises more than 710 million people in 48 different states. ... The economy of North America comprises more than 514 million people in 23 soverign states and 15 dependent territories. ... The economy of Oceania is comprised of more than. ... The economy of South America comprises about 500 million people living in 14 states and territories. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Map of countries by population — China and India, the only two countries to have a population greater than one billion, together possess more than a third of the worlds population. ... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ...

As in all world regions, the wealth of Asia differs widely between, and within, states. This is due to its vast size, meaning a huge range of differing cultures, environments, historical ties and government systems. The largest economies in Asia in terms of nominal GDP are Japan, China, India. Economies range from Japan, as the world's second largest economy by nominal GDP, to Cambodia as one of the poorest.

In terms of GDP by purchasing power parity, China has the largest economy in Asia and the second largest economy in the world, followed by Japan, India as the world's third, fourth largest economies respectively. PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ...

Economic development

Ancient and medieval times

Asia was relatively rich in the ancient times. China and India alternated as the largest economies in the world from 1 A.D to about 1800 A.D. China was a major economic power and attracted many to the East, and for many the wealth and prosperity of the ancient culture of India personified South Asia, attracting European commerce, exploration and colonialism. The Silk Road became the main East-West trading route in the Asian hitherland while the Straits of Malacca stood as a major sea route. In the Straits of Malacca, Malacca established itself as an important port in Asia. For other uses, see Silk Road (disambiguation). ... The Straits of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water between Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia) and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Pre-1945

Prior to World War II, most of Asia was under colonial rule. Only relatively few states managed to remain independent in the face of constant pressure exerted by European power. Such examples are Siam and Japan. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... It has been suggested that Benign colonialism be merged into this article or section. ... For the country formerly called Siam see Thailand SIAM is an acronym for Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. ...

Japan in particular managed to develop its economy due to a reformation in the 19th century. The reformation was comprehensive and is today known as the Meiji Restoration. The Japanese economy continued to grow well into the 20th century and its economic growth created various shortages of resources essential to economic growth. As a result the Japanese expansion began with a great part of Korea and China annexed, thus allowing the Japanese to secure strategic resources. The Meiji Restoration ), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japans political and social structure. ... This article is about the Korean civilization. ...

At the same time, Southeast Asia was prospering due to trade and the introduction of various new technologies of that time. The volume of trade continued to increase with the opening of the Suez Canal in the 1860s. Manila had its gallion or Manila gallion wherein products from the Philippines were traded to Europe. The Philippines was the first Asian country to trade with Latin America via Acapulco. Tobacco, coconut, corn, and sugar trade was the most in demand during that time. Singapore, founded in 1819, rose to prominence as trade between the east and the west increased at an incredible rate. The British colony of Malaya, now part of Malaysia, was the world's largest producer of tin and rubber. The Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, on the other hand, was known for its spices production. Both the British and the Dutch created their own trading companies to manage their trade flow in Asia. The British created the British East India Company while the Dutch formed Dutch East India Company. Both companies maintained trade monopolies of their respective colonies. Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... For other uses, see Suez (disambiguation). ... For other meanings of the word, see Manila (disambiguation). ... This article is about the virtual pet site. ... This article is about the country in North America. ... Sugar is perhaps one of the oldest and best known commodities in the world. ... British Malaya was a set of states that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century. ... This article is about the metallic chemical element. ... This article is about the polymeric material. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... External links Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject: Spice Food Bacteria-Spice Survey Shows Why Some Cultures Like It Hot Citat: ...Garlic, onion, allspice and oregano, for example, were found to be the best all-around bacteria killers (they kill everything). ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... This article is about the trading company. ...

In 1908, crude oil was first discovered in Persia, modern day Iran. Afterwards, many oil fields were discovered and it was learnt later that the Mideast possesses the world's largest oil stocks. This made the rulers of the Arab nations very rich though the socioeconomic development in that region lagged behind. Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil ) or crude oil is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. ... Persia redirects here. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

In the early 1930s, the world underwent a global economic depression, today known as the Great Depression. Asia was not spared, and suffered the same pain as Europe and the United States. The volume of trade decreased dramatically all around Asia and indeed the world. With falling demand, prices of various goods starting to fall and further impoverished locals and foreigners alike. In 1941, Japan invaded Malaya and thus began World War II in Asia. In economics, a depression is a term commonly used for a sustained downturn in the economy. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... The supply and demand model describes how prices vary as a result of a balance between product availability at each price (supply) and the desires of those with purchasing power at each price (demand). ... British Malaya was a set of states that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century. ...

1945-1990

Following World War II, the People's Republic of China and India, which account for half of the population of Asia, adopted socialist policies. These policies limited the economic growth of the region. In contrast, the economies of superiors Japan, South Korea and the other tigers Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong--were economic successes, and the only successful economies outside of North America, Western Europe and Australia. The Philippines from Post World War II until the late 1960s had the second largest economy in Asia. The Philippine economy during the 1980s was marked by stagnant growth as a result of dictatorship and martial law.

One of the most pronounced Asian economic phenomenons during this time - the Japanese post-war economic miracle greatly impacted the rest of the world. After World War II, under central guidance from the Japanese government, the entire economy was undergoing a remarkable restructuring. Close cooperation between the government, corporations and banks facilitated easy access to much-needed capital, and large conglomerates known as keiretsu spurred horizontal and vertical integration across all industries, keeping out foreign competition. These policies, in addition to an abandonment of military spending, worked phenomenally well. Japanese corporations as a result exported and still export massive amounts of high quality products from The Land of The Rising Sun. Another equally amazing economic success story is that of South Korea's. The country was left improverished after the Korean War, yet was able to recover at double digit percentiles. Many conglomerates, such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia, SK, and more grew tremendously during this period. South Korea has now become the world's most wired and high tech country in the world. Japanese Post-War Economic Miracle is the name given to the historical phenomenon of Japans record period of economic growth following World War II, spurred both by US investment and Japanese government economic interventionism in particular through their Ministry of International Trade and Industry. ... A keiretsu lit. ... In microeconomics and strategic management, the term horizontal integration describes a type of ownership and control. ... It has been suggested that Vertical expansion be merged into this article or section. ... Belligerents United Nations: Republic of Korea Australia Belgium Canada Colombia Ethiopia France Greece Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Philippines South Africa Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Naval Support and Military Servicing/Repairs: Japan Medical staff: Denmark Italy Norway India Sweden DPR Korea PR China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung... Samsung Group is one of the largest South Korean business groupings. ... LG can refer to a number of things: LG Group, a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate. ... South Korean business tycoon Chung Ju-yung, founder and honorary chairman of Hyundai Group, 1998 Hyundai refers to a group of companies founded by Chung Ju-yung in South Korea, and related organizations. ... KIA or Kia may mean: Killed in action Kirby Ian Andersen Kings Indian Attack, a chess opening Kuwait Investment Authority Kachin Independence Army, in Kachin State, Myanmar Kia Motors Kia Asamiya, a popular Japanese manga artist. ... SK can stand for: End of communication (Morse code prosign) Silent key - an amateur radio operator who has died Saskatchewan (Canadian Province/Territory Code) Shonen Knife - a Japanese rock trio Slovakia (ISO country code) Sk is the local acronym for Slovak crown Slovak language (ISO 639) .sk is the Internet... High tech refers to high technology, technology that is at the cutting-edge and the most advanced currently available. ...

This period was also marked by military conflict. Wars driven by the Cold War, notably in Vietnam and Afghanistan, wrecked the economies of these respective nations. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990-91, many Central Asian states were cut free and were forced to adapt to pressure for democratic and economic change. Also, several of the USSR's allies lost valuable aid and funding. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east, and from southern Russia in the north to...

1991-2004

After the liberalization of the economy of India, undertaken by then finance minister and current Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Indian economy coupled with the Chinese economy to power Asia into being one of the hotspots for world trade. The Chinese economy was already booming under the economic measures undertaken by Jiang Zemin. Currently, China's Economy topped at 10% growth and India's Economy at around 9%. Asia has started showing its potential. One of the factors was the sheer size of the population in this region. The economy of India, measured in USD exchange-rate terms, is the twelfth largest in the world, with a GDP of US $1. ... The Finance Minister of India is a cabinet position in the Government of India. ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the Government of India. ... This article is about the Prime Minister of India. ... Jiāng Zémín (Traditional Chinese: 江澤民, Simplified Chinese: 江泽民, Hanyu Pinyin: Jiāng Zémín, Wade-Giles: Chiang Tse-min, Cantonese (Jyutping): gong1 zaak6 man4) (born August 17, 1926) was the core of the third generation of Communist Party of China leaders, serving as General Secretary of the Communist...

Meanwhile, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia emerged as the new Asian tigers with their GDPs growing well above 7% per year in the 1980s and the 90s. Their economies were mainly driven by growing exports. The Philippines, also considered a new Asian Tiger, began to open up its economy again in the early in the 90s. Vietnam's economy began to grow in 1995, shortly after the United States and Vietnam restored economic and political ties.

Throughout the 1990s, the manufacturing ability and cheap labor markets in Asian developing nations allowed companies to establish themselves in many of the industries previously dominated by companies from developed nations. Asia became one of the largest sources of automobiles, machinery, audio equipment and other electronics. Car redirects here. ... A machine is any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of tasks. ... Surface mount electronic components Electronics is the study of the flow of charge through various materials and devices such as semiconductors, resistors, inductors, capacitors, nano-structures and vacuum tubes. ...

At the end of 1997, Thailand was hit by currency speculators, and the value of the Baht along with its annual growth rate fell dramatically. Soon after, the crisis spread to Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and many other Asian economies, resulting in great economic damage on the affected countries (Japan largely escaped the crisis). In fact, some of the economies, most notably those of Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea actually contracted. This later would be known as the Asian financial crisis. By 1999, most countries had already recovered from the crisis. Speculation involves the buying, holding, and selling of stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, collectibles, real estate, derivatives or any valuable financial instrument to profit from fluctuations in its price as opposed to buying it for use or for income via methods such as dividends or interest. ... ISO 4217 Code THB User(s) Thailand Inflation 4. ... The Asian financial crisis was a financial crisis that started in July 1997 in Thailand and affected currencies, stock markets, and other asset prices in several Asian countries, many considered East Asian Tigers. ...

In 2004, parts of Sumatra and South Asia were severely damaged by an earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. The natural disaster wiped out huge amounts of infrastructure throughout the affected area and displaced millions. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea (subduction) earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. ...

Future

Asia's large economic disparities are a source of major continuing tension in the region. While global economic powers Japan, South Korea, China, and India continue powering through, and Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam have entered the path to long-term growth, regions right next to these countries are in need of severe assistance.

Given the large number cheap and amply available labor in the region, particularly in China and India, where large workforces provide an economical advantage over other countries, the rising standard of living will eventually lead to a slow-down. Asia is also riddled with political problems that threaten not just the economies, but the general stability of the region and world. The nuclear neighbors -- China and India -- constantly pose a threat to each other, causing their governments to heavily invest in military spending. A military budget of an entity, most often a nation or a state is the budget and financial resources dedicated to raising and maintaining armed forces for that entity. ...

Military intervention by the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq has also inflamed extremism and resulted in several terrorist attacks in a number of Asian countries. Another impending crisis is the depletion of oil reserves in the Middle East. Most of these economies have traditionally been over-dependent on oil and have had difficulty establishing another pillar in their economies.

Yet another potential global danger posed by the economy of Asia is the growing accumulation of foreign exchange reserves. The countries/regions with the largest foreign reserves are mostly in Asia - China (Mainland - $988 billion & Hong Kong - $130 billion, September 2006), Japan ($881 billion, September 2006), Taiwan ($261 billion, September 2006), the Republic of Korea ($228 billion, September 2006), Singapore ($129 billion, June 2005), India ($200 billion, April 2007). This increasingly means that the interchangeability of the Euro, USD, and GBP are heavily influenced by Asian central banks. Some economists in the western countries see this as a bad thing, prompting their respective governments to take action. Foreign exchange reserves (also called Forex reserves) in a strict sense are only the foreign currency deposits held by central banks and monetary authorities. ...

The economies of Asia are expected to be unequally divided for a long period of time. Far Eastern nations such as economic leaders China, Japan and South Korea will continue to flourish. Japanese products such as Sony and Hitachi are commanding premium prices in the western world. South Korean conglomerates Samsung and LG are respectively the first and second largest in Asia in terms of annual revenues. These two rivaling countries are expected to be joined by new economic competitors such as China and India. On the other hand, the Middle East and a few parts of South East Asia is and will be in a state of trouble. Far East is a term often used for East Asia and Southeast Asia combined, sometimes including also the easternmost territories of Russia, i. ... Sony Corporation ) is a Japanese multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest media conglomerates with revenue of $66. ... Hitachi, Ltd ) (TYO: 6501, NYSE: HIT) is a multinational corporation specializing in high-technology and services headquartered in Marunouchi Itchome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. ... Occident redirects here. ... Samsung Group is one of the largest South Korean business groupings. ... LG can refer to a number of things: LG Group, a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate. ... This is a list of the worlds largest public and private businesses by turnover. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ...

Trade blocs

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a group of Pacific Rim countries who meet with the purpose of improving economic and political ties APEC redirects here. ... The USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group along with ships from Australia, Chile, Japan, Canada, and Korea speed towards Honolulu in RIMPAC 2000. ...

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Flag of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political, economic, and cultural organization of countries located in Southeast Asia. Founded in 1967, its aim is to foster cooperation and mutual assistance among members. The countries meet annually every November in summits. Image File history File links Flag_of_ASEAN.svg Description Flag of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_ASEAN.svg Description Flag of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ... Hymn The ASEAN Hymn Jakarta, Indonesia Membership 10 Southeast Asian states Leaders  -  Secretary General Ong Keng Yong Area  -  Total 4,497,4931 km²  Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character , sq mi  Population  -   estimate 566. ... Hymn The ASEAN Hymn Jakarta, Indonesia Membership 10 Southeast Asian states Leaders  -  Secretary General Ong Keng Yong Area  -  Total 4,497,4931 km²  Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character , sq mi  Population  -   estimate 566. ...

The current member countries of ASEAN are Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and Indonesia. Papua New Guinea is given an observer status. Anthem: Kaba Ma Kyei Capital Naypyidaw , Largest city Yangon (Rangoon) Official languages Burmese Recognised regional languages Jingpho, Shan, Karen, Mon, Rakhine Demonym Burmese Government Military junta  -  Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe  -  Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Vice-Senior General... The Sultanate of Brunei, more commonly referred to as Brunei Darussalam or simply Brunei, is an oil-rich country located on the island of Borneo, in southeast Asia. ... For other uses, see Observation (disambiguation). ...

In 2005 ASEAN was instrumental in establishing the East Asia Summit (involving all ASEAN members plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand) which some have proposed may become in the future a trade bloc, the arrangements for which are far from certain and not yet clear. The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asia forum held annually by the leaders of 16 countries in East Asia and the region, with ASEAN in a leadership position. ...

The Asian Currency Unit (ACU) is a proposed currency unit for the ASEAN "10+3" economic circle. (ASEAN, the mainland of the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea). Members of the ASEAN 10+3 circle The Asian Currency Unit (ACU) is a proposed currency unit for the ASEAN 10+3 economic circle (ASEAN, the mainland of the Peoples Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea). ... South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK; Korean: Daehan Minguk (Hangul: 대한 민국; Hanja: 大韓民國)), is a country in East Asia, covering the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. ...

Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement

The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) is an economic agreement between the People's Republic of China and both the Hong Kong SAR government (signed on 29 June 2003), and the Macau SAR government (signed on 18 October, 2003), in order to promote trade and investment facilitation. Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA, Traditional Chinese: ) can refer to one of the following agreements between the customs territories within the Peoples Republic of China: Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Traditional Chinese: ) Mainland and Macau Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Traditional Chinese: , Portuguese: Acordo de Estreitamento das...

The main aims of CEPA are to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barrier on substantially all the trade in goods between the three, and achieve liberalization of trade in services through reduction or elimination of substantially all discriminatory measures.

Commonwealth of Independent States

Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a confederation consisting of 12 of the 15 states of the former Soviet Union, both Asian and European, (the exceptions being the three Baltic states). Although the CIS has few supranational powers, it is more than a purely symbolic organization and possesses coordinating powers in the realm of trade, finance, lawmaking and security. The most significant issue for the CIS is the establishment of a full-fledged free trade zone / economic union between the member states, to be launched in 2005. It has also promoted cooperation on democratisation and cross-border crime prevention. Image File history File links Flag_of_the_CIS.svg Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_CIS.svg Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States. ...  Member state  Associate member Headquarters Minsk, Belarus Working language Russian Type Commonwealth Membership 11 member states 1 associate member Leaders  -  Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev Establishment December 21, 1991 Website http://cis. ... The monarchs of the member states of the German Confederation meet at Frankfurt in 1863. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. ...

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an association of 8 countries of South Asia, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. These countries comprise an area of 5 130 746 km² and a fifth of the population of the world.  Afghanistan  Bangladesh  Bhutan  India  Maldives  Nepal  Pakistan  Sri Lanka Headquarters Kathmandu, Nepal Statistics Area  - Total 7th if ranked 5,130,746 km² Population  - Total (2004)  - Density 1st if ranked 1,467,255,669 285. ...

SAARC encourages cooperation in agriculture, rural development, science and technology, culture, health, population control, narcotics control and anti-terrorism.

South Asia Free Trade Agreement (proposed)

The South Asia Free Trade Agreement is an agreement reached at the 12th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit. It creates a framework for the creation of a free trade zone covering 1.6 billion people in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives. Countries under the South Asian Free Trade Area The Agreement on the South Asian Free Trade Area is an agreement reached at the 12th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit at Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on 6 January 2004. ...  Afghanistan  Bangladesh  Bhutan  India  Maldives  Nepal  Pakistan  Sri Lanka Headquarters Kathmandu, Nepal Statistics Area  - Total 7th if ranked 5,130,746 km² Population  - Total (2004)  - Density 1st if ranked 1,467,255,669 285. ... Free trade is an economic concept referring to the selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers. ...

Currency

Below is a list of the currencies of Asia, including all fully Asian states plus Russia, with exchange rates between each currency and both the Euro and US Dollars ^{as of 9th December 2004}.

Country	Currency	worth in Euro	worth in USD	Central bank
Afghanistan	Afghani	0.0171287	0.0228157
Bahrain	Bahraini Dinar	1.99136	2.65957
Bangladesh	Taka	0.0125917	0.0167723	Bangladesh Bank
Bhutan	Ngultrum	0.0170095	0.0226630
Brunei	Brunei Dollar	0.455736	0.606944
Cambodia	Riel	0.000305774	0.000260068
People's Republic of China Mainland  Hong Kong  Macau	Renminbi Hong Kong Dollar Macanese Pataca	0.09 0.11 0.11	0.12 0.13 0.13	People's Bank of China Hong Kong Monetary Authority Monetary Authority of Macao
Republic of China (Taiwan)	New Taiwan Dollar	0.0233412	0.0310945	Central Bank of the Republic of China
Timor-Leste	US Dollar	0.750803	1
India	Indian Rupee	.0175701	.0253710	Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia	Rupiah	0.0000819210	0.000109059	Bank Indonesia
Iran	Iranian Rial	0.0000847274	0.000112852
Iraq	Iraqi Dinar	0.000513340	0.000683737	Central Bank of Iraq
Israel	Sheqel	0.172654	0.229975	Bank of Israel
Japan	Yen	0.00718413	0.00956539	Bank of Japan
Jordan	Jordanian Dinar	1.06031	1.41243
Kazakhstan	Tenge	0.00576997	0.00768610
North Korea	North Korean Won	0.341229	0.454545
South Korea	South Korean Won	0.000711045	0.000947424	Bank of Korea
Kuwait	Kuwaiti Dinar	2.54691	3.39425
Kyrgyzstan	Kyrgyzstani Som	0.0181059	0.0241177
Laos	Kip	0.0000692876	0.0000922935
Lebanon	Lebanese Pound	0.000495695	0.000659979
Malaysia	Ringgit	0.197525	0.263219	Bank Negara Malaysia
Maldives	Rufiyah	0.0637958	0.0849618
Mongolia	Tugrik	0.000618514	0.000823723
Myanmar	Kyat	0.135242	0.180112
Nepal	Nepalese Rupee	0.0105153	0.0140041	Nepal Rastriya Bank
Oman	Omani Rial	1.95241	2.60077
Pakistan	Pakistani Rupee	0.0124665	0.0166064	State Bank of Pakistan
Palestinian Authority	Sheqel (Israeli)	0.17	0.23	no central bank
Philippines	Philippine Peso	0.0133941	0.0178531	Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Qatar	Qatari Riyal	0.206213	0.274786
Russia	Russian Ruble	0.0267806	0.0356723	Central Bank of the Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia	Saudi Riyal	0.200178	0.266660
Singapore	Singapore Dollar	0.455762	0.607083	Monetary Authority of Singapore
Sri Lanka	Sri Lankan Rupee	0.00715451	0.00953107	Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Syria	Syrian Pound	0.0143770	0.0191527
Tajikistan	Tajikistani Somoni	0.269553	0.359066
Thailand	Baht	0.0189565	0.0252245	Bank of Thailand
Turkmenistan	Manat	0.000144365	0.000192306
United Arab Emirates	United Arab Emirates dirham	0.204394	0.272301	Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan	Uzbekistani Som	0.000715188	0.000952628
Vietnam	Dong	0.0000476064	0.0000634115
Yemen	Yemeni Rial	0.00409130	0.00544959

Table correct as of 9th December 2004 (see [1] for latest) Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The afghani is the official currency used in Afghanistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bahrain. ... ISO 4217 Code BHD User(s) Bahrain Inflation 2. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bangladesh. ... ISO 4217 Code BDT User(s) Bangladesh Inflation 7% Source The World Factbook, 2005 est. ... Bangladesh Bank is the central bank of Bangladesh. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bhutan. ... The ngultrum (BTN) is the currency of Bhutan, subdivided into 100 chertrums. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brunei. ... ISO 4217 Code BND User(s) Brunei Singapore Inflation 0. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cambodia. ... Riel (Khmer: , Symbol ) is the national currency of Cambodia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hong_Kong. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Macau. ... CNY and RMB redirect here. ... ISO 4217 Code HKD User(s) Hong Kong Inflation 2. ... The pataca is the monetary unit of Macau (currency code MOP; Chinese: 澳門圓), made up of 100 avos. ... The Peoples Bank of China (PBC) (Simplified Chinese: 中国人民银行; Traditional Chinese: 中國人民銀行; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Yínháng ) (not to be confused with the Bank of China or the Central Bank of China) is the central bank of the Peoples Republic of China with the power to... The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (Traditional Chinese: ) or HKMA (金管局) is Hong Kongs central banking institution. ... The Monetary Authority of Macao (澳門金融管理局; AMCM as the abbreviation retained from the past; Autoridade Monetária de Macau, in Portuguese) is a regulatory institution established on December 20, 1999, upon the transfer of the sovereignty of Macao from Portugal to the Peoples Republic of China as the Macao Special... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... ISO 4217 Code TWD User(s) Republic of China Inflation 0. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_East_Timor. ... Motto: Unidade, Acção, Progresso (Portuguese: Unity, Action, Progress) Anthem: Pátria Capital (and largest city) Dili Official languages Tetum and Portuguese1 Demonym East Timorese Government Parliamentary republic  -  President José Ramos-Horta  -  Acting President Fernando de Araújo  -  Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão Independence from Portugal²   -  Declared November 28, 1975... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... “INR” redirects here. ... The RBI headquarters in Mumbai The RBI Regional Office in Mumbai The RBI heaquarters in Delhi. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia. ... ISO 4217 Code IDR User(s) Indonesia Inflation 6. ... Bank Indonesia is the central bank of Indonesia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iran. ... ISO 4217 Code IRR User(s) Iran Inflation 15. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iraq. ... ISO 4217 Code IQD User(s) Iraq Inflation rate 33% Source The World Factbook, 2005 est. ... The Central Bank of Iraq, guarded by U.S. troops. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... ISO 4217 Code ILS User(s) Israel, The West Bank, Gaza Strip Inflation -0. ... Headquarters Jerusalem, Israel Governor Stanley Fischer Central Bank of Israel Currency New Israeli Shekel ISO 4217 Code ILS Base borrowing rate 3. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Japanese 10 yen coin (obverse) showing Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Yen is the currency used in Japan. ... The Bank of Japan has its headquarters in this building in Tokyo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jordan. ... The Jordanian dinar (ISO 4217 code JOD) is the official currency of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the first official one in the State of Palestine. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kazakhstan. ... Tenge is the monetary unit of Kazakhstan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_North_Korea. ... 5000 KPW issued in 2002 The won is the currency of North Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... ISO 4217 Code KRW User(s) Republic of Korea Inflation 2. ... Bank of Korea is the national central bank of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kuwait. ... ISO 4217 Code KWD User(s) Kuwait Inflation 3. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kyrgyzstan. ... Five Kyrgyzstani Som Note (1997) 100 Kyrgystani Som Notes (2002) The Kyrgyzstani Som (sometimes transliterated Sum or Soum) is the currency of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Laos. ... Kip is the currency of Laos. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lebanon. ... The Lebanese pound (Arabic lira, French livre, ISO 4217: LBP) is the currency unit of Lebanon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Ringgit (Malay for jagged) mostly refers to the Malaysian ringgit, which is the local currency in Malaysia, but it can also refer to the Singapore dollar and Brunei dollar in the Malay language. ... Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is the Malaysian central bank. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Maldives. ... 100 rufiya currently in use now. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mongolia. ... The Tugrug (төгрөк in Mongolian) (MNT, Tugrik) is the official currency of Mongolia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Myanmar. ... The kyat (ISO 4217 code MMK) is the official currency of Myanmar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nepal. ... ISO 4217 Code NPR User(s) Nepal Inflation 7. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Oman. ... ISO 4217 Code OMR User(s) Oman Inflation 1. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... PKR redirects here. ... The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is the central bank of Pakistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Palestine. ... Palestinian government redirects here. ... The shekel (also spelled sheqel) refers to one of many ancient units of weight. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... ISO 4217 Code PHP User(s) Philippines Inflation 2. ... The Central Bank is depicted on the 100-peso bill. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Qatar. ... ISO 4217 Code QAR User(s) Qatar Inflation 7. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... ISO 4217 Code RUB User(s) Russia and self-proclaimed Abkhazia and South Ossetia Inflation 7% Source Rosstat, 2007 Subunit 1/100 kopek (копейка) Symbol руб kopek (копейка) к Plural The language(s) of this currency is of the Slavic languages. ... Bank of Russia (Russian:Банк России) or The Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Russian: Центральный банк Российской Федерации) is a Central bank of Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia. ... ISO 4217 Code SAR User(s) Saudi Arabia Inflation 1. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore. ... ISO 4217 Code SGD User(s) Singapore, Brunei Inflation 1% Source The World Factbook, 2006 est. ... The Monetary Authority of Singapore is Singapores central bank. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sri_Lanka. ... ISO 4217 Code LKR User(s) Sri Lanka Inflation rate 11. ... The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the monetary authority of the country. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Syria. ... ISO 4217 Code SYP User(s) Syria Subunit 1/100 piastre Symbol S£ [] Coins 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 pounds Banknotes 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 pounds Central bank Central Bank of Syria Website www. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tajikistan. ... The Somoni (Tajik: ) is the currency of Tajikistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... ISO 4217 Code THB User(s) Thailand Inflation 4. ... The Bank of Thailand (ธนาคารแห่งประเทศไทย) is the central bank of the Thailand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkmenistan. ... The manat is the currency unit of Turkmenistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates. ... ISO 4217 Code AED User(s) United Arab Emirates Inflation 4. ... The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (Arabic: ) is the central bank of the United Arab Emirates. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uzbekistan. ... The som (so‘m in Uzbek) is the currency of Uzbekistan in Central Asia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Vietnam. ... Dong may refer to: In Asian languages: Vietnamese đồng (â‚«), the currency unit of Vietnam Dong people (侗族), an ethnic minority group in China Dong Lake, a lake in the Hunan Province of China Dong quai, a medicinal herb Dong (surname), a transliteration of Chinese family names è‘£,東 (in Mandarin pinyin) and 黨 (in... Image File history File links Flag_of_Yemen. ... 1000 Yemeni Rial The rial or riyal is the currency of Yemen. ...

Economic sectors

Primary Sector

Asia is by a considerable margin the largest continent in the world, and is rich in natural resources. The vast expanse of the former Soviet Union, particularly that of Russia, contains a huge variety of metals, such as gold, iron, lead, titanium, uranium, and zinc. These metals are mined, but inefficiently due to continued use of poorly maintained, obsolete machinery left over from the communist era. Nevertheless, profits are high due to a commodity price boom in 2003/2004 caused largely by increased demand in China. Oil is Southwest Asia's most important natural resource. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait are rich in oil reserves and have benefited from recent oil price escalations. GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... Fe redirects here. ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Post-transition metals or poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish gray Standard atomic weight 207. ... General Name, symbol, number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery grey-white metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ...

Asia is home to some four billion people, and thus has a well established tradition in agriculture. High productivity in agriculture, especially of rice, allows high population density of many countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, southern China, Cambodia, India, and Vietnam. Agriculture constitutes a high portion of land usage in warm and humid areas of Asia. Many hillsides are farmed in a terrace method to boost arable land. The main agricultural products in Asia include rice and wheat. Opium is one of major cash crops in Central and Southeast Asia, particularly in Afghanistan, though its production is prohibited everywhere. Forestry is extensive throughout Asia except Southwest and Central Asia, with many of the items of furniture sold in the developed nations made out of Asian timber. Fishing is a major source of food, particularly in Japan. For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... Species T. aestivum T. boeoticum T. dicoccoides T. dicoccon T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta T. sphaerococcum T. timopheevii References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 Wheat Wheat For the indie rock group, see Wheat (band). ... This article is about the drug. ...

Secondary Sector

The manufacturing sector in Asia has traditionally been strongest in the East region - particularly in China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The industry varies from manufacturing cheap low value goods such as toys to high-tech added value goods such as computers, CD players, Games consoles and cars. Major Asian manufacturing companies are mostly based in either South Korea or Japan. They include Samsung, Hyundai, LG from Korea, and Sony, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan from Japan. Many developed-nation firms from Europe, North America, Japan and South Korea have significant operations in the developing Asia to take avantage of the abundant supply of cheap labor. One of the major employers in manufacturing in Asia is the textile industry. Much of the world's supply of clothing and footwear now originates in Southeast Asia and South Asia, particularly in Vietnam, China, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia. A teddy bear A toy is an object used in play. ... This article is about the machine. ... A compact disc player or CD player is an electronic device to play audio from compact discs. ... The Nintendo GameCube is an example of a popular video game console. ... Car redirects here. ... Samsung Group is one of the largest South Korean business groupings. ... South Korean business tycoon Chung Ju-yung, founder and honorary chairman of Hyundai Group, 1998 Hyundai refers to a group of companies founded by Chung Ju-yung in South Korea, and related organizations. ... Categories: Corporation stubs | South Korea | Chaebols | Conglomerate ... This article is about the Korean civilization. ... Sony Corporation ) is a Japanese multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest media conglomerates with revenue of $66. ... Toyota Motor Corporation ) (pronounced [to-yo-ta]) is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and currently is the worlds largest automaker. ... This article is about the Japanese motor corporation. ... Nissan Motor Co. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... North American redirects here. ... For other uses, see Textile (disambiguation). ...

Tertiary Sector

Asia has three important financial centers, located in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo. India has been one of the greatest beneficiaries of the economic boom. The country has emerged as one of the world's largest exporters of software and other information technology related services. World class Indian software giants such as Infosys, TCS, Wipro and Satyam have emerged as the world's most sought after service providers. Call centers are also becoming major employers in India, Philippines, Malaysia, etc. due to the availability of many well educated English speakers. Here again India holds close to 60% of the trade share. The rise of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has seen the rise of India and China as the other financial centers. Experts believe that the current center of financial activity is moving toward "Chindia" - a name used for jointly referring to China and India - with Shanghai and Mumbai (Bombay) becoming major financial hubs in their own right. Other growing technological and financial hubs include Seoul (South Korea), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Karachi (Pakistan), Bangkok (Thailand), Manila (Philippines), Jakarta (Indonesia), Chennai (Madras) (India), Hyderabad (India) and Bangalore (India). For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... Infosys Technologies Limited (BSE: 500209, NASDAQ: INFY) is a multinational information technology services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. ... Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) is an Indian software services and consulting company. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Wipro Technologies. ... Satyam Computer Services Ltd. ... Outsourcing is subcontracting a process, such as product design or manufacturing, to a third-party company. ... For other uses, see Shanghai (disambiguation). ... , Bombay redirects here. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Short name Statistics Location map Map of location of Seoul. ... Nickname: Motto: Maju dan makmur (English: Progress and Prosper) Location in Malaysia Coordinates: , Country State Establishment 1857 Granted city status 1974 Government  - Mayor (Datuk Bandar) Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan From 14 December 2006 Area  - Total 243. ... Not to be confused with Karachay-Cherkessia. ... Location Coordinates: , Country Settled Ayutthaya Period Founded as capital 21 April 1782 Government  - Type Special administrative area  - Governor Apirak Kosayothin Area  - City 1,568. ... For other meanings of the word, see Manila (disambiguation). ... Jakarta (also DKI Jakarta), is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. ... Madras redirects here. ... Madras refers to: the Indian city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, the former Indian state, now known as Tamil Nadu (Plural of Madra): Ancient people of Iranian affinites, who lived in northwest Panjab in the Uttarapatha division of ancient India. ... , For other uses, see Hyderabad. ... , For other uses, see Bangalore (disambiguation). ...

See also

• Asia
• History of Asia
• Geography of Asia
• Commonwealth of Independent States
• List of Asian countries by GDP
• World economy
• 1997 Asian Financial Crisis

For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Map of Asia, 1892 The history of Asia can be seen as the collective history of several distinct peripheral coastal regions, East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East linked by the interior mass of the Eurasian steppe. ... Asia is the central and eastern part of Eurasia, comprising approximately fifty countries. ...  Member state  Associate member Headquarters Minsk, Belarus Working language Russian Type Commonwealth Membership 11 member states 1 associate member Leaders  -  Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev Establishment December 21, 1991 Website http://cis. ... This is a list of the Asia-Pacific countries sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP) at market or government official exchange rates. ... The world economy can be evaluated in various ways, depending on the model used, and this valuation can then be represented in various ways (for example, in 2006 US dollars). ... The East Asian Financial Crisis was a period of economic unrest (or financial contagion) that started in July 1997 in Thailand with the financial collapse of the Thai Baht, and affected currencies, stock markets, and other asset prices in a number of Asian countries. ...

Economy by country