China hosts SME conference

The fifth APEC small and medium enterprises (SME) technology conference and fair will launch in Qingdao, Shandong Province, on 30 May, says XinhuaNet.

The four-day fair, sponsored by the National Development and Reform Commission, will feature forums, business negotiations and technology exchanges on environmental protection, energy saving and pollution reduction.

It will also exhibit a range of goods, including auto parts, energy saving and recycling products, new construction materials, food processing equipment and electronic products.

The Dubai Institute of Technology (DIT), an initiative that is set to become a world-class research, technological development and innovation centre, has been announced, says the Dubai City Guide.

DIT will act as a platform to facilitate the integration of scientific research and technological development into the economy.

It will support SMEs to encourage entrepreneurship, incubation, business accelerators, training and partnerships.

IT SMEs are disappointed with the 2008/09 budget, saying it has not extended the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) scheme that offers them various exemptions and had also increased the excise duty on packaged software, says India Times.

The SMEs were expecting that the STPI scheme, which has been offering them various exemptions, including 10-year income tax exemption for exports, would be extended beyond 2009.

The sunset clause under Section 10A/10B of the Income Tax Act of 1960, exempting IT firms registered with STPI from corporate taxes for 10 years, expires 31 March 2009.