Brazil's GPA accession will involve costs and benefits

Significance The agreement would open a market of USD1.7tn for Brazilian companies to compete for government procurement contracts internationally, but would also render them vulnerable to competition for Brazilian government contracts from foreign suppliers on equal terms. The process of negotiations is a lengthy one, as well as controversial. Impacts Accession to the GPA could facilitate Brazil’s ambition to join the OECD. Domestic companies’ lack of competitiveness within the GPA could aggravate existing problems with industrial performance. Political uncertainties surrounding the October elections could delay the pace of accession.

A comprehensive study on the quality of sustainability reporting disclosure between Indonesia and other countries

The shift in the business paradigm towards a more sustainable one has placed a balance between people, profit and the planet as a corporate culture. However, based on previous empirical studies, very few companies have put sustainability as the soul of their business, especially in the types of industries that are not obliged to report their social responsibility activities. This study aims to compare the quality of the sustainability report based on the GRI G4 indicator for foreign and domestic companies engaged in construction services. The data was taken using a purposive method on construction service companies that published their 2017 sustainability reports and found 30 companies. The quality of the report is compared between the three indicators, namely economic, social and environmental. The results showed that in terms of quality of disclosure, there was no difference between domestic and foreign construction service companies, whether tested per category or tested collectively. The results of this study reinforce the previous finding that companies are still very dependent on the regulatory compliance approach only in implementing sustainability, especially in the construction service industry.

Features of implementation and development of circular economy in Ukraine

The article is devoted to the study of circular economy, its concept; the main circular business-models, their essence and advantages in the practical application based on the analysis of researches of their introduction and use in the world and domestic companies are analyzed; features of the development of circular economy in Ukraine in disclosure of researches of sources of financing of innovative activity and a share of innovative enterprises in general scale are revealed; the expediency of introduction of energy-efficient and energy-saving technologies at the enterprises within the limits of socially responsible production is substantiated. The results of the study showed that the development of the circular economy in Ukraine is at a much lower level compared to the world, due to negative factors such as ignorance of the population and entrepreneurs the necessity of circular economy transition, lack of full and perfect legislation, the unpreparedness of enterprises change in favor of environmental friendliness. However, it is still an enterprise that is ready to act and change by implementing environmental solutions, such as energy-efficient technologies, thus contributing to its competitive position. In the context of the need to move to a circular economy, scientists, politicians, businesses, consumers, public and international organizations are increasingly studying the basic principles and models, as well as their possible implementation and features of use. In addition, both domestic and international companies are trying to be socially responsible and implement energy-efficient technologies that reduce the consumption of energy resources, economic resources, increase the competitiveness of production. This means that both foreign and domestic companies, at the same time, must clearly understand the methods, ways, and opportunities to achieve the most competitive position as a socially responsible enterprise. Therefore, based on examples of implementation of methods and solutions in the field of circular economy in global companies, as well as using their experience, knowledge and skills, Ukrainian companies will be able to achieve at least the same level of social responsibility. However, it should be understood that these actions should be legally protected, which should serve as a regulatory framework developed by the state. Only with such bilateral work can Ukrainian enterprises and Ukraine in general become an example to follow for other countries.

Business Strategy, Corporate Social Responsibility Activities, and Financial Performance

This study examines how the alignment between business strategy (prospector vs. defender) and CSR affects company performance. There are different types of CSR; some involve internal stakeholders, and others involve external stakeholders. While external CSR may bring public visibility and company prestige, internal CSR can strengthen employee relations. We use the U.S. publicly listed companies because the data is more readily available and find a stronger positive relationship between external (internal) CSR and financial performance for prospectors (defenders) than for defenders (prospectors). We further find that the positive relationship is more profound for multinational companies than for domestic companies. Our study contributes to the extant literature on international accounting, CSR, and business strategy. Our findings have significant implications for managers in global markets, demonstrating that undertaking different types of CSR can increase their company’s competitive advantages and simultaneously advance social and economic conditions.

Biosimilar approval and checkpoints

Biologic drugs and subsequently developed biosimilars treat chronic inflammatory autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, ankylosingspondylitis, crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis. Biologics can target the cancer in a specific way and may work synergistically with chemotherapy to improve outcome. It is expected that in the next five years, 50% of biological products will originate from biotechnology. Biological products, including those manufactured by biotechnology, tend to be heat sensitive and susceptible to microbial contamination. There are no expected clinically meaningful differences in efficacy and safety between a biosimilar and the biologic drugs which are authorized for sale. The global market for Biosimilars is dominated by oncology (nearly 39% share) whereas the total biosimilar market size is expected to reach nearly 70 billion by 2025. Biosimilars are generally marketed at prices 25 to 40 percent below original branded productsie Biologics. The number of biosimilars approved by US FDA are nearly 30. There are about 25 top global manufacturers of biosimilars. Many Domestic companies in India are making strong presence even in regulated markets. (BPCIA) guidelines in the United States (US), mention that a biosimilar can be designated as “interchangeable”, whereby it may be substituted for the reference product (original biological drug).

Determinants of board diversity policy implementation by companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange

Research background: Diversity management is one of the hot topic issues present in current public discussions. Board diversity requirements are quite new for Polish public companies. The companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange have to publish a statement on the company's compliance with the corporate governance recommendations and principles included in ?Best Practice for GPW Listed Companies 2016?. This regulation is based on the 'comply or explain? principle, thus the company may decide whether to comply with every rule included in the code, but decision on not implementing one or more rules should be explained by the company. Some of the recommended rules regard the board (supervisory and management) diversity policy implementation, where diversity refers to such dimensions as gender, education, age and professional experience. Purpose of the article: This study aims to investigate determinants of board diversity policy implementation by domestic companies listed on the WSE. It also documents explanations provided by companies that do not apply board diversity policy. Methods: The research sample covers 268 non-financial domestic companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange between 2016 and 30 November 2018. The companies? current reports on company compliance with the corporate governance codes and information issued on companies? websites were analyzed in order to identify those that announced implementation of board diversity policy. This study uses logistic regression analysis to identify the firm-level characteristics that may influence the implementation of board diversity policy. Findings & value added: This is the first study analyzing the drivers of board diversity policy implementation by Polish companies listed on the WSE. It shows that large companies, companies with larger management boards and companies with women acting as presidents of the supervisory boards are more likely to take actions seeking to achieve management and supervisory board diversity.

Competition Laws and Regulations For a Digital Industry Platform

During the last two decades, several nations have enacted or reinforced competition legislation. In most countries, at the same time, indigenous sectors are under ever-greater import demand. Towards an analysis, to monitor over time and the presence of imports and the number of domestic companies, on the influence of competitive legislation and rules (CLR) on the domestic competition for several nations. To see the direct impact of the Competition Law on competitiveness as industries with more import exposure or bigger local businesses are tending to be more competitive. However, it should be concluded that industries operating under competition legislation tend to have more domestic companies. This implies that by stimulating entrance, competition legislation may have an indirect influence on domestic competition. In terms of the function of government in industrial growth and the position of the public and private sector in country industrialization, the comparative role for small and big industries, an industrial policy may be described as the declaration of importance. It is essential to introduce new laws and regulations to encourage competition and constrain large industries. The problems of Industry 4.0 will be met through digitalization and automation. The vast amount of data produced on the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) must be collected, understood, and used. This is precisely what the digital company does by integrating the real world with the digital world. Therefore, the endless quantity of data enables the industry to make the CLR-IIOT technique more sustainable by employing final resources efficiently. Competition results in greater economic dynamic efficiency through innovation, technical advancement, reduced prices, and improved quality and customer service. Competition legislation is necessary since the market may be affected by faults and distortions, and diverse consumers may have recourse to anti-competitive actions such as cartels, abuse of predomination, etc.

Maritime Security In Coastwise Domestic Shipping As Perceived By Cadets

This study focused on the cadets’ perception of the level of implementation of maritime security in coastwise trade in selected ports of Western Visayas, Philippines, based on the ISPS Code requirements applicable onboard vessels and in port. This study aims to: (1) Determine the level of implementation of domestic companies in terms of the ship security plan or certificate, security drills, control of visitors on board, identification of restricted areas onboard, and security equipment used; (2) Identify the challenges that domestic vessels experience in the implementation of these procedures; and (3) Find out how the cadets are engaged in the process of implementing the requirements in terms of security drills and control of visitors on board and the roles they are tasked to perform. A research-made instrument designed for cadets was used to gather the data. The results revealed that domestic companies’ implementation is heightened during MARSEC Level 2, which happens when there is a heightened level and when security risk has become visible to security personnel. The greatest challenge as perceived by the cadets was specifically on technology advancement, which affects the security and equipment of the domestic vessels. The cadets are engaged in implementing the ISPS code on security drills and control of visitors on board by performing the roles assigned to them by their senior officers. Based on this study’s results, it is recommended that emphasis must be given on topics in maritime security for the students to be equipped with this knowledge during their cadetship program. Training centers may enhance the maritime security training’s effectiveness to include Seafarers with Designated Security Duties, Security Awareness Training, and Ship Security Assessment.

Foreign firms face risks in India's e-commerce space

Significance The ruling offers relief to Amazon, which not only faces stiff competition but is also grappling with changes in India’s e-commerce regulatory framework. On June 21, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs proposed revisions to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020. Impacts Reliance will call for a dilution of consumer protection rules if its efforts to capture market share are impeded. User privacy may suffer, despite official claims, if government agencies gain unfettered access to people’s e-commerce transactions. Foreign companies will strongly resist government efforts to make their data available to domestic companies. The rivalry between Amazon and Reliance is likely to be especially bitter and may trigger further legal battles. Beijing will criticise Delhi’s new efforts to curtail Chinese imports to India.