Asia is the largest continent, with an area of 44 614 000 km 2, which corresponds to 30% of the Earth’s continental surface. It extends for 11 000 kilometers, from east to west, and for 8600 kilometers, from north to south. It is bathed by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south, the Red Sea to the southwest, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas to the west. The western border with Europe is located along the Ural Mountains, the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. The Suez Canal marks the separation between Asia and Africa. The Asian continental coast is 62 759 kilometers long. The islands of Sri Lanka and Taiwan and the archipelagos of Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan are also part of the continent. Asia has a population of 3,688,000,000 (2000), representing 60% of the world population.
The huge continental mass of Asia, its distribution in latitude, the wind regime and the relief are the climatic factors that most influence the climate of this continent. North Asia has a cold climate, with great thermal contrasts between the long, extremely cold winter and summer. In the South and Southeast, the monsoon climate predominates, characterized by the influence of hot and humid winds in the summer, which cause heavy rainfall, and cold and dry winds in the winter. The areas of desert climate occupy an extensive strip, which extends from Arabia (hot desert climate) to Central Asia (cold desert climate). On the Mediterranean coastal façade, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The main landforms are the Himalayan mountain range, the Tibet plateau.
The economy of most South Asian countries is based on agriculture, with emphasis on rice cultivation, which is the basis of the food of most of its population. In addition to rice cultivation, Asian agricultural production is also important for wheat (India, Pakistan and North China), tea (China and Sri Lanka), cotton (Central Asia) and natural rubber (Malaysia and Indonesia).
The industrial sector is underdeveloped in most countries, but Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and, later, China itself have an increasing importance in industrial production on a world scale. The world, either for the quality of its products or for the competitive price associated with the abundance of labor.
Asia has important mineral and energy reserves, especially the Middle East, the main oil producing and exporting area worldwide. In addition to oil, reserves of natural gas, coal, tin and tungsten are also very significant in Asia.
Countryaah: provides a complete list of countries and territories in the continent of Asia including official names of each country, independent dates, as well as map of Asia.
Abbreviationfinder: Comprehensive list of all abbreviations associated with Asia. Sorted by popularity. Also offers the 2-letter and 3-letter acronyms for what is the abbreviation for Asia.
Bangladesh – Grameen Bank
Review the financial institution’s services and companies. Also study its fisheries, agriculture, communications and energy development projects.
Website: http://www.grameen-info.org/
Kazakhstan – Citibank
Major bank describes its operations in this nation. Learn about the bank’s financial products and services.
Website: http://www.citicorp.com/kazakhstan/
Laos – Standard Chartered
Introduces its financial products for corporate clients and treasury services which include currency options.
Website: http://www.standardchartered.com/la.html
Macau – Banco Nacional Ultramarino
Browse the bank’s news releases, mission statement and banking services, or read a brief company history.
Website: http://www.bnu.com.mo/
Mongolia – Trade and Development Bank
Find a glossary of terms, a consolidated income statement, and organization chart and more information about the bank’s operations and services.
Website: http://www.mongoliaonline.mn/tdbm/
Pakistan – ABN-AMRO Bank
Details the services included in the consumer, corporate and transactional banking schemes.
Website: http://www.abnamro.com.pk/
Pakistan – Standard Chartered
Bank services include auto loans, personal, telephone, corporate and treasury banking,
Website: http://www.standardchartered.com/pk/
Tai Fung Bank
In English and Chinese. Peruse interest and exchange rates, branch addresses, annual reports and descriptions of the bank’s services.
Website: http://www.taifungbank.com/
Taiwan – Central Bank of China
Official web site for this institution contains introductions to the bank, its governors, and its deputy governors. Find financial information.
Website: http://www.cbc.gov.tw/
Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia
TDBM focuses on international services, including import and export settlements. Check out its organizational structure and find balance sheets.
Website: http://www.mol.mn/tdbm/
World Bank In Bangladesh
Peruse details about the bank’s economic development and poverty alleviation projects in Bangladesh.
