s="" make="" a="" trade Barter used to mean swapping rice for a chicken, chicken for car repair. But with cash flowtight for many businesses in this economic climate , exchanging goods and services might Ibe a tradingmethod to consider as part of normal operations. “In times like these, cash is king,but barter is smarter ,”says Brian Hodgson, director of Hong Kong's Pacific Barter Company. Companieswant to get rid of excess inventory and save cash. Hodgson started his company in April 1997 , just months before the crisis hit East Asia.“Whenwe introduced the concepl into the marketplace, people said:‘ We don't want to barter, we havelots of money.' Now with the slump, they are elling us:‘ We have warehouse full of things. Le'salk.'”With over 60 members , ranging from major intemational conglomerates to small and medi-um-sized local firms , Pacific Barter handles about $40000 in deals monthly out of Hong Kong andChina. Last month, Rudy Chan launched the Hong Kong operations of Australia-based Bartercard, theworld's biggest trade exchange with 20000 members. Bartercard holders use“trade dollars” topurchase goods and services from other members. A security company for instance may buy $ 1000worth of uniforms from a garment maker. The seller is credited with 1000 trade dollars by Barter-card, while the purchaser's account is debited the same amount. Straight swaps are not required. Onjoining, members are given a trade- dollar credit line.

19. Barter trade practice had been widely accepted in Asia long before the Asian financial crisis.

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Passage 1 Let's Make a Trade Barter used to mean swapping rice for a chicken, chicken for car repair. But with cash flowtight for many businesses in this economic climate , exchanging goods and services might Ibe a tradingmethod to consider as part of normal operations. “In times like these, cash is king, but barter is smarter ,”says Brian Hodgson, director of Hong Kong's Pacific Barter Company. Companies want to get rid of excess inventory and save cash. Hodgson started his company in April 1997 , just months before the crisis hit East Asia.“Whenwe introduced the concepl into the marketplace, people said:‘ We don't want to barter, we havelots of money.' Now with the slump, they are elling us:‘ We have warehouse full of things. Le'salk.'”With over 60 members , ranging from major intemational conglomerates to small and medi-um-sized local firms , Pacific Barter handles about $40000 in deals monthly out of Hong Kong andChina. Last month, Rudy Chan launched the Hong Kong operations of Australia-based Bartercard, theworld's biggest trade exchange with 20000 members. Bartercard holders use“trade dollars” topurchase goods and services from other members. A security company for instance may buy $ 1000worth of uniforms from a garment maker. The seller is credited with 1000 trade dollars by Barter-card, while the purchaser's account is debited the same amount. Straight swaps are not required. Onjoining, members are given a trade- dollar credit line.

19. Barter trade practice had been widely accepted in Asia long before the Asian financial crisis.

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