The week's business headlines

Booming construction drives glass industry growth in Persian Gulf
Glass production is expected to increase 10-to-12 percent in the next few years due to a thriving construction environment in the Persian Gulf, according to a Sept. 4 article from the Middle East North Africa Financial Network.

The investment in overall construction activities during the next five years will likely top $80 billion, according to the article... read more

Solar panels gain popularity with Connecticut’s big retail stores and warehouses
An increasing number of Connecticut retail stores and warehouses feature rooftop solar panels due to a lucrative combination of state money, federal tax credits and long-term electric contracts, according to an article in the Sept. 6 Hartford Courant.

Some corporate officials say the panels provide a cushion against electric price volatility and generate good public relations, according to the article… read more

Strike at Pilkington’s New Zealand plant continues
Officials at Pilkington’s Auckland, New Zealand, facility refuse to negotiate with glass factory workers who went on strike last week, according to an Aug. 31 article in Scoop, an online independent news publication in New Zealand.
The officials rejected the Auckland glass factory workers’ claims for a 5 percent pay raise and a $10 shift allowance increase… read more