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Poor Nations Seek to "Climate Proof" Economies ¨C UN
¡°Developing nations from Sudan to Uruguay are finding new ways to ¡®climate proof¡¯ their economies from threats ranging from desertification to storms, a UN-backed study said on Tuesday. ¡Achim Steiner, the head of the UN Environment Program (UNEP), said that UN-led climate efforts had so far focused most on ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions, rather than helping people adapt to effects such as erosion or rising seas. ¡ Steiner said the Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change (AIACC) report gave ¡®a foundation upon which adaptation can become part of country development plans and built into international assistance¡¯. Adaptation is likely to cost billions of dollars in coming years. ¡¡± [Reuters/Factiva] Xinhua writes that ¡°¡The AIACC project is a global initiative developed in collaboration with the UNEP and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to advance scientific understanding of climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation options in developing countries. ¡The report makes recommendations for climate change adaptation, including creating conditions to enable adaptation, integrating adaptation with development, increasing awareness and knowledge, strengthening institutions, protecting natural resources, providing financial assistance, involving those at risk, and using place-specific strategies. ¡¡± [Xinhua/Factiva]
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 12/05/2007
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Brick by Brick: The Building of an ASEAN Economic Community
On 14 December 2007, at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Dr. SOEUNG Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-General, the ASEAN Secretariat and Ms. Louise Hand, Australia¡¯s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia launched ¡°Brick by Brick - The Building of an ASEAN Economic Community¡±. Edited by Dr Denis Hew, Brick by Brick is published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, in conjunction with Asia Pacific Press in Australia. This publication was the idea of ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong who is also the Convenor of the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program¡¯s Regional Economic Policy Support Facility. AADCP¡¯s REPSF is an AusAID-funded initiative which is briefed to provide high quality economic policy advice to ASEAN Member Countries and working groups on topics dealing with ASEAN economic integration, in the bold plan to establish an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. REPSF is based in the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. REPSF started in 2002 and in its first five years of operation (the period covered by this book) has produced 50 research reports written by prominent experts. In 2007 their brief was extended for a further 18 months in order to cover the broader economic integration of ASEAN with its dialogue partners China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Hew has selected various themes from the research reports and presented them in a way that highlights some of the key challenges facing ASEAN in its quest. The book also includes an interactive CD-ROM containing all the reports that have been released and abstracts of those other reports, most of which are available on request. Dr. Hadi Soesastro, Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta, says ¡°The ASEAN economic community is a major project, its realization will radically change the region¡¯s economic and political landscape. The challenges are equally great. To overcome them requires the ¡°brick-by-brick¡± approach as thoughtfully proposed in this volume¡±. The book is a good introduction to a body of work on important issues in regional economic cooperation for which the stakeholders, the ASEAN Secretariat and AusAID, can be justly proud.
From http://www.aseansec.org/ 12/14/2007
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ASEAN Chief Wants More US Involvement
THE next chief of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) says the United States remains the only guarantor of South-East Asian security but should become more active in regional affairs. Surin Pitsuwan, a former foreign minister of Thailand, said one reason that Washington has neglected its South-East Asian friends is that the Bush administration has been distracted by problems elsewhere, implicitly referring to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The United States also has distanced itself from ASEAN since military-ruled Burma joined the group in 1997. "Anybody can argue, 'Well, we are there even if not physically present. The tsunami; we provided help then'. That's true, but a tsunami doesn't come every day," Surin said today. The United States was among early providers of emergency aid for countries hit by a massive tsunami on December 26, 2004. Surin, who becomes ASEAN secretary-general on January 1, said part of the problem is that Americans are disappointed with the way ASEAN does business. "You want it black and white," he said. "That is not the way we do it in ASEAN." "The United States used to understand that," Surin said, "but not in the last few years." "We would like to see more engagement. We would like to see more of the president on the ground."
President George W Bush generally attends summit meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, where he meets leaders of the seven ASEAN member countries that also belong to APEC. "The United States is still the only power in the region that can provide security (for the ASEAN members),'' Surin said, "but it needs to be present." The 40-year-old regional grouping has come under strong criticism from the United States and others for its failure to discipline Burma. Under military rule for 45 years, Burma's junta recently used guns, truncheons and mass arrests to break up massive anti-government demonstrations led by Buddhist monks. Speaking at an event sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Surin said ASEAN is ready to help Burma through its political crisis and to return to normalcy but only if the generals request help. Surin said there is a political consensus that Burma "will not be status quo; it will not go back to where it was". ASEAN was founded as an anti-communist Cold War organisation. Its founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. It has expanded to include Brunei, Laos, Burma and Vietnam.
From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au:80/ 12/27/2007
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CHINA: 1st National Regulation on Lotteries to Be Issued
China is expected to issue its first national regulation on the supervision of the fast-growing lottery industry next year to stamp out fraud, which has been on the rise since the country launched its first lottery two decades ago. Legislators will draw on the experience of other countries and regions to work out the regulation and make explicit stipulations about each aspect of lotteries, such as the distribution, sales, announcement of results and fund management, an official with the Legislative Affairs Office (LAO) of the State Council said. "Other countries and regions always make laws first before developing the lottery industry, while China has acted to the contrary," Ding Feng, deputy head of LAO's Department of Political Science and Law, Labor, Social Security and Legislative Affairs, told a symposium held in Shanghai. "Lack of laws and regulations on lottery supervision has become a significant factor that has impeded the sound development of the industry," he said. Lotteries have generated huge economic and social returns in China in the past two decades. China had issued a total of 363 billion yuan (49 billion U.S. dollars) worth of lottery tickets by the end of last year, and more than a third of the money was spent on public welfare, such as the development of public sports facilities, education and health care for the handicapped.
Buying lottery tickets has also given common Chinese people the chance to get rich. Last week, a player, yet to be identified, from the northwestern province of Gansu won the country's largest ever individual lottery prize of 102.7 million yuan. The winner bought 20 identical "Double Colour Ball" tickets issued by the China Welfare Lottery at a cost of 40 yuan. But the industry has also encountered growing problems such as fraud and other malpractice. Last month, a 36-year-old lottery vendor in the northeastern Chinese city of Anshan was jailed for life for taking advantage of a flaw in the Welfare Lottery "3D" system to cash 28 million yuan in lottery tickets illegally. A couple of months ago, two bank employees in the northern city of Handan were sentenced to death after being convicted of the country's largest ever bank theft involving 50.95 million yuan, which was spent on lottery tickets. In 2004, several people were found guilty of manipulating a scratch-and-win sports lottery in northwestern city of Xi'an and were sentenced to varying terms in prison. During the fraud incident, a contractor of lottery tickets cheated his way to top prizes -- a BMW and 120,000 yuan - by marking lottery tickets and employing four people to falsely claim the prizes.
The real lottery top prize winner Liu Liang, a young migrant worker, finally received the prize that was due and accepted apologies from local sports authorities. Calls for publishing regulations or even a law on lottery supervision have been voiced repeatedly in recent years. At present, China has only a provisional regulation on the management of lottery distribution and sales, which was issued by the Ministry of Finance in 2002. "But it's only a departmental regulation," Ding said. Actually, China has begun drawing up a national regulation more than a decade ago and it has been delayed year after year due to divergences among different government departments, such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Civil Affairs and General Administration of Sport. "The regulation is expected to be issued next year, a result of the growing public attention and acceleration of the legislation process," Ding said.
China has stepped up efforts to crack down on fraud in lotteries. Last month, four government ministries -- Finance, Public Security, Civil Affairs, Information Industry -- and the General Administration of Sport jointly launched a campaign to crack down on illegal lottery selling on the Internet to fight lottery-related fraud. "Internet-based illegal lottery selling is on the rise in recent years, posing a threat to the operation of the lottery market," said a bulletin issued by the ministries. The bulletin listed some of the illegal activities, such as selling private lotteries under the name of state-run lotteries, providing illegal channels for sports gambling and underground Mark Six and lottery-related fraud. The China Welfare Lottery Administrative Center and the sports lottery administrative center of the China General Administration of Sport are the only two legitimate lottery sellers in China and they are both state-run.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/02/2007
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China Releases Draft Energy Law
Print story Email to a friend Font size:BEIJING, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- China's new law could hit the country's oil companies hard, analysts said. By increasing costs, large state-owned oil companies will take a hit and put many of the smaller oil firms out of business. The draft law -- published by the National Energy Leading Group -- was released for public comment Monday, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The final energy law will likely take effect in 2009, said Ye Rongsi, senior law expert and part of the team that drafted the legislation. The draft, the fourth version of an energy bill since 2006, stipulates that the government will establish a partially market-based energy-pricing system that will reflect supply and demand, as well as environmental costs. It does not, however, mention the establishment of a ministry of energy, a key suggestion of many energy experts. The public-comment period ends Feb. 1, 2008.
From http://www.upi.com 12/04/2007
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China to Tighten Monetary Policy in 2008
China will shift its monetary policy "from prudent to tight" in 2008, state media said Wednesday, to prevent its already hot economy from overheating and to try to contain accelerating inflation that threatens social stability. Xinhua News Agency said the decision was made at a closed-door economic conference, which the country's Communist Party leaders hold every December to draft policy for the coming year. It said the conference decided to "strictly control the volume and granting pace of loans so as to better regulate domestic demand and balance international payments." Chinese authorities have raised interest rates and taken other measures to try to curb lending and slow investment in shopping malls, factories and office buildings. Beijing worries that a glut of unneeded projects could lead to defaults on bank loans, causing a debt crisis. The meeting of the Central Economic Work Conference also highlights the balancing act that Chinese leaders need to perform as they seek to cool inflation and excess investment without stifling the growth needed to lift millions from poverty. China's sizzling economy is expected to grow by 11.5 percent this year, with a government think tank recently predicting just a marginal slowing next year to about 10.8 percent. The consumer price index, meanwhile, hit 6.5 percent in October, tying the highest rate in a decade, and well above the government's target of 3 percent.
Real estate and stock prices have also soared. The Shanghai stock market's main index, which has fallen back since hitting a record in mid-October, is still up 88.5 percent this year. Xinhua said with prudent fiscal policy and tight monetary policy, China aimed to accomplish "two prevents" next year: "To prevent economic growth evolving from rapid to overheating, and prevent price hikes shifting from a structural one to evident inflation." President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao both delivered speeches at the three-day conference that ended Wednesday. To cool lending, the central bank has hiked interest rates five times this year, bringing the benchmark rate on one-year loans to the current 7.29 percent. It has also raised banks' reserve requirements ¡ª reducing the amount available for lending ¡ª eight times this year. The central bank issued a statement Wednesday saying it would "continue to strengthen and improve the economic control, further implement tight monetary policy, (and) take forceable measures to strengthen the management of liquidity." The State Information Center, a research institute under China's economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, forecast an inflation rate for 2008 of 4.5 percent, just slightly below its 4.7 percent estimate for 2007. It also said China's global overall trade surplus would continue to grow, hitting $328.4 billion in 2008, up 22.5 percent from its forecast for this year's trade gap of $268 billion, which would be 51 percent higher than the gap last year.
From http://news.yahoo.com 12/05/2007
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Rules on Supervision of Insurers Tightened
China's insurance regulator issued rules to tighten supervision over insurers to ensure they're financially sound in order to bring the industry in line with international practices. Companies will be required to submit their solvency ratio each quarter and annually, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission said in a statement on its Website. The ratio, a measure of risk, compares the company's capital to the required minimum to cover possible payments on policies. Insurers with a solvency percentage of less than 100 will be forced to either increase their capital or limit shareholder dividends, the regulator said. They may also be limited in the approval of new branches and products and face curbs in what they can pay managers and claim as expenses.
From Shanghai Daily 12/05/2007
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HK to Present Competition Law Bill
The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region hopes to introduce the fair competition law bill into the Legislative Council in the 2008-09 legislative session, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma said yesterday. Speaking about the government's plan, Ma said the SAR would publish a consultation paper outlining the main scope of the legislation to consult the business sector again in the first quarter of 2008. Meanwhile, the business sector expressed their satisfaction about the city's business environment adding that there was no need for a competition law. Speaking after attending a competition law seminar, Ma said the government would conduct another round of public consultation in plain language instead of a white bill. "We will consult the public again," he said. "As I have mentioned, some small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have doubts about the competition and feared the introduction of a competition law would affect their operation and increase their costs." Earlier, Ma delivered a keynote speech to the seminar, saying the government was still considering if the future regulator should have the power to determine whether or not an infringement had taken place and to impose sanctions where appropriate.
Also, the government would decide whether or not the competition law should regulate mergers, he added, as most overseas competition laws include merger controls. Allaying fears of the SMEs, Ma said: "SMEs have very little to fear as they stand to gain from the competition law, which checks abusive or anti-competitive practices by bigger firms." Lawmaker Jeffrey Lam representing The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in LegCo, said Hong Kong's business environment had always been very open and liberal. "There is no need for a competition law in Hong Kong," said Lam, who is also a member of the Liberal Party. "If the government really wants a law, the Chamber hopes it is a very clear enactment that checks anti-competitive behaviours only. "The SMEs worry that the competition law would not help them as far as litigation is concerned. In fact, they are more concerned with monopolistic situations in certain sectors by several big enterprises."
Mark Williams, associate professor of School of Accounting and Finance of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who organized the seminar, said Hong Kong would be the last developed economy in the world to have a general competition law. He said the future regulator should have the power to investigate if anti-competitive behaviours had taken place, while mergers control is an integral part of all competition laws in the world. Priscilla Lau, associate professor from the Department of Business Studies of the same university, stressedthe need of a competition law in Hong Kong. Without a competition law, the local market, which is so small, will be monopolized. This would leave very little space for the SMEs and limit the job opportunities they could offer, she said.
From China Daily HK edition 12/11/2007
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Enforcement Regulations for Corporate Income Tax Announced
China's State Council, or the cabinet, has announced regulations aimed at helping to enforce the country's new corporate income tax law. Premier Wen Jiabao has signed a State Council order to approve the promulgation of the regulations which were published on Tuesday. The regulations, to take effect on Jan. 1, 2008, replace two earlier regulations promulgated by the government more than a decade ago. It will be the first time since 1978 that China puts domestic and foreign firms on an equal footing in income taxation in an effort to promote fair competition.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/12/2007
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China Marks Out Zone for Sustainable Development
A cluster of cities in central China has been designated the country's latest experimental zone, this one for energy saving and environmentally friendly programmes, state media reported on Monday. China has a history of marking out zones for preferential policies which, if successful, are then rolled out across the country. Its most famous were the "special economic zones" of the south which launched the country's market reforms 30 years ago. Now the Hunan cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan -- late chairman Mao Zedong's hometown -- as well as the Hubei capital of Wuhan, will be targeted to lead China's drive to make its breakneck economic growth more environmentally sustainable. The cities must "as quickly as possible form systems and mechanisms beneficial to energy saving and environmental and ecological protection", the People's Daily cited a notice from the National Development and Reform Commission as saying. Hunan governor Zhou Qiang said the three cities there were chosen because they were part of China's industrial heartland and a lack of resources and environmental pollution have impeded their development. Their locations in central China mean the cities could give a boost to central government efforts to spur growth in that part of the country, the China Daily cited Zhou as saying.
From http://www.alertnet.org 12/17/2007
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New Rules to Prevent Large-scale Cutbacks
The authorities here in the capital of Guangdong Province introduced a new regulation on Friday to prevent employers from retrenching large numbers of workers before the end of the year. Between now and December 31, any company that intends to dismiss more than 20 workers or reduce its staff by more than 10 percent must apply to the labor department for permission, the Guangzhou labor and social security bureau told China Daily yesterday. The regulation is designed to better manage large-scale cutbacks and ease the implementation of the new Labor Contract Law, the bureau's vice-director Chen Jianlong said. The regulation recognizes that most employment contracts expire by the year-end, he said. "Dismissing more than 20 employees or cutting staff by more than 10 percent in the name of contract expiration violates the regulation," Chen said. The new rule applies to all enterprises under the municipal government, private firms, government departments, public institutions and social associations, he said. Exemptions are possible for companies facing bankruptcy or deemed to be undergoing reorganization by the courts. Those defined as "ailing enterprises" by the government are also eligible for exemption. The labor and social security bureau will adopt strict measures to prevent ineligible companies from firing large numbers of workers, he said. Those that violate the regulations will be unable to suspend coverage of dismissed workers' insurance.
From China Daily 12/18/2007
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HK to Fully Launch Anti-spam Laws
The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance will be fully implemented on Dec. 22, Director- General of Telecommunications of the Hong Kong government Marion Lai announced here Thursday. People who want to decline unsolicited commercial electronic messages, also known as spam, can register their phone or fax numbers onto three do-not-call registers. The three registers -- fax, short messages and pre-recorded phone calls will be launched in phases on Dec. 22, Jan. 8 and Jan. 25 respectively to ensure smooth operation. Protection will start from the 10th working day from the registration date. Lai said that with the ordinance's full launch the existing interim measures to tackle unsolicited electronic messages will be withdrawn. Those who have registered their numbers on the office's existing not-to-call list for rejecting junk faxes will have to register their numbers onto the do-not-call register for fax. People can also make unsubscribe requests direct to individual message senders.
Commercial electronic message senders are reminded to: provide accurate sender information and unsubscribe facility in a message; honor recipients' unsubscribe requests; not send messages to any phone or fax numbers listed on a do-not-call register unless consent has been obtained from the recipient; not withhold calling line identification information when sending pre-recorded telephone calls and fax messages; and not use misleading subject headings when sending email messages. The Telecommunications Authority will issue enforcement notices to senders who have contravened these rules. Failure to comply with enforcement notices warrants a 100,000 HK dollars-fine (about 12,853 U.S. dollars) on first conviction, and up to 500,000 HK dollars on subsequent conviction.
From Xinhua News Agency 12/21/2007
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New Rules Strengthen Work Safety
The Communist Party of China's (CPC) disciplinary watchdog will punish more severely those who fail to maintain safety in production to prevent accidents in workplaces. Officials will be demoted, sacked or even expelled from the CPC if they take advantage of their posts to influence purchase, public biddings or accident probes, according to the new 10-point rules released by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Thursday. Those who try to save people responsible for the accidents, too, face severe punishment. This is the first time the CCDI has specified its disciplinary punishments. It reflects the CPC's resolve to fight corruption, CCDI deputy chief and spokesman Gan Yisheng said. People also face punishment for: Granting approval to companies that fail to meet work safety standards, certifying unqualified units and/or people, and lifting the ban on firms breaking work safety regulations; Failing to take effective steps to clear hidden dangers, forcing employees to work overtime, taking risks at work, or allowing unqualified people to work; Providing dangerous materials including poisons and explosives to unregistered or unqualified companies.
"Dereliction of duty on the part of some government officials and official-businessmen nexus are behind many of the accidents," Gan told a news briefing. The new rules, along with the legal and administrative penalties, will make it "feasible" to haul up anyone suspected of being responsible for an accident. "But that does not mean the CPC disciplinary penalties will be a substitute for legal punishment. Anyone who violates the law has to face the law," Gan said. State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) Director Li Yizhong said nepotism at the local level has hindered bringing "people responsible for workplace accidents to justice". For instance, the 11 people responsible for the November 2005 coal mine accident in Qitaihe, Heilongjiang Province, in which 171 people were killed, have not yet been punished. The Legal Evening News has quoted the victims' lawyer, Na Guohai, as saying: "Protectionism at the local level is responsible for the delay in the case."
The government has been trying to ensure safety at workplaces and prevent accidents. As a result, the number of accident deaths dropped 13.8 percent in first 11 months of the year. But fatal accidents still take place. Three coal mine accidents in Shanxi Province alone have claimed 159 lives this year. Major accidents in other sectors such as fireworks plants, and metal and non-metal mines and construction sites have been rising, too, since November. Gan urged disciplinary departments at all levels to implement the new rules without being lenient with corrupt officials.
From China Daily 12/22/2007
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JAPAN: New Bill Raises National Public Servant Wages
TOKYO ¡ª The average annual salaries for national public servants will be raised in the current fiscal year from April, marking their first wage hike in nine years, as the Diet passed a bill to amend the relevant law on Monday. But the bill did not include hikes in bonuses and one of the special allowances for senior servants as the government decided in October to leave them unchanged in opposition to a National Personnel Authority recommendation calling for an overall wage increase. The House of Councillors cleared the bill at a plenary session, completing the legislative process following the approval from the House of Representatives Nov 8.
From http://www.japantoday.com/ 11/27/2007
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Japan Vows to Give Maximum Support to IDA
¡°Japan will provide as much support as possible when the International Development Association (IDA) replenishes its capital next year, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday. Fukuda made the comments in phone talks with World Bank President Robert Zoellick. Japan plans to put up about 350 billion yen to the World Bank unit in charge of assistance to poor countries, including African nations. ¡¡± [Jiji Press (Japan)/Factiva] Kyodo News adds that ¡°¡During Wednesday's telephone conversation, Fukuda sought cooperation from the World Bank for the G8 summit to be held next July in Hokkaido, and the fourth meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, in Yokohama next May, the officials said. Zoellick said the World Bank would like to cooperate on issues related to climate change and support of African countries¡¡± [Kyodo News (Japan)/Factiva] In related news, Nikkei Report notes that ¡°The Japanese government on Tuesday pledged $10 million, or about 1.1 billion yen, for the forest preservation fund the World Bank plans to establish to counter global warming. ¡By supporting the fund, Japan will encourage developing nations to participate in a post-Kyoto Protocol greenhouse emission pact.¡± [Nikkei Report (Japan)/Factiva]
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 12/05/2007
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Defense Minister Wants Complete Review of U.S. Base Costs
TOKYO ¡ª Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba indicated Friday he sees a need for high-level talks with the United States for a comprehensive review of Japan's outlays to host U.S. military facilities. "I discussed with U.S. Defense Secretary Gates the issue of the base hosting costs Japan will shoulder in the future...I want to review comprehensively what the costs should be," Ishiba told a press conference. But Ishiba said no schedule has yet been decided on the envisioned work to reexamine the amount of Japan's burden-sharing costs, which will total 217.3 billion yen for the current fiscal year through March 2008. The Japanese government is faced with a domestic pressure to reduce the budget of the host-nation support in the face of massive national debt, while Washington is urging Tokyo not to pare the budget. Ishiba said it was "progress" that the United States accepted a cut of at least 800 million yen in Japan's costs to cover the utilities fees for U.S. bases under a three-year agreement starting fiscal 2008, although the amount was much smaller than Japan had initially sought.
From http://www.japantoday.com/ 12/14/2007
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Diet Approves Extension to Jan. 15 for Refueling Bill Passage
Diet to be extended to Jan. 15 for refueling bill passageThe House of Representatives votes to extend the current Diet session through Jan. 15, pav... The Japanese parliament approved Friday an extension of the current session through Jan. 15 on the strength of the majority held by the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition, a move that will pave the way for passage of a bill to enable Japan to resume antiterrorism refueling activities. The rare second extension was authorized in a House of Representatives plenary session. The Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties objected to the extension, raising the chances of a confrontation in the divided Diet that could lead to a general election. At the plenary session, DPJ lawmaker Taizo Mikazuki called for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to dissolve the lower house, instead of extending the Diet session, citing a series of scandals over defense equipment procurement and massive loss of pension records. LDP lawmaker Takamori Yoshikawa said, meanwhile, the extension cannot be helped, while urging the opposition parties to immediately proceed to hold a vote on the refueling bill in the opposition-controlled House of Councillors. The current session was convened Sept. 10 but stalled for around three weeks when then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly stepped down. The session was first extended Nov. 9 through Dec. 15 on a majority vote of the LDP and its coalition partner the New Komeito party. The antiterrorism bill has passed the lower house but is expected to be voted down in upper house, where the DPJ-led opposition forces form a majority. But the governing coalition is determined to override any rejection of the bill by the upper house through a second vote in the lower house using its two-thirds majority. Holding a second vote, however, may anger the opposition bloc, which could see such a move as defying the will of the upper house, with DPJ lawmaker Mikazuki telling the plenary session that he cannot tolerate ''the tyranny of majority'' of the ruling bloc.
The opposition parties may move to introduce a censure motion against Fukuda in the upper house, a move that would raise pressure on him to dissolve the lower house for a general election. The latest 31-day extension is unusual in that it is a second extension and the Diet will sit through the year-end and New Year's period. The last time a Japanese parliamentary session continued beyond the end of the year was in 1993-1994, when bills related to political reform generated intense heat. Prior to the plenary session in the afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said at a press conference that the government wants to ''definitely'' pass the refueling bill so Japan can fulfill its ''minimum responsibility as a member of the international community.''The ruling bloc will continue to call for the DPJ to proceed to a vote on the bill in the upper house by the end of the year, reflecting concern among its lawmakers that a further delay could lead to increasing political confusion. On the national budget for fiscal 2008, the coalition is planning to stick to the current timetable of compiling it by the end of this month. Even if the upper house were to delay a vote, the ruling bloc could still hold a second vote on Jan. 12 or later in line with constitutional provisions to have the bill passed. Japan suspended the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations on Nov. 1 when a special law authorizing the mission expired after the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach an agreement to extend the law. Fukuda promised U.S. President George W. Bush during talks with him in the United States last month that he will do his utmost to win approval of the bill in the divided Diet.
From http://home.kyodo.co.jp/ 12/14/2007
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SM-3 Interceptors Added to Japan's Emergency Defense Guidelines
TOKYO ¡ª Japan revised its emergency missile defense guidelines Monday so that it could use the sea-based Standard Missile-3 to intercept a foreign missile, following a successful test of the high-tech missile in space earlier this month. Previously, the guidelines only covered interception by the ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missiles in the lower range of Japan's two-layer missile shield system. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's Cabinet endorsed the revision Monday.
From http://www.japantoday.com/ 12/24/2007
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Tax Transfers from Rich Areas to Rural Poses Problems
On the surface, the ruling coalition's tax reform package for fiscal 2008 contains a number of promising proposals, including the transfer of local corporate tax revenue from better-off prefectures to fiscally distressed rural areas, a new system to let people combine stock investment returns with dividends when declaring taxable income, preferential treatment for small and medium-size firms, and tax deductions to promote the use of ethanol in fuel. On the closely watched consumption tax issue, however, the ruling parties failed to make any detailed or specific proposals for hiking the levy. They only hinted at the likelihood of a future hike being the primary source of revenue for financing the rise in social security spending, including the scheduled increase in the government's contribution to the basic pension scheme.
Behind the ruling alliance's reluctance to debate a consumption tax hike is the divided Diet, where the Upper House is being controlled by the opposition camp for the first time in decades. Yuji Tsushima, head of the Liberal Democratic Party's tax panel, repeatedly called for public discussion on choosing between reducing welfare spending or increasing the tax burden. But given the possibility that the Lower House might be dissolved for a snap election in the course of deliberating new antiterrorism legislation, many LDP lawmakers feared the loss of voter support if words spread of an upcoming tax hike. In any case, the next step is for the government to put the coalition's proposals into legal steps. But it is doubtful that one of the measures ¡ª the transfer of local corporate tax revenue between regions ¡ª will produce the desired effects, mainly for the following three reasons. One is that revenue from the local tax ¡ª imposed on businesses situated in certain areas ¡ª is to be transferred to other areas in which taxpayers have nothing to do. Even as a temporary measure, this runs counter to the principles of local taxation and ultimately may be considered unconstitutional.
The 5 percent consumption tax is in fact a combination of the 4 percent national tax and a 1 percent local tax. An LDP panel discussing steps to address the urban-rural gap also called for expanding the local share of the consumption tax to 2 percent. But the Finance Ministry rejected the proposal and instead argued that parts of local tax revenue should be redistributed among various regions. But a move like that could destroy the decision-making hierarchy of the tax system, making it unclear who makes the decisions on what portions of the tax. Although the step is being proposed as a temporary measure, it might become permanent if it entails legislation to change the portion of local taxes up for redistribution into national tax. Would it be possible in the United States to move part of the tax revenue in a certain state to another state? This is a sign that the principle of local autonomy has not taken root firmly enough in Japan. The coalition's tax package also called for implementing the so-called hometown tax payment, which allows an urban resident from a rural area to claim local tax deductions after agreeing to make donations to his or her hometown to support its depleted finances. This scheme depends on the voluntary goodwill of individual taxpayers and it will be difficult to make any estimate of its financial impact.
The second problem is that tax grants and subsidies from the central government to municipalities have traditionally been ineffective at revitalizing rural economies. In fact, it is exactly this kind of support that has sustained many inefficient businesses and organizations that would otherwise have been weeded out long ago. Transferring tax revenues to rural areas could simply be repeating the same mistake. Under the principle of local autonomy, prefectures and municipalities are responsible for raising the money needed to cover their own expenses. Local governments must make self-help efforts to streamline the public sector and raise local tax rates to make ends meet. What is needed is a way to efficiently distribute national tax revenue so that Japan can truly revitalize its local economies. Skimming revenues from urban areas might provide temporary relief to rural municipalities, but it will also allow them to delay the efforts needed to put their house in order.
The third problem is that the decline in urban productivity that might result from diverting tax money to rural areas will bring down overall productivity as well. The reality is that, in an international comparison, Japanese cities lag behind many of their rivals not just in the west, but elsewhere in Asia, in terms of such basic infrastructure as roads and airports. Shifting a portion of urban tax revenue to rural areas could exacerbate this problem. Revitalizing the Japanese economy as a whole ¡ª and finding a way to solve its debt-ridden public finances ¡ª will be impossible unless the international competitiveness of its major cities improves. (by Teruhiko Mano)
From http://search.japantimes.co.jp/ 12/24/2007
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NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA: First Train in 56 Years Crosses Border Between Two Koreas
The first regular freight service for over half a century began Tuesday operating across the heavily fortified border between South and North Korea. The daily freight service is the first tangible result of an inter-Korean summit in October between President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. The two leaders agreed on a package of cross-border economic cooperation projects including the train operation. The last regular rail operation was in 1951, a year after the three-year Korean War broke out. The freight service, agreed upon at the inter-Korean prime ministers' talks last month, will connect South Korea with the joint industrial complex in Gaeseong, in the North. Earlier this month, the militaries of both Koreas signed a written security guarantee for the cross-border service at working-level talks in the truce village of Panmunjeom, clearing a major hurdle for the agreement. The new service is expected to slash the cost of transporting products to and from the business complex, just north of the border, considered a major achievement of Seoul's ``sunshine'' policy of engaging the North over the past decade. Several South Korean firms are operating in the economic zone, dubbed a testing ground for mixing South Korean capitalism and technology with North Korea's cheap labor. Previously, trucks moved raw materials and finished goods back and forth across the border. South Korean officials hope the cargo train service will lay the groundwork for a regular train service for passengers and the railway will be linked through North Korea to the Trans-China and Trans-Siberian railroads.
A 12-car train carrying curbstones and other construction materials left left South Korea's Dorasan Station at 8:20 a.m. and arrived at North Korea's Panmun Station 20 minutes later. A joint ceremony was held at the North Korean station around 11 a.m. with the attendance of some 180 officials from both Koreas. The train returned to the South later in the day with goods including shoes, clothes and watches made at the industrial complex. ``We are reconnecting the last vein that has been severed for 56 years,'' Lee Chul, president of the Korea Railroad, told reporters at Dorasan Station. ``This looks like a humble start, but I hope this link will serve as a stepping stone for the inter-Korean railways to be connected to Europe through the Trans-Siberian railway.''Lee also expressed hope that South and North Koreans could travel together vial rail to Beijing to cheer for next year's Summer Olympics. Trains will run daily on weekdays from Dorasan Station in Munsan to Panmun, carrying up to 10,000 tons of cargo on each run. The train service begins at 9 a.m. and returns from the North Korean station at 2 p.m. Trains are restricted to a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour when traversing the closely guarded frontier. The original agreement was to connect a 25 kilometer section of track from Munsan to Bongdong in the North, next to the industrial complex, but the plan was modified because of the lack of loading facilities at Bongdong Station, according to Unification Ministry officials. In May, two trains crossed the border on two reconnected tracks on the western and eastern sides of the peninsula in a one-off test run. The two Koreas are technically still at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
From http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ 12/11/2007
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SOUTH KOREA: Roh Wraps Up Five Years of Overseas Summit Diplomacy
SINGAPORE, Nov. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun wrapped up his five-year overseas summit diplomacy on Wednesday by successfully completing his itinerary at the annual ASEAN Plus Three Summit now underway in Singapore. Since his arrival here on Monday, Roh has held a string of bilateral, trilateral and multilateral summit talks with leaders of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India. Agreements reached at the successive summits are mostly focused on expanding South Korea's economic, diplomatic and security relations with the regional countries, as well as boosting international cooperation for peace and stability in Northeast Asia. Roh's ongoing visit to Singapore marks his last overseas summit trip before stepping down in February, the presidential office said in a press release, noting the president has thus far traveled to 55 countries, including this city-state, on 27 overseas summit trips since his inauguration in February 2003."In terms of distance, Roh traveled 515,000 kilometers, equivalent to 13 globe-circling trips, over the past five years. He visited 66 cities in 55 countries and stayed abroad for a total of 168 days," said the presidential office. "Roh has held a total of 134 bilateral and multilateral summit talks during his overseas trips. His overseas summit diplomacy has been primarily intended to help widen South Korea's diplomatic horizon and seek international support for the peaceful settlement of North Korea's nuclear problem," said the office. During such overseas summits, Roh has also displayed his commitment to expand South Korea's free trade deals and secure energy and natural resources. Besides his overseas summit trips, Roh has held summit talks at home with 61 visiting heads of state during his tenure, it noted.
Notably, Roh has held eight rounds of summit talks with U.S. President George W. Bush, seeking to develop the South Korea-U.S. alliance into comprehensive, dynamic and reciprocal relations. He has also frequently met with leaders of China, Japan and Russia to help establish a new security regime in Northeast Asia. During a trilateral summit in Singapore on Tuesday, Roh, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda agreed to institutionalize and widen three-way cooperation for peace and stability in Northeast Asia. The three leaders also agreed to enhance cooperation for the settlement of North Korean nuclear problem and the establishment of a new multilateral security dialogue regime in Northeast Asia. In a notable development, the three leaders agreed in principle to regularly hold a trilateral summit outside the ASEAN framework for further discussions on expanding cooperation on climate change, quarantine and financial sectors, in addition to existing fields. On the same day, Roh and leaders of China, Japan and ASEAN agreed to redefine their annual ASEAN Plus Three Summit as a "main vehicle" to build an East Asian community, which will be similar to the EU-style political and trade bloc. During the 11th annual ASEAN Plus Three Summit, Roh proposed building an East Asian community as part of regional countries' efforts to harmonize growth and distribution for the sake of co-prosperity. As the prerequisite to the co-prosperity of East Asia, Roh emphasized the importance of regional peace and stability and explained the meaning of inter-Korean relations in regional security.
From http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ 11/21/2007
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President-Elect Lee Pledges Deregulations for Businesses, Foreign Investors
Korean President- elected Lee Myung-bak speaks during a press conference at the Korea press center in Seoul on Thursday (Dec. 20). President-elect Lee Myung-bak, a former CEO, pledged Thursday (Dec. 20) to boost business sentiment through deregulations for foreign investors to revive the sagging economy. Lee of the conservative opposition Grand National Party won the election by the widest margin in decades with 48.7 percent of the vote, 23 percentage points ahead of his closest rival, pro-government liberal Chung Dong-young. Over the years, dissatisfaction with the Roh Moo-hyun administration grew because of economic problems and concerns about North Korea¡¯s nuclear ambitions. The gap between the rich and poor widened and real estate prices, taxes and youth unemployment skyrocketed. The annual 4-5 percent growth of the world¡¯s 13th largest economy could not satisfy voters, who were accustomed to much higher growth rates under past authoritarian regimes. "I am optimistic about corporate investment," Lee said in a press conference a day after his landslide victory, adding that the corporate environment will "totally change" under his rule. "There could be many conditions like deregulation, but the investment atmosphere will become different according to who becomes president," he said. "With candidate Lee Myung-bak becoming president, I believe the economic environment will totally change for entrepreneurs." Lee, credited with playing a role in Korea¡¯s meteoric growth as CEO of Hyundai Construction and Engineering from the 1970s through the early 1990s, presents a slew of pro-business policies. An administration led by Lee is expected to cut corporate tax, abolish restrictions on cross-affiliate investment among large business groups and strengthen crackdowns on illegal labor strikes. Such pro-business policies come from his main election pledge, "Korea 747 Vision," under which he seeks to expand the annual growth rate to 7 percent, double the per capita income to $40,000 and make Korea the world¡¯s seventh-largest economy within a decade. Lee also said he will organize a special body to devise incentives for foreign investors. "I will be starting to make contacts to explain that the Republic of Korea is a good place for investment," he said.
From http://www.korea.net/ 12/20/2007
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MONGOLIA: Elections Law Discussed
Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/. A provision ensuring 30-percent quota of women among candidates to the parliamentary election is expected to exclude. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on State Structure discussed Tuesday draft amendments to the law on elections submitted by Z.Enkhbold and R.Nyamsuren, in accordance to which the above provision is excluded. Lawmakers backed neither a proposal by Ch.Sodnotseren to reduce the quota to 10 percent, nor a proposal by D.Arvin to retain the provision. If the upcoming elections are run by majoritarian elections system, several members of one party will ballot in one election constituency. In view of this, a proposal by S.Bayartsogt MP was backed to place names of candidates from one party alternately with others in voting papers. A draft law was also discussed here, according to which regional elections will run in April.
From http://www.montsame.mn/ 12/25/2007
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Rights of Employees to Be Protected
Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/. A team of advocates has been deployed at the Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions. In increasingly developing private sector the right to work has seriously been violated. Besides legal consultations, the Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions has began offering advocate services to employees. The team consists of 14 advocates and lawyers.
From http://www.montsame.mn/ 12/25/2007
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INDONESIA: Govt Launches Emission Cuts Through Forestry
The government launched Thursday its emission reduction scheme from the forestry sector, which is expected to generate up to US$2 million annually through selling carbon stored in the country's tropical forests. Green groups were quick to criticize the mechanism, officially known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), saying it will deprive indigenous people living in and conserving Indonesian forests of their rights to the land. "With the carbon price estimated at about $10 per ton, Indonesia can reap $2 million per year of positive incentives from the REDD scheme," Wahjudi Wardojo, head of research and development agency at the forestry ministry, said. The report explains, among others, strategic, methodological, monitoring and financial disbursement needed to apply the planned reduction emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries. Indonesia is home to 120 million hectares of rainforest, the world's third largest after Brazil and Congo. Under the scheme, formulated by a group of experts of the Indonesia Forest Climate Alliance (IFCA), 65 percent of the revenue generated from the carbon sale will go to the local communities living near the forests to encourage them to protect the forests. The government will secure the remaining incentives needed to monitor the implementation of the REDD.
Indonesia put on the table its REDD scheme for the first time on Tuesday during the Bali conference on climate change, demanding developed nations provide financial incentives to tropical forest countries in order to prevent forest deforestation and degradation. Forestry Minister, Malam Sambat Kaban said the REDD would serve as one of the financial sources for the country's sustainable forest management and efforts to combat human-induced climate change. The money generated from the REDD scheme could be used to support the government's priority policies in the forestry sector, including its anti-illegal logging drive, revitalization of the forestry sector; conservation of forest resources and the improvement of the welfare of local people living near the forests. "The REDD offers incentives to people to stay away from unsustainable forestry practices. The money can reach down to the poor people living nearby forests where many have been involved in illegal logging," he said. Indonesia and fellow 10 tropical forest nations Brazil, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Columbia, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Peru have set up a coalition to promote the REDD in the Bali conference. However, they remained divided over whether the financial incentives will be raised based on a market mechanism or from a fund-based mechanism. "Indonesia and Papua New Guinea want to apply both mechanisms while Brazil prefers the fund- based scheme," said Wahjudi. Indonesia hopes the Bali meeting can adopt the REDD for use by 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 12/07/2007
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MALAYSIA: Bill for Implementation of e-Tanah System Tabled
PETALING JAYA: The Government has tabled the National Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2007 in an effort to streamline land transactions and ownership. The Bill will see the implementation of the e-Tanah system in the peninsula once passed. The Bill, tabled last Wednesday by Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk S. Sothinathan, is expected to be debated during the current Parliament sitting which ends on Dec 19. The electronic land administration system (e-Tanah) is expected to cut transaction time in half, enable an online comprehensive land database collection and make the application and registration of titles more efficient. Copies of online land and grant forms were included as part of the Bill. Final land titles could also be issued without first issuing a temporary occupation licence, where it was deemed fit. The maximum penalty for the illegal extraction or removal of rock material including rock, sand and mud, will be increased from RM10,000 to RM50,000 and the jail term from one year to five years.
From http://thestar.com.my 12/09/2007
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PHILIPPINES: Big Visions for Cebu City in 2017
CEBU CITY, Philippines - A Cebu City worth striving for in 2010 is ¡°child friendly¡±, ¡°worry-free¡±, and ¡°flood-free¡±. It should be a center for quality education, a hub of inter-faith harmony and the proud host of a climate that is ¡°a haven for business and heavn for the community.¡± Aspirations like these were echoed in a summit that capped a month-long multi-sectoral consultation steered by the Cebu City government. The ¡°social experiment¡± was a first-of-its kind for the city, said Mayor Tomas Osmena, who listened to 11 sectoral reports at the Waterfront Cebu City hotel. He promised his administration¡¯s support for the visions drawn up by each sector. After each group identifies a lead person for its specific programs ¡°the city will match it with a representative from the city and a budget,¡± he said. About 1,000 participants attended 56 workshop groups spread over three weeks to craft the Cebu City + 10 Development Strategy. Osmena, Vice Mayor Michael Rama and city councilors listened to plenary reports by representatives from sectors of the children and youth , academe, faith, vulnerable and elderly, housing and environment, upland and coastal residents, workers, health, peace and order and security, professionals, and business and utilities sectors. They were asked two questions: What is your vision for your sector in the next 10 years, and what are the hindrances to achieving these goals?
¡°Obviously we cannot implement all these but we have already identified a playing field for us to sit down and discuss these concerns,¡± he said. A team will be set up to monitor annual progress of the goals set. The output of 56 workshop papers was boiled down to over a dozen reports by UP Prof. Felisa Etemadi and her research staff. The problem of fraternity and gang violence emerged a common concern of the youth sector, children, and academe, from elementary to college level institutions. Youth leaders aimed for a 50 percent drop in out-of-school youths, and called for the elimination of corruption in government and vote buying in elections. Gigi Ruiz, a representative for persons with disabilities, pressed for full implementation of national laws and local ordinances that would benefit her sector. She said they also needed better access to scholarships, livelihood opportunities, housing and medicine. For the business sector, Ted Locson of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Cebu City has to be ¡°globally competitive¡± at the same time have a business sector ¡°that is endowed with corporate values like social responsibility and equity.¡± To encourage more investments, he said the government must streamlines business permit processing and be pro-active. The quality of life in Cebu as a community, he said, is also important otherwise business would not thrive.
His wish list included better port facilities, technology, more road networks, water and an alternative source of power. For traffic control, one vision called for establishing tThe Cebu City Traffic Operations Management as a department with 1,000 additional enforcers in its ranks. A representative of the peace and order sector said Cebu City police should have 200 patrol cars, a one-stop center center for the public to transact and an increase in the the monthly allowance from the city government to police from P1,000 to P5,000. They also requested for the installation of spy cameras, especially in crime-prone areas and the establishment of a unified call center that will act as the dispatch area for all the emergency responders. Both police and traffic enforcers have signified their need for continued retraining. Also, they emphasized a need to regulate the presence of gangs and fraternities in the city, increase barangay intelligence networking, reduce drug addition, and establish help desks, especially in crowded areas.
From http://archive.inquirer.net/ 11/30/2007
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DILG¡¯s Puno Issues Guidelines
Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued guidelines and time periods in the issuance of development permits and barangay (village) clearances for housing projects. Puno said the city and municipal council should observe the time frame provided under Executive Order no. 45 that directs them to act on applications for development permits within 30 days from receipt of a complete application. Under the Local Government Code of 1991, the power to process and approve subdivision plans for housing purposes has already been assigned to cities and municipalities through their respective sanggunians (councils). The Code provides that the barangay council should act on the application for a barangay clearance, which is pre-requisite before the issuance of mayor¡¯s permit, within seven working days from its filing, and ¡°in the event that the clearance is not issued within said period, the city or municipal mayor may issue the said license or permit.¡± After the issuance of the barangay clearance, the applicant shall apply for a mayor¡¯s permit which should be acted upon by the city or municipal mayor within 15 days, as prescribed in Republic Act 6713. Puno ordered all the local officials to strictly observe the guidelines or face the administrative sanctions provided under EO 45 and Republic Act 9485 or the ¡°Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.¡±
From http://archive.inquirer.net 12/04/2007
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SINGAPORE: SGX Proposing Two Measures to Deal with Minor Rule Violations
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) is proposing to introduce two measures to deal with those who flout its rules for the derivatives market. One is a composition fine system for minor to moderate rule violations. This will allow an offender to resolve a rule violation without going through the process of Disciplinary Committee hearings. In addition to paying a fine, the offender will also have to fulfil any accompanying terms to settle the matter. The SGX plans to channel the money collected to fund educational initiatives for market participants. The second measure is a minimum penalty for more serious and non-compoundable rule violations. These penalties will be imposed by the Disciplinary Committee. The general minimum penalty will begin at S$10,000. The SGX says the proposals will apply only to derivatives member firms, approved traders and registered representatives. This is part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the transparency and efficacy of its enforcement actions. SGX is inviting public comment on the two proposals.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 12/19/2007
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THAILAND: New Government Urged to Implement Taxing of Polluters
The Finance Ministry plans to call on the new government to accelerate collecting taxes levied on polluters, saying the move is necessary because the state spends up to Bt18 billion annually supervising and preventing environmental problems. Speaking at a seminar on "Legislation on Economics Tools to Cope with Environmental Problems and Water Pollution Taxation," Fiscal Policy Office director-general Pannee Sathavarodom said air and water pollution had increased to worsen environmental problem. The state must spend up to Bt18 billion annually overseeing and addressing the environmental woes. In response, the Finance Ministry and other agencies saw a need to present legislation of economic tools to cope with environmental concerns and punitive water pollution taxation which would help pay the state's costs incurred. The ministry had joined with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Chiang Mai University to study the environmental problem and find economics tools to prevent and reduce the woes.
It found the collection of tax fees on bonds pledged as collateral when entrepreneurs cause pollution is one effective way to help reduce environmental infractions. Companies which break the country's environmental laws must incur fines. Mrs. Pannee said the ministry would work together with the Revenue Department, local administrative organisations, and the Industrial Works Department to come up with a comprehensive measure. She added the environmental problem needed to be prevented and solved urgently. So, the ministry would call on the new government to accelerate deliberating the bill because it would become a master plan for issuing a royal decree to address various kinds of pollution, she said.
From http://enews.mcot.net/ 12/19/2007
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NLA Overwhelmingly Passes Internal Security Bill
BANGKOK, Dec 20 (TNA) - Thailand's military-appointed National Legislative Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve the much-criticised Internal Security Bill amid outcries from protesters gathering outside Parliament demanding that the NLA not pass the bill as only two days were left before the December 23 general election. But with a speedy deliberation, the bill sailed through with 105-8 votes and two abstentions. However, hundreds of protesters who earlier dispersed, vowed to collect at least 10,000 signatures to amend the law. Rights advocates and critics voiced concern over Thailand's Internal Security Bill which confers sweeping powers to the military to take very wide-ranging actions with little accountability, warning that the measure could violate international human rights standards as well as further jeopardise human rights in the country. The new law empowers the prime minister as head of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) and the Army commander as deputy chief of the top national security body to bar public gatherings, restrict citizens' freedom of movement, place anyone under house arrest and close down roads or transportation routes. The legislation was proposed by the interim government of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont installed after the then Army commander Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin staged a bloodless coup last year to oust elected then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had been accused of corruption and abuse of power.
From http://enews.mcot.net/ 12/20/2007
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VIET NAM: Law on Domestic Violence Outlined
HA NOI ¡ª Viet Nam¡¯s newly-approved law to prevent domestic violence was explained at a two-day East Asia ministerial meeting in New Delhi that started Tuesday. Viet Nam National Committee for the Advancement of Women deputy chairwoman Tran Thi Mai Huong told the gathering that the abuse of women had become a global worry and must be prevented in all its forms. The deputy chairwoman called on all countries and international organisations to co-operate and exchange experience in order to implement effective solutions for gender equality and the defeat of domestic violence. Nine countries and international organisations were represented at the meeting. Host Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India had committed 33 per cent of seats in the national parliament to women. More than one million women held important positions in municipal authorities and organisations. Gender equality was a strong and effective weapon against extremism as well as political and social unrest, he said.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn 12/08/2007
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BANGLADESH: Strategy Set for Tapping New Manpower Market
The caretaker government announced 7-point strategy to ensure wellbeing of the Bangladeshi workers abroad and expand the manpower-export market worldwide, removing the prevailing hurdles, reports UNB. Foreign and Overseas Employment Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Wednesday announced the strategies, which include exploring new manpower-export markets in the Scandinavian European and East European countries like Norway, Sweden and Romania. Among the strategies are also extension of existing markets in the Middle-East, including Libya, enhancing skills in the English language, exporting manpower from Monga-affected areas, ensuring proper utilization of remittances, introducing strong monitoring to check fraud in manpower export and working together with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Migration Organisation (IMO). Addressing a press briefing at the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, the advisor said the government adopted the strategies as it believes that the country''s prime foreign earnings would come from the manpower-export sector. During the briefing, Overseas Employment secretary Abdul Matin Chowdhury noted that until September this year, a total of 8,830 Bangladeshi citizens are in prisons in different countries across the world, either in police custody or under remand. Of them, 1,930 have been convicted. Of the convicts, the highest 636 Bangladeshi nationals are in Saudi jail.
Iftekhar Chowdhury said the Malaysian government is yet to inform its decision to suspend the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers. "But, despite that, everyday, on average, about 700 workers are leaving for Malaysia and the government is working on the issue so that the market could be resumed," he said. The advisor said that the caretaker government would deal with the manpower-export business in the new manpower markets taking lesson from Malaysian incidents. He said a South Korean delegation is arriving in Dhaka on December 9 to discuss manpower import from Bangladesh. He noted that an agreement would be signed between the Korean HRD and Bangladesh''s state-owned recruiting agency Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Service Limited (BOESL). "Korea will recruit about 3,000 workers. Those who are now in Korea will get priority in the recruitment as they have good experience in Korean language," he added. The diplomat-turned Advisor said that a total of 526,171 Bangladeshi workers have gone abroad for jobs since the present caretaker government assumed office in January 2007. He informed that so far a total of 764,903 workers have been issued outgoing permit in last 11 months, of which 2,38,000 are waiting to fly. "This figure is the highest in any time in the history." The country has received US$ 5.78 billion (Tk 40,323 crore) in remittance until November 22. "If the trend continues, the remittance flow will exceed US$ 6 billion," the Advisor said.
From http://www.newstoday-bd.com/ 12/06/2007
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Four Options on Anvil to Frame Tax Policies
The finance ministry is examining four options to deal with the taxation policy matters once the National Board of Revenue is relieved of tax policymaking job. The ministry, at the insistence of the International Monetary Fund, earlier decided to withdraw the power to frame tax policies from the NBR in October, which sparked off a lot of criticism among revenue officials and economists. The four options are now waiting for the approval of finance adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam, said finance and revenue officials. The first option is to set up a separate tax policy unit in the Finance Division to be headed by an additional secretary to the ministry. The establishment of a similar unit at the Internal Resources Division of the finance ministry is the second option. Two wings will be set up in the IRD under the proposed unit, which will be manned by the division¡¯s officials. An autonomous unit in the Finance Division, to formulate tax policies for the government, is the third option. The proposed autonomous entity might be manned by people from the government and the private sector. The fourth and last option is to establish a macro-economy and tax policy unit in the Finance Division, which will be headed by an additional secretary to the ministry, said sources. The ministry is likely to seek the opinion of the NBR¡¯s chairman, Abdul Majid, of the planned strategies and options of the finance ministry, they added. The revenue officials, comprising cadre officials from customs and income tax departments, opposed the government¡¯s move to withdraw the power to frame tax policies from the NBR. In a recent proposal they recommended the formation of a separate tax policy unit in the NBR. Two wings, the tax policy wing and the implementation wing, should be established under the planned functional unit in the NBR with sufficient manpower from both the customs and income tax cadres, said the proposal, which was submitted to the NBR¡¯s chairman recently. Officials in the Finance Division told New Age that the decision of separating the tax policy unit from the NBR is a modern concept, which should not give rise to reservations or face any opposition from any quarter. ¡®The NBR will be given only the responsibility to collect taxes as per the tax policies of the government,¡¯ a high official told New Age.
From http://www.newagebd.com/ 12/25/2007
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INDIA: Govt to Invest 20 Billion Dollars in ICT Sector by 2010
New Delhi, Dec 12 : To add further muscle to the telecom growth story, the Government will invest 20 billion dollars in the ICT sector by 2010, Union Telecom Minister A Raja said today. Addressing the inaugural session of India Telecom, 2007 Mr Raja said, ''In the telecom manufacturing itself there has been a commitment of more than 2 billion dollars and we expect fresh commitment of about 2 billion dollar in next one year.'' These investments will contribute significantly to employment generation and GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth, he added. Mr Raja, however, stressed on the need for achieving equitable and sustainable growth by taking the benefits to the common masses. The Minister informed that the decision of providing support from USO fund for mobile telephony and broad band services will open up the vast and untouched market in rural areas of the country that comprises 70 per cent of the population with aspirations to join the mainstream of the country and share the growth story of urban India in the ICT sector. Mr Raja said the goverment has also taken steps to create an environment for innovation through establishment of seven telecom Centres of Excellence in premiere technological institutes of the country in Public Private Partnership(PPP) mode taking all stakeholders on board.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/12/2007
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Make Children the Focal Point of Every Policy, Says CRY
New Delhi: Fifteen years ago on this day (December 11), the Indian government ratified the UN Child Rights Convention. Little has changed since then insofar as the conditions of children in India is concerned says Child Rights and You (CRY), an organisation that works for children in India. Addressing the press, Ila Hukku, Director Development Support, said: ¡°It¡¯s time we asked the planners across the board to make the rights of young citizens a cross-cutting issue. It¡¯s time that the state moved on from a quick fix approach to address children¡¯s rights in each of its plans, from education to rehabilitation and from employment generation to social equity.¡± Earlier a film made by ¡®CRY¡¯s Volunteer Citizen Journalist¡¯, was shown. The film on Singur in West Bengal portrayed how violence during acquisition of land by the state government for the Tatas affected children. ¡°Year on year, statistics gives us a clear idea of how we are falling short on every front: whether in critical areas like education, health, protection or in less overt ones like gender and caste parity,¡± said the statement released by CRY. Ila Hukku lamented over the lack of political will even at the time of ratification. She said that in an undertaking that Indian government had given to the UN, it had placed conditionality.
Quoting from the undertaking she said that the government at that time had expressed its inability by saying that it was not practical immediately to prescribe minimum age for admission to each and every employment, as for several reasons children of different ages continued to work in India and therefore certain rights of child could only be progressively implemented. Fifteen years on, the conditions for children have hardly changed despite several flagship schemes and legislations to protect their rights and interests. It only reflects the continued lack of will and commitment, she added. ¡°There is only one kind of political consensus that actually seems to be emerging which is to de-politicise child rights. That child rights are not a political issue. They are something soft; they are something that you can get away with. By giving whatever you please, not by giving what is actually their entitlement,¡± she said. On the aspect of children facing discrimination on account of their socio-religious and economic status, R.B. Pal, General Secretary of Voice of People from the state of Uttar Pradesh, said: ¡°The discrimination that children face because they belong to marginalised and oppressed social groups is left unaddressed by the state as policies on child rights tend to take an academic view of the needs of a child.¡± CRY demanded that the state must make children the focal point and touchstone of every policy and plan made for the country and the voices of marginalised parents and communities must be taken into account while making these policies.
From http://southasia.oneworld.net/ 12/12/2007
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Govt to Introduce Gram Nyayalayas Bill in Budget Session
New Delhi, Dec 13 : The Centre will introduce a legislation in the budget session of Parliament for creating 6,000-odd Gram Nyayalayas to reduce the considerable number of pending cases in subordinate judiciary and deliver justice at the doorsteps of rural masses. The mobile courts will be presided over by a judicial officer in the rank of First Class Magistrate. The Gram Nyayalayas Bill was introduced early this year in Rajya Sabha. But the Upper House referred it to a Standing Committee for detailed scrutiny. A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, today decided to introduce the Bill again in the Rajya Sabha with official amendments on the basis of the recommendations of the Standing Committee. ''Almost all the recommendations of the Standing Committee have been incorporated in the Bill being introduced in the Budget session,'' Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told mediapersons. ''The legislation would establish a system of judiciary which would be less expensive, free from protracted procedural wrangles, quick and available at the grass roots level, accessible to the common man and render justice to him as enshrined in Article 39 A of the Constitution,'' Mr Dasmunsi said.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/13/2007
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Government Planning Ways to Tackle Mounting Plastic Waste
New Delhi, Dec 16: Concerned over the high amount of plastic being dumped into the environment and the consequent clogging of drains, the government is planning to promote recycling technology for used plastics as a parallel industry. The fertilizer and chemicals ministry is said to be keen on generating fuel from recycled plastic. Plastic is non-biodegradable and toxic and in monsoons it wreaks havoc in urban areas by clogging drains and water bodies as was evident in Mumbai's unprecedented flooding this year and last year when the storm water drains got clogged due to plastic littering. Now crucially, urban local bodies are being brought on board. An incentive scheme for urban local bodies which contribute significantly towards plastic waste management recycling is to be formalised, with the ministry of urban development being the nodal agency. Informed sources say the fertiliser and chemicals ministry is advocating developing awareness of the recyclable properties of plastic and eliminate its littering. While the recently released new petrochemical policy aims to increase per capita consumption of plastics, the ministry is equally keen to stress on plastic waste disposal and its effect on the environment. With environmental concerns on top of the government's agenda, the ministry wants a system of checks and balances to be instituted. The ministry is also keen to work towards a mechanism for industry contribution to the recycling of used plastic. At the same time, a policy on restriction on import of plastic waste is being reviewed in consultation with the ministry of environment and forests and the department of commerce, official sources said.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/16/2007
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National Policy to Boost Adventure Tourism: Soni
New Delhi, Dec 17 : With concerns being raised about adventure tourists polluting natural resources, the Indian government plans to formulate a national policy to preserve these spots with the aim to boost this niche segment. Inaugurating the 6th Annual Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) on 'Indian Adventure Tourism - the Next Step' Monday, Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni said the focus was on giving "greater boost to adventure tourism".She said at a time when the entire world was talking about climate change and conservation of natural resources, it is important to formulate comprehensive guidelines for adventure tourism. "There is a genuine concern that adventure tourists are not only polluting the place but have little regard for conserving the existing natural resources," she said. Soni highlighted the fact that responsible tourism in any form will not only help to preserve natural resources but generate revenue for the betterment of the place and the local communities. Soni also agreed that the existing national eco-tourism policy needs to be revived in the light of the ongoing international debate on climate change. She released a special 30-second television commercial on adventure tourism and also the report on Incredible India campaign during 2007. "We consider adventure tourism extremely important in taking forward one of the important niche tourism segments of the country." She said India was richly endowed with natural diversity that adds to its multi-dimensionality, a fact not very common in many parts of the world.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/17/2007
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Marriage Registration to Be Made Compulsory in Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 18 : All new marriages conducted in Delhi should be registered and those not registering their marriage could face jail terms upto one year - according to provisions of a new bill the city government is bringing in. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday said her government has finalised the 'Delhi Registration of Marriages Bill, 2007' with a provision to penalise those who did not register their marriages. "Failure to apply for registration of a marriage shall invite penalty of imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, and shall also be liable to fine," Dikshit said. The cabinet has finalised the draft bill and it will be moved in the state assembly very soon, she said. The bill provides for compulsory registration of all new marriages solemnized in Delhi. After becoming an act, it would help prevent cases of child marriage, bigamy or polygamy. It will also help women exercise their right of maintenance from the husband and custody of children and enable widows to claim inheritance, Dikshit explained. A registrar general of marriages for Delhi would be appointed by the government, who would act as the Chief Executive Authority for executing provisions of the act. Delhi, the national capital, is home to over 1.5 million people and every year thousands of marriages are solemnised.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/18/2007
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Five States Demand Task Force on Draft Mineral Policy
New Delhi, Dec 19 : Five mineral-rich Indian states Wednesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to constitute a task force to finalise the National Mineral Policy (NMP) 2007. The chief ministers of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan met here at Orissa Bhawan and signed a joint memorandum, which they will submit to the prime minister. Minerals, like land and water, are important resources for the states and their right to utilise this resource to leverage development of the respective states must not be compromised in any manner in the NMP, the memorandum says. The mineral-rich states are also among the poorest states in the country and agriculture and mineral-based industries are the main economic activities in the mineral-bearing areas. Therefore, value addition to minerals within the state should be one of the prime objectives of the NMP, the memorandum argues. By following such a policy, these states can attract investments and reap the consequent benefits. This will be an important step towards redressing regional imbalances, the memorandum added. The NMP must recognise the need for captive mining for industries located within a state to meet their raw material requirement, the chief ministers said. The major concerns of the draft NMP seems to be to attract foreign direct investment in mining for large-scale prospecting, and access to improved technology in mining.
This seems to have necessitated the concepts of stand-alone mining activities, security of tenure along with transparency in the allocation of concessions, seamless transition from prospecting to mining, and an export policy favouring long-term export of minerals, they said. This approach is fundamentally flawed in so far as bulk minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, chromite, limestone, dolomite, manganese and others are concerned, they said. "It may result in a few multinational mining companies acquiring control over the vast mineral resources of the country that are essentially required for the domestic manufacturing industry for a global market. "We oppose the concept of seamless transition from reconnaissance to prospecting to mining lease for bulk minerals. It would deny the states the opportunity to promote mineral-based industries within the state," The memorandum says. Export of minerals should be phased out since minerals are non-renewable and finite resources, the chief ministers have said. The NMP should recognise the need for continuance of reservation for state public-sector undertakings for management and development of certain minerals of national importance and in the interest of equity and fair play, the chief ministers added. They also demanded their states should be adequately compensated for use of the minerals through an automatic ad-valorem-based royalty structure and should not be left to the discretion of the central government. The export levy should be entirely passed onto the states, they said. An ad-valorem tax is a tax based on the assessed value of real estate or personal property. They also argued that in scheduled areas, at least five percent of the annual profit from mining should be set apart for socio-economic development of the tribal population.
From IANS 12/19/2007
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New Strategies Needed to Address Food Security: PM
New Delhi, Dec 19 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday expressed hope that the Indian farm sector will expand by four percent in the next five years even as he called for targeted measures to address livelihood and food security. "The slowing down of agricultural growth to less than two percent per annum since late 1990s has undoubtedly been the root cause of much of the rural distress," the prime minister told a meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) here. "I am happy to say we have already taken several steps to restore momentum to this sector," he said, adding: "With these measures, we hope that we will be able to sustain the desired growth rate of four percent in agriculture." The prime minister told the NDC meeting, which is meeting to give its nod to the Rs.36.44 trillion 11th Five Year Plan, that along with farm growth it was also important to address the impending problem of food security. "The next decade is going to be one in which our food security will be under stress," he said, adding India needed to focus on enhancing productivity since it has the second largest arable area in the world. "Global trends in food production and prices and our own patterns of consumption are going to put increasing pressure on both availability and prices of basic food items." In this context, he also emphasised a paradigm shift on how the country manages its food stocks and the government's own procurement strategies, even as a need may arise to consider buffers for edible oils and lentils. "We probably need to realise that we are going to be importers of some food items for many years and take steps to manage this in a structured manner," he said, adding food doles are targeted at the needy and leakages needed to be arrested. The 54th NDC meeting comes in the backdrop of the Indian economy registering a growth of over 7.5 percent during the 10th plan, with the target of scaling it up to over nine percent in the ensuing five years. Chief ministers, lieutenant governors, some key ministers of the union cabinet and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia were among those attending the day-long meeting at the Vigyan Bhavan convention centre here.
From IANS 12/19/2007
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PAKISTAN: FSC Orders Change to Citizenship Act
LAHORE: A full bench of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) on Wednesday required the President of Pakistan to take suitable steps in making amendments to the Citizenship Act, 1951, within a period of six months, for the grant of Pakistani nationality to a foreigner married to a Pakistani woman. The full bench took suo motu action on the basis of a news item that under the Act, a Pakistani woman was denied the right to get Pakistani citizenship for her foreign husband while a Pakistani man was entitled to get one for his foreign wife. The grant of nationality, however, shall remain the prerogative of the government.
From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 12/13/2007
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No-Access Policy on Dr Khan to Continue: PML-Q
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) will follow its policy on denying the international investigators¡¯ access to nuclear scientists and nuclear assets after winning the Jan 8 election, said the party¡¯s secretary general, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, while talking to media persons at Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital here on Monday. Referring to Pakistan People¡¯s Party (PPP) Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto¡¯s statement that she would allow the international investigators to investigate Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, Mushahid said A.Q Khan was a national asset and his party would not allow any agency or country to interrogate him. He said Dr Khan was in good health and on Sunday a three-member team of PML-Q comprising Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, S M Zafar and he himself met him to inquire about his health. He said during their five-year tenure PML-Q had spared no effort to develop the country and improve its image in the eyes of the international community. Replying to a question, Mushahid said PML-Q had allowed its NWFP chapter to make alliances and seat adjustments with other parties, even with JUI-F, to win the election. To another question, he said unification of PML was not yet on the cards, as all the parties were contesting polls under their own manifestos and flags. This situation could come under consideration after the election, he added.
From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 12/18/2007
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AZERBAIJAN: Parliament Approves 2008 Budget
Deputies voted on November 30 in the final reading with 103 votes in favor to approve the budget for 2008, Azerbaijani media reported. Seven opposition parliamentarians from the Musavat faction voted against on the grounds that some of the budget's provisions are likely to lead to a deterioration in social conditions, and that the opposition's proposed amendments and suggestions were not incorporated into the final draft, day.az reported on November 30. The budget sets revenues at 7.38 billion manats ($8.69 billion), which is 27.9 percent higher than in 2007, and expenditure at 8.5 billion manats (27.7 percent more than in 2007), with the resulting shortfall covered by the 2007 budget surplus and the emission of short-term government bonds. The budget contains a provision for raising the salaries of military personnel in the event that revenues prove to be higher than anticipated (the oil price on which revenues are calculated is not specified). GDP growth is predicated at 16.1 percent. LF
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/04/2007
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IRAQ: Regional President Rejects New Media Law
Kurdistan regional President Mas'ud Barzani has reportedly refused to sign a new law passed by the region's parliament, the Sbay website reported on December 17. Barzani told the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, which drafted the law, that he will "not ratify a law that limits freedom," syndicate chairman Farhad Awni said. The draft law was heavily criticized by Iraqi journalists, media outlets, and international media watchdogs, who argued the law did not go far enough to protect journalists' rights (see "Iraq: Kurdistan Region Grapples With Draft Press Law," December 14, 2007, rferl.org). Official sources within the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate told RFE/RL on December 13 that the public criticism has led the group to reconsider the draft, and that it would ask Barzani not to sign it. The law will now be sent back to the parliament for revision. KR
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/18/2007
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KAZAKHSTAN: RK Parliament Ratified Convention Between RK and Slovakia on Double Taxation Prevention
On a plenary session Senate deputies adopted today a legislation "On ratification a convention signed between the government of the republic of Kazakhstan and the government of Slovakia on double taxation prevention", as reported KZ-today correspondent. According to legislation-making procedure, the legislation appears to be adopted by the parliament and is sent to the president for signature. As reported earlier, the convention aims to strengthen and enlarge economic, culture, technical and scientific cooperation between states via giving to each the right to tax definite kinds of income gotten by legal and natural persons of one country in another. The convention foresees residing legal and natural persons income double taxation removal and applied to income and capital taxes collected on the behalf of negotiating state and its administrative bodies. The convention was signed on March 21st, 2007, in Astana.
From http://eng.gazeta.kz/ 12/11/2007
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TAJIKISTAN: Tajikistan Adopts New Counternarcotics Program
Avaz Yuldoshev, a press spokesman for Tajikistan's Drug Control Agency, announced on December 6 the adoption of a new counternarcotics program designed to enhance efforts to combat drug smuggling and to bolster drug-interdiction activities along the Tajik-Afghan border, ITAR-TASS reported. The agency stressed that drug trafficking has become a "threat to national security," necessitating the new package of "preventive measures" capable of unifying state efforts and combining resources to combat drug trafficking over a five-year period. Yuldoshev stressed that the increase in drug trafficking was traced to Afghanistan, which has expanded the "wide-scale production of opium and heroin." The agency has reportedly seized some 5.2 tons of drugs since the beginning of the year. The OSCE has also assisted in strengthening Tajikistan's counternarcotics efforts and announced on December 6 a new package of technical assistance in bolstering border security and management, Asia-Plus reported. As part of the OSCE effort, Finland and Norway have already provided over 1 million euros ($1.46 million) in funding for training programs and equipment for Tajik border guards and are planning to deploy 15 experts to provide advisory assistance over the next two years. RG
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/07/2007
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TURKMENISTAN: Parliament Approves State Budget for 2008
The law "On the state budget of Turkmenistan for 2008" was approved by the Mejlis (parliament) of Turkmenistan at its 17th session of the third convocation on December 14, the Ashgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru reports. Under the law, which was published in the central mass media outlets of Turkmenistan, the profit of the state budget is expected to reach Manat 118,169,900 trillion while the expenditure of the state budget will total Manat 123,369,900 trillion, including the first level budget profit of Manat 25,603,800 trillion and expenditure of Manat 30,803,800 trillion. The maximum level of the state budget deficit for 2008 is set at Manat 5,200 trillion. The profit of the centralized budget of Turkmenistan for 2008 is approved at Manat 109,941,200 trillion and the expenditure at Manat 115,141,200 trillion, including the first level budget profit of Manat 17,375,100 trillion and expenditure of Manat 22,575,100 trillion. The local budgets, including the Ashgabat city budget and budget of provinces were also approved. The state budget for 2008 provides funds for the 10% increase in wages starting January 1, 2008. The law says that wages, pensions, allowances and stipends are the guaranteed items of expenditure. The law also provides for payments for free use of gas, electricity, water and salt by the population of Turkmenistan.
From http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ 12/15/2007
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Turkmen President Approves Long-Term Rural Development Plan
During a December 17 cabinet meeting in Ashgabat, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov approved a new long-term rural development plan through 2020, Turkmen Television reported. The development program includes measures to increase the "living standards of the rural population" and "specific reforms aimed at improving social and living conditions of rural residents." According to the terms of an accompanying presidential decree, the heads of state "ministries and agencies" and regional, district and urban officials are instructed to "develop an annual set of measures" and design "planned construction projects" for approval by the ministry of economy and finance. During a separate discussion in the cabinet meeting, President Berdymukhammedov also endorsed planned ceremonial events to commemorate the first anniversary of the death in December 2006 of former President Saparmurat Niyazov, also known by his self-anointed term Turkmenbashi (father of all Turkmen), whom Berdymukhammedov described as "a person dear to all of us." In a review of the government's performance for the year, Berdymukhammedov criticized Deputy Prime Minister Gurbannazar Asyrow for his "poor performance" and for shortcomings in the transport and communications sectors, and for "slow progress" in the construction of the Turkmen sector of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway project. RG
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/19/2007
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AUSTRALIA: NSW Govt Spends Up on Green Initiatives
The New South Wales Government says it is spending $70 million on two new programs to help the environment. Premier Morris Iemma says $40 million will be spent to help get renewable energy technologies from the drawing board to the marketplace. He has told Parliament the other $30 million will be used on water and energy saving projects in public buildings. "We'll save, for example, 90,000 megawatt-hours of electricity, enough power for 12,000 homes," he said. "We'll save 2 billion litres of water, enough for 9,000 households, and we'll save almost 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions."
From http://www.abc.net.au 12/05/2007
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Govt Sets Out Plan to End Indigenous Disadvantage
Federal Treasury Secretary Ken Henry has set out a seven-point plan for addressing disadvantage within Australia's Indigenous communities. Dr Henry has warned against passive welfare and highlighted education as a key to lifting Indigenous Australians out of poverty. He has told a welfare conference in Canberra that there needs to be a focus on issues including security from violence, access to health services and the involvement of Indigenous people in policy development. Dr Henry says there must also be better prospects for educated Indigenous people to secure jobs. "Where remote locations simply cannot produce sufficient job opportunities for local people there's no point sitting around relying on miracles," he said. "A better strategy is to ensure that people have the opportunity to move to take up work if that is what they want to do." He says education should be given a special status by policy makers, but incentives in the welfare system are also needed. "Indigenous disadvantage is a regrettable example of income enhancement in the form of combined welfare payments not having led to material gains in wellbeing," he said. "Now not all welfare is passive, it has to be said, but some is and if we're to make progress, passive welfare in all its forms must be addressed."
From http://www.abc.net.au 12/06/2007
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Govt Rules Out Petrol Price Regulation
The Federal Government says it is not considering taking over the regulation of petrol prices in an effort to reduce the cost for consumers. Assistant Treasurer and Consumers Affairs Minister Chris Bowen says a report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on petrol pricing should be delivered within the next week. But Mr Bowen says the Government is not in favour of regulation as a way to drive petrol prices lower. "We believe that the market is the best way of putting downward pressure on prices, so the Government's not considering regulating in terms of the Government setting prices or limiting prices within any set period of time," he said. "But I'll be looking at the ACCC's report and see what they think is the best way of ensuring that the market is working ... competitively."
From http://www.abc.net.au/ 12/10/2007
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PM Announces Plans for Public Service Heads
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced new arrangements for the heads of Commonwealth departments. He says to reduce disruption, most departmental heads will stay in their existing jobs, but some changes are required because of the new structure of his ministry. Mr Rudd has announced that Lisa Paul will be the head of the new super-department, the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Education. The head of the former workplace relations department, Peter Boxall, will oversee a new Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Mr Rudd says the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Peter Shergold, had already decided he would leave at the end of his five-year term and his replacement will be announced before his February departure.
From http://www.abc.net.au 12/03/2007
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Privacy Commissioner Endorses Consistency in Privacy Law in Australia
The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has strongly endorsed making privacy laws in Australia consistent so that business, government and individuals can easily understand their rights and responsibilities. "It is time to address the complexity of privacy regulation in Australia," Ms Curtis said. "The current situation of different principles for government and business at the national level, and different State and national laws, creates unnecessary confusion for individuals and additional compliance costs on business. "One set of privacy principles across the country and complementary State public sector legislation would go a long way to making the regulation of the handling of personal information within Australia more effective." Ms Curtis¡¯s endorsement for national consistency was made in a 786-page submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) in response to its Discussion Paper 72: ¡°Review of Australian Privacy Law¡±.
From http://www.privacy.gov.au 12/21/2007
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NEW ZEALAND: New Financial Disclosure Regulations to Start in Feb 2008
Investment advisers will be required to provide up-front disclosure of fees and remuneration including commission from 29 February 2008, Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel announced today. This gives the industry three months notice to prepare for the regulation changeover and Lianne Dalziel is confident this is more than enough time for the new processes to be put in place and for the Securities Commission to implement its education programme targeted to investment advisers. ¡°The Securities Market Act was passed last year and there has been considerable consultation on the draft regulations since then so investment advisers are well aware that the regulations governing its implementation are on the horizon. Many advisers have already updated their disclosure practices in anticipation of the new requirements,¡± Lianne Dalziel said ¡°I have no doubt they will be pleased that a commencement date has been set so full disclosure applies to everyone.¡±
Lianne Dalziel said that the flaw in the previous disclosure regime was that although investment advisers had to make certain disclosures without being asked, important disclosures around commissions, for example, only needed to be made when they were requested. "This led to the real problem that the least experienced investors, who arguably need the most protection, didn't know to ask for that information." Lianne Dalziel said that the regulations giving effect to the legislation were approved by Cabinet today. Further information is available on the Ministry of Economic Development website: www.med.govt.nz
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 12/03/2007
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Affordable Housing Bill Introduced to Parliament
Housing Minister Maryan Street today introduced a Bill designed to stimulate the provision of more affordable housing for first-home buyers and modest-income families in the rental market. ¡°The Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill seeks to create more choice and opportunity for families by giving councils the flexibility to promote a wider variety of house sizes, ownership models and costs in the new home market,¡± Maryan Street said. ¡°Although we are building a large number of new homes each year in New Zealand, very few have been designed for, or targeted at, first-time buyers or modest-income families. Over the past 15 years, the size of new homes has increased by 50 per cent.¡± There is rising demand among local councils for tools to tackle this issue and ensure an adequate housing supply for workers crucial to local economies. This Bill delivers those tools, the minister said. ¡°The Bill, which is based on tried-and-tested schemes in place in the United Kingdom and the United States, will enable local authorities to address imbalances in the supply of new homes through a combination of requirements and incentives for developers.¡± It seeks to balance the need for continued housing development, with the need to address affordable housing issues. It provides developers with a consistent and predictable legislative framework, while still allowing scope for flexibility and negotiation, Maryan Street said.
¡°The Labour-led government believes homeownership is part of our national identity and an important stabilising influence in society. The government has a responsibility to do what it can to maintain this tradition and to ensure an evenness of opportunity between generations.¡± Rapidly escalating property prices have seen the rate of homeownership fall from 74 per cent to 67 per cent between 1991 and 2006. If current trends continue this rate will fall to about 62 per cent by 2016, a scenario New Zealanders do not embrace, Maryan Street said. ¡°The Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill will prevent the use of title covenants which are used to exclude social or affordable housing from developments. ¡°The use of these covenants is growing, and they unfairly affect some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Ours is a country with an egalitarian culture and we want to avoid segregation in communities.¡± ¡°This Bill is part of broader work being undertaken by the government on housing issues. It provides a solution to one part of the affordability problem and other initiatives will follow,¡± Maryan Street said.
Key Elements of the Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill:
· The Bill will enable councils to require developers to either: include affordable housing in their developments, make payments towards the cost of providing affordable housing elsewhere, or provide land for the construction of affordable housing.
· However, councils can only introduce these requirements if they have first established evidence of affordable housing need in their area and developed a plan to deal with it that has been appropriately consulted on.
· Councils will be able to offset the costs developers might incur in providing some affordable housing by offering incentives to developers. These incentives may include the waiving of development contributions, or permitting greater densities in developments than might otherwise be allowed.
· Councils can decide how to administer properties obtained for affordable housing through negotiations with developers. They can: retain the properties as part of the council¡¯s own stock, vest them in a housing trust, enter into shared equity arrangements with first-homeowners, or sell properties on the open market with deed restrictions to ensure the housing remains affordable over the longer term.
· The Bill also prevents the use of any title covenant whose principal purpose is to exclude social or affordable housing, including supported accommodation.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 12/04/2007
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Climate Change Legislation Introduced
Legislation to provide New Zealand with two important tools to respond to the challenges posed by climate change was introduced to Parliament today. The Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill establishes a New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme and legislates for the government¡¯s preference for new renewable electricity generation. ¡°The Labour-led government believes New Zealand must play its part in the global fight against climate change,¡± Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. ¡°We want New Zealand to be the world¡¯s first truly sustainable nation and we are committed to providing the sensible leadership to make that happen. ¡°The Emissions Trading Scheme establishes a market which provides incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will do so while maintaining economic flexibility, equity, and environmental integrity at least cost in the long term,¡± Dr Cullen said. Different sectors will be phased into the scheme over the next five years, and the assistance to help industry and agriculture adjust to the scheme will continue to 2025. The government is also developing proposals to assist households.
¡°Since announcing the scheme in September, the government has relaxed the penalty regime and set up a process to develop allocation plans. We have also worked closely with business, industry and community groups, and Maori on some key issues, particularly around pre-1990 forestry, assistance, and aspects of the carbon market,¡± Climate Change Minister David Parker said. ¡°Further engagement will occur over the next year before these issues are settled. The select committee process will be important for further refinement and improvement. The legislation also provides for a review of the ETS, which must consider the allocation model in the context of the emissions pricing policies of major trading partners.¡± The government¡¯s preference for new renewable energy generation will be achieved through a 10 year restriction on new baseload fossil-fuelled thermal electricity generation, except to the extent required to ensure the security of New Zealand¡¯s electricity supply. This takes effect through a new part 6A added to the Electricity Act 1992. The Bill¡¯s provisions will apply to any proposed thermal generation above 10 megawatts that uses more than 20 percent of fossil fuels as its fuel source. ¡°We have already said that we expect State-owned generators to heed the government¡¯s message that all new baseload electricity generation should be renewable. That expectation remains.
¡°This measure gives legislative backing to the policy outlined in the New Zealand Energy Strategy, and ensures privately-owned and publicly-owned generators operate on a level playing field,¡± David Parker said. Exemptions to the prohibition will be possible in some circumstances, including when thermal generation is appropriately mixed with renewables or based on waste products, where it is needed in an emergency or to ensure security of supply, or where the needs of isolated communities are most logically met by thermal generation. The Electricity Commission will recommend whether exemptions are warranted. Addressing climate change is an important aspect of New Zealand¡¯s economic transformation agenda, and is essential to our biologically-based economy, Dr Cullen said. ¡°There are real opportunities in adopting a more sustainable approach. Important sectors of the economy ¨C notably tourism, viticulture, and agriculture - are already doing so. ¡°Our green credentials must be rock solid to compete in a global market place where proven sustainability can be a point of competitive advantage. The Labour-led government is showing leadership by making sure New Zealand is at the forefront of this new way of thinking,¡± Dr Cullen concluded.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 12/04/2007
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Corrections Amendment Bill Introduced
Corrections Minister Phil Goff today introduced a Corrections Amendment Bill which he says will further assist prisons¡¯ crackdown on drug use, and eliminate illicit use of cellphones in prison. ¡°In the last decade, Corrections has achieved dramatic success in reducing drug use in prisons.¡± Phil Goff said. ¡°In 1998, more than a third of inmates tested positive for drug use. Today that figure is down to 13 per cent. ¡°This Bill should ensure a further decline in drug use. It enhances powers of search in relation to inmates and for those working in prisons. It adopts a zero tolerance towards staff who pass contraband to prisoners, with penalties increased from three months to up to a year¡¯s prison and a doubling of the maximum fine to $5000. ¡°Cellphones are already banned but the new legislation authorises electronic detection and jamming of all cellphone use within prisons. This will effectively stop inmates organising crime from within prisons.
¡°Prison powers to screen inmates¡¯ mail for unlawful or harmful communications are extended so that mail as well as telephone communications can be subject to surveillance, other than letters to lawyers or official agencies. ¡°The legislation creates a penalty for publishing unauthorised communications from inmates that prejudice the interests of victims, to prevent a recurrence of past incidents where this has occurred. ¡°Other changes allow information sharing by official agencies dealing with offenders, emergency management provisions, disposal of illegal items seized from prisoners, and an exemption to allow the use of communion wine in services. ¡°This Bill will enhance the operation of prisons and assist in the crackdown of illegal activities by inmates. I expect the commonsense measures introduced in the Bill to receive wide support within Parliament,¡± Phil Goff said.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 12/04/2007
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Electoral Finance Bill: Select Committee & Government Take Concerns on Board
The Select Committee and the Government have listened to concerns about the Electoral Finance Bill and have made a number of changes, Justice Minister Annette King said when tabling a Supplementary Order Paper to the Bill today. ¡°The Bill, when it was introduced, had shortcomings, but we have listened to all the recommendations we have heard. I believe that both the Government and the Select Committee have improved on the Bill considerably. ¡°We are making a number of clarifications and amendments, the most significant including:
· Narrowing the definition of ¡®publish¡¯, particularly by removing the part of the definition that would have encompassed advertisements that were brought ¡®to the notice of the public in any other manner.¡¯
· Allowing the Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Office to decide that an alleged breach of the legislation is so inconsequential that there is no public interest in reporting it to the Police.
· Shortening the period prior to an election during which third parties cannot register with the Electoral Commission. This was a recommendation made by the Human Rights Commission and Electoral Commission.
· New clauses that create greater transparency around the disclosure of the contributors to ¡®secret trusts¡¯.
· Clarifying that the requirement to place a name and address on an advertisement relates only to promoters, and not the general public.
¡°All these amendments are aimed at clarifying the intention of the Bill, which does not set out to prevent free speech as misinformation has suggested, but rather, it is intended to fetter the undue influence of people who can afford to buy elections. ¡°There is still comment from some political commentators and parties who steadfastly ignore the worthwhile changes the Select Committee and the Government have made but I am sure that the public will see through their objections for exactly what they are. ¡°The Government is willing to listen to further sensible amendments during the committee of the whole stage.¡±
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 12/04/2007
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Real Estate Agents Bill Introduced
Legislation to overhaul real estate law has been introduced to Parliament, said the Associate Justice Minister Clayton Cosgrove today. Mr Cosgrove said the Bill delivers on the government¡¯s promise to bring accountability, transparency and openness to the real estate sector, and to establish an independent complaints system that protects consumers and supports honest real estate professionals. "New Zealanders' greatest asset is often their home, so it is paramount that people have access to a transparent and effective disciplinary process should they feel they have been ripped off," he said. "Given the high level of concern among members of the public on this issue, I have moved swiftly to introduce these reforms." The Real Estate Agents Bill puts an end to self-regulation of the industry and introduces a range of new consumer protection measures, including compensation for consumers who have been ripped off. Mr Cosgrove said the industry¡¯s "closed shop" practices for dealing with complaints were a major factor behind the government¡¯s decision to remove its privilege of self-regulation.
The Bill: Removes regulatory functions from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). There will no longer be a compulsory requirement for agents to be members of REINZ Creates an independent Real Estate Agents Authority to oversee licensing, complaints, disciplinary and enforcement processes and provide information for consumers. The Authority will have wide investigative powers and will be able to order a wide range of penalties and remedies Creates an independent Disciplinary Tribunal to deal with serious cases, which will have the ability to order the cancellation of licences and award compensation. Complainants will not be required to hire lawyers because the Authority - through its Complaints Assessment Committee (CAC) - will represent their case if it is referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal Establishes a public register of real estate agents and salespeople that records any breaches of the industry standards against the names of those involved Requires licensees to undergo ongoing professional development training Makes changes to the conduct required in the day to day running of a real estate agency business, including mandatory disclosure requirements (including possible conflict of interest), requirements to provide information to buyers and sellers in certain situations and new auction requirements
"Consumers will be better protected by an independent disciplinary process with effective redress for breaches of a new code of conduct and of the law. Honest real estate professionals will no longer be tarred by the same brush as the last land shark who rips someone off and brings the entire industry into disrepute," Mr Cosgrove said. Mr Cosgrove said the new structure would be funded by the industry, not taxpayers, and it will not cost consumers anything to lodge a complaint. Any cases referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal will be represented by the CAC, so complainants will not be required to use the services of lawyers. The public and the industry will have a further opportunity to comment on the reforms once the Bill is referred to a Select Committee.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 12/04/2007
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Workplace Research Released, Code to Be Developed
A Code of Employment Practice aimed at helping employers and employees to more easily resolve workplace relationship problems is to be developed, Labour Minister Trevor Mallard said today. "The decision to develop the code follows research into the resolution of workplace relationship problems and a review of possible improvements to the current system. The code will be developed in consultation with key stakeholders, including employer and employee representative groups. "The review I am releasing today found that the current system worked well, but could be built on. What we are looking at is how we can make the system work even more effectively, and continue to ensure the integrity of advice given to those experiencing relationship problems in the workplace. "Alongside the development of the code, Cabinet has also agreed to undertake further work on six options for improving the system. These are aimed at enhancing the professionalism of advocates, better informing employers and employees about how to better manage employment relationship problems at the firm level, increasing confidence in and use of informal resolution processes and reducing the cost of and length of the time taken to resolve employment relationship problems using formal processes."
The six options for improvement are:
increasing educational resources and support for employees, employers and their representatives, including improving Department of Labour guidance to employees and employers on employment relationship problem resolution and employment termination exploring the extent to which the quality of paid representation by employment advocates - excluding barristers, solicitors, registered unions and employer advocates - could be better assessed
assessing whether the provisions in the Employment Relations Act for reducing remedies - to reflect substantive justification and contributory conduct - were effective
assessing how provisions relating to a ¡®mediator decision by authority of the parties¡¯ (section 150 of the Employment Relations Act) could be strengthened to encourage its use where agreement cannot be reached, and discourage unreasonable withholding of consent by either party
increasing Department of Labour capacity to deliver mediation services and improve the capability of mediators to improve services, as identified in the Department of Labour Mediation Practice Development Project
exploring options to reduce the time taken to investigate and determine cases in the Employment Relations Authority, including considering changes to Authority processes.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 12/11/2007
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Govt Welcomes Passage of Omnibus Tax Legislation
Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne have welcomed the passage today of legislation giving effect to a range of major tax reforms, including the new R&D tax credit and employer-related KiwiSaver enhancements announced in Budget 2007. The legislation was introduced in May in the Taxation (Annual Rates, Business Taxation, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill, which was split into three bills at the Committee stage of proceedings. ¡°The 15% R&D tax credit has been introduced to encourage New Zealand businesses to invest more in research and development, which will generate wider benefits for all businesses, ¡± Dr Cullen and Mr Dunne said. ¡°It is part of the $3.4 billion investment and innovation package announced in Budget 2007, which also included the recently enacted reduction in the company tax rate from 33% to 30% from the 2008-09 income year. ¡°The present legislation introduces a number of transitional and consequential amendments resulting from the new company tax rate, most of which concern imputation credit handling in the two-year transitional period. ¡°Another major focus of the new legislation is to strengthen incentives to save for retirement through joining KiwiSaver or a complying superannuation scheme. It requires employers to match their employees¡¯ contributions up to 4 percent of their gross salary or wages ¨C phased in over four years.
That measure is accompanied by a new employer tax credit of up to $20 a week to help offset the costs to employers. ¡°These changes complement KiwiSaver incentives enacted in May in the form of a new tax credit to match member contributions of up to $20 a week, which means that members who save $20 a week will receive an extra $1,040 in their accounts. ¡°The new legislation relaxes a whole range of tax penalties, such as the penalty for taking an unacceptable tax position, to promote voluntary compliance. The aim of the changes is for penalties to better reflect the seriousness of the offence to which they pertain ¨C so they distinguish between people who try to do the right thing and fail, and those who have no intention of doing the right thing. ¡°The new legislation also increases tax incentives for making donations to charitable organisations, as announced in Budget 2007. The changes include removing the rebate threshold on donations made by individuals, and removing the deduction limit on charitable donations made by companies and Maori authorities. ¡°These are the main changes in the wide-ranging legislation that results from the three bills that passed through their final stages in Parliament today. We welcome the passage of this very important legislation,¡± the Ministers said.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 12/12/2007
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New Bill Makes Improvements for the Benefit of Maori
Minister of Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia welcomes the improvements to some existing legislation from changes proposed in the Maori Purposes Bill 2007. The Bill will promulgate changes or corrections to a number of pieces of existing legislation. Changes to four pieces of legislation give effect to Government priorities or correct anomalies, Minister Horomia says. ¡°One change in particular will assist this Government in meeting our commitment to settling historical Treaty claims by 2020.¡± Proposed changes to the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 include increasing the statutory cap on the ordinary membership of the Waitangi Tribunal from 16 to 20. This will help the Tribunal meet its anticipated increase in workload. ¡°Another change marks a strengthening of the relationship between the Crown and Ngati Tuwharetoa,¡±
Mr Horomia adds. Proposed amendment to section 10 of the Maori Trust Boards Act 1955 will update the annual payment paid by the Crown to the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board ($1.5 million) as agreed under a new agreement relating to Lake Taupo. Other proposed changes will also: · standardise the voting age at 18 in the Maori Trust Boards Act 1955; · correct minor drafting errors in Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993; and · amend the Maniapoto Maori Trust Board Act 1988 to establish a new Regional Management Committee to represent Maniapoto-affiliated marae from Kawhia Harbour and provide for some other minor changes to the Act. ¡°On the whole, the changes are house-keeping in nature but important to the groups affected by these provisions,¡± Minister Horomia says.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 12/14/2007
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Leaders of 21 Asian Cities Agree to Curb Emissions
MANILA ¡ª Chief executives and mayors of Asia's 11 capitals and cities on Tuesday agreed to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region, saying global warming threatens the nature and survival of peoples of Asia. The participants of the meeting, headed by Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, agreed "to work together to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases through development and promotion of forefront technologies," said the Manila Declaration issued by the Asia Network of Major Cities 21. It said the network will hold a working-level conference on environmental technology in Tokyo in February next year to further discuss steps on how to tackle their joint project, "urban and global environmental problems."
From http://www.japantoday.com/ 11/28/2007
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OECD Countries Launch Accession Talks with Five Prospective New Members
OECD countries have given a green light for the start of accession talks with five prospective new members -- Chile, Estonia, Israel, Russia and Slovenia, signaling a new stage in the Organisation's drive to broaden and deepen its involvement with emerging new players in the global economy. The approval of so-called "road maps" setting a negotiating framework for each of the five countries marks the formal launch of a process agreed at an OECD ministerial meeting in Paris last May. In parallel, OECD has announced plans to engage more closely with other significant economies, notably Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa. The twin-track process is designed to reinforce OECD's role as a hub for dialogue on global issues involving both OECD and non-OECD countries, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurr¨ªa said. OECD's working methods are based on the principle of peer review and evidence-based discussion of policy options, drawing on the experiences of member countries. "Our goal is to help countries respond successfully to the challenges and opportunities of a global economy.''"By extending our membership and deepening our relations with other big players in the world economy, we are broadening our perspectives and consolidating our role as a source of policy solutions," Mr. Gurr¨ªa added. "Governments must work together to tackle issues like innovation and intellectual property rights, poverty and inequality, climate change and international migration. OECD provides a forum for doing that." Created in 1961 as the successor to the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation which was set up in 1948 to administer the Marshall Plan, OECD defines its mission as being to help make the world economy work effectively and efficiently.
It currently has 30 members, the most recent entrant being the Slovak Republic in 2000. Its founding Convention requires it to help member countries to achieve sustainable economic growth and employment and rising standards of living while maintaining financial stability, thereby contributing to improved prosperity worldwide. Accession negotiations will take place individually between the candidate countries and the OECD committees that handle the substantive aspects of the Organisation's work. These bring together senior officials from national capitals to discuss policy in areas ranging from farming to financial affairs and from taxation to trade. OECD Deputy Secretary-General Thelma Askey will visit each of the five countries over the next few weeks to set the accession talks in motion. Once OECD committees are satisfied that a candidate country fulfils their requirements for membership, a final decision on whether to issue an invitation for membership will be taken by the Organisation's governing Council of ambassadors. Like all major decisions affecting the Organisation, decisions on membership will have to be taken on a basis of consensus. The OECD's current members are: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
From http://www.oecd.org/ 12/03/2007
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New World Bank Director Breaks Barriers in Leadership
An interview with National Public Radio, newly appointed World Bank Managing Director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala writes:
Question: Why return to the World Bank?
Answer: I returned to the World Bank because, essentially, I think there¡¯s a new spirit, a new wave. There¡¯s a new president, Robert Zoellick, who is interested in doing things in different ways, and they¡¯re trying to scale up the impact of the World Bank on developing countries. ¡
Question: You know, fairly or unfairly, many countries in Africa, and other parts of the world ¡ have a reputation for endemic corruption. ¡ Why does this problem persist? Why does it seem to be so ingrained in the governments for so many of these countries?
Answer: ¡ I want to really reject this characterization of countries on the continent.
¡Governance is improving. African countries are doing much better than they did. ¡You know, for the first time, institutions like the World Bank, the OECD, and the African Development Bank have all published studies showing that African countries are managing themselves better. They are fighting corruption. ... [but] whilst I¡¯m not shifting away any blame from our countries, because I believe we¡¯re the ones to take the first step to fight it, but there are also companies, corporations and others who also participating in this. ¡Secondly, when there¡¯s corrupt money, where does it go? Doesn¡¯t it go to countries in the West? Many of these countries are harboring money from African countries. And you know, keeping corrupt money is also something that needs to be looked at, because it¡¯s all part and parcel their corruption. ¡
Question: Now, let¡¯s talk more about the World Bank ¡ Now you¡¯ve worked in the Bank and you also worked in country, what do you say to that? Do you think that argument has merit? Does that criticism have any merit?
Answer: ¡ First of all, I want to say that one of the reasons I also came back to the Bank is because it¡¯s a fine institution with very dedicated staff. ¡ I want to say that the Bank has changed dramatically from the period (of the 80s]. And you now find the situation where countries like mine, Nigeria, when I was the Finance Minister, where we craft up on programs of reform. ¡ So just like Africa is changing and people need to sit up and take notice, the World Bank is also changing its way of doing business. ¡¡± [NPR (US)/Factiva]
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 12/07/2007
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Survey Says World's Poorest People Are Hardest Hit by Public Corruption
¡°Some of the world's poorest people in Africa and Asia are hardest hit by public corruption - forced to pay bribes for police protection, education and justice - according to a survey released Thursday. Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International's 2007 Global Corruption Barometer showed that as a region, Africa suffered the most public corruption. In the African countries surveyed, 42 percent of people reported that they had been asked to pay a bribe to obtain a service during the past 12 months. The Asia-Pacific region was next with 22 percent; then a grouping of Russia, Moldova and Ukraine with 21 percent; Latin America with 13 percent; southeastern Europe with 12 percent; the EU with 5 percent; and North America with 2 percent. ¡¡± [The Associated Press/Factiva] AFP writes that the survey ¡°¡shows that poor people are frequently asked to pay bribes to gain access to services such as healthcare and education. ¡®For low-income households this might mean choosing between medical treatment for a child or the next meal,¡¯ Transparency International Chair Huguette Labelle said at a news conference in Berlin to launch the report. ¡ More than 63,000 people in 60 countries were polled. One in four who came into contact with the police was asked to pay a bribe and one in every six reported actually handing over money. Judges in many countries are happy to take a bribe in return for dismissing a case or influencing a verdict in a court case, Transparency found. ¡ ¡®We are heartened... that the public is increasingly demanding the accountability of the very institutions that most affect their lives, as this is a powerful driver of change,¡¯ its Chair said.¡± [Agence France Presse/Factiva] Reuters reports that ¡°¡Figures¡showed that Kosovo, Cameroon and Albania were the worst offenders, with around three quarters of respondents¡¯surveyed saying they paid a bribe in the past 12 months. ¡While the police were seen as top bribe-takers in most regions, people in Europe said they most commonly paid bribes for medical services. ¡Worldwide, political parties were seen as ¡®corrupt¡¯ or ¡®extremely corrupt¡¯ by 70 percent of people, while expectations about corruption in the future are gloomy. Over half expect corruption to get worse, while in 2003, the last time the survey was carried out, 43 percent said they thought it would increase.¡± [Reuters/Factiva]
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 12/07/2007
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TI Announces 2007 Integrity Awards Winners
A Vietnamese grassroots anti-corruption activist and a leading legal expert working against international bribery have been chosen as winners of the 2007 Transparency International (TI) Integrity Awards, TI announced today. TI is the global anti-corruption organisation with approximately 100 national chapters worldwide. Sincere retiring in 1984, Le Hien Duc, a Vietnamese school-teacher, has become a resourceful anti-corruption fighter by filing complaints and helping fellow citizens to challenge petty bribing and large-scale graft. Her respect for authority ends where corruption begins. Duc has tracked down high and low-level officials through different means, at home or in the office, to ensure that they cannot ignore the victims of corruption claiming their rights. In spite of many threats, she provides hope and encouragement for stopping acceptance of corruption. Warning of an early death has been delivered to her door in the form of an empty coffin but this 75 year-old is full of anti-corruption energy. Whether it is allegations of graft in the school system or bribing by police on the road, Duc does not back off until the concerns of those afflicted by corruption are dealt with in a fair manner. ¡°Justice usually requires persistence and Ms. Duc¡¯s refusal to accept indifference as an answer is an inspiration and sets an example for anyone who has been wronged through corruption,¡± said Sion Assidon, Chair of the Integrity Awards Committee. Mark Pieth, a criminal law and criminology professor at the University of Basel in his native Switzerland, has provided outstanding leadership in fighting corruption on an international scale. Prof. Pieth has countered corruption not only as a co-founder of the Basel Institute on Governance but as chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions and as a member of the Independent Inquiry Committee into the Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme of the United Nations.
His willingness to publicly criticise governments that fail to implement the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and those that did not to provide enough support to identify companies that paid kickbacks in the oil-for-food scandal, are admirable. Powerful governments have tried to stop his criticism and he has withstood attempts to oust him from the OECD¡¯s anti-bribery group. Prof. Pieth has stood his ground and never stopped being outspoken about the need to implement the anti-bribery rules that countries have committed to. Ensuring that foreign bribery, money laundering and other related activities of the corrupt are stopped, have been a core priority of Prof. Pieth for over 19 years. ¡°His criticism is always anchored on legal grounds and the belief that bribery is not a way to do business anywhere in the world. Without him, neither the OECD Convention nor the monitoring of its implementation would be a reality. Legal documents require people like Prof. Pieth to bring them alive, make them real and rid our world of corruption,¡± said Assidon. Now in its sixth year, the Integrity Awards have honoured individuals and organisations from Asia and Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. These have included journalists and public prosecutors, accountants and government officials along with leaders of civil society. The TI Integrity Awards Committee consists of 11 individuals from across the world who have been active in the anti-corruption movement for many years. They serve as the jury for the awards and confer with the TI Board of Directors. Nominations are accepted for individuals and organisations and are subject to independent vetting under the guidance of the Integrity Awards Committee. The 2007 Integrity Awards winners will be honoured at a ceremony to be held on 21 January 2008 in Berlin with the generous support of the German Technical Cooperation agency (GTZ). The ceremony will be open to the press.
From http://www.transparency.org/ 12/12/2007
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CHINA: 47 Billion Yuan More to Rural Education Fund Allocated
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said Wednesday it will allocate a further 47 billion yuan (6.4 billion U.S. dollars) to support rural education in the next three years until 2009. The new funds would be used to ensure the implementation of compulsory education in rural areas, a MOF official said. The total amount now devoted to rural education has reached 265.2 billion yuan (35.9 billion U.S. dollars) for the period between 2006 to 2010, up from 218.2 billion yuan. Students from low-income families in the central and western regions started receiving subsidies from this autumn semester. Primary students receive two yuan a day and secondary students three yuan on the basis of 250 schooling days, according to a notice jointly published by the MOF and Ministry of Education. The central budget has earmarked 3.7 billion yuan annually for the central and western regions to ensure these subsidies are offered to students, up from 3.67 billion in the original plan. The policy would benefit nearly 11 million students from low-income families in the regions, the MOF official said. In the more developed eastern regions, student subsidies would be financed by local governments, which may get some encouragement from the central government as well, according to the notice. The special fund would also make it possible to offer free textbooks for about 150 million rural students as of the autumn semester this year. The notice said a public utility fund for rural students would be increased, while more funding would be allocated to build and rebuild school rooms for rural students.
From Xinhua News Agency 11/29/2007
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New Measures to Ensure Affordable Housing
National guidelines on economically affordable housing were released on Friday night along with new State measures on housing for low-income families, which come into effect on Saturday. Economically affordable houses ought to be around 60 sq m per unit, said the guidelines jointly released by the Ministry of Construction, the National Development and Reform Commission, and five other ministries. It said eligible purchasers will "have limited property rights", and that the apartments can only be directly sold after five years. Moreover, the document limited fundraising for cooperative housing units to independent mining corporations on the outskirts of cities and enterprises with a significant number of employees with housing problems, while stressing that they must do so with their own properties. Eligible applicants of the Measure on Low-rent Housing Security, meanwhile, are no longer limited to city households with the lowest income, but will also include all lower-income urban families with housing issues. Government subsidies, the usual means of securing housing for these social groups, are to be gathered from rental fees on low-rent housing, credit risk reserves, housing provident funds, social donations and security funds. Local governments must also spend 10 per-cent of the local land-use fees on developing low-rent housing, said the measure, released by nine ministries on Monday.
Because situations vary across the 656 cities that had adopted the mechanism as of October, the measure allows special funds to be allocated to central and western regions that find it financially difficult to support the construction of low-rent homes. Additionally, the construction area of these apartments, limited to 50 sq m per unit, should be granted preferential status on a stand-alone basis in land supply schemes and annual land-use applications. Months earlier, the central government urged local governments to reserve at least 70 percent of the land designated for residential construction for units under 90 sq m. But since the housing security system is expected to cover all low-income Chinese families by 2010, implementation of the new measure and relevant policies has a long way to go. Figures from the Ministry of Construction show that nearly 10 million households still live in a housing space, per capita, of less than 10 sq m. Up to the end of 2006, only 268,000 families, or 6.7 percent of all households living on a minimum allowance, and 2.7 percent of all low-income households in China, had benefited from low-rent housing policies. Despite a record 7.04 billion yuan ($9.52 million) of central government investment in low-income housing so far this year, 50 billion yuan is needed every year for the next five years to continue to broaden coverage, the People's Daily reported.
To address the housing problems of urban low-income families, for example, Shanghai is to pour in a total of 2 billion yuan in providing 500,000 sq m of low-rent apartments by the end of this year, Shanghai's Jiefang Daily reported on Friday. The money will come from the 8.3 billion yuan coffers of the Shanghai public housing reserve fund. Cong Chen, a staffer at the Department of Policy and Regulation of Shanghai Provident Fund Management Center, confirmed the information. The project, launched last month, has already secured 150,000 sq m of land in Jiading, Baoshan and several other districts in Shanghai, 70 percent of which are completed flats. These flats are said to be located in areas with comparatively mature transportation and living facilities, such as metro stations and bus stops, for the convenience of low-income tenants, the Jiefang Daily said.
From China Daily 12/01/2007
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China Working on New Five-year Plan to Improve Anti-corruption System
China's Party discipline organs and government supervision departments are working on a new plan to improve the anti-corruption system between 2008 and 2012. The plan will collect new ideas and measures to prevent corruption and punish corrupt officials, said He Yong, deputy secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), at a meeting held by the CCDI and Ministry of Supervision here Thursday. A draft plan had come out, but he did not give the details. The plan would implement the guidelines issued at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), He said. In his report to the congress, President Hu Jintao said the country would fight corruption in a comprehensive way, address its symptoms and root causes, and combine punishment with prevention, with the emphasis on prevention. In September, China established its first National Bureau of Corruption Prevention in a bid to stop corruption at its source by reforming systems and closing loopholes in policies. A number of ministerial-level or higher Chinese officials have fallen to "serious corruption" charges in the last five years, including the former director of the National Bureau of Statistics Qiu Xiaohua, the former food and drug administration head Zheng Xiaoyu, and former Party head of Shanghai Chen Liangyu. Last year, more than 90,000 officials were disciplined, accounting for 0.14 percent of the total CPC members.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/13/2007
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China Revises National Holiday System
China will change its national holiday schedule to ease overcrowding on trains, flights and other transport systems, often swamped when many of the country's 1.3 billion people try to travel at the same time. The changes, announced Sunday night by China's Cabinet, will bring back three traditional one-day holidays and let workers take paid vacations at times other than officially-set breaks. Previously, the government had designated three weeks out of each year as national vacation times, when most factories and offices closed. Under the changes, which start next year, the weeklong May Day vacation will be replaced by three traditional, one-day holidays: grave-sweeping day, the dragon boat festival and the mid-autumn festival, scattered throughout the year. May Day itself will be a separate one-day holiday. The total number of national holidays will be increased by one day to a total of 11 a year. The existing schedule was created in 1999. With China's subsequent economic boom, people are traveling more ¡ª and severely straining transportation facilities. China's official Xinhua News Agency said the government also announced that employees of government agencies, as well as state-run and private companies, will be able to take paid vacations after one year of service. Employees who have worked for less than 10 years will get five paid days off each year, while those who have worked between 10 and 19 years will get 10 days. Those who have worked for at least 20 years will get 15 days.
From http://news.yahoo.com 12/17/2007
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China's Corruption Prevention Bureau Launches Official Website
China's newly-founded National Bureau of Corruption Prevention (NBCP) launched its official website on Tuesday. The public can now post notes at the website (yfj.mos.gov.cn) or write e-mails (yfjzhc@mos.gov.cn) and leave information and opinions on the body's work. The website also publicizes the NBCP policies, events and lists anti-corruption news from both home and abroad. The NBCP was officially established on Sept. 13 with Ma Wen, the Minister of Supervision, as its head. The bureau was founded at a time when the country has seen many corruption scandals that have brought down a number of high-level officials, most notably former food and drug administration head Zhen Xiaoyu and former Shanghai Party head Chen Liangyu. The NBCP planned to study methods to constantly improve corruption prevention systems, push for the sound operation of these systems and to coordinate the corruption prevention efforts of various departments, Ma said on Sept. 13 when the NBCP was launched. The bureau has been entrusted to collect and analyze information from such sectors as banking, land use, medicine and telecom, among others, and to share it with relevant departments. These included prosecuting organs, courts and police authorities, among others. It would not, however, be involved in the investigation of individual cases.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/18/2007
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China to Launch Food Quality System
Print story Email to a friend Font size:BEIJING, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- China's official quality control group said all food products must have a quality safety stamp before being released to the market beginning Jan. 1. The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said all products must have the "Q.S." label to gain market access, though proprietors may negotiate with sellers to keep products produced before the Jan. 1 implementation date on the shelves, China's official Xinhua news agency reported Saturday. China launched the market access labeling system in 2002, though the system lacked widespread execution. The Chinese government initiated a four-month campaign to investigate poor quality food products starting in late August and closed a total of 192,000 unlicensed food stores and withdrew over 1,000 tons of substandard food from the market during the campaign.
From http://www.upi.com 12/22/2007
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Rural Development, Farmer Income Growth Stressed
China concluded the annual central rural work conference on Sunday with a pledge to enhance rural infrastructure construction, promote stable development of agriculture and facilitate a sustained income growth for farmers next year. The pledge should be carried out in 2008 and a certain period of time thereafter in accordance with the requirement of realizing integration of urban and rural economic and social development, according to the two-day meeting. Efforts should be exerted to ensure supply of major agricultural products, settle problems concerning people's livelihood in rural areas and push forward the "new countryside" scheme, the meeting said. The meeting required that a good job should be done in the following six respects at present and a period of time hereafter. Polices benefiting farmers should be improved and investment in agriculture and rural areas should be increased substantially. Basic supply of major agricultural products should be guaranteed, and farmers' income should be increased.
Agricultural infrastructure construction should be secured and condition for agricultural production should be improved at a quicker pace. Technical progress should be made for agriculture and related talents should be cultivated. Meanwhile, socialized services should be expanded in rural areas. Social undertakings in rural areas should be revved up, while rural infrastructure should be reinforced. The basic rural operation system should be stabilized, and rural reforms should be deepened. China has since the 1980s held a central rural work conference every year to assign work for agriculture and rural areas in the following year. In a related development, Agriculture Minister Sun Zhengcai announced on Saturday that China produced more than 500 billion kilograms of grain in 2007, the fourth consecutive year of yield growth. He added that farmers saw their annual per-capita net income increase by 7 percent to 4,000 yuan (US$540), largely due to price rises for farm produce, a larger number of rural migrant workers and more government subsidies for agricultural production.
From Xinhua News Agency 12/24/2007
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China's Supreme People's Court Qualifies Second Group of Justices
China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) qualified 26 Justices in Beijing on Monday, only the second group since the first 41 were named in 2002. The list included two justices of the first rank and 24 of the second rank, according to the SPC. "In any country and society, the constitution and laws will not realize justice and fairness by themselves without judges who have a strong sense of justice," said Xiao Yang, China's first Chief Justice, also president of the SPC. A justice will have more responsibility now when China is working to realize the rule of law and build a socialist legal system, he said. Becoming a justice represents a promotion in terms of professional stature within the judiciary, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the person is given a new assignment or takes charge of a new court. The justices are either senior staff of the SPC or provincial courts. Their conduct will affect the work of the courts in their charge, he said. Xiao said he hoped that the justices would always remain aware of the principle that the law and the people's interest come first and that they would reject corruption. "The term of a justice has an end, but our pursuit of legal justice is endless," he said.
From http://english.people.com.cn 12/25/2007
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5 Provinces Get New Leaders in Major Reshuffle
A reshuffle of top personnel was announced over the weekend with the appointment of five provincial Party chiefs and the head of the Party's United Front Work Department. Bo Xilai has been appointed secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a statement from the CPC Central Committee said on Saturday. Bo, 58, replaces 52-year-old Wang Yang, who has been named the Party secretary of Guangdong Province. Bo retains his post as minister of commerce. Zhang Dejiang, 61, who is a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, is no longer the Guangdong Party head, according to the statement. Another statement from the CPC Central Committee said yesterday that Du Qinglin has been appointed the head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee to replace Liu Yandong. Liu, 62, vice-chairwoman of the 10th CPPCC National Committee, was elected member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in October. Du, born in 1946, is no longer the Party secretary of Sichuan Province.
Liu Qibao, former Party secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, took the post, the statement said. Liu is replaced by Guo Shengkun, 53, who was formerly the deputy Party secretary of Guangxi. At the same time, Wang Jinshan, former deputy Party secretary of Anhui Province, has been promoted to be Party secretary of the province, according to the CPC Central Committee. Wang, 62, replaces Guo Jinlong, who was appointed vice-mayor and acting mayor of Beijing by the standing committee of the Beijing municipal people's congress on Friday. The personnel changes are part of a broad reshuffle of top positions after the 17th CPC National Congress. They also follow the Party's reaffirmation of its goal of sustaining the economy's rapid expansion while channeling more growth to lagging rural and interior areas and setting up a better safety net for the poor.
Addressing his first meeting in Chongqing at the weekend, Bo Xilai pledged to boost balanced development between urban and rural areas, as well as to fight corruption. "None of my relatives or friends can have privileges in Chongqing. If the public finds any violation, do stop it and tell us," Bo said. Newly appointed Guangdong Party head Wang Yang said that he is confident of the province's future. "We must adhere to the reform and opening-up policy to build an even brighter future," Wang said while addressing a local meeting on Saturday. "As for myself, I'll try my best to be a good 'Guangdonger' and a trustworthy public servant." Wang also pledged that the province will continue to support Hong Kong and Macao to help the special administrative regions maintain stability and growth.
From Xinhua News Agency 12/03/2007
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JAPAN: Gov't Panel to Propose 9-Year School System
TOKYO ¡ª A government panel on education will propose the integration of elementary and junior high school education into a nine-year program to improve the abilities of students amid weakening academic performance in Japan, sources close to the matter said Wednesday. The Education Rebuilding Council specified the plan in a draft of its third report on education reforms. The draft calls for allowing competent students to skip grades, as opposed to completing the existing 6-3-3-4 school system through college, and for starting English education in elementary school rather than junior high school, said the sources. With the aim of revitalizing education, the panel will also propose recruiting competent working people from diverse backgrounds as unlicensed school teachers.
From http://www.japantoday.com/ 12/13/2007
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Cabinet Approval Rating Sinks to 35%
TOKYO ¡ª The approval rating for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's cabinet plunged 11.7 percentage points from early November to 35.3%, according to an opinion poll Kyodo News conducted Saturday and Sunday over the telephone. The steep drop reflected growing discontent primarily over a series of scandals involving the Defense Ministry and also over the government's giving up a complete resolution of its pension-record blunders. The survey showed that 57.6% of respondents called the recent government stance on the pension issue a "breach of a pledge" to fully clear up the blunders by next March. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party had made it a campaign pledge for the July House of Councilors election.
From http://www.japantoday.com/jp/ 12/17/2007
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Japan Set for Radical Reform of Markets
The Japanese government has agreed to a sweeping reform package designed to revitalise the country¡¯s financial markets, including eliminating the firewalls that keep a strict division between banks and securities companies. The measures unveiled by the Financial Services Agency on Friday constitute the most comprehensive programme of financial sector reforms since Japan¡¯s Big Bang financial deregulation in 1996. The latest effort to boost the country¡¯s financial competitiveness comes amid concern that Tokyo, capital of the world¡¯s second-largest economy, is losing out to other regional financial centres due to problems ranging from outdated rules to high taxes.
A survey conducted this year by the Corporation of London ranked Tokyo 10th in the world in its competitiveness as a financial centre, below not only regional rivals Hong Kong and Singapore but also Frankfurt and Sydney. The FSA plan, which incorporates about 60 specific deregulation measures, has been welcomed by industry groups. ¡°There is a lot that is good in there,¡± said a representative for a foreign bank. ¡°It¡¯s not the end of the story. They need to keep doing more to globalise Tokyo as a financial centre.¡± The FSA wants to promote the participation of foreign financial institutions, hedge funds and others in Japan¡¯s markets and encourage the shifting of household savings into investments. Under the latest programme, the firewalls that separate banking and securities companies will be lowered to allow financial conglomerates that conduct banking, securities and other financial services businesses to operate more closely and share customer information. This step is particularly welcomed by foreign banks, which have complained the strict separation of banking and broking in Japan has added to costs, hampered operational efficiency and even jeopardised internal risk management.
Another key measure is the decision by the finance ministry to exempt offshore funds from permanent establishment taxation. Under existing rules, offshore funds that conduct business with an agent in Japan are potentially liable for Japanese taxes. The new measure would make it clear that offshore funds will not be subject to such taxation. Other measures include deregulation to allow a broader range of products to be traded on markets and to allow the establishment of markets for professional investors with less stringent rules than those that apply in other markets. (by Michiyo Nakamoto)
Form http://www.ft.com/ 12/23/2007
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SOUTH KOREA: Probe into Scandal-Scarred Samsung Seen as Test
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- The last time Lee Kun-hee, the chairman of Samsung Group and South Korea's richest man, faced a crisis was in 2005. At issue then was a graft scandal unearthed by a TV journalist accusing Samsung of giving illegal political funds to some presidential candidates in 1997. As prosecutors launched a probe into the allegations, Lee flew to the U.S and returned home five months later, only after prosecutors, citing lack of evidence, decided not to indict him. Two Samsung executives were held responsible and received suspended jail sentences. But now Lee is facing a much more serious situation as his group is engulfed in allegations of bribery, accounting fraud, the use of slush funds that may have affected the 2002 presidential election, and shady stock transactions meant to pass control of the group to Lee's only son. In an unusually swift move, prosecutors last week launched a probe into the allegations and barred nine Samsung executives, including Lee, from leaving the country. An independent counsel backed with bipartisan support was authorized on Wednesday by President Roh Moo-hyun. The allegations this time are ominous, because they come from a former chief legal attorney for Samsung. Kim Yong-chul, a former prosecutor who worked at Samsung from 1997 to 2004, described Samsung and the Lee family as a "force mixed with injustice," saying he decided to blow the whistle to gain a public support for a "fair and thorough" investigation. Analysts say that the case is a litmus test of whether South Korea's relatively youthful democracy and judicial system are ready to crack down on the white-collar crimes of family-owned conglomerates, called chaebol in Korean. Chaebol grew rapidly as they kept cozy relations with past military governments.
With 58 affiliates whose business interests range from electronics, shipbuilding, credit card, stock brokerage, hotels to theme park, Samsung accounts for nearly a quarter of South Korean exports. Because of their importance to the economy, other powerful chaebol bosses indicted of crimes have gotten away with slaps on the wrist. In 2005, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won got a three-year suspended sentence on charges of bookkeeping fraud worth 1.9 trillion won (US$2.05 billion). More recently, Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo received a five-year suspended jail term for embezzling more than $100 million in company money to set up slush funds. Progress in corporate-sector reforms that started in the wake of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis hasn't been fast enough, analysts say. "The case should become an opportunity for change," said Kim Sang-jo, a professor at Hansung University who leads the civic group Solidarity for Economic Reform. A recent poll in the Naeil evening newspaper found that 79 percent of respondents thought that Samsung bribed prosecutors, judges and senior government officials, while more than half of the respondents said they believed the overall allegations. Referring last week to Samsung's business empire as a "kingdom," Jeong Seok-gu, a senior columnist for the progressive Hankyoreh newspaper, wrote, "The kingdom has grown strong enough to control a state agency, and it is building the foundation on which the next generation can assume the same control." "Samsung is corrupting those in leadership in our society in order to maintain its kingdom for generations of posterity through illegal and less-than-legal activities, and the whole source of its ability to do this is its illegally amassed slush fund," he wrote. The scope of the probe by state prosecutors has broadened to a series of questionable stock deals at Samsung affiliates allegedly to facilitate a father-to-son ownership transfer at the expense of minority Samsung shareholders. On Friday and Saturday, a team of 40 prosecutors and computer experts raided Samsung Securities Co. and Samsung SDS Co., the group's brokerage and computer services units accused of operating Samsung's slush funds.
Kim Su-nam, a spokesman for a special team of prosecutors, said the raid was aimed at "securing materials linked to Samsung's slush funds." The whistle-blower claimed that Samsung had opened a number of bank accounts under "borrowed" executives' names, a practice that is illegal in South Korea. The prosecutor didn't rule out the possibility that there may be more raids on other Samsung affiliates. The whistle blower claimed last week that Samsung had created more than 7 trillion won ($7.5 billion) in slush funds until 2000. A document viewed by Yonhap News Agency showed that affiliate Samsung Electronics Co., the group's mainstay and the world's largest maker of computer memory chips, gave 40 billion won worth of non-budget funds via an intra-group supply contract to the group's former aerospace unit, which is now known as Samsung Techwin Co. Other documents showed that Samsung Corp., the group's trading arm, created more than 200 billion won in slush funds by cooking its books, and diverted the money to an affiliate now known as Samsung SDI Co. The documents also allege that the wife of Samsung Chairman Lee diverted more than 60 billion won to buy "expensive artwork." Samsung has denied all allegations. On Wednesday, Chu Woo-sik, head of investor relations at Samsung Electronics, told a forum in Seoul that the company is "unfazed" by the allegations, adding "truth will prevail at the end." However, Chu said he was "worried" because the overall business environment is unstable. "There has been little investor unsettledness, but the problem is what's next," he said. Samsung was established in 1938 by Lee's father as a small trading company. Lee took over in 1987 after his father's death.
From http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ 12/02/2007
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Lee Myung-bak Elected President
President-elect Lee Myung Bak and his wife Kim Yoon-okPresidential candidate Lee Myung-bak won Korea¡¯s 17th election on Wednesday (Dec. 19), as voters responded to his success as a construction CEO and Seoul mayor. "I deeply thank the people for their wholehearted support. It is not my victory. It is a victory of the people. I¡¯ll serve the people with humility," Lee said before GNP officials and his supporters at the GNP headquarters in central Seoul. "I¡¯ll do my utmost to rescue the Korean economy from its crisis. I¡¯ll also work to promote harmony and integration of the divided society." Chung Dong-young of the pro-government United New Democratic Party conceded defeat in a news conference held at UNDP headquarters in central Seoul. "I¡¯ll humbly accept the will of the people," said Chung. Shortly after the closing of the vote at 6 p.m., the three broadcasters forecast that Lee would be elected president with 50.3 to 51.3 percent of the vote, about 25 percentage points ahead of Chung. Voter turnout was tallied at a record low of 62.9 percent of 37 million eligible voters, down 7.9 points from the 2002 polls and 17.8 points from the 1997 election, the National Election Commission said. Lee is to become the first Korean president to win a majority vote. He will be inaugurated on Feb. 25 to replace President Roh Moo-hyun.
Since 1987, when the direct presidential election was restored after seven years of authoritarian rule by then President Chun Doo-hwan, a series of close races between rival parties have resulted in presidential candidates winning with support of less than 50 percent. In the 2002 election, Roh garnered 48.9 percent of the vote, beating his rival candidate Lee Hoi-chang, who ran on the ticket of the GNP, by a margin of merely 2.5 percentage points. Lee, who celebrated his 66th birthday and 37th wedding anniversary on election day, earned the nickname of "The Bulldozer" for his strong leadership and initiative as CEO of Hyundai Engineering & Construction.
Lee¡¯s childhood portrays Korea¡¯s turbulent modern history. His impoverished parents had moved to Osaka, Japan, during the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea which lasted from 1910 to 1945. Lee was born in the Japanese city in 1941, where his father worked as a herdsman. Following Japan¡¯s defeat in World War II and Korea¡¯s liberation in 1945, his family returned home, and Lee spent most of his childhood in Pohang, a port on Korea¡¯s southeast coast. One of Lee¡¯s two brothers, Sang-deuk, is now the vice speaker of Korea¡¯s National Assembly and a five-term lawmaker of the Grand National Party. Lee attended Dongji Commercial High School in Pohang and went on to enter Seoul¡¯s Korea University, one of the country¡¯s most prestigious schools. Lee gained employment at Hyundai Construction and Engineering in 1965. Many have called him a "legend of salaried men." A diligent man quick to make decisions, he climbed the Hyundai ranks unusually quickly to become CEO at the unprecedented age of 36. Under Lee¡¯s tenure, Hyundai Construction and Engineering became Korea¡¯s export-based growth engine, raking in much-needed foreign currency from Middle Eastern countries in the 1970s and 1980s. His years at Hyundai were not without their flaws. When an employee of the Hyundai firm was abducted while trying to establish a labor union in 1988, Lee was rumored to be behind the crime. But a senior executive came forward as the mastermind, and Lee denied involvement in anti-labor activities.
Lee made his political debut in 1992 as a lawmaker with the then ruling New Korea Party, the predecessor of the Grand National Party. He won a second term in 1996, but had to resign shortly thereafter, when he was found to have violated election fund laws. Lee¡¯s fame rebounded in 2002 when he was elected mayor of Seoul. In the ensuing five years, Lee earned many fans and foes for spearheading ground-breaking projects such as the restoration of a downtown stream and the creation of bus-only traffic lanes, which dramatically changed Seoul¡¯s landscape. The restoration of the 6-km-long Cheonggye Stream, which was covered by asphalt roads during the industrialization era, initially provoked massive protest from environmentalists, historians and street vendors who worked along the stream. The popular mayor then moved on, winning the presidential nomination of the popular Grand National Party in August by beating Park Geun-hye, a fixture of the conservative party as its former chairperson and daughter of late President Park Chung-hee.
From http://www.korea.net/ 12/20/2007
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Employment of Public Officials to Be Cut 25%
A total of 4,868 new government officials will be recruited next year through open competition, the Civil Service Commission announced Monday. The commission said the number of new recruits will be reduced by 24.9 percent from that of 2007 during which 6,486 new civil servants were hired. A total of 339 level-five officials ¨D comprised of 304 for administration and 35 for foreign affairs ¨D will be hired in 2008 alongside 1,172 level-seven and 3,357 level-nine officials. ``The total number of new officials for next year will decline. It is because the number of level-nine officials to be selected will be reduced notably,'' the commission said. ``The government needed to hire 3,000 level-nine tax officials to cope with a series of new regulations that will take effect from 2008. The government already recruited 2,550 tax officials in 2007 in preparation for the change.'' As the law giving favor to the handicapped in employment will go into effect from next year, the government will employ a total of 188 disabled people next year. They can apply for any position except for those covering security. With climate change being considered as one of the most important issues in the years to come, the commission decided to select two level-five officials for the first time to deal with the environmental issues including global warming. As the Seoul-Washington free trade agreement is likely to take effect in the near future, the commission will also recruit 35 new employees, up five from the 30 in 2007 to help in its implementation. The test to select level-five officials will be held on Feb. 23; those applying for the level-seven and level-nine positions will take a test on April 12. The commission will announce the exact schedule, number, and locations for the exams on Jan. 1, 2008 through its official Web site www.csc.go.kr and http://gosi.kr (by Park Si-soo)
From http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ 12/24/2007
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Global Anti-Corruption Movement
Dec. 9 is the International Anti-Corruption Day designated by the United Nations. In recognition of the importance of prevention of corruption, 90 member states of the U.N., including South Korea, signed the U.N. Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in Merida, Mexico, on the day four years ago. It contains policies to deal with corrupt cases involving many countries under international law. The International Anti-Corruption Day was set to commemorate the day. In a nutshell, UNCAC is a pact to drive out corruption from the international society. The convention requires each country to prescribe a wide range of acts of corruption as offences; adopt laws criminalizing bribery, embezzlement of public funds and money-laundering; deal with acts in support of corruption; and obstructing investigation as offences. It also contains a provision that the next government should confiscate national property plundered by political leaders. For implementation of such provisions, it calls on each country to sign and ratify the convention. As of December this year, national assemblies of 104 countries, including the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia, ratified the UNCAC.
Global-level system to fight corruption However, South Korea, birth nation of U.N. secretary-general, has not yet finished the ratification procedures, despite that four years have passed since it signed the convention. In Korea, a bill of a special law concerning confiscation and recovery of illicit assets, which calls for cooperation against corruption-related crimes between countries and confiscation of illicit assets, was submitted to the National Assembly in October this year for due approval. The bill requires a court to confiscate and recover the illicit assets that domestic corrupt officials have hid overseas. It also calls for the minister of justice to request relevant foreign governments to return the confiscated properties under international cooperation. Likewise, the Korean government will render the same cooperation and assistance when a foreign government makes such a request. Until recently, it was difficult for the government to cooperate with relevant foreign countries in the collecting of illicit properties, owing to the absence of relevant agreements and domestic laws. If this bill is passed at the National Assembly for implementation, the prevention and punishment of corrupt crimes as well as the confiscation and return of illicit assets will be possible.
Corruption acts being left in the process of industrialization In fact, the corruption issue emerged a long time ago as a core task to be solved at not only the U.N. but also such international bodies as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In many cases in some newly emerging markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America, they cannot spend economic assistance they received from international organizations for economic development projects owing to serious corruption. Korea, known as on the threshold of advanced country status, faced the Asian financial crisis 10 years ago and its aftermath still exists. In reality, news on circulation investment-type window-dressing, illegal and unfair transactions, creation of slush funds for lobbying politicians and government officials, are making headlines. Recently, such influential international media as the Financial Times and the New York Times pointed out that Korea has made efforts to crack down on corruption in business and politics, but a culture of corruption is so deeply embedded in Korean society that many have come to consider small cash gifts, usually contained in white envelopes, an essential tool for success. The Financial Times even used the terrible expression, ``Specter of corruption returns to haunt Korea.''
Ratification of UNCAC is urgent Nevertheless, Korea joined ranks of advanced OECD countries, leading an era of industrialization and informatization. However, corruption still remains in Korean society like a deep-rooted weed. Now, 11 years have passed since the country joined the OECD. The country may have entered the ranks of economically advanced countries, but it has failed to become an advanced country in terms of integrity. If it fails to solve the corruption problem, it will lose national competitiveness and be dropped out of the ranks of advanced countries. A powerful weed-killer is necessary to wipe out the corruption. The weed-killer is UNCAC, signed under international standards, and the spraying of the weed-killer is the convention's implementation. The National Assembly should enact the special law concerning confiscation and recovery of illicit assets and ratify UNCAC at the earliest date possible. (by Chang Tae-pyong)
From http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ 12/24/2007
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Public Sector Reform: Lee Needs to Focus on Smaller, Efficient Government
The government plans to recruit 4,868 public officials next year through an open contest, according to the Civil Servant Service Monday. The number of fresh recruits represents a 24 percent decrease from this year. The plan is welcomed as it is in compliance with President-elect Lee Myung-bak's pledge to focus on making the government smaller and more efficient through restructuring. He also promised to run a task force for public sector reform in his transition team. In defiance of such move, an increasing number of government officials have been intent on preventing their organizations from being subject to the envisioned restructuring program. Toward that end, they have been developing theories and exploring new projects. There has been a growing call for the need to speed up reform in the public sector, which has been excessively enlarged under the current administration. President-elect Lee and his staffers are advised to implement the reform program as soon as possible so that the existing officials cannot find time to resist collectively. The Roh administration has been the target of criticism for having been bent on expanding government organizations despite opposition from the public and the media. As the government organizations have become larger, there have been more regulations in businesses and markets. All these resulted in increased tax burden on the people and lackluster economic activity. The administration increased the number of officials in central and local governments by 100,000 over the past five years. For instance, the number of committees, which stood at only 346 in the initial stage of the incumbent government, continued to grow to 416. Against this backdrop, the government was scornfully described as a ``republic of committees.'' The people have had to pay an additional 5 trillion won in wage costs for the civil servants per year. Though the Roh government managed to sever the collusive ties between politics and businesses, it has increased the number of committees and state-run organizations. It has been a global trend in industrialized nations, in particular, to pursue ``smaller government and bigger markets.'' France is poised to shed 100,000 officials over the next five years while Japan plans to decrease its number of officials by 4,122 next year. President-elect Lee has promised to cut the national budget by 10 percent while realizing a ``slimmer government.'' The restructuring should be carried out in the initial stage of the new government. President-elect Lee needs to wrap up the planned restructuring by next April, when the nation is set to hold parliamentary elections. If he fails to complete the move by that time, he will probable lose the chance for good in the face of persistent resistance from officialdom.
From http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ 12/24/2007
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INDONESIA: Police Seen as Most Corrupt in 2007
The Indonesian public ranks the police the most corrupt government institution, followed by the judiciary and legislatures, according to a list compiled by German-based Transparency International. The Indonesian chapter of the organization announced the results of the 2007 Global Corruption Barometer on Thursday. The list was compiled on the basis of surveys of 1,010 respondents from Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya. Respondents answered questions about how they perceived and experienced corruption, defined as the abuse of entrusted power, including bribery. Police top the list with an index of 4.2 followed closely by the court and legislatures with 4.1 and 4.0 respectively. The higher the index, the more corrupt the institution is. Political parties come in fourth place, with an index of 4.0, followed by permit-issuing institutions (3.8) and the tax authority (3.6). Todung Mulya Lubis, head of TI in Indonesia, said of the results that this may be the culmination of public disappointment with the institution. "People have to bribe the police to get a driving license and also at traffic stops," he told a media conference on the report. "Three out of 10 respondents said they had to pay bribes for services provided by the police." The police index is the same as last year's. It is up by 0.2 from 2005, when the same survey was conducted by TI. Political parties topped the list in 2005 while 2006 saw a three-way tie between the judiciary, legislatures and police.
Farouk Muhammad, a professor and former police academy rector told the conference the police had failed to improve its image. He said corrupt behavior on the part of police officers might even be on the rise and gave a reason: "This could happen because police officers need to replace lost income after anti-gambling sweeps were intensified in 2005 by National Police chief Gen. Sutanto." Sutanto, installed in 2005, intensified anti-gambling efforts which he identified as a first-100-days priority program. The survey of corruption in Indonesia also shows that 59 percent of respondents believe corruption practices will increase over the next three years while some 47 percent say the government fight against corruption isn't effective. Todung said the survey results could mean that the current government has little chance of surviving the next election unless it can thoroughly reform all bureaucratic institutions. "The government must speed up its bureaucratic reformation ... and become more transparent and efficient in the future if they wish to win." The 2007 Corruption Barometer involved 63,199 respondents from 60 countries surveyed between June and September. The police in neighboring Malaysia, with an index of 3.7, are similarly the most corrupt, according to Barometer results. The United States, Japan and India were among the countries most suspicious of political parties, with citizen responses from those countries resulting in respective index rankings of 4.1, 4.3, and 4.6 for that institution.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 12/07/2007
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MALAYSIA: ACA Sets Up Ops Room in States for Polls
PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency has set up special operation rooms at its 16 branches nationwide to receive reports on corruption and investigate cases in preparation for the general election. ACA director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said the 16 centres would refer the cases to the headquarters here for further action. ¡°We are ready. We already have operations rooms in all states, with the headquarters in Putrajaya. ¡°If there are cases of misappropriation and corruption, the public can report to us and we will investigate and take action if the need arises,¡± he said, adding that the centres would be open to receive complaints 24 hours a day. ACA director of investigation Mohd Shukri Abdull would be heading the election operations, Ahmad Said told reporters after the launch of the Anti-Corruption Secretariat for Higher Learning Institutions by Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed here yesterday when commenting on the ACA¡¯s preparations for the general election. Ahmad Said also said that corporate sector members from government-linked companies would be trained at ACA¡¯s corporate integrity development centre at its Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy on corruption and integrity. These people, he said, could also provide advice and counselling to students at institutions of higher learning. He added that although there were not many cases of tertiary students being involved in corruption, counselling was vital, as some students had, in a 2003 survey, stated that they did not mind accepting money for a luxury lifestyle upon graduation.
From http://thestar.com.my 12/07/2007
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Government ¡®Fighting Graft Well¡¯
PETALING JAYA: Fifty-three per cent of Malaysians surveyed for the Global Corruption Barometer 2007 said the Government was effective in fighting corruption. However, 37% of the 1,250 polled thought the efforts were ineffective in the results, which were released yesterday. The survey was conducted on behalf of Transparency International by Gallup International Associ-ation as part of its Voice of the People Survey. For the Asia-Pacific region, Singapore had the highest approval rating, with 88% of its population saying their government¡¯s efforts were effective. This was followed by Hong Kong with 82% while Japan occupied the last spot with 8%. A total of 63,199 people in 60 countries were surveyed between June and September this year for the poll. Key findings of the barometer included the poor being the most penalised by corruption and being more pessimistic about corruption in the future; bribery was especially widespread in interactions with the police, judiciary and registry and permit services; and about one in 10 people had to pay a bribe in the past year.
Six per cent of Malaysians polled said they had paid a bribe to obtain services, the survey found. It also found that 18% of Malaysians believed that corruption would decrease in the next three years while 63% thought it would increase. Malaysians gave a ranking of 3.7 to the police in their perception of the corruption they perceived to exist in various sectors and institutions. (1 indicates not at all corrupt, while 5 indicates extremely corrupt). Political parties got a ranking of 3.6 while religious bodies were ranked 1.9. Transparency International Malaysia¡¯s president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said the findings showed that the people still did not have enough confidence in the Government¡¯s efforts to fight corruption where the Anti-Corruption Agency lacked resources and tough legislation. ¡°It is far too high. And I believe the mother of all corruption lies in money politics,¡± he said, adding that corruption had a very serious socio-economic and political impact on society and would erode foreign investors' confidence if left unchecked.
From http://thestar.com.my 12/07/2007
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Council Formed to Adopt Bali Solution
MUAR: Malaysia will set up a special council to adopt measures related to global warming which were decided at the climate change conference in Bali. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid said ministers as well as mentris besar would sit in the council. He said global warming had created an urgent need to be committed in resolving problems as the country was feeling its effect. ¡°Within one year ¨C in January and December ¨C we have had two big floods. We may face another round of floods following the high tidal season this week,¡± he told newsmen after visiting flood victims at the SK Lenga relief centre yesterday.
From http://thestar.com.my/ 12/18/2007
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PHILIPPINES: Palace Appoints New CICT Commissioner
MANILA, Philippines -- Veteran information technology professional Monchito Ibrahim who has been a consultant to the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) has finally been appointed as commissioner of the government body. Ibrahim said he received his appointment papers Wednesday, and not Thursday as was reported earlier. CICT commissioner Tim Diaz de Rivera confirmed this news earlier in a text message to INQUIRER.net. "I will be in charge of the Cyberservices group, which takes care of the offshore and outsourcing industry," he said in a telephone interview. "Under this position I'm designated to take care of the Cyberservices corridor [project]." The Cyberservices Services corridor is part of the super regions identified by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her 2007 State of the Nation Address. These strategic areas in the Philippines have been identified as priority areas by government for support. These areas are also the hubs of offshore outsourcing investments in the country. Ibrahim said he is also currently involved in the development of regional ICT organizations to encourage growth in the provinces. Ibrahim has been tasked as officer-in-charge by CICT chair Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III who is leaving for the US soon. Ibrahim said he has often been described as "acting commissioner" in the agency by his colleagues and staff because he has been actively helping the agency in his private capacity as a consultant since 2006. The CICT is an interim policymaking body under the Office of the President, which is mandated to oversee the information and communications technology activities of government.
From http://archive.inquirer.net/ 12/07/2007
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DSWD Tops in Fight Vs Corruption
MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) topped this year's list of agencies that have fully implemented the Integrity Development Action Plan, the government's blueprint for curbing graft and corruption, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) announced Wednesday. But four other government agencies included in last year¡¯s top 10 fell from the honor roll. These are the Office of the President, Philippine National Police, the Department of Education and the Department of Trade and Industry. Following the DSWD are the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Land Transportation Office, and the Metropolitan Development Authority. Rounding off the top 10 are the Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Immigration, National Housing Authority, Department of Finance, and Bureau of Internal Revenue. The 10 agencies received their awards in ceremonies at Malacanang¡¯s Mabini Hall Wednesday. "It is about time that we celebrate the goodness and positive developments in the fight against corruption," PAGC chairperson Constancia de Guzman said. The criteria for the ranking are prevention measures, such as strengthening of internal controls and adoption of a single identification system, education strategies and anti-corruption modules, and deterrence measures such as the publication of blacklisted offenders.
From http://archive.inquirer.net 12/13/2007
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SINGAPORE: IDA Appoints New Chairman and 10 New Board Members
SINGAPORE: A new chairman and ten new members have been appointed to the Board of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) with effect from 1 December 2007. Mr Lam Chuan Leong has stepped down as IDA Board chairman after eight years of service, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Yong Ying-I is now leading the Board of Directors. Ms Yong, who had been serving as deputy chairman of the IDA Board since December 2003, was also IDA's chief executive officer from 1999 to 2001. IDA on Tuesday thanked the retiring Board members for their invaluable service and contributions. Under Mr Lam's chairmanship, the telecom and postal sectors were successfully liberalised, resulting in greater choice and lower prices for consumers and businesses. Singapore's infocomm industry had also seen significant growth, with revenue doubling from S$23.2 billion in 1999 to S$45.4 billion last year. IDA also attributed Singapore's ranking among the top three positions in the WEF Global IT Report for the past five consecutive years to Mr Lam, who had put in place successful infocomm development strategies. The ten new members on the IDA Board will bring a wealth of varied experience from the private and public sectors. The 17-member Board will continue to guide the work of IDA and help propel the infocomm industry forward.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 12/04/2007
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S$25m Education Fund Launched in Singapore
Education in Singapore and the region has received a S$25 million boost from the estate of the late Khoo Teck Puat. The education fund, which was launched on Tuesday, will support three programmes aimed at providing training to strengthen the teaching of the English language in the region, opportunities for students to gain overseas exposure and scholarships for students to pursue undergraduate studies in Singapore. The fund will be for use over five years, starting from 2008. The Khoo Teck Puat Regional Teacher Training Programme will fund 'train-the-trainer' schemes to support the teaching of English language in the region. For a start, funding will be provided to trainers of English language teachers from Vietnam, through programmes in Singapore as well as Vietnam. This will later be extended to other countries in the region. Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that countries within the region, like Vietnam, has made English learning an important priority.
So with this train-the-teacher approach, Singapore can help countries in the region equip English language teachers with the necessary skills to help their students prepare for the global economy where English is a key language for commerce and networking. The fund will support ongoing collaborations with countries to help build up capabilities in education. Mr Tharman said: "The Singapore system is in demand, and a key area in which we can help our regional partners is in the training of educators. "More foreign teachers and school leaders are now coming to Singapore for training programmes conducted by our National Institute of Education."
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 12/18/2007
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Special Dept for Disabled, Kids and Senior Citizens
SUBANG JAYA: The government plans to set up a department to look into the welfare of disabled, children and senior citizens. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that such a department would help ensure that services were delivered efficiently. To be named Department for the Disabled Development, she said that certain procedures had to be implemented such as the drawing up of the Bills that needed to be tabled and passed in Parliament. ¡°It is expected to be drawn up and tabled in Parliament by the year's end,¡± she said while launching the National Disabled Day 2007 at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre here yesterday. The ministry has also submitted proposals to the Housing and Local Government and Transport ministries concerning matters pertaining to access for disabled persons, she said. She later presented awards in various categories. The special award for the most excellent disabled person went to Dr Ng Chee Kyun, 32, who overcame cerebral palsy to obtain a PhD in Communications and Networking from UPM and is now working at Mimos Bhd. Shangri-La¡¯s Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu won the award for the most disabled-accessible hotel, while 1-Utama in Petaling Jaya won the award for the most accessible shopping complex.
From http://thestar.com.my/ 12/05/2007
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THAILAND: Corruption Panel Set to Probe Ex-PM Thaksin, Two Others
Thailand's National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) has set up subcommittees to investigate malfeasance charges against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, former transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit and former Highway Department chief Srisuk Chanthrangsu. NCCC spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said a subcommittee, headed by NCCC member Chaided Phornchaiya, will look into alleged involvement of the deposed prime minister in a special-mode bidding for security services at Suvarnabhumi international airport. Mr. Thaksin chaired the airport's executive board. Another subcommittee, headed by NCCC member Phakdee Bhothisiri, will investigate alleged involvement of the former transport minister in the graft in relation to duty-free shops at Suvarnabhumi international airport and provincial airports as well as a commercial development project at Suvarnabhumi airport terminals. Another subcommittee, headed by Mr. Chaided, will look into alleged involvement of the former highways chief in bidding for construction of four-lane roads financed by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
From http://enews.mcot.net 11/29/2007
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NLA Approves Thai Endorsement of Anti-Governmental Corruption Pact
Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Wednesday gave a green light to a Cabinet proposal of signing onto the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Foreign Affairs Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said UNCAC, which opened for endorsement in December 2003 and has been signed by over 100 countries including Thailand, will help Thailand step up cooperation with the international community in fighting corruption. The convention provides for international cooperation in the return of assets illicitly acquired by corrupt officials, including asset forfeiture in a foreign country. There are also preventive measures to detect the plundering of national wealth as it commonly occurs in many developing countries. Mr. Nitya added that before the subsequent ratification, the Justice Ministry was already working on amending related laws in order to ensure a fully efficient enforcement of the first anti-governmental international law. "After legal amendments and ratification, Thailand will surely fulfill the commitment of corruption suppression as required by the convention," said Sujit Boonbongkarn, an NLA member and the vice chairman of NLA sub-committee on foreign affairs.
From http://enews.mcot.net 12/19/2007
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VIET NAM: Asset Declaration Fights Corruption
Le Tien Hao, Deputy Chief of the Government Inspection Agency, spoke to Vietnam News Agency about implementing an asset declaration programme, one of many anti-corruption measures. Should we organise a spe-cial team to help those who have to declare their assets? I don¡¯t think that we need to have a team as there isn¡¯t a separate budget to employ people for that particular job. It has been standard practice that government officials holding certain positions in an office/agency have to declare their assets. The declaration is separate from completing personal dossiers. It is the duty of the Personnel Department of every office/agency to help them fill out all required forms. What substantiates a verification of the declaration by the functional agency?
The verification is only conducted at the request of the Party Disciplinary and Control Commission, the Government Inspection Agency, the State Audit office or an investigative body when a person is accused of fraud. Of course, the accusor must provide evidence of falsification and show his/her identity card. They have to promise to provide correlating information or documents to the authorised agencies upon request. Up to now, your agency has not been able to keep track of civil servants¡¯ income. Isn¡¯t the asset declaration form only a formality? It¡¯s not a formality. It is an important tool to prevent corruption. If concerned government officials fill in the form correctly and truthfully, it will help authorities keep track of their assets. At present, we have not been able to control civil servants¡¯ incomes. But step by step we will succeed.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 11/29/2007
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Nation Marks Human Rights Day and Anti-Corruption Day
International Human Rights Day and yesterday¡¯s International Anti-Corruption Day have been fuelling discussions on two of the most pressing issues affecting the international community. To mark today¡¯s Human Rights Day in Viet Nam, the United Nations pledged to continue helping the nation meet its human rights commitments. The move comes less than one month before the start of the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Viet Nam had made tremendous social and economic progress, and shown leadership by ratifying several key international human rights treaties, UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra said. "As Viet Nam rapidly moves to middle income status, it is important that future growth be as inclusive as possible so that all Vietnamese women, men and children fully benefit from Viet Nam¡¯s progress. The United Nations system stands ready to both assist Viet Nam in meeting its international commitments and in its continued efforts to enable all Vietnamese people to enjoy their rights enshrined nearly 60 years ago in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." The theme for International Human Rights Day 2008, Dignity and Justice for All of Us, reinforces the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a commitment to universal dignity and justice.
The UDHR and its core values ¨C inherent human dignity, non-discrimination, equality, fairness and universality ¨C apply to all people. Viet Nam was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and has also ratified other important international human rights instruments. Anti-Corruption Day On Sunday, the UN and Viet Nam¡¯s Government Inspectorate launched a nationwide campaign, titled Corruption: Your No Counts to promote International Anti-Corruption Day. The day is designed to promote a zero tolerance attitude to corruption, utilising the UN Convention against Corruption, which first came into effect in 2003. Corruption always hurts the poor the most, UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra said. "It diverts funds intended for development, it undermines a government¡¯s ability to provide basic services, and it feeds inequality and injustice. The United Nations Convention against Corruption offers a unique opportunity to respond effectively to corruption ¨C and by doing so, enhance the prospects for personal and societal development in Viet Nam." This sentiment was echoed by Viet Nam¡¯s Inspector General Mr Tran Van Truyen, who said the Convention against Corruption provided comprehensive, even-handed measures for tackling corruption.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 12/10/2007
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Media Can Serve as Corruption Watchdog
The media plays an important role in the fight against corruption, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong has said. The Deputy PM, who is also deputy head of the National Steering Committee for Corruption Prevention and Control, made the statement yesterday at the Committee¡¯s meeting in Ha Noi with leaders from media organisations nationwide. "The media helps increase public awareness of laws and encourages the people to abide by laws,in addition to making them better understand the Party and the Government¡¯s efforts to drive back corruption," he said. Media organisations¡¯ reports delivered at the meeting showed that over the past years, the media had participated in disseminating information on anti-corruption policies and laws, covering and even helping uncover corruption cases.
However, the reports said, several reporters had abused information relating to corruption cases, leading to the violation of privacy of citizens, while some papers published wrong information. There were also journalists who took advantage of fighting corruption to make profit for themselves. The committee indicated in its report that more than 8,600 inspections conducted in Viet Nam during 2007 had detected frauds totalling over VND2.8 trillion($175million) and US$1.24 million. Following the inspections, punishments were also proposed for more than 1,460 officials and public employees.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn 12/18/2007
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BANGLADESH: Govt to Consider Forming Review Committee
The government will actively consider forming a review committee for reappraisal of the just-declared 6th Wage Board Award for the media industry, if there be an application on behalf of journalists, press workers or employees, reports UNB. "If any application is found, then the review committee will be formed comprising newspaper owners, journalists, press workers and other staff members," said an official handout Thursday, in the wake of protests against some provisions for the pay package. The government announced 6th Wage Board Award for journalists, press workers and employees on December 6 with new scales for their salary and other benefits. But Sangbadik-Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SSKOP) has already rejected the Wage Board Award and observed four-hour work abstention on Wednesday, demanding its immediate revision. Addressing a gathering in front of the National Press Club, the Parishad leaders also urged the government to accept the demands by December 16, failing which SSKOP would go for work abstention and wear black badge, form human chain on the street from December 17. They also threatened to launch a "greater movement".
From http://www.newstoday-bd.com/ 12/14/2007
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INDIA: Government Asked to Set Up Panel to Screen Sting Operations
New Delhi, Dec 14: Asking whether the media was carrying out sting operations or "stink operations", the Delhi High Court Friday asked the government to set up a panel to screen undercover exposes before they are aired. "The electronic media as compared to the print media has an added advantage because visuals have greater ramification and impact as it directly and immediately influences the mind of the viewer," said Chief Justice M.K. Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Khanna. The bench was pronouncing the judgement after taking note of a sting operation, telecast by private TV news channel Live India Aug 30, purportedly showing schoolteacher Uma Khurana forcing a girl student into prostitution. Police investigations later found that the footage was staged and the teacher was innocent. The bench gave its nod to Khurana to take action against the channel or claim compensation. The court directed the information and broadcasting ministry that a three-member committee should be constituted and all TV channels should seek permission from it before airing any sting operation. The panel will have a retired high court judge and two officials with the ranks of additional secretary and additional commissioner of police. Terming the sting operation targeting Khurana as "stinking operation", the bench expressed its concern over the recurrence of such incidents.
"The electronic media should and must protect innocent people so that their reputation cannot be sullied and damaged by false and incorrect depictions in the name of sting operation," it said. "Such incidents should not happen. False and fabricated sting operations directly infringing upon a person's right to privacy should not recur because of desire to earn more and to have higher TRP ratings. Right to freedom of press is a valuable right but the right carries with it responsibility and duty to be truthful and to protect rights of others," the bench observed in its 18-page judgement. It referred to a United States Supreme Court ruling stating that, "There is no doubt and there is no second opinion that truth is required to be shown to the public in public interest and the same can be shown whether in the nature of a sting operation or otherwise, but what we feel is that entrapment of any person should not be resorted to and should not be permitted." The bench added that giving inducement to a person to commit an offence, which he is otherwise not likely and inclined to commit, so as to make the same part of a sting operation is deplorable and must be deprecated by all concerned including the media. "Sting operations showing acts and facts as they are truly and actually happening may be necessary in public interest and as a tool for justice, but a hidden camera cannot be allowed to depict something which is not true, correct and is not happening but has happened because of inducement by entrapping a person," the bench observed.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/14/2007
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India to Set Up Education Loan Guarantee Authority
New Delhi, Dec 19 : India is to set up a Higher Education Loan Guarantee Authority (HELGA) that will make it easier for needy students to secure bank loans for education and also pay the interest till they complete their course. Currently, the interest of the loan is added to the principal amount and thus the compound interest puts a lot of burden on students. The mega plan, orchestrated by the Planning Commission and the human resource development ministry, will help students with annual family income of Rs.250,000 or less to avail of the loan. "Every year, banks are providing study loans worth Rs.150 billion. We are setting up a Higher Education Loan Guarantee Authority to help needy students cross the hurdle," said a Planning Commission member who is closely associated with the project. The authority will have a mandate to pay the interest incurred due to the study loan till the candidate completes the course. The member said this would put a burden on government to the tune of Rs.6.5 billion annually. The scheme will be available to both postgraduate and undergraduate students of institutes recognised by the University Grant Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Medical Council of India. "Depending on their requirement, they will get loans up to Rs 1.5 million from banks. We are also planning that students should not pay huge collaterals, as is the norm now, to avail loan from banks," he said. The official said the ministry officials and our members are negotiating to implement the scheme from the coming academic year.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/19/2007
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PAKISTAN: Musharraf Steps Down as Army Chief
Gen Musharraf passed a ceremonial baton to Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at the army's headquarters. In his farewell address, Gen Musharraf said the army was his "life" and he was proud to have been the commander of this "great force". He had been under huge pressure to quit as army chief and is due to be sworn in as civilian president on Thursday. Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto welcomed President Musharraf quitting his army post but said her party was in no hurry to accept him as a civilian leader. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said President Musharraf's stepping down was a good first step but called for a state of emergency to be lifted ahead of January elections. President Musharraf has led Pakistan's military for nine turbulent years. As a civilian leader he will have to work out a relationship with a new army chief and an elected prime minister. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Karachi says President Musharraf has shown great resilience over the years, often bouncing back when seemingly on the ropes. His legacy as a military leader on the front line of the "war on terror" is a country beset by militancy. Despite his having preached "enlightened moderation", President Musharraf is a reluctant democrat whose policies have provided political space for religious conservatives to the exclusion of moderates and liberals, our correspondent says. Dressed in full military uniform, Gen Musharraf arrived at the ceremony with a baton under his left arm. On his arrival, he was greeted by Gen Kayani and inspected a guard of honour. A military band played Pakistan's national anthem and the ceremony began with a recitation from the Koran.
The colourful ceremony was shown live on national television. "I am bidding farewell to the army after having been in uniform for 46 years," Gen Musharraf said in his address. He became army chief in October 1998. "This army is my life, my passion. I love this army, and this relationship will continue, although I will not be in uniform," he said. Gen Musharraf added: "I am fortunate to have commanded the best army in the world. This army is an integrating force, the saviour of Pakistan. "Without this army, the entity of Pakistan cannot exist." Gen Musharraf expressed full faith in the ability of his successor, Gen Kayani, to lead the force. "He's an excellent soldier and I can say with full confidence that under his command, the armed forces will achieve great heights," Gen Musharraf said. He had designated Gen Kayani, a former head of the intelligence services, as his successor in October. The most serious pressure on the president to give up his uniform had come from the United States, his main international backer. Washington has grown concerned in recent months at the army's inability to rein in pro-Taleban militants and by Gen Musharraf's growing unpopularity. As a civilian leader, President Musharraf will still have considerable powers, including the ability to sack a civilian government. He imposed emergency rule on 3 November in order, he said, to control an unruly judiciary and deal with the growing threat from Islamist militants. General elections are to be held on 8 January. President Musharraf's critics in Pakistan and allies in the West say they cannot be free and fair unless the emergency is lifted.
From http://southasia.oneworld.net/ 11/29/2007
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Pakistan's Musharraf Swears Oath as Civilian Leader
Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf was sworn in as a civilian president for the first time Thursday, eight years after seizing power in a coup, in a ceremony broadcast live on national television. But the United States and Pakistan's opposition parties continued to press Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999, to lift emergency rule to pave the way for free and fair elections set for January 8. Musharraf was to be sworn in by the country's top judge in a ceremony at the presidential palace in Islamabad, wearing a suit instead of the military uniform that he used to back up his regime for the past eight years. "He will take the oath as a civilian president today," Musharraf's spokesman Rashid Qureshi told AFP. The oath will be administered by chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who was installed on November 3 when Musharraf declared a state of emergency, sacked most of Pakistan's top judges and suspended the constitution. Critics say Musharraf imposed the emergency to rid the Supreme Court of hostile judges amid fears that they would rule that his victory in a presidential election on October 6 was illegal. Musharraf's transition from military ruler to civilian leader has sparked speculation that he may lift the state of emergency.
Pakistan's attorney general, Malik Muhammad Qayyum, told AFP on Wednesday that Musharraf was set to end the emergency "very soon", while private Dawn television said it would be lifted within 48 hours. Musharraf was set to address the nation on Thursday after he was sworn in, Qureshi said. State media said the speech would be broadcast at 8:00 pm (1500 GMT). But officials close to Musharraf said while he had mulled whether to scrap emergency rule, which he said was a necessary response to a wave of Islamic militant attacks and a meddling judiciary, he was unlikely to do so now. The emergency has taken to a new level a political crisis that began when Musharraf in March first tried to sack the independent-minded former chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. He was finally removed on November 3. Lawyers in the eastern city of Lahore said they would protest on Thursday against Musharraf's swearing in as president, the state of emergency and his treatment of the judiciary. As civilian president, Musharraf will have the power to dismiss the government but will face increased opposition from former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, both of whom recently returned from exile.
Bhutto said on Wednesday that Musharraf had met one of her key demands, but warned: "We are not in a hurry to accept Pervez Musharraf as a civilian president." Musharraf, still a key ally in the US-led "war on terror", resigned as head of Pakistan's half-million strong military at an emotional ceremony on Wednesday, handing over command of the army to former spy chief Ashfaq Kiyani. The move followed repeated demands from the international community for Musharraf to become a civilian leader of the nuclear-armed Islamic republic of 160 million people. On Wednesday, the United States and Britain cautiously welcomed Musharraf's resignation as army chief but pushed him to end emergency rule. "In my judgement, in order to get Pakistan back on the road to democracy, he's got to suspend the emergency law before elections," US President George W. Bush told CNN in an interview. The US leader however praised Musharraf as "an absolute reliable partner in dealing with extremists and radicals" and said he appreciated that Musharraf had "kept his word" by resigning as army chief. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called Musharraf's resignation from the army an "important part of the process" of restoring democracy but urged him to follow up by ensuring free and fair elections.
From http://afp.google.com/ 11/27/2007
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TI Global Corruption Barometer 2007 for Pakistan Finds Corruption in Media and Judiciary Reduced Considerably
In the GCB 2007 survey report released by Transparency International, citizens who paid bribe of in Pakistan in 2007 has increased to over 30% as compared to 15% in 2006, a 100% increase in corruption. The most corrupt sectors amongst 14 sectors surveyed are Police (4.3), followed by Tax (4.1), and Utilities department, Political Parties, and Registry and permit services (3.9). The least corrupt are Religious Groups (2.7) followed by Education (3.0), Military (3.2), and Media (3.3), (1 meaning not at all corrupt, 5 meaning extremely corrupt). Globally Political parties are ranked as the most corrupt(4.0) and Police as the second Most Corrupt (3.6), and Religious Bodies as the least Corrupt(2.8). According to GCB 2007, only 20% of the citizens in Pakistan think that the government effort to fight corruption is somewhat effective as compared to Singapore where 88% of the citizens of think that the government effort to fight corruption as the most effective. The most improved sectors in anticorruption efforts in last the 12 months are Judiciary and Media, and the sectors where the corruption has increased are Tax and NGOs. Syed Adil Gilani, Chairman TI Pakistan said that Pakistan needs to have Rule of Law in the country, and political will to apply rules and regulation across the board, to achieve the goal of reducing corruption. Political will, judicial independence and effective non-discriminatory accountability mechanism, for those civil/defence departments as well as the public corporations and authorities not complying with the procedures including appointments, privatization and Public Procurement Rules 2004, is urgently needed to successfully combat corruption which is defined as ¡° Misuse of Authority for personal gain¡±.
From http://www.transparency.org/ 12/07/2007
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Govt to Lift Ban on Third-Time Premiership
* Malik Qayyum says president to issue five ordinances on 15th
LAHORE: The government is preparing an ordinance to lift the ban on third-time premiership, Geo news reported on Thursday. The channel quoted sources as saying that a constitutional package was being prepared and a presidential order removing the ban on becoming premier for the third time was also included in this package. Five ordinances: Attorney General Malik Qayyum said that five presidential orders would be issued on December 15, the day emergency rule would be lifted, according to staff report. The presidential orders to be issued are: The Revocation of Proclamation of Emergency Order, 2007, the Repeal of Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), 2007, the Revival of Constitution Order, 2007, the Establishment of Islamabad High Court Order, 2007, and the Grant of Pensionary Benefits to Judges Order, 2007. The AG told reporters at Supreme Court that all the fundamental rights would be restored after the promulgation of the Revocation of the Proclamation of Emergency Order and the Repeal of Provisional Constitution Order. ¡°The appointment age of high court judges is being reduced from 45 to 40 years,¡± he added. He said superior judges would take fresh oath under the 1973 Constitution after the promulgation of the ordinances. He said all sacked judges would be given full pension benefits, adding that a special provision was also being introduced to provide pension benefits to a high court judge who retired before completing a five-year tenure as permanent judge. He said Article 209 of the Constitution, dealing with the Supreme Judicial Council on the accountability of superior judges, would not be changed. He said no power was being given to the president in the constitution to sack judges. He said there was no proposal under consideration to suspend the local governments before the polls. The AG said there was nothing in the forthcoming ordinances to lift the ban on third-time premiership.
From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 12/14/2007
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CJ BHC, Others Take Oath Under Constitution
QUETTA: Chief Justice Balochistan High Court, Justice Amanullah Yasin Zai and other judges of BHC took oath under the 1973 Constitution at oath taking ceremony held here at Governor House on Saturday. Governor Balochistan, Owais Ghani, administered oath to the Chief Justice who later administered oath to other judges. Caretaker, Chief Minister, Muhammad Saleh Bhotani, ministers and high officials also attended the ceremony.
From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 12/15/2007
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AFGHANISTAN: Karzai Establishes the First Bar Association in Afghanistan
President Karzai on December 6 signed legislation allowing for the establishment of an independent law association, the Afghan Bar Association, news website allAfrica.com reported on December 10, citing a statement by the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI). Mark Ellis, the International Bar Association's executive director, said the Afghan Bar Association "will ensure that a competent, honest, and independent legal profession will help steer Afghanistan into a peaceful future." He noted that "IBAHRI has worked closely with the Afghan Ministry of Justice for the last three years to establish the basis of a nonpolitical, independent association which will both protect and advance the legal profession and also promote the rule of law in Afghanistan." The Afghan Bar Association is expected to have responsibilities including determining the eligibility of lawyers for admission to the profession, and setting the standards of professional ethics, discipline, legal aid, and continuing education for lawyers, according to its charter. MM
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/12/2007
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AZERBAIJAN: President Appoints Six New Regional Governors
According to an official announcement by the presidential press service in Baku on December 19, President Ilham Aliyev has appointed new governors, or "executive heads," for six regions, Turan reported. The newly appointed officials included Sair Alexasov as the head of the Qusar District, Aflatun Rufiyev in the Siyazan District, Anvar Seidaliyev in the Agsu District, Ramiz Cabrayilov to oversee the Lachin District, Aydin Agahuseynov in the Oguz District, and Elxan Huseynov as the new head of the Agstafa District. The reason for the replacements of such a large number of regional officials was not explained. RG
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/21/2007
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IRAQ: Kurdish Parties Plan New Leadership Roles
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have reportedly been holding discussions on the reappointment of leadership positions in the coming year, "Rozhnama" reported on December 5. Under the current agreement forged by the two leading parties in the Kurdistan regional government (KRG) in 2005, KDP head Mas'ud Barzani serves as president of the KRG and commander of the peshmerga. PUK Deputy Prime Minister Adnan Mufti was appointed speaker of parliament, Nechirvan Barzani assumed the position of Kurdish prime minister, and PUK Prime Minister Umar Fattah became the deputy prime minister of the unified administration. Under the agreement, the KDP and the PUK were to swap leadership positions after a fixed period of time (see "RFE/RL Iraq Report," June 3, 2005). According the "Rozhnama," it seems that KRG Vice President Kosrat Rasul Ali and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, both PUK members, are in the running to assume the post of regional prime minister. The newspaper suggested current Prime Minister Barzani will assume the post of parliament speaker. KR
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/06/2007
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IRAN: Deputy Minister Resigns
The Fars news agency on December 7 reported the resignation of the Iranian deputy interior minister for police and security affairs, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, countering earlier reports denying that he resigned (see "RFE/RL Newsline," December 7, 2007). Fars noted that Zolqadr's resignation has yet to be formally accepted, and that senior officials are trying to persuade him to remain in his post. Interior Minister Mostafa Purmohammadi told students at Tehran University on December 8 that Zolqadr has "for some time" been asking to be relieved of his duties, either to pursue unspecified research work or to join the armed forces joint headquarters. Zolqadr is a senior officer of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. Purmohammadi said he does not want Zolqadr to leave his post, ISNA reported, but did not say whether his resignation has been accepted. Separately, Majid Ansarifard, a spokesman for the Agriculture Jihad Ministry -- the rural-development ministry -- on December 8 denied reports that Agriculture Jihad Minister Mohammad Reza Eskandari is also resigning, the ISCA news agency reported. He said Eskandari will speak to the press in coming days. VS
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/10/2007
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IRAN: Ministry in Talks to Computerize Elections
The Iranian Interior Ministry and the Guardians Council -- which has supreme vetting and supervisory powers over Iranian elections -- are continuing talks on computerizing the electoral process, including vote counting, Deputy Interior Minister for Political Affairs Alireza Afshar said at the ministry in Tehran on December 18, Mehr reported. Iran is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in mid-March. Afshar said the two bodies agree on some aspects of computerization, but the Mehr report did not specify which. The Guardians Council has been reluctant to abandon standard paper-based voting, which it believes allows its inspectors to closely check on the results. Afshar on December 18 visited a ministry workshop providing training for the use of the election software developed by the ministry. Reformists have separately expressed concerns in recent days about Guardians Council Secretary Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati's most recent remarks on the vetting of electoral aspirants. He recently suggested that candidates will be disqualified from running in the March elections unless they can prove to Guardians Council officials that they are fit to run for public office. The council usually weeds out the majority of aspiring electoral candidates, leaving only the reputedly pious or conservative candidates. However, the council denies that it does anything but implement the law. VS
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/19/2007
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KYRGYZSTAN: Opposition Party Calls for Election Boycott
The Kyrgyz opposition Asaba (Flag) party on December 5 issued a call for "all healthy political forces" in the country to boycott the December 16 parliamentary elections, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. In a statement released in Bishkek, the party argued that the Kyrgyz authorities and the Central Election Commission are limiting the activities of opposition parties in an attempt to ensure their victory in the coming elections. Asaba leader Azimbek Beknazarov explained that the boycott threat is due to the authorities' use of "administrative resources" to weaken the opposition, AKIpress reported. Bolotbek Sherniyazov, a candidate from the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, also recently warned that several opposition parties will hold public rallies to protest the government's use of administrative resources to thwart "equal opportunities for all participants" in the run-up to the elections (see "RFE/RL Newsline," December 4, 2007). RG
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/06/2007
Kyrgyz Election Commission Announces Allocation of Seats in New Parliament
In an announcement from Bishkek on December 20, Kyrgyz Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairperson Klara Kabilova stated the country's main opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party failed to win any seats in the December 16 elections for a new parliament, according to Kabar and ITAR-TASS. The CEC said that although the opposition Ata-Meken party finished second, garnering about 8.3 percent of the vote, it failed to win any seats because it failed to surpass a 0.5 percent regional threshold to enter the parliament. The CEC added that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev's Ak-Jol Eldik (Best Path Popular) Party won 71 seats in the new 90-seat unicameral parliament. The CEC went on to report that the opposition Social Democratic Party secured 11 seats and the pro-government Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan won eight seats. Most notably, the CEC seemingly retracted its announcement the previous day, which failed to note the Ata-Meten party's failure to enter parliament (see "RFE/RL Newsline," December 20, 2007). The CEC also declined to clarify the recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned the controversial regulation requiring political parties to surpass a 0.5 percent threshold in each of the country's seven provinces and two largest cities in order to win representation in parliament (see "RFE/RL Newsline," December 19, 2007). Instead, Kabilova merely said the Supreme Court only modified "some provisions" of the electoral code pertaining to the vote count and argued that the 0.5 percent regional threshold remains in place. RG
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/21/2007
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TAJIKISTAN:¡¡Ruling Party Wins Parliamentary By-Election
Running unopposed, General Abdurahmon Azimov, a prominent member of the ruling People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT), won a December 16 by-election in the southern Kulob district to Tajikistan's Majlisi Namoyandagon, the lower house of parliament, according to Asia-Plus and Avesta. Azimov, a presidential adviser who previously served as a commander of the Tajik border guards, won over 94 percent of the vote, in which about 52 percent of eligible voters took part. Azimov ran unopposed after the opposition Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) refused to field a candidate. Local IRPT leader Kulob Muhammadsharif Nabiev defended his party's decision to boycott the by-election, arguing that the Tajik authorities refused the party's demand for representation on local electoral commissions. The by-election was called following the death of Khumdin Sharipov, who formerly represented the Kulob district in the parliament. RG
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/18/2007
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TURKMENISTAN: New UN Center Opened
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov presided on December 10 over a ceremony marking the opening of a new UN regional center on preventive diplomacy in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, according to Interfax-Kazakhstan. The UN hailed the $2.3 million initiative, the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, as formally empowered to "assist the governments of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in increasing their potential to resolve disputes peacefully and to prevent conflicts by [holding] dialogues and involving international support in the implementation of relevant projects." The opening ceremony was also attended by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and the foreign ministers from all five Central Asian states. Berdymukhammedov welcomed the establishment of the UN center and added that it will engage in preventive diplomacy designed to seek an "early diagnosis" of regional problems, including "drug trafficking, trans-border organized crime, and attempts to spread radical extremist religious ideology," ITAR-TASS reported. RG
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/11/2007
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AUSTRALIA: Govt Ministers Will Be Held to Code
Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop says she supports standards set down in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's new Ministerial Code of Conduct. The new code includes measures requiring ministers to sell all shares that are not held in superannuation or managed funds. It also bans ministers from working in some fields connected to their portfolios for a year after they leave office, and prohibits fundraising at the Prime Minister's official residences. Ms Bishop told ABC's Lateline there were already accountability measures in place under the Coalition government and Mr Rudd has set the bar very high. "I think it's a question of the honesty, integrity of the person involved and I don't believe that any former minister has acted improperly," she said. "But Mr Rudd has set this standard, it's a standard that we'll be holding his ministers to." Point scoring But an Opposition frontbencher has accused the Government of political point-scoring in the new code. After attacking former prime minister John Howard over a Liberal Party function at his official Sydney residence earlier this year, Mr Rudd has included a clause banning electoral fundraising at Kirribilli House and the Lodge.
The new shadow special minister of state, Michael Ronaldson, is unimpressed. "I quite frankly don't think they've done themselves any favours by doing so and the community will be deeply cynical about their motives for these other parts of the code," he said. Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard says breaches of the Coalition Government's code of conduct went unpunished. "We're serious about improving accountability standards in government," she said. Mr Ronaldson says the Coalition will support the code if it is in the community's best interests, but he wants to see more detail. "What happens with spouses in relation to former ministers?" he said. "If it's a former transport minister are they banned from working with a transport infrastructure company or are they banned from working with a government relations company that has one of those infrastructure companies as their client? So there are lots of questions there," he said.
From http://www.abc.net.au 12/07/2007
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Tanner Vows to Rein in Public Service
Australia's new Finance Minister has vowed to rein in the growth of the public service, which he says has been "out of control" in recent years. Lindsay Tanner told Inside Business the Federal Government will look to bring the public service back into line with broader employment growth. "But our focus isn't on public service headcounts per se, although there have been some worrying trends recently, our focus is on overall expenditure," he said. "Obviously the two are connected but our primary focus will be on reining in expenditure, strengthening the surplus and putting downward pressure on interest rates and inflation."
From http://www.abc.net.au/ 12/09/2007
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Burgess Replaces Tyrell as NT's Top Public Servant
Mike Burgess has been officially appointed as the Territory's most powerful public servant. The former civil engineer will take over as Chief Executive of the Department of the Chief Minister from Paul Tyrrell who resigned after Clare Martin stepped down. Mr Burgess has been in the public service for more than two decades. His deputy will be Clare Martin's former chief of staff Denis Bree.
From http://www.abc.net.au/ 12/10/2007
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Future Leaders Graduate from the Australian Defence Force Academy
The Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), Captain Peter Murray (RAN), today congratulated 222 Navy Midshipmen and Army and Air Force Officer Cadets who have successfully graduated from the Academy. The Graduating Class of 2007 joined more than 500 of their colleagues on the Academy Parade Ground to celebrate in front of family and friends at today¡¯s Graduation Parade. Captain Murray said, ¡°Since joining the Australian Defence Force Academy these men and women have successfully completed a three year academic and military training program. Their military and leadership training, combined with undergraduate studies through the University of New South Wales at ADFA, has developed the fundamental knowledge, professional skills and qualities of character they will need as young officers in the Australian Defence Force. ¡°They have matured into exemplary young adults who demonstrate high levels of professionalism, integrity and leadership. They should be proud of their achievements,¡± he said.
During what was the Academy¡¯s twenty-first anniversary Graduation Parade, its most prestigious award, the Commander in Chief Medal, was awarded to Midshipman Daniel Boettger by the Governor-General, His Excellency, Major General Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC (Retd). This Medal is awarded to the most outstanding graduate in the fields of military and academic achievement as well as leadership, personal example and performance of duty. Chief of Air Force, Air Marshall Geoff Shepherd, AO, representing the Chief of the Defence Force, presented the Chief of the Defence Force Sword of Honour for Leadership to Army Officer Cadet Roger Pilton. OCDT Pilton displayed the highest standard of leadership and officer development amongst the graduating class. Midshipman Ashleigh Payne, Officer Cadet Nathan Williams and Officer Cadet Aaron Thompson were awarded the Chief of Navy, Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force prizes respectively. To honour the graduating class, an Air Force C130J Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond conducted a flypast over the Parade Ground and the ADFA cadet body. The graduating class have been posted to establishments around Australia to continue their training. Seven international students will return home having been outstanding ambassadors for their respective countries.
From http://www.defence.gov.au 12/13/2007
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Successful Senate Candidates Elected in Victoria
The Australian Electoral Commission has announced that the count for the election of six Senators for Victoria was completed earlier today. The successful candidates for the six Senate vacancies for Victoria are (in order of their election): Jacinta Collins (ALP) Mitch Fifield (Liberal) Gavin Marshall (ALP) Helen Kroger (Liberal) Scott Ryan (Liberal) David Feeney (ALP) The Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria, Mr Daryl Wight, said that the Senate count had involved the keying-in of votes into a computerised system, and today an automated process was used to distribute preferences and determine the six elected candidates. ¡°As with all aspects of the count, the automated distribution of preferences undertaken today was open to scrutineers appointed by the candidates,¡± Mr Wight said. ¡°Approximately 98% of voters cast their ballot Above-The-Line on the Senate ballot paper while only 2% voted Below-The-Line,¡± he said.
From http://www.aec.gov.au 12/20/2007
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Liberal Opposition Issues Damning Government Report Card
The State Opposition has issued a report card, detailing what it considers to be the Government's failings over the past year. The Liberal Leader, Will Hodgman, says the Government's performance in 2007 has been marked by broken promises and a lack of vision. Mr Hodgman's report card highlights the pulp mill assessment process, public housing waiting lists, and plans for an ambulance fee. Mr Hodgman says there were 43 Parliamentary sitting days this year - four fewer than last year - and $14 million was spent on Ministerial staff. He says the Premier has shown contempt for accountability and is not committed to leading Labor to the next election. Overall Mr Hodgman grades the Government an F.
From http://www.abc.net.au 12/22/2007
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NEW ZEALAND: Appointment of Chief Executive of Department of Internal Affairs
The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, announced today the appointment of Brendan Boyle to the position of Chief Executive and Secretary for Internal Affairs, Department of Internal Affairs. Mr Boyle is currently the Chief Executive for Land Information New Zealand, a position he has held since August 2003. "Mr Boyle has proven experience as a Public Service chief executive. He has a range of skills and experiences that are relevant to the role of chief executive of the Department of Internal Affairs, including the ability to maintain positive working relationships with Ministers, other government departments and stakeholders. "The Department of Internal Affairs is a complex organization that provides a range of services supporting government, communities and citizenship. It is responsible for providing information and services on matters relating to local government, identity services, citizenship, community development, gaming, racing, censorship, emergency management and State visits and ceremonies.
"As the incoming chief executive, Brendan Boyle will be required to gain and maintain the confidence of six Ministers, lead approximately 1300 staff in 17 locations in New Zealand and in two offshore locations, and provide visible leadership in areas of the department's expertise and it's contribution to the Development Goals for the State Services," Mark Prebble said. A career public servant, Mr Boyle has held positions at the Land Titles Office in Dunedin (then part of the Justice Department) and was appointed Registrar-General of Land Information New Zealand in 1996. In 2000, Mr Boyle was appointed to the position of Director of the E-government Unit, in the State Services Commission. Mr Boyle has a Law Degree from Otago University and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1991. He completed a Masters in Business Administration at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan Business School in the USA in 2000 and has undertaken other Executive training at the Harvard Business School. Mr Boyle takes up his appointment on 4 February 2008.
From http://www.ssc.govt.nz/ 12/11/2007
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New Governance Arrangements for CCDHB
Minister of Health David Cunliffe today announced his decision to appoint a new Chair and Crown Monitor to Capital and Coast District Health Board. The Crown Monitor, who will report directly to the Minister, is Dr Ian Brown an Obstetrician Gynaecologist, who was the Director of Medical Services at Northland DHB until November this year, he is also the former chair of the national Chief Medical Officers' Forum and has been a member of the National Medical Strategy Workforce Group. The new Chair is Sir John Anderson the current Chairman of Television New Zealand and is one of New Zealand¡¯s pre-eminent business leaders with a proven record in governance. Ken Douglas will remain as Deputy Chair to provide continuity. ¡°I believe that Sir John Anderson and Dr Ian Brown have the experience and skills to provide stability and give clear direction to Capital and Coast DHB,¡± Mr Cunliffe said. The first priority for the new board and Crown Monitor would include consulting with clinical staff on the creation of a forward plan for the DHB,¡± Mr Cunliffe said. ¡°It is my intention to appoint Peter Douglas and Selwyn Katene to the Board. Judith Aitken and other elected members will also remain on the Board.¡±
Mr Cunliffe thanked Dr Aitken for her contribution to the board and for her efforts to stabilise a difficult situation over recent months. ¡°My decisions took into account the need to usher in a new era of direction at Capital and Coast while also ensuring some continuity remained,¡± Mr Cunliffe said. ¡°The situation at Capital and Coast was serious and I have treated it accordingly. I sought advice from several sources including my Cabinet colleagues.¡± As well as appointing the Crown Monitor discussion on providing deficit support to Capital and Coast DHB will continue. ¡°The discussions with the Board will focus on deficit support in order to relieve some of the financial pressure currently experienced by the Board. ¡°This does not mean they have an open cheque book. It means that this DHB is expected to resolve the issues it has and that the Government will be working with them to ensure that all solutions are sustainable.¡±
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 12/13/2007
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Robin Hapi Appointed as New Tertiary Education Commissioner
Tertiary Education Minister Pete Hodgson today announced the appointment of Robin Hapi (Ngati Kahungunu) as a new Commissioner of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). Robin Hapi took up the position on December 10 and will fill the vacancy created by outgoing Commissioner Tina Olsen-Ratana. His term is for three years. ¡°Robin is a highly capable individual who has had extensive experience in business as a senior executive and as a director and in public sector organisations, which will equip him well for this job,¡± Pete Hodgson said. ¡°Robin also has a strong knowledge of tertiary education needs for Maori. His input will serve the education and training aspirations of Maori, which are important to the Government¡¯s Tertiary Education Strategy and the tertiary reforms.¡± Pete Hodgson also extended his thanks to Tina Olsen-Ratana for her services as Commissioner. ¡°Tina has made an excellent contribution to the tertiary education system as a Commissioner over the last three years.¡±
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 12/13/2007
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HNZC Board Re-appointments Announced
Housing Minister Maryan Street today announced the re-appointment of three members of the Housing New Zealand Corporation board. ¡°I¡¯m pleased to announce board chair Pat Snedden and board member Greg Hinton have been re-appointed for a further term of three years and that Tony Paine has been re-appointed for a further 18 months.¡± The re-appointments were approved on 17 December and the terms extend from that date, the minister said. ¡°All members considered for re-appointment were assessed against a range of criteria; with a particular focus on strong governance experience, property management, and institutional knowledge. ¡°The board steers the Crown¡¯s second largest Crown entity and I wish them well in continuing their good work to date,¡± she said.
Pat Snedden was appointed to the board in August 2000 and as chair in 2004. He chairs the Counties Manukau District Health Board and is a director of Watercare Services Ltd. He is deputy chair of the ASB Trust and on the board of the Ngati Whatua-owned radio station Mai FM. Greg Hinton was appointed to the board in July 2005 and has a background in accounting, property management and property development. He is an executive director of NSI Management Ltd, a director of A2 Corporation Ltd and Chalmers Properties Ltd as well as the director of a number of private companies. Tony Paine was appointed to the board in November 2004 and has qualifications in social work and management. He has a background in not-for-profit management and social services and is the chief executive officer of the Christchurch Arts Centre. Tony was previously the chief executive of Comcare Charitable Trust and held a position with the New Zealand Aids Foundation.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 12/19/2007
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Health and Disability Commissioner Reappointed
Minister announces reappointment of Ron Paterson as Health and Disability Commissioner Minister of Health David Cunliffe today confirmed that serving Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson had been reappointed for a further five year term. Mr Cunliffe praised Mr Paterson¡¯s approach to openness and accountability within the health sector. ¡°Mr Paterson has demonstrated a strong commitment to furthering the rights of patients and recommending improvements to the health sector when needed, and I am delighted that he has accepted a further five year appointment.¡± The Health and Disability Commission focuses on three key areas of work: resolution of complaints; protection of the public; and learning from complaints. ¡°The work of the Commission in giving consumers a voice and recommending changes to improve health and disability services in this country is vital and Mr Paterson and his team deserve thanks and congratulations for the work they have done and will continue to do.¡± Mr Paterson was first appointed to the role of Commissioner in March 2000 for a five year term and was reappointed for a further three years in 2005. He has had a leading role in health law, ethics and policy in New Zealand for the past decade, and also played a key role in the development of the Code of Rights in 1996.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 12/20/2007
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SOLOMON ISLANDS: MPs Electing New Prime Minister
A new prime minister for Solomon Islands is being elected in a secret ballot. The 47 members of the Solomon Islands¡¯ parliament are expected the complete the election process in the next hour. The contest for the prime minister's post is between Northeast Guadalcanal MP Dr. Derick Sikua and Temotu Nende MP Patteson Oti who was Foreign Affairs minister in the former Manasseh Sogavare government. Mr Oti is candidate for the caretaker Sogavare government whilst Dr. Sikua is the opposition's candidate. After the election, Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena is expected to announce the winner in front of the eastern gate to parliament building and the new prime minister is expected to give a speech. Today's election follows last week's ousting of former prime minister Sogavare in a no confidence motion. Meanwhile, security at parliament house is tight. In an unprecedented move, police have restricted entry into the parliament compound to journalists and police and military personnel only. This is believed to be a police operational decision.
From http://www.pacificmagazine.net 12/20/2007
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SOLOMON ISLANDS: Cabinet Announced
New Solomon Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has unveiled his cabinet reports SIBC. Former Solomon Islands Opposition leader Fred Fono is the new deputy prime minister and looks after the rural development and indigenous affairs portfolio. Three former prime ministers have all been given ministerial portfolios. Sir Allan Kemakeza is minister for forestry, Francis Billy Hilly takes on commerce, trade and employment and Snyder Rini is new minister for finance and treasury.
Other appointments include:
William Haomae, Foreign affairs minister
Former deputy prime minister Toswel Kaua, Justice and legal affairs
Steve Abana, Development planning and aid coordination
Stanley Sofu, Infrastructure development
Nollen Leni, Fisheries and marine resources
Sam Iduri, National reconciliation and peace
Peter Tom, Women, youth and children affairs
Gordon Darcy Lilo, Environment, conservation and meteorology
Milner Tozaka, Public service
Edward Huni'ehu, Mines and energy
David Dei Pacha, Provincial government.
Samuel Manetoali, Police and national security
Job Duddley Tausinga, Education and human resources development
Johnson Koli, Health and medical services
Seth Gukuna, Culture and tourism
Selwyn Riumana, Agriculture and livestock
Martin Magga, Lands, housing and survey
Varian Longmei, Communication and aviation
James Tora, Home affairs.
From http://www.pacificmagazine.net 12/24/2007
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Seminar on Building an East Asian Community
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) and "the Society for the Research on Building an East Asian Community" will hold a seminar on "An East Asian Community and Korea's Strategies - ASEAN+3 and EAS" in Busan from December 8 to 9. This seminar will serve as an opportunity to analyze politico-security, economic, and sociocultural cooperation for the building of an East Asian community, issues discussed at the ASEAN+3 Summit and other meetings held in Singapore from November 20 to 21. MOFAT and the participating scholars will exchange views on a wide range of issues including the direction of Korea-East Asia cooperation and ways to promote cooperation vis-a-vis the ASEAN. In particular, the participants will evaluate the efforts to build an economic community within the region and various cooperation projects that were discussed at the ASEAN+3 Summit, and will discuss Korea's mid- to long-term response strategies in setting the direction of regional integration and the ways to enhance cooperation. Korea and ASEAN member states have witnessed a surge in trade, investment and people-to-people exchange in the recent years (an annual increase of 15-20%), and consequently relevant Korean companies and the academic circle have displayed heightened interest in the exchange and cooperation with the ASEAN.
From http://www.korea.net 12/05/2007
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ADB President Calls for Fundamental Change in Water Management in Asia and Pacific
BEPPU, JAPAN - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda today called on all countries in the Asia and Pacific region to make a fundamental change in the way they manage water to build a sustainable future. ¡°We need to change the way we think about water ¨C change to a broader perspective that considers all facets of economic and social development,¡± said Mr. Kuroda in his address to the first Asia-Pacific Water Summit. ADB regards better water management as a crucial challenge for the Asia and Pacific region, where more than 600 million people lack access to safe drinking water and 2 billion people have inadequate, or are without, sanitation facilities. Energy, food, environment and industrial policies are all intimately linked to water. Policies in all these areas will similarly be influenced by external forces like demographic transitions, advances in technology and communication, globalization and free trade. ¡°All of these factors must be considered holistically in order to build a sustainable future toward and beyond Millennium Development Goals,¡± Mr. Kuroda said. Calling for strong political will and practical, forward-looking actions, Mr. Kuroda stressed the need to move water higher up on the local, national, regional and international policy agendas. He noted that most of the region¡¯s water problems are solvable through more appropriate planning and management. Specific solutions will vary according to each country¡¯s particular circumstances. However, Mr. Kuroda said, some fundamentals can apply across the board: reliable, accessible data on water; related social, economic and environmental factors; strong partnerships among governments, the private sector, civil society and others; water quality management; and capacity building for new skills, new approaches and new mindsets. ADB is committed to helping its developing member countries address their water challenges with the vision of water for all in the Asia and Pacific region. ADB expects to sharply increase its investments in the water sector through its Water Financing Program, which directs funds, reforms and capacity development programs at rural communities, cities and river basins. As part of ADB¡¯s contribution to the Summit, ADB published the Asia Water Development Outlook on November 29 ¨C a report that assesses the region¡¯s current and future water problems and proposes the policy measures that can help solve them.
From http://www.adb.org/ 12/04/2007
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ITU Global Forum Adopts Actions to Strengthen Response in Emergencies
Geneva, 13 December 2007 ¡ª The Global Forum on ¡®Effective Use of Telecommunications/ICT for Disaster Management: Saving Lives¡¯ closed yesterday, having launched two important initiatives, the ITU Framework for Cooperation in Emergencies and the ITU Network of Volunteers for Emergency Telecommunications. Two new publications on emergency telecommunications were also issued. The ITU Secretary-General also established a High-Level Panel for Emergency Telecommunications consisting of Mr Eui Koh, Mr Jay Naidoo, and Mr Olof Lundberg. Several partnerships forged with industry were also announced. These partnerships bring to ITU both equipment and funds to be used to finance telecommunications/ICT solutions in all phases of disaster management, including early-warning and response. The Global Forum was held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2007. The Forum attracted representatives of 174 governments, some at Ministerial level; 18 international organizations; 18 private sector entities including some CEOs; and 53 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Participants gathered to map out concrete strategies and adopt practical measures aimed at giving telecommunications/ICT a central role in all phases of disaster management early warning, preparedness, relief and response, and rehabilitation of telecommunication networks. "We have seen through first-hand experience the power and potential of telecommunications to save lives in times of disaster," noted Mr Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. "I was pleased to meet so many dedicated men and women during this Forum who are united in the common belief that much more can and must be done."
The Forum discussed policy, regulation, technology, finance and deployment of last-mile, multi-hazard communications systems. The Forum comprised plenary sessions, panel discussions, a ministerial round table, a private sector CEO round table, a workshop on remote sensing, thematic sessions, and an exhibition of telecommunication/ICT state-of-the-art solutions, including technologies for remote sensing. The ITU Framework for Cooperation in Emergencies (IFCE), formally launched at the Forum, is designed to make telecommunications/ICT resources available for use by government agencies responsible for disaster relief, humanitarian personnel as well as victims of disasters through its technology, finance, and logistics clusters seeking to ensure that reliable, easily transportable and technology-neutral systems are deployed in a timely manner whenever and wherever disasters may occur. The IFCE is an integral part of ITU¡¯s other activities undertaken at all phases of disaster management, such as disaster preparedness, early warning, and rehabilitation of telecommunications networks. The ITU Network of Volunteers for Emergency Telecommunications (VET) is intended to mobilize volunteers with technical expertise who will participate in the deployment of telecommunication/ICT resources and services in the immediate aftermath of disasters. ITU will create a database of such experts as part of disaster preparedness. These volunteers could be drawn from but not limited to retired specialists from ITU Member States, ITU Sector Members, and retired staff of the ITU Secretariat. A number of partnerships were also formalized between ITU and its partners, including several agreements with different global satellite service providers, including Iridium, VIZADA and ICO Global, to donate equipment and satellite airtime to support first responders in the case of disasters. Additional agreements were signed with other partners, covering areas such as training and capacity-building.
Financial contributions were also announced to support activities launched at the Global Forum, including support from TerreStar and ICO Global. Announcing a USD 25 000 contribution to the IFCE finance cluster, ICO Global CEO Tim Bryan said we have to do our bit to save lives. "In a very real sense, none of us is doing enough, and each of us needs to do more," he said. ICO also committed to provide two million minutes of free airtime in support of emergency telecommunications. TerreStar Global¡¯s next-generation mobile satellite with its complementary ground component (CGC) network is designed to meet the needs of emergency services when responding to natural or man-made disasters. "Emerging new technologies such as Next-Generation Networks make an invaluable contribution to emergency telecommunications," said ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Tour¨¦. Iridium Satellite announced its contribution of equipment and airtime services to ITU for its global disaster management programme. "ITU will provide first responders with reliable Iridium voice and data services so that they can more effectively help a greater number of people in the early days of an emergency," said Matt Desch, chairman and CEO, Iridium Satellite. The Iridium network operates independently of terrestrial infrastructure. The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and ITU signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation on remote sensing of the Earth, particularly in the field of disaster preparedness and response. This will include protection for the dedicated radio frequencies that remote-sensing satellites and Earth-based monitors use for gathering high-quality data on the global environment, the improved application of Earth observations to disaster management, and increased capacity building in developing countries for the effective use of Earth observations in decision-making.
From http://www.itu.int/ 12/13/2007
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Conscious Actions Critical for Rural Poor to Benefit from Growth in Asia: ADB Book
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - As an unacceptably large number of rural people have been left behind the remarkable economic progress in the Asia and Pacific region, a set of conscious policies and actions are urgently needed to include them in the development process, according to a new book by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). ¡°Inclusive rural development is not a definite and automatic outcome of overall economic growth or even rural economic growth. A rising tide does not lift all boats,¡± concludes the Rural Development Outcomes and Drivers, released this week. Despite impressive economic transformation that the Asia and Pacific region experienced in the last five decades, persistent rural poverty is a major development problem. The book covers different but interrelated dimensions of rural development: economic, social and political. ¡°If rural development is to be achieved within a reasonable time, direct actions are absolutely essential. This is particularly true if the objective of rural development encompasses inclusive rural development, says Satish Rao, Director General of ADB¡¯s East Asia Department. According to recent estimates, over 1.6 billion people in rural Asia are poor, based on the $2-a-day yardstick. The seriousness of the rural underdevelopment further increases when other dimensions of development are taken into account. The dismal story of non-income poverty including lack of access to sanitation and safe drinking water facilities and poor schooling facilities for rural people reinforces concerns about rural underdevelopment. Most people with low social development, for example, those with high illiteracy rates, are in rural areas. Rural-urban disparities in both income and social development are significant, and in some countries they are rising.
Most rural people do not have access to even basic services and facilities such as access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities and banking services which are critical for their quality of life. The international experience of rural development offers important general lessons on policies and programs to achieve inclusive rural development objectives. The book refers to six conditions that are central to inclusive rural development. Among these, two are more predominant. First, opportunities for rural poor to gainfully employ themselves and improve their quality of life need to be provided. This requires paying more attention than in the past to both agricultural sector and the rural non-farm economy. This is necessary but not sufficient. Second, the ability of poor households to take advantage of the opportunities within and outside the rural economy must be improved and ensured. One without the other is unlikely to work. ¡°The governments must clearly recognize the vital role they must play to achieve inclusive rural development,¡± says Nimal Fernando, the author of the book and ADB¡¯s Practice Leader for Microfinance. Governments have to ease economic and social infrastructure constraints; pay particular attention to protecting and conserving natural resources, improve and protect security of land tenure; develop institutions that are critical for inclusive rural development, including dynamic rural financial markets; and facilitate the process of off-farm labor migration and implement policies and programs targeted to address social inequalities. However, governments have to ensure that their actions will not crowd out the private sector. The government actions must facilitate and promote the private sector role.
From http://www.adb.org/ 12/14/2007
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OECD¡¯S Pisa Survey Shows Some Countries Making Significant Gains in Learning Outcomes
OECD¡¯s latest PISA survey of the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds shows that some countries have seen significant improvements in student performance since 2000. Korea further increased its strong reading performance between 2000 and 2006 by 31 score points, the equivalent of almost a school year, mainly by raising the proportion of top-performers. Poland increased its reading performance by 29 score points over the same period. Mexico and Greece saw significant improvements in mathematics performance between 2003 and 2006. However, across the OECD area as a whole learning outcomes have generally remained flat, while expenditure on education in OECD countries rose by an average of 39% between 1995 and 2004. The survey also revealed widespread pessimism among secondary school students about environmental challenges and limited enthusiasm for scientific careers. Based on tests carried out among 400,000 students in 57 countries in 2006, the latest PISA survey focuses particularly on students¡¯ abilities in comprehending and tackling scientific problems. It also provides an update on performance in reading and mathematics compared with surveys in 2000 and 2003. Launching the report at a press conference in Tokyo, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurr¨ªa emphasized the importance of education for the development of people and society."Effective and innovative education policies open enormous opportunities for individuals", he said. "They also underpin healthy and vibrant economies." In the highly competitive globalised economy of today, quality education is one of the most valuable assets that a society and an individual can have." (read his speech) While most students polled said they were motivated to learn science, only a minority aspired to a career involving science: 72% said it was important for them to do well in science; 67% enjoyed acquiring new knowledge in science; 56% said science was useful for further studies; but only 37% said they would like to work in a career involving science and 21% said they would like to spend their life doing advanced science. At a time when scientific and technological know-how is helping to drive growth in advanced economies, the results of PISA 2006 reveal wide variations in skills levels. Student attitudes to science will be crucial to countries¡¯ economic potential in tomorrow¡¯s world, and PISA 2006 gives a detailed picture of how well students around the world are prepared for the challenges of a knowledge society.
The top performer in science in PISA 2006 was Finland, followed by Hong Kong-China, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Estonia, Japan and New Zealand. Australia, the Netherlands, Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Ireland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Macao-China also scored above OECD average. Data for science in PISA 2006 are not directly comparable to data in the previous studies as the nature of the tests has changed. Students from families with a more advantaged socio-economic background were morelikely to show a general interest in science, and this relationship was strongest in Ireland,France, Belgium and Switzerland. One significant feature of a student¡¯s background was whether they had a parent in a science-related career. In Australia, Canada, Finland, Japan and New Zealand, at least one in seven students reached the top two levels of scientific literacy. In Greece, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Turkey, by contrast, the proportion was lower than one in 20. On average across the OECD, students in private schools outperformed students in public schools in most countries. The picture changed, however, when the socio-economic background of students and schools was taken into account, with public schools taking the lead. Streaming at an early age tends to increase the impact of socio-economic background on student performance, PISA 2006 indicates. The earlier students were stratified into separate institutions or programmes, the stronger was the impact which the school¡¯s average socio-economic background had on performance. Schools that divided students by ability for all subjects tended to have lower student performance on average. The survey identified considerable interest among students in some scientific issues. Most, for example, were aware of environmental issues such as forest clearing and greenhouse gases. However, they were generally pessimistic about the future, with fewer than one in six believing that problems such as air pollution and nuclear waste disposal would improve over the next 20 years. Those who performed better in science showed greater awareness of environmental issues but were also more pessimistic.
From http://www.oecd.org/ 12/14/2007
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CHINA: Renovation to Benefit Thousands of Families
Thousands of traditional houses in 40 hutong in Beijing are to be renovated by July, as part of a massive effort to improve the safety and living conditions of nearly 10,000 families. It is the largest renovation of the old houses in Beijing since 1949. A total of 9,635 families living in 1,474 courtyards in the hutong are involved, the municipal government said on its website on Tuesday. The municipal authorities have allocated 250 million yuan ($33.8 million) for each of the four districts to be renovated - Dongcheng, Xicheng, Xuanwu and Chongwen. During an inspection of the project's progress on Monday, Beijing Vice-Mayor Chen Gang said the focus will be on improving residents' heating and toilet facilities. The authorities will also hire conservation experts to ensure the renovation work does not damage the look of hutong that so many have come to associate with the capital. The Beijing municipal commission of urban planning and the Beijing municipal construction committee, which gave detailed guidelines for the renovation, stressed the project will preserve historical items and the look of the traditional siheyuan (courtyards).
No changes to the width or layout of the hutong will be allowed, to ensure their original appearance is maintained. The use of old bricks and stone materials will also be encouraged to achieve traditional facades. A worker on a renovation site in Xicheng district told Beijing News that even the new windows will be in the old style - glass in wooden frames instead of the popular aluminium alloy ones. He said even small towns in China no longer use such wooden frames now. But the renovation will add many new facilities to the houses too, improving people's lives. One resident told Beijing News his renovated home benefits from an electric heating system, which saves him the trouble of relying on a coal stove that causes him to choke on hazardous fumes in winter. New homes will also have utility meters installed to encourage residents to save energy and water. Some courtyards will also be given new drainpipes and flush toilets. Dongsi resident Sang Nanhua is one of those looking forward to a new home. "In the past, it was too cold and inconvenient in the dead of winter to go out of the house and use the public toilet," Sang said.
From China Daily 11/29/2007
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First Social Work Committee Committed to Livelihood
China's first social work commission was officially established yesterday. The Beijing Social Work Committee has pledged to resolve a series of social problems, the Beijing News reported. Ding Xiangyang, Beijing's vice mayor, claimed that the establishment of this institution would have far-reaching revolutionary significance. Song Guilun, the newly appointed Secretary of the Social Work Committee, told the press that Beijing's existing social management systems and social construction are insufficient and therefore could not meet the needs to develop modern society. Many problems have arisen in the fields of education, medicare, culture and civil affairs. According to Song, the newly established Social Work Committee has many purposes: to improve ordinary people's livelihoods; to work out development plans for Beijing's social construction; to map out policies to deal with employment and medical service problems; and to organize and coordinate work relating to livelihood between government institutions so as to formulate effective, balanced policies.
The Beijing Social Work Committee (also called Beijing Social Construction Work Office) will be in charge of the unified management of community construction, new economic organizations and new social organizations. Song said that new economic organizations and new social organizations have been developing very quickly. The end of 2006 saw 1.095 million of them already registered in Beijing. Meanwhile Beijing's municipal functions are constantly expanding. The city has now 2,500 communities; some loopholes in the management of these communities currently exist. The Social Work Committee will act as a kind of "chief manager" for these organizations and communities. Yesterday, seven institutional leaders made a collective public appearance. The new institution plans to publicly recruit six more high level leading cadres.
From http://www.china.org.cn 12/03/2007
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Beijing, PBC to Establish Credit Innovations
The Beijing municipal government and the People's Bank of China are going to jointly build from 2008 an information network on individual business and personal credit records. The information collection and construction of the credit record system in Beijing will be completed by 2010, the Beijing News reported on Sunday, and will include details of criminal records from police. The Beijing municipal government will help the central bank to build the database, which will be shared among banks, municipal governmental branches in charge of public security, social security, taxation, and governmental employees' housing funds administration, the newspaper said. Meanwhile, people could get their own credit information or endorse others with written documents to check the history for them. Neither the government nor the bank disclosed the cost for building such a virtual reality system. Only selected governmental authorities and financial institutions could get access to the individual credit database, an official with the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission said, adding that credit history-related privacy will be strictly protected.
The government also said it is considering establishing some policy incentives, including preferable loan terms or taxation discounts, for businesses or people with good credit history, the newspaper reported. Banks are among the primary beneficiaries of the establishment of a credit record network. China has roughly 31 million credit card holders, but issuers of the moment cannot get card holders' credit history via a universal network. Malicious evasion from loans leads to huge costs for banks every year. In China, people can easily obtain credit cards by just submitting basic information such as names, jobs, salaries and contacts. Banks are unable to find out the credit history of first-time customers. Liu Feng, a risks management specialist of the Agricultural Bank of China, said financial institutions urgently need credit records of individuals. "It would not be difficult to digitize and share the financial information of customers among banks," Liu said, "but it'll be more helpful to banks for including other information, such as criminal record and taxation record, into the database." "The combined information would sufficient describe fuller images of our customers," Liu said.
The scheduled credit record network, according to the plan of the municipal government, will include traffic violations of drivers, particular severe offense such as hit-and-run, and frauds of business people. Inclusion of information other than financial status into the credit record database arouses debate. A Chongqing lawyer said that negative personal information such as criminal records should not be included into people's credit records, which should largely be used for loans. The lawyer said such privacy should be strictly protected from being accessed by anyone other than law enforcement officials. Mao Shoulong, a public administration professor at the Renmin University agreed that a combination of financial status with other personal backgrounds, like criminal records, would be helpful. He, however, said, "Alleged violations should not be recorded on people's credit history before their appeals to higher law enforcement bodies are completed."
From Xinhua News Agency 12/10/2007
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China Launches Nationwide Recall System
China launched a nationwide recall system Wednesday that shifts responsibility to companies to recall harmful drugs, a day after U.S. and Chinese officials signed an agreement on the safety of medicine and medical devices. The recall plan will place Chinese-made drugs and imported drugs in three classes according to their possible danger to people's health, a State Food and Drug Administration official said at a news conference. Each will have to be recalled within different timeframes, ranging from 24 hours for the most serious drugs, to 72 hours for those deemed less life-threatening. The global pharmaceutical industry increasingly uses drugs either made or containing ingredients sourced in China. That has put more attention on China to restore confidence in its manufacturing capabilities after a series of products ranging from toys to toothpaste to a pet food ingredients were found to contain poisonous products earlier in the summer. The new recall rule puts the onus on companies to have systems in place to recall bad drugs within the set time period and take responsibility to alert the government of any noticeable bad reactions on patients that are caused by their drugs. They are also encouraged to carry out voluntary recalls and may be excused punishment if they do.
Drug distributors and medical institutes must also notify authorities of any safety risk to a particular drug. Unlike in the U.S. where drug recalls by companies are voluntary, the Chinese government can also order a compulsory recall of bad drugs. A fine three times the total value of the recalled drugs will also be levied on a company which did not voluntarily recall a bad drug. "We hope that government and companies can cooperate to enhance and perfect the establishment of the system and not just rely on the government's information. The companies should make efforts to monitor drug reactions," State Food and Drug Administration Deputy Director Yan Jiangying said. The recall doesn't deal with counterfeit drugs, which are covered under a different law. Under the agreement made with the U.S. Tuesday, the State Food and Drug Administration will require firms manufacturing specific drugs and medical devices to register with it. The agreement covers 10 exports to the U.S., and eight products the Chinese want to import. This is just a sliver of China's health-related exports to the U.S. but the list may be expanded, Yan said. The list for the U.S. includes drugs to treat impotence, dietary supplements, glucose test strips and condoms. On China's list is drugs to treat AIDS, hepatitis and insulin, as well as pacemakers.
From http://news.yahoo.com 12/12/2007
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Chinese NGO Blacklists 4,000 Companies for Bad Air Pollution Record
More than 4,000 companies were blacklisted for their bad record of air pollution in a public database released here on Thursday. The database, named China Air Pollution Map (http://air.ipe.org.cn), blacklisted more than 4,000 companies, including subsidiaries of Sinopec and Sina-Mars Group APP in China, the China Youth Daily reported. "The database collects the bad records of polluters since 2004," said Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPEA), a non-governmental organization, which sponsored the database. Citing the case of APP as an example, Ma said a governmental environmental protection department made two special inspections at the APP's Hainan subsidiary and the company was fined 50,000 yuan (6,756 U.S. dollars) for excessive waste air discharge in 2006. He said all the information about the polluters is from the official websites of local and central environmental protection departments or from news reports of government releases.
Ma expressed his hope that the database will pressure polluters to make improvements and encourage more of the public to join in the supervision of existing and would-be polluters so as to protect the environment. Besides the polluters' information, the database also provides air quality, sources of air pollution and waste air discharge in 150 cities in southern China from 2004, Ma said. Ma said this is only the first part of the air map and more information about northern China will be added later. He also said the information about the companies will be updated based on latest government notices or news releases. In September, 2006, the IPEA launched China's first public database on water pollution in an effort to prevent further deterioration of the country's water quality.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/13/2007
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China Eyes 2008 Credit, Financial Innovation
China will intensify its policy tightening next year to curb credit growth, deputy central bank governor Liu Shiyu said in remarks published on Monday. He told a weekend conference that the central bank would use a variety of monetary policy tools in 2008, including higher reserve requirements, open market operations, interest rate increases and window guidance -- arm-twisting by regulators to get banks to do their bidding. "We must further increase the force of macro controls, curb the total amount of loans and adjust the structure of credit," the official China Securities Journal cited Liu saying. To cushion the impact of tighter policies, Liu said China should widen the channels for companies to raise money from non-bank sources. To that end, China needs to work to launch medium-term notes, high-yield bonds, trust and leasing products, as well as policies to promote venture capital and other investment funds, he said. China will launch credit default swaps and credit-linked notes next year when the time is ripe while continuing to approve issues of asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. Liu said banks should curb the growth of medium- and long-term loans, especially to firms that pollute, are heavy energy users and operate in industries that already suffer overcapacity. By contrast, the central bank would like banks to lend more for agricultural development, innovation by small firms and for affordable housing, he said. The central bank will encourage domestic mergers and acquisitions in the financial sector, and support qualified large financial firms to expand overseas, he said.
From http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com 12/17/2007
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Financial Arbitration Court for Shanghai
A court of arbitration specializing in financial disputes was inaugurated in Shanghai yesterday, marking what industry analysts say is a milestone in the city's efforts to establish itself as an international financial center. Shanghai's Vice-Mayor Feng Guoqin said at the launch ceremony: "The inauguration of the new Shanghai Court of Financial Arbitration demonstrates a great effort to ensure the city's legal system keeps pace with the rapid development of Shanghai as a leading financial center." The court will provide a base for a team of financial and legal experts from China and overseas involved in the arbitration of financial disputes at home and abroad, officials said. Experts yesterday praised the introduction of the arbitration system, calling it an essential feature of any international financial center where complex transactions involving many different parties are common. Lu Fang, deputy director of the Shanghai Arbitration Commission, said: "The construction of the arbitration system is an integral part of improving financial services."A well-functioning financial legal system will enable the city to attract many more international financial institutions, which will bring new expertise and vast global links enabling Shanghai to plug into the world's financial marketplace."
Industry players have said the resolution of financial disputes through courts of arbitration, handled by arbitrators with extensive financial knowledge, is a common practice worldwide and preferable to litigation. Liu Hua, director of the Shanghai municipal government's legal system office, said: "In the history of China's financial sector, there have been many disputes that should have been resolved through arbitration. "As the domestic financial market expands, there is great potential for financial arbitration." Fang Xinghai, director of the local government's financial services office, said the new arbitration court will lay a solid legal foundation for more financial innovations. He said innovations are key to the development of an international financial center. "Most of the time, the law simply cannot keep up with the fast-evolving financial market. Without a transparent and efficient arbitration mechanism, financial innovation will be thwarted," he said. The official said the introduction of the arbitration mechanism will also help collect firsthand information on dealing with financial disputes and problems. Moreover it will be able to provide guidance for the government to take macroeconomic measures for the sound and steady development of the financial sector.
From China Daily 12/19/2007
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500 Top Innovative Firms to Add to Nation's Competitive Edge
The country will have 500 top innovative firms by the end of next year, sharpening its competitive edge in the international market, Vice-Minister of Science and Technology Li Xueyong has said. China has taken a series of steps to shift its development base from resource and labor to technology and innovation. About 184 companies were added to the country's trial innovative firms' (TIF) list on Friday to boost the country's Technology Innovation Guidance Program. The Science and Technology Ministry, the Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), under the State Council, and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions jointly launched the program in late 2005. The new TIFs are from the key development sectors such as natural resources, agriculture, IT, biotechnology and environmental protection. "More favorable policies and regulations, including those on taxation, will be adopted to help build up an innovative environment to push forward the program," Li said. Key laboratories and industrial R&D centers will be set up in the TIFs, with provisions of more training on management and IPR protection, Li said.
The country introduced 103 TIFs last year, with half of them having an R&D budget of more than 6 percent of their total revenue last year. The country's 287 TIFs account for more than 30 percent of its industrial assets, SASAC Deputy Director Shao Ning said. "These firms, all of which are large are already leaders in their sectors, will become the country's technology leaders with their independent core technology," Shao said. Innovation is vital for the survival and development of a firm in today's world, Tsinghua University Liu Jisheng said. "The expansion of Chinese firms has mainly depended on mergers and acquisitions, rather than on building up their core competitiveness, represented by technological innovation and intellectual property rights," Liu said. For example, the average expenditure in R&D of 411 of the country's top 500 firms last year was only 1.45 percent of their revenue, while the international norm is to spend at least 5 percent.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/17/2007
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JAPAN: To Start World's 1st GPS Tsunami Monitoring System
Tokyo, Dec 9 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government will start operating the world's first tsunami wave surveillance system with the use of the global positioning system in fiscal 2008, enabling detection of tsunamis up to 10 minutes before they hit the Japanese coast. The planned system will monitor sea wave motion every second using GPS-equipped buoys floated 20 kilometers offshore. It will combine surveillance data, such as wave height and cycle, with geographical information such as seabed topography to predict the scale of possible tsunami waves. The system, developed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, was initially intended to help design ports. Tsunami surveillance data will be distributed to the Japan Meteorological Agency to support disaster prevention. The government launched GPS-equipped buoys off the coasts of Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures, northern Japan, as well as Kochi Prefecture, western Japan, this year, and plans to install ones in five more places by the end of March. Because there have been no ways to detect tsunamis, the Japan Meteorological Agency previously issued tsunami warnings whenever an earthquake occurs in coastal areas, not knowing whether tsunami will actually hit the Japanese coast, the agency said. Because of the low reliability, many residents in coastal areas simply ignore tsunami alerts, according to the agency.(
From http://enews.mcot.net/ 12/09/2007
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SOUTH KOREA: BOK to Adopt New Benchmark Rate Next March
Lee Seong-tae, governor of Bank of Korea (L).Korea¡¯s central bank said Monday (Dec. 3) it has decided to change the key interest rate target from the overnight call rate to the interest rate charged on repurchase agreements (repo) next March. According to the Bank of Korea (BOK), the new system is aimed at resolving problems of the present system and enhancing stability in local financial markets. "Currently, the call rate stays almost fixed at the target level regardless of the flow of funds," the BOK said in a statement. "While short-term liquidity deals are mostly made at the call market, short-term money markets are significantly underdeveloped." Beginning March 7, the monetary policy committee will each month announce the benchmark interest rate, scrapping the 8-year old system of setting the call rate, the interest on overnight inter-bank loans. Despite the change, the BOK will continue to make efforts to keep the call rate close to the benchmark rate. The new key rate will be applied to the central bank¡¯s repo deals with financial institutions, in which the BOK sells government bonds to the firms under an agreement to buy them back on a specific date at a fixed price. The central bank will hold an auction every Thursday to buy or sell seven-day repo deals, unlike the present system in which the BOK solves imbalances in short-term liquidity by repo deals with maturities of one to 14 days at any time. In a bid to prevent drastic changes in call rates, the central bank will allow financial institutions to borrow unlimited amounts of funds from the BOK at the benchmark rate plus 100 basis points.
Financial firms will also be permitted to deposit funds freely with the BOK at the benchmark rate minus 100 basis points.
From http://www.korea.net/ 12/03/2007
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Korea Sets Up Atomic Disaster Control Center
Korea opened a new atomic disaster control center near a nuclear power plant on its southwestern coast on Thursday (Dec. 6) to enhance the country¡¯s ability to prevent and cope with emergencies, officials said. The center, close to the Younggwang atomic power plant, will be used to coordinate protective measures and help control the evacuation of people in case of a serious accident, said the officials at the Ministry of Science and Technology. The plant, 322 kilometers southwest of Seoul, has six of Korea¡¯s 19 operational reactors. Its first lightwater unit was built in 1986 and the last in 2002. The facility that was built at a cost of 3.05 billion won will be linked to the so-called Computerized Advisory System for Radiological Emergency that enhances its ability to carefully monitor and give early warning in case of problems. The system is designed to give quick feedback on the condition of all reactors and provide pre-set reaction guidance to operators. The Younggwang center is the second of its kind. The first was opened at the Wolseong power plant in 2005. The ministry said two more facilities are being built for the Uljin and Gori power plants on the east coast so that all four nuclear power facilities will have disaster control centers nearby by the end of 2008.
From http://www.korea.net/ 12/06/2007
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Finance Reports Move Toward Global Standard
After years of complaints about how companies report their finances in Korea, the Financial Supervisory Service approved a plan yesterday that it says will simplify the process.
Korean companies will file consolidated financial statements beginning in 2011 for their annual, biannual and quarterly reports. This is the most common method worldwide. Currently, Korean companies file separate financial statements. Companies with less than 2 trillion won ($2.1 billion) in assets will have an additional two years to apply the new method to their biannual and quarterly reports.
The separate financial statement, a standard that regards a company as an independent entity and does not consider its financial intertwinement with subsidiaries of the same mother company, has been blamed for causing additional costs when local companies seek overseas expansion. The local standard also has been criticized for increasing business costs for foreign companies, which currently have to produce an accounting report by the Korean standard. (by Moon Gwang-lip)
From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 12/24/2007
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MONGOLIA: Bests of Construction Sector Selected
Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/. The Ministry of Construction and Urban Development and a Center of Urban Development, Public Entity have jointly selected the best companies of construction sector of 2007. The "Jiguur Grand" company has been selected as the one who erected most number of buildings; "Suuri" company--as having produced construction materials at the help of progressive technology; "Baldan C"--as the best planning company; "Mongol Bazalt"--as the best investor; "New progress"--as the best creator of job places; "Bridge"--as the best supporter of special training; Department of the city s Constructions and Urban Development--as the local administrative organization that was the most effective in urban development and plans. In addition, N.Ganaa, carpenter of the "Bridge", and D.Ganbaatar, engineer of the "Zasagt khan Anduud" company, have been selected the best builders of the year.
From http://www.montsame.mn/ 12/25/2007
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INDONESIA: RI Launches Training Programs for Unemployed Youths
Indonesia, in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the governments of the Netherlands and Norway, has launched a series of training programs for unemployed young people. One is a US$200,000 training program in retail business and the automotive sector, with two groups of 200 jobless youths having been recruited for a two-month program funded by the Norwegian government. "The training program is only a pilot project that will be implemented at other provinces if it is later found to be effective at generating job opportunities for the unemployed," deputy chairwoman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Nina Turinah told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. "The automotive training program is run by automotive company PT Astra, while the retail business program is handled by manufacturing companies as participants are trained in product promotion," she said. Another program, running on a donation of 169 million euros ($249.5 million) from the Netherlands, the ILO and the government, is a training program, to run until 2010, for jobless youths in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua and West Papua provinces in an effort to help the growth of young entrepreneurs and generate job opportunities in the least-developed provinces. ILO director in Jakarta Alan Boulton said the program is aimed at promoting youth employment by improving their entrepreneurial skills and creating a favorable business environment in the provinces.
"Young people must be provided with education and training that allows them to access productive and gainful employment. Yet provision of universal and quality education and training remains a challenge and an even a bigger challenge in more remote and disadvantaged areas. This project, therefore, plays an important role in providing better access to training and education that is in line with changing needs of the labor market," he said. This project focuses on youths aged between 13 and 29, mainly through the capacity building of school teachers and instructors at various public and private institutions. Apindo chairman Sofyan Wanandi praised the training programs as they help employers cope with unemployment, particularly among young people. Referring to the ILO's latest labor survey in the Asia-Pacific region, Sofyan said the high unemployment rate among the country's young had a lot to do with the wide gap between the standard of education and the labor market. "Youths constitute 20 percent of the jobless and it is a fact that 62 percent of youths aged between 15 and 24 are unemployed," he said, adding that according to the ILO survey, unemployment among the young increased to 85 million in 2005 from 74 million in 1995 in the Asia-Pacific region. He said the education curriculum at intermediate and higher education levels must be revised, while vocational training programs should be intensified to improve workers' skills and create school graduates able to meet the requirements of the labor market.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 12/01/2007
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Government Awards Three Best Regions
JAKARTA: The government awarded Sragen in Central Java, East Kutai in East Kalimantan and Jembrana in Bali, three regencies considered as the most innovative in implementing regional administration management under regional autonomy. The Innovative Government Award (IGA) 2007 was handed over by Secretary General of the Home Affairs Ministry, Diah Anggraeni, to Sragen Regent Untung Wiyono, East Kutai Regent Awang Faroek Ishak and Jembrana Regent I Gde Winasa in a ceremony Friday. The top three regencies were part of ten regencies short-listed from the 30 regencies and municipalities nominated for the award. The seven others were Musi Banyuasin in South Sumatra, Bontang in East Kalimantan, Bangka in Bangka-Belitung Islands, Bandung and Garut in West Java, Yogyakarta and Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan. Ministry spokesman Saut Situmorang said Sragen won the top ranking for its innovative programs to improve the people's welfare with better public services.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 12/15/2007
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Regional Corruption Courts Proposed
The government has proposed a new system of anticorruption courts in which each province, regency and municipality would have its own court to deal with graft cases. Chairman of the steering committee drafting the anti-corruption court bill, Romli Atmasasmita, said Wednesday the draft proposed the new courts serve as the sole authority to try graft cases turned over by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and state prosecutors. Currently, there is only one anticorruption court in Jakarta handling such cases submitted by KPK. "Each court would be headed by the corresponding chief of district or high court," Romli said at a press conference announcing the completion of the bill draft at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry. "The chief would assign a team consisting of a minimum of three and a maximum of five judges to try a graft case." The courts would be set up gradually, he said, with those at the province level receiving priority. "The Supreme Court would decide whether or not all provinces and regions need anticorruption courts, as some regions record very few cases."
The Constitutional Court ruled in December last year the Corruption Court was unconstitutional because it was set up under the 2002 law on the KPK, while the 1945 Constitution stipulated the establishment of any court under the Supreme Court needed to have its own legal basis. The Constitutional Court gave the government three years to implement a new system. Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator of judiciary monitoring Emerson Juntho said the proposed bill was positive, but it would be more realistic to establish courts at the province level only. "Recruiting judges for each of the district courts would be a problem. And it wouldn't be easy to control them all," he said. He added the anticorruption courts should be separated from district and high court institutions, unless the latter managed to clean up their negative images. "The district and high courts have yet to tackle their chaotic administration and negative environments," Emerson said. "The public still has no trust in them, and it will see the anticorruption courts as no different from the existing criminal court system if the two are not separated."
Besides increasing the number of the anticorruption courts, Romli said, the draft stipulated the establishment of each court be preceded by preliminary investigations. He said the draft made budgets the responsibility of the Supreme Court, and that transparency and accountability would be principles of the trial process. It further specified the Supreme Court would form a selection committee to appoint judges to each court, and judges would be precluded from holding "double" positions. Romli said the draft would be sent immediately to the President. He expected the House of Representatives could begin deliberation by the end of January.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com 12/21/2007
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Govt to Establish Innovation Agency to Help SMEs
The government will establish a national agency aimed at strengthening and improving the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through better access to information and the development of innovative technology, an official said Wednesday. The agency, to be called the small and medium enterprise innovation center (PI UMKM), would work together with academia and business associations to develop innovative technology especially designed to strengthen SMEs, said Edy Putra Irawadi, the deputy for industry and trade at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, on Wednesday. The agency, whose establishment will be based on a recent presidential instruction, will be launched early next year after six months of preparations, said Edy, who chairs the preparatory committee laying the groundwork for the agency's establishment. The committee consists of representatives from 15 ministries, the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the Central Statistics Agency, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), entrepreneurial associations and universities.
Edy said that the agency would furnish assistance and information to SMEs on technical matters, intellectual property rights and marketing, and help them forge links with various communities, such as the leather association in Yogyakarta, textile association in Bandung, West Java, and research centers in the universities. Dharmawan, the deputy chief of technology policy assessment at the BPPT and a member of the team, said that "The agency will also offer incentives to inventors of innovative technology." Eddy said that the preparatory committee had started its work in July and had been allocated around Rp 1.4 billion (US$150,000) to disseminate information on the plan and establish a relationship with SMEs, government agencies, private institutions and universities. "I think our budget for next year will be more or less the same," he said. SMEs made up 90 percent of the country's 48.9 million business enterprises in 2006. They accounted for 53 percent of the country's gross domestic product of Rp 3,338 trillion and employed 96 percent of the approximately 88 million workers in employment that year, according to data from the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com 11/24/2007
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MALAYSIA: Adopt Positive Changes, PSD Advised
PUTRAJAYA: The public sector must be open-minded and receptive to global changes that can increase efficiency, productivity and quality of services. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Public Service Department (PSD) must bring about positive changes to face the changing environment. ¡°We are constantly facing competition in terms of flow of workers from the public to the private sector or overseas,¡± the Prime Minister said at the PSD's annual dinner held here last night. Abdullah said the services of young talents should be retained in the country, adding that the public sector could provide a better working environment for them. He urged PSD director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam to look at ways of introducing positive changes to methods of management and the way civil servants performed. Abdullah said he was confident that the PSD, with its vast experience and institutional background, was well-placed to generate and adopt new ideas to keep moving forward. The prime minister pledged to extend his co-operation and assistance in order for the department to excel in its tasks. Abdullah also commended the public sector under Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan for improving efficiency and reducing complaints against the public sector.
From http://thestar.com.my 12/06/2007
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Government Plans Dialogue to Bolster National Unity
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government, through the National Unity and Integration Department, will hold a dialogue with religious and community leaders early next year in an effort to bolster unity among Malaysians. Minister in the Prime Minister¡¯s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the 53-member National Unity Panel comprising government leaders, intellectuals, politicians, former politicians as well as representatives from various communities and religious groups would meet tomorrow to discuss the proposed dialogue. He told reporters this after opening a seminar on neighbourhood safety here yesterday. Dr Ongkili, who also heads the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF), said the dialogue would also be an avenue to forge closer cooperation on crime prevention. MCPF, he said, would also discuss with the National Service Training Council the possibility of introducing crime prevention elements among NS trainees.
From http://thestar.com.my/ 12/16/2007
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Task Force on Government Projects to Start Work Soon
PEKAN: The task force set up to review all existing government projects to see if they caused flooding will start its work by next week. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid said the task force, made up of representatives from government agencies, state and local authorities, hoped to complete a report by March. ¡°We hope to start work immediately and submit a proposal to the Cabinet for deliberation in time for the mid-term review of the 9MP,¡± he told reporters after a briefing on the flood situation at the district land office here yesterday. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the formation of the task force, headed by Azmi, to look into the projects, particularly those listed under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The committee is entrusted with carrying out a thorough review of all existing development projects to overcome the perennial problem of flooding. Azmi said the task force would be concentrating on on-going projects and those yet to be implemented to ascertain if any modifications are required. If there was a need, he said, the committee would propose an increase in allocation to rectify shortcomings in projects deemed to be ¡°problematic.¡± Projects which had been completed would also be reviewed although little could be done now, he added. He said future projects such as roads and buildings must not be situated at areas which could block the flow of water. ¡°Existing projects at flood-prone areas should be reviewed by the local authorities,¡± he said.
From http://thestar.com.my/ 12/20/2007
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VIET NAM: New Planning Model Proposed for Key Southern Economic Zone
A new planning model for the development of HCM City and the southern key economic zone has been proposed by the Southern Urban and Rural Planning Institute. The proposal was made at a meeting with the city administration, the Construction Ministry, and local provincial officials on Tuesday. Under the proposal, the city¡¯s transport network and water resources would be developed and used more effectively. At the meeting, the institute presented a report containing recommendations for exploiting each area in a sustainable way. The northern area of HCM City, which includes Tay Ninh and Binh Duong Provinces, would focus on the development of forestry, industrial plants, ecotourism, and the border economy. The southern area, which includes the neighbouring province of Long An, would develop environmentally friendly agriculture, food processing and multi-sector agriculture. The city¡¯s eastern area embraces the provinces of Dong Nai and the coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. It would focus on the oil and gas industry, petrochemicals, port services and resorts, experts said. The central urban area and its outlying districts would target the hightech industry, telecommunications, finance, banking and other services. Construction Minister Nguyen Hong Quan said planning of HCM City was essential to effectively use its available natural resources and make the most of the advantages that each area offers. He said the Prime Minister had instructed agencies to speed up the planning of the city. The institute will receive opinions from experts before submitting its proposal to the Government for approval.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 12/20/2007
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INDIA: Village Resource Centres to Benefit Rural India
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has established 291 Village Resource Centres (VRCs) to provide integrated services, including tele-education, tele-medicine, natural resources information and skill development in rural India. ISRO has established centres on the need and interest shown by various state and central government departments, institutions and NGOs in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Puducherry. Under its project titled, Gramsat programme, ISRO has established Satcom networks at number of locations in the states of MP, Orissa, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The programme has already been established in 518 districts and blocks of MP, 350 of Orissa, 176 of Karnataka, 550 of Gujarat, two of Rajasthan, 320 of West Bengal and nine districts and blocks in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
From http://www.digitalopportunity.org/ 12/04/2007
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MCD Formulates Policy for Scientific Management of Cycle Rickshaws
New Delhi, Dec 11 : The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has formulated a new policy for scientific management of cycle rickshaws in the city, MCD Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta said here today. The main objective of the policy is to issue license to the owner-cum-rickshaw puller himself, thereby eliminating the system of giving rickshaws on a hire basis. In order to ensure that the license was granted to a bonafide person, his documentary proof of residence in the city would be essential. He should be residing in the city at least for one year to discourage people from obtaining rickshaw license who come to Delhi for a short while and are not familiar with traffic rules of the city. It is expected that the new policy will not only ensure security and safety of travellers, but also make an effective dent on rickshaw mafia in the city. The contract for scientific management of cycle rickshaws, cycle rickshaw trolleys and handcarts will be awarded to competent agencies on a turn key basis through open tenders according to group of zones for a period of three years, which would need to be renewed every year. As a part of the project, the agency will carry a survey of roads in association with MCD where rickshaws/handcarts will be allowed explicitly marking their route on maps with proposed haltage points.
Besides registration and record management, the agencies will be fully responsible for enforcement of new system in respect of cycle rickshaws/cycle rickshaw trolleys and handcarts. The entire record management will be web-based and all data will be stored in MCD¡¯s data centre. The Photo ID cards, sensor chips, number plates and web-based records will be fully integrated. The Web-based registration software and data centre facility will be provided by the MCD. Leader of the House Subhash Arya said the MCD strongly felt there was an urgent need for rationalising the policy framework for cycle rickshaws in Delhi. He said the new policy will encompass all aspects of the issue. He said the management and enforcement of cycle rickshaws, cycle rickshaw trolleys and handcarts have deteriorated substantially in the city giving rise to a large number of unlicensed rickshaws causing enormous problems to vehicular traffic, pedestrian movement and encroachment on public land. After implementation of the new policy, it will be ensured that each zone is provided with 50 Home Guards, ex-servicemen from Delhi Soldier Board or security guards from professional agencies for capturing the unlicensed rickshaws and removal of encroachment on public land caused by them. One jeep for towing the seized rickshaws would also be provided to designated stores in the zones. The drive will be continued at least for three months consecutively for substantive results.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/11/2007
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Cabinet Approves Setting Up of Textiles Management Institute in Coimbatore
New Delhi, Dec 13 : The Union Cabinet today gave its ex post facto approval for setting up of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Textiles Management (SVPITM), Coimbatore with a plan support of Rs. 29 crore (Rs. 290 million) during the 11th Five Year Plan. The Institute would be a centre of excellence in the field of textiles management and research studies. "This decision would enable the institute to have infrastructural facilities, namely purchase of land, administrative block, hostels, canteen, computer labs, computers and software and teaching aids at a cost of Rs.18 crores (Rs 180 million)," a Cabinet release said.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/13/2007
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India Plans Major Incentives for Clean Technology
New Delhi, Dec 18 : India's forthcoming action plan to address climate change will provide significant incentives for clean technologies, Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal said here Tuesday. Sibal, who headed the Indian government delegation at the Dec 3-14 UN conference on climate change in Bali, reiterated on his return that India was not going to take on any legal caps on emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) that are warming the atmosphere and leading to climate change. "But that does not mean we are not doing anything," Sibal said. "We need to take action in India to mitigate adverse impacts of global warming. That is why the prime minister has set up a council. It will come up with this action plan." The plan, expected in February or March 2008, will provide technical and fiscal incentives to Indian industry whose "ultimate goal has to be a low-carbon economy", Sibal said. Carbon dioxide is the major GHG. But India had not made a commitment at the Bali summit because "we need time for industry to change and adapt", Sibal added. Recounting the negotiations at Bali, he said India's biggest success was to stave off all attempts to make commitments on GHG emission caps. "Then the developed countries asked us to give some commitments on what we are going to do, and they wanted this to be measurable, verifiable and reportable. "We were successful in correlating this to technology transfer, financing and capacity building from developed countries that would also be measurable, verifiable and reportable." According to Sibal, the other big success of the Bali summit was that the US had agreed to come on board the international effort to address climate change under the Bali roadmap, without ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, the current treaty for that purpose. The Bali roadmap is for negotiations over the next two years for a treaty that will come into effect after 2012, when the current period of the Kyoto Protocol ends. "The negotiations will be very tough," said Sibal.
From http://www.newkerala.com/ 12/18/2007
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KAZAKHSTAN: Officials Brief President on Measures to Stabilize Financial Markets
Meeting in Astana on December 19, a delegation of senior banking officials led by Kazakh Central Bank Director Anvar Saydenov briefed President Nursultan Nazarbaev on measures aimed at "stabilizing" the country's financial markets, according to Interfax-Kazakhstan. The officials reported that "despite temporary problems that certain banks in the country face, the situation is fully under control, and the level of lending volumes has stabilized." They also told the president that there is a need for further scrutiny of the financial sector, noting that a significant level of "foreign commitments" and loan repayments are due in 2008. The head of the Financial Market Regulation and Control Agency, Arman Dunaev, also participated in the briefing and reported on measures being taken in view of indications of instability in world financial market. Speaking at a press conference following the briefing, Saydenov said the Central Bank continues to hold "a quite large portfolio of reliable foreign assets" and stressed that "Kazakhstan's balance of payments is good," with expectations for continued growth of oil-driven export earnings. But he added that inflation is expected reach 18 percent by the end of the year. RG
From http://www.rferl.org/ 12/20/2007
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UZBEKISTAN: Experts Discuss Issues of Public Procurement Policy Improvement
The meeting of the Expert Council of the Business Forum of Uzbekistan on the development of fiscal policy titled "Public procurement policy: problems and ways of improvement" was held on 13 December in the conference hall of the Grand Orzu Hotel. The business forum was organized by the Centre of Economic Studies, the UNDP Projects on the "Public finance reform in Uzbekistan" and "Business forum of Uzbekistan" in partnership with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Uzbekistan. Public procurement policy, or the stocking up of goods, works or services for the needs of the state are an indispensable component of the process of the state's performance of its functions. The volumes of state's procurement in different countries vary from 5% to 20% of the Gross Domestic Product and may comprise as much as a half of the expenditure part of the state budget.
This makes the state not only the largest consumer of goods, works and services in the economy of any country, but also an entity in economic relations, whose actions can substantially affect the development of the economy. The system of public procurement in Uzbekistan was being formed for 15 years, and has suffered some significant changes over this period. First of all, new requirements on conducting tenders for completing the state orders have been introduced; the regulatory framework for the procedures of conducting tenders and procurement has been created. At the same time, this system requires further development and improvement. The business forum was organized with the aim of revealing the problems and shortcomings of the existing system of procurement being faced by the state agencies, enterprises and organissations, as well as the private sector, and discussing the ways to eliminate them and improve the system as a whole.
Among the participants of the forum were the specialists of ministries and agencies, state organizations and enterprises of Uzbekistan involved in the process of public procurement, as well as independent experts, representatives of private companies, and international organizations. The discussion showed high interest of all participants in the solution of the existing problems. They also noted the importance of wider involvement of the private sector in the system of public procurement, as one of the key factors in increasing the competitiveness and quality of the goods, works and services procured for the state's needs. All-round and objective assessment was provided to the recommendations suggested on further development and reform of the system of public procurement of Uzbekistan. The results of the discussions represent a valuable material that may be used in development of indirect and direct reforms on the reform of the public procurement system of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
From http://business.uzreport.com/ 12/14/2007
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UZBEKISTAN: USAID Launches Pilot Programme on Training of Tax Consultants
A training seminar was held on 3-15 December in the conference hall of the Grand Mir Hotel in Tashkent within the frame of the programme on preparation of tax consultants. The training was organized by the USAID Project on Development of Accounting and the International Accounting/Certified International Professional Accountant Programme together with the Tax Academy under the State Tax Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Chamber of Tax Consultants Public Association. Tax consulting is a new profession in Uzbekistan. The job of a tax consultant involves provision of assistance to legal entities in lawful and accurate estimation and payment of taxes, and performance of all tax obligations in accordance with the Tax Code, and provision of qualified professional assistance and representation in courts, law enforcement and tax agencies.
USAID Project on the development of accounting and the A/CIPA International Programme together with the UNDP Project on the "Reform of Public Finance in Uzbekistan" provide assistance in the organization of an efficient system of professional training and certification of tax consultants, based on special plans and programmes, interactive forms and methods of training process. The certification of tax consultants through strict, independent and simultaneous examination will provide an opportunity to confirm their professional competence and raise the trust of interested parties in them. The urgency of the training seminar is determined by the need to prepare and confirm the status of high quality specialists in tax consultancy of Uzbekistan, who are guided strictly by the principles of taxation and accounting, as well as the legislation and judicial practice.
Among the participants of the training seminar were entrepreneurs, certified accountants, economists, auditors, attorneys, lawyers, and experts in taxation. The trainers possessing extensive theoretical and practical experience in this field delivered courses on the legal framework for the regulation of economic relations, accounting and financial reporting, tax law, taxation of legal entities and private citizens, the legal foundations of organization and methodology of tax consulting, economic analysis in tax calculation and planning. During the training seminar, the participants made practical recommendations on further improvement of tax legislation and the system of accounting of Uzbekistan. Closing the training seminar, the organizers awarded certificates of training attendance to the participants who successfully passed the exams, and granted them the title of tax consultants. The training seminar is one of several projects being implemented by the USAIDS in Uzbekistan. Since 1992, USAID has provided technical assistance to Uzbekistan for the total amount of over US$300 million.
From http://finance.uzreport.com/ 12/21/2007
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AUSTRALIA: Minister Welcomes Water Availability Reports
The Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, today released the latest two reports in the major CSIRO research project on water availability. ¡°These reports for the Namoi and the Gwydir regions of NSW make another important contribution to the Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project. This is the largest single research project ever undertaken by the CSIRO,¡± Senator Wong said. ¡°The Sustainable Yields Project will be an invaluable resource for the Australian Government as it provides guidance to ensure a long-term, sustainable water supply in the Murray-Darling Basin. ¡°When the project is completed early next year, there will be a much better basis for making informed decisions and developing new sustainable diversion limits for the Basin¡¯s surface and groundwater systems.
¡°The project not only draws together information on the current availability and use of surface and groundwater but also assesses the impacts of climate change on future water availability. It is progressively filling significant gaps in our knowledge. Today¡¯s release brings the number of reports to date to seven, with another 11 assessments underway. A new integrated surface water and groundwater sustainable diversion limit for the Murray-Darling Basin will be developed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, which will consult irrigators, water providers and the communities of the Basin.
From http://www.environment.gov.au 12/20/2007
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Project Delivers Healthy Farmers and Savings
A project to help farmers improve their families¡¯ health has shown remarkable results, reducing mortality from common health problems like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with positive results for farming communities and cost savings for the government. The Sustainable Farm Families (SFF) project worked with a targeted group of farm families across a number of industries in improving their health management. Over a period of three years the families were regularly monitored and participated in annual workshops focussed on health improvement. The project, funded by the Joint Research Venture for Farm Health and Safety, is an initiative of the Western District Health Service, Hamilton. Living Longer on the Land ¨C A health program that works is a new report from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), which manages the Joint Research Venture for Farm Health and Safety. The report provides an economic analysis of the SFF project, in order to inform future decisions in resource allocation for rural health initiatives. Rural and farming families in general have a poorer health than their urban counterparts, with higher than average rates of premature death from heart disease, cancer and suicide.
¡°This project shows that proactive investment in health management has real benefits for farming families,¡± RIRDC Senior Research Manager Jane Fisher said. ¡°In addition to the improvements in quality of life and life expectancy, healthy farmers enjoy improved profitability; and the benefits flow on to their communities and to government at local, state and federal levels,¡± she said. The cost savings predicted over ten years in the reduction of Type 2 diabetes alone were around $155,000 for the 128 participants in the project, exceeding the total cost of the SFF project. ¡°This result shows that it really pays in economic terms to work with rural families and communities to prevent health problems,¡± Ms Fisher said. ¡°Even without considering the savings associated with other major health problems that would be reduced through the SFF project, this investment already shows good long-term returns,¡± she said. The SFF project worked with 128 voluntary participants, who reported on their eating habits, exercise, health checks and work safety improvements. Their health was monitored annually with clinical tests of their cholesterol, blood sugar, obesity indicators, blood pressure and pulse rates. ¡°The analysis testifies to the success of this initiative, and shows that this type of project could provide significant benefits to other rural communities,¡± Ms Fisher said. The Joint Research Venture for Farm Health and Safety is a partnership between Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and the Grains, Sugar, Cotton and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporations, and is managed by RIRDC. The Venture invests in R&D to enhance the wellbeing and productivity in rural industries through improved occupational health and safety and safe systems of work on farms.
From http://www.rirdc.gov.au/ 12/20/2007
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NEW ZEALAND: New Agency to Advise on Rural Walking Access
A new government agency to advise on and implement walking access policies will be established next year, Rural Affairs Minister Damien O¡¯Connor said today. Mr O'Connor said providing access to the outdoors is an important and complex issue which affects many New Zealanders, and the purpose of the new agency is to provide national leadership on walking access issues. ¡°This agency will co-ordinate the involvement of key stakeholders including local and central government, help local groups with access issues and be responsible for mediation of disputes over walking access issues,¡± said Mr O¡¯Connor. ¡°A code of conduct, mapping database and national access strategy will be among the first tasks for the new agency. ¡°Funding will also be sought for a contestable fund, to be managed by the new agency, to assist with the establishment of new walking access,¡± said Mr O¡¯Connor. Legislation to establish the new agency as a Crown entity and transfer the provisions of the New Zealand Walkways Act 1990 is planned for next year. The agency will be monitored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 12/14/2007
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ADB Provides $21M to Develop ICT in South Asia
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing $21.2 million for the development of information and communication technology (ICT) in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal by enhancing the availability of affordable broadband Internet connections, skilled manpower and local content and Internet applications in line with efforts to promote inclusive growth and reduce poverty. The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Information Highway Project is estimated to cost $24 million. ADB will provide a $4.7 million grant to Bhutan, another $9 million grant to Nepal and a $3.1 million loan to Bangladesh for the project. The governments of the four member-countries of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) will finance $7.2 million of the total project cost. ADB will also extend a $4.4 million grant to increase technical and business skills in developing local ICT and Internet applications particularly for the poor. The technical assistance will help reshape the role of the ICT research institutes in knowledge development and capacity building for community and business development. The project will establish a SASEC regional network with fiber-optic and data interchange capacity directly connecting the four member-countries. It will also set up a SASEC village network to expand broadband access to 110 rural communities in the SASEC countries and provide direct connections among the communities for local networking and local information sourcing. The project will establish a SASEC research and training network to build technical and business skills in developing local ICT content and Internet applications that serve the needs of the poor in particular. ¡°Cross-border connectivity among SASEC countries is considered a critical area in need of regional cooperation, as the development of information and communication technology infrastructure across borders has been fragmented and often outdated,¡± said Dong-Soo Pyo, principal financial analysis specialist of ADB¡¯s South Asia Department. ¡°ICT is essential infrastructure for economic growth as road and rail networks, and telephone and power systems are. The quality and usefulness of ICT infrastructure in the SASEC region determines the efficiency of the economy and the potential for economic growth of the SASEC countries individually and as a group,¡± added Hyunjung Lee, ICT specialist of ADB¡¯s Knowledge Management Center of Regional and Sustainable Development. Internet traffic in the South Asia region often goes through third parties and depends on satellite transmission. Regionally integrated and high-quality broadband capacity would do away with third party connections, optimize the cost of interconnection within the region, help bring down the prices of ICT services, and boost ICT use across borders.
Bridging the urban-rural divide in ICT is another area for regional cooperation. Commercially driven ICT development has left rural people behind and widened disparity between urban and rural areas. Rural community Internet centers have been tested and have proven effective in addressing the matter. The need for more high-quality training and literacy in ICT has been raised by SASEC member countries including India, where its development has created millions of jobs over the past few decades. At present, except in certain public and private institutions, many ICT training initiatives do not meet international quality standards. The SASEC initiative was launched in 2001 with ADB assistance to support and facilitate regional cooperation initiatives in six priority sectors: energy and power; environment; information and communication technology; tourism; trade, investment and private sector cooperation; and transport. It provides a venue for policy dialogue, information sharing and confidence building among participating countries to enable better economic cooperation. The project will mark a new milestone in the regional cooperation and integration in South Asia. It is the first subregional investment project under the SASEC program, participated by all four countries, after a decade-long joint effort for regional cooperation and integration. It will help further catalyze delivery of physical investment projects by demonstrating tangible benefits reaped by SASEC countries.
From http://www.adb.org/ 12/17/2007
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Commentary: Globalization Blurs North-South Divide
A commentary by former World Bank President James Wolfensohn published in daily newspaper The Japan Times writes ¡°The notion of a divide between the rich north and the poor and developing south has long been a central concept among economists and policymakers. ¡. But the north-south divide is now obsolete. The dynamic process of globalization has resulted in unprecedented levels of growth and interdependence. However, while this has blurred the old division, new ones have emerged, splintering today's world into four interconnected tiers. The first tier comprises the affluent countries, notably the US, European nations, Australia and Japan¡ Emerging economies - call them the Globalizers - constitute a second tier of about 30 poor and middle-income countries ¡that have learned how to integrate optimally with, and leverage, the global economy to catalyze their development. A third tier is ¡ home to many of the world's critical natural resources, possessing around 60 percent of proven oil reserves. But these Rentiers have not been able to translate the rents of their natural resource wealth into sustained economic growth. The fourth tier comprises countries that are lagging behind the world's poorest economies, with more than a billion people. ¡These ¡®Laggards¡¯ are largely isolated from the global economy, and they face crucial development challenges. This emerging four-tier world presents three key challenges. First, we need to increase our efforts to ensure that the Laggards are no longer left behind. ¡Second, the old powers need to accommodate the rise of Globalizer economies ¡by reforming our international order. ¡If we are to create a more equitable world, then traditional levers of development such as trade, investment, aid, and migration need to be scaled up comprehensively and coherently, and global institutions must be reformed. This would improve our ability to address global challenges and better our prospects for building a more equitable world. Otherwise, we might bid farewell to old development divides only to welcome new ones.¡±
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 11/28/2007
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Most Countries on Track to Reach 2010 Education Goal, Says Education Fast Track Initiative Report
Dakar, December 10, 2007 ¨C Most of the 32 countries supported by the Education for All ¨C Fast Track Initiative (FTI) are on track to have all six-year-olds enrolled in Grade One by 2010, a critical step on the way to achieving the goal of universal primary education by 2015. However, more funding will be needed as the Initiative continues to expand to include more countries, says a report released today in Dakar. The FTI Annual Report 2007, ¡°Quality Education for All Children: Meeting the Challenge,¡± documents progress in 32 countries with education sector plans endorsed by the FTI. Eighteen of these countries receive financial support from the Catalytic Fund, a multi-donor trust fund that provides additional financing to help countries implement their education sector plans. ¡°For the first time in two generations we are seeing striking improvements in the number of children enrolled in primary school,¡± said Bernhard K¨¹hn, Head, Division of Education, Health and Population Policy, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, G8 President and one of the FTI Co-chairs. ¡°The G8 are committed to supporting the FTI countries in their efforts to give all children a good primary education.¡± Altogether, the 32 FTI countries had 60 million children in school in 2005, which is 12 million more than in 2000, a 26 percent increase in five years. These countries have also made good progress in terms of getting more girls into school. If recent trends are maintained, all but three of the current FTI countries will achieve the goal of gender parity in primary education by 2015. ¡°The FTI countries are making impressive progress, thanks to the commitment of their governments and the support of the donors, including the World Bank¡¯s zero-interest lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA),¡± said Joy Phumaphi, Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank, one of the FTI¡¯s key partners. ¡°An important challenge now is to reach the children who are still not in school, mainly girls and youngsters who are from poor families, live in rural areas, belong to an ethnic or linguistic minority, or are disabled,¡± she added.
Another priority for the FTI countries is to improve the quality of education children receive once they are in school. A positive sign noted in the FTI Annual Report is that most of these countries have now developed some capacity to measure how well children are learning. In fact, seven FTI countries have participated in one of the major international tests¡ªa significant turnaround as no low-income country had participated in such testing prior to 2003. The FTI continues to grow and, in November 2007, Sao Tome & Principe became the latest country with an endorsed education sector plan. Three more countries are set to have their education sector plans endorsed by the end of 2007 and another seven by the end of 2008. As the FTI expands, the financing gap for primary education is a growing concern. In addition to bilateral aid, donors have pledged a total of US$1.2 billion since 2004 to the Catalytic Fund, but the FTI Annual Report says that there will not be sufficient funds for countries joining the Initiative in 2008. It estimates that, overall, the FTI countries will need an average of an additional US$1 billion in external support each year over the next three years. The report calls on donors to meet their commitment to provide long-term predictable funding for countries with credible education sector plans. ¡°We now have a model in place that works and it is time for the donors to move from promises to action,¡± said Desmond Bermingham, Head of the FTI Secretariat. ¡°There is an urgent need both to increase aid for education and to make it more effective.¡±
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 12/10/2007
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Education Priority in Asia Pays Off
In a commentary published in daily newspaper, The Jakarta Post, World Bank¡¯s Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, James Adams writes: ¡°Education has long been a key ingredient of most Asian countries' growth strategies. Giving education priority has paid off. ¡ Economics is not the only reason families and countries invest in higher levels of education. Universities are about much more than producing successful, skilled young people. Universities provide a forum in which societies can examine their problems and identify appropriate solutions. ¡The evolution of university systems is particularly important in developing countries. While wealthy societies have, by and large, developed mechanisms that ensure a steady supply of well educated people, we should remember that many developing countries still face shortages of medical personnel to deliver basic health care and teachers to deliver reasonable quality basic education. ¡Universities -GOOD universities - are an essential part of building healthy and strong individuals, societies and economies. Increasingly, countries in Asia have set a goal of building ¡®world class universities¡¯. We would like to emphasize that such universities grow out of world class university systems. While there is no single definition of a world class system and no single path to development, there is growing consensus on many of the characteristics of a world class system. Above all these include an emphasis on excellence in teaching and research, the foundations of which are faculty recruitment policies, incentives for professional development and performance, and well equipped laboratories and libraries. World class systems provide equal educational opportunities for students, regardless of income level, gender, ethnicity, or other distinguishing characteristics. ¡
World class university systems have flexible financing mechanisms that encourage innovation, and enable governments to align resources with strategic development priorities. Governance systems more often than not are characterized by high levels of institutional autonomy. Quality assurance and accreditation systems offer guidance to universities for continual improvement, while providing information on the quality of various institutions to consumers. World class university systems foster deep links to employers, research institutes, and the range of institutions which shape social policy and debate. Many countries in the East Asia and Pacific region share a vision for developing ¡®knowledge societies¡¯, characterized by peace, prosperity, cultural distinctiveness, innovation, and responsible environmental stewardship. The World Bank has been privileged to be a partner in this venture by supporting a broad range of education programs from early childhood education through university development. The job is far from complete. As the demand for higher levels of education continues to increase, it looks forward to working with clients in the region to build ever more effective education systems and institutions.¡± [The Jakarta Post/Factiva]
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 12/11/2007
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Study Finds Wide Gaps in Asian Incomes
¡°Brunei topped the list of Asia's richest economies by per capita income and Hong Kong emerged as the biggest spender, according to a study released Monday. Nepal, meanwhile, was the region's poorest by both measures. The report by regional statistical agencies, coordinated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), showed wide disparities in Asia's living standards in 2005. ¡ The study, called 2005 International Comparison Program in Asia and the Pacific: Purchasing Power Parity and Real Expenditure, is part of a global initiative spearheaded by the World Bank that allows cross-country comparison of purchasing powers of currencies and living standards.¡± [The Associated Press/Factiva] Asia Pulse notes that ¡°¡The study, which provides a snapshot of economic measures such as income, consumption expenditure and capital formation, is part of a global initiative that allows cross-country comparison purchasing powers of currencies and living standards. The International Comparison Program, which was coordinated globally by the World Bank, will allow comparison of major economic indicators for 146 countries globally. ¡For the first time, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and India which together make up 64 percent of the total real GDP of the 23 economies participating in ICP Asia-Pacific simultaneously joined this regional initiative to estimate the purchasing power parities of currencies. ¡¡± [Asia Pulse (Australia)/Factiva] AFX reports that ¡°¡In terms of gross fixed capital formation, an indicator for the economy's potential for future growth, the richer economies generally invest more on a per capita basis than poorer economies, the study shows. Based on the price level index, which is the ratio of the purchasing power parity to the exchange rate, Fiji Islands and Hong Kong, China, are the costliest places to live. They are followed by Macao, China, Singapore, Taipei, China and the Maldives. ¡¡± [AFX/Factiva]
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 12/11/2007
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GDP Growth Expected to Slow in Asian Countries in 2008
HONG KONG: Economic growth in China and other East and Southeast Asian countries will slow in 2008 because of volatility in global financial markets and high oil and commodity prices, the Asian Development Bank said Thursday. Overall growth in the region, which includes some of the fastest-expanding economies in the world, should taper to 8 percent in 2008 from 8.5 percent this year, it said. The Manila-based lender forecast in a report that China's GDP would grow 10.5 percent in 2008, down from 11.4 percent this year, as the government takes steps to cool the economy and ease inflationary pressures. In September, the ADB forecast Chinese growth of 11.2 percent this year and 10.8 percent in 2008. Annual consumer price inflation in China hit an 11-year high of 6.9 percent in November, and Jong-wha Lee, head of the the ADB's Office of Regional Economic Integration, said rising prices - including asset price inflation - were a major concern. "It would be much more effective if the policy makers would combine contracting measures with increasing exchange rate flexibility," Lee said in Hong Kong. The ADB defines East and Southeast Asia as the 10-country Association of South East Asian Nations, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea. "The external environment for emerging East Asian economies is expected to weaken somewhat in 2008, as economic growth in industrial countries moderates, oil and commodity prices remain elevated and global financial markets continue to exhibit heightened volatility," it said in its Asia Economic Monitor 2007.
"The region's economic outlook is subject to greater downside risks now than just a few months ago - including the possibility of a U.S. hard landing, further tightening of global credit, an abrupt adjustment in exchange rates and continued rising oil and commodity prices." Lee said the chances of a U.S. recession remained low, although much would depend on developments in the U.S. housing and consumer sectors. Lee dismissed the fears of stagflation voiced by some analysts, who point to high commodity prices at a time of slowing economies. "Our current projection is that oil prices will not increase further and further, so stagflation is not a real possibility," he said. He welcomed the move by central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, to stem a mounting credit crisis by offering short-term lending facilities. "The policy response to the global financial market turmoil is clearly in the right direction," he said, although he warned that the measures would take time to have an effect. In its report, the ADB said growth in the Southeast Asian region should moderate to 6.1 percent in 2008 from 6.3 percent this year. However, that excluded Singapore, where it said growth would drop to 6.3 percent in 2008 from 8.1 percent this year. South Korea's GDP should grow 5 percent in 2008 after 4.8 percent this year, while in Taiwan growth should slow to 4.8 percent next year from 5 percent in 2007. Hong Kong should grow 5.4 percent in 2008 after 6.1 percent this year, it said.
From http://www.iht.com/ 12/13/2007
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JAPAN: Ranked Low on Humanitarian Aid
LONDON ¡ª Japan has been ranked 18th out of 23 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries in the inaugural Humanitarian Response Index launched in London on Thursday by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. "Japan is a key player in funding disaster risk reduction initiatives, but relative to its economic size, falls generally short of funding its fair share of multilateral appeals," the report said in a country profile for Japan. Compiled by Development Assistance Research Associates ¡ª an independent nonprofit organization committed to the quality of humanitarian action and development aid through evaluation and research ¡ª the index also criticizes Japan for making funding decisions based on considerations such as media-coverage and allocating relatively little funding to "forgotten emergencies." "Its other weaknesses include a failure to provide flexible, unearmarked funding, as well as a failure to promote NGOs (nongovernmental organizations), to provide funding to strengthen capacity, and to promote learning and accountability initiatives and regular evaluations," it said. The compilers of the index ¡ª which places Sweden as the leading humanitarian donor out of the 23 countries that endorsed the Principles and Good Practices of Humanitarian Donorship in Stockholm in 2003 ¡ª are keen to point out, however, that their purpose is not to disgrace countries like Japan, or France, Austria, Portugal, Italy and Greece which all fall below it. "It is not meant as a 'name and shame' exercise, but rather as a vehicle providing the tools to improve the quality of humanitarian aid and we very much hope that, over time, it will be seen as an important contribution to this debate," Director General of DARA, Silvia Hidalgo, explained. The index does acknowledge that Japan's 18th place ranking betrays its good performance in tailoring its humanitarian response to needs; an area where it achieves a considerably improved 7th place. "It distributes its humanitarian funding equitably without regard for historical ties and geographic proximity and stands out for providing timely funding to onset disasters and priority sectors," the report said.
From http://www.japantoday.com 11/30/2007
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CHINA: Mobile Internet Getting Growing Popularity
Cell phones equipped with applications such as web browser, global positioning system and multimedia function are getting popular among Chinese consumers. A survey released Thursday by the CCID Consulting showed that 31,668 people had been interviewed and 37 percent of them would like to choose cell phones with which they can surf online when they intended to buy a new one, while 33 percent hoped they could get one with the GPS function, a helpful tool to China's increasing car owners. More than 20 percent, mainly the young generation who put pieces of music in their cell phones and use it as a music player, said they would like one having a large storage disk. A similar proportion said they would use their new mobile phone to chat with online friends. CCID Vice President Lu Guoying estimated that Chinese mobile phone market will see booming purchase from 2008 to 2010, when many Chinese consumers change their cell phones for new ones. "It is an opportunity for mobile phone companies to raise their market share," said Lu. China is expected to manufacture 500 million sets of mobile phones in 2007, with 150 million to be sold in domestic market.
From Xinhua News Agency 11/30/2007
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China Government Think Tank Sees '07 GDP +11.6%,Slower Growth in 08
China's economy is likely to expand 11.6% this year, but growth should slow in 2008 due to the government's macro-economic controls, a government think tank said Tuesday. The country's inflation rate should also ease next year, but remain at high levels, according to forecasts issued by the Chinese Acadamy of Social Sciences in its annual blue book on the economy. The think tank forecast this year's consumer price index to rise 4.5%, and slow to 4% next year. It also said China's trade surplus this year will total around $260 billion, with imports to rise 20.3% and exports to increase by 25.1%.
From http://www.nasdaq.com 12/03/2007
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China 3G Network Able to Serve 50 Million Users, Group Says
China's locally developed high-speed network for mobile phones will have the capacity to serve 50 million customers in 10 cities of the world's biggest wireless telephone market by users, according to an industry group. The so-called third-generation mobile-phone network may be introduced for commercial tests by users at the end of the first quarter, Jing Wang, secretary general of TD-SCDMA Forum, said in an interview in Hong Kong today. The network's capacity will exceed South Korea's population of 49 million. ``The network is already big enough for commercial deployment and the government may expand it to other cities if the commercial tests produce positive results,'' said Steven Liu, a Hong Kong- based telecommunications analyst at DBS Vickers Ltd. ``The technology is quite reliable as it has already undergone a lot of testing since 2005.'' China Mobile Communications Corp. may invest as much as 26 billion yuan ($3.5 billion) on infrastructure and handsets for the network, Wang said. The government hasn't set a timetable for issuing 3G licenses or said how many it will grant. The high-speed standard allows users to video conference and offers quicker downloads from the Internet.
China Mobile Communications, which owns 74 percent of Hong Kong-listed China Mobile Ltd., is building the network based on the time-division synchronous code division multiple access technology in eight of the cities including Beijing and Guangzhou. TD-SCDMA is one of three standards chosen for 3G mobile-phone services in the country. The parent companies of fixed-line operators China Telecom Corp. and China Netcom Group Corp. are also building TD-SCDMA networks. High-speed licenses will be issued by the government if testing of the TD-SCDMA network is successful, Wang said. The mobile operators may face increased competition, with China Telecom and China Netcom also seeking 3G licenses. At present the fixed-line carriers are losing customers to the wireless companies, which are offering reduced rates and are targeting smaller towns and villages to win users. China gained a record 8.1 million mobile-phone subscribers in October, raising the total to 531.4 million at the end of the month, according to government data. The number of fixed-line subscribers fell by 977,000 to 370.7 million, the government said.
China Mobile Communications may this month seek bids for mobile phones to be used on the TD-SCDMA network, Wang said. ZTE Corp. said in June it won orders from China Mobile Communications for equipment worth 2.37 billion yuan ($320 million) to build the TD-SCDMA network. The Shenzhen, south China-based company will also submit bids to supply TD-SCDMA handsets to the mobile-phone company, President Yin Yimin said in April. TD-SCDMA Forum, a group promoting the technology, counts China Mobile Communications and handset providers such as Huawei Technologies Co. as members. Apart from TD-SCDMA, the government is endorsing the wideband CDMA and CDMA2000 standards for 3G services in the country.
From http://www.bloomberg.com 12/05/2007
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Chinese Demand Green Approach to Databases
More Chinese firms will adopt virtualization technologies on databases to cut hardware and maintenances cost and save energy, a US-based IT research firm said yesterday in Shanghai. The global demand of computer servers for enterprise-level data centers is expected to reach 60 million units in 2010, and about a quarter of that capacity demand will be met by the virtualized servers but not real servers, according to International Data Corp. The virtualization helps chief information officers to save the server budget and improve efficiency of the usage of power and water, which helps protect the environment, according to Vicki Cui, research manager of IDC China's computing system research. Power consumption of data centers in the US will reach 100 billion kilowatts in 2011 if they use traditional methods, which requires 10 additional power plants, according to a statement from IBM, citing the US Environment Protection Agency. China's adoption rate of the technologies, however, was only 17 percent in 2006, one-third of the rate in Japan and lower than India, according to IDC. "China's adoption rate will surge within the next two or three years, firstly in companies with more than 100 servers," said Cui at an IT forum in Shanghai yesterday. "We have seen some vendors in the sector double revenue in the past year," Cui added, without providing detailed figures. Companies including Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Cisco talked about the visions of future data centers, including virtualization. IBM, which defines visualization as a green technology, said it has great potential in China, a country aware of energy protection.
From Shanghai Daily 12/05/2007
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Chinese Gov't Boosts Online Purchasing
The volume of purchases made online by State ministries and commissions is expected to grow significantly from the end of this month, with the further development of a Web-based bidding system, a senior official has said. Ma Jihong, Party secretary of the procurement center of the Central People's Government of China, said on Thursday: "On completion of the online invitation and bidding system, we will gradually publicize categories of the items available. "The new system will help to lower procurement costs and improve efficiency," Ma told a seminar ahead of the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Government Procurement Law. She said the bidding system will also provide more openness and transparency. The government implemented its procurement law in January 2003. Since then, the value of State purchases has risen from 700 million yuan (95 million U.S. dollars) to 10.7 billion yuan this year. Also, according to official figures, in the five years since the law's enactment, more than 5 billion yuan of central government funds have been saved. As of last Wednesday, the value of government procurement conducted via the center's website, www.zycg.gov.cn, was 5.3 billion yuan, almost half of the total spend for the year.
The site contains information on more than 6,000 individual buyers, 16,000 suppliers and about 150,000 products and services. By providing detailed records of all transactions, including information on buyers, suppliers, contract checking and acceptance, the site, which receives some 20,000 visits per day, has "forcefully" promoted the transparency of government procurement procedures, Ma said. To date, the center has made collective purchases for State organs at all levels. While experts have generally praised the adoption of e-commerce applications for government procurement, Liu Junhai, president of the commercial law research institute of Renmin University of China, said "better purchasing credibility" still needed to be established. "The procurement system has contributed significantly to saving government funds, reducing commercial graft and protecting the rights of suppliers," Liu told China Daily. However, the system is not flawless, he said.
Collective purchases usually take longer to complete and in some cases, the product quality and after-sales service are not as good as they should be, he said. Liu called for the introduction of more detailed regulations on government purchases, as parts of the current law are unclear and difficult to implement. Liu Jie, vice-manager of Beijing-based Haoying Furniture Co Ltd, has also called for more clarity on the preferential policies the law says it gives to environmentally friendly firms, medium- and small-sized companies and businesses based in western areas.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/15/2007
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China Formally Establishes Strategic Petroleum Reserve Center
China has formally established the special center that will manage the country's strategic petroleum reserves, the National Development and Reform Commission said Tuesday. The center will be responsible for filling the reserves and authorizing the release of oil, said the NDRC, which is China's economic planning agency. It will also take charge of recycling of the oil to prevent the quality of the crude stocks becoming degraded. China is establishing strategic oil reserves to provide a cushion against disruptions to supplies as it sucks in more crude from overseas to meet growing domestic consumption and compensate for falling output from its aging oil fields. Last week, the U.S. and China wrapped up joint Strategic Economic Dialogue talks with an agreement to cooperate more closely on the construction and management of their strategic oil reserves. However, the NDRC's statement Tuesday didn't specify under which market conditions the new center would release oil.
The U.S. and others have worried China would use its oil reserves to manipulate the market. China isn't a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, of which the International Energy Agency is part, and isn't bound by agency guidelines that limit use of strategic reserves to times of supply disruption. The NDRC said the center will regulate the operations of the reserve, and accelerate the construction of tanks that will form part of the strategic reserve in future. China started to build its strategic oil reserve in October 2006 and held around two million to three million metric tons of oil as of September this year. At least two further phases of tank builds are planned to bring China's reserves capacity into line with developed countries that have the equivalent of 90 days of net imports of oil in store.
From http://www.nasdaq.com 12/17/2007
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Action to Eradicate Internet Sex Ads
The latest campaign to clean up cyberspace was launched yesterday by the government. According to a notice jointly released by 12 ministries taking part in the scheme - among them the State Administration for Industry & Commerce and the Ministry of Health - the campaign aims to curb the growing number of illegal advertisements for sex-related health supplements, STD drugs and clinics, and sex toys. It is scheduled to run through next February. Tough punishments will be meted out to medical institutions and clinics that boast online of special cures for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) that have not been approved or licensed by the health authorities, the notice said. It added that approved STD hospitals will have their licenses revoked if they advertise online without first getting the appropriate approval. The same punishment will apply to those who publish revised versions of their adverts without first getting permission, it said.
Companies that use sexually suggestive advertisements to promote sex drugs face having their businesses suspended, the notice said. In addition, agencies that design, make and release "vulgar" advertisements will be dealt with in accordance with the law on advertising, it said. Those that are found to have seriously violated the law or the new regulation could be stripped of their right to operate in the advertising business, the notice said. Websites that host illegal advertisements must remove them immediately once they are told to do so by the authorities. Those that do not do so will be closed down, the notice said. It urged websites owned and operated by government departments and civil societies to take the lead in curbing such advertisements. Health administrations and drug agencies have also been instructed to closely monitor online advertisements involving drugs and hospitals and report all offensive ones to the relevant authorities, the notice said. In September, the government initiated a series of measures to rid all print and broadcast media of advertisements related to sex drugs and STD remedies.
From China Daily 12/18/2007
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Credit Data to Go Online
China is to establish a system to publicize the credit information of export businesses on the Internet so government bodies can better manage foreign trade. The Ministry of Commerce yesterday said on its website that it will establish a foreign trade credit system in more than 10 provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai and Jiangsu. Through the system, the government will put the credit history and operational information of companies doing business overseas on the Internet. Government supervision bodies and foreign companies will be able to retrieve the information through a website, the commerce ministry said on its website yesterday. This is part of the government's effort to build a system to make the credit information of all enterprises transparent. The government first ran a trial credit system in Shenzhen three years ago. The city government has since put the information of nearly 10,000 enterprises on a website. Business partners can check the credit, tax and legal records of any of these companies online. This is a good move for China's foreign trade, said Wang Shengli, a credit administrator under the Ministry of Commerce. "Chinese enterprises need good credit to win in global trade, and this is also good for their trade partners in other countries," Wang said.
Many Chinese companies do not fully understand the significance of credit and they do not pay enough attention to credit management within their companies, according to Han Jiaping, a credit management expert. Paying more attention to credit will help Chinese enterprises' trade partners and is also good for domestic companies themselves because it helps them avoid risk, he said. But there is currently a lack of credit management personnel in China, Han said. The credit system is part of the commerce ministry's effort to build a broader information system in the business field, Wang said. The system will include information on companies doing business within China, as well as investment and other information. The Ministry of Commerce is to share with other government bodies, including Customs and tax, to supervise enterprises together. "This will make it more convenient for those who obey the regulation, while those who do not will get punishment," Wang said. Vice-Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng said earlier that through a ministry blacklist system the government has punished over 400 export enterprises that have broken rules or behaved illegally.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/18/2007
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China to Map Out Rural Development in 2008
China kicked off an annual rural work conference in Beijing on Saturday to map out the country's strategies and policies for agricultural and rural development in 2008. China's rural development will continue to be one of the areas that top the government's agenda in the coming year, as stressed at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded in October. A recent CPC meeting urged continuing to modernize the agricultural sector to close the gap between urban areas and relatively underdeveloped rural regions in the coming year. The meeting called on to boost infrastructure constructions in rural areas, promote the steady development of agriculture, increase the income of farmers, ensure the basic supply of farm produce and improve the livelihood of rural population. It asked to establish a long-term mechanism for boosting the agriculture sector, continue to increase government investment on agriculture, give more support to the agricultural sector and boost grain production in 2008.
Experts believed balancing inflation curbs and steady price hikes of farm produce for the good of farmers would be a key challenge for the Chinese government next year. Farm produce such as grain, meat and cooking oil, were major factors behind this year's soaring inflation. The Chinese government had pledged to modernize the agricultural industry and invest more money in the country's vast rural areas at the annual conference last year. The Party and government had annually devoted its first work document to rural development four times since 2004 to draw up a variety of preferential policies to support the rural sector. The move indicated that rural development was a top concern of the central government. This year's rural work conference is scheduled to last two days.
From http://www.chinadaily.com.cn 12/22/2007
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Ministry: China Tops Broadband Users Worldwide
The number of Chinese broadband users has hit 122 million, the highest in the world, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday, citing an official from the information industry authority. Sixty percent of the netizens surfed on the Internet via broadband, said Jiang Yaoping, vice minister of the ministry of information industry, at a work conference of China Telecommunications Corporation on Saturday. Last year, more than 30 percent of China Telecom's income came from non-phone services, rising from 5.5 percent in 2002, the report said. One-third of the new broadband users are farmers, where the demand for the service is high, China Telecom officials said. The increased user number boosted the non-voice income of fixed-phone carriers, accelerating the transformation of traditional phone carriers into comprehensive information service providers, the report said.
From Shanghai Daily 12/24/2007
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In Japan, Rural Economies Wane as Cities Thrive
NOSHIRO, Japan: The only outward sign of conflict here is the red flags of protest, but this small logging city on Japan's remote northern coast is seething. A proliferation of national chain stores outside town has already forced the closing of about half of the city's once teeming central shopping district. Now, many in this normally restrained rural community see the megamall being built nearby, by a company based near Tokyo, as the final nail in the coffin of their economy. "We don't want to fight, but we are desperate," said Seiji Yanagihara, an official with the Noshiro Chamber of Commerce, which opposes the mall. "Tokyo is eating all the goodies, and not even leaving us with scraps from the table." Japan's $4.7 trillion economy has expanded for the last five and a half years. Urban centers like Tokyo and Nagoya, the seat of the Japanese car industry, are thriving, as seen in the building boom decorating Tokyo's skyline with glittering new high-rises. But in regions like Akita, the mountainous northern prefecture that is home to Noshiro, downtowns have emptied and factories have closed, and an exodus to Tokyo of youths seeking jobs has left behind towns that are predominantly for the elderly. There is widespread concern here that these changes are turning Japan into a nation divided into winners and losers, split geographically between prosperous cities and the depressed rural areas. Many here attribute this growing disparity to Japan's embrace of American-style economic liberalization, begun in the 1990s to end the nation's decade of stagnation.
The measures to open up markets helped revive cities like Tokyo and lowered prices for Japan's long-suffering urban middle class. But elsewhere in Japan, they are seen as bringing unwelcome and wrenching change. And now, with recent signs of a coming economic slowdown in Japan, divisions could deepen. On Monday, Japan's top central banker, Toshihiko Fukui, warned of ripples from the housing downturn in the United States, one of Japan's largest overseas markets. He said he was particularly concerned about the impact on Japan's small and midsize companies, many of which are in rural areas. The new economic policies are blamed for undoing one of Japan's proudest achievements after World War II, the creation of an egalitarian society that was almost uniformly middle class. They have also eroded one of the pillars of Japan's postwar political stability, rural voters' stalwart support for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The changes began during Japan's doldrums, when the government tried to revive growth by slowly but steadily deregulating entire swaths of the economy, like banking, insurance and groceries. As seen in Noshiro, some of the biggest upheavals followed the lifting of restrictions on large stores, a step originally urged by Washington to admit American retailers. As in the United States, this has filled the countryside with large shopping malls and strips of chain stores, some American but most domestic, at the expense of town centers. Rural areas also lost out in the 1990s because of the gradual dismantling of government-sanctioned price cartels, which had guaranteed jobs by protecting industries from "excessive competition." As Japan's markets opened, a flood of cheaper industrial and textile products from China and other Asian countries gutted local economies, which still depend heavily on manufacturing.
Rural areas were hit hard again in the early 2000s, when Junichiro Koizumi, then prime minister, tried to unshackle the private sector by shrinking the government. Akita lost thousands of construction jobs as Koizumi made deep cuts in public works projects, which had been a way to redistribute Tokyo's tax revenue to the countryside. The economic hardships have led to a growing sense of resentment that began to spill into national politics in July. Angry rural voters handed the Liberal Democrats a crushing defeat in elections for the upper house of Parliament. This rural discontent has helped the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which made closing Japan's regional economic gaps the central plank of its campaign. Many opposition politicians now talk about halting or rolling back American-style liberalization to protect traditional ways of life. Many blame Washington for having pushed Japan into opening markets. Stung by defeat, the chastened Liberal Democrats and their new leader, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, have backed away from their support of economic liberalization and have begun emphasizing steps to fix regional disparities. "The elections were the first scream of distress by Japan's regions," said Daigo Matsuura, an opposition Democratic Party member from Akita who defeated the ruling party incumbent in July for a seat in the upper house. "America pressured Japan into making these changes. The result was the birth of regional economic gaps."
From http://www.iht.com/ 12/05/2007
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Corporate Gaps to Slow Japan's Economy: OECD
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has downgraded its Japan economic growth forecasts due to gaps between large and small companies, according to its semiannual report, released Thursday. Although projecting "a more balanced growth pattern" for Japan in the near future, with less dependence on exports, the OECD said in its Economic Outlook report that the economy will expand 1.9 percent this year and 1.6 percent in 2008, downgrading its previous growth forecasts in May of 2.4 percent this year and 2.1 percent in 2008. The Paris-based OECD, which also urged the Bank of Japan not to raise interest rates until inflation is firmly on track, said the estimated growth rate, measured by real gross domestic product, reach 1.8 percent in 2009. But it points to "uneven growth . . . reflected an increasing polarization between a strong manufacturing sector, which has benefited from buoyant export growth, and a relatively weak nonmanufacturing sector with low capital expenditure." Noting weak productivity in the nonmanufacturing sector, which accounts for 90 percent of small and midsize firms, the OECD said this explains "the widening gap in business confidence and investment" between large and smaller firms.
The OECD warned that subdued wage levels in small and medium-size enterprise sectors could lead to lower growth in income and private consumption. This negative trend might be accelerated by the record-low housing starts observed since a legal revision to the building code earlier this year triggered stricter, and consequently more lengthy, structural integrity checks on new buildings. As for the global economic outlook, the OECD called for cautiousness in the face of the credit crisis due to the subprime mortgage problems in the U.S., cooling housing markets, and higher oil and other commodity prices. The U.S. economy will expand 2.2 percent this year, slightly higher than May's forecast of 2.1 percent, and 2.0 percent in 2008, down from 2.5 percent. For 2009, the OECD forecast 2.2 percent growth for the U.S. The euro zone is projected to grow 2.6 percent this year and 1.9 percent in 2008.
From http://search.japantimes.co.jp:80/ 12/07/2007
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1.1 Million People 60 or Older Not Qualified for Pension Benefits
As many as 1.1 million people aged 60 or older are currently not receiving pension benefits because they have failed to qualify as recipients, according to the Social Insurance Agency. Of them, 730,000 will never receive benefits under the current public pension system, the agency's estimates showed. The figures are the agency's first estimates for the entire age group eligible to be pensioners. The agency had earlier estimated in 2004 that about 400,000 people aged 65 or older were not qualified for benefits. The latest estimate, 1.1 million, represents 3.3 percent of about 33.6 million people 60 years of age or older who currently receive pension payments. To qualify for public pension benefits, it is necessary to pay into the system for at least 25 years. The agency said 370,000 of the 1.1 million people can still qualify for pension benefits if they continue to pay premiums until they meet the 25-year requirement. Under the current national pension program, those who wish to do so can pay premiums until they turn 70. However, the remaining 730,000 people will never be entitled because they cannot fulfill the requirement even if they keep paying until they reach 70, the agency said. Furthermore, an estimated 450,000 people now under the age of 60 will never be eligible for benefits throughout their lives, the agency said. That is because their current payment status will prevent them from meeting the requirement--even if they choose to keep paying premiums until the age of 70. The agency has pushed measures to raise the sagging rate of people paying into the national pension program to reduce the future number of pensionless elderly people. But in fiscal 2006, the payment rate dropped 0.8 percentage point from the previous year to 66.3 percent, meaning one in three was not paying. The premium-payment rate this fiscal year has been flagging again. The agency has been kept busy dealing with the fiasco over millions of unidentified pension accounts, leaving the collection of unpaid contributions on the back burner. The low payment ratios mean there will be more elderly people ineligible for pension benefits in the years to come.
From THE ASAHI SHIMBUN 12/15/2007
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SOUTH KOREA: Balanced National Development Makes Steady Progress
Government complex building plan of the new administrative city SejongPresident Roh Moo-hyun¡¯s administration push for balanced national development to decentralize government power and financial resources has helped productivity and export growth in the provincial areas. For the past five years, the Roh administration has pressed for the establishment of regional innovation systems, providing underdeveloped regions a framework for self-reliance, transferring public institutions to local areas, establishing innovative cities and maximizing the national growth potential. The administration in 2003 established the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development and enacted the Special Act for Balanced National Development to disperse economic power and administrative decision-making to areas outside Seoul. In July, ground was broken on an administrative town that is to accommodate 49 government agencies in Chungcheong provinces¡¯ Yeongi-Gongju area, south of Seoul, by 2014.
President Roh said in a congratulatory speech of the ceremony that the government¡¯s policies for balanced regional development, including the construction of the administrative town, are aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and quality of life of people in the capital as well as provincial areas. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Jeju Innovation City took place in September. It was the first among 10 innovation cities selected to house public agencies¡¯ headquarters. The national and provincial governments released the construction plans in June 2005. They call for moving 175 public agencies¡¯ headquarter offices to provinces and build innovation cities to accommodate them by 2012. Construction projects will bring in sizable benefits for each province and strengthen regional economic development by laying down the groundwork for growth, said Lim Eui-Taek, head of the construction ministry¡¯s Innocity Coordination Team, in an interview with a government news agency in September. Lim added that local governments are expected to create 130,000 new jobs and see over 13 trillion won worth of economic benefits by inviting government offices to towns. The government¡¯s strenuous efforts were not in vain. Per capita GNP of local areas surpassed that of the metropolitan region in 2004 for the first time. The local export ratio also increased from 62.7% in 2003 to 68.1% in 2006. The number of SMEs in the suburbs increased three-fold from 2002 and migration to the capital area is decreasing. Budget allocation for local governments rose from 78 trillion won in 2003 to 101 trillion in 2006. R&D budget allotment for local governments gradually advanced from 27% (2003) to 33.7% (2005) and 40% (2007).
From http://www.korea.net/ 12/01/2007
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BOK Cuts 2008 Growth Forecast to 4.7%
The Bank of Korea cut its growth forecast for 2008 to 4.7 percent from its previous 5 percent projection, citing the fallout of high oil prices and U.S. subprime mortgage problems. The figure is lower than its forecast for 2007 economic growth of 4.8 percent year-on-year and means the country's growth will fall for the third straight year. On top of weaker growth, the current account is expected to record a shortfall for the first time since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, while consumer prices will gain faster next year. The bank expects the gross domestic product (GDP), the total output of goods and services produced in the country, to grow 4.9 percent in the first half of 2008 before slowing to 4.4 percent in the second half. ``Rising oil prices are expected to weigh on the global economy and raise inflationary pressure,'' said Kim Jae-chun, head of the BOK's Research Department. ``External risks may raise downward pressure on the economy.'' Private think tanks have forecast the economy will grow by more than 5 percent next year. However, they are expected to revise down their growth forecast in view of the negative impact high oil prices will have on global economic growth. The BOK said the fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis will also likely keep spreading throughout next year amid a slowdown in the U.S. economy. Exports may see a slight decrease, but will continue double-digit growth next year, with private spending staying sound, it said.
The country's current account is expected to swing into the red next year as growing imports, mainly on soaring oil prices, will likely offset gains from solid exports alongside a widening in the shortfall in the services account. The current account shortfall will reach an estimated $3 billion next year, a turnaround from an estimated $6.5 billion surplus this year. The central bank had earlier predicted that this year's current account surplus would come to $2 billion. Consumer prices will likely grow 3.3 percent annually next year, up from an estimated 2.5 percent rise this year, due to lofty oil prices. Inflation will likely reach 3.5 percent in the first half and 3.1 percent in the second half of 2008, the bank said. Private spending will rise 4.3 percent next year, which is slightly lower than this year's growth forecast of 4.4 percent. Global investment banks have warned that the Korean economy will expand at a slower pace than previously expected next year amid worsening unfavorable external conditions. Citing slowing exports and continued sluggish domestic consumption, Deutsche Bank recently forecast that the Korean economy will grow 3.9 percent in 2008, sharply lower than the BOK's prediction of 4.7 percent. UBS also said the BOK's multiple interest rate hikes this year, designed to rein in rising inflationary pressure as a result of surging oil prices, will have a negative impact on the economy next year, putting its 2008 growth forecast at 4.1 percent.
From http://www.koreatimes.co.kr:80/ 12/05/2007
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Gov't Ability to Cope with Disaster in Doubt
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- The worst oil spill on South Korea's west coast is widely believed to be a man-made accident caused by the authorities' poor sense of safety and inadequate disaster-management organization. While the country is focusing on stopping the spread of the floating oil slick and removing the spilled oil, the police investigation into the cause of the accident has made little progress. Police have questioned about 20 seamen and maritime officials since Friday when a barge carrying a large crane rammed into an anchored tanker, puncturing three holes in the vessel off Taean County on the west coast. About 10,500 tons of crude oil were leaked, making it the country's largest oil spill. The crash took place after a towline connecting the crane-carrying barge and one of the two tugboats pulling it broke in high waves and strong winds. The local news media described the accident as man-made because the two tugboats, owned by Samsung Heavy Industries, attempted to tow the barge despite a strong wind warning from the weather authorities, and failed to take preventive measures. According to police investigators, the port control tower repeatedly tried to no avail to reach the tugboat via an emergency radio communication channel about two hours before the incident. The tower was attempting to caution the tugboats about the anchoring tanker. When the captain of the tugboat made a mobile phone call to the control tower to inform them that the wire had broken, it was too late. Officials at the control tower say they became aware of the situation only after the call. "We could have taken other measures if we had been informed earlier," one of the officials told Yonhap News Agency, requesting anonymity.
However, there are contradictory claims about when the barge began to drift and why the emergency radio communication channel was not active. All parties involved deny responsibility, police said. One question is if the weather was bad enough to break the 5-centimeter-thick wire as claimed by the tugboat crew, why did the port authorities allowed the tugboats to tow the 11,800-ton crane in such a bad condition. Also being probed is whether those in the tugboats, tanker and control tower made their utmost efforts to prevent the crash. Experts say the tugboats could have prevented the crash if they had pushed the barge carrying the crane in other direction. Some say the barge could have sailed between the tanker and the barge to absorb the shock of the collision. Port officials say the Hong Kong-registered tanker "Hebei Spirit" moved a few meters from its anchoring point after being informed of the barge's approach, but others claim it ignored the warning. However, the tanker will be held responsible if it was docked at an improper site, which made collisions with other ships possible. Some local fishermen claim the tanker was some 4.8 kilometers away from where it was supposed to be and ignored their complaints. The government also came under fire for dealing poorly with the oil spill at the initial stage. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries predicted that it would take at least 24 hours for the leaked oil to reach the shore, but in fact it took only 13 hours. The ministry has claimed it has the capacity to collect 16,600 tons of oil in the first three days of a spill, but only about 900 tons, far below the 10 percent of the oil spilled, have been collected so far. Ministry officials have attributed the slow progress of the clean-up to bad weather and lack of equipment. The government tally for the cost of the oil spill was not released yet. Oil from the damaged tanker has blackened most of the sandy tourist beaches on the western coast and destroyed marine farms producing oysters, clams and abalone. Environmentalists said it could take years for the scenic coastal region to recover from the disaster despite desperate efforts by thousands of volunteers, local residents and officials to contain and clean up the slick.
From http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ 12/12/2007
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Korea Aiming to Build Gender-Equal Society
A month ago, Huang Qingyi, vice-president and founding member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women¡¯s Federation, asked me what has helped make incredible changes in the status and role of Korean women recently. I told her the Women¡¯s Policy Basic Plan played the most important role in improving women¡¯s status in Korea. The Korean government set up the framework for the third five-year women¡¯s policy plan on Dec. 5. Since 1986, the government has formed a systemic foundation by introducing basic laws for women that fight gender discrimination. One of the remarkable outcomes is that Korea adopted the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy as Korea¡¯s national policy. Suggested by the United Nations, the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy involves ensuring that gender perspectives and attention to the goal of gender equality are central to all activities -- policy development, research, advocacy/dialogue, legislation, resource allocation, planning, implementation and monitoring of programs and projects.
Women¡¯s policy focuses on balance between work and home
Reflecting the social trends and demands, the role of women has been evolving. Today, women¡¯s roles are varied from caring for households to engaging in economic activities. The rising number of international marriages has left a large number of women with the job of forging new family structures. The government is required to develop more active and multi-dimensional plans considering the increased flexibility of the labor market, the changed working environment for women, and the introduction of advanced corporate culture that concentrate on both work and family. Considering such social demands, the third women¡¯s policy plan focuses on creating sustainable gender equality. It reflects Korea¡¯s willingness to steer national policy toward gender equality in the big picture. The third basic policy plan also contains tasks to upgrade women¡¯s social status, including job creation and increasing women¡¯s positions in professional vocations. To map out the third women¡¯s policy plan, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has been closely cooperating with 27 government institutions, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources and the Ministry of Labor, for more than one year. The Gender Equality Ministry has also held hearings and seminars with experts in women¡¯s policy to create a more effective framework.
Women should move forward to lead changes
Under the third basic women¡¯s policy plan, the government will take active measures to smoothly conduct the policies while reviewing annual action plans and producing outcomes through cooperation with the Women Policy Coordination Committee. The third basic women¡¯s policy plan does not contain fancy blueprints. But it will enable women to explore new areas and lead social changes.
From http://www.korea.net/ 14/14/2007
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Korean IT Sector Forecast to Grow 4.6 % Next Year
Korea¡¯s information technology (IT) sector is forecast to expand 4.6 percent in 2008 from a year earlier, mainly driven by software and IT services, an industry researcher said Tuesday (Dec. 18). The growth outlook is higher than an estimated 3.7 percent for this year, IDC Korea said in a report. The researcher, however, expected the global IT industry to expand by 5.5 percent to 6 percent next year, slower than the 6.9 percent predicted for this year, as concerns over a global economic slowdown could lead to reduced investment in the tech sector.
From http://www.korea.net/ 02/18/2007
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MONGOLIA: KT to Help Set Up Internet Data Center for Mongolia
KT, Korea¡¯s leading fixed-line telephony and broadband Internet service provider, said Sunday (Dec. 9) it plans to help establish an Internet data center in Mongolia. KT said it has won an order to build an Internet data center for the Mongolian government and to establish information and technology (IT) systems as well as networks. The project, which is scheduled to be complete in February, 2009, also calls for KT to provide IT education and dispatch experts to Mongolia. "The project will help the two countries to improve technology co-operation and accelerate South Korean companies¡¯ foray into the Central Asian country," a KT official said. The move comes as the Mongolian government attempts to build an e-government system. Mongolia plans to develop its e-government project by creating related operating systems through an Internet data center.
From http://www.korea.net/news/ 02/09/2007
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ADB Extends Grant to Help Develop Mongolia's Health Services
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending a $14 million grant to Mongolia to improve the nation¡¯s primary health services. Signing the agreement were Adrian Ruthenberg, Country Director of ADB's Mongolia Resident Mission, and Ch. Ulaan, Minister of Finance of Mongolia. Ms. B. Batsereeden, Minister of Health of Mongolia, was among the officials in attendance. The seven-year project is estimated to cost a total of $17.6 million. ADB will fund 80%, with Mongolia funding the balance. The Ministry of Health is the executing agency for the project, which will target two districts in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and five provinces around the country, benefiting nearly 700,000 people, or around 27% of the total population. ¡°Mongolia is committed to reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and has identified development of health-care services as a priority,¡± said Claude Bodart, ADB East Asia Department health specialist. ¡°This is the third ADB-funded project focused on the health-care sector in the country, and is in line with the government¡¯s Health Sector Master Plan.¡± The project, which specifically targets poor or marginalized members of society, has four components that will strengthen primary health care services in both rural and urban areas; develop the sector¡¯s capacity and management; and focus on policy change and reform of the health sector system nationwide, including health financing and insurance, human resources development, and regulation and governance.
From http://www.adb.org/ 12/13/2007
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INDONESIA: Information Ministry Gets Ready to Become ICT Hub
The Communications and Information Ministry says it should drive any attempts to establish an information and communication technology (ICT) culture in Indonesia. "The culture of information and communication technology should be started from the ministry itself," said Communications and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh during the opening of the ministry's three-day national coordination meeting on Monday. The main purpose of the meeting is to establish a new policy for the ministry in its efforts to accelerate the national ICT development program in 2008. The national program itself is aimed at developing a prosperous, civilized and knowledge-based information society that is synergic and integrated nationally. Nuh said that in order to be a reliable hub for the program, there were three things the ministry should do. "First, improve the quality of human and other resources. Second, enhance the value system, including good governance and innovation, that can support its tasks," he said. "Third, eliminate all performance burdens, including incapable human resources." The minister also emphasized the need to provide concrete suggestions for revamping regulations related to foreign or joint businesses in the ICT sector. "Any improvement must embrace both economic and political views," he said.
He also said that 2008 was an important year because it would mark the beginning of preparations for the 2009 presidential election. "The Communications and Information Ministry will hold a big responsibility in making the election successful." Another speaker at the meeting, Dr. Made Suwandi from the Home Ministry, explained the importance of information and communication technology in the implementation of the central government's decentralization program. "The role of information and communication technology is very important for Indonesia's administration reform efforts, and finally for its economic development," he said. "Progress in structural reform, both bureaucratic and institutional, is needed for improving the investment climate in Indonesia. "More specifically, information and communication technology development is also needed for encouraging the development of small and medium enterprises, reforming the financial sector, and also for making a success of the national poverty reduction program." Another speaker, Alex Bambang Riatmodjo from the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, said ICT had an important role to play in maintaining national security and defense, especially counterterrorism efforts.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 11/27/2007
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Govt Launches Tourism Website
JAKARTA: The Culture and Tourism Ministry has launched a website to provide comprehensive information about the country's tourism sector. The website contains information on tourism sites and special events and features an online hotel booking facility. Titled www.my-indonesia.info, the website was officially launched Thursday and is run in cooperation with Indo.Com, a well-known Internet service provider. Eka Ginting, an Indo.Com director, said the new website provides online bookings for around 200 hotels in Yogyakarta, Central Java, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara and Manado in North Sulawesi. The government hopes the number of foreign tourists will increase to 7 million this year from about 6 million in 2006.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com 12/08/2007
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NSW Scheme to Be Rolled Out in Nine More Ports
The government hopes to expand the National Single Window (NSW) scheme, an on-line permit service for importers and exporters -- first introduced earlier this week at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port -- to nine more major ports next year. "So far, it's been successful at Tanjung Priok Port. "And we expect that ten big ports, including Tanjung Priok Port, will be served by the scheme by the end of 2008, at the latest," said Edy Putra Irawadi, a deputy to the coordinating minister for economics, on Thursday. By next April, he said, the government would introduce the system at Belawan Port in North Sumatra, Tanjung Mas in Central Java, Tanjung Perak in East Java, and Makasar Port in South Sulawesi. The extension of the scheme to another five ports -- Panjang in South Sumatra, Pontianak in West Kalimantan, Batam, Bali and Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan -- was expected to follow later in the year. Last Monday, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati officially launched the first stage of NSW and its web portal -- http://www.insw.go.id. During the first stage, five government agencies out of the 36 with responsibilities in the export/import field, have adopted the system, namely, the Customs Office, Food and Drug Control Agency, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Animal Quarantine Center and the Agricultural Quarantine Center.
Currently, however, only 100 importers -- the beneficiaries of the so-called fast-track priority facility operated by the port authority -- are able to benefit from the scheme. The priority facility, which grants importers preferential treatment for goods inspection at the port, is restricted to firms that have a proven track record and have never violated the regulations. As for exporters, they will not be eligible to receive such treatment during the first phase of the NSW scheme, which is expected to end before April, when the second phase is scheduled to commence. "We hope that by April next year, when we launch a common portal, the work of all the 36 agencies will be integrated in the NSW system, as well as other importers and exporters, so that we can simplify permit processing and curtail corruption," Edy said, "There used to be a lot of redundancies involved as regards the necessary documents, unnecessary payments and convoluted bureaucracy." He said that under the new service, an importer would only need 7.5 hours to get the necessary clearances to recover their shipments from the port authority, must faster than previously, when several days might be required. The new service would also significantly reduce costs. Edy said the NSW scheme had also simplified the job of the relevant government agencies, adding that the 23 biggest ports in Indonesia had to process 4.5 million export and import documents every year.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com 12/21/2007
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MALAYSIA: Low-Cost IT Training for Penangites
PENANG: Penangites, especially small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), can soon sign up for information technology (IT) training programmes at affordable prices from next year. EC iTrain Sdn Bhd, an IT training centre, and the MCA ICT Resource Centre (MIRC) Incubator will set up Xtrain, a training company to provide low-cost IT training. XTrain, said iTrain chief executive officer Bikesh Lakhmichand, would cover topics like utilising, managing and supporting software applications, programming, security and infrastructure. ¡°Although we are offering the courses at affordable prices, there will be no cutback in quality,¡± Lakhmichand said after the MoU signing ceremony between iTrain and MIRC Incubator at the MIRC Business Leadership Summit at a hotel yesterday. XTrain's Penang branch is expected to start its courses in April to ease the regional market's demands for quality information workers. The Kuala Lumpur branch will open next month. XTrain, Lakhmichand added, aimed to train about 1,000 people in its first year of operation. MIRC chief executive officer Andrew Wong said it was proud to collaborate with iTrain in providing the market with qualified information workers. ¡°Many small and medium entrepreneurs and graduates lack experience and knowledge to meet the market's current demands. ¡°Due to that, we have to retrain them in the technology's latest,¡± he said.
From http://thestar.com.my 12/18/2007
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PHILIPPINES: Former CICT Chair Urges Partnerships for E-governance
MANILA, Philippines -- There is a big difference between ¡°e-government¡± and ¡°e-governance,¡± according to a former chair of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT). Most information and communications technology (ICT)-related projects in government are e-government projects, explained Virgilio Pena who is now a consultant for the "E-governance for Effectiveness and Efficiency" (E3) project of management and technology consulting firm BearingPoint. Bearing Point has won the bid to implement the E3 project under a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency. Pena said that e-governance, on the other hand, describes an encompassing use of ICT to deliver better public service. Put simply, e-governance is "providing best service to clients" using ICT, he added. Amid the controversy hounding the National Broadband Network project of the Department of Transportation and Communications, Pena stressed that this project could have been justified if government had an e-governance policy and strategy in place. ¡°NBN could have been easily justified if e-governance is in place. This is so because you would need a government network to deliver government ICT services,¡± he said. In his years of public service, Pena said he has seen that most government ICT projects are designed without the idea of having them ¡°connected¡± to other government ICT projects.
He cited mega ICT projects of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the LTO, which are essentially e-government projects that automated a government process or service. His idea of e-governance would now allow people to transact with one agency that has access to all government records. Thus, in the case of getting a passport, people don't need to get NBI clearance to apply for a passport. DFA would already have access to other agencies to verify the identity of applicants. Hoping to push the idea of more public-private partnerships in ICT projects in government, the E3 project is working on a study that would come up with policy recommendations for e-governance, Pena said. ¡°We need a vehicle to push the e-governance policies,¡± the former government executive said. Results of the E3 study will be presented to the National Competitive Council, which is currently headed by the Department of Trade and Industry in cooperation with the private sector, Pena said. The NCC was created through an executive order. E3, which started late 2006, is a five-year project that has received about $10 million in grant from CIDA. The E3 study will look into existing government policies and laws and to identify best practices, wherein government could effectively outsource ICT systems to the private sector, he said. ¡°Our study will find out if the BOT law needs to be amended to become applicable to ICT projects,¡± Pena said. The E3 study will also look into international experiences in terms of government outsourcing ICT projects.
From http://archive.inquirer.net/ 11/29/2007
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IT Executives Pushing for Web-Based Poll System in 2010
MANILA, Philippines -- A group of technology industry veterans led by Augusto "Gus" Lagman is proposing an Internet-based system that promises to make transparent the counting of votes by allowing public access to real-time results. In an interview with INQUIRER.net, Lagman, a staunch critic of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the time of former chair Benjamin Abalos, said the proposed system is "very close" to what election watchdog National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) used during the previous elections. As described by Lagman, the proposed system makes use of a Web-based portal through which Comelec "encoders" could directly post election returns or send data via SMS. Under this system, the manual counting of votes in each precinct remains the same whereas other proposed poll automation systems make use of machines for casting of votes. "Based on previous elections, manual counting per precinct takes only eight to 24 hours. That's not what is causing the delay," said Lagman, who used to head Namfrel's technical unit in charge of the system. Instead of voting machines, each precinct would require at least one PC connected to the Internet and results would then be sent to and tabulated in a central system ideally managed by the Comelec. Aside from the private Comelec-run portal, the system also proposes a public portal from which political parties, for example, can access real-time results.
"Each party, for example, can double-check what Comelec has posted with their respective poll watchers in each precinct. Any group can likewise conduct their own tally using the data provided publicly," Lagman said. "With this system, any Filipino, even those from abroad, can be updated with the latest results from any given precinct. Because data is transparent and double checked, even unscrupulous officials cannot manipulate the results." Lagman estimates around 280,000 precincts will be used for the 2010 presidential elections and about 40,000 of these will be located in public schools. Granted each will be provided with two PCs, including a Comelec server that will run the system, he estimates the entire project would cost somewhere around P1 billion. Lagman believes this "hybrid" (hybrid because it retains manual counting while using the Web to transmit election data) system costs less to undertake than machine-based systems. Comelec's previous deal with the MegaPacific consortium (under Abalos' time) was valued at about P1.3 billion for the purchase of some 1,900 optical media reader (OMR) machines. The project, however, was nullified due to irregularities discovered in the bidding process. "Even then, we estimated about 4,000 machines will be needed to cover the entire country, and that would add to Comelec's cost," said Lagman, whose group includes industry veterans like Moscom president Bill Torres and Namfrel chair Bill Luz.
A crucial component to this system is the software to manage the whole setup. Lagman said it would cost around a million pesos to "refine" the software used by Namfrel and make it capable of handling the 2010 nationwide polls. "There is no need to start (making the software) from scratch," he stressed. "We can even give away the software to Comelec for free. Right now, however, we are trying to raise enough money to cover the development costs." Lagman's group, however, could be battling against time in getting the government to even consider its proposed solution. A Comelec advisory council tasked to help in the computerization efforts is about to conduct a six-month study of different vendor solutions, including OMR- and DRE-based systems. In a previous interview, CICT chair Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua, who is heading the advisory council, said eight vendors were selected for the study after which the Comelec would select which technology it would pilot in next year's ARMM special elections. By law, the Comelec is required to pilot a chosen system before deploying it in the 2010 polls. "The software will be finished and ready by the first quarter of next year. We are still hoping the government can include our system in the study," Lagman said.
From http://archive.inquirer.net/ 11/28/2007
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NBN Project to Be Bid Out to Local Telcos in ¡¯08
The Department of Transportation and Communications is studying various options for financing a new version of the national broadband network project (NBN) that will be bid out to local telecommunications companies next year, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro said Friday. Mendoza told reporters that the national government might no longer use the $329.4-million loan for the original NBN, which was abolished following a Senate investigation into allegations of bribery and other irregularities. The government when it has determined the budget for the new version of the NBN project, it will likely get fresh funding from export-import banks of Europe, South Korea and China and from the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, he said. The DoTC has given leading Philippine telecom companies a list of requirements and the quality of service needed, Mendoza said. He said the DoTC began exploratory talks with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Globe Telecom Inc. Bayan Telecommunications and Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc. on Oct. 9. He said the meeting focused ¡°on how the government can lower the government¡¯s ballooning telecom expenses.¡±
He added the DoTC had formed a technical working group ¡°to flesh out the telecom needs of the government and to see how the private sector can meet them at the best price possible.¡±
The NBN project aims to interconnect government offices down to the municipal level. In an earlier interview on the NBN plan, DoTC Assistant Secretary Lorenzo Formoso III cited for example that for central offices ¡°we need at least 2 mbps connection -- that is the committed rate and not the burst speed.¡± ¡°The telcos will come up with comments and suggestions as far as NBN functionalities are concerned,¡± Formoso said. ¡°The government will then, taking all of these into consideration, prepare the terms of reference. We will then tender it, then they will submit [offers]. At the very least we should do (the bidding) by next year.¡± Secure interconnection of government offices is mandated by the E-Commerce Law and by the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for the period 2004 to 2010, as well as the digital infrastructure component of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo¡¯s 10-Point Agenda, Mendoza said.
From http://archive.inquirer.net 12/22/2007
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SINGAPORE: Government Gears Up for Ageing, Expanding Population
Singapore's medical landscape is set to be transformed as the country gears up for the healthcare needs of a greying population in 2015 and beyond. Singapore will soon see more hospitals, clinics and other facilities over the next eight years. Two new hospitals will open in Yishun and the west, while another two are expected in Woodlands and Sengkang. There will also be more specialty centres. A new heart centre as well as a cancer centre will be built, even as the current ones are being expanded. With the expanded infrastructure, more medical professionals will need to be trained, especially to meet the demands of an ageing population. However, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has assured Singaporeans that efficient resource management will not be compromised. Mr Khaw said: "When we underestimate demand, the result is over-crowding at hospitals as we now experience at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. If we over-estimate demand and over supply, we end up with under-utilised assets, a costly outcome. "Between over-supply and under-supply, I would prefer to slightly under-supply than to over-supply as this will put pressure on ourselves to intensify usage and minimise over-consumption."
The government has already set aside some S$2 billion to build up Singapore's medical infrastructure. However, patients will also need to help out in footing part of the bill, with the more well-off paying more. The Health Ministry said that means testing will be inevitable and has indicated that it will be implemented over the next year, starting with C-class wards. What has already been implemented include changes to the ElderShield insurance policy, which provides better coverage to meet the needs of long-term disability. The payout has been raised to S$400 for up to six years - with a minimum rise in premium - compared to S$300 for up to five years previously. ElderShield supplements are also available for those who want better coverage. Another player has also come onboard, with Aviva joining incumbents Great Eastern Life and NTUC Income. As for MediShield, the Health Ministry has introduced an opt-out scheme for newborn babies to be automatically insured. Other health news making headlines in 2007 was the dengue outbreak. The number of infections reached epidemic levels, while eight people died from dengue. Moving the fight against dengue a notch up, Singapore teamed up with Cuba - which has vast experience in this field - to collaborate on research.
2007 also saw Singapore taking on the growing number of HIV infections or AIDS. The Infectious Diseases Act was changed and those who are HIV-positive can no longer use ignorance as a defence against engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour. All male adults can also now opt to take an HIV screening test upon hospital admission. The government will not make testing mandatory - for now. Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, said: "What we need to do is make people understand how they can benefit by volunteering for tests. So I would say I don't support mandatory testing at this time, and that I would go for voluntarily testing. If we can educate people sufficiently, then those who should go for testing, will go for testing." Organ donation also came into the spotlight, when the Health Ministry decided to take up the recommendations of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore to include Muslims into the Human Organ Transplant Act. This is to encourage more Muslims to pledge their organs as this number has been dwindling. If this law is passed in 2008, Muslims, like other Singaporeans, will need to opt out of the scheme if they do not want their organs to be harvested.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 12/21/2007
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