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ASEAN Leaders Urge Unity to Beat Financial Crisis

"Southeast Asian leaders called Sunday for urgent cooperation and reform to tackle the global financial crisis, as they pushed on with their dream of forming an EU-style community by 2015. Leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) issued a joint statement... [that] called for 'bold and urgent reform of the international financial system' to tackle the worsening crisis, while agreeing to 'stand firm against protectionism.'..." [Agence France Presse (3/1)/Factiva] Reuters adds that "...Asian finance officials agreed...to enlarge a foreign currency pool to $120 billion from $80 billion proposed last year, to help defend their currencies from the fallout of the global economic crisis. The 10 ASEAN nations would participate in the fund, which was to be operational by May along with China, South Korea and Japan..." [Reuters (3/1)/Factiva] Xinhua reports that the pledge"...to create a pool of resources worth $120 billion... could lead to the creation of an Asian monetary fund, Chinese economists said this week... With the reserve pool, member countries will manage their own foreign reserves. This will differ from organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has its own funds contributed by member states. When a currency crisis occurs, the reserves can be collectively used for short-term loans for countries in need, the Chinese Ministry of Finance said..." [Xinhua (2/27)/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/02/2009

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ADB to Host Forum on Impact of Financial Crisis on Asia

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Senior policymakers, heads of central banks, the private sector, and academe will gather at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) headquarters in the Philippines capital on Monday to share policy responses to the global financial crisis and its impact on Asia. ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda will open the two-day South Asia Forum on Impact of the Global Economic and Financial Crisis Forum, the first of three forums to be held in the region in coming months. Participants include former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Michel Camdessus, former Philippines President, Fidel V. Ramos and former Vice Minister of Finance, Japan, Makoto Utsumi. "The global financial crisis has started to hurt all countries in South Asia," says Kunio Senga, Director General of ADB's South Asia Department. "India's economic growth has dropped significantly, while stock prices have come down sharply. Even small economies like the Maldives are being hurt due to a sharp drop in tourism." The ADB will use the forum to launch two major studies - The Impact of the Global Economic Slowdown on South Asia and Global Financial Market Turmoil and Emerging Market Economies: Major Contagion and Shocking Loss of Wealth? - which examine the impact of the financial crisis on Asia. Policymakers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will attend the forum to discuss policy approaches and regional responses to the crisis.

From http://www.adb.org/ 03/07/2009

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WB: 'Encourage Migration of Workforce'

"The World Bank has advised India to encourage migration of the workforce to urban centers through policy initiatives to improve the economic health of 60% of poor living in states which do not provide sufficient opportunities for growth. 'The process of migration should be welcomed and encouraged,' said World Bank Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia Indermit Gill while releasing the World Development Report (WDR) 2009 in Delhi [on Thursday]..." [The Times of India/Factiva] The Hindu writes that "... 'Instead of worrying about the size of metropolises, cities and towns,' the WDR called upon policy makers 'to worry about making sure these places work well.'... Referring to India, the WDR called for infrastructure development and reduction in transport costs because distance was a challenge and the problem was compounded by concentration of poor people in the rural areas ..." [The Hindu (India)/Factiva] The Business Standard adds that "...giving example of Mumbai, the report says despite its attempts to discourage inflows of people, who were attracted to economic opportunities, Mumbai has twice as many people as in 1980s. Half of the city's population lives in slums as the government has not created the requisite infrastructure... The government should provide improved education, health and other social services across the country to prepare quality human resource which can migrate to economic hubs for better opportunities, Gill said..." [Business Standard (India)/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/13/2009

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Protectionist Measures Show Worrisome Rise Since Beginning of Financial Crisis

Since G-20 leaders signed a pledge in November 2008 to avoid protectionist measures, several countries, including 17 of the G-20, have implemented 47 measures that restrict trade at the expense of other countries, a new World Bank study shows. Since the beginning of the financial crisis, officials have proposed and/or implemented roughly 78 trade measures, according to the World Bank's monitoring list of trade and trade-related measures. Of these, 66 involved trade restrictions, and 47 trade-restricting measures eventually took effect. The effects of these measures are likely minor relative to the size of unaffected markets but they have a significant negative effect on particular exporters shut out of markets. "Leaders must not heed the siren-song of protectionist fixes, whether for trade, stimulus packages, or bailouts," said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. "Economic isolationism can lead to a negative spiral of events such as those we saw in the 1930s, which made a bad situation much, much worse." The cost of inaction on the Doha Agenda is rising, the World Bank study cautions. To date most countries have not yet raised tariffs to bound levels or taken full advantage of headroom on agricultural subsidies. However, as the recession deepens, many countries may be tempted to. This threat underscores the importance of pushing forward with a rapid conclusion of the Doha round. The study suggests that the G-20, for its part, could adopt additional measures that would strengthen the fragile consensus against further protectionism. The G-20 countries could, for example: Commit to greater transparency by agreeing to provide quarterly reports on new trade restrictions, and industrial and agricultural subsidies to the WTO, together with a mandatory analysis of the trade restriction on employment (since this would create new room for technical analysis and political discussion in countries themselves); Advocate greater Aid for Trade for low-income countries; and Seize the opportunity to support global trade in a time when it desperately needs to be supported, including making progress at the technical level on the Doha Round, even while formal negotiations are in abeyance.

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/17/2009

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Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism Requires 'Radical Reform'

BERLIN: The clean development mechanism (CDM), the Kyoto Protocol instrument that allows industries in rich countries to earn emission-reduction credits by financing environment-friendly projects in developing countries, is a perverse but at the moment necessary tool to fight global warming, says a German environmental expert. Lambert Schneider, expert on climate-change policies at the German Institute for Applied Ecology, and who has been researching the impact of CDM since its inception, says the mechanism must be radically reformed or supplanted by more efficient instruments. "CDM has raised awareness in developing countries and among investors of the urgent need of reducing greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO2) to stop global warming," Schneider told IPS. But at the same time, the huge business opportunities associated with CDM have led to a massive abuse of the tool "through the noncompliance of numerous international agreed environmental and development standards of the projects in emerging countries such as China and India," said Schneider. The Kyoto Protocol compels the industrialized countries that ratified it to reduce their collective GHG emissions by 5.2 percent compared to 1990 levels. To this effect, and among other instruments, the Kyoto Protocol created the CDM to allow industrialized countries to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as compensation for unachieved emission reductions in their own countries. Under this scheme, an energy provider such as in China, enjoying financial support from industrialized countries, might choose to build an efficient, low CO2 emitting gas-fired power plant, rather than a cheaper, more polluting coal-fired generator. The difference in the potential CO2 emissions between the two can be converted into CDM units to be sold to an industrialized country that is a signatory to the Kyoto protocol. Although many gases cause global warming, CO2 matters most because it is emitted in large quantities and has a long atmospheric lifetime. The energy sector is generally the largest emitter of CO2 in any country. Chinese energy providers have become the CDM scheme's major beneficiary, according to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agency, based in the German city Bonn, estimated on March 7 that by the year 2012 European Union countries and private companies will have invested more than 10 billion euros (some $12.5 billion) in Chinese energy ventures, in the framework of the CDM. Such projects in developing countries qualifying for the CDM are meant to comply with numerous environmental standards, which are supposed to be monitored and certified.

The projects must also generate sustainable development in the recipient countries. But according to Schneider, several problems plague the CDM. "On the one hand, numerous projects with overstated environmental achievements have been approved without proper certification. On the other hand, numerous projects, which would have been implemented without the CDM anyway, have become beneficiaries of the system." Several of the projects do not generate sustainable development, Schneider added. And yet, all these projects, after having been qualified as compatible with the CDM, generate additional GHG emissions rights for industrialized countries or for private companies, without generating real reduction in emissions. "At best, from the perspective of global warming reduction, these projects are a zero-sum-game," Schneider said. But they have become a global business worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Schneider carried out a study of more than 100 CDM projects for the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in December in the Danish capital Copenhagen. That meeting has been called to formulate a new global regime of emission reductions to replace the Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2012. Schneider said that in the short term, the CDM monitoring and certification must be improved considerably. "Sanctions must be imposed on the certification agencies when they do not operate properly," he added. Furthermore, the agencies' independence must be enhanced. "They should be paid by the UN agencies involved in the Kyoto Protocol, rather than by their clients." Schneider said. Eventually, he added, the CDM must be eliminated, because it does not lead to a reduction of emissions; it only brings a trade-off between potential emissions avoided in developing countries and a real reduction in emissions in industrialised countries. "The new international regime to be discussed in Copenhagen must foresee real reduction of emissions in emerging economies," Schneider said. "To that end, the CDM must leave [room] for other more efficient mechanisms, such as emission trade." Schneider's conclusions corroborate the findings of earlier studies. Researcher Michael Wara found in an investigation carried out at Stanford University in 2007 that "there is near unanimous agreement that the CDM has succeeded in engaging many buyers and sellers and ... reducing emissions of the six Kyoto Protocol gases (CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride)." But he said that "in other, and perhaps more important ways, the CDM is failing to deliver results. Initially, the market was expected to create strong incentives to invest in infrastructure for low-carbon energy in developing countries. Yet a detailed look at CDM projects producing and selling credits reveals that nearly two-thirds of emissions reductions involve neither CO2 nor energy production." According to Wara, for the period beyond 2012, signatories to the Kyoto protocol should recognize that measures additional to the CDM are needed to set the developing world on a path toward a sustainable energy future. These must include substantial increases in technology investment, agreements to share low-carbon technologies, a commitment to fostering resilient energy markets, and security arrangements so that it is in the interest of key developing nations to foster low-carbon economic growth.

From http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ 03/19/2009

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Interview: Developing Countries Deserve More Say in Global Financial Reform

Developing countries deserve more say in the decision-making process of the reform of the international financial system, World Bank Vice President James Adams said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua here Sunday. "Developing countries as a whole are much more important to the overall functioning of the world economy... these countries have more important say in the decision-making and they should have much stronger voice than before," said Adams, who is in charge of the bank's East Asia and Pacific affairs. "Coming along with increased economic participation should be larger involvement in setting the rules for the international economic system," said Adams, who is in Beijing to attend the three-day 10th China Development Forum that started Saturday. "Up to now, the developing countries have to deal with the consequences they get into the room (of policy-making) and be prepared to take the responsibility to become participant of policy-making," he said.

As for the World Bank, Adams said since the developing countries are playing more effective roles, they deserve to have stronger voice and larger participation in the bank. Adams stressed that the voices of the poor countries should be heard consistently, adding that when issues are discussed, the developing countries should have the opportunity to make their views known. Adams also noted that China, the biggest developing country, is one of the few large economies that are still growing. "China sets a very good example," he said, adding that China's policy measures to date have been appropriately swift and forceful. Adams said China has been a very active participant in the G20 summit in London. "Obviously that makes the G20 a very different framework from the old framework of G7," he said. Sponsored by Development Research Center under the State Council, or China's cabinet, China Development Forum was founded in 2000. The forum is aimed to support and promote policy consultation and academic research in China. High-level officials, entrepreneurs, scholars and leaders from international and non-governmental organizations attended this year's forum under the theme of China's Development and Reform in the Global Financial Turmoil.

From http://english.people.com.cn/ 03/23/2009

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CHINA: China Adopts Food Safety Law

China's top legislature approved the Food Safety Law on Saturday, providing a legal basis for the government to strengthen food safety control "from the production line to the dining table." The law, which goes into effect on June 1, 2009, will enhance monitoring and supervision, toughen-up safety standards, recall substandard products and severely punish offenders. The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee gave the green light to the intensively-debated draft law at a four-day session, following a spate of food scandals which triggered vehement calls for overhauling China's current monitoring system. Winning 158 out of the 165 votes, the law said the State Council, or Cabinet, would set up a state-level food safety commission to oversee the entire food monitoring system, whose lack of efficiency has long been blamed for repeated scandals. Departments of health, agriculture, quality supervision, industry and commerce administration will shoulder different responsibilities. These would include risk evaluation, the making and implementation of safety standards, and the monitoring of the food production and circulation sectors. The law stipulated a ban on all chemicals and materials other than authorized additives in food production, saying that "only those items proved to be safe and necessary in food production are allowed to be listed as food additives." Health authorities are responsible for assessing and approving food additives and regulating their usage.

Food producers must only use food additives and their usage previously approved by authorities, on penalty of closure or revocation of production licenses in serious cases, according to the law. Producers of edible farm products are required to abide by food safety standards when using pesticide, fertilizer, growth regulators, veterinary drugs, feedstuff and feed additives. They must also keep farming or breeding records. Offenders could face maximum fines which would be 10 times the value of sold products. If businesses are found producing or selling a substandard foodstuff, consumers can ask for financial compensation which is 10 times the price of the product. That's in addition to compensation for the harm the product causes to the consumer. To better protect consumer rights, the law bans food safety supervision and inspection agencies, food industry associations and consumers' associations from advertising food products. Individuals or organizations are prohibited from advertising substandard food products. Those advertising such products would face joint liability for damages incurred. The law has been revised several times since it was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for the first reading in December 2007. In April 2008, it was opened to public scrutiny and more than 11,000 comments were made to the lawmaking body.

From Xinhua News Agency 02/28/2009

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Chinese Lawmakers Approve Insurance Law

The Chinese legislature approved Saturday morning the Insurance Law which mandates the state regulatory body to prevent risky business operations of insurance companies. The amended law says the State Council's insurance regulatory body has the right to order the insurance company's shareholders to stop affiliate company transactions that seriously harm the company's interests and undermine its solvency. The regulatory body could restrict rights of insurance company shareholders if they carry out risky capital operations, the law says. The revised law will take effect on Oct. 1, according to a statement issued by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee's bimonthly session which ended Saturday.

From Xinhua News Agency 02/28/2009

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Law Amendments Adopted to Protect Personal Information, Punish Bribe-taking Relatives of Officials

China's top legislature approved a number of criminal law amendments Saturday to better protect personal information and to punish bribe-taking relatives of officials. The amendments, which take effect as from Saturday, also imposed penalty on hackers and on people who were involved in pyramid selling and illegal banking. One of the amendments targeted interested parties conducting "mouse warehouse acts", or acts of transmitting others' interests to related parties unlawfully in securities trading, to non-financial personnel. The 11th National People's Congress Standing Committee approved the amendments at its seventh meeting, which was held from Feb. 25 to 28.

From Xinhua News Agency 02/28/2009

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Macao Makes Law to Safeguard National Security

Macao promulgated the national security law on Monday, filling the legal vacuum having existed since the establishment of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) a decade ago. The law will be effective from Tuesday. The government-draft bill on national security was firstly submitted to the Legislative Assembly in last December, and passed with big majority in its first and second readings at two plenums held at the SAR's Legislative Assembly respectively in January and February this year. The bill was firstly presented to the public in October last year for public consultation. To calm public concerns that the new law may lead to the infringement of residents' rights and freedom, the SAR's Chief Executive Ho Hau Wah personally attended a series of public meetings and explained the purpose of the legislation to representatives from all walks of the society. According to the statistics from the SAR government, a total of 784 pieces of opinion were collected during the bill's public consultation period last year, of which 657 pieces came from individuals and 127 from local civil groups, with 86.76 percent of the individual and 96.85 percent of the civil group in favor of the bill respectively.

The SAR government will make effort to strike a balance between protecting national security and safeguarding residents' rights and freedoms, said Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, the SAR's secretary for administration and justice. She made the remark after the bill was approved by the Assembly last week. Chan also said that the SAR government will step up training of legal personnel in dealing with the new law. The legal system of Macao has long been running without a national security law ever since Portugal's locally applicable state-security legislation became invalid when Macao returned to the motherland in 1999. Under the new national security law, a prison term of 10 to 25 years can be meted out for Chinese nationals who committed crimes of treason, secession or subversion against the central government, and the "preparatory acts" of the above three crimes can also be punished with a maximum sentence of three years in prison. In the case of a combination of crimes related to state security and other crimes, the prison term can reach 30 years, which is also the maximum allowed in the SAR's Penal Code. Local lawmaker Leong Heng Teng said the peace and stability of the nation will also guarantee the sustainable social development of Macao.

He said the consultative and legislative processes leading to the bill's approval by the legislature was a proof of Macao people 's patriotic passion for the nation. By passing the bill, the Macao SAR has fulfilled its "constitutional duty, and this was a very important step for Macao' s legal sector," the Liaison office of the Central People's Government in Macao said in a statement issued after the bill was approved. Despite the sweeping support for the national security law, disputes over certain legal clauses of it still existed. Two local lawmakers Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San has previously said that some "grey areas" can be found in the law, such as the clauses concerning the definition of theft of state secrets through espionage and "preparatory acts" of treason, secession or subversion. Both of them voted against some legal clauses of the national security bill in the second and final reading at the Assembly last week, when the bill underwent article-by-article vote. They even held a candle-lit sit-in campaign in front of the Assembly building a day before the vote on the bill, which was participated by no more than 15 persons. Last October, when presenting the bill to the public, the SAR's Chief Executive, Ho Hau Wah, has said certain acts, such as chanting slogans and writing articles that criticize the government, will not be regulated by the new law, according to the Macao Post Daily.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/03/2009

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Better Employment Policies for Migrant Workers

Migrant peasant workers will be covered by unemployment policies for urban residents, said Zhang Xiaojian, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, as he met with three peasant worker deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC). On March 3, Hu Xiaoyan, Kang Houming and Zhu Xueqin, three peasant worker NPC deputies, had a face-to-face meeting with Zhang Xiaojian, during which the deputies questioned the vice minister about pressing issues like the employment bottleneck facing returning migrant workers, transfer of social security insurance, and employment training. In his response, Zhang Xiaojian said the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security would direct more attention to returning peasant workers, and plans to include them in policies for which previously only urban unemployed were eligible. Over the past year, more than 10 percent of the country's 200 million peasant workers have lost their jobs in the face of the global financial crisis. Kang Houming, who comes from southwestern Chongqing Municipality, said he had carried out a field survey in a number of villages and found that in one labor-exporting village, 20-30 of the previously employed population of 100 people had lost their jobs in coastal cities. "I am a construction worker, and in my profession there are still many job vacancies. But those who have just returned home don't have construction skills and they are unlikely to fill that gap." Kang Houming said, "I hope the authorities can help them more with employment training."

The vice minister replied by saying that the ministry is currently arranging large-scale employment training for peasant workers and will include returned migrant workers among those eligible for favorable employment policies. The ministry is also considering appointing industry-specific trainers and issuing free training coupons to assist with re-employment of migrants. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Finance are reported to have issued a joint document - Memo on implementation of Special Vocational Training - requiring local governments to arrange employment-oriented training for returned migrant workers and those who are still looking for jobs in neighboring towns, while issuing them with allowances. Some labor-exporting and importing provinces have already allocated special funds to finance these training programs. The three deputies also highlighted the problem of transferring social security insurance. Kang Houming noted that some of his fellow migrant workers are unable to cash in their social security insurance in their hometowns, while some other cities allow migrant workers to quit their insurance policy and at best recover only their personal contributions to their funds. In response, Zhang Xiaojian said that the transfer of social security insurance is a key issue that will be solved this year, and that a breakthrough can be expected soon. In addition, with reference to the issue of breakdowns in the flow of employment information, also raised by the three deputies, Zhang Xiaojian replied that his ministry had now required local offices to create a broader and better docking platform between labor-exporting provinces and those that receive the migrant workers.

From China.org.cn 03/05/2009

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China Outlines Plans for Energy Saving, Emissions Cut

China will continue its drive of energy saving, emissions reduction, ecosystems preservation, and environment protection in 2009, Premier Wen Jiabao said here Thursday. The government will emphasize energy conservation in the three key areas of industry, transportation and construction, Wen told nearly 3,000 lawmakers in a report at the annual session of the National People's Congress. Wen gave out a set of measures to achieve environment protection, ranging from energy conservation and clean energy to pollution prevention. "We will implement energy-conserving measures for power generators, boilers, automobiles, air-conditioners and lighting products," said Wen, adding that the government will strictly enforce the monitoring system for energy conservation and emissions reduction. He called for government-affiliated enterprises and institutions to play an exemplary role in energy conservation and emissions reduction. Wen also noted that energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 4.59 percent in 2008 from the previous year. "The figure shows the government has done solid work in emissions reduction and energy saving," said Zhao Suping, a lawmaker from central China's Henan Province. In its 11th five-year plan (2006-2010), China set targets to annually reduce the per unit GDP energy consumption by 4 percent and in total by 20 percent in five years.

However, some experts worried that, affected by the global financial crisis, Chinese enterprises may have less impetus for spending on emission reduction in 2009, and thus the country is faced with greater pressure of emission reduction. "Under the present circumstance, we should guard against that some departments may oppose the economic development with energy saving and emission reduction," said Chen Min, deputy director of the provincial environment protection bureau of Guangdong. "The economic structure adjustment and technology upgrading should be pushed forward in line with economic growth," said Chen, also an NPC deputy. The development of energy saving and emission reduction industry may also stimulate economic development, said Chen, referring to a successful practice started last year by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The commission said Tuesday that with subsidies from the central and local governments, 62 million energy-saving bulbs had been distributed to households all over the country as of January this year, 24 percent higher than the target set previously. The commission has planned to distribute 150 million energy-saving bulbs during the 2008-2010 period. If fully implemented, the plan will help the whole country to save 29 billion kwh of electricity and reduce 29 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

From http://www.chinaview.cn/ 03/05/2009

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Regulation on Disposal of Waste Equipment Issued

China's State Council, or Cabinet, announced Wednesday a regulation, signed by Premier Wen Jiabao, on the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment, in a bid to promote recycling, environmental protection and safeguard human health. Treatment will be done only by treatment firms, which get a license from local governments, said the regulation which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2011. A fund, paid for by domestic producers and sellers of imported electrical and electronic equipment, will offer subsidies for treatment. The regulation outlines the government's backing for scientific research and technology development on disposal as well as the use of new equipment and technology. It also bans the use of out-dated treatment methods for waste equipment. Since 2003, more than five million TV sets, four million fridges, six million washing machines and five million computers have needed treatment each year, said the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/05/2009

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China's Monetary Policy Takes Effect, Further Moderate Adjustment Possible: Central Bank Governor

China has acted fast amid the global financial crisis to ease its monetary policy that is beginning to take effect, said central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan on Friday. China has shifted from a tight monetary policy implemented in early 2008 to a moderately easy one as the international financial turmoil spread in the later half of the year, Zhou told a press conference on the sidelines of the parliament's annual session. "We would rather act faster and take more forceful measures" to shore up confidence "as long as the measures can check slip of confidence and spur fast recovery of the economy amid the crisis," he said. "We have learned lessons from some countries that once the confidence dips, it needs a fairly long time to restore," he added. Zhou, however, acknowledged the policy might lead to mushrooming in total currency supply and lending.

The increase in new loans in January was "out of our expectation", he said, noting moderate adjustment in the future could keep it in a reasonable range. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's largest lender, extended 117.1 billion yuan (17 billion U.S. dollars) of new loans last month, 22 percent of the amount for the whole of 2008. The Bank of China' s outstanding loans stood at nearly 1.6 trillion yuan (235.3 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of January, up 87.29 billion yuan compared with the beginning of the year. To answer government calls to support the slowing economy, the newly issued loans were mainly given to government-supported industries, including infrastructure construction, after-quake building, mergers and acquisitions as well as technological innovations.

From http://www.chinaview.cn/ 03/06/2009

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China Issues Anti-drought Regulations

China's State Council, or Cabinet, announced Friday a set of anti-drought regulations, signed by Premier Wen Jiabao, following "the worst dry spell in five decades" in the past winter that affected millions of people and large area of farmlands. The regulations provided for the setting up of a unified system on drought information collection and release, anti-drought insurance, and detailed circumstances that artificial rain could be induced to alleviate drought. From October of 2008 through February, persistent dry weather hit most parts of northern China, parching 161 million mu (10.73 hectares) of cropland, leaving 4.37 million people and 2.1 million heads of livestock short of drinking water. Governments at all levels were held responsible for funding drought relief work, the regulations said.

The regulations outline governments' backing for developing water-saving technologies. Projects for water storage, diversion, water pumping and rain collection should be built in water-scarce regions by local governments. Meteorological departments should better their weather monitoring ability and forecast skills to provide timely information for anti-drought fights. They are authorized to induce artificial rain when it is the appropriate time. In places of prolonged severe drought, the government should order a limit or a halt to high-water-consuming industries from production and cap their discharge of industrial waste water. In this case, water supply for agriculture and people in urban areas should be reduced. Water from reservoirs, hydroelectric power stations and lakes in the drought-hit regions should be transferred to ease drought.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/07/2009

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China Lets Local Officials Approve Foreign Investment

China, which had a fourth straight month of falling foreign direct investment in January, will simplify approvals for overseas capital entering the nation by giving local governments more authority to approve such spending. Local governments will be allowed to approve the setup of some new foreign-invested ventures and increases in foreign investment, the Ministry of Commerce said on its Web site today. Those officials will also be able to approve acquisitions by foreign companies of as much as $100 million in industries in which overseas investment is encouraged and as much as $50 million in industries for which they aren't, the ministry said. Foreign direct investment in China fell 32.6 percent from a year earlier in January as U.S., European and Japanese companies cut spending for factories and hiring amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Weaker investment by foreign and domestic companies may make it more difficult for China to create jobs and achieve the government's target for 8 percent economic growth this year.

"This is likely to help attract foreign investment, which is key to China's economy and employment," said Lu Zhengwei, an economist at Industrial Bank Co. in Shanghai. "The government is relaxing the approval partly because capital inflows waned." More than a third of American Chamber of Commerce in China member companies surveyed said they plan to postpone investments in China this year due to the global financial crisis. The number of companies rating China as their top global investment priority dropped to the lowest since 2004, the Chamber said. An "extreme" shortage of funds in the U.S. and other developed nations has caused the pace of capital entering China to slow, the Shanghai Securities News reported last week, citing Hu Xiaolian, head of the nation's currency regulator. China's central government will allow local governments to approve new foreign-invested automobile, motorcycle and vehicle parts ventures and increases in investment on existing plants, the commerce ministry said. The statement didn't say in which industries China encourages foreign investment. Local officials will also be allowed to approve the setup of holding companies with as much as $100 million of registered capital by foreign companies, the commerce ministry said in a separate statement today.

The approval powers will be given to provincial commerce officials, those of Tibet, Xinjiang and other so-called autonomous regions, and commerce officials of Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin and Chongqing, which are municipalities that report directly to the central government. Officials in large provincial cities including Guangzhou, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Chengdu will also have the authority. Officials with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp., of special economic development zones established by the central government and special border economic zones will also have the authorities to approve the investments, the commerce ministry said. Foreign strategic investments in listed Chinese companies require approval by the central government, it said.

From http://www.bloomberg.com/ 03/12/2009

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Democratic Reform Protects Religious Freedom in Tibet

The white paper titled "Fifty Years of Democratic Reform in Tibet" published by the Information Office of the State Council, or China's cabinet on March 2, 2009 points out that abolishing theocracy, separating religion from state, and protecting religious freedom. During the democratic reform, means of production, including land and livestock, originally owned by monasteries involved in the armed rebellion were all confiscated, while a policy of redemption was introduced with regard to the means of production of monasteries which had not participated in the rebellion. The white paper says during the democratic reform, on the one hand, citizens' freedom of religious belief, and patriotic and law-abiding monasteries were protected by the law. Citizens have the freedom to become a monk or nun and monks and nuns can choose to resume secular life, regular religious activities as well as historical monasteries and cultural relics were all protected. On the other hand, a policy of "political unity, freedom of religious belief and separation of politics and religion" was adopted, abolishing monasteries' feudal privileges in economy and politics, re-pealing monasteries' feudal occupation and exploitation, and personal slavery, as well as feudal management and hierarchy inside the monasteries, and ensuring that all religious beliefs were politically equal.

Public funds and properties inside the monasteries were managed democratically, serving as production funds and for supporting monks and nuns as well as regular religious activities; the monasteries' management committees uniformly administered the land distributed to monks and nuns in accordance with their labor ability, and managed production. When the income of a monastery was unable to cover its regular expenses, the government would grant a subsidy. The white paper points out through the democratic reform, all the monasteries in Tibet elected their own management committees, and conducted democratic management. The democratic reform enabled the true features of religion to emerge, effectively safeguarded the Tibetan people's freedom of religious belief, and laid a foundation for the introduction of the political system of people's democracy in Tibet. Meanwhile, according to the white paper, the freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities of the Tibetan people are protected. Today, there are more than 1,700 religious venues in Tibet, with more than 46,000 resident monks and nuns, which can fully meet the needs of religious believers in Tibet.

Various traditional Buddhist activities are carried out in the normal way - from sutra studies and debates to abhisheka (consecration) and other Buddhist practices, as well as the system of academic degrees and ordination through examinations. According to incomplete statistics, there are now more than 60 classes for sutra studies in Tibet, with 6,000 novice monks. As a unique way of passing on Tibetan Buddhism, the Living Buddha reincarnation system receives respect from the state. In Tibet, religious activities are rich in content and diverse in form, with religious festivals celebrated frequently. The white paper reveals that since the early 1980s, more than 40 religious festivals have been successively resumed. Monks and laymen organize and take part in the Sakadawa Festival, Shoton (Yogurt) Festival and other religious and traditional activities every year.

From http://english.people.com.cn/ 03/13/2009

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China Blocks Coca-Cola Bid for Huiyuan

China rejected a $2.4bn Coca-Cola deal that would have been the country's biggest foreign takeover, stoking fears of protectionism and warnings the decision could scupper Beijing's push to invest in overseas mining companies. China's ministry of commerce ruled against Coke's proposed acquisition of Huiyuan Juice, the country's leading juice maker, on competition grounds, saying the move would hurt smaller domestic companies and limit consumer choice. Huiyuan's shares, which were suspended in Hong Kong on Wednesday prior to the announcement, fell more than 50 per cent when they resumed trading on Thursday morning. They were down just over 40 per cent at HK$4.96 by midday. Coke had offered HK$12.20 a share in cash, almost treble that of Huiyuan's last closing price prior to the announcement of the deal in early September. Bankers and lawyers denounced the move as a protectionist measure that would also have negative implications for Chinese investment abroad, notably Chinalco's proposed $19.5bn tie-up with Rio Tinto, the Anglo-Australian miner. Barnaby Joyce, a maverick Australian politician leading a fight to block the Chinalco investment on nationalist grounds, said China's "welcome" rejection gave him "ammunition to articulate my beliefs".

Mr Joyce told the Financial Times: "The sentiments being expressed in Australia are the same as the ones that the Chinese have expressed in their rejection of Coca-Cola." Publication of the decision followed a report in the Financial Times that the regulator had demanded Coke relinquish the Huiyuan brand after the acquisition, a request that was refused. People familiar with the matter said the ministry's thinking reflected wider worries in Beijing about public opposition to a foreign company taking over a leading brand. "This is an entirely political decision," one senior dealmaker in Hong Kong said. "The antitrust laws have been stretched in order to appease the sentiment of populist Chinese websites." Muhtar Kent, Coke president, said the company was "disappointed" but would respect the decision. He said that Coke would focus on boosting its existing brands in what is its fastest-growing global market.

The Coke filing was the first big test case under China's revamped antitrust laws, which were beefed up last August, and competition lawyers criticised the single-page ruling for being short on reason and explanation. "This decision will have a potentially adverse effect on China's outbound investments," said Lester Ross, head of the Beijing office of the WilmerHale law firm. "People suspicious of China's motivations will say that China is not playing fair by stopping foreign acquisitions in an innocuous industry that has no economic or national security implications." The ministry's decision is a huge setback to the selling consortium, which comprises Zhu Xinli, Huiyuan founder chairman, who owns 36 per cent of the company, and France's Danone, which owns 23 per cent. Warburg Pincus, the US private equity firm, owns 6.8 per cent.

From http://www.ft.com/ 03/18/2009

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Stricter Leniency Guidelines Issued

Stricter guidelines have been set for granting leniency to officials found guilty of corruption to ensure that judgments across the country are standardized and convicts do not walk away with light sentences. Suspects who do not turn themselves in, or confess to their crime only after police investigation or during trial should not get away with light sentences, the top judicial authorities said yesterday. Only those who surrender as soon as a crime is uncovered and confess in full or provide vital information to secure the conviction of others will be eligible for leniency, they said. "The guideline is an important judicial document focusing on acute problems in the process of investigation and imposing penalties in job-related cases," said a statement released along with the document by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate. "It aims at imposing full punishment on the corrupt."

The document said previous guidelines on leniency have sometimes been abused - in recent years, some trials have resulted in capital punishment while in others, the guilty have been let off with light sentences or probation. Research has found that in some cases, there were irregularities in applying the guidelines for surrender, the statement said. Some courts award leniency "universally" to criminals who confess to their crimes only during or after investigation, it added. Chen Weidong, a professor with Renmin University of China, told China Daily that it would be conducive to striking a better balance between strictness and leniency. Judicial policy encourages "leniency to confessors, severity to resisters" and "the guideline will make it easier to implement that policy," Chen added.

From China Daily 03/20/2009

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JAPAN: Aso Says to Make Decision over Timing of Diet Dissolution

Prime Minister Taro Aso said Monday he will decide himself when to dissolve the House of Representatives, after his farm minister sought an immediate dissolution for a general election. ''We are now making a concerted effort to (implement) economic measures in the near term. I will make the decision over the timing of an election,'' Aso told reporters, responding to a question about the remark Saturday by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Separately, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura criticized Ishiba, telling a press conference, ''Ministers should have a sense that the right to dissolve (the lower house) is the prime minister's prerogative.''

From http://home.kyodo.co.jp/ 03/02/2009

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Japan Clears Cash Handout Bill

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's parliament on Wednesday enacted legislation required to go ahead with a controversial plan to hand 20 billion dollars back to the public to fight the recession. In a rare revote, Prime Minister Taro Aso's coalition won approval with a two-thirds majority in the lower house, despite a boycott by two ruling party officials, including popular former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. The cash handouts worth two trillion yen (22 billion dollars) are the most contentious part of the 4.8-trillion-yen extra budget, which also includes loans for unemployed workers and financial support for ailing banks.

Aso, now faced with a plunge in public support, has voiced hope the cash handouts would jump-start weak consumer spending in Asia's largest economy, which is suffering from its first recession in seven years. But opinion polls show that most of the public believes the handouts - averaging 12,000 yen a person - would be a waste of money. Earlier in the day, the opposition-controlled upper house voted down the legislation necessary for the government to shift funds from its fiscal investment account to its general account for the handout scheme. But then the lower house, where the ruling coalition holds a commanding majority, used its constitutional power to approve the bill by overriding the upper house, parliament officials said.

The spending plan is the second round of supplementary funding for the year until March, after an initial injection of 1.81 trillion yen. With high-risk elections expected within months, Koizumi attacked the handout programme last month, fuelling speculation that the ex-premier's rebellious move may lead to a split of the party. Koizumi, a reformist who was prime minister from 2001 to 2006, was one of Japan's most popular leaders in recent times. Since he stepped down, the LDP has slumped in the polls.

From http://news.yahoo.com/ 03/04/2009

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State to Take Full Control of Foreign Registration

The government approved a bill at a Cabinet meeting Friday to overhaul Japan's immigration control system aimed at preventing illegal stays by foreign nationals by enabling the central government to take full control of their registration. The proposed revision to the immigration control law is in response to criticism that the current dual administrative structure in immigration control has been often exploited for illegal stays.

From http://home.kyodo.co.jp/ 03/06/2009

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Immigration Reform Advances in Japan

The Japanese cabinet has approved legislation that would create a new identification card for foreign residents. Supporters say the bill would make life easier for legal residents, The Asahi Shimbun reported. The maximum length of visas would be extended from three years to five, and legal residents who leave Japan for less than a year would not be required to get a re-entry permit. They say the new card would make it easier to prevent those not legally allowed to work from doing so and to catch those who overstay their visa. The new cards would include information on residents' work status. The law would set up a separate system for aliens living permanently in Japan, a group that includes 420,000 Koreans. Immigrants brought to Japan for the Industrial Training and Technical Internship Program would get a visa covering their entire three-year stay and would be protected by Japanese labor laws as soon as they begin work. Officials said they hope the law will be passed during the current parliamentary session.

From http://politicom.moldova.org/ 03/07/2009

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Gov't Unveils Steps to Create 400,000 Jobs in Information Technology

TOKYO (AP) - (Kyodo) - The communications ministry unveiled a range of proposals to create 300,000-400,000 jobs on the basis of greater capital outlays relating to information and communications technologies in the three- year period starting in fiscal 2009. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said it wants the government to integrate the proposals related to information and communications technology into a new package of pump-priming measures that the government and ruling coalition are now jointly drawing up.

The proposals, among other things, call for creating new industries and business fields on the basis of a large band of radio frequencies to be made vacant following the imminent completion of analog-based television broadcasts as the nation's TV industry is shifting to digital terrestrial broadcasts. The proposals also call for revitalizing small and midsized enterprises that took blows from the global economic slowdown on the basis of technological innovations. Communications minister Yukio Hatoyama told a news conference that expediting economic activity related to information and communications technology "will have speedy effects in revitalizing the Japanese economy." A panel of experts that has been advising the communications minister recently recommended that the government take measures that could double the scale of the domestic market for goods and services in information and communications technology to about 200 trillion yen by 2015 from the current level.

From http://www.breitbart.com/ 03/17/2009

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Jobs Package Planned Worth 1.5 Trillion Yen

A package of job security measures worth 1.5 trillion yen is in the works, focusing on a work-sharing program and aid to people ineligible for unemployment insurance, labor minister Yoichi Masuzoe said Thursday. Masuzoe told reporters after a Cabinet meeting that details on how to fund the package have yet to be discussed with the Finance Ministry. But he said he was considering dipping into the general account and special account for labor insurance in a fiscal 2009 supplementary budget under consideration. The size of the package would dwarf the 9.9-billion-yen outlay earmarked for job security in the first fiscal 2008 supplementary budget and an additional 400 billion yen in the second supplementary budget. "We cannot overcome the current dire conditions without (increased) fiscal spending," Masuzoe said.

The package would involve bolstering employment adjustment subsidies to companies to encourage work sharing and creating a safety net for those not covered by unemployment insurance. Business organizations and labor unions have been calling for similar measures. The government is expected to agree on a Japanese-style work-sharing program with Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation) as early as Monday. It would be the first such agreement between the government, employers and labor unions in seven years.

According to a blueprint worked out by the government and ruling coalition, subsidies will be paid to companies that drastically reduce overtime work and shift the workload to other employees to prevent worker dismissals. The money would come from employment adjustment subsidies, which are normally paid to struggling businesses to cover allowances to workers asked to take leave or who are undergoing training. The amounts paid will range from several tens of thousand yen to hundreds of thousand yen for each person whose job is retained. The government also plans to pay between 100,000 yen and 120,000 yen a month in stipends to people unable to receive unemployment insurance. They include jobless people for whom the period of insurance payout has expired and self-employed people whose businesses have folded. Masuzoe said that simply doling out money could end up making those people dependent upon government handouts, and suggested that the money would be offered as loans that can be forgiven under certain conditions. (by Akira Minami And Miki Moromugi)

From THE ASAHI SHIMBUN 03/20/2009

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Temp Relief Bill Heads to Upper House

A bill to offer relief to temporary workers cleared the House of Representatives on Thursday and is likely to become law before March 31, the end of fiscal 2008 and a day on which a large number of workers are expected to lose their jobs. The bill was passed by the Lower House and is expected to be passed by the opposition-controlled Upper House because both camps agreed Tuesday to revise it to reflect the opposition camp's demand that government relief be made available to those rendered jobless as of March 31, instead of April 1.

The Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition party, argued that moving up the implementation date by just one day will allow the relief program to help about an additional 100,000 people. The rare compromise was reached at a time when the nation is mired in a severe recession and labor conditions are predicted to worsen. The bill to revise the employment insurance act will also allow laid-off workers to claim unemployment benefits if they have paid a minimum of six months of job insurance premiums, instead of 12 months. The revision bill also says the duration in which the unemployed receive the insurance will be extended by as much as 60 days.

It also proposes cutting the size of the insurance premium from 1.2 percent of salary to 0.8 percent in fiscal 2009. For nonregular workers, the bill will allow those expected to continue working for six months, instead of a year, to be eligible for insurance, the revised bill stipulates. Contracts for thousands of temporary workers, especially those employed in the manufacturing industry, are set to expire on the last day of the fiscal year, because many companies started employing temps in 2006 under the stipulation that they can only work at the same company for up to three years.

From Kyodo News 03/20/2009

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Japan Must Build Defence Capability: PM

YOKOSUKA, Japan (AFP) - Japan must build its defence capabilities and strengthen its alliance with the United States, Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Sunday, ahead of a planned rocket launch by North Korea. Aso cited the threat from North Korea, which has announced plans to launch a communications satellite next month in a move seen by the United States, Japan and South Korea as a cover for a long-range missile test. "You must be well aware that we face many issues in the Asia-Pacific region, including North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development," Aso told students at a graduation ceremony at the National Defense Academy. "For us to assure peace and stability in Japan, it is extremely important to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance as well as to make its own efforts for self defence."

Under its US-imposed 1947 pacifist constitution, Japan renounced using or threatening force in international disputes. It nonetheless has one of the world's best-funded militaries, the Self-Defence Forces (SDF). Japan is developing a missile defence system with the United States. The government has said it is considering re-positioning land and sea-based interceptor missiles so they can shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens to hit its territory. Pyongyang has said it would regard interception as an act of war. Earlier this month the conservative Aso sent two Japanese warships for an anti-piracy mission off Somalia in which the nation's armed forces could face combat abroad for the first time since World War II.

From http://news.yahoo.com/s/ 03/22/2009

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NORTH & SOUTH KOREA: Minister Rules Out Closing Kaesong Industrial Site

South Korea's Unification Minister Hyun In-taek yesterday said the North's recent border restrictions were "damaging hopes for a better future in inter-Korean relations," but ruled out closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex. Speaking at a forum of veteran journalists in Seoul yesterday, Hyun said the North's actions stemmed from "short-sighted thinking." "No matter how much military tension exists on the peninsula, we need to protect hopes for our future," the minister said. "There's no shift in the South Korean government's stance that we want to develop stable inter-Korean relations that bring prosperity for both." Hyun's words came on the heels of the North's recent restrictions on cross-border travel that stranded hundreds of South Korean workers on both sides of the border. South Koreans were free to cross the border yesterday. There were 739 scheduled to visit the North and 485 who planned to come home. The North had opened the border Tuesday after a four-day closure. It first restricted access over a week ago when the annual joint South Korea-U.S. military drills got under way. "Inter-Korean communication and traveling must be guaranteed," the minister said. "We will prepare all necessary measures to make sure of that." Hyun refused to say what those measures would be. The minister said, however, that the government is not considering shutting down the Kaesong complex. "We want to ensure stability at the complex," Hyun said of the project built after the first inter-Korean summit in 2000. "But if the North hurts businesses at Kaesong and makes it difficult to attract investment, there won't be much stability." Hyun's appointment to the post last month drew Pyongyang's ire because he had been an engineer behind President Lee Myung-bak's hard-line North Korea policy. He said when it comes to dealing with inter-Korean relations, "We will look to the future, stick to our principles and maintain our flexibility." Hyun stressed the South is willing to talk with the North on "any subject."

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 03/19/2009

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SOUTH KOREA, U.S. Saddled with Thorny Alliance Issues

As new U.S. President Barack Obama addresses pressing issues at home and abroad, highlighted by the closure of the Guantanamo prison and overt outreach to the Muslim world, South Korean officials are making their own preparations to deal with key alliance issues with Washington. The Obama administration has yet to form its diplomatic and security team at the working level, giving a respite to the South Korean government that faces the daunting task of resolving several challenges, including the delayed ratification a free trade pact and a possible troop dispatch to Afghanistan. Officials and experts here agree that the time-honored alliance will be put to a crucial test in the coming months amid worries about the chemistry between the Democratic president in Washington and his conservative counterpart in Seoul, Lee Myung-bak. "The U.S. government is expected to complete the line-up of working-level officials at the State and Defense Departments no later than the end of March. It means the deciding moment for South Korea on those alliance issues is coming nearer," Choi Kang, senior analyst at the state-funded Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in Seoul, said. Seoul's future role in Afghanistan and the fate of its free trade agreement (FTA) with Washington are among the trickiest agenda items, he pointed out. South Korean officials are trying to make use of the current break before negotiations formally begin. "We are continuing preparations for policy coordination with the new U.S. government," foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said.

South Korea has started to search in earnest for ways to expand its contributions to the U.S.-led reconstruction campaign in war-torn Afghanistan. Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon made a fact-finding trip last month to see how Seoul can contribute more. The trip coincided with Obama's inauguration and came amid widespread speculation that his government is likely to request South Korea to send troops to Afghanistan again. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week that Afghanistan poses "the greatest military challenge" to the U.S., which plans to send up to 30,000 extra troops there by the middle of this year. South Korean officials say the U.S. has not formally asked for military help. "We have not received any official request," the ministry spokesman said. He would not comment on how Seoul would respond if South Korea does. Such a request by Washington, if made, will put Seoul in a dilemma. It is committed to playing a bigger role in settling global problems, but also faces realistic constraints just a year after withdrawing 200 non-combat troops from Afghanistan. "Besides its alliance with the U.S., the government will have to consider its relations with Arab nations and the possibility that South Koreans can be a prime target of terrorism, " Choi said. He said whether South Korea will take part in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is another tough subject. "The U.S. is almost certain to demand that South Korea join the PSI," he said.

The White House said on its Web site shortly after Obama took office that his administration will institutionalize the PSI, a global campaign aimed at stopping shipments of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials worldwide. The PSI, now with 93 member states, is a sensitive geopolitical issue, as North Korea is a main target of the initiative. The North has criticized the campaign, calling it a product of Washington's hostile policy against Pyongyang. South Korea could be relatively flexible on the PSI, Choi said, given the stalled six-way talks on Pyongyang's nuclear drive and worsening inter-Korean ties. Still, the government maintains a prudent stance. "Our position on the PSI remains unchanged. We understand its purpose, but we will not hurry to make a decision, as we need to consider various conditions, including North Korea," another foreign ministry official said in return for customary anonymity. In an apparent effort to help get the FTA ratified by Congress, Seoul appointed Han Duck-soo, former finance minister and prime minister, as its new ambassador to Washington. It was unusual for Seoul to name a veteran economic official to the post, as opposed to a figure well versed in political affairs. Outlook for the fate of the FTA turned gloomy with the return of the Democrat administration, which has traditionally leaned toward protectionism. Many say the U.S. may demand renegotiations in the interests of its troubled automobile industry.

Among other pending bilateral issues is the long overdue cleanup of dozens of U.S. military bases that were returned to the South. There has been controversy over the extent of U.S. responsibility for the bases, attributable to a gap in interpreting related stipulations in the Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). A SOFA memorandum states the U.S. is to be held responsible for contamination that is "known, imminent and substantial endangerment (KISE)" to human health, which South Korea says is an ambiguous rule. We have continued consultations with the U.S. side. We are now close to a deal," the official said, refusing to give details before the announcement of an agreement. "In the last stage of negotiations, the U.S. seems to be mindful that any deal with South Korea will set a precedent for those with other nations where U.S. military bases are located." Seoul and Washington also have yet to set a timetable for the relocation of U.S. military bases. "The timing of the relocation will be the most important military issue this year between the two sides," an official at the U.S. Forces Korea said, when asked about the prospects for their military partnership. The U.S. has agreed to move its military command 70km south of Seoul to Pyeongtaek by 2014, but the two sides remain split on when to complete the relocation of the frontline 2nd Infantry Division, according to sources privy to the matter. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.

From http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ 02/01/2009

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President Will Reveal a Vision for a 'New Asia'

President Lee Myung-bak and First Lady Kim Yoon-ok leave for New Zealand yesterday, beginning a seven-day tour of Asia-Pacific nations. [YONHAP] President Lee Myung-bak left for New Zealand yesterday, beginning a seven-day tour of Asia-Pacific nations during which he will make public a vision for a "New Asia." The trip to New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia is a part of Lee's plan to expand Korea's diplomatic horizon from Northeast Asia to the broader Asia-Pacific, Blue House spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said yesterday in a briefing before Lee's departure for Auckland. "In the past, Korea's diplomacy in the region was focused on economic cooperation, but the plan is to expand the scope of the cooperation network to security and cultural matters." In addition to the seven-day trip to the three nations, Lee is scheduled to visit Central Asia before the end of June, Lee Dong-kwan said. "The president also planned to invite heads of the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for a special summit in June," the spokesman said. "This week's trip will be Lee's first step in New Asia diplomacy." The special Asean summit will take place in Jeju on June 1 and 2. A senior Blue House official said yesterday that the specifics of Lee's New Asia vision will be announced on Friday during his visit to Jakarta, Indonesia. Lee is scheduled to have a summit meeting with New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key upon his arrival in Auckland. During their meeting, Lee and Key are expected to announce the official kick-off of bilateral free trade negotiations, a source at the Blue House said. On Wednesday, Lee will fly to Sydney, Australia. A summit meeting with his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd, is scheduled on Thursday in Canberra. The two leaders will also announce the start of bilateral FTA negotiations, the official said. Australia is Korea's seventh-largest trading partner.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 03/03/2009

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S. Korean Assembly Passes Key Finance Reform Bill

The South Korean parliament passed a key financial reform bill on Tuesday that the conservative ruling party says will sharply boost business investment and help revive the ailing economy. It was part of a batch of reforms proposed by President Lee Myung-bak and his Grand National Party , who say they are needed to steer the export-led country through the global slowdown, though most were set aside for the indefinite future. The GNP used its majority, at the end of a stormy extra session of parliament, to pass a bill scrapping restrictions on big business investment in subsidiaries. The assembly remained sharply divided on other financial and media reforms, and lawmakers have come to blows in recent weeks over whether the GNP can use its majority to push bills through. Latest data showed South Korean manufacturers have slashed inventories and halted more production while exports collapsed, authorities sold U.S. dollars to prop up the plummeting won and the economy looked headed for its first recession in 11 years. Speaking in Auckland, Lee said Asia's fourth-largest economy may remain in trouble next year, after suffering its first contraction in more than a decade this year. Analysts said one of the main barriers to the conservative leader's reforms is parliament, where partisanship and GNP infighting slowed passage of his proposed legislation to a trickle. The government says the reforms will spur investment by the country's powerful, cash-rich conglomerates. South Korea imposed limits on the amount of cross-shareholding allowed within each conglomerate after the 1997-1998 financial crisis. Economists say it is too early to assess the impact of the reforms because it could be years before any effects are seen. GNP leaders said they planned to spend March preparing a supplementary budget that the government is expected to propose and vote on in a new session in April. The latest session has been deadlocked for weeks as lawmakers fought over media reform bills that the government says will open the way for a bigger broadcast market creating tens of thousands of new jobs. The opposition says this will allow the government to shut down broadcasters that criticise its policies and let big companies run news organisations with a pro-big business bias. A free trade agreement with the United States, negotiated in 2007, was not put to a vote this session and no date has been set for its approval. Studies have shown the deal would increase the $78 billion a year two-way trade by about $20 billion. The U.S. Congress has also not yet ratified the accord.

From http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ 03/04/2009

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Diplomatic Focus to Shift to Korea's Asian Neighbors

A new diplomatic initiative to engage Asia?Pacific nations was announced by President Lee Myung-bak yesterday, marking a shift in the focus of Seoul's foreign policy from the four global powers to relations with its regional neighbors. "Last year, Korean diplomacy was concentrated on the four global superpowers that affect Korea the most," Lee said in his meeting with Seoul's 25 top envoys to Asian and Pacific nations. The breakfast meeting took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on the last day of Lee's three-nation tour that began on March 2 and also included New Zealand and Australia. Lee said Seoul's foreign policy concentration on Washington, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow has been successful and that the time has come to reach out to countries in the region. "This year, it is urgent that we improve our relationships with our Asian neighbors," Lee said. "That's why I visited New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, and the tour was successful. I have accomplished substantial outcomes in economic and security cooperation." Under his "New Asia Initiative," Seoul's goal is to speak for Asian nations in the international community. According to the Blue House, Korea seeks to cooperate with Asia-Pacific neighbors while playing a leading role in resolving transnational tasks such as the financial crisis and climate change. Seoul will focus on diplomacy to encourage free trade and investment within the region. The plan includes signing free trade agreements with all Asian nations in creating a pan-Asia economic and trade network, of which Korea would be the hub, presidential aides said. During Lee's visit to New Zealand and Australia last week, Korea declared the official beginning of bilateral FTA negotiations with the two nations. Seoul will also seek to form "tailored economic cooperation relationships" with each Asian neighbor. "To this end, Korea needs a strategy to effectively use its technology in information, telecommunications and defense industries in return for their energy and natural resources," Lee said.

Lee will be continuing his presidential diplomacy with the goal of achieving his New Asia Initiative. He will attend the G-20 financial summit in London in April and the Asean Plus Three conference in Thailand next month. Lee is also scheduled to attend a series of multilateral summits around the world. On June 1 and 2, Korea will host a summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Jeju Island to mark the 20th anniversary of Korea-Asean ties. Lee will also tour Central Asia in May. The World Economic Forum on East Asia will also take place in Seoul in June, where 300 global leaders from business, government and academia will shape Asia's political, industrial and economic agendas. Lee also said Korea will try to lead cooperative relations with like-minded groups in the region on different topics such as climate change, the financial crisis and development, by forming an "Asia Caucus." A planned trilateral summit with Australia and Indonesia during the G?20 summit in London will be an example. Despite the economic hardship, Korea will not decrease its official development assistance to developing economies in Asia. Lee said his government will also share Korean expertise about industrial development and overcoming financial crises with its neighbors. During his time in Indonesia, Lee met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday. The two leaders agreed on a joint recycled energy project that will see 700,000 hectares of Indonesian forest devoted to it. Lee also expressed his desire to extend the contract of Korea's first overseas oil field development program in Indonesia's West Madura, and Yudhoyono replied positively. The two countries also agreed that Korea will export defense technology to help with the Indonesian Air Force's plan to replace its aging F-5 fighter jets. Blue House spokesman Lee Dong-kwan also said Lee, Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd agreed to work together to draft a proposal on getting rid of toxic assets in the financial market and present it at the G?20 summit. Korea's experience in the aftermath of the 1997 financial crisis will serve as the basis of the proposal, the presidential spokesman said. Wrapping up his seven-day trip, Lee returned to Seoul yesterday evening.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 03/092009

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Gov't to Slash Foreign Labor Quota by a Third

The government is planning to reduce the foreign labor quota by a third to protect domestic jobseekers in the shrinking economy. The number will be cut down to 34,000 from 100,000 being allowed to enter the country to work last year. However, the government estimates that a total increase of foreign workers will be 5,000 as 29,000 illegal immigrants are expected to leave the country by the end of the year. Currently, 700,000 foreigners live in Korea, including 450,000 unskilled workers and 200,000 illegal immigrants.

From http://english.chosun.com/ 03/23/2009

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Gov't Unveils Program to Support Middle Class

The South Korean government Tuesday launched a new program to support the country's middle-income workers, stressing that a strong middle class is the key to economic recovery and future growth. The program, named the Human New Deal, calls for efforts to prevent those in the economic class from falling out of their bracket, as well as support for those moving up the stratum, according to the Presidential Council on Future and Vision.

From http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ 03/23/2009

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MONGOLIA: New President of MBFF Elected

Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/ Mongolia's Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (MBFF) held its meeting Monday to appoint new members of the board. At the meeting, J.Sukhbaatar MP was elected as the president of the MBFF. B.Choijilsuren MP became the first vice president of the MBFF, whereas B.Batsuuri, a director of "Taikhar" club, and Ts.Otgonbaatar, a director of "Global Bridge" company, became the vice presidents. A director of "Flex Gym" club G.Ochir became the secretary-general. As the new appointments, the MBFF's board includes G.Osokhbayar, a champion of national wrestling; Ts.Nanzaddorj, a head of Department of the State Property Committee; Z.Ganbaatar, a director of "Erdenet" Mining Corporation in charge of production; Ts.Baatarbileg, a director of "NVTs" company; G.Damdinyam, an advisor to Minister of Education, Culture and Sciences; U.Otgonbayar, a deputy head of Small and Middle-Sized Production Department; and N.Khadkhuu, a director of "Buyan khishig" company. Besides them, Ch.Chinbat, a former president of the MBFF was appointed as the MBFF's honorary president.

From http://www.montsame.mn/ 03/20/2009

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MALAYSIA: $2.7 Billion Stimulus Package

Malaysia's government plans to spend another 10 billion ringgit ($2.7 billion) to stimulate the sagging economy and avert a recession. This will bring the total stimulus spending to 17 billion ringgit ($4.6 billion) after a 7 billion ringgit ($1.9 billion) package announced in November. Some analysts have warned it may be insufficient to keep recession at bay. Deputy Finance Minister Kong Cho Ha presented the proposed second stimulus plan to Parliament on Thursday for debate before it is approved by lawmakers.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 03/05/2009

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PHILIPPINES: PGMA Announces More Belt-Tightening Measures

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga (PND) - Following up her directive for all government agencies to set aside 1.5 percent of their maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for emergency employment, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced today additional "belt-tightening" measures to soften the impact of the global economic turmoil on the Filipinos. Among those to be affected by strict cost-cutting measures is the celebration of the country's 111th Independence Day on June 12. Interviewed by Fernando "Perry" Pangan, Pampanga Press Club president, assistant vice president and general manager of Pampanga-based radio station DWRW-FM here, the President said the Independence Day program of activities, which cost up to P30 million in previous celebrations, will be dispensed with this year. "We will do away with the parade and instead we will conduct a mega-jobs fair, combined with a concert," the President said. She pointed out that with the mega-jobs fair replacing the parade, new college graduates, displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), out-of-school youths and other job hunters affected by the global economic crisis will have a better crack at employment opportunities. She added that "very successful Filipino artists" will participate in the concert, which will also include a memorial for Francis Magalona, an artist whom the President said had "written many patriotic songs." She reiterated her directive for government agencies to save fuel and electricity by using gasoline or diesel fuels "blended" with ethanol. She also renewed her call for electric consumers to use fluorescent instead of incandescent bulbs, saying the shift to fluorescent was paying off in terms of lower electric charges.

"I reminded government agencies this year na dapat ibaba natin ang ating electric consumption by 10 percent at dapat din yung mga nasa siyudad... yung 20 percent ng ating mga sasakyan ay dapat ipalit na sa mga non-fossil fuels using vehicles," she said. The President's directive to local government units (LGUs) to set aside 1.5 percent of their MOOE will generate savings of P7 billion, enough to pay the wages of up to 180,000 workers over a six-month period. The President likewise announced other belt-tightening measures to support her Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) such as the restriction on the use of government vehicles. She reminded government workers that "official vehicles cannot be used for personal purposes, that's why during weekends such vehicles must stay in the garages of the agency and the guards must keep the keys." She added that the use of government security plates should be limited to officials with Cabinet rank "unless the guy or the girl faces an imminent threat to their lives or their safety. "That would be the only exception, otherwise no personal use of these government vehicles," she said. These measures, the President said, would greatly help the CLEEP, "especially the 39,000 (mostly from export oriented industries) na nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa global economic crisis."

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/18/2009

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SINGAPORE: Signing Up for OECD Transparency Standards

SINGAPORE: Singapore is signing up for transparency standards set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Ministry of Finance said Singapore has decided to endorse the OECD's Standard for the effective exchange of information through Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements. The ministry said the decision is in line with Singapore's role as a trusted centre for finance, with its strong and consistent regulatory policies. It added that the standard is consistent with Singapore's system of banking confidentiality which does not shelter criminals. Analysts see the move as a bid to counter criticisms of Singapore as a tax haven. To implement the OECD standard, the finance ministry will introduce draft amendments to legislation in the middle of this year.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/06/2009

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THAILAND: Govt Maps Out Plans to Fight Current Drought

BANGKOK (TNA) - Government agencies held a meeting Monday to find ways to tackle a potential drought during the summer season as water levels in reservoirs throughout Thailand have dropped and as many as 46 provinces are expected to face water shortages. Participants at the meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister retired Maj. Gen. Sanan Kajornprasart, were told that as of last Saturday, water stored in medium- and large-sized reservoirs are at about 66 per cent of total capacity, three per cent less than at the same time last year. Out of the total 46 provinces, eight in the north and northeastern regions, are already facing critical water shortages. Water resources are still sufficient in irrigated areas but problems persist outside irrigated land due to the lack of rainfall. The Water Resources Department has prepared equipment including 37 water trucks, six water purification machines and 141 sets of water pumps to help drought-stricken northeastern provinces first. In a bid to relieve the water shortage the government agencies involved will designate farming areas where second rice crop can be grown as well. They will also prepare steps artificially create rain, build dykes as well as launch campaigns for the public to understand the danger of drought and how best to conserve water.

From http://enews.mcot.net/ 03/16/2009

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Thailand Plans Second Economic Stimulus Package

BANGKOK (TNA) - Fuelled by anxieties over the US economic meltdown coupled with declines in foreign investment and exports, Thailand's economic ministers Tuesday agreed to launch a second round of economic stimulus measures which they hope can jump-start the domestic economy, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday. Mr. Abhisit said after meeting with the economic ministers earlier in the day and that they had recommended implementation of a second set of economic stimulus measures to boost the Thai economy. The new measures will be in effect for two to three years, funded by loans sought from overseas, while investment in basic infrastructure will be studied at the same time, he said. Initial investment on small infrastructure projects including transportation, public health, school and hospital projects is estimated to cost Bt1.4 trillion, according to Mr. Abhisit, who reasoned that more investment is needed because of declines in foreign investment and exports. Government revenue for the current fiscal year is expected to fall further by Bt150 billion, a deeper loss than the Bt100 billion earlier projected. Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) Director-General Somchai Sajjapong earlier said government revenues during the first four months of Fiscal 2009 (Oct. 1, 2008 - Jan. 31, 2009) was only Bt363.73 billion, down some Bt70.47 billion from its earlier target.

Government revenue in February is expected to fall considerably below the target due to declines both in imports and the prices of consumer goods, the prime minister said earlier. In January Mr. Abhisit's government announced a Bt116.7 billion (US$3.35 billion) stimulus package aimed at boosting the sagging economy hit by last year's airport blockade and by the global financial crisis. The plan comprised a mix of cash handouts for low earners, tax cuts, expanded free education and subsidies for transport and utilities. A deputy government spokesman said it is expected that plans by the government to borrow Bt70 billion from foreign financial institutions could be spent by the government during the third quarter this year. Economic ministers on Tuesday also agreed to allocate budget to compensate victims of noise pollution at Suvarnabhumi Airport and to refurbish houses near the airport to receive less of an impact from the pollution.

From http://enews.mcot.net/ 03/17/2009

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VIETNAM: Hanoi: $1.05 Billion for Economic Stimulus

VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi plans to spend VND18 trillion, or $1.05 billion, to prevent economic slowdown this year, it was announced at a conference on March 10. Senior Hanoi officials met on March 10 to discuss urgent measures to prevent economic downturn. This year, the city will spend $1.05 billion on infrastructure projects such as building roads and residential areas as well as houses for low-income earners. The capital will come from the city's budget, bond issuances and other sources. The city's Chairman Hoang The Thao asked departments to quickly implement stimulus projects. He said that Hanoi is a big market and this is an opportunity for local businesses to expand market shares. According to statistics, Hanoi's industrial and service production value in the first two months of the year was lower than the same period of last year. The Hanoi Taxation Department forecast that this year the city's budget revenue will fall by nearly VND10 trillion. Speaking at the conference, Hanoi's Chairman Nguyen The Thao said the shortage of tap water in the capital city will be solved by 2010. At present, 32,000 people in Dinh Cong ward, Hoang Mai district are using well water.

From http://english.vietnamnet.vn/ 03/11/2009

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Deputy PM Sees Industrialized Nation by 2020

Vietnam could become a basically modernized and industrialized country by 2020, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem. "There are still very big opportunities and a lot of potential for Vietnam to grow," Khiem said at the closing ceremony of the two-day "Positioning Vietnam for the Future" conference in Hanoi Wednesday. Khiem said the Vietnamese government had been active and flexible in coping with the global economic slowdown while boosting reforms and pushing international integration to lay the foundation for long-term growth. But he also acknowledged that Vietnam's poor competitiveness, substandard investment environment, imperfect economy and inadequate infrastructure had made the recession difficult to deal with. Representatives from The Economist Group, HSBC and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the Vietnamese government's policies proved its determination to continue reforms despite the global crisis. Many praised the government's curbing of inflation, which has lessened the effect of the economic slowdown. Representatives suggested that the government reform the financial sector and continue reforms in general to make Vietnam an even more attractive destination for international investors.

From http://www.thanhniennews.com/ 03/19/2009

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BANGLADESH: Bangladeshi Lawmakers Urged to Make MDGs a National Agenda

At a recently held consultation in Bangladesh, the UN Millennium Campaign urged participants to demand MDGs as a fundamental right. The meeting called on parliamentarians to act unitedly in ensuring the speedy implementation of the development targets in local policies. Dhaka: The UN Millennium Campaign with the People's Empowerment Trust and All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), co-hosted a national policy review consultation on "Achieving Millennium Development Goals: The Role of Parliamentarians" here on February 26.Famous singer and MDGs Ambassador Farida Parvin receiving special honor for her support of anti- poverty campaign in Bangladesh/ Photo credit: Enamul Kabir/ The Daily Janakantha More than 60 participants including parliamentarians, noted economists, journalists and civil society leaders attended the event. The Campaign and co-hosts stressed that parliament, parliamentary standing committees and related government ministries must act in a united manner to implement the MDGs in Bangladesh. Minar Pimple, Deputy Director of United Nations Millennium Campaign Asia, praised the energy and commitment of new policymakers but reinforced the challenge of treating MDGs as a bi-partisan or national agenda. Pimple said, "I hope grassroots organizations submit their clear policy demands in time for the budget declaration in June 2009 when a costing study could act as a reference point. The MDGs need to be recognized as socio-economic rights of citizens to hold their government accountable to meet their commitments". Also emphasized was the need for the implementation and ratification process of national policies to achieving MDGs to be promoted as fundamental rights rather than fundamental principals. A recommendation to localize MDG policies to hold local government accountable for implementation will require the development of a contingency plan for pro-poor development in parliamentary constituencies through consultation at the local level. APPG was selected to act as a parliamentary watch-dog to monitor, coordinate and oversee national policy development and challenges to achieving the MDGs, and agreed to publish annual reports for parliamentary debate and discussion on progress of MDG implementation. APPG will encourage newly elected parliamentarians to foster a clear understanding of MDG targets and enhance planning to achieve them, as well as managing initiatives for parliamentarian leadership orientations for MDG and poverty related issues.

From http://southasia.oneworld.net/ 03/10/2009

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Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project

IDA Credit: US$81 Million

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project for Bangladesh aims to improve the quality and relevance of the teaching and research environment in higher education institutions through encouraging both innovation and accountability in universities, and by enhancing the technical and institutional capacity of the higher education sector. There are four components to the project: promoting academic innovation; building institutional capacity; raising the connectivity capacity of the higher education sector; and project management support.

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/17/2009

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Adoption of Child Labour Policy Underscored

Bangladesh needs to adopt a National Child Labour Policy as a matter of urgency and increase budget allocation for inclusive education, participants attending a high level seminar on "Child Labour and Education" recommended yesterday. The seminar held at Hotel Sonargaon was inaugurated by the State Minister for Labour and Employment, Begum Monnujan Sufian. "If we want to achieve the goal of Education For All and reduce poverty, we need to increase the access of all children to the schools and to raise the income earning opportunities of the families of child labourers so that they can keep their children at school instead of sending them to work'' said Begum Monnujan Sufian. The Director, ILO Bangladesh, Panudda Boonpala, UNESCO Representative, Malama Meleisea, and UNICEF Representative, Carel de Rooy, also spoke on the occasion. As Bangladesh starts to feel the effect of the global recession, the slow down of the national economy is likely to increase the level of poverty and impact negatively on children. At present an estimated 7.4 million children are working in Bangladesh of which 1.3 million works in hazardous conditions. This number may increase as low income families would be compelled to send their children to work for additional income. The lowest enrollment rate in primary schools is recorded in urban slums with only about half of the children attending school. The seminar highlighted the clear link between child labour and education as child labour impacts on enrollment, dropout and transition rates. "If the government is to ensure the right of all children to education inscribed the Constitution, it will require elimination of child labour.

To address this issue, we need a comprehensive approach including reform of the education system and provision of social protection", said Carel de Rooy, UNICEF Representative at the seminar. Highlighting the opportunities and challenges, the ILO Director, Panudda Boonpala said "Very significant and encouraging is the recent Government's commitment to seriously consider ratification of ILO C. 138 on Minimum Age for Admission in Employment. That Convention unambiguously links the minimum age of work to the compulsory age of education and by doing so emphasizes the intrinsic correlation between child labour and education" The participants recommended that Bangladesh ratifies the ILO Convention no.138 on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment. They urged the government to develop a list of hazardous occupations and activities. They stressed the need for focusing on quality and inclusion as the schools must adapt to the needs of the most marginalised children. While the formal education system makes such adjustments, non-formal education programmes can serve as a bridge to bring marginalized children to the mainstream. UNESCO is contributing towards elimination of child labour mainly in three ways-through promotion of early childhood care and education as well as adult literacy, and ensuring quality education, commented Malama Meleisea, UNESCO Representative in Bangladesh. The seminar followed a four-day training programme on Child Labour and Education attended by, among others, high level officials of the Ministry of Primary and Mass education, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Representative of NGOs, UN agencies and international development organizations were also present at the seminar.

From http://www.theindependent-bd.com/ 03/20/2009

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Govt to Incorporate Alternative Medicines into Health Policy, Says Health Minister

The government plans to incorporate the alternative medicines, including Homeopathic, Unani and Ayurvedic medication, in the national health policy as they have a potential for healthcare of the masses. Saying that the queens in London take the homeopathic treatment, physician-turned Health Minister Prof Dr AFM Ruhal Haque yesterday spoke of the government plan and also announced some facilities for homeopathic doctors. "We're morally agreed to take the alternative medicines in the health policy," he said while addressing the reunion function at the Government Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital in Mirpur. He inaugurated a homeopathic research centre and a homeo product- generation unit and also a hostel for students on the college campus. Director General (heath) Prof Dr Shah Monir Hossain was present among others at the function with principal of the college Dr Birendranath Sinha in the chair. He said many people take treatment with the alternative medicines not only in Bangladesh but all over the world. "We can help flourish and establish these medicines in our society." The Health Minister said the government would consider taking the alternative medicines in the health policy after analysing which of homeopathic, unani and ayurvedic would be included. He stressed the need for developing the teachers' research and also arranging higher training for them on the homeopathic treatments at home and abroad to ensure world-class treatment for the countrymen in future. "Research is an important factor for learning." The minister said government has enough budget to arrange higher training for teachers sending abroad to make them qualified in this treatment. Responding to the demands raised by the speakers at the function he said the government would allocate the internees' allowances and take special arrangement to appoint the graduates passed from the colleges with homeopathic degrees. Around 350 students have been studying the Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) for six-year degree (five year of academic and one year of internship). There is a hospital of 100 beds attached with the medical college which provides outdoor and indoor facilities for the patients. The medical college was established in 1989 and had all departments like other general medical colleges. There is a hostel for male and another for female students accommodating some 140 students. One- third of the students studying in the college are female.

From http://www.theindependent-bd.com/ 03/20/2009

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Workers' Migration Policy Soon

Labour Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain attends a view-exchange meeting with a Baira delegation at his office in Dhaka yesterday. Photo: PID Labour, Employment and Expatriate Welfare Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday said the government would soon formulate a policy for manpower export to make the entire process transparent and hassle-free."A policy for this vital sector is needed and a committee with the representatives of government, experts and Baira will be formed to go ahead with the plan," he told a meeting at a city hotel. Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) hosted the opinion-exchange meeting titled 'Prevailing Crisis in Manpower Export Sector: Ways of Recovery'. Labour and Employment Secretary Elias Ahmed and Awami League lawmaker Mostafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal) also spoke at the meeting, with Baira President Golam Mostafa in the chair. The minister said he would discuss the matter of formulation the policy in the cabinet meeting and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is already aware of it. Mosharraf pledged to set up an Expatriate Welfare Bank, a longstanding Baira demand, and assured the trade body for recruiting agents that the government would not take over the job of manpower export from them. Disclosing the government's plan to groom skilled manpower, the minister said more training centres would be set up to train up workers. "Currently, 37 technical training centres across the country are working to train up nearly 50,000workers every year and the number will soon be increased through ensuring district-level training facilities," he said.

He suggested the Baira leaders send their delegation to different countries to explore new markets for manpower export. The minister gave the tips that America will recruit nearly one lakh nurses this year. "Bangladesh might take the opportunity," he said. Discussing the prevailing crisis in Malaysia for manpower export, he said it would soon be solved and he, along with the foreign minister, would visit Malaysia within a few days to discuss the problem with the Malaysian government. He urged the Baira leaders to inform the workers about their probable jobs, locations and duties and nature of jobs before sending them abroad. "They are either your brother or your relatives. So, ensure availability of required information for them," said the minister. He said the communication gap should be removed through discussion for the betterment of this sector. He assured all that no black laws would be enacted and no decision keeping the Baira out of scene. He would take step to include Baira president in the taskforce formed to face the global crisis fallout. Earlier, Baira President Golam Mostafa placed a set of proposals with the government through the minister. The proposals include cancellation of Code of Conduct in Recruiting Agent and License Procedure (Section-7), resolving the problem of visa-cancellation of Bangladeshis by Malaysian government, giving priority to creating labour market in Saudi Arabia, cash intensives for recruiting agencies and introduction of One Stop Service.

From http://www.thedailystar.net/ 03/20/2009

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INDIA: Telecommunication Interconnection Regulation Revised

New Delhi: India's telecom watchdog Tuesday revised the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection Regulation, 2004, making it mandatory for all broadcasters to have reference interconnect offers (RIOs) for their addressable systems. The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2009, released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), covers regulatory provisions on issues relating to inter-connection for addressable platforms and registration of inter-connection agreements. The new regulations bar the distributor of television channels from seeking signals in terms of 'must provide' clause of the interconnect regulation from a broadcaster for those channels for which carriage fee is being demanded by him. Also, the regulations facilitate introduction and roll-out of voluntary conditional access system (CAS) by making it mandatory for all broadcasters to have RIOs for all addressable systems. In addition to this, minimum technical specifications for addressable systems have also been specified.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/17/2009

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Govt. Gives Nod Commencement of General Election Process

New Delhi: The Government on Wednesday gave a formal nod for issuing notifications for the commencement of the general election process. Talking to reporters here, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the notifications will be issued on March 23, 28 and April 2, 11 and 17 by the President for the five-phase polls beginning April 16. "The Representation of the People Act requires that the President shall issue notifications for the general elections," he added As per clause (2) of article 83 of the Constitution, the House of the people, unless sooner dissolves, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of the House. The term of the fourteenth Lok Sabha is due to expire on the June 1, 2009 as its first sitting was held on the June 2, 2004. Section 14 of the representation of the People Act, 1951 requires that for the purpose of constituting a new House of the people on the expiration of the existing House or on its dissolution, the President shall, by one or more notifications published in the Gazette of India, on such date or dates, as may be recommended by the Election Commission, call upon all Parliamentary constituencies to elect members. The Election Commission had announced the schedule for general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha ands to Legislative Assemblies of the States, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim to be held simultaneously and has recommended that the polls to be held in five phases on different dates.

From http://www.newkerala.com/ 03/18/2009

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SRI LANKA: UNP to Amend Party Constitution

COLOMBO: The United National Party (UNP) Working Committee which met at the party headquarters 'Sirikotha' amidst speculation of a leadership change yesterday, has decided to amend the party constitution and create a new senior leaders post in addition to the existing one. The UNP media spokesman Gayantha Karunatillake MP said that the Working Committee after lengthy deliberations had decided to appoint an eight member Committee headed by party Chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera MP to make necessary recommendations, which is to be discussed at a special meeting scheduled for Monday.In addition to Perera the Committee includes senior UNP'ers such as Tissa Attanayake, S.B. Dissanayake, Sajith Premadasa, Lakshman Kiriella, Lakshman Senevirathne, John Amaratunge and Renuka Herath.UNP MP Lakshman Senevirathne when contacted said that the intention of bringing in necessary changes to the party constitution was intended at creating an effective mechanism to face future challenges by de-centralising power within the party. Meanwhile, senior MP Rukman Senanayake too welcomed the move saying that the there was no dissension within the party and the decision to amend party constitution had been arrived with the approval of all members. However, when questioned as to who would be the senior leader of the party and what would be the fate of it's incumbent leader Ranil Wickremesinghe several UNP stalwarts contacted by the Daily News remained non committal. The working committee meeting was also attended by leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Gayantha Karunathilake MP said that the recommendations of the eight member committee would be taken up for deliberation at the Special Working Committee meeting scheduled for 2.30 pm on Monday.

From http://www.southasianmedia.net/ 03/19/2009

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MALDIVES: UNDP Welcomes President's Plans

MALE: United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the Maldives has welcomed President Mohamed Nasheed's announcement of his to make the Maldives the world's first carbon neutral country. The statement demonstrates a pivotal step taken by the country toward addressing the defining challenges of our time, global warming and climate change, a UNDP press release dated 17 March Tuesday stated. UNDP expressed that the current effort of the Maldives government, as reiterated by the President, to have an eco-plan in place for going carbon neutral, represents an important step towards the effective implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol. The UN has been advocating for a radical shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy production to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. UNDP in the Maldives has broadened its support for climate change and renewable energy initiatives in recent years. UNDP assisted the government with the first renewable energy initiative which created an interactive platform for the government, private sector and donor agencies to work towards the goal of reducing the growth rate of GHG emissions from fossil fuel based activities. UNDP has further been supporting the country through interventions in the removal of the major barriers to the development and application of renewable energy-based systems that can supplant part of the fossil fuel use in the Maldives. UNDP further expressed its commitment to continue its assistance to support the efforts of the government to achieve an outcome that stands to benefit not only the country, but all of mankind. The determination of the government of the Maldives to comply with the commitments made at the Rio Summit of 1992 and its subsequent initiatives are very encouraging, UNDP Press Release stated. UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Patrice Coeur-Bizot stated that, "this demonstrates the seriousness of the government and the people of Maldives towards climate change and related issues."

From http://www.southasianmedia.net/ 03/19/2009

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NEPAL: Project to Take on Industrial Crisis

KATHMANDU: The government is planning to bring about a solid project to tackle the crisis seen in the industrial sectors of the country. A consultation held among Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and officials concerned on Wednesday decided to introduce a specified project through the Council of Ministers. President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Kush Kumar Joshi informed, the prime minister, at the meeting, assured to make public a project to address the problems seen in the industrial sector after discussing with the ministers. A meeting of the Cabinet is underway. A concerned source reported that the government is planning to announce prohibition of strikes in the industrial sectors. Prime Minister Dahal, also the chairman of Unified CPN (Maoist) which had promised to bring about an economic revolution following its victory in the Constituent Assembly elections last year, summoned the meeting with the stakeholders after power cuts, shutdowns and strikes started affecting the industrial sector largely. Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Water Resources Minister Bishnu Poudel, Industry Minister Astalaxmi Shakya and representatives of FNCCI, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Morang Entrepreneurs' Association participated the discussion held at the prime minister's office in Singhadurbar. On the occasion, industrialists asked the government to hand over the responsibility of setting up thermal plant to them. FNCCI President Joshi said such request has been made keeping in mind that the task may be delayed if kept under government plans.

From http://www.southasianmedia.net/ 03/19/2009

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PAKISTAN: Mobile Courts Ordinance Being Withdrawn: Official Sources

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will announce to withdraw the mobile courts ordinance promulgated by him on Monday, sources at the presidency told Geo News Tuesday. It may be mentioned here that earlier, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in his address at the National Assembly advised the President to withdraw the ordinance.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/06/2009

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Zardari Gives Green Light to Green Karachi Project

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari on Friday gave the green light to the Green Karachi Project, aimed at turning hundreds of acres of wasteland in the city into parks. Chairing a meeting at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Zardari said trees would also be planted along 24 major roads of Karachi. He said a study should also be conducted on the public health impact of the trees to be planted. He told the meeting to reserve land for graveyards in the project. City District Government Karachi Parks and Horticulture Executive Director Liaqat Ali Khan said nine projects had been planned under President Zardari's green vision for the city. The Karachi Animal Park will be constructed at the Karachi Zoological Gardens covering an area of 41 acres at a cost of Rs 934 million. The Manghopir Resort will be developed at the Hub reservoir on Manghopir hills at 1,800 acres of land at a cost of Rs 1.5 billion. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, President's Secretary General Salman Faruqooi, Environment Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, President's spokesman Farhatullah Babar, Environment acting Secretary Inayat Elahi and CDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Khan were present on the occasion.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/07/2009

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ADB, Pakistan Outline Strategic Priorities in Five-Year Plan

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Pakistan have designed a major new strategic partnership aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth through structural reforms and investment in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Endorsed by ADB's Board of Directors in Manila on March 5 2009, the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2009-2013 provides for a US$4.4 billion lending program that aligns with the government's goal of facilitating structural change, promoting investment, and improving institutional effectiveness. "The CPS will support Pakistan's fight against poverty and its pursuit of prosperity by tackling binding constraints to inclusive economic growth," said Rune Stroem, Country Director of ADB's Pakistan Resident Mission. "Supporting the government's reform agenda and improving the energy, transport, and urban infrastructure will help reduce the cost of doing business and strengthen the underlying competitiveness of the economy." The CPS outlines a second generation of economic reforms aimed at reducing distortions, accelerating market creation, eliminating governance and institutional bottlenecks, and strengthening public financial management reform. These reforms will help enhance private sector investment, support diversification of the economy, create jobs, and improve the efficiency of government functioning. In a country where crippling power outages increase the cost and challenges of doing business, the CPS aims to strengthen Pakistan's energy supply chain. Measures include augmenting and expanding transmission stations and lines, strengthening distribution companies, and developing power generation facilities using renewable sources.

These and other improvements aim to contribute to reducing electricity outages by a further 30% by 2012 and increasing the number of grid-connected electricity consumers from 60% in 2008 to 70% by 2013. Pakistan's transport infrastructure is another area of the CPS's strategic focus. Financial and technical assistance will be supplied to improve connectivity along the National Trade Corridor and other major highways. This will enable export firms to be more competitive by reducing transportation costs and travel time. The CPS projects that by 2017 the road travel time between Peshawar and Karachi will be halved to 36 hours from the 2006 time of 72 hours. Improving the quality of lives of citizens in cities and towns receives a major emphasis in the CPS. Strengthening water supply and sanitation services and urban transportation systems will not only lead to enhanced economic competitiveness but will also yield health and environment improvement dividends for the benefit of urban citizens. Strengthening implementation of projects and programs and capacity building is key to obtaining development results. The CPS provides a platform for ADB and the Government to work together to improve the effectiveness of the assistance earmarked under the strategy. Pakistan has received about $19.8 billion in loans since joining ADB in 1966, with about $14 billion disbursed as of the end of 2008. The lending program in 2008 was a record that included $1.87 billion disbursement and $1.2 billion in newly approved assistance. As of December 2008, ADB's active portfolio in Pakistan included 62 public sector loans assistance channels amounting to $3.0 billion in the areas of infrastructure, social sectors, governance and earthquake rehabilitation, for a total of $5.1 billion.

From http://www.adb.org/ 03/13/2009

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TAJIKISTAN: Parliament Chamber Approves Bill on Religion

The Tajik parliament's lower house has approved a controversial bill on religious organizations. The bill was promoted at parliament as giving equality to all religions, but Saidbek Mahmadulloev of the Culture Ministry told RFE/RL that the law gives priority to the Islamic branch of Hanafi, to which some 90 percent of Tajiks adhere to. If approved, the draft law would ban the propagation of other religions. The legislation also sets up new regulations for religious schools. Classes in such schools should be held in rooms with desks and chairs. Among other restrictions, children would not be allowed to sit on the floor as is currently the practice in many religious schools. The Tajik opposition, NGOs, and international organizations have criticized the bill for imposing limitations. Leaders of the Islamic Renaissance Party have challenged the legislation, saying that their alternative variant was ignored. (by Saidbek Mahmadulloev)

From http://www.rferl.org/ 03/06/2009

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UZBEKISTAN: Uzbekistan Adopts National Nutrition Improvement Strategy

Uzbekistan Cabinet of Ministers approved the national nutrition improvement strategy for 2009-2011, the Uzbek governmental newspaper Pravda Vostoka reported. The strategy is a component of the national strategy to improve the welfare of the people of Uzbekistan covering the next three years. "The nutrition improvement strategy is based on the international experience and country's experience gained during implementation of national projects on fortification of wheat flour, iodizing table salt, promoting breast-feeding," Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute Vice-Rector, M.D. Dilorom Akhmedova said. The nutrition improvement strategy is needed to make sustainable the programmes on protection of mothers and children, promotion of a healthy lifestyle, coordination of ministries' and public organizations' activities. Targeted arrangements for vulnerable groups - women and children - are of particular importance, says the article.

In 2008, the Uzbek Government started a national flour fortification programme (enrichment in iron, folic acid and other trace elements). The work has already produced results. According to independent studies, anemia among Uzbek women fell from 60% to 35%. Growth and development in children during first five years of life improved. The number of children under 5 years old suffering from anemia decreased by half in Karakalpakstan, Khorezm and Ferghana regions. "The strategy will expand existing programmes on food fortification and supplementation through enrichment in essential micronutrients. Schoolgirls between 12 and 16 years of age will take tablets with iron and folic acid. A project on enrichment of cotton oil with vitamin A will be realized at a pilot region level. Salt is being iodized. Scientists have proposals to iodize other products using highly iodized mineral water," the newspaper reported.

From http://news.uzreport.com/ 03/16/2009

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AUSTRALIA: Release of CPRS Exposure Draft Legislation

Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, today released exposure draft legislation and explanatory materials for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. "Australians have made it clear that they understand the challenge of climate change and they want a government that will act," Senator Wong said. "As one of the hottest and driest countries on earth, Australia's environment and economy will be one of the hardest and fastest hit by climate change if we don't act now. "Through an unprecedented investment in energy efficiency, a four-fold expansion in renewable energy and the introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the Rudd Government is getting on with the job of tackling climate change. "This is all about creating the jobs of the future. The CPRS is a whole of economy reform that will, for the first time, put a price on carbon and encourage investment in new, low pollution technologies." Building on the Green Paper and White Paper released last year, the exposure draft legislation sets out in legislation what is required of participants in the Scheme and the mechanics of the Scheme that will ensure Australia's emissions reductions targets achieved. The Government is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the terms of the draft legislation and its effectiveness in delivering the White Paper's policy positions.

"This legislation will provide the robust framework that is required to set up Australia's economy for a low pollution future." Senator Wong will move a motion in the Senate tomorrow recommending that the exposure draft legislation be referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics to ensure the Senate has the earliest possible opportunity to consider the legislative package. The Government is seeking submissions from interested parties on the exposure draft legislation by close of business Tuesday, 14 April 2009. Senator Wong has also recommended that the Senate Standing Committee on Economics report by 14 April 2009 to ensure the findings of the Committee can be considered in the final legislation. "The Government is very mindful of the need to deliver business certainty and a clear position in the lead up to the Copenhagen climate change conference. Passing the legislation during the 2009 winter sittings will deliver this certainty," Senator Wong said. Copies of the draft legislation, commentaries, and details on how to make public submissions can be found on the Department of Climate Change website.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/10/2009

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Amendment to Increase Liquid Assets Test

The Rudd Government today introduced changes to legislation to Parliament that will allow those with modest levels of savings to access income support sooner. The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, said as part of its Nation Building and Jobs Plan, the Rudd Government had introduced amendments to the Social Security Act 1991 to relax the Liquid Assets Waiting period (LAWP). Under existing rules, people seeking Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, Sickness Allowance and Austudy who have liquid assets above a threshold amount of $2,500 if single without dependants or $5,000 otherwise must generally serve a waiting period known as the Liquid Assets Waiting Period. Liquid assets include cash, shares and term deposits, monies due and able to be paid by the person's former employer and other readily realisable assets. The proposed changes will enable people claiming income support quicker access to payments and allow claimants to retain more of their savings.

The amendment proposes to double the threshold for liquid assets to $5000 for singles without dependents or $10,000 for others for a two year period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2011. The measure will be reviewed after one year. The Government has worked constructively with the Australian Greens on this issue to provide additional support to jobseekers in these difficult times. The proposed liquid asset changes build on the Government's $298.5 million additional investment in Australian employment services. Rather than having to wait at least 3 months to receive intensive personalised assistance any Australian worker made redundant will now receive immediate and personalised assistance to help them get back into the workforce. The Rudd Government has also committed $75 million for an extra 10,000 Productivity Places Program to assist newly retrenched workers access training.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/12/2009

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Taxation Secrecy & Disclosure Provisions

The Assistant Treasurer, Chris Bowen, today released for public comment an exposure draft Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2009 and explanatory materials that propose to implement the single and consolidated framework outlined in the Treasury discussion paper released in 2006, to govern the protection and disclosure of taxpayer information received by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in the course of administering the taxation laws. "The Government affirms the importance of maintaining a high level of protection of information provided by taxpayers," Mr Bowen said. "In standardising taxation secrecy and disclosure provisions currently found across 18 taxation Acts, the new framework is intended to address inconsistencies and ambiguities with the current provisions that have been enacted over a long time and in a number of different drafting styles. "The new framework will provide greater clarity and certainty to taxpayers, the ATO and users of taxpayer information and will reduce the volume and complexity of the taxation law." In addition to standardising existing taxation secrecy and disclosure provisions, the new framework also makes it clear that the future disclosure of taxpayer information should only be permitted where the public benefit from the disclosure outweighs taxpayer privacy.

Other key features of the new framework include that:
• it maintains current levels of disclosures that can be made by the ATO to other government agencies;
• it introduces some new disclosure provisions, where the public benefit outweighs taxpayer privacy;
• it includes clear rules to govern the on-disclosure of taxpayer information provided by the ATO to another agency or entity;
• it clarifies that there is no prohibition on the disclosure of taxpayer information that is lawfully available to the public; and
• it provides that a taxpayer's consent can not in and of itself authorise the disclosure of their information.

The Government now seeks submissions from interested parties on the exposure draft Bill and explanatory materials. Copies of these materials are available from the Treasury website (www.treasury.gov.au) or may be obtained from the project team by telephoning 02 6263 4334.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/13/2009

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Bill to Improve Native Title System Introduced

Attorney‑General, Robert McClelland, today introduced legislation to achieve quicker, more flexible negotiated settlements of native title claims. The Native Title Amendment Bill 2009 introduces targeted reforms to give the Federal Court control of the management of native title claims from start to finish, allowing opportunities for negotiated settlements to be more effectively identified and progressed. Mr McClelland said, "by improving the efficiency and timeliness of mediation, the measures contained in the Bill will improve the operation of the native title system and the outcomes that can be achieved under it." Where parties are deadlocked or unwilling to see common ground, the Court's case management powers can be used to ensure that native title matters do not languish and are appropriately resolved. The Bill will also: allow the Court to make consent orders about matters beyond native title that would assist with the negotiation of broader agreements; recognise the way Indigenous communities record traditional laws and customs; and streamline the recognition processes for native title representative bodies. "Native title is about more than just delivering symbolic recognition," Mr McClelland said. "Native title is an opportunity to create sustainable, long-term outcomes for Indigenous Australians." Amendments contained in the Bill will assist with the negotiation of broader native title agreements and provide greater certainty for all stakeholders.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/19/2009

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Draft Code for National Unit Pricing Scheme

The Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen MP, has today released a draft industry code to implement a nationally‑consistent, mandatory unit pricing scheme. "This code - once enacted - will create a nationally‑consistent unit pricing scheme, so that all Australian consumers can have access to prominent, legible and unambiguous unit pricing information when they do their weekly grocery shop," Mr Bowen said. "This draft code has been designed based upon the framework I announced in January." "All through the process of developing this code the Government has consulted with consumers and industry. I look forward to receiving stakeholders' views on the draft code, and to working with them to finalise the code." The code will deliver on the Government's commitment to introduce a mandatory unit pricing scheme for major supermarket retailers, which was a key recommendation of the ACCC's inquiry into the competitiveness of retail grocery prices. "The ACCC found that significant benefits would flow from the introduction of mandatory unit pricing, and today we are a step closer to securing those benefits for consumers," Mr Bowen said. Minister Bowen has called for public comments on the draft code, as the Government moves to finalise the regulations. The Government has announced its intention to establish the unit pricing code by 1 July 2009, in order for it to be introduced into supermarkets by 1 December 2009. The draft code is available on the Treasury website: www.treasury.gov.au. Comments are sought by Monday 20 April 2009.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/23/2009

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NEW ZEALAND: New Policy Statement on Electricity Governance

Energy and Resources Minister, Gerry Brownlee, has today released for consultation a revised policy direction for the Electricity Commission. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) sets out new objectives and outcomes expected from the Commission. "The proposed changes are designed to reflect the new government's policies, and in particular its desire to accelerate prudent grid investment," said Gerry Brownlee. "An important feature of the draft GPS is bringing forward the section that emphasises security of supply." "The government believes that disentangling the regulatory overlap between the Electricity Commission, Transpower, and the Commerce Commission is important," he said. "Getting that right will take some time. However, the government is taking this interim step with the GPS to ensure transmission investment can happen more quickly," Mr Brownlee said. The draft GPS proposes a streamlined, simplified process for transmission investments under $20 million in value. "Many projects are at risk from delay. This revised process would mean Transpower won't have to seek Electricity Commission approval for projects less then $20 million dollars." "It will save time, costs, and speed-up important upgrade work," said Mr Brownlee. "

The regulatory function of the Electricity Commission was identified at the Jobs Summit by many sectors as delaying transmission investment and being a blockage to both infrastructure work and the expansion of jobs," he said. Other changes to the GPS also reflect the government's intention to review the New Zealand Energy Strategy, and assess any duplication with the New Zealand Energy and Efficiency Conservation Strategy. "We have allowed two weeks for the Electricity Commission and stakeholders to provide feedback. I appreciate it's a short time frame but the government regards improving our electricity grid as a priority," he said. The Electricity Act requires the Minister of Energy to consult with the Electricity Commission on the GPS. Submissions on the draft GPS close on 16 March 2009. Written comments can be sent to electricity@med.govt.nz. Information on the revised GPS for Electricity Governance is available at http://www.med.govt.nz/energy/gps-electricity.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/02/2009

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Forgotten by Labour, Crime Bill Finally Passes into Law

A bill that is expected to deal a major blow to prisoners who run criminal businesses from behind bars has been passed into law after languishing under the previous government. The Corrections Amendment Bill amends the Corrections Act 2004 to create new search, detection, drug-testing and offence provisions to help control contraband in prisons. "This amendment make it more difficult for people to smuggle prohibited items into prisons and easier for prison staff to detect them," Corrections Minister Judith Collins says. "It will deal a major blow to criminals who have been able to continue running their crime businesses from behind bars, and who have used smuggled cellphones to intimidate people on the outside." The amendment will increase controls over prisoners' communications with the outside world and their ability to commit crime from inside prison. It enables mail to be screened and introduces zero tolerance to staff that pass contraband to prisoners. "The failure of the previous Government to pass the bill was another example of how Labour mismanaged the Corrections sector," Ms Collins says. "The passage of this Bill is long overdue. The previous government promised to clamp down on contraband but, like so many other law and order bills, it allowed this Bill to languish on the order paper for months. "Their failure to make it law put the safety of prison staff and the public at risk." Improved access to drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes are a key part of the Government's efforts to reduce reoffending. The bill will make these programmes more effective by reducing prisoners' access to illegal drugs, Ms Collins says.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/03/2009

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Bill to Prevent Fraudulent Debt Write-Off Introduced

A bill to close a potential legal loophole and prevent fraudulent debts from being written off was introduced to Parliament today by Commerce Minister Simon Power. The Insolvency Amendment Bill - a small but significant amendment to the Insolvency Act 2006 - will ensure the integrity of the No Asset Procedure is maintained by preventing people from discharging debts that were acquired fraudulently. "The No Asset Procedure is an alternative to bankruptcy, and essentially writes off debts of up to $40,000 for people who are in financial difficulty," Mr Power said. "It was put in place to help people who find themselves in financial distress and have no realisable assets to pay off those debts. It was not meant to write off debts that have been obtained fraudulently. "Stringent criteria have to be met to enter the No Asset Procedure, including having no assets that will help pay debts. Entry is meant to provide a fresh start for such people and help them become contributing members of the community again without the stigma of bankruptcy. "The Insolvency Act allows fraudulent debts to be written off, but this was never the intention of the No Asset Procedure. It is also inconsistent with the overriding policy objective of insolvency law, which is designed to grant financially distressed individuals relief from contractual debts, not to reward dishonesty," Mr Power said.

The Insolvency Amendment Bill also amends the public register to record the names of those who have had debts discharged under the No Asset Procedure for an appropriate period of time. A permanent public record will also be kept of those who have been involved in multiple insolvency activity. The bill will also restore the Official Assignee's ability to recover gifts made prior to bankruptcy to avoid payments to creditors, and extend the period available to the Official Assignee to decide whether or not to terminate a No Asset Procedure process. "This amendment will make it easier for creditors to make better informed lending decisions, particularly in these tough economic times," Mr Power said. "I am confident these changes will enhance the No Asset Procedure process and have an overall positive impact on the returns to creditors." The sections of the bill relating to fraudulent debt have been designed to take effect retrospectively from the date of introduction of the bill.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/09/2009

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Bill to Resolve Land Status Issues Passes First Reading

A Bill which corrects historic oversights, errors or omissions relating to land status has been referred by Parliament to the Primary Production Select Committee. Land Information Minister Richard Worth said the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal (ROLD) Bill, which today passed its first reading in the House, had been sitting on the Order Paper since July 2008. "Local authorities, government departments and other interested parties have been waiting for this Bill to progress so relevant land-related matters can be resolved. We are very pleased to have swiftly brought it into the House and referred it to Select Committee." ROLD Bills deal with non-controversial authorisations, transfers and validations of matters relating to Crown land, reserves and other land held for public or private purposes that cannot otherwise be easily dealt with.

The last ROLD Act was enacted in 2003. Dr Worth said the proposed legislation related to a diverse range of sites throughout New Zealand including Mahinepua Bay in North Auckland; the Sugar Loaf Islands off the west coast of the North Island near New Plymouth; three National Parks; the Octagon in Dunedin City; volcanic cones dotted around Auckland City; and an offshore island marine sanctuary. The Bill has 58 clauses, covering 17 items. Nine were proposed by the Department of Conservation, six by local authorities, and one each by the Ministry of Transport and the Nelson-Marlborough District Health Board. Dr Worth said Clauses 6 to 9 of the Bill related to a proposal by Auckland City Council to amend the definition of Albert Park so the Auckland Art Gallery could be extended onto land which is currently part of the park. "I understand that there is now a difference of view on this item between the Auckland City Council - which requested it - and the Auckland Regional Council, but I consider that the matter is best resolved at Select Committee," said Dr Worth.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/10/2009

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Government Takes First Steps to Streamline the Building Act

A Bill that takes some useful steps to streamline the building consent process received its first reading in Parliament today. The Building Amendment Bill (No 2) streamlines the consent process for house designs to be replicated on a substantial scale and streamlines the process for making minor alterations to work already consented. It also makes obtaining a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) voluntary which will also save time and lower building costs. The Bill was referred to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee and the public will soon have the opportunity to make submissions on the proposed changes. Building and Construction Minister Hon Maurice Williamson said: "While this Bill includes some useful initiatives, it is only a start and doesn't go far enough in addressing the compliance issues facing homeowners, developers and builders. There's more to be done. "This Government will be reviewing the Building Act and looking to make further amendments to cut red tape and better control costs without compromising building quality."

This will include: Having another look at what needs to be consented based on better differentiation between levels of risk. Providing better information and education on the building code and how to meet performance standards without "regulating everything that moves." Removing unnecessary building control regulation and putting greater focus on information and education so people make informed choices rather than having them made for them. Simplifying building licensing rules, providing recognition for trade qualifications, making it easier to get licensed but not "dumbing it down." Supporting councils to work smarter through use of technology, shared services and on-line systems. Helping consumers make better informed decisions about building their homes and choosing products that best suit their needs. How to get developers and builders to stand behind their work and put things right where needed. "The Government will also be looking at how liability and risk around building is distributed between parties and how it might be better managed. This will include looking at Home Warranty Insurance."

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/10/2009

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Government to Simplify Foreign Investment Rules

The government is reviewing overseas investment rules to make foreign investment in New Zealand simpler and more attractive, while at the same time protecting sensitive land, assets and resources. Overseas investment can play an important role in economic recovery and job creation, Finance Minister Bill English said today in confirming the Overseas Investment Act review. However, the current overseas investment legislation is cumbersome and the rules are often difficult to interpret. "While our overseas investment screening regime is not the most important factor for attracting foreign investment, we think there are significant improvements we can make," he said. "It has taken too long to process some overseas investment proposals - as a result of the complexity of the legislation - which has added to the costs for foreign investors and may have turned some of them away. "Current rules are complex and processing a sensitive land application involves the assessment of 27 criteria and factors. The process is too long and too uncertain. "Some progress is being made in reducing the time and we want to reduce it further," Mr English said. The overseas investment review, foreshadowed at the weekend by Prime Minister John Key, is part of a wider review of bureaucratic red tape led by Mr English and Regulatory Reform Minister Rodney Hide. Regulatory reform also emerged last month as an important theme from the Jobs Summit.

Many investments in land have to be screened under the Overseas Investment Act because they adjoin areas such as recreation reserves. "For example, we've had a proposal for a rest home to be screened because it was next to a playing field," Mr English said. There are three broad parts to the overseas investment review - which will be led by the Minister for Land Information, Dr Richard Worth: Putting in place some immediate measures, such as ensuring that more applications are decided by the Overseas Investment Office, rather than Ministers. This will mean that applications are turned around more swiftly. These measures will not require any legislative changes. Considering changes to the Overseas Investment Regulations - these changes will require Cabinet approval; Considering changes to the scope of the overseas investment screening regime generally, for example whether screening thresholds which determine the sorts of land considered 'sensitive' should be changed. These changes will likely require amendments to the Overseas Investment Act. Mr English said the review will focus on the most problematic areas of the legislation, so that unnecessary barriers to foreign investment can be quickly identified and removed. Other areas of the legislation that are cumbersome or difficult to interpret will be clarified and amended as necessary. "In the current economic situation, access to foreign capital is particularly important for New Zealand firms. We also believe that, beyond the recession, overseas investment will make an important contribution to New Zealand's economic growth in the longer term. "We will ensure that land of particular significance or importance to New Zealand continues to be protected. But issues such as conservation, heritage protection and walking access may already be well covered by existing legislation." Cabinet will consider recommendations from the review by June 30 2009 and changes to the Overseas Investment Act will be open to public submissions through the select committee process.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/17/2009

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Government to Amend Section 92A

Cabinet today decided that section 92A of the Copyright Act 1994 will not come into force on 27 March as scheduled, but will be amended to address areas of concern, Commerce Minister Simon Power said today. Section 92A requires internet service providers (ISPs) to have a policy to terminate the internet account of repeat copyright infringers in appropriate circumstances. "This legislation was put in place to combat unlawful file-sharing which facilitates copyright infringement on a large scale. Section 92A traverses an important issue in an emerging area of copyright law reform both in New Zealand and internationally," Mr Power said. "This behaviour is very costly to New Zealand's creative industries and needs to be addressed." Mr Power acknowledged efforts by ISPs and rights holders to negotiate an effective policy for the section's implementation. "Allowing section 92A to come into force in its current format would not be appropriate given the level of uncertainty around its operation. "These discussions have exposed some aspects of section 92A which require further consideration," Mr Power said. "While the government remains intent on tackling this problem, the legislation itself needs to be re-examined and reworked to address concerns held by stakeholders and the government. "The government will begin a review to amend the section immediately to address areas of concern. "I am confident that amendments to section 92A, which builds on the work of ISPs and rights-holders to date, will lead to a more workable piece of legislation," Mr Power said.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/23/2009

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Leaders Call for Urgent Reform of Financial System

Southeast Asian leaders called for coordinated action and reform of international financial systems to tackle the global crisis, while warning against protectionism, a statement said yesterday. The joint statement came at the end of an Asean summit at the Thai beach resort here, which focused on the effect of the meltdown on the 10-member bloc's export-driven economies. The leaders "called for a bold and urgent reform of the international financial system", the statement said. It added that emerging and developing economies should have more of a voice in future. It said the leaders "urged that more coordinated action by both developed and developing countries be taken to restore financial stability and ensure the continued functioning of financial markets to provide support to growth". "They agreed to stand firm against protectionism and to refrain from introducing and raising new barriers," the statement said. The statement further called for the quick implementation of an emergency currency fund, which foreign ministers from Asean as well as China, Japan and South Korea agreed one week ago to extend to US$120 billion (RM430 billion). Asean, with a combined gross domestic product of around US$1.4 trillion, is largely at the mercy of the chaos in the rest of the world's economies because it is dependent on exports. Singapore is in recession and Thailand's economy shrank in the last quarter of last year, while countries including Malaysia and the Philippines have suffered a drop in exports. Asean leaders yesterday also signed a declaration on setting up an EU-style Asean community by 2015 that is aimed at protecting the diverse bloc of 570 million people from future economic turmoil.

From http://www.nst.com.my/ 03/02/2009

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Press on With Efficiency Reforms: OECD

"Leading industrialized economies must press ahead with wide and deep reforms to raise efficiency as the best defense against more crises, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) urged on Tuesday. The OECD said so-called structural reforms to increase flexibility in labor and product markets would boost growth and act as a rampart against crises... The organization's chief economist Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel... recommended 'increased spending on infrastructure' and on labor market reforms, and 'reduction of personal income taxes, notably on low-income earners' as the three key policy areas for averting crises..." [Agence France Presse/Factiva] The FT adds that "...the OECD also says that recessions have previously proved a good time to introduce reforms because the complacency and inertia of good times is swept away, 'even if it is easier to cope with adjustment costs of reform when the economy is strong.'... [However, the report] urges countries to avoid policies that allow people to lose contact with the world of work..." [The Financial Times (UK)/Factiva] Meanwhile, AP writes that "...Governments should resist the temptation to shield their economies from competition during the global financial crisis as such policies will only worsen conditions, the OECD said Tuesday... Governments under pressure to 'do something' should beware of protectionist measures that could spark retaliatory moves in other countries and intensify the crisis, the OECD said..." [Associated Press/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/03/2009

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Time for Transparency: G-20 and the Financial Crisis

Trust in the financial markets vanished when a lack of transparency became apparent and it is only through transparency that investor confidence and public trust can be restored. As leaders from the Group of 20 nations prepare to meet on 2 April to determine steps to counter the economic crisis, Transparency International (TI) seeks to ensure that transparency, accountability and integrity are at the top of their agenda. In a letter to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, TI proposes a thorough approach to address the roots of the crisis, the systemic risks created over the years, the nefarious role of tax havens and the rise in global poverty resulting from the meltdown.

From http://www.transparency.org/ 03/13/2009

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Four Out of 10 Global Executives Reluctant to Disclose Significant Corruption Incident to Authorities

In a Deloitte survey of 329 executives from around the world, 41 percent of respondents indicated that senior management should investigate and deal with matters internally or wait to see if there are consequences rather than make a voluntary disclosure to authorities if a significant incident of corruption was uncovered at their organizations. The study, titled Fortifying Anti-Corruption in Today's Corporation, also revealed that despite differing views about disclosure, the vast majority of those surveyed (93 percent) believe that an internal investigation should be conducted if a significant incident of corruption were uncovered, and 75 percent support zero tolerance anti-corruption policies with strong disciplinary measures, including firing those responsible for corrupt acts. "The Canadian anti-corruption and bribery legislation is different than that of other jurisdictions such as the US, because Canada does not have an administrative process encompassed within the legislation for handling corruption and bribery violations in a manner other than the criminal environment. Canadian companies thus have little incentive to come forward and self-report if they have a problem," said Peter Dent, national leader of Deloitte's forensic and dispute services practice in Canada. "Canadian respondents indicate the threat of Canadian prosecution has not been as significant when compared to what respondents in other countries have faced historically. In fact, we have yet to see our first prosecution under the Canadian legislation" concluded Dent. The study also revealed the increasing role of internal audit in anti-corruption compliance. When asked to select up to three sources that would likely lead to changes in the respondents' organizations, advice from internal auditors was identified by 57 percent of respondents as most likely to lead to changes in an anti-corruption program, while compliance and internal audits were selected by 80 percent of respondents as one of the best ways to measure a program's effectiveness. In addition, 47 percent of those surveyed said that integrating an anti-corruption program into their internal audit system would make detection and prevention of corruption easier, with an additional 33 percent indicating that it is already integrated.

Other findings from the study include: - Geographic and industry risks are reportedly being addressed by many. While two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) report that their companies adequately address corruption risks in the geographic regions where they do business and 72 percent say their companies' risks are adequately addressed for their industries, 32 percent would prefer that their organizations spend more on anti-corruption programs. Key point: Corporations have made strides in anti-corruption, but more can be done to address corruption risk. - Fitting in and gaining business are top motivators for bribery by executives. When asked about the top motivators for an executive to pay bribes in their industry, fitting in with local business cultures (33 percent) and gaining more business (40 percent) garnered the most responses. Key Point: It's human nature to be tempted to adjust ones moral compass to the situation. - Anti-corruption programs aren't consistently used around the world. Some companies still lack anti-corruption programs, despite the inherent risks. Geographically, 18.2 percent of Middle Eastern and African, 15.8 percent of Eastern European, 9.1 percent of Asia-Pacific, 8 percent of emerging market and 7.7 percent of U.S. business leaders surveyed reported having no anti-corruption program in place. Key point: Multinational companies considering new cross-border partnerships or transactions should include anti-corruption program reviews as part of overall due diligence. - Tone at the top should set anti-corruption policy. While senior management (39 percent), general counsel (24 percent) and compliance officers (21 percent) were the first groups identified from which executives would seek advice in handling a corruption incident, 61 percent of respondents said that the most effective role for the CEO is to send out a strong signal and remain personally involved in anti-corruption efforts. Key point: Executives expect committed leadership on this issue from the CEO.

From http://www.marketwire.com/ 03/19/2009

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CHINA: Central Food Safety Commission Set Up

China's State Council, or Cabinet, will set up a food safety commission to strengthen the country's food monitoring system, whose lack of efficiency has long been blamed for repeated food scandals. The decision was written in a draft law on food safety, which was submitted to the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's top legislature, on Wednesday and is likely to be voted after a fourth reading. China's current food safety system involves at least five departments, including health, agriculture, quality supervision, industry and commerce administration, and food and drug supervision. The departments shoulder different responsibilities for food safety. For example, quality supervision administration monitors the food production sector. But when foods leave factories for sale, they are monitored by the industry and commerce administration. Liu Xirong, vice chairman of the NPC Law Committee, said even though the draft clearly defined the responsibilities of the departments, lawmakers still believed that one organization is needed to supervise and coordinate the work of those departments. "After serious study of the suggestion, the State Council decided to set up a food safety commission as a high-level coordinating organization," Liu said in an explanatory report to the lawmakers.

However, the draft, which would be effective on June 1 this year once it was adopted, does not say what responsibilities the food safety commission would have. "Its function should be stipulated by the State Council," the draft says. The draft has been revised several times since it was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for the first reading in December, 2007. In April, 2008, it was opened to public scrutiny and more than 11,000 submissions were made to the lawmaking body. Sources with the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee said the draft had been expected to be voted by lawmakers last October, but the voting was postponed following the tainted dairy products scandal last September, in which at least six babies were killed and 290,000 others poisoned. "The tainted dairy scandal exposed the loopholes of the food safety monitoring network, the failure of the pre-warning, reporting, inspection systems..." a member with the committee said, who declined to be named. The staff said key revisions were made following the scandal. "Many focused on the monitoring system, which is also the most difficult part of the draft," he said.

Other revisions included a ban on all chemicals and materials other than authorized additives in food production. The draft stipulates that "only those items proved to be safe and necessary in food production are allowed to be listed as food additives." Health authorities are responsible for assessing and approving food additives and regulating their usage. Food producers must strictly stick to the food additives and their usage previously approved by authorities, on penalty of closure or revocation of production licenses in serious cases, according to the draft. In the tainted dairy products scandal, melamine, often used in the manufacture of plastics, was added to substandard or diluted milk to make protein levels appear higher.

From Xinhua News Agency 02/25/2009

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China Pledges Hefty Investment to Boost Agriculture

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pledged Thursday to add another 120 billion yuan to boost the country's agriculture. Addressing nearly 3,000 lawmakers at the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress, Wen said in his government work report that central government spending on agriculture, farmers and the rural areas would total 716.1 billion yuan (104.6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2009, a year-on-year increase of 120.6 billion yuan. Calling agriculture the "foundation of the economy", Wen said the investment was part of a package plan to ensure steady and rapid economic development of the country against the global financial crisis. The money would be used for improvement or construction of rural public facilities, expanded agricultural subsidies to farmers, subsidies for the purchase of agricultural machinery and tools, and popularizing agricultural science and technologies. The government would apply the strictest possible systems for protecting arable land and economizing on the use of land, and do everything in its power to keep the total amount of arable land above the red line of 120 million hectares, Wen said. "We will effectively keep the area planted in grain crops stable, focus on increasing the yield per unit area and optimizing the variety mix, and increase the country's grain production capacity by 50 million tons," he said.

China, with a population of 1.3 billion, is faced with severe challenges in safeguarding grain security due to rising living standards, decreasing arable land, water shortages and climate change. Continuous drop in economic growth rate due to the impact of the global financial crisis has become a major problem affecting the overall situation, Wen said in his report. "It has become more difficult to maintain steady agricultural development and keep rural incomes growing", he admitted. According to Wen, greater priority would be given to major grain-producing counties in implementing the policies and measures supporting grain production. More financial rewards would be provided to major projects for industrializing grain production. The country would also raise minimum grain purchase prices "significantly", and keep the prices of agricultural products stable at a reasonable level to encourage farmers to grow more, Wen said. The Premier further pledged to ensure the existing land contract relationships remain stable and unchanged for a long time to come, and enhance and better protect the land contract and management rights enjoyed by rural residents, including migrant workers who are away from their home villages.

Other major items on the agenda include adjusting the agricultural structure based on market demand, and intensifying development of agricultural infrastructure and projects designed to improve the life of rural people, such as building roads and water conservancy facilities and upgrading low and medium-yield farmland. The government would increase farmers' incomes in a variety of ways, Wen said, quoting steadily growing rural incomes as one of the major targets for this year's national economic and social development. To achieve this goal, the country would vigorously develop modern agriculture with distinctive local features, support intensive processing and sale of agricultural products, develop rural secondary and tertiary industries, accelerate the development of small towns, and strengthen county economies, Wen said. Efforts to alleviate poverty in the countryside would also be intensified, said the Premier, adding that a new poverty line would be adopted and all low-income rural residents would be covered by the poverty relief policy with grants increased to 1,196 yuan per person on average. The policy, which would cover more than 40 million people, marked a new stage in China's efforts to reduce poverty through development, he said.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/05/2009

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Mainland Sets Up First Tribunal Dealing with Taiwanese-involved Case

The Chinese mainland's first tribunal to deal exclusively with Taiwanese-involved cases was unveiled on Thursday, a move adopted by the local judiciary authority to help Taiwanese people. The tribunal, affiliated to the Intermediate People's Court of Zhangzhou in eastern Fujian Province, will accept cases with at least one party involved being Taiwanese, or a Taiwanese-funded corporation or enterprise, according to Lin Yihua, president of the intermediate people's court. Zhang Wanming, an official with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at the inauguration ceremony that its establishment would have a "positive" influence on safeguarding the legitimate interests of Taiwanese businessman and properly resolving disputes involving Taiwanese. A panel of "backbone judges" who spoke the Minnan dialect (a family of dialects spoken in southern Fujian and by many Taiwanese) and were familiar with Taiwan and local customs and traditions would preside over the tribunal, Lin said, adding they all had master degrees. "It is also an important mission of the tribunal to promote judiciary cooperation across the Taiwan Straits." he said. Many Taiwanese can trace their ancestry to Zhangzhou, which is now home to more than 2,400 Taiwan enterprises.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/05/2009

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China Strives to Weed Out Judicial Corruption

China's top judge Wang Shengjun said Tuesday that the Supreme People's Court will "improve education of work ethics" to judges as a way to weed out judicial corruption. Wang said judicial corruption has seriously damaged the credibility of China's judicial system and resulted in "very bad" social impacts. "Some judges have poor work ethics. A handful of them resort to fraudulent practices for personal gain, pervert justice for bribes and live a dissolute lifestyle," he said, when delivering a work report to the National People's Congress (NPC), the parliament. A total of 712 officials from courts at various levels in China were punished for breaking laws or disciplines in 2008, Wang said. Among them, 105 faced criminal charges.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/10/2009

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China Plans Subsidies for Unemployed Migrants

China announced plans Thursday to assist millions of unemployed migrant workers with increases in grain subsidies and rural infrastructure projects, a top Agriculture Ministry official said. The collapse in global demand for Chinese toys, shoes and other goods has forced 20 million migrants out of work and back to their rural villages. Communist leaders worry that more layoffs could spark unrest and are promising to spend heavily to create jobs. "The employment outlook for migrant workers cannot be optimistic for the future, which will exacerbate the difficulty more than ever to keep rural income growing," said Vice Minister Agriculture Wei Chaoan at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual legislative session. In some regions, unemployment for migrant workers ran as high as 25 to 33 percent. The government will try to increase job opportunities by ramping up the development of agriculture and rural infrastructure projects, Wei said. The new plan also calls for providing subsidies to farmers for farm equipment and improving methods of planting rice, wheat, corn, cotton, rapeseed and soybean. The Chinese government guarantees a minimum purchase price for grain in order to ensure robust grain reserves and maintain stable rural incomes. Although the total number of rural laborers employed in urban areas increased in 2008 by 4.78 million, a 3.6 percent rise, it was still 2.4 percent less than the previous year and represented the slowest growth since 2000, Wei said. Plans also call for providing work in rural areas for migrants on infrastructure projects, including irrigation, construction and transportation.

From http://news.yahoo.com 03/12/2009

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Hospital Plan to Aid Grassroots

The government has pledged to build 2,000 county hospitals and 5,000 township clinics in rural areas within the next three years as part of its healthcare reform, which aims to make medical services more available and affordable at the grassroots. A total of 29,000 township-level clinics will be built nationwide in the next three years, Premier Wen Jiabao said in his government work report at the ongoing session of the National People's Congress (NPC). The government will also support the construction of more than 10,000 medical facilities in urban areas, according to the reform plan, which stresses on the need to train more medical practitioners, Minister of Health Chen Zhu said. Further details of the plan would be announced soon, he added. Chen said most people, even those suffering from minor ailments, were still flocking to large hospitals, leading to long queues and hefty bills. However, he added the number of patients visiting community medical centers for treatment was increasing. About 60 percent of the patients visiting large hospitals in China suffer from minor ailments, which can be treated at smaller facilities, said Zhong Nanshan, a top respiratory scientist and a deputy to the NPC.

Lu Fan, vice-president of Wenzhou Medical College, however, said grassroots clinics lack good medical equipment and staff. Li Jianru, a tour guide in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said she had never used community medial services, nor does she ever intend to. "It will take some time to build people's confidence in community medical services even after the reform plan is implemented," she said. Bai Hua, an accountant in Beijing, said: "It seems to me that community clinics exist just for the convenience of elderly people." Zhong suggested more capital be pumped into community clinics, and added that medical graduates should be trained free of cost at bigger hospitals before they start their practice at grassroots clinics, and be offered "reasonable salaries". Li Dapeng, a professor at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University and an NPC deputy, suggested the government work out more incentives to lure doctors to work at community clinics. Large hospitals should be encouraged to run community clinics, said deputy health minister Huang Jiefu.

From China Daily 03/13/2009

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China Improves Family Planning, Reproductive Health in Rural Areas

China has improved the family planning and reproductive health for rural residents with fewer but healthier babies born in the past 30 years, said the National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC) on Wednesday. Chinese women's total fertility rate has dropped to below 2 from 5.8 at the beginning of the implementation of the family planning policy in early 1980s, according to a report released by the NPFPC. The report said the low fertility rate has helped ease the pressure of the rapidly growing population on the environment and natural resources. The central government always puts the family planning as a key issue for the development of rural areas, and has worked effectively in educating the rural residents and providing them with sound reproductive services, the report said. The commission and its local branches established more than 2,600 reproductive health service centers at county level, more than 32,000 such centers at township level and 700,000 in villages to improve family planning in rural areas, the report said.

During the eleventh five-year program (2006-2010), the central government and local governments will invest 4.9 billion yuan (700 million U.S. dollars) to improve the family planning service system, and to provide more standard service for both urban and rural residents, according to the report. The contraceptive rate among rural residents reached 80 percent in 2008, with lower death rate for both mothers and babies, the report said. The government allocated funds to encourage rural people to follow the family planning policy. By the end of 2008, the government has distributed a total of 5.2 billion yuan to 8.33 million people to award them for following the policy. The NPFPC also promoted the insurance system for one-child families in 12 cities and started pilot projects for pension system for rural families which followed the family planning policy. Those measures had not only promoted the family planning in rural areas but also helped increase the farmers' income and improved their living standards, the report said.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/18/2009

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HK Approves US$2.8m Projects to Enhance Employability

The Community Investment and Inclusion Fund of Hong Kong and the Labor Department of Hong Kong government have approved 20 new projects involving more than 22 million HK dollars (2.84 million U.S. dollars) to enhance youth employability and strengthen the support network for middle- class families, the fund said on Wednesday. The investment is made up of 18.7 million HK dollars from the fund and 3.7 million HK dollars from the Labor Department of Hong Kong government. The fund and the department have joined for the first time to fund six of the approved projects. The projects will adopt innovative strategies to enhance youth employability through the development of social capital. About 650 internship, job or further study opportunities will be created, and more than 1,000 young people will benefit. The remaining 14 projects will adopt different approaches to developing social capital in various districts. The project teams have engaged new partners, and some are running special projects which focus on strengthening the support network for middle-class families. The fund's committee chairman Yeung Ka-sing said the current economic situation is exerting pressure on Hong Kong people, affecting their career prospects and livelihood, and the impact on non-engaged youth and the middle-class is more strongly felt. "We should not simply provide them with financial assistance, but also enhance the community's capacity in coping with adversity. We have to rebuild the confidence of individuals, their families and society. Only with a resilient community shall we be able to face up to the challenges now and seize the opportunities when the economy recovers," Yeung said.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/19/2009

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42b Yuan to Offset Unemployment

China pledged Thursday it will implement an even more proactive employment policy this year and allocate 42 billion yuan (US$6.14 billion) to offset unemployment caused by the global financial crisis. To create more jobs, the government will make full use of the role of the service sector, labor-intensive industries, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the non-public sector of the economy, said a work report to be delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the opening of the Chinese parliament's annual session. "We will do everything in our power to stimulate employment," said the report distributed to media before the session. The report said priority will be given to finding work for university graduates and migrant rural workers. The two groups were the hardest hit as the deepening global financial crisis dented job demand in the world's fastest-expanding economy. The government will offer social security benefits and position subsidies for college graduates who take jobs in public administration and public services at the community level, according to the report. It says those who either take jobs in villages or enlist in the army will receive tuition reimbursement and have their student loans forgiven. Institutions of higher learning, research institutes and enterprises undertaking key research projects will be encouraged to recruit qualified university graduates to do research work.

To help graduates start their own businesses, the government will speed up the establishment of startups industrial parks and incubation bases that require less investment and yield quicker results. Meanwhile, China will boost government investment and launch major projects to employ more migrant workers, says the report. Enterprises in a difficult situation will be encouraged to prevent layoffs by renegotiating wage levels with their employees, adopting flexible employment and work hours, or providing on-job training for them. The government will also increase the export of organized labor services and guide the orderly flow of rural migrant workers, according to the report. With its annual growth slowing to a seven-year low of 9 percent last year, China has seen about 20 million out of 130 million migrant workers returning to their rural homes without jobs. In addition, there will be 7.1 million college graduates seeking vacancies this year, including 1 million who failed to secure jobs last year. China is yet to see the worst employment situation while its economy has shown signs of recovery, as the rebound of job creation is usually behind economic turnaround, said Li Yining, a leading Chinese economist with Peking University. "The economy usually demand less labor after experiencing a crisis because it will see improved technologies, equipment and productivity," said Li, also a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the nation's top political advisory body.

The urban unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent at the end of 2008, up 0.2 percentage point year-on-year. China aims to keep its registered jobless rate below 4.6 percent and provide 9 million new urban jobs this year. "It's not an easy target, but the country is actively finding ways to make it happen," said Li. Li noted that while China should develop capital- and technology-intensive industries for the long-term growth, special aid should be given to labor-intensive companies to meet the urgent need of boosting employment. He called for reforms to give fair treatment and easier market access to private enterprises, which can absorb a large part of labor force. Labor oversupply will continue to exist in China in a long period and can only be solved by stronger domestic demand and faster industrial restructuring, said Cai Fang, head of the Institute of Population and Labor Economics, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/05/2009

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JAPAN: Telecom Minister Oks TBS to Become Gov't-Certified Holding Firm

Telecom minister Kunio Hatoyama on Thursday approved an application by Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. to alter the TV broadcaster's legal status to that of a government-certified broadcasting holding firm under the revised Broadcast Law. With the approval by the minister of internal affairs and communications, TBS will adopt the new structure and the new corporate name of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings Inc. on April 1.

From http://home.kyodo.co.jp/ 03/12/2009

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Local Govts 'Slaves' to National Agenda

An increasing number of cash-strapped local governments have raised objections to a system requiring municipalities to cover a portion of the costs of public works projects devised by the central government in their respective regions. According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey conducted earlier this month, 40 governors and mayors of ordinance-designated major cities said the system should be abolished. Some local governments have decided not to earmark appropriations for such projects under their fiscal 2009 budgets amid the worsening economic slump. According to the survey, prefectural governments and ordinance-designated major cities earmarked a total of about 1.08 trillion yen in their fiscal 2009 budget blueprints. Hokkaido's figure is 121.4 billion yen, the nation's largest. The construction costs of national highways, ports and other public works projects comprise 84 percent of these expenses. The Hokkaido, Ibaraki, Osaka, Hyogo and Hiroshima prefectural governments and the Nagoya municipal government did not appropriate money for these central government-initiated projects in their fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009 budgets.

Five of these local governments, except for the Osaka prefectural government, said they had consulted with the central government before deciding to take such a measure. However, a finance official of the Ibaraki prefectural government of where the construction of a National Highway No. 6 bypass and other central government projects are under way, expressed discontent. "The central government should do its projects with its own financial resources," the official said. The official also criticized the situation surrounding the expenditures the local government makes to maintain facilities related to central government projects, which comprise more than 10 percent of the expenses shouldered by the local government for such projects. "Prefectural governments cover 45 percent of [expenses to maintain] national highways. This system should be abolished immediately," the official said. The Ibaraki prefectural government has postponed earmarking such expenses for central government projects four times since fiscal 2001. Local governments cannot opt out of paying such expenses, as the Local Finance Law stipulates they must shoulder them. They can postpone the expenditures, but in the end, will have to pay them in full.

Osaka gov. raises stakes
Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto ratcheted up the dispute by unleashing the discontent that had been long hidden by local governments. "It's slavery perpetrated by the central government on the local governments," Hashimoto told Construction and Transport Minister Kazuyoshi Kaneko at the ministry last month. "I want you to free the slaves." In December, Hashimoto announced the Osaka prefectural government would reject paying expenses for central government projects, and he began publicly criticizing the system. He then boldy declined to earmark about 10 percent of the expenses the local government was supposed to shoulder - 3.8 billion yen - in its fiscal 2009 budget blueprint. Before Hashimoto's move, the issue was merely one of local governments postponing their customary expenses. However, Hashimoto's radical remarks and drastic actions shone the spotlight on the issue as a heated dispute between the central and local governments.

On Feb. 20, Hashimoto strongly demanded Kaneko abolish the expenses system at the ministry and showed him material documenting the Osaka prefectural government's fiscal situation. The material compared the budgets for fiscal 1995, when public works projects peaked, and fiscal 2009. Though construction project costs in fiscal 2009 are expected to fall about 70 percent, to 227.4 billion yen, from the 1995 peak, expenses for central government projects have ballooned by 1.4 times, to 38.7 billion yen, during the same period. Hashimoto also urged the central government to review how the central and local governments should share roles. "We cut medical and educational costs along with construction costs, but expenses for central government projects are increasing," Hashimoto said. "Local people best know which projects they need. If the central government doesn't undertake them, local governments will do so by themselves if the central government transfers necessary funds to them."

Ministries hesitant on review At a recent press conference, Kaneko emphasized the central government would review how financial burdens of public works projects are shared by consulting with local governments, saying, "It's necessary to take measures to equalize [such] burdens, not to 'demand that municipalities pay the necessary expenses for [central government] projects.'" An increasing number of those within the government and ruling parties recently have expressed similar opinions sympathetic to municipalities' financial situations, partly because they think it necessary to obtain local governments' cooperation to position public works projects as a pillar of an additional economic stimulus package. Meanwhile, ministries and agencies remain hesitant to review the system.

Within the Construction and Transport Ministry, which is in charge of managing public works projects, negative views on reviewing the system remain dominant. "If they end up not having to pay the costs of a public works project, they'll ask the central government to launch yet another public works project. It'll result in intensified competition among municipalities petitioning the central government to win such projects," a senior ministry official said. The ministry and the National Governors' Association plan to discuss the roles of the central and local governments in public works projects by the end of this month, covering such issues as prioritizing projects and the ratio of financial burdens borne by local governments. However, it now seems difficult that such talks can be held this month as intended, apparently resulting in the difficulty of facilitating arrangements between local governments nationwide and the bureaucratic hub of Kasumigaseki. (by Eita Hagiwara and Yoshihiro Kiyonaga)

From The Yomiuri Shimbun 03/13/2009

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Panel Calls for Japan Post Transparency

A government postal privatization panel is set to call for greater transparency and fairness in the process adopted by Japan Post Holdings Co. to sell facilities it inherited from Japan Post, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned Thursday. The recommendation - to be included in a report to be submitted to Prime Minister Taro Aso on Thursday or shortly thereafter - seems to take into account the barrage of criticism triggered by the planned mass sell-off of Japan Post's Kampo no Yado hotels. In the report, the panel, headed by economist Naoki Tanaka, also urges the company to make greater efforts to either use effectively the businesses and assets it acquired from its predecessor postal organization, or transfer them in an appropriate way. In response to the report, moves to review the process by which Japan Post sells its assets likely will be increased, observers said.

In the draft report, the panel also stresses the need to redistribute post offices throughout major cities to improve efficiency. It also expresses support for Japan Post's request to have regulations relating to the business operations of Japan Post Bank Co. and Japan Post Insurance Co. lifted or scrapped. Currently, the regulations impose ceilings on postal savings accounts and the amount of coverage offered by insurance. The report does not call for a review of the current four-company system. Instead, the panel supports Japan Post's plan to list its stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the future. The panel said the stock listing "will ultimately lead to the success of postal privatization," strongly implying its intention to have the system maintained as it is. Meanwhile, the panel urged each of the four companies to proactively make efforts to strengthen their business ties with one another, as there is deep-rooted criticism that the four-company system has led to a deterioration in the services provided by post offices.

From The Yomiuri Shimbun 03/13/2009

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Education Reform Tied to Politics

A primary task for a key government panel on education reform that started work again Thursday with six new members is to promote constructive discussion on how to reform the nation's education system. Despite the limited time available for producing reports on their discussions, the relaunch of the Meeting on Education Rebuilding indicates a desire by Prime Minister Taro Aso to take a lead on education reform based on his personal views. The new educational panel comprises 10 members who have been in their posts since the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and six new members, including Makoto Kobayashi, who won a Nobel Prize for Physics, and athlete Nobuharu Asahara, a bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympic Games. The panel, chaired by Yuichiro Anzai, aims to compile an interim report by June.

At the first meeting Thursday, Aso indicated four themes he thought should be discussed at the panel: a global strategy for education; achieving a society that offers relief for education; improving creativity in science and technology; and raising achievement in sports. Aso, who served as education parliamentary vice minister and head of the Liberal Democratic Party's education division, is well versed on education issues. The four areas he has chosen comprise a combination of his pet issues and those the government already has taken up. On the issue of a global strategy for education, Aso wants panel members to suggest concrete measures for boosting competency among young people for coping in the international community, such as promoting English conversation skills and increasing the number of foreign researchers and students coming to Japan.

At Thursday's meeting, Aso emphasized the importance of enhancing conversational skills in foreign language education. "Reading, writing, math and English conversation are important. Note I said English conversation, not English," Aso said. To enhance achievement in sports, Aso hopes to establish a sports agency so that the promotion of sport will be a national policy goal. Aso, who himself has competed in the Olympics as a skeet shooter, has been trying to work toward this goal for quite some time. He also has worked to introduce a soccer lottery to make financial sources available for promoting sports. Under the theme of creating a society that offers relief for education, Aso hopes to make progress on providing better quality public schools and improving education for infants, as well as expanding young people's job skills. Access to high-quality education is one of the most serious issues currently facing the nation, with some fearing income gaps between parents are adversely affecting many children's education.

In February 2008, the Fukuda Cabinet launched the education panel through reform of the Education Rebuilding Council, which had been established in October 2006 by the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who himself also eyed prime minister-led education reform. Abe and Fukuda ordered their respective panels to consider the education issues that they had a particular interest in. Under the Abe Cabinet, the panel has contributed to the establishment of three education reform laws, including the introduction of a system of revalidating teachers' licenses. On the issue of children using cell phones, meanwhile, the panel suggested a ban on cell phones at primary and middle schools, which was followed by a notice on just this matter by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry. The panels therefore appear to have contributed to some extent to the realization of each prime minister's wish to show they are taking new steps on education.

But with less than six months to go before the current term for House of Representatives members expires, it will be difficult for the panel to compile at least two reports under Aso, meaning a number of proposals likely will have to be squeezed into one report. "It's impossible for the panel to take time to have a really deep discussion on these issues," a government official said. An LDP official meanwhile commented, "[The panel's interim report] will play some part in the prime minister's thinking on a possible lower house dissolution and will be tied in some way to a campaign pledge at the next general election." This suggests there will be a temptation to use the educational themes presented at the panel as a political tool, something that many feel should be avoided as all of them will need to be addressed if education reform is to be successful. (by Isato Kosaka)

From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 03/18/2009

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Yosano Says Aggressive Public Spending Needed

Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano said Sunday that aggressive public spending on a scale of possibly ¥20 trillion will be needed to wrest the economy out of recession. Yosano, who also serves as financial services minister, acknowledged that the government forecast for flat growth for the next fiscal year will probably have to be revised soon to account for the deep contraction seen in recent months. The economy has been battered by the plunge in exports that continues unabated since the U.S. financial crisis hit last year. The International Monetary Fund is expecting the Japanese economy to contract 5.8 percent for the 2009 calendar year. The government has said the economy contracted at an annual pace of 12.1 percent for the October-December quarter. Data show the slowdown is dragging into this year. "Unless there is considerable recovery in the latter half, it would be hard to keep it within the forecast," Yosano said on a TV Asahi talk show. Yosano stressed the amount of spending hasn't been decided yet and experts need more data to decide on the right allocation, including where to spend the money. The effort will also need to be discussed in the Diet, he said. But Yosano said the numbers being tossed around in recent media reports of ¥2 trillion or ¥3 trillion for the spending package aren't enough to address the growing social woes such as joblessness. "That is not enough to cope with what is happening in our society or is about to happen," he said. "Speaking from a gut-level feeling, ¥20 trillion is a good number." The unemployment rate stood at 4.1 percent in January, relatively high for a nation that has valued stable employment for decades. Worries are growing the number will rise as companies go bankrupt and are hit with losses amid the global downturn.

From http://search.japantimes.co.jp/ 03/23/2009

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SOUTH KOREA: Gov't, Labor, Management Adopt Joint Statement for Economic Revival

Representatives from government, labor, management and civil society agreed to join forces to reinvigorate the sluggish economy, by adopting a joint statement in Seoul Monday (Feb. 23). The 64-article statement focused on job sharing, protection of irregular workers, reinforcement of vocational training and many others. The agreement on Monday is different from other such agreements in that it was initiated by labor and management, and in that representatives of civil society, including religious leaders and academics, were also included, allowing for more comprehensive and practical clauses. Through the statement, the four parties agreed to work harder to create more jobs, enlarge the social safety net, and expand tax benefits for both workers and companies. Labor organizations pledged to abstain from going on strike, while business owners promising to maintain the current level of employment by reducing unjust dismissals. Labor and management agreed to contribute to nationwide efforts for "job sharing," by shortening work hours, introducing a payment ceiling system, relocating job posts, and allowing telecommuting. The government promised to proactively support job sharing efforts by increasing tax benefits for the underprivileged and expanding employment, child-rearing and medical benefits. Civil society representatives said they would encourage the purchase of goods manufactured by companies pursuing "job sharing." They also promised to cultivate a job sharing atmosphere through promoting charity and volunteer work. The four-party agreement was reached after 10 rounds of discussions beginning early this month. The statement adoption ceremony on Monday was attended by officials from the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, the Korean Employers Federation, the Labor Ministry, the Welfare Ministry and many other civic organizations.

From http://www.korea.net/ 02/23/2009

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Parties Will Delay Vote on Media Bills

Park Hee-tae, left, chairman of the Grand National Party, and Chung Sye-kyun, chairman of the Democratic Party, begin last-ditch negotiations at the National Assembly. They finally compromised over contentious media reform bills. [YONHAP] In a last-minute deal yesterday, warring lawmakers agreed to a 100-day cooling-off period before taking up controversial media reform measures. The agreement avoided - or at least delayed - a violent clash in the main chamber of the legislature. Minutes before a deadline imposed by National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o, floor leaders of the Grand National and Democratic parties held negotiations on how to handle a package of 22 media industry reform bills. They agreed that the contentious bills will be introduced to a voting session in June. They also agreed to vote on other pending bills for economic and livelihood measures today. Of the 12 bills scheduled to be voted on today, one would scrap the investment cap on the country's largest business groups. Two less sensitive media reform measures will also be voted on today. The lawmakers also agreed to address other economic reform measures. If revisions are necessary, the ruling and opposition parties must make the changes through discussions, they agreed. According to the agreement on the legislative timetable, the planned revisions of the Financial Holding Companies Act and Korea Development Bank Act would be voted on during the April session. The revision of the law governing financial holding companies is intended to deregulate the financial industry by allowing industrial capital to be invested in financial companies. The revision of the law governing the KDB is intended to privatize the state-run bank.

Lawmakers also agreed to vote on a bill aimed at consolidating the state-run Korea Housing Corporation and Korea Land Corporation during the first week of April. As ruling and opposition parties showed no sign of ending their fight over the media bills, Kim issued an ultimatum earlier in the day, giving parties until 3 p.m. to compromise. Kim had also warned that he would directly introduce 15 of the 22 bills for voting at 4 p.m. by using his power as the legislature's speaker. Around 2:40 p.m. GNP floor leader Hong Joon-pyo and his DP counterpart, Won Hye-young, sat down to talk. Around 3:20 p.m., their bosses, GNP Chairman Park Hee-tae and DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun, also began discussions to hammer out a compromise. In 10 minutes, they concluded an agreement, making a breakthrough after a 25-hour deadlock. Floor leaders and chief policy makers of the Assembly's three negotiation blocs, including the alliance between the Liberty Forward and Creative Korea parties, then sat down for two hours to craft and sign a final agreement. According to that agreement, lawmakers will create a discussion group inside the National Assembly's committee on culture and broadcasting in early March and invite an equal number of panel members recommended from each of the ruling and opposition parties. The planned revisions of the country's laws governing the broadcasting and newspaper industries, Internet protocol TV and information communication networks will be discussed by the group. After 100 days, the lawmakers will vote on the bills. One of the key changes in the reform measure is the planned lifting of a ban on cross-ownership in the media industry. Democrats had fiercely resisted the changes, saying they could give conglomerates and newspapers undue influence over network television stations. In protest, the opposition lawmakers had locked GNP lawmakers out of the main chamber and conference rooms for weeks in December; the ruling and opposition parties agreed on Jan. 6 to "vote on the bills as soon as possible." Throughout February, the GNP's attempts to discuss the bills were snubbed. The GNP demanded that opposition lawmakers keep their promise, but in the end agreed to a delay.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 03/03/2009

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Gov't to Help Financial Institutions Improve Soundness

1. Background
Amid deteriorating financial climate in the global economy, much uncertainty in global financial markets has also escalated. Thus, the Korean economy is likely to suffer a prolonged recession, potentially triggering an economic vicious circle starting with corporate and house-hold loan defaults which may hurt the financial sector's soundness and weaken their lending and overall financial intermediary functions, consequently exacerbating the overall economic basis. Meanwhile, major economies are in the process of preparing or already implementing preemptive measures to support their financial industries by cleaning up non-performing loans and recapitalizing so as to strengthen its intermediary role of supporting the real economic sectors. Notwithstanding Korea's economy's relatively strong position, in order to be better prepared for potential risks in case of further deterioration of global market conditions, the government has decided to take preemptive initiatives to strengthen financial institutions' intermediary functions and to eliminate any potential sources for systemic risks. To do so, early resolution of NPLs in the financial industry has to be preceded to help ascertain its overall soundness. For this, the government already announced its plan to set up a Restructuring Fund under KAMCO in February. On March 13, the government unveils its additional plan to enhance existing regulations to facilitate the government's rendering greater support to financial institutions in need of further recapitalization. Improved regulations will also allow for launching a government-guaranteed KAMCO bonds in the total amount of KRW 40 trillion. The bills proposing these initiatives will be submitted to the National Assembly in April. Under these new initiatives, financial institutions' soundness will greatly improve and their ability to shore up real economic sectors will also be strengthened. For the same purpose, the Bank Recapitalization Fund has already been launched totaling KRW 20 trillion. Under the current regulatory regime, however, the government can recapitalize banks with materialized and potential defaults only. Thus, the government needs expanded legal basis on which it can offer preemptive supports to even sound financial institutions whose NPL ratios are over the 8% threshold.

2. Detailed Plans
A. Launch of KAMCO Bond
To launch the KAMCO bonds, the government is to draft a bill proposing a new law necessary to pursue NPL sell-offs and to capacitate KAMCO to lead the process. The main provisions of the bill will be:
i. Calling for the endorsement on a government guarantee of the bond to be issued by KAMCO whose maximum amount will be KRW 40 trillion.
ii. Its main usage will be to purchase NPLs and troubled assets of financial institutions and companies under restructuring, respectively.
iii. It will be operated for a limited period of time, maturing in 2014.
iv. Any retained gains from the KAMCO bond upon its maturity will belong to the government.
Once the bill is passed in April by the National Assembly with its endorsement on the government guarantee granted on the KAMCO bond, actual details as to the initial date and size will be decided by taking into account the overall development in the market such as the current NPL size in the financial industry and the bond IPO market conditions.

B. Financial Market Stabilization Fund The government will also propose to set up a new law to enhance the overall financial industry and to allow for the launch Financial Market Stabilization Fund. The main provisions are:
i. The fund will be appropriated by issuing government-guaranteed bonds.
ii. Eligible beneficiaries are all deposit-guaranteed (banking) and non-guaranteed (non-banking) financial institutions including credit financing agencies and financial holding companies.
iii. The main usage of the fund will include equity investments, loans, and loan guarantees.
iv. Actual support details will be determined based on the need expressed by the financial industry on a voluntary basis.
v. A follow-up monitoring system will be set up to oversee and report to the lawmakers the progress with the fund as to the implementation of MOU which stipulates banks' commitment to providing liquidity support to real economic sectors including SMEs.
Meanwhile, further details for the proposal for legislation in terms of the scale and time-frame will be determined based on the developments with the Bank Recapitalization Fund and in the overall financial industry.

From http://www.korea.net/ 03/17/2009

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INDONESIA: Govt All-Out to Boost Demand

Efforts to bolster domestic demand for local products are intensifying as the drafting of a regulation to enforce government spending on uniforms worn by civil servants and employees of state enterprises nears completion. Fauzi Aziz, the Industry Ministry's director general for small- and medium-scale industries, said Wednesday the Office of the State Minister for Administrative Reform had prepared a letter that would be attached to the planned regulation and be passed on to related institutions to ensure enforcement. "[State Minister for Administrative Reform] Taufik Effendi showed us the letter two days ago [Monday]," he told the press on the sidelines of a five-day craft exhibition that began Wednesday. "The letter stipulates that he urges his subordinates to look at the use of state budgets for civil servants and employees of state enterprises," he said. Fauzi said the letter would require the state budget and regional budgets to set aside an allocation to be spent for civil servants and SOE employees on up to 470 local products comprising 21 product categories. "The letter will be attached to the [planned] Industry Ministry regulation, which is being finalized by [the director general for metal, machinery, textile and miscellaneous industries] Ansari [Bukhari]," he said. The regulation, he said, would be introduced next week and be effective promptly after signature by Industry Minister Fahmi Idris. Fahmi, who is appointed to lead the national team on Domestic Goods Usage Intensification (P3DN), has been urging the use of domestic products to help local industries survive the impact of the global economic crisis, which has weakened global demand.

His ministry has been working with the Office of State Minister for Administrative Reform, the National Education Minister, the National Police and the Indonesian Military to formulate standards in the planned ministerial regulation. The regulation will serve as an auxiliary regulation to a 2009 presidential instruction on guidance to consumption of local products. Currently, there are around 2.5 million civil servants. Under the 2009 state budget, up to Rp 90 trillion (around US$8.2 billion) will likely be spent on local products for civil servants, members of the police and armed forces, as well as workers at state companies. The figure represents about 28 percent of the total allocation set aside under the 2009 budget for ministries and state institutions. Against the backdrop of slowing overseas demand as the world tips into recession, the government has turned to the domestic market to sustain economic growth. Since early this year, entry for imports of products such as shoes, textiles, electronics and food and beverages has been limited to certain designated ports to help protect local producers. Associations representing the textile, shoe and electronics industries have confirmed that orders are now on the rise following the import restrictions, with shoe producers predicting full-year orders to increase by Rp 5 trillion. Normally, annual sales of shoes reach Rp 25 trillion, including about Rp 10 trillion for locally made ones.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 03/19/2009

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Govt to Set Up Health Surveillance Agency

SURABAYA: The government plans to establish a national epidemiology and surveillance agency to speed up the detection of extraordinary disease cases and health disasters. "The previous existing disease surveillance team cannot respond to such challenges, so this year we will form a national surveillance and epidemiology body," Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said at a national health working meeting in Surabaya, East Java, on Wednesday. The agency will have branches throughout Indonesia and will be tasked with monitoring the spread of infectious diseases and detecting the outbreak of diseases which could cause epidemics, she said. "It's like a disease epidemiology intelligence body," the minister was quoted by Antara news agency as saying. The existing surveillance system, she said, failed to detect and anticipate the sudden emergence of several infectious diseases fast enough. The meeting was attended by around 1,800 health stakeholders from all over the country.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 03/20/2009

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MALAYSIA: DPM Favours Gradual Reform of Pro-Malay Policy of Helping the Poor

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak favours a return to the original New Economic Policy vision of improving conditions for the poor of all ethnic groups and not only Malays. Najib, who is about to take over the leadership of the country, said the pro-Malay policy of the NEP had successfully raised living standards for the majority population. However, he acknowledged that some mistakes had been made in implementation. "We must accept policies that are attuned to the changing times, although we cannot have too drastic a move until people are ready for it," he said in an interview with The Financial Times. The policy, introduced by his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein when he was Prime Minister in the early 1970s, has been said to have created an inefficient economy based on ethnic politics. However, the policy is said to still enjoy widespread support in Umno. As a way to ease the policy, Najib suggested that rules on foreign investment in the services sector would be relaxed. Najib said he favoured gradual reform of the Government's policy of preferential treatment of the ethnic Malays to help support economic restructuring. On the economy, Najib said his goal was to increase the service sector to 70% of the gross domestic product from 54% in an effort to establish "a knowledge-based economy" which was less reliant on manufactured exports.

"This is part of the transformation of the Malaysian economy. Services offer tremendous scope for growth," he said. He said Malaysia wanted to expand service industries such as healthcare by attracting more foreign patients and to become a regional centre for education and eco-tourism. Malaysia had one of the world's most trade-dependent economies and the global recession underscored the need to make changes in the country's economic structure, he said. Manufactured exports now account for 72.5% of total exports against 14.8% for services. Najib said Islamic financial services was an important area for growth. He said Malaysia also hoped to focus more on high value-added manufacturing in electronics, biotechnology and green technology. "We can no longer rely on cheap labour as a basis for our manufacturing," he said.

From http://thestar.com.my/ 03/13/2009

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Make Use of Fund, PM Tells Services Providers

PETALING JAYA: Eligible services providers should fully utilise the recently established Services Sector Capacity Development Fund with an initial injection of RM100mil, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The fund was to help them enhance competitiveness through capacity building, mergers and acquisition as well as productivity improvement, he added. A stronger services industry would help mitigate the impact of economic crisis and benefit from emerging opportunities when the economies recovered. Speaking at the 19th Industry Excellence Awards organised by the International Trade and Industry Ministry last night, Abdullah said Malaysia was now adopting a strategy of progressive liberalisation of the services sector. He called on the players in this sector to take advantage of the services liberation in Asean. Abdullah was confident that regional business and economic activities would be enhanced with the preferential access accorded under the Asean Free Trade Area; Asean's free trade agreement (FTA) with China, Korea and Japan, as well as Malaysia's bilateral FTAs with Japan and Pakistan. The Prime Minister later presented the 2008 Prime Minister's Award for Industry Excellence to Aluminium Company of Malaysia Berhad. Three companies also received the special awards for innovative products, while 25 companies were given certificates of excellence.

From http://thestar.com.my/ 03/13/2009

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RM200,000 to Boost School Discipline

PUTRAJAYA: A total of RM206,500 will be allocated for schools to organise activities aimed at reducing disciplinary problems among students, said Education Ministry director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom. He said the ministry would cooperate with the police and the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation to tackle disciplinary issues at schools. "Not all the problems are criminal offences as there are delinquency including playing truant, cheating, being uncooperative, bullying and fighting," he told a press conference yesterday. Alimuddin said the activities to be organised in schools include exhibitions, talks, sports events and film-screening. On the punishment for students who misbehaved, Alimuddin said there were four types of action that schools could take against them. "They can issue written notice and cane a student with the permission of the principal, and those who commit more serious acts can also be suspended or expelled from the school," he said. Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said parents also should play an important role in disciplining their children. "There are parents who complain to us about their children having easy access to pornography DVDs and the abuse of cybercafes among the young but we need their cooperation to solve these problems," he said.

From http://thestar.com.my/ 03/13/2009

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Faster Hiring of Govt Servants

THE Public Service Commission will cut the interview and processing time for appointment to government posts from four to two months, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator T. Murugiah. Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Murugiah said non-Malays were encouraged to apply for the 46,000 vacancies, adding that the Government had agreed that 7.4% of the posts be given to the Indians. The RM60bil second fiscal stimulus package was passed by the House yesterday with over 17 MPs debating on the Bill that was tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on March 10. The House also approved a motion under the Bill to move RM5bil from the Development Fund for various projects.

From http://thestar.com.my/ 03/18/2009

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PHILIPPINES: PGMA Underscores Importance of National and Local Government Partnership to Combat Effects of Global Financial Crisis

Manila (PND) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today underscored the importance of national and local government partnership in combating the adverse effects of the global financial crisis. In her keynote speech at the inaugural rites of the spanking and brand new Rizal Provincial Capitol Building in Antipolo City this morning, the President said the solid partnership among national and local officials and private sector leaders make a formidable force for development and against major threats. Such unity, the President pointed out, is reflected by the effective fiscal and economic reforms instituted by her administration, through the support of other leaders, which have shielded the country from the wave of threats and challenges since last year of the huge spikes in food, fuel and rice prices, and now the global financial crisis. She said the sacrifices and measures undertaken by her administration in the recent past have enabled government to shore up its finances and invested in public welfare that now benefit the people in many aspects including the shield against the harsh effects of the global crisis. With the President at the inaugural rites were Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III, Representatives Michael John Duavit and Adelina Rodriguez of Rizal's first and second districts, respectively; Reps. Roberto Puno and Angelito Gatlabayan of Antipolo City's first and second districts, respectively; Antipolo City Mayor Danilo Leyble; DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno; and Cabinet Official for Regional Development (CORD) for Region IV Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/04/2009

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Additional 350,000 Poor Families to Benefit from 4Ps Program

ILOILO CITY(PNA) - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now in the process of identifying additional 350,000 indigent families to avail of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the national government. DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral during her visit to Boracay Island on Tuesday said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and members of the cabinet approved the doubling the program's budget and beneficiaries in December last year. The additional beneficiaries will bring to 700,000 the total number of poor families to benefit from the 4Ps. Cabral said the implementation of the first half of the program with a budget of P5-billion is now in full swing and some of the recipients are in Antique and Iloilo.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/05/2009

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Arroyo Administration Has the Most Number of Anti-Corruption Initiatives

Manila (PND) - The Arroyo administration has instituted the most number of anti-corruption initiatives in the history of the country. Thus pointed out Press Secretary Cerge Remonde in his latest weekly column. Entitled "Anti-corruption measures," Remonde's piece stressed, thus: "If you think that the Arroyo administration has been insincere in its fight against graft and corruption, take note: Records would show that this administration has the most number of anti-corruption initiatives that this country has ever seen before, during, and after the Marcos regime." Remonde further pointed out that the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "also has the most notable achievements in the fight against shenanigans in government." The Press Secretary enumerated eight such initiatives, among others, namely: the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program; the Run After the Smugglers (RATS) program; the Lifestyle Check program; the establishment of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Task Force (PASTF); the Integrity Development Review; the government's Electronic Procurement System; the Pro-Performance System; the Contractors Performance Evaluation; the Electronic New Government Accounting System. "In the fight against corruption, the Arroyo Administration has been focused on punitive and preventive measures, as well as in the promotion of zero tolerance for corruption," added Remonde. "It (the Arroyo administration) has also gone into partnerships with vigilant non-government institutions and media in exposing, detailing and prosecuting cases of corruption," he said.

The administration's vigilance in its anti-corruption efforts has so far penalized some 121 high-ranking government officials since 2001: "A total of 71 officials were dismissed, 23 were suspended, seven were reprimanded, and 20 given accessory penalties." Remonde also cited three anti-red tape and institutional development measures which have so far improved government services delivery:
(1) the Philippines Business Registry Project (PBRP) which harmonizes business registration processes;
(2) the Electronic Sanitary and Phytosanitary Certification System (ESPCS) which allows regulatory agencies under the Department of Agriculture (DA) to automate applications through on-line forms, and allows importers to track the status of their applications; plus
(3) One-Stop Shop Centers (OSSC) all over the country which "simplify rules and reduce reportorial requirements."

The Press Secretary also stressed that the "performance of government frontline services has also been enhanced through the reduction to half the number of signatures, days/hours of processing, and/or steps/procedures. "For instance, business registration and licensing take only 7-9 days from 45-60 days," he said, pointing out that the increase in the number of reported cases of corruption stems from the people's increased vigilance in reporting such cases, "mainly because of the various measures and reforms the government has laid down to bring culprits to justice." "As you can see, we are well-armed in the fight against corruption, but if we just leave the fighting to government without the full cooperation of the people, then the war would take a little longer," he added. Under the government's RATE program, 90 cases have been filed, 67 of which are now pending with the Department of Justice (DOJ); 13 are pending before the courts; four have been referred back to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for further evaluation; and six have been dismissed. "Under the RATS program, 46 new lawyers were hired to beef up the legal services of the Bureau of Customs (BOC). As a result, 78 criminal cases have been filed against 349 respondents covering shipments valued at P1.7 billion. Remonde also cited the hiring of additional field investigators for the Office of the Ombudsman for the increase in its annual conviction rate for criminal cases from 19 percent in 2006 to 77 percent in 2007.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/07/2009

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PGMA Gives Awards to Five Most Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities of 2009

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today honored five local government units adjudged as the national winners in the 2008 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities. The awarding was held at Malacanang's Rizal Hall at noon, with each winner receiving a trophy and P300,000 cash directly from the President. The most child-friendly LGUs in 2008 were New Lucena, Iloilo in Region VI for the 4th-6th class municipality category; San Mateo, Isabela (Region II) for the 1st-3rd class municipality category; Vigan City in Ilocos Sur (Region I) for the component city category; Naga City in Camarines Sur (Region V) for the independent chartered city category; and Makati City (National Capital Region) for the highly urbanized city category. In her short remarks about the project, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral paid tribute to President Arroyo "for being such a strong advocate" of children's rights and welfare. The Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities "aims to place children at the center of all development efforts to effect sensitization of society toward child-friendliness," according to the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) under the Office of the President (OP), the focal agency for children's concerns that spearheads the search.

Chaired by the DSWD secretary and headed by OIC Executive Director Elena Caraballo, the CWC has noted an increase in the number of LGUs joining the search, from 87 in 2007 to 115 in 2008. The search for Child-Friendly LGUs supports the Philippine Strategic Framework for Plan Development for Children, otherwise known as Child 21, which was developed in 1999 when then Vice President Arroyo was concurrent Secretary of the DSWD. President Arroyo would later sign on Feb. 23, 2004 Executive Order 286 "directing national government agencies and other concerned agencies to actively support and implement programs on the 'Bright Child.'" 'Bright Child' was defined by the five-year old executive order as "referring to the delivery of a one-brand package of interventions on food and nutrition, health, early education and psychosocial programs for young children resulting in their optimum growth and development." In the same ceremony, the President signed a bill now known as Republic Act 9523 which requires the certification of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that a child is legally available for adoption as a pre-requisite for adoption proceedings.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/12/2009

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PGMA to Focus on Job Creation, Low Prices amid Global Crisis

Cebu City (PIA) - In these challenging economic times, the Philippine government continues to give focus on creating jobs here at home, keeping prices low and providing incentives to help the private sector to keep and create jobs. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo thus told around 400 delegates coming from 20 nations across the globe during the 34th Kiwanis International Asia-Pacific Convention which opened at noontime yesterday at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel. Arroyo, who was the keynote speaker, hailed the Philippine economy as stronger than it has been in generations, because of the economic reforms that have been implemented which "allowed us to have the resources to mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis." The President however, said the country is not immune to the crisis. The government is tightening its belt and living within its means, taking a series of actions to stop unnecessary and wasteful spending as the taxpayers deserve no less from their government and public servants, Pres. Arroyo stressed. "One of the actions is my executive order to all government agencies to reduce by 1.5 percent their respective Maintenance, Overhead and Operating Expenses (MOOE) budgets. This translates to a savings of P7B," Mrs. Arroyo quoted. The savings and revenue could be poured into programs that help the poor and the middle class while there will be more allocations for more investments in education, health-care and infrastructure, the President declared.

Mrs. Arroyo said that in her executive order, she has mandated that the savings from the MOOE be allocated to emergency employment for the next six months. "The government likewise also continues to come to the rescue of the poorest among us with targeted subsidies of food, fuel and rice," the President stated. She urged the Kiwanis clubs that since they are always open to partnerships with others, including governments throughout the world, to increase their reach of civic projects by considering partnerships with our government, citing education as the program thrust as the Kiwanis clubs has a long history of supporting the growth and development, especially the education of children. President Arroyo extolled the Kiwanis Club of Cebu that has been in existence for almost 30 years their collegiate scholarship program which has sent numerous poor students from Cebu to college. Out of the 100 college scholars that have been put through college since 1980, 10 finished summa cum laude, 47 magna cum laude and 29 cum laude, the President said. "Let us all support programs for providing meals for our children in school and job and training opportunities for our young graduates," Mrs. Arroyo emphasized.

The President said she is dedicated to a vision of a Philippines becoming a First World country in 20 years, "when we will have dramatically reduced poverty, created a robust middle class and have all the hallmarks of a modern society in strong, stable institutions." "Together we can make a difference for we share a common passion of 'We Will All Be In Service Together,'" the President ended. President Arroyo visited Cebu today for a series of engagements that included an environmental briefing on climate change and waste disposal system and inspection of a sewerage treatment plant as well as a pro-poor clinic run by the Archdiocese of Cebu, turn-over of 125 TESDA Scholarship Vouchers to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, distribution of 500 family grocery packs to indigent families under five parishes under the Cebu Archdiocese, distribution of food packs to 500 indigent children, inauguration of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Plaza, briefing of the peace process and social integration program in Central Visayas as well as the launching of the Kalayaan Barangays Program by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Avelino Razon Jr and two private meetings with Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia and Cebu City Tomas Osmeña. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/14/2009

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PGMA Focused on Governance; Does Not Mind Survey Results

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has always been focused on governance and has never allowed survey results to distract her from her job. "Sa totoo lang, si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, since the very beginning, has not allowed politics and ratings to distract her from her more important job of governance," stressed Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, even as he said he considers it a challenge to disseminate more effectively to the Filipino people the President's many pro-poor projects. "So, as she says nga, she (President Arroyo) is focused (on) the economy and especially right now (in) creating jobs for our people," said Remonde in an interview over DZXL this morning (Tuesday, March 16). "Ngayon nga, ang ginagawa ng ating Pangulong Gloria is pag-belt-tightening," he adds. "Pinapa-save niya ang gobyerno para iyong savings ng gobyerno ay mapunta, magamit sa taong-bayan, maitutulong sa taong-bayan. Ngayon ang focus talaga ng Pangulo ay ang paglikha ng trabaho para mabigyan ng trabaho ang ating mga kababayan." The Press Secretary cited the President's launching of joint projects with religious organizations from various faiths "para po matulungan lalo iyong mga nagugutom." "May mga feeding programs tayong ginagawa with various church organizations and the government cooperating together," he related about the joint church-state poverty-alleviating project which started early this year.

Remonde made the comments when asked about the supposed results of a survey conducted last month (Feb. 20-23) by a survey company, showing that the President's satisfaction rating has once again gone down. He, however, pointed out that "we consider that (the survey result) as a challenge although hindi kami masyadong na-sorpresa sa resultang iyan dahil nakikita namin na parang natural talaga iyan sa panahon ng krisis, ang gobyerno talaga ang palaging nabe-blame at saka ang Pangulo." "So, (sa) amin lang ay we will consider that as a challenge for the government to work harder and for us to communicate better kung ano ang mga ginagawa ng Pangulo sa pagtulong sa ating mga mamamayan, lalo na sa panahon ng krisis." Remonde pointed out that "ironically, in the face of this crisis, a lot of people are saying - even mga foreign observers - na mas maganda ang kalagayan dito sa Pilipinas kung ikumpara sa kalagayan ng karamihan ng mga bansa sa buong mundo. "At ito po ay dahil sa ang mga efforts ng ating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. So, siguro, we just have to communicate that better to our people. Not all people will be able to properly appreciate the hard work of our President." (PND)

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/17/2009

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PGMA Instructs Govt Agencies to Provide Dislocation Allowance for Personnel Affected by Office Transfers

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo instructed government agencies to provide dislocation allowance for all personnel affected by the transfer of departments and regional government centers to new relocation sites. The President issued the order during a Cabinet meeting two weeks ago in Boracay, according to Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello. "In the course of the discussions during the March 3 Cabinet meeting at the Boracay Terraces Convention Center in Boracay, Malay, Aklan, all concerned government departments/agencies/institutions were instructed (by the President) to provide dislocation allowance for all personnel affected by the transfer of their departments/regional government centers to new relocation sites," said Bello. He added, "It was noted that that the departments/agencies may realign their budget for Maintenance and other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and Personnel Services for this purpose." In his memorandum on the same day to the members of the Cabinet, Bello said "it was also noted that some departments - such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - did not include dislocation allowance for affected personnel in the Fiscal Year 2009 budget." The secretary of the Cabinet requested the Cabinet members to "please submit status report of its implementation within two weeks, for purposes of monitoring and reporting to the President on the implementation of this instruction" to provide dislocation allowances to transfer-affected government personnel. (PND)

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/18/2009

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SINGAPORE: MAS Seeks Feedback on Proposals to Raise Standards on Investment Product Sales

SINGAPORE: The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has come up with a number of proposals to protect investors buying structured products and set guidelines for financial institutions selling the instruments. Among the new ideas are a simpler document to explain the details of the structured products and allowing the MAS more power to take action against errant financial advisers. The proposals come after the global financial crisis caused the failure of several structured notes like the Lehman Brothers Minibonds and DBS High Notes 5. Over 10,000 people in Singapore who put their money in these structured products saw their investments become worthless. Many then asked if there should be tighter regulations on the sales of these products. That prompted the MAS to review the sales and marketing of unlisted investment products. Among the proposals is that financial institutions will have to provide a simple fact sheet about the structured products in addition to the prospectus, often seen as complicated. Another proposal is to stop bank tellers from referring customers to financial advisors to sell investment products. Financial institutions should also clearly define "Complex Investment Products", which are mainly structured instruments. The MAS will be given more power to investigate and take regulatory action, through a new civil penalty regime under the Financial Advisers Act.

MAS said the proposals will safeguard investors' interest and promote higher industry standards. MAS deputy managing director for market conduct, Shane Tregillis, said: "Regulation by itself is really not enough. Financial institutions should really learn from the current episode. "The board and the senior management (of a financial institution) should really take very active steps to embed a culture throughout the whole organisation (that) it is focused on fair dealing with their customers." The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) or SIAS has welcomed the proposals. Its president and CEO, David Gerald, said: "Transparency will be increased tremendously and investors could now feel more comfortable sitting down with the (financial) representatives because there's a certain amount of responsibility that's imposed on the representatives. "These measures would ensure that investing community can be rest assured that the very necessary basic things will be done before products are sold." The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and OCBC Bank also support the proposals. OCBC said it has already started to improve its existing sales and marketing processes. One example is having its relationship managers improve their discussions with clients. CASE said some of proposals will discourage pressure selling and promote more disclosures. The MAS is consulting the public on the proposals. Members of the public have until April 23 to submit their views on the proposals.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/12/2009

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MDA to Spend $250m to Create 2,000 Jobs

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Media Development Authority (MDA) is spending S$250 million to create and support some 2,000 jobs in the media industry this year. The bulk of the spending will be used to stimulate a strong pipeline of high-value and exportable projects. To this end, the MDA is calling for proposals for public service programmes and original TV concepts that can be distributed not just on television but via mobile and the Web as well. It aims to support 2,380 hours of broadcast content this year - 200 hours more than last year. MDA is also calling for proposals to help transform Singapore into a digital music hub. MDA's chief information officer, Yeo Chun Cheng, said: "What we wanted to show to the industry is that the government will actually renew its effort. And in fact, we actually increased the amount of funding that we have traditionally made for media."

At its annual Media Business Forum on Thursday, MDA launched a "Future of Media" initiative that aims to establish strategic partner networks amongst local and international new media companies. This is to help grow the niche and emerging sector of the industry. MDA will also continue to help media companies by matching their projects to S$1.3 billion worth of private media funds. Mr Yeo said: "What MDA will try to do if you have a good proposal, (is that) we will act like a one-stop shop... If you have (the) right proposal, we will find you the right schemes that actually will help you support it. So, the money is there - they've just got to have the right projects." MDA is also setting aside S$6 million to fund programmes to train and upgrade the skills of 6,000 media talents this year. This works out to S$10,000 per talent on average. In addition, a new Media Training and Attachment programme will be set up to give local talents and media professionals global exposure and work opportunities. Some 150 talents are expected to benefit from attachments to local and overseas companies, which will be co-funded by MDA.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/12/2009

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Drop in Annual Pay Ahead for Civil Servants

SINGAPORE: With the dismal economy showing few signs of recovery, civil servants can expect their pay package to shrink in the year ahead. TODAY has learnt that civil servants - who are awaiting news on their annual performance bonuses and pay increments as the financial year draws to a close - received a circular via email from the Public Service Division (PSD) in the Prime Minister's Office, priming them to "expect to see a drop in annual salaries" this year. Senior officers will see a larger percentage cut. But deserving civil servants will continue to be rewarded with performance bonuses and increments - albeit at lower levels than last year. Dated March 16, the circular, a copy of which was obtained by TODAY, was signed off by PSD director (leadership development) Ong Toon Hui. Contacted by TODAY, various civil servants in several ministries, including rank-and-file staff and those in junior management positions, confirmed receipt of the circular. The news should perhaps come as little surprise, given that civil service pay is in part linked to economic performance, with components such as the GDP bonus - which will be zero this year, noted the circular. But even so, one civil servant who works in education was "surprised", given how the public sector has been ramping up hiring - by 18,000 over these next two years, to be precise. She was comforted by the fact that deserving employees would be rewarded. "If they deduct our performance bonus, everyone is going to be very demoralised," she said.

While the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees could not be reached for comment, Mr G Muthukumarasamy, the general-secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Daily-Rated Workers, was optimistic tweaks to civil service monthly wages would not affect those in the lower income group, as their pay was "already so low". Still, civil servants TODAY spoke to understood the rationale for the smaller pay packages. The floundering global economy has spawned retrenchments and pay cuts in the private sector, and while civil servants typically do not have to fear lay-offs, it would "not be logical" for them to be similarly shielded from pay cuts, a 24-year-old civil servant said. "If you manage to stay employed, you are luckier than a lot of people out there who are retrenched." In fact, Singapore National Employers Federation vice-president Bob Tan said he feels any salary adjustments would correct a current "misalignment" with the private sector. "The public sector works on a slightly different basis, you don't see them going out of business... (but) you can't have a situation when the public sector is earning so much more than the private sector." In the circular to civil servants, Ms Ong said in such difficult times, "all Singaporeans must stand together". "We look forward to your active contribution to helping Singapore and Singaporeans overcome the current challenges and return as quickly as possible to better times," she wrote. Soon after the downturn's onset, the Government had announced in November changes affecting civil servants' annual pay package for last year. They did not receive the special Growth Bonus and saw their Annual Variable Component (AVC) - which is also linked to economic performance - halved.

Under the pay formula, a substantial part of the annual pay of Senior Permanent Secretaries and Ministers is linked to the GDP growth rate. Noting that the official GDP forecast of minus five to minus two per cent for this year "will most likely be revised further", Ms Ong said there would be "zero GDP bonuses" this year, with the AVC to be cut further. With the National Wage Council set to meet next month or May for its annual deliberations, Ms Ong said the civil service would follow its guidelines "in deciding the exact adjustments to salaries". She added: "It is safe to say that if economic conditions continue to deteriorate, further adjustments in salaries will likely become necessary." Companies to follow suit or exploit? As Singapore's largest single employer with more than 60,000 staff, the civil service's announcements on salary adjustments are closely watched by the private sector. Companies that have resisted cutting pay so far might "take direction" from the public service, said Mr Josh Goh, a senior manager at recruitment agency The GMP Group. But he cautioned against firms - especially those that have already implemented pay cuts - from exploiting the situation. "If the company, after the first round of cuts, can manage the cost well, there's no necessity for them to go for a second round," he said.
On the cards
- A drop in annual salaries, with senior officers seeing a larger percentage drop
- Civil servants on salary ranges will get merit increments, though lower
- Zero GDP bonus, reduced AVC
- Performance bonus will be paid based on individual performance to encourage officers to excel

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/20/2009

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VIETNAM: Hanoi to Honor Corruption Fighters Today

War veteran Nguyen Van Vuong considers today's honor another victory in his six-year fight to expose the misuse of public land in the Buoi Ward of Hanoi's Tay Ho District. The former colonel and nine residents and officials will be honored for fighting corruption at a ceremony by both Vietnam and Hanoi's Steering Committees of Anti-Corruption. When asked by his neighbors why he fought corruption instead of taking care of his own health, the 80- year-old replied: "I was a soldier and I'm used to fighting." In 2001, Vuong's family moved to Buoi Ward where he began community work and discovered that officials had illegally granted public land to a commercial interest. Vuong repeatedly brought the matter up at meetings of the ward's Communist Party unit, of which he was a member, because "success takes time," he said. Eventually he got support from four other members, including a comrade from the war, Hoang Cuong, and began building a case against the owners of Tra Hoa Vien café, which had been built on the illegally granted land. He also got help from his wife Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich, also a veteran. The couple reserved an hour every day, half an hour in the morning and half an hour the afternoon, to record findings. Vuong first took his findings to lower level officials, and when they didn't listen to him he went over their head until the case reached the city government.

The Hanoi Communist Party unit in 2007 supported his claims and ordered Tay Ho District administration to ask the café owner to return the land to nearby temples and residences. During those years Vuong and Cuong received anonymous letters threatening their families. More anti-graft champions. Another person to be honored in today's ceremony is Le Thien Long from the state-run Agriculture Materials Corporation in Hanoi. He was demoted in his company for objecting to the general director's misuse of state budget funds and company profits. "I'm glad that the money was returned to the state budget, the company has become profitable again and the employees' salaries have been increased from VND2-3 million (US$115-172) to VND7-8 million ($401-459)," he said. Pham Thi Hong Hoa from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Sugar Cane Corporation No. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, who had also been demoted for standing up to her bosses over their corruption, will be awarded alongside Long. Retired teacher Le Hien Duc is being rewarded for denouncing corruption at several schools while four police officials, Pham Van Truc, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, Truong Thanh Duc and Nguyen Vuong Vu, are being recognized for not accepting a bribe of more than $120,000 to not arrest two suspected killers and robbers. Huynh Van Trinh, a former senior foreign ministry official, will also be recognized at the ceremony.

From http://www.thanhniennews.com/ 03/18/2009

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BANGLADESH: Only Free Media Can Help Fight Corruption

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday said the most important role the media plays is the watchdog role and so the journalists should be allowed to work without any political and economic pressure or harassment of any type. It is important to ensure an environment where journalists can work freely, use their freedom shrewdly and do not face any control of the government or owners, they added. Held at a city hotel, the roundtable titled "The role of media in anti-corruption reform efforts" was the second event of the Anti-Corruption Week that kicked off in the city on Wednesday. Promoting Governance, Accountability, Transparency and Integrity (PROGATI), a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), organised the week. Speaking as the chief guest, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad said corruption does not have a geographical boundary. It is now a global issue. Apart from promoting good governance and rule of law, media plays a significant role in every national event and will be playing the same role in fighting corruption, he added. The minister underscored the need for a concerted effort of the government, media and citizens to root out corruption. Noted journalist Abed Khan said the media of the country from its beginning has been playing a positive role in curbing corruption that resulted in many positive changes in the political arena. Apart from the electronic media, printing media is also evolving in the South Asia which is really incredible, he said, adding that but there are many impediments that hold back professionalism, including extremely limited rights of the journalists. Journalism remains no longer journalism when the dream of media owners become the dream of the journalists or when the journalists become employees of the owners, he said, adding: "These are the darkest side of Bangladesh's journalism and soon it will take a terrifying turn if things are going on in this way."

Abed Khan went on saying: "Though it is a creative and sensitive profession, journalists are working amid fears of losing their jobs. Owners can remove anyone anytime if the their interests are not served." "Both the print and electronic media are going through an extremely dark time," he said, adding that though the Right to Information Act (RTI) is on the cards, the authorities keep the right to suppress voice of the journalists. "The only dream I dream is media is for the professional, of the professional and by the professional and only these media will play its proper role in curbing corruption," he said, adding, "Nothing will change unless we develop professionalism." In his keynote paper, Moazzem Hossain, editor of The Financial Express, said free and responsible media can have a positive influence on any country on efforts, as part of winning public trust, to uproot and expose sources of corruption. He further said that such media can perform two major roles - being a watchdog over the government and educating people about how corruption and other related issues affect their lives. Free, independent and responsible media can be a strong force along with other stakeholders to help build integrity into the rules of governance. Human rights activist Dr Hameeda Hossain said Bangladesh has actually been in the forefront of news on corruption. It is unfortunate that when the international organisation like Transparency International blames Bangladesh for very high level of corruption and the government, instead of taking that seriously as indicators of reform, laments them as blasphemy or conspiracy, she said. Here media can play an important role in trying and influencing the government to act totally neutrally, she added. A "culture of secrecy" has been grown in the society, Hameeda said, stressing the need for immediate enactment of RTI. Moderated by Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, pro-vice chancellor of Brac University, Denise Rollins, mission director of USAID, and David A Pottebaum, chief of party of PROGATI project, also spoke.

From The Daily Star 03/20/2009

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INDIA: R.C.Deka Is the New Director of AIIMS

New Delhi: Ramesh Chandra Deka, who was the dean of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, has taken over as the new director of the country's prestigious referral institution. Deka, 60, who is the head of the otorhinolaryngology (ENT) department since 1995. was appointed director for the next five years or till further orders are issued. "The orders for Dr Deka's appointment has been issued. He will be taking charge with immediate effect," a health ministry source told IANS. The tenure of the director is for a period of five years or the age of 65 years. "I am taking charge as the director with immediate effect," Deka told IANS minutes after taking over. After nine months of speculation over who would be the next director, his name was cleared Tuesday by the Appointments Committee of the cabinet. Till now, T.D.Dogra was the acting director of the institute since the controversial past director, P. Venugopal, retired in July last year. Deka was dean of the institute since 2006. Hailing from Assam, Deka did his MBBS from Guwahati Medical College in 1969 and MS (ENT) from AIIMS in 1973 and joined the faculty position in AIIMS in 1981.According to doctors at AIIMS, his long stint and his work as dean in the institutes went in his favour. He has undergone training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and at the Yale University Medical Center in New Haven, ConnecticutIn 1996, he went to Australia to undergo training in cochlear implant surgery at the Melbourne University and the Bionic Ear Institute in Melbourne. An accomplished ENT surgeon and a reputed teacher, he has performed over 200 cochlear implant surgeries, including 160 in children.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/10/2009

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India Appoints New HC to Pakistan

NEW DELHI: The Indian government on Monday appointed Sharat Sabharwal as its new high commissioner to Pakistan. Sabharwal would succeed Satyabrata Pal, whose tenure ended on February 28. According to sources, the decision to appoint Sabharwal was taken over three weeks ago, but the announcement was delayed until the Pakistan government forwarded its concurrence. Sabharwal, currently special secretary in charge of administration, consular passport and visa affairs in the External Affairs Ministry, is a 1975-batch Indian Foreign Service officer. He served as deputy high commissioner in Pakistan from 1995 to 1999.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/17/2009

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Madhya Pradesh BJP Gets Three New Members

Bhopal: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh got a big boost Wednesday when three prominent political leaders belonging to different parties joined it ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.The Lok Janshakti Party's (LJP) state president Phool Singh Baraiya, Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) former state president Bhujbal Singh Ahirwar and Gondwana Gantantra Party's (GGP) state general Secretary Sukhendra Tiwari joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state party president Narendra Singh Tomar. It is considered a big jolt to the Congress, which was contemplating bringing Baraiya and Ahirwar in its fold. Both Baraiya and Ahirwar are considered important for the Congress, given the Dalit and SC & ST vote bank on which they are said to have a considerable influence, mainly in Rewanchal including Satna and Gwalior regions bordering Uttar Pradesh. Union Minister Arjun Singh's daughter Veena is said to be seeking nomination from Satna on a Congress ticket. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Chouhan said that all the political parties have used Dalits as their vote bank whereas the BJP was the only party which really works for their well being.

From http://www.newkerala.com/ 03/18/2009

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PAKISTAN: President Elevates IHC Chief to Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday appointed the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Sardar Mohammad Aslam as judge of the Supreme Court with effect from March 9. Meanwhile, Lahore High Court judge Justice M. Bilal Khan has been appointed as new chief justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC).A notification issued by the Law and Justice Division said the President has made the appointment in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by article 177 of the Constitution. Sardar Mohammad Aslam, who is retiring as IHC chief on March 8, was appointed first head of the Islamabad High Court in February 2008 after its establishment through a Presidential Constitution (Amendment) Order, 2007, on December 14.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/07/2009

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Naek, Jamali Elected Chairman, Deputy Chairman Senate

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party leader and Federal Law Minister Farooq Hameed Naek and Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader Jan Mohammad Jamali have been elected unopposed as Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate on Thursday. Pakistan Muslim League-N and Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted the Senate elections. According to sources, no candidate submitted nomination papers for the top slots in the Upper House against Farooq H. Naek and Jan Mohammad Jamali. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain have congratulated Naek and Jamali on being elected unopposed as chairman and deputy chairman Senate. Earlier, as many as 49 Senators-elect took oath as members of the Upper House Wednesday to replace those who retired on March 11 after completing their six year tenure in the Senate. Chairman, Senator Tahir Mashhadi administered oath to Senators elect from all the four provinces, FATA and federal capital. From Punjab province, who took oath included Pervaiz Rashid (PML-N), Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (PML), Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq (PML-N), Syed Zafar Ali Shah (PML-N), Muhammad Jehangir Badar (PPPP), Mushahid Ullah Khan (PML-N), Salah-ud-Din Dogar (PPPP), Begum Najma Hameed (PML-N), Syeda Sughra Imam (PPPP) and Prof. Sajid Mir (PML-N) and Muhammad Kazim Khan (PPPP). From Sindh province, Babar Khan Ghauri (MQM), Abdul Haseeb Khan (MQM), Moula Baksh Chandio (PPPP), Islamuddin Sheikh (PPPP), Gul Muhammad Lot (PPPP), Syed Faisal Raza Abidi (PPPP), Dr. Khatu Mal (PPPP), Farooq Hameed Naek (PPPP), Abdul Rehman Malik (PPPP), Shirala Malik (MQM) and Almas Perveen (PPPP) took oath.Similarly from NWFP, the Senators Muhammad Zahid Khan (ANP), Haji Muhammad Adeel (ANP), Abdul Nabi Bangash (ANP), Gulzar Ahmed Khan (PPPP), Waqar Ahmed Khan (PPPP), Sardar Ali Khan (PPPP), Haji Ghulam Ali (JUI-F), Farah Aqil (ANP), Farhat Abbas (PPP), Afrasiab Khattak (ANP) and Adnan Khan (PPP) took oath.From Balochistan, oath was taken by Nawabzada Haji Muhammad Lashkari Raisani (PPPP), Nawab Muhammad Akbar Magsi (IND), Mir Wali Muhammad Badini (IND), Mir Muhammad Ali Baloch (BNP-A), Sabir Ali Baloch (PPPP), Mir Hasil Khan Bazinjo (NP), Surriya Amiruddin (PPPP), Kulsoom Parveen (PML), Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri (JUI-F) and Muhammad Hamayun Khan (IND). Maulana Muahmmad Khan Sherani (JUI-F) is yet to take oath.From FATA, four Senators-elect including Engr Malik Rasheed Ahmed Khan, Abbas Khan, Haji Khan and Muhammad Idrees Khan Safi (all Independent), took oath. Two Senators from federal capital Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari (PPPP) and Saeeda Iqbal (PPPP) also took oath. After taking oath, the members signed the roll register.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/12/2009

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Committee Formed to Resolve Crisis

LAHORE: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have formed a two-member committee to resolve their differences. According to a private TV channel, the committee includes Senate Chairman Farooq Naik from the PPP and Senator Ishaq Dar from the PML-N. The channel said the committee would present a constitutional package on Saturday (today) to resolve the ongoing political crisis. The package is likely to pave way for reconciliation between the two parties, it added.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/14/2009

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Nawaz Vows to End Outdated System with Mass Support

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif congratulated Tuesday the nation on the reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. Addressing a public gathering at his Model Town residence, Nawaz termed the restoration a historic decision to save the system and Pakistan. He asked the people to support him to steer the country out of present challenges. He said the restoration of deposed judges is the first step toward taking Pakistan to newer heights of socio-economic turnaround. Nawaz said the people of Pakistan got united for the cause of justice and democracy and proved that they could face any challenge. "A new Pakistan is born after March 16", he said. Nawaz said he could call for the long march against Governor-rule in Punjab and SC's decision of disqualification, however, the national interest was held supreme.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/17/2009

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Fauzia Wahab Appointed as PPP Secretary Information

ISLAMABAD: Co Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari has appointed Fauzia Wahab as PPP information secretary. According to sources, Zardari has appointed Fauzia as secretary information in place of former information minister Sherry Rehman.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/18/2009

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Justice (R) Hamid Appointed as New CEC

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday appointed Justice (r) Hamid Mirza as the new chief election commissioner (CEC). Former CEC Justice (r) Qazi Farooq retired on March 14. Mirza started his career as a senior civil judge on December 12, 1973 and retired on September 14, 2006 as a judge of the Supreme Court (SC). He was reappointed as an ad hoc judge to the SC and continued until November 3, 2007 when then military ruler Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency and sacked superior court judges. Mirza was among the judges sacked by Musharraf. He was also a member of the 13-member full bench that set aside the presidential reference against the chief justice of Pakistan in July 2007.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/18/2009

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Cabinet Expansion, Reshuffle Likely

ISLAMABAD: The expansion and reshuffle in federal cabinet is in the offing with possible induction of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) in the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led ruling coalition, sources told Daily Times on Wednesday. Sources privy to the developments told Daily Times that the PPP led by President Asif Ali Zardari is offering the former ruling party to join the cabinet in a first step towards their alliance in Punjab. PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussian - who had met important PPP leaders earlier on Wednesday - held a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that last for more than an hour. The two leaders discussed in detail the prevailing political situation in the country, the sources said. They said the Chaudhrys of Gujrat are constantly engaged.

From http://www.southasianmedia.net/ 03/19/2009

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AZERBAIJAN: PACE Bureau Appoints Head of the Mission on Observation of Referendum

The session of the PACE bureau decided to send a mission to Azerbaijan due to conduction of a referendum on amendments to the Constitution, said chairman of the Azerbaijani delegation Samed Seidov. He said Poll Willi (Belgium) was appointed the head of the mission. The delegation also included several deputies from the European parliament. Seidov also added that the session of the PACE standing committee was held yesterday. "The session did not discuss the issues connected with Azerbaijan", noted he.

From http://www.today.az/ 03/14/2009

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TAJIKISTAN: National Center for Legislation Set Up at the President

On March 17, President Emomali Rahmon signed a decree requiring establishment of the National Center for Legislation at the President of Tajikistan. According to presidential press service, the center is set up to promote improving legislation and raising effectiveness of lawmaking activity in the country. The center will have a staff of 40. The government is to bring all normative-legal documents into compliance with the decree within two months and take measure for implementation of it. (by Avaz Yuldoshe)

From http://www.asiaplus.tj/ 03/18/2009

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TURKMENISTAN: President Fires Chief of Presidential Administration

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has signed a decree relieving Yusup Ishanguliyev of his post of chief of the presidential administration due to his transfer to another post. Under a resolution signed by the head of state, deputy prime minister Hojamuhammet Muhammedov has been appointed acting chief of the presidential administration, the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat quoting the press service of the president of Turkmenistan.

From http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ 03/14/2009

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AUSTRALIA: Cash Bonuses for Families to Support Jobs

From today, families will start to receive cash bonuses as part of the Australian Government's Nation Building and Jobs Plan. These payments will support families and local businesses across the country. Stimulus payments like these are a responsible way to quickly boost consumption in order to immediately reduce pressure to cut staff. The Rudd Government is providing these cash payments to immediately support jobs and strengthen the Australian economy in the face of the global financial crisis. Families with school age children eligible for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A will receive a $950 Back to School Bonus for each eligible child. This measure represents an economic stimulus of $2.6 billion. The Bonus will support almost 2.8 million children in 1.5 million low and middle-income families with children ages 4 to 18 years inclusive. The Back to School Bonus will also be paid for young people 18 years of age or younger who were receiving Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment on 3 February 2009. A Single-Income Family Bonus of $900 will be paid to 1.5 million low and middle-income families eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part B at a cost of $1.3 billion. The measures will strengthen the national economy and provide financial assistance to low and medium-income households. These payments, which will be made automatically by Centrelink in the fortnight commencing today, will be non-taxable and will not be counted as income for social security purposes. The payments will also not be used to offset social security, family assistance or child support debts. Families need to be eligible for the relevant payment - FTB parts A or B - on 3 February to receive the relevant bonus. If families claim their Family Tax Benefit as a lump sum at the end of the financial year, the payment will be made after their actual income for the 2008-09 year is known. Families can change to fortnightly payments to get their payment sooner.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/11/2009

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Greater Transparency and Exchange of Information

Australia welcomes reports that Hong Kong, Liechtenstein and Singapore have agreed to adopt OECD standards of transparency and effective exchange of information for tax purposes. Australia looks forward to implementing effective exchange of information arrangements with each of those countries at the earliest opportunity. "The Government is committed to ensuring a fairer tax system for all Australians, with Australia at the forefront of global action to enhance tax transparency and information exchange, having demonstrated strong support at the Finance Ministers' meeting hosted by France and Germany in October 2008," Mr Bowen said. "Australia's position on tax havens has been evident in both its international exchanges and domestic policy settings. "The Government's election commitment to reduce withholding tax rates on certain distributions from managed funds to non residents - delivered in the 2008 Budget - limited the benefits of these cuts to residents of only those countries with which Australia has effective exchange of information arrangements. "Australia has ongoing strategies in place to address tax avoidance and evasion, including a comprehensive tax information exchange agreement negotiation program to establish effective exchange of information with low-tax jurisdictions, for both civil and criminal tax purposes. "This program is complemented by a range of compliance strategies run by the Australian Taxation Office (including Project Wickenby), designed to establish the veracity of offshore transactions."

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/13/2009

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Productivity Commission to Review the Contribution of the Not-for-profit Sector

The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, the Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens, today announced that the Productivity Commission will examine the contribution of the not-for-profit sector to Australian society. The announcement fulfils an election commitment to maximise the sector's contribution to social inclusion, employment and economic growth, by leveraging off the Productivity Commission's Study. "Not-for-profit or non-profit organisations are critical to building a fairer and stronger Australia, and enhancing the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of society. The study will be important in informing the delivery and advancement of the Rudd Government's Social Inclusion Agenda," Ms Gillard said. The Productivity Commission (the Commission) has been asked to assess how the not-for-profit sector's contributions to Australian society are currently measured and whether these measures can be improved. The Government has also asked the Commission to identify ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of community organisations, and to consider options for improving the delivery of government-funded services by these organisations.

The Commission is required to provide a final report by the end of 2009. "Any policy reform in this area will be aimed at strengthening the community sector's capacity to deliver services in response to community needs", Mr Bowen said. "Mr Dennis Trewin AO has been appointed to the Productivity Commission as an Associate Commissioner for this study. Mr Trewin was the Australian Statistician and head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics from July 2000 until January 2007. He has more recently been working as a statistical consultant and has recently completed assignments with the UN, OECD and World Bank." "The skills and experience of Mr Trewin make him highly suited to the task. In particular, his broad experience and leadership in the application of official statistics to the research and analysis of social issues make him well qualified in the role." "The Productivity Commission study will help us gain a greater insight into the valuable work the not-for-profit sector does within our communities and the breadth of services it provides, particularly to those experiencing entrenched disadvantage," Senator Stephens said. "The study will help improve the way in which the not‑for‑profit sector operates and make it easier for organisations working in the sector to be effective." As part of the review process, the Commission will provide an opportunity for public participation. All interested parties are invited to make a submission. To register an interest in the study or to find out more, details are available from the Commission at www.pc.gov.au or by calling 02 6240 3239.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/17/2009

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PC Inquiry into Anti-Dumping and Countervailing

The Assistant Treasurer, Chris Bowen, and Home Affairs Minister, Bob Debus, today announced that the Productivity Commission would undertake an inquiry into Australia's anti-dumping and countervailing system. This announcement delivers on a commitment made at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) 3 July 2008 meeting, to progress a number of priority areas for competition reform, including anti-dumping. COAG agreed that the Commonwealth would request the Productivity Commission (the Commission) to undertake a review of Australia's anti-dumping system. Australia's anti-dumping and countervailing system allows Australian industries that have been materially injured to make a claim against foreign businesses that they consider to be 'dumping' low-priced competing goods or exporting subsidised goods into the Australian market. If a claim is upheld, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service imposes duties on the foreign goods. Countervailing duties are another form of trade remedy that are imposed in response to a foreign country subsidising its exports.

The Commission has been asked to assess the policy rationale for, and objectives of, Australia's anti dumping and countervailing system, and assess the effectiveness of the current system in achieving those objectives. It is to make recommendations on the appropriate future role of an anti-dumping and countervailing system within the Government's overall policy framework. This will involve an examination of the economy-wide costs and benefits of Australia's anti-dumping and countervailing system including its impact on Australian industry, consumers and the broader community. The Commission will hold hearings as part of this inquiry, publish a draft report, and provide a final report to the Australian Government within nine months of receiving the terms of reference. The Government encourages those industries affected by the current anti-dumping and countervailing system to contribute their ideas and suggestions to the Commission's inquiry. Further information can be obtained from the Commission's website at http://www.pc.gov.au or by contacting the Commission directly on 02 6240 3239.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/23/2009

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NEW ZEALAND: Clampdown on Red Tape Underway

The Building Act and the laws covering swimming pools and shop trading hours are included in a government-wide review of red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy. Minister for Regulatory Reform Rodney Hide is directing the review. He says a lot of the rules and regulations which affect peoples' everyday lives and businesses are minor but are past their use-by date or just plain silly. "Others are more serious and can affect jobs, load big costs onto businesses and drive people crazy." He says the rules around backyard pools are far too complex and impose ridiculous costs on families. "You shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to put in a pool for the kids. There's a lack of clarity in the current legislation that's resulted in bizarre obligations such as having to build a fence around a pool which is already locked with a padlock." Mr Hide says the shop trading laws need changing. Garden centres can open on Easter Sunday but the Mitre 10 hardware shop nearby, which also sells plants, cannot. That is ridiculous. Water drinking standards are also included in the review. "Over-the-top regulations imposed by the previous government have put great financial stress on rural communities who were previously happy with their water supply. It's also loaded huge compliance costs onto councils." The review has only just begun and there will be a progressive rollout of the results through the year. Mr Hide is expecting extensive changes, with a number of regulations likely to disappear altogether. "Some of the changes will impact directly on just a few people. For example, we're looking at how we can make it easier for overseas-trained professionals to get registered here, rather than having to drive taxis for a living. Other changes, such as reforms of the Building Act, will affect many people and the cumulative effect of removing needless rules and regulations will be substantial. "People just want to get on with their lives unhindered by silly rules. These reforms will help them do that."
Media contact:
Phil Keating, Press Secretary
phil.keating@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 04 470 9427 / 021 2779427

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/04/2009

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Government Tackling Alcohol Problems

A bill which takes action on alcohol availability and abuse received its first reading in Parliament tonight. "The Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill responds to New Zealanders' demand for action on alcohol availability and abuse and encourages both adults and young people to drink responsibly," Justice Minister Simon Power said. The bill proposes that: Local councils can restrict the number of liquor outlets in an area, the location and proximity of outlets to other community buildings such as schools, and hours of operation Except in very limited circumstances, grocery-selling stores will not be able to obtain a liquor licence unless they have a floor area of at least 150 square metres. Existing licensees will have to comply upon renewal of their licences. Grocery-selling stores will continue to be restricted to selling beer, wine, cider and mead The allowable blood alcohol content for drivers under 20 years of age who don't have a full drivers licence is reduced to zero "New Zealanders are increasingly frustrated by their inability to influence liquor licensing decisions. Since 1990, the number of on-licence premises has more than tripled, and the number of off-licence premises has tripled. "People are concerned about the sheer number of liquor outlets, particularly when they spring up near schools and other community buildings.

"The bill also recognises that parents have the primary responsibility for teaching their children to drink responsibly. A recent study found that children as young as four were trying alcohol, and that the onset of drinking rises very steeply from the age of twelve. "Under this bill it will be an offence for adults to give alcohol to a young person without the consent of their parents or guardians - giving parents more control over their children's access to alcohol. "It will also mean alcohol problems can be tackled early, by allowing the Police to divert young people to early intervention alcohol programmes instead of issuing infringement notices. "This bill deals with the most pressing concerns about alcohol. The Government is fully behind the Law Commission's wider review of the regulatory framework for the sale and supply of alcohol, and I have asked the Commission to speed up the review. "I'm very pleased that the Commission will now be releasing a discussion document in the middle of this year and a final report in mid-2010," Mr Power said.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/10/2009

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Government Committed to Real Solutions Not Slogans

Environment Minister Nick Smith today stated that five programmes led by the Ministry for the Environment would be discontinued or scaled back to ensure the Government could afford to meet its priorities for the environment. "The previous Labour Government left a $26 million hole in the budget for the Ministry for the Environment. That meant a number of important work programmes like waste and Climate Change would be unfunded from 1 July this year. "This Government has been forced to take a close look at all the work the Ministry is leading and ensure it makes a real difference to our environment. Work on Climate Change, freshwater management, biodiversity, waste management and air quality are the Government's priorities. "The Government also wants to ensure that reform of the Resource Management Act and a redesign and implementation of an Emissions Trading Scheme are a priority for the Ministry. "Programmes instigated by the previous Government did little. The Carbon Neutral Public Service was just a feel good slogan cooked up by the previous Government. Its only achievement was to cost this country millions of dollars. Ironically, since the programme was launched by the previous Government, emissions from the Ministry for the Environment increased from 656 tonnes in 2005/06 to 766 tonnes in 2007/08.

"As for the Govt3 programme, I have heard of public servants going to training sessions to learn how to best separate their recycling. This Government expects public servants to use their judgement on what is best for the environment. Caring for the environment should be business as usual. "The work the Bioethics Council was doing was somewhat duplicated by other Government committees. This included the Ministry of Health's National Advisory Committee and Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART), and the Environmental Risk Management Authority and its Maori advisory Committee, Nga Kaihautu Tikanga Taiao. It makes no sense for multiple Government agencies to do essentially the same work. "With regards to the Recycling in Public Places Initiative, this was a three-year programme that will now end a year earlier on June 30 this year. Public place recycling will continue with the intention it will be funded from the waste levy under the Waste Minimisation Act that comes into effect from 1 July. "The Household Sustainability programme will be integrated with the Sustainable Business Development Programme. The focus will be on making goods that are better for the environment. "This Government's priority is to invest in frontline services that really matter for New Zealanders not expensive slogans."

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/11/2009

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Government Moves Fast to Help Retain Jobs

The Government will provide financial assistance to employers to encourage them to retain workers, Prime Minister John Key announced today. A Job Support Scheme will be aimed at private sector businesses with over 100 full-time employees. Employers, workers and unions will negotiate voluntary agreements to reduce their hours of work to a nine-day fortnight. The government will pay employers $12.50 (the adult minimum wage) an hour per worker, for up to five hours a fortnight. While workers are in the scheme they cannot be made redundant. Mr Key says the nine-day fortnight idea received urgent attention after it was identified as a priority at the Job Summit. "I recognise that some firms are feeling the effects of difficult economic times and I want to move quickly to help save jobs," Mr Key says. "This is a practical measure that will give businesses some extra time to ride out the tough conditions, and to retain jobs as they do. "We need to be realistic, however - there will still be redundancies and this is not a silver bullet. I believe it is important to save as many jobs as we can, while we can. "By reducing hours, employers will be able to retain their workforce and will be better equipped to respond when economic circumstances improve," Mr Key says.

Along with the Job Support Scheme for employers with more than 100 workers, Mr Key says the government is also looking at how small businesses might be able to benefit from a similar scheme. The programme for larger businesses: Will be available to businesses with more than 100 employees. There are about 1600 companies which fit this category and they employ 580,000 people. Will be available to businesses from March 27, 2009 through until December 31, 2010 - but only for up to a six month period within these dates. The government's contribution will be paid direct to employers to give to the workers it has negotiated a voluntary agreement with to reduce work hours to a nine-day fortnight. Will be available to up to 10 employees for each averted redundancy. Will apply to employees who have been full-time for the two months preceding going into the scheme. Is anticipated to be picked up by between 20,000 and 25,000 workers, making the approximate cost $16 million to $20 million. "We are continuing to work constructively with unions and business as we decide on the finer details of the scheme," Mr Key says. "Cabinet will receive a progress update on Monday. "This is the first idea put forward at the Job Summit that is coming to fruition. I'm sure it won't be the last," Mr Key says.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/11/2009

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Fisheries 2030 Project Takes Next Step

The Minister of Fisheries, Phil Heatley, has announced the next stage of Fisheries 2030, a review to establish clear direction and actions necessary to unlock the future economic potential of New Zealand's fishing sector. Fisheries 2030 was initiated by the Ministry of Fisheries in August 2008 as an independent review of the fishing sector. The review, carried out by PriceWaterhousecoopers, incorporates input from key leaders from across the fisheries sector including aquaculture, commercial, amateur and customary fishers, as well as environmental and other NGOs. Mr Heatley said the report contained a useful package of measures to move the debate forward. "The fundamentals of our fisheries are sound, now is the time to build on them for the future. "We support sustainable fisheries practices, an internationally competitive commercial fishing sector, high quality recreationally fishing, and we are working with Maori on treaty settlements," Mr Heatley said. The review listed a large number of measures that could enable better value to be gained from fisheries and could contribute to a strengthening of the economy and New Zealanders' experiences of fishing. The next stage in Fisheries 2030 will involve the Ministry of Fisheries working with fisheries stakeholders to pick the best suggestions from the PriceWaterhousecoopers report. From this work a direction will be confirmed and a plan of action put in place.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/18/2009

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Govt Launches a Border Development Authority

The Papua New Guinea Government expects economic development and security concerns on the border areas to be given top priority with the creation of the Border Development Authority or BDA. The Post Courier paper reports the government has allocated almost 28 million US dollars for BDA, which was launched this week in Port Moresby. The board of directors for the authority were sworn in from a range of disciplines, but the obvious omission was security administration organisations such as the Police and the Defence Force. The Finance Minister, Patrick Pruaitch, says the Government is committed to border development and will ensure it's properly funded to deal with development and security issues.

From http://www.rnzi.com/ 03/04/2009

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June Asean Summit Planned at Jeju

President Lee Myung-bak and leaders of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states will meet at Korea's southern resort island of Jeju on June 1 and 2 for a special Korea Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, according to a Blue House press release. "Inviting 10 state heads of Asean member countries and its Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Korea will host the special summit conference to commemorate the 20th year of establishing dialogue channels with Asean. " the Blue House said. Those attending will evaluate achievements made between South Korea and Asean during the last two decades. While the leaders discuss how they can develop further measures to improve ties, officials will also hold talks to tackle the current global economic crisis and global warming. On the sidelines of the summit talks, CEO-level discussions and a number of cultural events are slated in order to boost business exchanges and cooperation, according to the Blue House. "The special summit will be the largest international event to be held in Korea since the 2000 ASEM, or Asia-Europe Meeting, in Seoul and the 2005 APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, in Busan," the press release said. "The meeting will give us a chance to expand our diplomatic clout in the international community," according to the release.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 03/02/2009

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New ITU ICT Development Index Compares 154 Countries

Geneva - ITU's new ICT Development Index (IDI) compares developments in information and communication technologies (ICT) in 154 countries over a five-year period from 2002 to 2007. The Index combines 11 indicators into a single measure that can be used as a benchmarking tool globally, regionally and at the country level. These are related to ICT access, use and skills, such as households with a computer the number of Internet users; and literacy levels. The most advanced countries in ICT are from Northern Europe. The exception is the Republic of Korea. Sweden tops the new ITU ICT Development Index, followed by the Republic of Korea, Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland and Norway. They are followed by other, mainly high-income countries from Europe, Asia and North America. Western and Northern Europe and North America are the regions with the highest IDI scores, and most countries from these regions are among the top twenty ICT economies. Poor countries, in particular the least developed countries, remain at the lower end of the index with limited access to ICT infrastructure, including fixed and mobile telephony, Internet and broadband.

The Report finds that all countries (except one) have improved their ICT levels during the past five years, but some much more than others. Eastern Europe not only features high relative growth but also one of the highest IDI value gains and can thus be considered as the most dynamic region on ICT developments during this time period. Countries that were driving this process include the Baltic States and Romania. Other economies that have significantly improved their ICT levels are Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Macao (China), Japan, Italy and France. Globally speaking, most progress has been made on ICT access, which includes fixed and mobile telephony, Internet bandwidth, and households with computers and Internet. In terms of ICT use, which includes the number of Internet users, fixed and mobile broadband, progress has been much slower. In particular broadband, a more recent technology, still has to take off in many countries.

Countries with low ICT levels (and hence low Index ranks) are primarily from the developing world. Given the close relationship between ICT level and GDP, many of the poorer countries, in particular from Africa, rank further down in the IDI, with little change in ranking since 2002. Some developing countries, though, have moved up considerably in the Index over the five-year period, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China and Viet Nam. This is partly due to high mobile cellular growth, coupled with an increase in Internet users. China (Rank 73 in 2007 up from 90 in 2002), has made significant progress in increasing the number of fixed telephone lines and mobile subscriptions as well as fixed broadband during the past few years. The recent Government decision to issue IMT-2000/3G licenses by early 2009 and to restructure the market to increase competition in the wired and wireless services is likely to drive mobile broadband and further increase ICT uptake in other areas as well.

Both developed and developing countries have increased their ICT levels by more than 30 per cent over the five-year period, but developing countries are still lagging behind on ICT access and usage. A comparison of ICT levels and GNI per capita (at purchasing power parity) shows a strong link between income and ICT uptake, with some interesting exceptions. Several of the top ICT countries have higher ICT levels than expected given their income levels. For example, the Republic of Korea is outstanding with much higher-than-expected ICT levels. This illustrates how a strong and targeted ICT policy can drive the development of the information society in countries with relatively lower income levels. The Report also presents the latest, end-2008 figures for key ICT indicators. There has been a clear shift from fixed to mobile cellular telephony and by the end of 2008, there were over three times more mobile cellular subscriptions than fixed telephone lines globally. Two thirds of those are now in the developing world compared with less than half in 2002.

Based on ITU estimates, 23 out of 100 inhabitants globally used the Internet at the end of 2008. But penetration levels in the developing countries remain low. Africa with 5 per cent penetration is lagging behind. When it comes to broadband penetration, figures are even lower. Given the rapid spread of IMT-2000/3G mobile cellular networks in many countries, including in the developing world, there is a clear potential for mobile broadband to connect more and more people - and at higher speed. Digital divide persists but decreasing slightly: One of the main objectives of the IDI is to measure the magnitude and evolution of the global digital divide. Based on the concept that the digital divide is "relative" - meaning that it compares ICT developments in one country with those in another country - the Report shows that overall the magnitude of the global digital divide remains unchanged between 2002 and 2007. Despite significant improvements in the developing world, the gap between the ICT haves and have-nots remains.

When dividing the world into four groups of countries based on different ICT levels, a slight decrease of the digital divide can be observed between countries in the "high" ICT group and those in the other groups. This could be due to an increase in mobile cellular penetration levels in many countries that are part of the lower ICT groups. On the other hand, results also show that the digital divide between countries with "upper" and those with "medium" and "low" ICT levels is increasing slightly. This suggests that as information societies become more mature, ICT levels flatten out. Less mature, but reasonably advanced information societies grow strongly, thereby leaving behind those at the lower end of the scale.

Cost of ICTs lowest in Singapore and the United States: The cost of making a phone call or surfing the Internet can influence the use of these technologies. The Report presents a new tool - the ITU ICT Price Basket - that measures and compares ICT prices across countries. It combines the average cost of fixed telephone, mobile cellular, and Internet broadband and compares 2008 ICT tariffs in 150 countries. It ranks countries based on the relative price of the ICT services and thus measures and compares the affordability of services. In 2008, ICT prices corresponded on average to 15 per cent of countries' average GNI per capita, ranging from 1.6 per cent in developed countries to 20 per cent in developing countries, with most countries in the 0−25 per cent range, and most developed countries in the 0-3 per cent range. In other words, significant differences exist among countries based on income levels. Countries with high income level pay relatively little for ICT services, while countries with low income levels pay relatively more. This is often due to very high tariffs for fixed Internet broadband in some developing countries.

Countries that rank at the very top of the ICT Price Basket include Singapore, the United States, Luxembourg, Denmark, Hong Kong (China), United Arab Emirates, Taiwan (China), Sweden, Norway and Finland. Given the income levels of those countries, they offer the most affordable ICT services globally, ranging between 0.4 and 0.6 per cent of monthly GNI per capita. In all of the top 25 countries, ICT services account for less than 1 per cent of monthly GNI. This compares to the bottom 25 countries, where the ICT Price Basket value ranges between 40 and 72 per cent of monthly GNI - which is a clear indicator that ICTs are unaffordable for the large majority of the people in those countries. The Report also compares prices for each of the three technologies - fixed and mobile telephony and Internet broadband. Looking at purchasing power parity tariffs, the cost of fixed telephony is lowest in Iran, followed by Taiwan (China) and the United Arab Emirates; the cost of mobile cellular telephony is lowest in Hong Kong (China), followed by Denmark and Singapore; and the cost of Internet broadband is lowest in the United States, followed by Canada and Switzerland. A comparison of ICT levels and ICT prices suggests a strong link between the two. The Report highlights that economies with relatively low prices have relatively high IDI levels; economies with relatively high prices rank relatively low in the index. ITU plans to publish the ICT Price Basket on a yearly basis, which will allow countries to track the development of prices over time.

From http://www.itu.int/ 03/02/2009

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Seeking the Region's Best and the Brightest: APEC Calls For Papers

An all expenses-paid trip to present their views at the annual APEC CEO Summit - a gathering of the Asia-Pacific'[s top business people, which will be held in Singapore this November - may just motivate business students to knock out one more paper. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) invites senior level and postgraduate students from business schools in APEC member economies to write an original essay discussing: "What can APEC do for business?" The topic, intended to stimulate discussion surrounding APEC's core mission and long-term goals of free and open trade and investment, has been kept broad, to allow for the greatest range of perspectives and ideas. "We put a good deal of thought into the best way to celebrate our anniversary," says Michael Tay, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat. "We decided that the most appropriate way to reflect our values as an innovative and inclusive body would be to stimulate discussion - and maybe even debate - surrounding APEC and business and how they can work together in the new economic landscape." Three winners will receive prizes totalling USD 5,000. The top essayist will present his or her work at the CEO Summit taking place in Singapore in November 2009 and will have the chance to meet his/her economy's Leader. This experience includes the cost of flights to Singapore, hotel accommodation and a per diem allowance, in addition to a USD 500 cash prize. The second prize winner will be awarded USD 1,000 and the third prize winner USD 500. For complete submission details, please visit: www.apec.org/20years

From http://www.apec.org/ 03/02/2009

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ADB's Mundra Mega Power Project Wins Two Key International Finance Awards

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Mundra Ultra Mega Power Project, a key project financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other international and local financial institutions, has won two top-tier project finance awards, a sign of the success and importance of the project aimed at easing power shortages across India. Euromoney PLC's Project Finance Magazine and Project Finance International, a Thomson Reuters publication, have both given the Mundra project their Asia Pacific 2008 Power Deal of the Year award. In 2008, ADB provided a US$450 million loan to Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tata Power Company Limited, the largest private power utility in India. CGPL will build, own and operate the 4,000 megawatt Mundra project in the western state of Gujarat. "The project is crucial to helping solve the chronic power shortages that India is facing in its northern and western regions and doing so using a cleaner coal technology given India's dependence on coal in the absence of other practical alternatives," says Takeo Koike, Investment Specialist in ADB's Private Sector Operations Department. "We are glad that Project Finance Magazine and Project Finance International have recognized the importance of the project."

The project uses technology that improves the conversion efficiency of fuel to electricity by over 25% compared with conventional coal-fired power plants, which will both cut coal usage and significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. A risk participation arrangement between ADB and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) spurred $1 billion in debt financing from the Republic of Korea, providing a significant contribution to completion of the project's financing. The plant is expected to be the first in a series of large energy-efficient power plants in India under the Government's "Power for All" plan to provide reliable and quality access to power by 2012. The project should also help to promote private investment in the energy sector by providing a good example of building and financing large-scale power projects through public-private partnerships. Under its long-term Strategy 2020 framework, ADB is committed to supporting environmentally sustainable growth in Asia and to expanding its work with the private sector to promote economic expansion in the region. To that end, it aims to scale up private sector development and private sector operations to 50% of annual operations by 2020.

From http://www.adb.org/ 03/03/2009

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ASEAN Awareness Workshop

Thirty-four participants, comprising staff of the Yangon-based Coordinating Office for the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force for Cyclone Nargis, hub officers, hub assistants and ASEAN volunteers, gathered today in Yangon for a one-day ASEAN Awareness Workshop. The workshop was organised to increase their understanding of ASEAN so that they would be able to share that knowledge and promote the awareness of ASEAN among the local communities they operate in. The workshop was divided into two sessions. The first part was conducted by staff from the ASEAN Secretariat who spoke on the history and current developments in ASEAN, the ASEAN Secretariat as well as the ASEAN Charter. Ice-breaking and team-building exercises were also conducted with the participants. The second session involved a tour to the National Museum of Myanmar to learn more about the history of the country. Staff of the Coordinating Office and Hub Offices and ASEAN volunteers come from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.

From http://www.aseansec.org/ 03/06/2009

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Climate Prediction System to Help Developing Economies Prepare for Disaster

Forecasters, disaster planners and researchers can now create customised climate predictions, anywhere on earth. The online Climate Information Tool Kit, known as CLIK and available at http://clik.apcc21.net, was created to assist developing economies detect, prepare for and reduce the impact of harmful weather and climate conditions. Modern technology allows established economies to predict future weather and climate patterns by feeding internal and external data into model equations. However, these calculations are seldom shared. This means that, until now, economies lacking in technical infrastructure have been unable to access the information they need to prepare for and reduce the impact of natural disasters. Departing from past norms, climate centres throughout the APEC region have made their own calculations available for use, free of charge, anywhere in the world.

To further expand the reach of this resource, CLIK employs user-friendly online technology (Ruby), enabling users to create a customised prediction for any selected region. This technology has already been awarded the Fukuoka Ruby Award, Grand Prix for its technical merit and potential contribution to society. CLIK is the result of a collaborative accord reached during the APEC Climate Symposium in 2007 and is implemented through the APEC Climate Centre (APCC) in Korea. The APCC produces real-time operational climate prediction information based on a multi-model multi-institute ensemble (MME) system. It is currently the largest prediction system in the world. The APCC aims to achieve the APEC vision of regional prosperity through the reduction of economic losses due to abnormal climate.

From http://www.apec.org/ 03/11/2009

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International Programme "ASEAN in Today's World" Opens in Mahidol University, Thailand

Dr Surin with Presidents and Representatives of the 8 participating Universities from the region (last row) and students participating in the programme (first and second row) A three-week international programme on Asian languages and cultures and ASEAN studies titled "ASEAN in Today's World" was launched yesterday at the Salaya Campus of Mahidol University in Thailand. This programme is jointly organised by Mahidol University and Kyushu University with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat. Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN who was invited to the Opening Ceremony of the programme, said, "ASEAN needs the cooperation of all stakeholders in building its Community that is people-oriented". He added, "We need to provide a wider opportunity for the young generation to learn about ASEAN on the world's stage and the recognition given by the world to ASEAN." Besides Dr Surin, Clinical Prof Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, President of Mahidol University; Dr Setsuo Arikawa, President of Kyushu University; and Mr Yuji Kumamaru, Minister of the Japanese Embassy to Thailand, also delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony. Twenty-four university students from Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam were selected to participate in the programme on a full or partial scholarship from the organisers. The programme will expose them to the current affairs in the region, including public health, global AIDS epidemic, environment and crisis management, as well as introduce them to Asian languages and cultures. The programme ends on 2 April 2009. Details of the programme are available at http://www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/astw/

From http://www.aseansec.org/ 03/17/2009

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Using ICT to Promote the ASEAN Spirit

Forty participants from ASEAN Member States, comprising youths, policy-makers and practitioners from private companies in Information, Communication and Technology sector, gathered in Bangkok, Thailand from 18-19 March 2009, for the "Seminar on Usage of ICT to Promote ASEAN Spirit". The two-day seminar aims to develop ASEAN spirit among the youth in the region by using ICT as a mechanism. It will provide a platform for the participants to design techniques and strategies on the use of ICT to promote the ASEAN spirit. As part of the seminar, participants will visit the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center and Thailand's Science Park. The Seminar is an ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information project.

From http://www.aseansec.org/ 03/18/2009

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CHINA: Political Advisor Urges Innovation to Tackle Downturn

China needs to enhance innovative capabilities to tackle economic woes during the global financial crisis, a senior political advisor said in Beijing Saturday afternoon. Li Wuwei, executive vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomingtang, made the remarks at a plenary meeting of the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Li, also vice chairperson of the CPPCC National Committee, said innovation is a must in China's fight against the financial crisis. The country should build its own brands, and develop its own core technologies so as to reduce its dependence on foreign economies, he said. He proposed that the country turn to creative industries, such as online games, in times of the crisis, quoting them as a "warm current in the winter of economic downturn." He urged the country to make more policies in favor of the development of the creative industries, and to better protect intellectual properties. A national association for the creative industry should also beset up to help facilitate the industry's development and international exchange.

From http://english.people.com.cn/ 03/08/2009

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Macao Establishes Collective Risk Warning System

The government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has decided to set up a collective risk forecast and warning system to handle public emergencies, the Macao Post Daily reported on Tuesday. An order concerning the establishment of the system has already been signed by the SAR's Chief Executive, Ho Hau Wah, according to the daily. The order provides for a five color seriousness scale to describe the perceived situation, such as red for a critical situation and green for a normal situation. The public emergencies include natural disasters, public health threats and other natural and man-made calamities, according to the daily.

From http://www.chinaview.cn/ 03/10/2009

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China Says Stimulus Plan Will Not Sacrifice Environment

China's environment watchdog said Wednesday it will not compromise environmental standards in approving projects under the country's massive 4-trillion-yuan economic stimulus plan. Wu Xiaoqing, Vice Minister of Environmental Protection, said the ministry had rejected or postponed the approval of 14 projects worth a combined investment of 104 billion yuan (15.2 billion U.S. dollars) since the stimulus plan was announced last November to prevent a slowdown in the world's fastest growing economy. These projects are in sectors of chemicals, petrochemicals, steel, coal-fired power generation and paper making, Wu said at a press conference on the sidelines of the parliament's annual session. "We will build a firewall to say no to projects that are not inline with the country's laws and regulations," he said, adding the government had stressed project screening when setting its growth target at 8 percent for 2009. "We'd rather be seen as the bad guy at the moment than make our way into the history as sinners," he said, "we must be very strict in applying environmental standards." Zhang Lijun, also a vice environment minister, said China's measures to tackle the crisis was not only about ensuring an 8-percent growth, but also about promoting domestic consumption and economic restructuring. Chinese government has explicitly banned energy-intensive and highly polluting projects and those that may consume too much resources, said Zhang. "This is a red line we can never cross," he said.

Zhu said the ministry would say no to four categories of projects including projects explicitly banned by the government; energy and resource-intensive projects that are highly pollutive; projects that will result in deterioration of the local environment; and projects located in nature reserves. The ministry would strictly restrict projects that may threaten drinking water sources and damage scenic sites, he added. "We must absolutely prevent projects that have already been turned down from being renewed in disguise of technological upgrade and boosting domestic demand," Wu told reporters. His comment might serve as reassurance to the country's lawmakers and political advisors who are worried that the massive stimulus plan may bring "dead projects", projects suspended under previous macro control, into life again. The ministry had released two documents providing what will be approved by itself and what will be approved by local environmental protection authorities, as well as what categories of projects shall be approved and what categories shall be rejected, Wu added. The ministry had approved projects worth more than 970 billion yuan by the end of February since the stimulus plan is announced, with more than 280 billion yuan to be invested in infrastructure projects.

From http://www.chinaview.cn/ 03/11/2009

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China's Wen Urges Innovation to Fight Crisis

China's Premier Wen Jiabao has urged businesses to focus on upgrading and innovation to help ride through the global financial crisis, state media reported Sunday. "Chinese companies should focus on adjusting product structure, improving quality and upgrading technologies in the face of economic woes," Wen said during a visit to northeast China, the official Xinhua news agency said. Urging enterprises to move sooner rather than later, Wen said efforts should be stepped up to develop new products and foster intellectual property rights, Xinhua said. He once again emphasised the implementation of China's four-trillion-yuan (580-billion-dollar) stimulus package, unveiled in November to fight the impact of the crisis on the country's trade-dependent economy. A top official at the State Council, or cabinet, said earlier Sunday that the package was expected to contribute 1.5 to 1.9 percent to China's growth this year, Xinhua reported. China has set an economic growth target of about 8.0 percent this year, a level that the government says it needs in order to keep unemployment at a manageable level. However, just over a week ago, Premier Wen Jiabao admitted this target would be difficult to achieve. On Wednesday, the World Bank slashed China's economic growth forecast to 6.5 percent in 2009.

From http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ 03/23/2009

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JAPAN to Fund Green Projects

HORSHAM, England (Kyodo) Japan will launch a $5 billion lending facility to help developing countries improve water, solar power and other environmental infrastructure. The program was unveiled by Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano during a two-day meeting of the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers that wrapped up in Horsham, south of London, on Saturday. Flows of private-sector funds to developing nations are plunging due to the global financial crisis. The government hopes to spur investment by private-sector banks by having public financial institutions participate. Tokyo will provide $5 billion over the next two years through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for big private-sector projects. It also plans to supply syndicated loans with the Asian Development Bank and the International Finance Corp., an arm of the World Bank Group.

Yosano said Japan is eager to play a role in helping the world out of the deepening economic crisis. "The best contribution we, the second biggest economy in terms of GDP, can make to the world economy is to help conquer the economic and financial crisis as soon as possible and ensure medium- to long-term growth," Yosano said. He said the immediate task for Tokyo is to pass the fiscal 2009 budget and relevant bills as soon as possible. Another priority, he said, is for the public sector to help companies meet their financing needs ahead of their March 31 book closing through policy funding measures. Yosano expressed hope that the ruling bloc will quickly come up with additional stimulus measures in accordance with Prime Minister Taro Aso's recent instructions.

From http://search.japantimes.co.jp/ 03/16/2009

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SOUTH KOREA Ranks 2nd in Global Innovation

The government's efforts in the area of corporate restructuring are gaining momentum, with Korea enjoying higher standing in a recent international innovation index. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) said Tuesday (Mar. 10) that Korea was placed 2nd in the global innovation index in the group's research report. Singapore topped the list, followed by Korea, Switzerland, Iceland and Ireland, in order. The report was put together based upon the results of research conducted last September and October by three U.S. organizations: the BCG, the Manufacturing Institute, and the National Association of Manufacturers. BCG said that the International Innovation Index is part of a broad study that looked at both the business outcomes of innovation and government's ability to encourage and support innovation through public policy. The report looked at policy indicators for innovation, including tax incentives and policies on immigration, education and intellectual property, the consulting firm said. President Lee's emergency economic council said in late February that speedy and efficient corporate restructuring is needed to prevent further spread of debt defaults in the domestic market. The council decided to implement restructuring in the overall corporate sector, while putting emphasis on such weaker industries as construction and shipbuilding firms, in particular.

From http://www.korea.net/ 03/11/2009

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Universities Give Free Courses to Fight Crisis

With the beginning of the spring semester, universities nationwide are starting up a range of social contribution programs to help citizens get through the financial crisis. Park, a 28-year-old former employee of a firm that runs oil refineries, will today be starting classes in Chinese and business administration and trade at the University of Ulsan. "Since the financial debacle erupted, getting a job at financial firms has become harder than ever," he said. Park, a graduate of the University of London's construction management department, said he aims to land a job at a financial company after getting a Chinese language certificate. The southeastern port city university has launched 39 courses for local job seekers this semester. At the start of the semester, Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul started courses for graduates of the school. Over 300 students are now taking courses that teach not only practical knowledge but also liberal arts subjects. Choi Yoon-sun, a graduate of the life science department, is taking "Introduction to Philosophy" and "Criticism of Capitalistic Culture." "I'm trying to gain a critical eye through liberal arts courses, which I rarely had a chance to take while in college," she said. She plans to eventually go to law school. Seoul National University has opened its doors to not only young job seekers but also retirees and people who have temporarily lost their jobs. The public university will give some 1,300 people the chance to freely enter libraries and take seminars on management capacity and science and technology. Retired conglomerate executives and other experts will be invited to give lectures. At Korea University, meanwhile, 450 staff members have been making volunteer contributions since November last year. University staff, including president Lee Ki-su, have done voluntary work such as giving out briquettes to needy people in Seongbuk, northern Seoul, and visiting orphanages. Those services are financed from a 53 million won ($35,000) fund comprised of donations from staff members, according to Lee Hwan, the university employee who leads the social contribution work. "During the 1998 Asian financial crisis, we opened our undergraduate courses to 150 jobless people over one and a half years. Universities should take a leading role in helping resuscitate the Korean economy," said Kim Hyung-joon, an SNU professor who is in charge of the outreach program.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 03/11/2009

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Gov't in Drive to Boost Korea's Brand Value

President Lee Myung-bak presided over the first meeting with the Presidential Council on Nation Branding on Tuesday aiming to improve Korea's image. The meeting recognized that Korea's brand falls behind its economic success and discussed ways to boost its national brand value to somewhere in the top 15 by 2013. The ranking is a measure of the global perception of a country, and Korea's brand value currently stands at 33 in the Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index. The 47-member council, including eight ministers and public relations experts, felt the poor brand value is mainly due to Korea's insufficient contribution to the international community. To resolve this problem, the council decided to use Korea's experience of economic growth as a model for less developed countries. The Finance Ministry is planning to offer counseling for macroeconomic policies to Vietnam this year and to expand the support to countries in Southeast Asia, Africa and Central and South America. Along these same lines, the Foreign Ministry will increase the number of Korean volunteers for overseas humanitarian projects from some 2,000 a year to 3,000. And it will also streamline volunteer projects into one comprehensive program dubbed "Korean Supporters." The presidential council is also coordinating with the Korea Communications Commission to provide multi-language programs in order to expand communication with other countries and their residents in Korea.

From http://english.chosun.com/ 03/18/2009

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MONGOLIA: State Prizes Awarded

Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/ Some prominent people were awarded with State prizes on Friday at a decree of N.Enkhbayar, the President of Mongolia. A title of People's Artist has been bestowed upon M.Yaasai, a musical conductor of Khovd aimag's music and drama theatre. K.Anargul, a section manager of the Policlinics for State Special Servants, has been granted the title of State Honored Medical Doctor; Sh.Yolk, an editor of Mongolia's National Public Radio and Television - State Honored Figure of Culture; Ye.Dorvetkhan, a director of Bayan-Olgii aimag's "Bilge-Tegin" secondary school - State Honored Teacher; Sh.Dondei, a herdsman of Bayan-Olgii aimag's Sagsai soum - State Honored Herdsman; I.Toloogon, a farmer of Khovd aimag's Buyant soum - State Honored Mechanic of Agriculture; M.Zeinelkhan, an advisor to Mongol Bank branch in Bayan-Olgii aimag - State Honored Economist. The same day, the Red Flag Order of Labor Merit was bestowed upon K.Dauletbai, a head of the Citizens' Representative Khural of Orkhon aimag. , the Order of Polar Star was conferred on K.Magii, an executive director of "Sama" company; J.Saule, a Vice Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry; B.Tsetsegmaa, a teacher of the city's 75th school. The medal of Military Honour went to D.Adyabazar, a senior expert of the National Security Council (NSC), and N.Namjiltsogt, the NSC's expert.

From http://www.montsame.mn/ 03/20/2009

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MALAYSIA: Govt Opts for Open Tenders to Strengthen Process of Procurements

ALL Government procurements will be made through open tenders or restricted tenders except for specific cases, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. This approach, he said, would enhance elements of competition and strengthen the value-for-money concept in Government procurements. "Electronic procurement will be expanded through the e-Perolehan system to enhance transparency in the management of Government procurements," he said. To manage costs, Najib said, the implementation of design and build projects would not be allowed except in cases requiring high technical expertise. "In addition, project proposals must obtain 26 approvals from the standards and costs committee. Agencies must implement projects according to cost, cost limits, project scope and plans, as approved. "As such, any changes to project costs, work scope and design without approval of the committee will not be allowed," he said, adding that the committee wou ld submit periodic reports to the Cabinet on standards compliance and related issues. The Government would increase the number of professionals like engineers, architects and quantity surveyors to strengthen the effectiveness of the committee, said Najib, adding that there would be continued support for the progress of domestic industries where use of local materials had been mandated. Procurement of imported items, he said would only be allowed if it could not be sourced locally or cost too high locally.

From http://thestar.com.my/ 03/11/2009

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PHILIPPINES: RP Has Greatest Percentage of Women in Senior Management Positions in the World

Manila (PND) - Here is good news for Filipino women on women's month: The Philippines - which is headed by a woman President - holds the world record in the greatest percentage of women in senior management positions. "The greatest percentage of women in senior management is in the Philippines where women hold 47% of senior positions," said the Thornton International Business Report (IBR) 2009. "They (Filipino women) are followed by Russia (42%) and Thailand (38%)," added the Thornton IBR which interviewed senior executives of Philippine private firms and cited figures from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) showing that women "have steadily outnumbered men in executive positions." "In 2002, the ratio was 1.86 million females to 1.4 males in supervisory and executive positions. In 2006, the ratio was 2.257 million women managers to 1.629 million men. "By 2007, there were 2.281 million female managers to 1.677 million males," it added. The Filipino women's breaking the proverbial "glass ceiling" for women in management is in contrast to the global reality of women hardly making it to the top of their organizations.

"New research from Grant Thornton International reveals that women still hold less than a quarter of senior management positions in privately held businesses globally," according to the IBR's press release about its 2009 report. The IBR added that only 24 percent of senior management positions are currently held by women - "a figure identical to 2007 and only a marginal improvement from 2004 when only 19% of senior level positions were held by women." The Thornton IBR 2009 also lamented that "34% of privately held businesses globally have no women in senior management." The Grant Thornton International Business Report is an annual survey of the views of senior executives in privately held businesses (PHB) all over the world. Launched 17 years ago in 1992 in nine European countries, the report now surveys over 7,200 private businesses in 36 economies providing territory, regional and global trend data on the economic and commercial issues affecting a sector often described as the "engine" of the world's economy. Thornton's IBR 2009 results were released by audit, tax and business advisory firm Punongbayan & Araullo (P&A), a member firm within Grant Thornton.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/07/2009

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PGMA to Unveil Improved Flood Forecasting and Warning System in Pampanga Wednesday

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PND) - Residents living in low-lying and flood prone areas in the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija can now be assured of early, concise and up-to-date reports on weather, rainfall and the water level of the Pampanga river when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo unveils the improved Pampanga River Basin Flood Forecasting and Warning System (PRBFFWS) during her visit to the province on Wednesday, March 18. Built at a cost of P460-million, which was sourced through a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the national government counterpart, the PRBFFWS is expected to improve the existing monitoring facilities of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) for rainfall and water level monitoring so that timely and reliable warnings can be issued for the flood-threatened communities of Pampanga, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. Pagasa Administrator Frisco Nilo said that through the "high-tech" upgrade of the agency's existing Flood Forecasting and Warning System (FFWS), "real-time" data on actual weather, rainfall and water level of the Pampanga river are analyzed on the ground, fed through a computer system that analyzes and outputs final data displayed on computer screens at the PRBFFWS command center for immediate action and information disbursement to concerned communities. "Lahat ng data na makukuha ng monitoring equipment na naka-install sa mga probinsya ng Bulacan, Pampanga at Nueva Ecija, tulad ng kung gaano kalakas yung ulan at kung gaano kataas na yung level ng Pampanga river, ay papasok dito sa PRBFFWS command center," Nilo explained.

"Yung information na yan ay gagamitin ng ating mga hydrologists para ma-monitor yung development at para mag-issue sila ng flood warnings tulad ng possibility na magkaroon ng flood sa isang lugar," he added. The warnings or weather updates are distributed to the concerned agencies such as the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government units who may be affected by the floods. Nilo welcomed the upgrading of his agency's FFWS which, he said, was first installed 30 years ago. "So ngayon, very much advanced na itong available na FFWS natin," Nilo said. Nilo also said that the PRBFFWS is just the first phase of a two-layered government FFWS program. The second phase involves the Agno river in Pangasinan which will also undergo an "upgrade" in its monitoring processes beginning in April. Joining the President for the unveiling at the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) compound in Barangay Maimpis here will be DoST Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Atmospheric Services Administration (Pagasa) Administrator Frisco Nilo and local executives led by Pampanga Vice Governor Joseller "Yeng" Guiao, San Fernando mayor Oscar Rodrgiuez, Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio Gonzales and governors Joselito Mendoza and Aurelio Umali of the provinces of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, respectively. Upon her arrival, the President will unveil the project marker signaling the formal opening of the PRBFFWS. She will then be given a brief tour and inspection of the PRBFFWS' Flood Supervisory Control System and Communications Room by Pagasa's Nilo.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/17/2009

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Singapore Called Most 'Innovative' Nation

WASHINGTON - Singapore is the most innovative nation in the world, while South Korea placed first among 20 large countries, according to a study released on Monday by a manufacturing group. The United States was eighth in the overall list of 110 countries and second in the subset of large nations, said the report, produced by the Washington-based National Association of Manufacturers and the Boston Consulting Group. NAM hopes to use the report to put pressure on the new administration and congressional leaders to help American manufacturing, which is reeling from job losses as the U.S. economy is gripped by the worst recession in close to three decades. "Government can help move America up the innovation index by enacting more competitive tax, trade and workforce policies that enable U.S. manufacturers to innovate and succeed globally," said John Engler, NAM's president and chief executive and a former governor of Michigan. Senior officials in the Obama administration are scheduled to travel to Michigan this week to meet with senior executives and labor leaders from the U.S. auto industry to discuss "fundamental restructuring" aimed at "long-term viability" for the sector, according to a senior administration official. NAM said the study comprised a survey of more than 1,000 senior executives from its members asking them about "innovation friendliness." In the overall ranking, South Korea was second, followed by Switzerland, Iceland and Ireland. For more details on the study, visit www.nam.org/innovationreport

From http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ 03/09/2009

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SINGAPORE: Pilot Project to Build "Green" Road Kicks Off

SINGAPORE: A pilot project by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to construct Singapore's "green" road using recycled materials has kicked off. If successful, it could lead to savings of millions of dollars annually. Using recycled materials to build roads in Singapore is not new. It has been done for the last 20 years and about a quarter of the roads today have some form of recycled materials in them. What makes the latest trial different is that a mix of recycled materials will now be used extensively in all four layers of the road structure, instead of just one layer as was done previously. If the scheme works, the advantage is two-fold. Firstly, Singapore can reduce its dependence on the import of expensive raw materials like granite from neighbouring countries. Secondly, it is cheaper to build such roads as one of the recycled materials used is waste generated within the country. Household rubbish which has been burnt and processed is one material which will be used to construct the third and fourth layers of the road in the green pavement trial.

Today, an average of 2,000 tonnes of waste is dumped at the Semakau Landfill daily. If the waste can be used for roads, the amount dumped can be reduced by as much as half and the Semakau Landfill life-span extended by about 25 years. The six-month trial will take place at a stretch of Tampines Road just outside a heavy-vehicle park. Laboratory tests have been done, but will it work in practice? Lim Bok Ngam, LTA's deputy CEO for infrastructure & development, said: "The main thing we are looking at is the longer-term strength (of the road) because the materials that we use today, we know that most new roads constructed can last 20-30 years before any major repairs are required. For this material, the life span of the road may be slightly reduced." If the pilot is successful, LTA's long-term aim is to increase the amount of recycled materials in roads to 70 per cent from the current 25 per cent.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/18/2009

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THAILAND: Govt to Allocate 6.9 Billion Baht for Job Training

BANGKOK (TNA) - In an attempt to cushion the impact from the global economic meltdown now impacting the Thai economy, the government is to allocate Bt6.9 billion to provide short-term occupational training for the unemployed. The number of unemployed is expected to soar to one million this year, Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu said on Monday. Speaking after presiding over a Government House meeting to discuss how best to assist the jobless, Mr. Korbsak said the training initiative is considered a priority among the government's economic stimulus packages and aims to provide short-term occupational courses for the unemployed and new graduates. The programme is set to continue for two years and is expected to help some 500,000 people find jobs, said Mr. Korbsak. The first stage of the programme will run from April to September and about 240,000 people are expected to attend. More will be trained next year, he said, noting that the programme was critical now after news that some 74,000 workers now employed at 106 small- and medium-sized enterprises are to be terminated from their jobs. The short-term occupational training could help them, he said.

After completing the course, trainees will be given jobs at government and private offices, he said. The short-term training will last less than a month and the government will pay Bt5,000 per trainee per month plus a per diem allowance during training, said Mr. Korbsak. Upon completion of the training, those wishing to return to work in their native provinces will receive another Bt4,800 per person for a maximum of three months, plus travelling expenses. Interested persons wishing to enroll must be between 18-60 years old and registration in Bangkok - to be presided over by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva - will be held on Sunday at Muang Thong Thani. Upcountry, registration can be completed at provincial employment offices between March 18-24.

From http://enews.mcot.net/ 03/16/2009

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VIETNAM: City Tax to Reduce Plastic Bag Use

VietNamNet Bridge - The city's Department of Natural Resources and Environment has proposed a tax on the use of plastic bags to discourage their consumption and reduce their environmental impacts. It has also called for producers having to bear the full costs of collection and recycling of the bags in a proposal submitted to the city People's Committee. The proposal envisages the establishment of an organising board to encourage retailers participate in a pilot programme to be implemented at supermarket chains and trade centres in the city. A system of collection points in the city will be set up under the programme to gather used plastic bags for recycling. The department also wishes to encourage businesses to replace plastics with other materials and promote recycling of plastic bags. Its proposal calls for providing businesses with incentives to do this by providing preferential loans from the Industrial Pollution Minimisation Fund, the Waste Recycling Fund and other sources. The Government needs to issue policies encouraging people to use environmentally friendly packaging, the department says. It estimates that 50 tonnes of plastic bags are used in the city every day. As a non-biodegradable substance, this poses a huge environmental problem for the city already struggling with disposal of the huge quantities of waste generated everyday.

From http://english.vietnamnet.vn/ 03/09/2009

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One Million Farmers to Receive Vocational Training

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam's ministries are developing a project to provide vocational training for one million rural workers by 2015, which Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan described as having great social significance. At a meeting in Hanoi on March 11, Mr Nhan said that the details still need to be worked out but that Vietnam should attempt to train 300,000 labourers per year from 2009 and then gradually raise the figure over the next few years. He stressed that the project must take into account mountainous nature of some provinces - where most of the ethnic minority people live - and also to pay attention to training domestic staff up to international standards so they can work overseas. It is hoped that the project will be the catalyst in the building of a high-skilled labour force that is able to industrialize and modernize the agricultural sector and rural areas in general. Under the project, people will be trained to work in the agriculture and rural services sector or to become communal civil servants. The project will target workers aged between 16 and 55 who have a need for vocational training and qualify for specific courses such as cultivation techniques, animal husbandry and veterinary services.

From http://english.vietnamnet.vn/ 03/12/2009

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INDIA: Innovation, Education Key to Growth

NEW DELHI - India has barely touched the tip of the iceberg as a knowledge economy, and must use "disruptive technologies" to drive markets such as healthcare and education, urged delegates at a technology summit. "Innovation is not an idea leading to discovery. It relates to the ecological system in which it can blossom. This is something that the Silicon Valley was able to provide," Professor M. G. K. Menon, a renowned physicist and policy maker in India, said at the inaugural EmTech India 2009 held this week in New Delhi. "Knowledge is in our DNA, however, India needs to evolve the right ecosystem that can help unleash the real potential of the nation," Menon said. Delegates at the two-day conference discussed the impact of next-generation technologies on businesses and society and also marked the launch of the India edition of Technology Review, Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 109-year-old magazine. Describing the country as a knowledge economy, Menon said what has emerged from India so far is only the tip of the iceberg. "Much of the iceberg is submerged," he said. "We need to use disruptive technologies to focus on areas like health and education, in order to bring the masses to the forefront." Speaking at the keynote address Monday, Neelam Dhawan, HP India's managing director, said the next billion users of IT will be low-cost users, as opposed to premium users. "Therefore, HP is focusing on new areas like paperless business, technology for the illiterate and cloud computing," Dhawan said. "Economics and technology can work together in reducing the impact of the recession." She explained that over the last few years, HP has redesigned its computers so that they run on lesser power, by using lesser metal and plastic. "Through [such] innovation, we have saved enough metal to build another Eiffel Tower. That kind of innovation has to go on," she said.

Build health superhighway
During a separate session on healthcare, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals, noted that locals living in rural India are willing to adapt and experiment with technology if it can give them access to good healthcare. Reddy called for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to build a "health superhighway" that would connect a chain of hospitals - both government and private - through applications such as telemedicine, mobile software and wireless networks so doctors can connect up with villages in India. He cited how telemedicine had already reached 2,000 villages and laid the foundation for platform that will eventually guarantee healthcare services to all. "We had this [telemedicine] plan in mind for at least 10 years, but we did not have the technology or applications to implement it. Now, these are available," he said. "We want to touch every single doctor in every corner of the country, through a telemedicine network so that patients can not only get access to healthcare, but can also get a doctor of their choice," said Reddy. Balvinder Singh Kalsi, president and CEO of DuPont India, said: "The sense of adaptability to technology among rural populace is very high." Kalsi cited DuPont's experience of connecting with farmers through the use of technology.

Top 10 emerging technologies
At this week's EmTech India conference, Technology Review listed ten technologies it thinks can change the way people live and work. Liquid battery: A battery that can store enough electricity to allow cities to run on solar power at night. Traveling-wave reactor: A reactor that would run on depleted uranium, making nuclear power safer and less expensive. Paper diagnostic test: Paper that can create easy-to-use medical tests, making it possible to quickly and cheaply diagnose a range of diseases in the developing world. Biological machines: A wirelessly controlled beetle can one day be used for surveillance or search-and-rescue missions. US$100 genome: A nanofluidic chip that can dramatically lower the cost of genome analysis. Combined with the right sequencing technology, this chip can allow doctors to tailor medical treatment to a patient's unique genetic profile, map new genes linked to specific diseases, and quickly identify new viruses and outbreaks. Racetrack memory: A new type of data storage that uses magnetic nanowires. This "racetrack memory" could eventually replace all other forms of computer memory. HashCache: A new method for storing Web content that will provide speedier Internet access, at more affordable rates around the world. Intelligent software assistant: New software that can act as a personal aide. This virtual personal-assistant software will help users interact more effectively with Web services to complete tasks such as booking travel or finding entertainment. Software-defined networking: A new standard called OpenFlow allows researchers to tap into Internet switches and routers, to easily test new networking technologies with the click of a mouse - all without interrupting normal service. Nanopiezotronics: Piezoelectric nanowires can generate electricity using tiny environmental vibrations. Swati Prasad is a freelance IT writer based in India.

From http://www.zdnetasia.com/ 03/03/2009

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Bangalore Engineers Get Specialised Training from Delhi Metro

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has concluded a specialised training programme for engineers and staff of the Bangalore Metro, an official said here Sunday. After this, the DMRC is looking to introduce at it's training school in the capital specialised requirement-based programmes for staff of other Metro rails in the country. "After providing consultancy services to various Metros across the country, the DMRC has started imparting training to the staff and executives of other Metros in the country," said DMRC spokesman Anuj Dayal. The DMRC provided one-month training to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) engineers, who had come here to get a first-hand account of the functioning and working of the Delhi Metro, Dayal informed newspersons. During the course of their training at the specialised Delhi Metro Training School, the participants were given exposure to the functioning and working of the Delhi Metro. They were also shown the technology used here like the telecom and signaling system, overhead electrification and round-the-clock power supply, emergency systems, construction methods. A tunnel visit at the under-construction Race Course Road Metro Station was also conducted. The BMRC engineers also learnt how to drive a metro train in its different modes using a train simulator. They were given inputs on general management, soft skills and personality development to sharpen their managerial skills as well. "Officials at the DMRC's Metro Training School are planning to introduce specialised training programmes for the staff and employees of other Metros coming up in cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and a new line in Kolkata, depending upon their requirement," Dayal added.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/15/2009

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NEPAL: First Data Centre for Nepal

In Kathmandu, the country's first data centre, Government Integrated Data and Training Centre (GIDTC), has started functioning. GIDTC has already started working as Internet Data Center and is providing e-connectivity to all ministries. In the second phase, it will start storing important documents. To pave way for the establishment of e-Governance, the data center will provide its service to private institutions as well. Established with the help of a grant assistance from South Korean government, GIDTC, will store government documents in its main server and make them accessible to the general public. The National Information Technology Center (NITC) which falls under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology has been mandated to look after GIDTC. In order to make the plan a sucess, NITC will also impart training to civil servants in order to familarise them with various applications, software and data management techniques. This training will enhance computer skills among government employees and also support e-Governance initiative.

From http://www.egovonline.net/ 03/10/2009

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AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan to Host Economic Cooperation Organization Cultural Week

Cultural week at Afghanistan's Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) will kick off on March 21 on Norouz, the celebration of the first day of spring in Muslim communities, in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif. Deputy Cultural and Information Minister Najibullah Manalai told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that the Iranian and Tajik foreign ministers, representatives from the 10 ECO member states, and thousands of Afghans will join in the celebrations. Norouz brings in the New Year for Afghanistan, Iran, and many Central Asian countries. It is traditionally observed in Afghanistan by performing national dances, making special sweets, and putting up a pillar covered with green cloth as a good omen. The ECO groups Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

From http://www.rferl.org/ 03/06/2009

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IRAQ: Officials Declare Financial Assets

Seventeen high-ranking Iraqi officials, including cabinet members, have submitted financial-closure statements to the anticorruption commission, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reports. Judge Rahim al-Igaili, the head of the commission, told RFI that top public servants are obliged under the law to disclose their finances to the commission after being appointed to their posts. He added that they also must file annual financial statements about their personal income, as well as any assets registered in the names of their dependents and spouses. Al-Igaili said Iraq needs more effective legislation to combat rampant corruption, noting that most of the laws passed by parliament over the past six years have been about rights and privileges and hardly any laws address corruption or focus on good governance.

From http://www.rferl.org/ 03/05/2009

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IRAN: IT Expo in Kish

Iran plans to host world's greatest IT symposium. After Austria and China, Iran will host the Confenis 2009 in May on Kish Island. Universities and academic centers active in IT sector will attend the symposium which will be inaugurated on May 11. The conference was convened by IFIP affiliated with UNESCO in 2006 in Austria and in 2007 in China, ISNA wrote. The role of global village organized information systems, organized knowledge management, improving working procedures of organizations and various electronic services from electronic trade to electronic citizens will be discussed at the conference. Open-source and free software systems, human resources planning, customer relationship management, managing supply chains and integrating organization information are also other topics of discussions.

From http://www.iran-daily.com/ 03/09/2009

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IRAN: Parliament Hands President Setback on Economic Reform

Iran's parliament has voted against a key plank of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's subsidy reform plan, dealing him a potential blow ahead of a presidential election in June. In what may be another sign of political trouble for the conservative president, a prominent rival comfortably defeated one of Ahmadinejad's backers and was reelected as head of a powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts. The assembly vote followed parliament's decision on March 9 to throw a clause out of the 2009/10 budget bill that would overhaul Iran's system of hefty subsidies. Critics say the government's plan to hike energy and utility prices and compensate low-income families with direct cash payments would only add to double-digit inflation at a time of plunging oil prices and growing economic woes. They accuse Ahmadinejad of squandering the windfall oil revenue Iran earned when crude prices were soaring, leaving it more vulnerable in times of need, such as now. "The bill would intensify existing stagflation," said the head of parliament's energy committee, Hamid-Reza Katuzian, quoted in the newspaper "Kar-va-Kargar."

Ahmadinejad argues his plan would help "implement justice and remove discrimination," and that change was needed more urgently now crude has fallen by around $100 a barrel from July's peak of $147, hitting Iran's main source of revenue. But a group of Iranian economists this week said the plan was against Iran's interests and urged the assembly to reject it. A Western diplomat said the parliamentary vote was a setback for the government, but that it may be temporary. "I think we are going to look at some form of compromise over the next couple of weeks," he said. Ahmadinejad, who came to power in 2005 pledging to share out Iran's oil wealth more fairly, plans to run for a second four-year term in the June 12 election, despite growing criticism of his economic management. His main rival is expected to be reformist, former President Mohammad Khatami, who oversaw a thaw in relations with the West during his 1997-2005 tenure. Ties have deteriorated again under Ahmadinejad, partly because of his fiery anti-Western speeches. In the Assembly of Experts vote, former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is a critic of the government's economic policies and wants better ties with the West, saw off a challenge from Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, an ally to Ahmadinejad, the news agency ISNA said.

Rafsanjani, who won the assembly ballot by 51 ballots against 26 for Yazdi, lost to Ahmadinejad in 2005. He is not expected to seek the presidency again, but he remains an influential political voice in the Islamic republic of Iran. "It shows that members of the Assembly of Experts are worried about the country and Ahmadinejad's policies. That is why they voted for Rafsanjani, who has more moderate stances," said one Iranian analyst, who declined to be named. The assembly is an 86-seat body with the power to appoint, supervise, and even dismiss Iran's highest authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In practice, the assembly is not known to have ever challenged Khamenei. Another political analyst in Tehran said Ahmadinejad "is not doing very well," but he doubted squabbling over subsidy reform would have a major impact on the election campaign. Analysts say the outcome of the vote could hinge on whether Ahmadinejad retains the support of Khamenei, Iran's top authority, who has publicly praised the president. (by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad)

From http://www.rferl.org/ 03/10/2009

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TAJIKISTAN: Finance Minister, WB Lead Economist Discuss Measures to Overcome Financial Crisis

Ways and measures to mitigate effects of the global financial crisis on Tajikistan were a major topic of a March 16 meeting of Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov with visiting mission of the World Bank, led by Sudarshan Canagarajah, Lead Economist, World Bank, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) Secretariat. In the course of the talks, the sides exchanged views on the latest processes in the world and discussed experiences of other countries in developing anticrisis measures. Najmuddinov expressed gratitude to the meeting participants and noted that at present, it was necessary to act together, resolutely and quickly in order mitigate effects of the global financial crisis on Tajikistan's economy and society, the source at the MoF Secretariat said. (by Mavjouda Hasanova)

From http://www.asiaplus.tj/ 03/18/2009

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TURKMENISTAN: Commit to Human Rights Reform

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone. The Turkmen government should use the opportunity of today's UN review of its record on human rights to commit to a genuine reform agenda, Human Rights Watch said today. March 19, 2009 is Turkmenistan's final session before the United Nations' global rights body, the Human Rights Council, under its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) procedure in Geneva. Human Rights Watch urged the Turkmen leadership to demonstrate the political will to improve its abysmal rights record by accepting and then carrying out all recommendations made during the review. "Today's session in Geneva is a golden opportunity for Turkmenistan's leadership to show it is ready to make a genuine commitment to reform," said Maria Lisitsyna, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The countless victims of human rights abuse in Turkmenistan deserve nothing less."

At the conclusion of the initial session in December 2008, the government rejected a number of key recommendations, including that it release political prisoners, undertake a transparent nationwide review of all past cases of political imprisonment, and lift arbitrary travel bans on human rights defenders. Turkmenistan is one of the most repressive countries in the world. It is closed to independent human rights monitors, including Human Rights Watch, which has been unable to get into the country for 10 years. The UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion was the first and only UN monitor to visit the country, in September 2008, but the government has refused to grant the required invitations to nine other special rapporteurs, despite their longstanding requests for access. Independent civil society activists and journalists cannot work freely in Turkmenistan. The Turkmen government continues to threaten those who question its policies, however modestly. It is only through the UN and other external mechanisms that its human rights practices can be effectively scrutinized with a view to seeing them addressed.

"The Turkmen government should treat external scrutiny of its human rights record not as a threat, but as an essential component of an accountable government," said Lisitsyna. "It should allow domestic and international human rights organizations to operate freely in the country and to monitor the way it carries out recommendations by the Human Rights Council and other international mechanisms." Human Rights Watch also called on Turkmenistan's international partners, in particular European Union member states and the United States, to advance the recommendations of the UN review as part of their dialogues with Ashgabad, and overall to press the Turkmen leadership for concrete human rights improvements. During the review session in December 2008, the Turkmen government accepted several recommendations. It said that it would take steps to end harassment and intimidation of journalists, ensure freedom of worship for all religious communities, and allow nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to register and work freely.

But it said that it would only "consider" such crucial recommendations as granting access to the country for all UN monitors who have requested an invitation, allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross and other independent monitors access to places of detention, preventing torture in detention, protecting human rights defenders from persecution, and ending restrictions on the media. Since the December review, the Turkmen government has not taken steps to carry out any of the recommendations. In a written statement in February 2009, responding to the report following the December review, it only cited programs, reports, and legislation. But it does not address the core concerns expressed during the review by indicating any measures it is taking to end repression and human rights abuse. "The Turkmen government can resolve quite a few human rights problems immediately, since they require nothing but political will," said Lisitsyna. "Releasing political prisoners and granting access to independent human rights monitors are steps the authorities can and should take right away, to demonstrate a true commitment to reform."

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, urging him to heed the recommendations from the UN review and to take immediate action to rectify the country's most pressing human rights problems. Among the immediate steps Human Rights Watch urged the government to take are: Free all those imprisoned for political reasons, including the dissident Gulgeldy Annaniazov, the human rights activists Annakurban Amanklychev and Sapardurdy Khajiev, and the longest-serving political prisoner, Mukhametkuli Aymuradov; Start a nationwide, transparent review of political detention cases of past years and ensure that victims of abuse are provided with justice; Lift informal travel bans imposed on activists and relatives of opposition members, and dismantle the system that allows for government interference with residents' ability to leave and return to Turkmenistan. Allow activists, civic groups, and journalists to operate freely and without fear of persecution; Ensure access to the country for independent human rights monitors; Allow access to places of detention for independent monitors, including the ICRC and the UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and Carry out the recommendations of the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the UN Human Rights Committee and other international human rights monitoring mechanisms.

From http://www.alertnet.org/ 03/19/2009

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UZBEKISTAN: BANKEXPO 2009 Opens in Tashkent

The annual national exhibition of banking technologies, equipment and services BANKEXPO 2009 opened in Tashkent. The exhibition features sectors like banks, financial organizations, insurance companies, e-banking, mobile systems, money transfer and video monitoring systems, security, IT for banking and financial institutions, design and production of plastic cards and others. According to the event participants, in the conditions of the world financial crisis, issues of ensuring stable work of the banking and financial sector acquires a special importance. Now it is important to raise the people's awareness about the state and perspectives of the banking sector. The program of the exhibition includes various seminars, master classes and presentations. One of the events is a job fair where job-seekers may attend interviews for vacancies in the banking and financial sector.

From http://uza.uz/ 03/10/2009

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Legislative Chamber Hosts Roundtable on Mass Media

Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan hosted a roundtable on democratization and modernization of activity of mass media in the country on 13 March. Legislative Chamber and Public Fund on Support and Development of Independent Print Mass Media and Information Agencies of Uzbekistan organized the event. Representatives of Legislative Chamber, state bodies, mass media, journalists and others participated at the event. Participants considered such issues as coverage of democratic regions in Uzbekistan, rights of journalists in receiving information and practical use of them, professional ethics of journalists, specialization in journalism, etc.

From http://news.uzreport.com/ 03/16/2009

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UzACI Holds Seminar on Innovative Projects, Ideas

The Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information (UzACI) hosted a scientific-practical seminar dedicated to innovative projects and ideas and participation in the Second National Fair on Innovative Projects and Ideas. Specialists of enterprises of communication and information sector participated at the seminar, the UzACI said. The seminar was aimed at discussing development of innovative processes in the industry, development and introduction of innovative technologies, formation of innovation portfolio, etc. The participation at the Second National Fair on Innovative Projects and Ideas was also on the agenda.

From http://business.uzreport.com/ 03/20/2009

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AUSTRALIA: Support for Investment Education and Training

Senator Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, has today attended the inaugural Responsible Investment Academy Advisory Council to hand over $2.5 million in funding from the Rudd Government to support the development of responsible investment education and training programs for investment professionals. "The Rudd Government is committed to fostering corporate social responsibility in the business and investment communities." "To deliver real outcomes, we've offered direct support for the establishment of the Responsible Investment Academy as the world's first academic-level centre for responsible investment education, training and innovation." "The Academy will help develop the critical skills and capacity of the investment industry to harness the potential of responsible investment." "Today I met with Louise O'Halloran, the Academy Executive Director, and the full Academy Advisory Council at their inaugural Council meeting in Canberra."

"The Council, whose members include the Financial Planning Association, Investment and Financial Services Association and the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, will play an important role in developing responsible investment programs and industry partnerships," Minister Sherry said. Last month, the Federal Government announced that $2.5 million in funding over three years would be provided to the RIA. The RIA is a not-for-profit industry association that unites institutional and individual investors and financial advisers who are interested in the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues on investment practices. The Academy will deliver education and training programs, including diploma and certificate courses, to enable the investment community to better assess ESG considerations. In February, Minister Sherry also wrote to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, requesting that it review its guidance to superannuation funds to take greater account of ESG issues in their investment practices. "As large investors in Australian listed companies, super funds can have significant influence over those companies' operations and practices," Minister Sherry said.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/10/2009

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$3m Boost to Financial Intelligence Gathering

The Minister for Home Affairs Bob Debus today announced the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, AUSTRAC, will receive more than $3 million in funding to improve its financial intelligence capabilities. "AUSTRAC's database now contains around 105 million transaction reports and receives some 80,000 new reports each business day. "Updating its system will enable more effective analysis of the intelligence it collects which will have flow-on benefits to partner agencies. "Importantly, it will strengthen AUSTRAC's ability to identify and provide early warnings on emerging high risk threats as well as assisting other agencies in the investigation and prosecution of criminal and terrorist enterprises in Australia and overseas. "Being able to make link information across complex data more easily will assist AUSTRAC's analysts in identifying high-risk networks of activity. Mr Debus said the funding has been provided under the Proceeds of Crime Act which prevents criminals from enjoying the financial benefits of their illegal activities. "It's entirely appropriate that funds confiscated from criminal activity are given to an agency that works to prevent crime." AUSTRAC is Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator and specialist financial intelligence unit. For more information on AUSTRAC visit: www.austrac.gov.au.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/11/2009

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COAG's Regulatory Reform Agenda

The first Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Business Regulation and Competition Working Group (BRCWG) meeting for 2009 was held in Melbourne today. Lindsay Tanner and Dr Craig Emerson co-chair the BRCWG which aims to drive the COAG agenda for the reduction of the regulatory burden on businesses by accelerating and broadening the regulation reduction work program, and improving processes for regulation making and review. Dr Emerson said: "For the past year Federal and State governments have been working towards removing differences in regulation across borders in 27 areas. "Never before in Australian history has a government attempted such an ambitious program of reducing unnecessary business regulation." Lindsay Tanner said: "We are moving Australia from being nine markets to one and in the process working towards the creation of a seamless national economy."

The BRCWG agreed today that it will seek COAG agreement for the Commonwealth to work cooperatively with the States and Territories on practical measures to reduce red tape in the multi-billion dollar non-profit sector that provides valuable community services for those in need. Dr Emerson said: "The regulatory burden on non-profit groups can be enormous and costly. It is vital we embark on a reform process that will ultimately save money that can be passed on to those in need." BRCWG meeting also discussed working more closely with the New Zealand Government, following a recent meeting between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, on regulatory reform. The meeting also discussed reforms to the legal profession, agreed by COAG in February 2009. The BRCWG annual report card will be released shortly. It will detail the current status of work, key milestones and key objectives that form part of the ongoing program of work going forward.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/13/2009

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Carers to Benefit from Government Reforms

Today the Australian Government introduced legislation into Parliament to implement a fairer assessment process to improve access to financial support for carers of children with severe disability and medical conditions. It is estimated that up to 19,000 carers will be eligible for Carer Payment (child) from 1 July this year. In 2007, a review into the effectiveness of Carer Payment (child) found that overly restrictive and complex eligibility requirements meant thousands of parents, providing intensive care for their children, were ineligible for the payment. At the time of the review only 3,500 carers received the payment. Following the passage of this legislation through Parliament, eligibility for the payment will depend on the level of care required rather than a narrow set of medical and behavioural criteria. At the heart of these changes is a new, fairer assessment process based on the level of care required by the child and provided by the carer, rather than a strict, medical definition of profound disability. We are also cutting red tape so that parents who qualify for Carer Payment (child) will automatically qualify for Carer Allowance, removing the requirement for more forms and medical examinations.

The changes will also allow a range of health professionals including physiotherapists, registered nurses and Aboriginal health workers in remote areas to provide assessment - not just doctors and specialists. And there will be support for parents in those times when their child needs intensive care; for example when a child is undergoing treatment for conditions including cancer or trauma. The Australian Government is committed to supporting and helping carers of children with a disability, and to working with state and territory governments to improve access to respite and other support services they need. Improving and expanding access to Carer Payment (child) builds on other support measures for carers including the 2008 one-off payments, the Economic Security Strategy payments of $1,400 to Carer Payment recipients and $1,000 to people receiving Carer Allowance for each person being cared for. The Government is committed to a child-centred approach to family policy.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/18/2009

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Progress on Trans-Tasman Legal Reforms

Robert McClelland, Australian Attorney-General, and Simon Power, New Zealand Minister for Justice, today met in Canberra to progress a range of measures aimed at harmonising trans-Tasman legal arrangements. Ministers discussed progress on the implementation of the Trans-Tasman Court Proceedings and Regulatory Enforcement Treaty, signed in July 2008. The Treaty includes a number of innovative measures, such as expanding the range of court judgments that can be enforced across the Tasman, and simplifying the related processes. "I'm pleased that Australian legislation to implement the agreement will be introduced into Parliament this year. The priority we have attached to this legislation demonstrates the Rudd Government's commitment to making it easier and more cost effective for Australian and New Zealand businesses and individuals to resolve disputes," said Mr McClelland. "Like Australia, the New Zealand Government also plans to introduce legislation this year to ensure the implementation of this important agreement is achieved quickly," said Mr Power. The Attorney-General also updated the Minister on the Law and Justice (Cross Border and other Amendments) Bill 2009, which the Government intends to introduce into the Australian Parliament this week.

The Bill will expand the Trans-Tasman subpoena scheme to family proceedings, meaning that family proceedings will be included in the range of proceedings covered by the cooperative scheme between Australia and New Zealand for the service of subpoenas. Ministers also discussed work to enhance trans-Tasman cross-border insolvency arrangements, which is being led by the Australian Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Governance, Nick Sherry. Both countries have now passed legislation implementing the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law's Model Law on Cross‑Border Insolvency, and will shortly be commencing an examination into the streamlining of trans-Tasman arrangements under the Model Law. "The examination of trans-Tasman insolvency regimes will complement other personal insolvency reforms the Rudd Government is progressing in 2009 which aim to ensure Australia's bankruptcy regime remains modern and well-equipped to address the challenges of the modern financial situation," said Mr McClelland. Ministers will meet again next month at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting in Canberra, of which New Zealand is a full member.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/18/2009

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NEW ZEALAND: Minister Praises 'Self-Help' Community Groups

The Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector - Tariana Turia - is praising the work being done by 'self-help' community groups and believes they will be the groups to help people at grass-roots level through the recession. Mrs Turia has highlighted two groups working in two low socio-economic areas in Hawkes Bay. "I am particularly impressed with the 'kapai kai' group in Maraenui a low-income suburb in Napier where for the past five years up to a dozen whanau have dug up their back yards and have been growing fresh produce for the community. I don't usually like to mention individuals - it is not a Maori thing to do - but I feel I must mention 74 year old Pakura Ahuriri." "Pakura lost an eye in a work accident over forty years ago, he's had a couple of heart attacks, a hernia and appendicitis - but despite that he has dug up his back yard and planted potatoes, tomatoes, and other veges for his neighbours and friends for the last six or seven years. He pays his mokopuna and local kids to catch white butterflies and other insects in the garden rather than use chemicals thus maintaining an organic garden." "Pakura is the salt of the earth and I am terribly proud of his efforts. I am disappointed to learn that despite making many applications to many agencies, the previous government wouldn't help Pakura and his fellow gardeners and I want to do something about that." "The second group I want to mention is the roopu lead by Henare O'Keefe from the Te Aranga Marae at Flaxmere - another low income suburb - in Hastings.

"Henare O'Keefe is a popular locally based Hastings District Councillor well known for his community work - and is about to launch an innovative new tool to engage young people at risk in the community and promote an anti-violence message at the same time." "Henare - with sponsorship from a local power lines company - has built a barbeque on a stainless steel trailer which as well as being available to the community will do duty at night at local trouble spots catching the attention of young people by providing barbequed food and spreading the non-violence message too." The mobile kitchen - which actually has two gas-fired barbeques built into it was named Tunutunu - which is the Maori equivalent of 'to grill - by the kaumatua of Te Aranga Marae. I'm certain Tunutunu will do great work in the months and years to come, and I congratulate the people of Te Aranga Marae and Unison lines company for making 'Tunutunu' possible." "While I've talked about these particular initiatives, I do so in the knowledge that there are many other volunteers out there helping out in their communities and doing a great job; and I believe that as the recession bites in, we - as we have done in other times of hardship - will rally around. I am in awe of self help groups like this and I want to stand by them in the tough times that lie ahead."

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/03/2009

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Fraud Awareness Week 2009 Increases Public Vigilance

Fraud Awareness Week 2009 has been a resounding success: people are more aware of fraud in the community and are visiting the Ministry of Consumer Affairs' 'Scamwatch' website - the message is getting out there and reaching people, Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy said today. "As the slogan for Fraud Awareness Week says: 'Scams Target You - Protect Yourself'. Consumer Affairs Ministry figures from the week show that people are increasingly aware that if a deal seems too good to be true, then it most probably is," Mrs Roy said. "On Fraud Awareness Week launch day alone, the 'Scamwatch' website (www.scamwatch.govt.nz) recorded 3,490 user sessions - the highest number ever recorded for one day on the website, and up 139 percent on Fraud Awareness Week launch day 2008," Mrs Roy said. "This has been echoed by user session numbers recorded for the entire week: 12,750 - a 166 percent increase on the 4,791 recorded during Fraud Awareness Week 2008. Further, the Consumer Affairs Ministry contact centre receives an average 25 emails a week relating to scams. During Fraud Awareness Week, this increased 84 percent. "These numbers show that Fraud Awareness Week is achieving its goal of raising awareness and educating New Zealanders about how to identify scams, protect themselves and others from scams, and report scams via 'Scamwatch'. "This success can be directly attributed to all the agencies involved - both public and private - who all work hard to help New Zealanders avoid being cheated out of their hard-earned money. "Fraud Awareness Week 2009 has now drawn to a close, but the momentum of its success will continue on. When Kiwis are well aware of scams, it is much harder for fraudsters to plot and scheme," Mrs Roy said.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/09/2009

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Minister Establishes Corrections Officer Excellence Awards

Corrections Minister Judith Collins has established an award to recognise newly graduated Corrections Officers who have demonstrated outstanding achievement during their training. The Minister's Excellence Award will be presented at the Corrections Officers' graduation ceremony at Upper Hutt's Rimutaka Prison on Thursday. Two graduates will receive the inaugural award. Ms Collins established the Minister's Excellence Award to promote and honour excellence. "This award will be presented to graduates of the Department's Initial Training Course who have shown qualities of leadership, professionalism and all-round excellence," Ms Collins says. "Corrections Officers perform one of the most important roles in our society. They are charged with keeping the public safe from some of our most dangerous and difficult people. "All New Zealanders count on them to carry out their duties with integrity, initiative, courage, common sense and professionalism. "The work of Corrections Officers in making our communities safer is often under-recognised. My wish is that that this award acknowledges not just the hard work of those receiving it, but the contribution of all Corrections Officers." Forty-one new officers - 12 women and 29 men - will graduate on Thursday. The Minister will attend the graduation, and future graduations, to show her support.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/10/2009

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Police Graduates Urged to Uphold Legacy of Excellence

Prime Minister John Key wants action from the Prime Minister's Summit on Employment to be held on 27 February in Auckland. "The summit will be chaired by NZX chief executive officer Mark Weldon and will address a major challenge the country faces this year - how to retain and grow jobs. "As I have stated many times, I am interested in what works, not ideology. "New Zealand is facing challenging economic times as the global economic crisis washes over us. The National-led Government is implementing its economic plan, and we will see more initiatives in coming months. "The summit will bring together business, union and other leaders in the community to address a vital part of a healthy economy - employment. "A detailed agenda is still being developed, but we envisage that the summit will be open to the media. "I am determined that this won't be a talk-fest. I want to see outcomes from the summit that we can move to examine and implement. "In addition to the summit, I will be making a speech on the economy on Wednesday, 4 February, in Waitakere City. "More details on the speech venue, and information on the summit, will be released in due course."

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 02/13/2009

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Prime Minister Welcomes Training Initiative

Prime Minister John Key is welcoming a move by Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of NZ (ITPNZ) to offer free or low-cost training to people who opt into the government's nine-day fortnight programme. Five institutes of technology and polytechnics have today announced that they are putting up their hands to provide training to employers and employees who take up the Job Support Scheme. Their offer means that workers on reduced hours in the government nine-day fortnight scheme can potentially use time off to train - in everything from literacy and numeracy to computer skills or upskilling in the trades. "I am delighted to see these training organisations taking a lead and offering their courses as people go through difficult economic times," Mr Key says. "Making training a compulsory part of the nine-day fortnight would have been extremely complex - so I am pleased to see these polytechnics and institutes of technology stepping up to the plate. "I would encourage employees to look at using opportunities to improve their skills," Mr Key says. ITPNZ today named the five organisations which are offering courses for free or low cost as: Aoraki Polytechnic, Eastern Institute of Technology, Otago Polytechnic, The Open Polytechnic, and Wellington Institute of Technology.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/22/2009

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ADB to Bolster Efforts to Enhance Subregional Cooperation, President Says

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Strong subregional cooperation is crucial to helping Southeast Asia withstand the challenges of the current global economic downturn and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will this year bolster efforts to cement links, said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda. Mr. Kuroda was speaking Saturday to regional leaders at the 4th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit, as well as at the 5th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit. Both meetings were in Hua Hin, Thailand. "Regional cooperation becomes even more important as we seek to pursue joint approaches and pool our resources to cope with difficulties that we all face," he said at the IMT-GT Summit. ADB will this year conduct further work to help develop three connectivity corridors in that subregion. It will also kick off studies to facilitate trade, improve logistics and streamline customs with a view to enhancing subregional trade and accelerating growth in the participating provinces and states.

ADB expects to unveil a plan later this year to involve other development partners and private investors in IMT-GT, a reflection of ADB's confidence in the region's potential. BIMP-EAGA has made progress toward improving transport links, facilitating trade and developing economic corridors. Looking forward, the region could become a major player in the regional and global food market. "To increase productivity in the agriculture sector, increased investment is needed in infrastructure development, technology upgrading, and marketing support," Mr. Kuroda told the BIMP-EAGA Summit. Policies on trade in agriculture products also need to be reformed to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers. ADB will continue its technical and lending assistance to foster development in those areas, he added. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand launched the IMT-GT program in 1993 while the BIMP-EAGA program was launched in 1994. The initiatives seek to expand opportunities for trade and investment in the two subregions to support sustainable economic growth. ADB is a development partner/advisor to the two cooperation initiatives.

From http://www.adb.org 02/28/2009

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Crisis Reaching Poorest Nations, IMF Says

"Twenty-two of the world's poorest nations may need a total of $25 billion in additional funding this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, as the global financial crisis sweeps into corners of the world... After battering rich countries and wealthier developing nations, 'a third wave from the global financial crisis is now hitting the world's poorest, most vulnerable countries,' said IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn [at the launch of a new study]..." [The Wall Street Journal/Factiva] Reuters adds that "...under current IMF projections, a total balance-of-payments shock in 38 developing countries could amount to around $165 billion, and increase to as much as $216 billion under a worst case scenario. The IMF said reserves in the 22 countries are expected to fall below three months of imports with losses amounting to $25 billion - equivalent to about 80 percent of annual aid to poor countries over the past five years..." [Reuters/Factiva] Xinhua reports that Strauss-Kahn "...warned that lower growth could have serious implications for poverty and potentially also for political stability, adding that spending on targeted social safety net programs should be ramped up to protect the poor... He added that the IMF is also looking at ways to make its lending to low-income countries more flexible, reflecting their growing diversity and heightened exposure to global volatility..." [Xinhua/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/04/2009

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World's Poorest People Pay the Price as Incomes Hit by Global Financial Crisis

"The credit crunch is hitting the income of the world's poorest people the most and will make the UN's Millennium Development Goals more difficult to achieve than ever, according to research released yesterday. The Global Monitoring Report from UNESCO estimates the 390 million poorest Africans will see their income drop by around 20 per cent - far more than in the developed world. The global financial crisis has seen a fall in commodity prices as well as a drop in investment flows to poorer countries..." [The Age] "The forces that helped to push some of the poor out of poverty over the past decade of rapid growth have shifted into reverse. Trade, which created jobs for the low-skilled in developing countries, is collapsing at a rapid rate: 2009 is likely to see the first decline in trade flows since a small dip in 1982. And farmers in poor countries are facing the effects of a dramatic crash in food prices.

But according to the World Bank, three-quarters of the countries badly affected by a combination of slowing growth and already high poverty have little fiscal firepower to put new programmes of social assistance in place, or to beef up existing ones. This has led some to argue that foreign aid could play a role in filling this gap by contributing to the creation of social safety nets, or temporary transfer programmes to protect the developing world's poor. Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, has proposed the creation of a "vulnerability fund" for developing countries, a collective pot into which rich countries would put 0.7% of their stimulus packages. Aid could also fill some of the gaps in the more general financing needs of developing countries." [The Economist] "Over the weekend, the European Union's wealthy members rejected calls for a bailout of its poorer members. Collapsing economies in Eastern Europe - including inside the European Union - could bring down the banks in the West that lent to the East. Such turmoil should serve as a warning about the perils of ignoring the disasters unfolding across the developing world - and the need for a global response... The World Bank warned that it would add more than 50 million people to those living on less than $2 a day across the globe." [New York Times]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/05/2009

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Launch of ISA to Help Vaccinate Children

"A new ISA [Individual Savings Account] is being launched which will enable savers to help vaccinate children in some of the world's poorest countries, it was announced this week...The International Finance Facility for Immunization (IFFIm) is planning...to raise funds to vaccinate children in more than 70 developing countries..."[The Yorkshire Post (UK, 03/07)/Factiva] The Guardian adds that "...the Vaccine Investment Isa... is available through HSBC branches across the UK... Geneva-based GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, will [oversee] the inoculations...of which the majority are in Africa... Its members include...the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation and vaccine manufacturers..." [The Guardian (UK, 03/07)/Factiva] The Sunday Times writes that "...the idea of converting governments' future aid commitments into immediate funding for projects in developing countries was promoted by Gordon Brown in 2005... In 2006, IFFIm was launched to convert $5.3 billion in future aid commitments (pledged over 20 years by the seven governments) into bonds... The Pope was the first IFFIm bond investor..." [The Sunday Times (UK, 03/08)/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/09/2009

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South Asia Can Weather Economic Crisis, Says New Study

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - South Asian countries can weather the global financial crisis by taking both short- and long-term measures to stimulate their economies, says a new study commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The study titled The Impact of the Global Economic Slowdown on South Asia notes that the subregion has been hit by capital outflows and weaker commodity prices, and faces a sharp slowdown in exports and remittances as the global troubles worsen. A number of short-term measures have been taken to cushion the impact of the crisis, including monetary easing and fiscal stimulus packages. The study suggests there is further room for interest rate reductions, particularly in India and Sri Lanka. While most countries have little scope for large stimulus packages, given deficit constraints, India, which has introduced two of them, should disburse the funds swiftly for maximum impact, the study says. It adds that governments could consider incentives to encourage overseas workers to remit money home, such as special savings instruments, and they should also discuss currency swap arrangements and other measures to keep their financial systems stable.

In the longer term, South Asian countries need to reduce their fiscal deficits, diversify their economies, step up infrastructure investment and boost intra-regional trade to take up the slack of lower demand from G7 nations, the study says. "While some countries in South Asia have had relatively less exposure to the crisis from the adverse impacts of capital flows, more than half of the 900 million people in developing Asia who survive on US$1.25 a day live in the subregion, so any tempering of growth is a serious cause for concern," says ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda. The study is being presented as a discussion paper at the South Asia Forum on Impact of the Global Economic and Financial Crisis, a two-day forum being held at ADB headquarters on March 9 and 10. Participants include former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Michel Camdessus, former Philippines President, Fidel V. Ramos, and former Vice Minister of Finance, Japan, Makoto Utsumi.

From http://www.adb.org/ 03/09/2009

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"Green Jobs" Could Help Tackle Global Unemployment: U.N.

"Planting trees to help fight climate change could create millions of jobs in the face of mass unemployment caused by the financial crisis, the United Nations said on Tuesday. Some ten million jobs could be created by investing in restoring degraded forests, planting new trees, building forest trails and recreation areas, the U.N's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement. [Reuters] "As more jobs are lost due to the current economic downturn, sustainable forest management could become a means of creating millions of green jobs, thus helping to reduce poverty and improve the environment," forestry expert Jan Heino of the Food and Agriculture Organisation said in a statement. "Since forests and trees are vital storehouses of carbon, such an investment could also make a major contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts," said Heino, the deputy head of FAO's Forestry Department. [Economic Times] The Rome-based FAO cited an International Labor Organization study that sees global unemployment rising to 198 million people or higher in 2009. The statement was made ahead of an FAO report on the state of the world's forests, which will be released on March 16 to coincide with World Forest Week in Rome. [Reuters]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/10/2009

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UN Says World Population to Hit 7 Billion in 2012

"The world's population will hit 7 billion early in 2012 and top 9 billion in 2050, with the vast majority of the increase coming in the developing countries of Asia and Africa, according to a UN estimate. UN Population Division Director Hania Zlotnik said that 'there have been no big changes' from the previous estimate in 2006..." [Associated Press/Factiva] Xinhua adds that "...the 2008 Revision of the official UN population estimates and projections, released on Wednesday, said that developing countries will add 2.3 billion inhabitants with 1.1 billion people aged over 60 and 1.2 billion of working age... In contrast, the population of the more developed regions is expected to change minimally, passing from 1.23 billion to 1.28 billion, and would have declined to 1.15 billion were it not for the projected net migration from developing to developed countries..." [Xinhua/Factiva] AFP reports that from "...2005-2010, net migration in eight countries or areas more than doubled the contribution of natural increase (births minus deaths) to population growth: Belgium, Macau, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Qatar, Singapore, Slovenia and Spain... During the 2010-2050 period... major countries of net emigration are expected to be Mexico (334,000 annually), China (309,000), India (253,000), the Philippines (175,000) and Pakistan (161,000)..." [Agence France Presse/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/12/2009

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IMF Sees an Even Deeper Recession

"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is poised to reduce its global economic outlook for the fourth time since October... Speaking in Lisbon Tuesday, Teresa Ter-Minassian, an adviser to IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, said the Fund now expects the world's gross domestic product to contract by 0.6 percent this year, compared with a January forecast for growth of 0.5 percent..." [Bloomberg/Factiva] The FT adds that "...the eurozone economy was forecast to contract by 3.2 percent in 2009, she said... The US would shrink by 2.6 percent and Japan 5 percent, making it the worst-hit big economy. The IMF in Washington said the figures cited by Ter-Minassian were 'unofficial' and 'out of date'..." [The Financial Times (UK)/Factiva] Reuters reports that "...until now, the IMF has only said it will cut its global 2009 growth forecast to 'below zero' after worse-than-expected fourth quarter data... Strauss-Kahn told Reuters last week that advanced economies were moving too slowly in ridding banks of problems assets, which could jeopardize a global recovery in 2010. 'The scenario will be worse, but the managing director has already said this,' Ter-Minassian said..." [Reuters/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/18/2009

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OECD Expects World Economy to Shrink in 2009

"The world economy is likely to shrink in 2009 despite growth in Asian powerhouses China and India, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Angel Gurria said Friday, warning of a first global contraction in 60 years..." [Agence France Presse/Factiva]

Kyodo adds that "... 'The last time we saw the world, it looked like we were going to have positive growth on average among them, thanks to China, thanks to India,' [Gurria] said, referring to the firmer growth in the two major developing countries..." [Kyodo News (Japan)/Factiva]

Dow Jones writes that "... 'Now we are probably seeing a world which will go negative because even the positive growth of India and China is not going to be enough to offset the negative growth in (developed countries),' he told reporters..." [Dow Jones/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/20/2009

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CHINA: 3G Video Streaming Licenses Issued

The State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) has granted a group of website licenses to offer video content on 3G networks, Xinhua News Agency reported. CCTV.com, Cnradio.com and LeTV.com were among the first group of websites to be given the licenses. But SARFT did not reveal how many licenses were issued. A total of 298 institutions have been granted licenses by SARFT to offer audio and video content on the Internet. However, SARFT hasn't made it clear whether the new licensing system will replace the existing one.

From Chinadaily.com.cn 02/27/2009

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China Offers Computer Subsidy for Farmers

China is offering subsidies to people in rural areas who buy PCs as part of a massive economic stimulus package the government hopes will keep the country from sliding into recession. The subsidy program offers a rebate of 13 percent of the purchase price to rural Chinese who purchase a computer. The program could help domestic and multinational PC makers expand sales to less-developed but growing regions of China after national demand for computers fell well below expectations in the last quarter of 2008. "We applaud the Chinese government for launching these kinds of programs," said Steve Felice, president of Dell's Small and Medium Business division. "We think that will help them enhance the lives of nearly 900 million farmers throughout China and help boost domestic consumption." Lenovo, China's largest PC maker, also embraced the program. The company will extend its sales network to 320,000 villages over the next three years, it said Wednesday. It offers 15 computer models eligible for the subsidy program, ranging in price from 2,500 renminbi (US$365) to 3,500 renminbi, it said. In comparison, average income for rural Chinese residents was 4,761 renminbi last year, far below the figure for urban residents of 15,781 renminbi, according to the country's statistics bureau.

Hewlett-Packard will offer 15 eligible desktop and notebook models of its own, each equipped with agricultural and educational software to meet rural customers' needs, the company said Thursday. The program creates a solid starting point for HP's strategy of priming the rural market, HP said. Besides PC makers, component makers will also benefit. Taiwanese LCD panel maker Chi Mei Optoelectronics said its first quarter sales will be better than expected because of the Chinese PC subsidy. A slowdown in Chinese demand for PCs during the fourth quarter caught the industry by surprise and clouded the outlook for the coming year. On Monday, IDC lowered its forecast for annual growth in PC shipments to 3 percent in 2009, from an earlier forecast of 9 percent. "I don't think people anticipated around the world that emerging countries would get hit from the economic crisis in a way that's more dramatic than the developed parts of the world, but that did in fact happen," Felice said. Faced with falling demand for exports to Europe and the U.S, China is counting on domestic demand and infrastructure projects to pick up some of the slack. China's government announced a 4 trillion renminbi stimulus package in November to spur consumption.

The PC subsidy is one part of a wider subsidy program contained in the stimulus package that's designed to spur rural demand for white goods and home electronics, including televisions and water heaters. Continued strong economic growth is a key goal of China's government, which worries that rising layoffs and growing numbers of unemployed workers could lead to widespread social unrest. On Thursday, Premier Wen Jiabao told delegates at the annual National People's Congress meeting in Beijing that China's economy could grow by 8 percent this year. That number has long been seen as a critical level of economic growth, providing sufficient labor demand to employ the millions of university graduates and migrant workers who enter China's workforce each year. What impact the PC subsidy will have on China's PC market remains to be seen, but observers don't expect it to dramatically shift overall demand. "Theoretically, it could help a bit," said Bryan Ma, director of personal systems research at IDC Asia-Pacific. "But there won't be any major accelerating impact on the market."

From http://tech.yahoo.com/ 03/05/2009

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China Says 8 Percent Growth Possible in 2009

China's premier said Thursday the country can achieve 8 percent growth this year despite a worsening global economic crisis and promised more efforts to boost exports and create jobs. "We face unprecedented difficulties and challenges," Premier Wen Jiabao warned in an nationally televised speech to China's legislature. However, he said, "We will be able to achieve this target" of 8 percent growth. Wen promised to "dramatically increase" spending to counter the impact of the global slowdown that has thrown at least 20 million Chinese migrants out of work. But he made no mention of possible new stimulus measures on top of a 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) package unveiled in November. That was likely to disappoint Chinese financial markets, which rose Wednesday on hopes he might announce a new round of spending worth up to 10 trillion yuan ($1.5 trillion). Private sector economists are forecasting 2009 growth as low as 5.6 percent - the weakest in nearly two decades - after economic expansion plunged to a seven-year low of 6.8 percent in the final quarter of 2008. Beijing's stimulus is aimed at reducing reliance on exports, which plunged by 17.5 percent in January, by pumping money into the economy through higher spending on public works to boost domestic consumption.

The government points to rising bank lending and power consumption as signs its slump might already be bottoming out. Some analysts say growth could rebound as early as the quarter beginning in April. But others say China cannot recover until its key U.S. and European export markets do, which might not happen until next year. "The stimulus package is certainly a big one, but we don't think that alone is going to change the direction of the economy. The downward momentum is clear," said Fitch Ratings analyst James McCormack. He said he expected this year's growth to fall to 5.6 percent. "It's not a catastrophe but it's a hard landing," McCormack said. "We just don't think the Chinese economy can recover until the global economy recovers." Chinese manufacturing contracted in February for a fifth month, though at a slower rate than previously, according to surveys released this week. Wen promised more help to restructure and modernize industry, a streamlining of tax collection and other steps to make the economy more efficient. He also said Beijing would take more steps to boost exports, a move that might strain relations with trading partners that are trying to keep up foreign sales of their own goods.

Wen said the politically sensitive exchange rate for China's currency, the yuan, will be kept "basically stable." Exporters want the yuan devalued to make their goods less expensive abroad. But any move to weaken the yuan could aggravate strains with the United States and other governments that complain about China's huge trade surplus. Government spending will rise by about 25 percent this year, pushing its deficit to 950 billion yuan ($138 billion), Wen said. The official Xinhua News Agency said that was the highest in six decades of communist rule but equal to less than 3 percent of gross domestic product - well below the 12 percent forecast for the United States. Despite the increased spending, the total is small compared with China's 26 trillion yuan-a-year ($3.5 trillion-a-year) economy. Beijing faces a challenge in maintaining consumer and investor confidence later this year once the boost from its first round of stimulus fades, said Citigroup economist Ken Peng. "We could be in a `W' situation where there is a double dip, perhaps early next year, or if things continue to get bad, maybe late this year," Peng said. "When it comes to next year, you have less to spend and you'll be working with more difficult comparisons. At that time there will be more difficulty to lift market sentiment."

From http://news.yahoo.com/ 03/05/2009

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HK Grants US$ 1.01 Mln to Promote Development

A total of 7.9 million HK dollars (about 1.01 million U.S. dollars) has been granted to seven new initiatives for the promotion of sustainable development, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Sustainable Development Fund Secretariat said Thursday. Seven new community and school-based initiatives have been approved under the Fund to promote public awareness and adoption of the principles of sustainable development. These projects show a clear integration of the key sustainable development elements, including community involvement, social cohesion, environmental awareness and economic development, in a balanced and practical way and will last for 17 to 36 months. The amount granted by the fund this round was about 630,000 HK dollars (about 80,700 U. S. dollars) higher than the last one. The spokesman said they believe that the approved projects will become a model for wider dissemination of the sustainable development message and for creating a greater impact on the general public. The 100 million HK dollars (about 12.8 million U.S. dollars) fund was set up in 2003 to support community initiatives for promoting the concept of sustainable development. Practical projects and educational programs that help raise public awareness of the principles of sustainable development and encourage sustainable practices are welcome to apply to the fund. The fund will be open for the next round of applications in mid 2009.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/05/2009

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China Expands Rural Housing Program to Boost Demand

The Chinese government has announced a massive plan to rebuild and renovate dilapidated houses in rural areas, aiming to improve people's life, create jobs and boost domestic demand amid the global financial meltdown. Qi Ji, vice minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said on the sidelines of the ongoing annual parliament session that the country will rebuild and renovate 800,000 rural houses this year, which was expected to create 1.5 million jobs. It was not available at the moment how much the government plans to spend in this program, which was announced at a time when the country's real economy is severely hurt by the financial crisis, resulting in export decline, factories shutdown and job losses. Premier Wen Jiabao told the the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Thursday that the country will this year "expand the pilot program for renovating dilapidated houses in rural areas." The pilot program started last year in the southwestern poverty-stricken Guizhou Province. A villager named Liu Yonggao in Zunyi County, Guizhou, told Xinhua that he got a 10,000 yuan (1,460 U.S. dollars) subsidy from the government and the reconstruction cost him 80,000 yuan. "I also spend 20,000 yuan to buy home appliances including a color TV and a hi-fi system," he said. Officials from the government of Zunyi City that administers the Zunyi County said every one yuan that the government subsidizes for the rural housing program would drive a 10 yuan investment from farmers.

It also brought about plenty of jobs. In Tongzhi County alone, more than 6,000 people, including 1,000 farmers who returned home after losing jobs in the cities, were working to rebuild or renovate rural houses. More than 20,000 houses in Guizhou collapsed amid a rare snow and sleet disaster at the beginning of last year and 138,000 others were damaged. The pilot program started after the government earmarked 260 million yuan and as of the end of the year more than 20,000 rural families have move to their new homes. Another 34,000-strong families in Guizhou are expected to benefit from the program this year. "Farmers became enthusiastic to rebuilding or renovating their homes after knowing that they would receive money from the government," said Liao Guoxun, a Guizhou-based NPC deputy. Guizhou Provincial Governor Lin Shusen, also an NPC deputy, said the central and provincial governments would set aside 10 billion yuan for the program this year. Meanwhile, east China's Shandong Province last month kicked off a program to renovate 800,000 dilapidated houses in the coming five years. It also plans to build 750,000-1,000,000 new houses annually in the countryside in the coming three years. Shandong Provincial Governor Jiang Daming said 270,000 new houses had been built annually over the past few years, with an average investment of 100,000 yuan for each house built or newly decorated. Three million new houses would then mean an investment of 300 billion yuan, which would at least create 800,000 jobs, Jiang said. China's consumer spending against economy size has been declining over the past ten years, experts said.

Premier Wen Jiabao said China is facing "unprecedented difficulties and challenges" as economic growth slows, employment pressure mounts and social uncertainties increase in 2009, the most difficult year since the new millennium. China's economy cooled to a seven-year low of 9 percent last year, and broke a five-year streak of double-digit expansion, as the global financial crisis took its toll on the world's fastest growing economy. In addition to a 4-trillion yuan stimulus package that was announced in November, the premier also proposed a budgeted fiscal deficit of 950 billion yuan for 2009, a record high in six decades and nearly three times over the last record of 319.8 billion yuan set in 2003. Among the 4-trillion yuan stimulus package, 370 billion yuan will be used to improve people's life in rural areas. When delivering a government work report at the NPC session, Wen said China must boost domestic demand to sustain economic growth. "We need to...make boosting domestic demand a long-term strategic principle and a starting point in stimulating economic growth."

From Xinhua News Agency 03/09/2009

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China to Solve Housing Problem for 2.6 Mln Low-income Families

China is to speed up the solution to the housing problem for low-income families in 2009. The plan will solve 2.6 million families' problems, said Qi Ji, vice minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China (MOHURD) during a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. Qi Ji, vice minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China. The government will provide about 70 percent of the houses to achieve the goal, and the rest will be in the form of rental subsides. Qi said China will increase the supply of the low-rent housing and affordable housing, promote the rebuilding of shanty towns and dangerous buildings in rural areas so as to improve the housing guarantee system. China will invest 33 billion yuan to be used in the establishment of low-rent income system and will guarantee the implementation of policy from the fund for land and housing. In addition, the bond to be issued in the local government will also be used in the system for establishing the low-rent housing and affordable comfortable housing projects. Qi also urged the local governments to strengthen their responsibility to complete the task and guarantee the quality of the project. China invested over 30 billion yuan in low-rent housing and some 63,000 low-rent housing units are being built.

From People's Daily Online 03/11/2009

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'Chongqing to Build China's First 3G Industrial Base

Southwest China's Chongqing municipality is planning to build the country's first 3G industrial base, drawing 18 investment projects from the world's leading technology companies such as IBM and Infineon with investment amounting to 15.63 billion yuan. The 3G industrial base will develop the country's self-developed TD-SCDMA technology, covering the overall process from chip development and terminal devices production to marketing, Chongqing Economic Times reported. The Chongqing government offers workshops and office buildings to investors, as well as tax reduction or refunds for companies and technicians alike. The government also promises financial supports for the base. The 3G industrial base is expected to see sales volume exceeding 100 billion yuan in three years, the newspaper reported, citing Huang Qifan, deputy mayor of the Chongqing municipality. Huang also predicted that the industrial base may realize an output value of 151 billion yuan by 2015. China's TD-SCDMA subscribers are expected to reach 10 million in 2009, as China Mobile, the country's largest mobile operator, launches TD-SCDMA service in 38 cities, Lou Qinjian, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said in previous report. China Mobile said earlier that it planned to invest 58.8 billion yuan to develop TD-SCDMA. China had approximately 641 million mobile phone users by the end of 2008.

From China Daily 03/13/2009

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Global IT Firms Favor China

Global information technology firms continue to seek opportunities in the Chinese enterprise software market, which is still the biggest and fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific, excluding Japan, although it's also influenced by the global financial crisis, industry officials said Wednesday. The firms, such as Microsoft and IBM, provide enterprise clients various services and discounts, from cheaper office software, system to save energy costs and cheaper and qualified video conference system. The enterprise software market in the region is estimated to grow from US$18.2 billion in 2008 to US$30 billion in 2012, representing an annual growth of 13.1 percent, according to Springboard Research, a United States-based research firm. "Our principle is to provide clients qualified service with costs as low as possible," said Chen Kui, the general manager of Microsoft East China region. Unlike in the past, Chinese enterprises have become more aware of adopting IT systems to cut costs and improve competitiveness, Chen added. Unique in China, Microsoft provided enterprise clients a free Office license for every four purchased licenses. China and Australia are the largest software markets in the region, with China the fastest growing at 17.7 percent, nearly double Australia's rate of 9.1 percent. "Cloud computing, virtualization, collaboration, and open source software are among the enterprise software markets that will see strong demand throughout 2009," said Michael Barnes, an analyst at Springboard Research. Web conferences and other collaboration tools will also grow strongly as firms cut travel budgets, according to Barnes. United Kingdom-based BCS Global, which provides worldwide video communications and collaboration services, said it will expand in China via cooperation with a domestic telecommunications carrier.

From Shanghai Daily 03/19/2009

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IDC: 2009 Toughest Year for China's PC Market

PC sales in China are forecast to grow a slight 3 percent in 2009, a record low, US research house IDC said on Tuesday. That could mark a major departure from years of PC boom in the country which has enjoyed years of double-digital growth. Total sales are projected to be only 40.61 million units in 2009. Desktop sales will record a decrease of 6 percent to 24.8 million units, IDC said. In contrast, laptop sales in China are projected to increase 19 percent to 15.8 million units in 2009. "China's PC market will rebound by 2010 and enjoy a 16 percent year-on-year growth," said Wang Jiping, research manager of IDC's China Personal System Research.

From China Daily 03/04/2009

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JAPAN: Surging Jobless Push Up Welfare Spending

A particularly noticeable aspect of the recent surge in welfare benefit applications is the large number of applications from nonregular contract workers whose job contracts have been terminated in the midst of the economic meltdown. This is due, in part, to the speed with which a large number of such workers plunge into dire straits when they lose their jobs due to the inadequate functioning of the unemployment insurance scheme. "Today's society is like a big slide. The moment people lose their jobs, they immediately slide down into reliance on welfare benefits. And once they're on welfare, it's extremely hard for them to pull themselves back up," said Makoto Yuasa, head of the secretariat of Moyai, a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization to support people in poverty. A man in his 30s living in Tokyo was dismissed by a company in December, when his contract as a temporary worker had yet to expire. He was told to leave the company's dormitory, and he soon ran out of money. He was eventually forced to sleep outdoors for about a week in a park in Tokyo. One month after losing his job, he applied for a livelihood protection benefit. As he had been working on a six-month temporary contract, he was not covered by the unemployment insurance scheme. "I'd been working just like a regular worker. If I'd been able to receive unemployment insurance, I wouldn't have needed to apply for welfare," he said.

The number of applications for welfare benefits has been sharply rising. According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, applications in January in 17 major cities and Tokyo's 23 wards had risen by about 60 percent from the same month a year ago. Part of the reason for this increase is that the unemployment insurance scheme is designed to cover regular contract workers and does not adequately cover the needs of nonregular workers. The current scheme allows nonregular workers to join provided they work at least 20 hours a week and are expected to be employed for at least a year.

According to Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimates, about 10 million nonregular workers are not enrolled on the insurance scheme. The government submitted to the current Diet session a bill to revise the Unemployment Insurance Law, and plans to shorten the minimum expected employment period required from a year to six months. However, the revision, if enacted, would only bring unemployment insurance coverage to an estimated 1.5 million nonregular workers who are currently ineligible. As nonregular workers with contracts of less than six months would still be ineligible, cases of people plunging into abject poverty immediately after losing their jobs will continue.

In some cases, coverage offered by the insurance scheme is also limited. A 27-year-old former dispatch worker in Tokyo, who lost his job in December, had paid into the unemployment insurance scheme for more than four months, but was deemed ineligible to receive unemployment insurance because of a condition stipulating that fired workers must have been employed for at least six months. He was asked to leave a company dormitory, but finds himself unable to pay a deposit and commission to rent an apartment. "Welfare benefit may be my only option," he lamented.

Local govts see red over burden By Naotaka Kobayashi and Takashi Koyama / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers
Local governments have become increasingly exasperated with the central government over the growing strain livelihood protection benefits are putting on their finances. In mid-February, Osaka Mayor Kunio Hiramatsu bitterly criticized the central government at a press conference. "Local governments are now shouldering such a heavy burden. I urge the central government to review the [livelihood protection benefit] system from its very fundamentals," he said. The total amount of livelihood protection benefits paid out rose to 2.61 trillion yen in fiscal 2007. Three-fourths of the money is paid by the central government, while the rest is shouldered by local governments. But the surge in livelihood protection benefits being paid out has become a huge burden on local governments.

In a survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun, local governments expressed their dissatisfaction with the current system. In the survey, the Adachi Ward Office in Tokyo said, "We'd like the central government to pay the whole amount of livelihood protection benefits." Many local governments had to include additional funds for livelihood protection welfare benefits in their fiscal 2008 supplementary budgets. The municipal governments of Sapporo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka included 3.3 billion yen, 1.4 billion yen and 3.9 billion yen, respectively, in their supplementary budgets. The Sendai municipal government submitted its fiscal 2008 supplementary budget, including 500 million yen in additional livelihood protection benefits, to the municipal assembly.

An official in charge of livelihood protection welfare said: "In the past 10 years we've never had to include additional funds for livelihood protection benefits in the supplementary budget. But since January there's been a sudden increase in inquiries [from citizens] about the livelihood protection, and there seems to be absolutely no prospect of a fall in the number of welfare recipients for some time." However, the central government is also facing financial difficulties. In 2005 the government even considered raising the proportion of local governments' share of the livelihood protection benefits as part of reforms to review the tax and finance of the central and local governments. The government was forced to withdraw the plan in the face of vehement opposition from local governments. Observers point out that if the number of recipients of livelihood protection benefits continues to increase, the securing of revenues will inevitably surface as a major issue. (by Hiroshi Ishizaki and Kazuo Otsu)

From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 03/04/2009

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Stimulus Spending Boosts Japan's Train Manufacturers

With Japan's economy plunging at a faster rate than Europe or the U.S., thousands of jobs lost, and failing politicians lapsing from one crisis to the next, it's been a miserable few months for Japan Inc. Yet amid mounting grim headlines, one deal stands out. On Feb. 13 the British government signaled that a consortium led by Tokyo-based Hitachi (HIT) had won preferred bidder status for a $10 billion contract to build and maintain rolling stock for train lines running along Britain's east and west coasts. For Hitachi, a sprawling conglomerate that makes everything from flat-panel TVs to nuclear plants, the British contract could not come at a more important time. Hitachi expects to lose $7 billion in the financial year that ends later this month, marking it as one of Japan's worst-performing large companies. This year, despite the huge loss for the group, railway-related sales at the company are forecast to jump a healthy 17%, to $1.5 billion. The British deal, if finalized in October, should see Hitachi and its partners John Laing and Barclays Private Equity supply up to 1,400 train cars. The consortium will also service the trains over a 20-year period. Perhaps more important, analysts say the deal could be a sign that Hitachi and other Japanese companies can win more new business in the rail industry at a time when governments fighting the global recession are using stimulus spending to invest in infrastructure projects. Even as Japan's major export markets of autos and electronics slump, rail could provide a welcome growth opportunity. "This is very big news in Japan," says Hiroki Shibata, an analyst in Tokyo with Standard & Poor's (which, like BusinessWeek, is owned by The McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP)), referring to the Hitachi deal.

Battling Foreign Rivals
There should be plenty of opportunities to bid for more contracts. In the U.S., for example, the Obama Administration's $789 billion stimulus plan will provide an impetus for rail spending with $18.1 billion earmarked for transit and railways. In Europe, the European Union is contributing $630 million to member nations to spend on rail links as part of its stimulus efforts. And European national governments are increasing spending. Italy, for instance, is building a new freight line between Rome and Milan, while France is extending its renowned TGV high-speed rail services.

Faster-growing economies should provide further growth. China plans to increase the total distance of its rail network by 50%, to 75,000 miles, by 2020 at a cost of $700 billion. That spending will include eight high-speed lines, including the long-awaited route between Beijing and Shanghai. Among foreign players, Japan's Kawasaki Heavy is battling with Germany's Siemens (SI), Canada's Bombardier, and France's Alstom (ALSO.PA) to win business. And India's government is expected to go ahead with a bullet-train-style link between Mumbai and Delhi with Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi, likely to play a big role. As well as their know-how in high-speed rail (Japan's first bullet train opened for business in 1964), the Japanese government will extend India loans of $4.5 billion toward the project. "Japan is well positioned to take advantage of global infrastructure spending," says Yasuhiro Matsumoto, an analyst at Shinsei Securities in Tokyo.

Matsumoto adds that the beneficiaries of the rising global spending on rail will include train manufacturers such as Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy, track makers, and construction companies experienced in building station facilities. Suppliers should also benefit. Graeme McDonald, an analyst at KBC Securities in Tokyo, says, for instance, that Nabtesco, which makes brakes and sliding doors for trains in Japan, plans to increase its market share in China and is aiming to establish a stronger foothold in Europe. "As the likes of Hitachi do more business overseas, the likelihood is that companies like Nabtesco will do more business with them," says McDonald. In China, Nabtesco has a 25% market share for brakes in the Chinese subway market, and hopes to raise that to more than 50% by 2014 by tapping increased local production. "China is a big plus factor for them," McDonald adds.

Eco-Friendly Technologies
In their favor, Japan's rail-related companies have plenty of know-how accumulated at home and overseas. For instance, Kawasaki Heavy supplied trains for Taiwan's bullet train service that opened in 2007. Environmentally friendly technologies may also give Japan Inc. an edge. In Britain, Hitachi's bid won praise because its trains, which are constructed from an aluminum shell, will be 17% lighter than the ones they replace even though they are longer. That helps them to be quieter, emit less carbon, and accelerate more quickly. Still, competition will be intense with Siemens, Bombardier, and Alstom. Another problem is that stimulus spending today may take years to reach the bottom line. In the British project, if everything goes according to plan, Hitachi won't ink the deal before October. Even then, the first trains aren't expected to be delivered until 2013. Other deals may take even longer and require greater expense to secure. Taiwan conceived its bullet train system in 1980. Successive governments dithered over project details and then abruptly dumped French and German contractors for the Japanese team in 2000. To prosper in Europe, Japan's rail companies may need to introduce new designs that better meet local needs.

Then there's the politics of government spending. In the U.S. the lively debate over the "Buy American" clause in the Obama government's stimulus package, while ultimately watered down, shows the level of sensitivity about foreign firms benefiting from taxpayer dollars. In Europe, despite the British success for Hitachi, local rivals Alstom and Siemens are fierce competitors with long-established track records in the region. Hitachi, a relative newcomer, only began seriously seeking rail business outside Japan about a decade ago, a relatively short time in an industry where big contracts can take decades to fulfill. "If the customers are satisfied with Hitachi's [rail] cars, then Hitachi's reputation will grow, [but] it takes time," says S&P's Shibata. Japanese firms in Asia may have to tread even more carefully. In Korea, which in 2004 became the second Asian country after Japan to introduce a high-speed rail service, the government insisted upon and won technology transfer rights as part of the project. That led to a train system based on France's TGV technology developed by Alstom, but meant that the government and private companies such as Hyundai Motor's unit Rotem are working on next-generation high-speed train systems of their own. They have ambitions to compete with Alstom, Siemens, and the Japanese for contracts in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

In China, political relations can have big impact. In 2004, Chinese officials warned Tokyo that Japanese companies could be barred from working on a bullet train line between Shanghai and Beijing because of then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, including World War II war criminals. For all that, according to reports in Japan, having won work on the Beijing-Tianjin high-speed railway, which is already in operation, Kawasaki Heavy is hopeful of picking up additional contracts for the bullet train line between Shanghai and Beijing.

From http://www.businessweek.com/ 03/09/2009

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Only 2% of Stalled Projects Stopped

Of nearly 20,000 public works projects that were up in the air between fiscal 1998 and 2008, barely 2 percent were canceled or stopped temporarily following third-party reviews, an Asahi Shimbun survey shows. Although the infrastructure ministry insists the low percentage merely reflects "proper examination" by each prefecture, critics say it shows the review system is not functioning. Under the review system introduced by the ministry in 1998, prefectural governments decide whether to cancel or put on hold stalled public works projects after receiving recommendations by a third-party organization set up in each prefecture. Such organizations comprise academics, representatives from business groups and local governments, among others.

The Asahi Shimbun sent a questionnaire to all 47 prefectural governments. A total of 19,808 public works projects that had been stalled for at least five years were sent for a third-party review from fiscal 1998 through fiscal 2008, the survey found. They included projects that were going nowhere five years after a budget was allocated for their preparation and planning; projects that had not been started five years after they were officially adopted by prefectural governments; and those that had not been finished 10 years after being started.

Of those, only 418 were canceled or put on hold following third-party reviews, including Tottori Prefecture's Chubu dam project and Nagano Prefecture's Asakawa dam project. The latter was canceled under former Governor Yasuo Tanaka, who was critical of dam projects. However, it was restarted under his successor, Jin Murai, without being sent to the independent organization for re-examination. This marked the only time a public works project that had been canceled was overturned by a prefectural government. More than 30 percent of the projects that were halted involved dams and rivers, and about 20 percent each were for ports and roads

While 5,746 projects - the largest number - were sent for review to third-party organizations in fiscal 1998, only 797 projects - the smallest number - were sent in fiscal 2007. Likewise, while 155 stalled projects were stopped permanently or temporarily following third-party reviews in fiscal 2000, only nine were discontinued in fiscal 2007. Gifu Prefecture had the largest number of projects stopped, at 37, between fiscal 1998 and 2008. Miyagi and Saga prefectures had only one each during the same period.

Asked why the review process is not producing results, many prefectural governments said the number of public works projects has been decreasing amid belt-tightening by local governments. Commenting on the survey, Takayoshi Igarashi, a Hosei University professor of law who is an expert on public works projects, said, "The fact that only 2 percent of public works projects were halted indicates the system is not playing its role of stopping wasteful projects. "America's sunset law automatically stops a public works project after several years and lets the assembly discuss whether to restart it," he said. "But under Japan's review system, discussions are held while a project is under way, which makes it hard to cancel."( by Masayuki Arai and Yu Ueda)

From http://www.asahi.com/ 03/21/2009

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Govt to Plow 3 Tril. Yen into IT over 3 Yrs

The government plans to inject an additional 3 trillion yen into information technology infrastructure over the next three years in a bid to boost growth in the sector, it was learned Saturday. With experts fearing the ongoing economic crisis will lead to reduced investment and job losses in the IT sector, the "Three-year Emergency Plan," which was devised by the government's IT Strategic Headquarters, is aimed at fostering growth in both the public and private sectors. The government has calculated that this investment will have a knock-on effect of 4.7 trillion yen and lead to the creation of jobs for between 400,000 and 500,000 people. The headquarters - headed by Prime Minister Taro Aso - is formally known as the Strategic Headquarters for the Promotion of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society.

The plan will be formalized in early April after a meeting of the headquarters' expert panel Tuesday. The government hopes the plan will be reflected in an additional economic stimulus package that the government and ruling parties plan to compile soon, according to sources. Under the plan, the government will invest heavily in three major projects: "electronic central and local government," "health care" and "education and human resources." In the "electronic central and local government" project, the government plans to introduce "electronic post office boxes" from which citizens and firms can access personal information online. It plans to appropriate cost savings made from reducing paper documentation into new infrastructural investment and the utilization of nonregular employees. For example, the annual cost of the paperwork involved when people move house is about 100 billion yen, and about 120 billion yen for matters pertaining to retirement. In the "health care" project, the government's plans include developing a framework in which medical care can be provided from remote locations, promoting the introduction of electronic medical records and revitalizing community health care.

From The Yomiuri Shimbun 03/22/2009

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NORTH KOREA: Pyongyang Sets April Dates for Launching of a 'Satellite'

North Korea announced yesterday that it has notified international organizations of its plan to launch "an experimental communications satellite" between April 4 and 8. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency reported yesterday that the North had "informed the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO], the International Maritime Organization [IMO] and other international organizations of necessary information for the safe navigation of planes and ships according to relevant regulations as part of its preparations for launching Kwangmyongsong?2, an experimental communications satellite, by carrier rocket Unha?2 which was made public by the Korean Committee of Space Technology recently." South Korea's Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs confirmed that the North provided the schedule to the IMO. The North also said it was complying with the Outer Space Treaty, an international accord which bans the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in outer space and details laws governing the peaceful exploration and use of space. The North also said it was working under the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. The treaty states that outer space "shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes." "[Our] accession to the said treaty and convention will contribute to promoting international confidence and boosting cooperation in the scientific research into space and the satellite launch for peaceful purposes," the KCNA reported.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry responded that it confirmed the North Korean accession to the treaty on March 6 and the convention on March 10. A high-ranking Foreign Ministry official explained that before launching an object into space, a state must provide details concerning the date, location, number of satellites to be launched and the rocket's trajectory. Such information must be provided "as soon as practically possible" before the launch. The official pointed out that by complying with the treaty and convention, the North has "free use" of outer space. The treaty states that "outer space ... shall be free for exploration and use by all states without discrimination of any kind." "This was a shrewd move by Pyongyang," the official said. "They must have studied the impact the treaty can have on their launch." Moon Tae-young, the ministry's spokesman, reiterated the South Korean position that whether the North launches a satellite or a long-range missile, it will be in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718. Adopted after North Korea's nuclear test in 2006, the resolution imposes arms and financial sanctions on the country. "We believe the North's accession is a pre-emptive move of sorts," Moon said. "They will want to argue that they're really launching a satellite."

South Korea has maintained that the North's claim that it is a satellite launching is a disguise for a missile test. Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said yesterday that he "basically believes" North Korea is preparing to launch a missile. Speaking before the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee, Hyun said he considers what U.S. intelligence director Dennis Blair said Wednesday was "a space launch vehicle" to be the same as a missile. "Based on circumstantial evidence and the current security climate on the peninsula, I believe launching a missile is what the North wants to do," Hyun said. Following the North's announcement, Japan said yesterday it "would not tolerate" a North Korean act that raises regional tensions. Yasuhisa Kawamura, deputy press secretary of the Foreign Ministry, said: "The Japanese government urges the North to exercise self-restraint. Even if it is a satellite launch, there is an international understanding that it would violate UN Security Council resolutions." Meanwhile, the U.S. Defense Department took a more cautious approach. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell yesterday declined to discuss what the U.S. response will be to a North Korean missile launch, saying, "We just don't talk about ... intelligence or operations matters. I wouldn't get into what, if any, preparations we make to deal with that possibility."

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 03/13/2009

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Harsh Reality for N. Korean Industrial Zone

South Korea's big dream of engaging North Korea through a joint industrial complex operating on the North's soil is on the verge of becoming a nightmare. As Pyongyang repeatedly blocked border crossings to the Kaesong joint industrial park just north of the heavily armed inter-Korean border this month, South Koreans became more cautious about acknowledging the North a reliable business partner. Launched in 2003, the Kaesong Industrial Complex has been hailed as the most high-profile inter-Korean cooperation project initiated by liberal South Korean governments over the past decade. But it has not been immune to North Korea's frequent brinkmanship, which led to a 2006 atomic test and the test-firing of ballistic missiles that landed in the waters off Japan. After the most recent developments, the industrial zone now appears poised to become a political hostage. The North has used nearly every diplomatic chip available to protest the hardline stance of conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, booting officials and severing lines of communication, and the Kaesong complex is now the last one on the table. For the second time this month, North Korea banned the transportation of raw materials and finished goods to and from the park, putting 98 South Korean firms that employ some 38,000 North Koreans at risk, despite officials' pleas. "I strongly urged the North side to guarantee special treatment for firms at the industrial complex," said Moon Chang-seop, chairman of an industry group representing the South Korean firms at the border city, after returning home from North Korea on Thursday. Asked whether North Korea would commit to keeping the border open, Moon said the North was "reluctant to give a direct answer."

On Friday, hundreds of South Koreans were again unable to enter the industrial park. Some firms are already expressing serious concerns that their businesses will be put in jeopardy if the border is shut down again. "As some buyers canceled future contracts in the wake of the travel ban, losses have snowballed," an executive of a garment maker in the park said. In a recent survey of 72 companies operating in Kaesong, 68 firms - or 94 percent - said they would be forced to stop production if Pyongyang closes the border for a week. At least for now, the Kaesong park will keep operating, but it is unclear what kind of impact South Korean workers and firms at Kaesong can expect if the North launches what it says a satellite early next month. South Korea, the United States and Japan have warned that the North's planned launch, which many outside experts believe is a cover for a long-range missile test, would lead to U.N. sanctions. Earlier in the day, an official at the South's Foreign Ministry said his government is considering fully participating in a U.S.-led anti-proliferation effort, the Proliferation Security Initiative, to protest the North's launch. The move would further escalate military tension on the Korean Peninsula. With the fate of hundreds of South Koreans in the Kaesong park at stake and government-level relations with Pyongyang deadlocked, the Seoul government has come under pressure to reconsider the park. "North Korea has demonstrated that it can exert unreasonable political pressure on the South by blocking entry into the complex and taking our citizens hostage," the Chosun Ilbo, the most widely circulated newspaper in South Korea, said in a recent editorial. "Our government must come up with a fundamental plan of action for the future of the complex," it said. "As long as there is no pledge from North Korea that such an incident will not be repeated, it will be difficult to promise its continuation."

Still, most analysts have agreed that the North's recent provocations are unlikely to lead South Korea closing the Kaesong park. Kim Yeon-chul, an expert on North Korea at the Hankyoreh Peach Research Institute in Seoul, said, "North Korea is unlikely to shut down the Kaesong park because so many North Koreans work there." For North Korea, the Kaesong park has been a major source of hard currency and the only site where it can directly experiment with capitalism. According to the Chosun Ilbo, the total payroll for North Korean workers at Kaesong amounted to US$34 million a year. The North has also received $16 million for renting the site over the next 50 years. Some observers say South Korea must be patient because engagement will be one part of a successful strategy in dealing with North Korea. Andrei Lankov, associate professor at Kookmin University, said in his article for the American Enterprise Institute that the Kaesong park is "extremely useful in the long run." "The objective of these interactions will not be to turn Kim Jong-il and his henchmen into reformers, let alone democrats," Lankov said, saying that would be "a fool's errand." "Instead, the goal is gradually to undermine their control over society and encourage pressure from below. Only through an active policy of subversion can one hope to foster the social forces that in due time will be able to challenge and perhaps replace the Kims' clique."

From http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ 03/20/2009

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SOUTH KOREA: 163,000 Youths to Benefit from Unemployment Plan

With the jobless rate for youth reaching a four-year high of 8.7 percent in February, the Labor Ministry yesterday presented a package of measures to temporarily ease the unemployment crisis. The ministry plans to spend 359.2 billion won ($258.4 million) to offer countermeasures - including job training programs, short-term workplaces and internships - for 163,000 young people aged 15-29 for this year. The plan will be fully implemented after it is endorsed during a budget committee's meeting at the National Assembly. According to the plan, emphasis will be put on providing educational training and venture support programs. More than 97,000 young people will take part in training programs that include job experience programs, stay-in-school programs, where the universities give their own in-depth course trainings to their college graduates, and science and technology experience trips. About 19,000 new internships at small and mid-sized firms, public workplaces and farming regions will be in place. A total of 40,000 short-term jobs - anywhere from 1-8 months - will be made available. Such jobs will include the positions of research assistants at schools and those who will participate in establishing national-scale databases. Under a new subsidy system, the ministry will offer 300,000 won for a one-year period to 3,000 young people who have obtained jobs at small and medium-sized firms. In a similar effort, it will give a 20 percent boost to the employment promotion funds that are currently given to firms which hire young people who were unsuccessful in finding work for over three months. This measure is designed to assist the vulnerable young people - those with a lower level of education and long-time job seekers - in their job search, ministry officials said. Some, however, criticized the plan, pointing out that the training and internship-focused measures, which do not promise real jobs, would ultimately lead the young people to a more unstable job market in the future. "We're disappointed because the ministry's measures seem to be merely for show, indicating that they stress the expansion of unstable work like internships," the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions said in a statement. "It has been noted many times in the past that the government's internship program is a failed policy. The six to 10 month temporary jobs may lower unemployment statistics for the government, but cannot be a fundamental solution to the youth unemployment crisis."

From http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ 03/20/2009

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Six Industries 'to Lead Korea Out of Recession'

Korea International Trade Association on Thursday released a report predicting six promising industries - new and recyclable energy, information technology, ubiquitous health care, games, budget items, and water industry - that will lead Korea out of the global economic recession. New and recyclable energy is quickly emerging as a new goldmine. Tax benefits and worldwide investment are making the industry increasingly lucrative. The IT field will shortly see a renaissance as the Obama Administration in the U.S. and the European Union have devised measures to boost the sector. The ubiquitous health care industry will see rapid expansion due to the global aging trend. The games sector will also boom in reaction to the decline in travel and outdoor activities due to recession, and budget items will grow increasingly popular as consumers' purchasing power falls. The worldwide water shortage makes the water industry very promising.

From http://english.chosun.com/ 03//20/2009

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Creation of 35,000 Jobs in Social Work Planned

Thirty-five thousand jobs in social work will be created among the 550,000 new jobs slated by the government this year through a supplementary budget. The Health, Welfare and Family Affairs Ministry said Sunday that six ministries plan to create 35,000 social work jobs with a budget of 300 billion won (212.3 million U.S. dollars). The ministry will also create 6,600 jobs for graduates of the country's provincial universities by setting up a social service venture to help such grads get jobs in social work.

From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 03/22/2009

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Seoul to Boost Number of Public Housing

Seoul will expand long-term public rental housing from 110,000 to 400,000 by 2018, Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced Sunday. That is about one-sixth of the total 2.5 million homes available in the capital. The rent for such homes is around 55 to 80 percent of the annual deposit tenants would pay to private landlords in a given neighborhood, and tenants can rent it for up to 20 years. They are highly sought-after in this recession. Increasing the proportion will inevitably have a considerable influence on the real estate market. The revised rental housing law that laid the legal ground for long-term rental homes goes into effect in June, and the revised housing law that lifts a cap on the floor space index of privately developed homes near subway stations in return for a quota of long-term rental housing will be effective in May. The reforms are expected to spread to other parts of the country. Oh said, "The huge popularity of long-term rental housing has convinced me that people's perception of housing is changing from 'something to buy' to 'a place to live.'"

From http://english.chosun.com/ 03/23/2009

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INDONESIA: Fully Digital by 2015: Govt

By 2015, analog appliances (including televisions) may have been phased out completely in Indonesia, an official at the Communications and Information Ministry (Depkominfo) said on Tuesday. "By 2015-2016 Indonesia is expected to have gone 'totally digital'," said Freddy H. Tulung, the director general of Communication Services and Information Dissemination at the Information and Communications Ministry, as quoted by Antara news. By 2015-2016 analog electrical appliances would no longer be available, Tulung said. But, "we hope this can happen sooner. Every year we make an evaluation to make sure the process runs smoothly," he said. There are three stages in the digitalization of appliances in Indonesia, Tulung said. Throughout 2008, the ministry allocated time to educate the public about digital appliances and technology. Within the 2012-2015 period, it expects to have expanded digital coverage to all areas, including small and medium-sized cities. "We have also increased our allocation of permits for digital appliances, and are phasing out permits for analog appliances," Tulung said.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 03/03/2009

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PHILIPPINES: DOST Boosts IT Learning in Mindanao Schools

MANILA (PNA) - Over 60 public schools in Mindanao, including marginalized towns in Lanao and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, were given laptops and information technology (IT) learning packages to boost IT proficiency in the region. "We want our students to improve their performance in Science and Mathematics education in Muslim-dominated elementary schools," said Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI). Ogena said the project is part of a three-year program called Mindanao Opportunities for Vitalized Education and Upgrading of Science (MOVE UPS) that seeks to strengthen the capabilities of the 60 identified elementary feeder schools of the Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao Campus (PSHS-CMC) in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte. Ogena said these schools, belonging mostly to war-torn areas, have each received laptop computer, multimedia projector, software packages and other peripherals. Ten public elementary schools each from Lanao del Norte, Shariff Kabunsuan and Maguindanao and nine from Marawi City would also be getting the same package. Ogena said the project includes teacher and principals management training; annual science camps; laboratory equipment support; development of aptitude tests; development of parents and principals handbook, and a manual of the project; and support for library and reference materials. "We want more of our students in Mindanao to qualify in the PSHS and we can do it by giving them the appropriate basic education that would prepare them in entering a science high school," she said.

Ogena said MOVE UPS is SEI's tack to provide a favorable learning environment in Muslim dominated schools, unique in their culture, that will encourage and help students to understand, appreciate and value the importance of science. She said the project intends to develop more relevant approaches and strategies for more effective teaching and learning, particularly in Science, Mathematics and English subjects in the said Muslim-dominated feeder schools. Under the project, teachers undergo a training program that focuses on enhancing teacher capabilities and competencies in teaching science and mathematics subjects, as well as English. Principals would also be undergoing training on effective and efficient administration and supervision of feeder schools in the first year of implementation to be followed by an annual one-day conference for them. Every summer, science exhibits, quiz shows, math trails, poster-making contests and presentation of researches and mathematical investigations would be conducted to entice the students to venture into science and mathematics. An aptitude test for the students would be developed to identify potential pupils for the PSHS-CMC. "We want to equip our elementary pupils with adequate educational experiences that will ensure greater chances and opportunities of being admitted to the PSHS-CMC," she said.(PNA)

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/02/2009

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DOLE Expands Online Employment Services; Partners with Largest Online Jobseeker Database

MANILA (PNA) - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has established partnership with an affiliate of one of Asia's leading online recruitment companies to expand its efforts in helping industry and workers, especially the new entrants to the labor force and workers displaced by the global crisis, find skills and jobs via the Internet and other schemes. Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the DOLE entered into an agreement with a private executive search and staffing firm, the JobStreet Select Inc., establishing the two parties' collaboration in the provision of online employment services to jobseekers as well as to employers looking for skills that meet industry requirements. Roque said JobStreet, Select Inc., is the staffing partner of JobStreet.com, which is one of Asia's leading online recruitment companies operating in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. JobStreet.com also has the largest online jobseeker database with over one million registered jobseekers across the Philippines. The labor chief hailed the staffing firm for extending its cooperation in providing the workers and employers easy online access to information relevant to their search for jobs and needed skills. He said the partnership with JobStreet Select would boost the DOLE's efforts to facilitate the recruitment and placement of Filipino workers in view of the fact the JobStreet.com serves the hiring requirements of over 10,000 employers and processes over 15,000 jobs posted daily on its website.

He asked other firms to also join hands with the DOLE in similar undertakings as this would facilitate the employment of workers and expansion of business, thereby, helping the country cope and survive the current global crisis. The DOLE-JobStreet Select agreement was signed by DOLE Undersecretary Luzviminda G. Padilla and Grace R. Colet, general manager of JobStreet Select. Under the agreement, the DOLE's Phil-Jobnet homepage will be linked to all the available jobs in the JobsStreet.com website. Phil-Jobnet is the DOLE's computerized skills and jobs matching system showing vacancy announcements of employers and resumes of registered jobseekers. Phil-Jobnet will also provide links to the other JobStreet.com contents such as career services, articles, events, guides, etc. JobStreet.com will also participate in DOLE job fairs and other events. Meanwhile, JobStreet Select will provide a facility within the JobStreet.com website so that Phil-Jobnet registered jobseekers may be able to view existing vacancies posted in JobStreet.com website without requiring the jobseekers to register with the latter. Roque said the DOLE-JobStreet Select collaboration takes effect within one year upon signing of the agreement. (PNA)

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/03/2009

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PGMA in Clark Cyber City: Information Technology to Spur More Jobs

Clark Field, Pampanga - "Our strength is our people" is the theme of the third super region cabinet meeting held today at the Cyber City Teleservices Inc. compound in Clark Field, Pampanga. Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Secretary and Cyber Corridor Super Region Development Champion Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III presented before the full cabinet his report indicating a continued, strong growth in the Philippine IT-BPO industries. "We have overtaken Malaysia and we already took a lot from India making us now number three in market share, with 15% behind Canada (27%) and India (37%). This growth is due to innate Filipino talent; robust connectivity; accessibility through international and domestic airports; growth in PEZA IT parks and buildings; and the formation of ICT Councils nationwide as the drivers of growth," Secretary Chua reported. The President directed the Cyber Corridor Super Region Development Champion to develop the Cyber Corridor in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan De Oro, Metro Cavite, Bacolod, Pampanga Central, Bulacan Central (Baliuag, Marilao, Meycauayan), Bulacan South (Malolos, Calumpit) and Lipa City as the next Top Ten Wave Cities. International investors believe in the Philippine Super Region plan. It is projected to spur rapid development, increase labor and income in the cyber corridor as the regions, cities, and towns are now investing in information and technologies that will create more jobs, business opportunities and income. According to Goldman Sachs, one of the best investment banks in the world, "it is a good plan to create super regions in accordance to their competitive advantage. The President is focused on the speedy implementation of her infrastructure projects and she is better in the aspect compared to other leaders in Asia." In the Cyber Corridor Super Region Development Plan, the government will also ensure internet connectivity for all public high schools nationwide.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/10/2009

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Economic Advisers Present Measures to Counter Crisis

Davao City - Economic managers presented yesterday at the Marc Polo Hotel, Davao City the various measures taken by the Philippine government to sustain economic growth in the midst of the global financial crisis. They, too, urged the local business community to realize government efforts and how these measures have been contributing to the country's resiliency to the crisis. Present in the economic briefing are Department of Finance secretary Gary Teves, National Economic and Development Authority secretary Ralph Recto, Department of Budget and Management secretary Rolando Andaya, Department of Trade and Industry undersecretary Merly Cruz, Department of Agriculture undersecretary Segfredo Serrano, Department of Energy Undersecretary Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan. Teves explained the shift of government fiscal policy by investing into infrastructure and social service sectors to ensure that the economy remains buoyant. "The crisis calls for our adjustment of policy that is why we have this Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP)," he said. Instead of focusing on the country's interest payments, bulk of the budget will rather be poured on the ERP. The ERP, according to Recto, is designed through better revenue collection, enhancement of cash liquidity, access to credit and low interest rates, and more effective spending.

The government has now focused its investment on infrastructure development. This includes construction, repair, rehabilitation of irrigation, and construction of local roads. However, to ensure effective spending, Recto advised agencies to closely monitor the implementation of projects in the local level. DBM has already frontloaded 60 percent of its infrastructure development budget for the first half of the year. "This brings the frontloaded infrastructure program to P100 billion, more than 200% higher than the P33 billion in 2008," Andaya said. DBM prioritizes infrastructure projects like Surigao-Davao Coastal Road rehabilitation, Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia Road, and the reconstruction of Baganga Bridge and approaches along Davao Oriental-Surigao del Sur Coastal Road. The ERP is expected to generate more than 800,000 new jobs which is believed to help the government reach the target of 3.7 to 4.4 percent GDP growth for this year.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/12/2009

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SINGAPORE: Tops International E-Government Survey

SINGAPORE: Singapore has overtaken the United States to come out tops in an international e-Government study. The study, conducted by Japan's Waseda University, assesses the development of e-Government practices around the world. This is the first time an Asian country is leading the ranking. Using information technology in its day to day operations helps the Singapore government be more efficient. For example, putting key information and some services online, which allows the government to cut down on time spent answering basic enquiries. Phoon Chew Ping, director, Managing for Excellence, Ministry of Finance, said: "It streamlines our processes. It has synergies among agencies and this would lead to better efficiency and learning from each other's best practices. It would also lead to cost savings." Another ranking criteria is how easy it is for citizens to transact with the government online. Singapore did well in this aspect. For example, Singapore citizens can check their, file taxes, and even apply for various business licenses online. Singapore's finance ministry said it will consult Waseda University for areas to improve. The United States, which topped the list in the last four years, dropped to second place in this year's ranking. It was followed by Sweden, United Kingdom and Japan. The study takes into account factors such as network preparedness, interactivity and interface of the national portal, as well as the promotion of e-Government services. E-Government refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing. The United States, which topped the list in the last four years, dropped to second place in this year's ranking.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/06/2009

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Survey Shows Singapore Is World's 10th Most Expensive City

SINGAPORE: Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, according to the latest survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which shows the city-state moving up five positions to 10th place. This means Singapore is now Asia's third most expensive city to live in. Claiming the top seat worldwide is Tokyo, followed by Osaka - no thanks to the stronger yen. But Asia is also home to the least expensive cities, with Manila and Mumbai near the bottom of the list. Others include New Delhi and Kathmandu. The Economist says the relative cost of living depends on two factors - local prices and exchange rates. And the global economic crisis has also led to some dramatic results. Iceland's Reykjavik was the fifth most expensive city last year. Now, using February exchange rates, it has fallen to 67th place.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/10/2009

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National Family Council Launches Marriage Information Online Hub

SINGAPORE: The National Family Council has launched a one-stop resource hub on marriage-related information to help Singaporeans build stronger, healthier and happier relationships. The Marriage Central website features creative ideas and useful advice on issues ranging from preparing for marriage to keeping love evergreen over the years. There will be daily love tips - which can help couples spice up their love life - as well as a calendar of events and real life stories from married couples and experts. The website will also work with voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) and other service providers working in the area of marriage preparation, enrichment and counselling, by directing couples on where to access the resources and services that they need. An advisory board, comprising 11 individuals from various sectors, has been formed to set the strategic direction for Marriage Central.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/19/2009

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THAILAND: Chamber Urges Continued Government Commitment to ICT Development

BANGKOK (TNA) - The Thai government should accelerate development of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector despite changes of government, for the sake of economic development, according to the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC). Speaking at a panel discussion on "ICB Business Outlook in 2009," chamber chairman Pramon Sutheewong said although the overall economy had slowed down, business in the information and communication sector is expected to continue to grow since many countries have developed their capacity in the sector and business continues to apply and adapt new technologies. Mr. Pramon said he wanted the government to speed up improving the 3G network system because he believed the business performance needs to count on ICT tools to help reduce production costs. So, he advised, government must lay a foundation for expanding the ICT system on a continual basis. TCC Chairman Pramon noted that development of the communication system was suspended 'for further study' whenever Thailand experienced a change in government, and that frequent changes of government thus led to a lag in the country's ICT capacity. The Thai Chamber chief said success of the recent ASEAN Summit hosted by Thailand would lead to closer trade cooperation between member countries. (TNA)

From http://enews.mcot.net/ 03/06/2009

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Thai Consumer Confidence Index Plunges to 7 Year Low

BANGKOK (TNA) - Anxieties over the decline in the economy and the spiralling cost of living pushed Thai consumer confidence index in February to fall for the first time since the coalition government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva took office last December, retreating to an 85 month low, according to a survey. Vice-Rector Saowanee Thairungroj of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) said the consumer confidence index (CCI) in February dropped to 74, down from 75.2 in January, its lowest level since February 2002. UTCC's Economic and Business Forecast Centre director Thanawat Palavichai said the decline in February was considered high with the global and Thai economies in a worse-than-expected state after Thailand's gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2008 contracted 4.3 per cent, its lowest level in the past decade. The fall in Thailand's exports along with rising unemployment, retail oil prices and the cost of living are expected to continue lowering the consumer confidence index until the third quarter of 2009, Mr. Thanawat explained. He said the public still wants the government to issue more economic stimulus measures to increase jobs and help bolster consumer confidence and private investment during the rest of this year. The government must accelerate its spending and build confidence among the people otherwise the Thai economy could deteriorate further, Mr. Thanawat said.

From http://enews.mcot.net/ 03/12/2009

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Thailand's January Unemployment Soars to 880,000

BANGKOK (TNA) - Thailand's economic slowdown, impacted by the global financial crisis, has impacted unemployment as the number of jobless people in January soared 63 per cent to 880,000 from the previous month, and the number continues to rise, according to a senior government official. National Statistical Office Secretary-General Thananut Trithipphayabut said there are signs that the number of unemployed will continue to rise if production continues to fall. Of the total jobless in January, unemployment rate in Thailand's insurgency-troubled South was highest at 3.9 per cent of the total regional workforce, followed by the Northeast at 2.7 per cent, the Central region at 2.1 per cent, the North at 1.7 per cent and the Bangkok the least with 1.3 per cent, Mrs. Thananut said. Most of the unemployed were aged 15-24, the majority of whom were new graduates looking for jobs, she said. In January, the number of employed people rose to 36.2 million from 35.92 million a year ago. Of the total, 12.48 million, about one-third, were engaged in the agricultural sector.

From http://enews.mcot.net/ 03/17/2009

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VIETNAM: Govt Sees Up to 400,000 More Jobless in '09

Between 300,000 and 400,000 people will lose their jobs in Vietnam this year, and some 6,000 Vietnamese workers have been sent home from abroad due to the global slowdown, the labour minister said on Friday. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan told a parliamentary meeting the job losses this year would be mostly in export processing sectors such as garments and footwear. At the end of 2008, Vietnam's workforce stood at 45 million, with roughly half employed in agriculture, forestry and fishery. Unemployment was 4.65 percent, the ministry said, implying just over 2 million people were without a job. Vietnam's parliament officially forecasts economic growth this year of 6.5 percent, but economists widely view that number as unattainable, given falling exports, remittances and foreign direct investment. Many, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, expect growth to be between 4.5 percent and 5.5 percent. Ngan said about 6,000 Vietnamese Vietnamese working abroad had been sent home after being laid off by foreign employers. The government was still aiming to send some 90,000 workers overseas this year, up from 85,000 last year. Vietnam sent nearly 18,000 workers abroad in the first two months of 2009, mainly to South Korea, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Japan.

From http://in.reuters.com/ 03/20/2009

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INDIA: BSNL Releases 'India Golden 50' Plan

BSNL released the details of the 'India Golden 50' plan. Customers can talk to mobile phones on any network anywhere in India for Re. 0.50 a minute. Each SMS would also be charged at Re. 0.50 to a mobile anywhere in India. Calls to two BSNL numbers in the cellular/fixed/WLL networks would be charged at Re. 0.20 per minute, while STD calls to one BSNL fixed/WLL number would be Re. 0.30 per minute. The charges were Rs. 375 (excluding taxes) with a free talk value of Rs. 50.

From http://www.egovonline.net/ 02/26/2009

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Delhi's Police Stations to Be Linked Through Cyber Highway

New Delhi: In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the country last year, Delhi Police has moved to connect all monitoring systems, CCTV cameras, traffic systems, police stations and police headquarters with each other via the cyber highway. "To ensure secure communications at a faster pace, we signed (an agreement) with MTNL Feb 27 for integrated data communication network (cyber highways)," city Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal said Tuesday. "Cyber highway will be used for interlinking of police exchanges, connectivity of all police stations (and) kiosks with the police headquarters and district headquarters, criminal record information system, video conferencing, video surveillance system, traffic monitoring system and CCTV monitoring," he said. He said it would also enable them to implement wide area network (WAN) for additional services such as variable message broadcast, finger print search applications and intelligent traffic system. "This is an advanced system. The movement of information will be very fast and this will really be a quantum jump once we complete this project." Dadwal said for the first phase equipments worth Rs.50.7 million will be procured. "The first phase will be followed with total project outlay of Rs.273.7 million." The city police chief also said they have hired RITES Ltd. for Rs.75 million to provide consultancy on Intelligent Traffic Monitoring System. The system comprises a wide range of novel tools based on three core features - information, communications and integration - for managing transport networks as well as services of commuters. Both the intelligent traffic system as well as cyber highway will cost Rs.1.7 billion to Delhi Police. The police have identified 55 major roads, measuring 217.96 km, and about 200 intersections to be covered under the system which could provide better solutions for traffic management. Dadwal said they were also installing CCTV system in 58 market places and 27 border check posts. "First we are installing them at the Vasant Vihar market and Gazipur border check post on pilot basis at a cost of Rs.58 million," he said.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/03/2009

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Government to Grant 33 Percent More Funds for Rural Jobs

New Delhi: Aiming at tackling rural unemployment in the light of massive job cuts in construction sector, the government of India is likely to increase the budget share of Rs 30,100 crore initially earmarked for creating rural jobs, by 33 percent. The allocation of new funds will be based on the utilization of money by gram panchayats so far, reported The Economic Times. "Since jobs are guaranteed under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to work, the government has to ensure the promise is fulfilled," an official involved in executing the scheme said. Going by the response to the scheme, the government feels allocation for the scheme should be raised by another Rs 10,000 crore when the full Budget is presented after the Union elections later this year. The union ministry of rural development has started preparing a labor budget with inputs from over two lakh gram panchayats in the country to assess the precise requirement for the next fiscal. The ministry is gathering details about various infrastructure projects that gram panchayats want to undertake next year. It is assumed that a part of project cost -about 60 percent- would go to labor. The labor budget is expected to be completed in the first week of April.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/10/2009

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BJP Envisages IT Revolution for India

IT Vision document of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) which it has released towards the upcoming elections indicate that India is soon to emerge as revolutionary power in the world. The detailed Vision Document is available here as well as www.lkadvani.in. Some of the important points from it are: encouragement to Open source software; encouragement to hardware industry; bringing India on par with China in IT hardware; creating 20 IT related jobs in each pf 6 lakh villages in India; "Duty to Inform" to supplement RTI; increasing mobile penetration; unlimited VOIP telephony; unlimited broadband at around Rs 200 pm (current cost is around 1000+ pm); bringing in Digital Sovereignty through reduction in the strangulating effect of IPR on Internet usage; language compatibility for software in 22 languages; laptops at Rs 10000; e-Education, e-Justice, National ID card and several other e-Governance initiatives; and ensuring the adoption of "National Cyber Security plan" along with a center for Cyber Warfare, Cyber Counter-Terrorism etc.

From http://www.egovonline.net/ 03/17/2009

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Indian Economy to Grow Over 5 Percent Next Fiscal

New Delhi: India's economy will grow by at least 5 percent in 2009-10, a Planning Commission member said here Wednesday. "We should see at least a 5 percent growth in GDP (gross domestic product) in 2009-10. One favourable indicator towards such positive growth was the year-on-year growth seen in overall bank lending during 2008-09," Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen said. Speaking at the first Asset Reconstruction Summit, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Sen said the economic growth was unlikely to fall below 5 percent. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had projected India's growth to moderate to 6.25 percent in 2008-09 and further to 5.25 percent in 2009-10. "After five years with average growth of 8.75 percent, India's economy is slowing," the IMF said in an assessment following an annual Article IV Consultations with Indian policymakers. "Partly reflecting the deteriorating global outlook, (IMF) staff project India's growth to moderate to 6.25 percent in 2008-09 and further to 5.25 percent in 2009-10," the institution said.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/18/2009

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India's Inflation Dips Sharply to Historic Low of 0.44 Percent

New Delhi, March 19: India's annual rate of inflation fell by as much as 200 basis points to a historic low of 0.44 percent for the week ended March 7 against 2.43 percent for the week before, official data showed Thursday. The statistics on wholesale price index, released by the commerce and industry ministry here, showed that the inflation rate dropped to an all-time low because of a decline of 1 percent in the index for primary articles and 0.8 percent in that for fuels over the week. The index for manufactured articles remained unaltered. Economists explain that low inflation rate does not necessarily mean that prices have fallen. Lower inflation rate only means the rate of rise in prices has come down, not the actual prices.

From http://www.newkerala.com/ 03/19/2009

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'NDA Government Will Address One Rank One Pension Demand': Advani

New Delhi: Voicing his support to the demand of 'one rank one pension' raised by ex-servicemen, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani today assured this would be one of the first issues the BJP led-NDA would address if voted to power. Addressing the agitating ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar, Mr Advani said he had understood the logic and reasoning behind their demand and the party had done its best to make the government listen to the demands in and outside the Parliament, because the nation owed this much to the people who braved all dangers external and internal for the sake of national interest. Morever, it did not appear to be a case of inadequacy but inequity, he added. Mr Advani did not agree with the plea of administration that it did not have enough funds to fulfil the demand. Finances should never be the consideration when it comes to issues of national interest, he said, reminding how the NDA Government had conducted Pokhran II tests setting aside the warnings about the world community imposing economic sanctions if India went ahead with its nuclear tests. Post-Pokhran events had shown that the country was strong enough to withstand the economic sanctions and understand India's commitment to use its nuclear strength as a deterrant. The BJP and its previous avatar Bharatiya Jan Sangh always believed in making India a nuclear deterrant power, he added.

From http://www.newkerala.com/ 03/19/2009

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Solution to Tackle Software Vulnerability Launched

Chennai: City-based IT firm ChennaiNet Thursday launched a new solution that will help individuals and companies spot the holes in their networking software and fix them at once. "Our online tool Automated Vulnerability Assessment and Reporting Services (AVARS) spots the holes in software or in other networks and reports the same immediately," ChennaiNet chief executive M.L. Srinivasan told reporters here. "The companies can take protective measures like installing a firewall till a software patch is installed," he added. Srinivasan said the software systems were vulnerable to hackers."Currently, there are over 35,000 vulnerable points in various softwares like Windows and Linux and everyday around 25 vulnerable points are added," he said. A software is vulnerable owing to improper design or coding or both and when hackers exploit that weak link it results in denial of service offered by a website or providing access to unauthorised people. Srinivasan added that his company had tied up with software service provider Det Norske Veritas AS for third party certification. Said N.R. Krishnakumar, director (operations) of India and Middle East at Det Norske Veritas: "Once a company opts for AVARS, it can opt for getting vulnerability certification from us. We will certify the level of vulnerability plugging the company has done," added .ChennaiNet will target companies that are offering online commerce, banks and other corporates for promoting the new product.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/19/2009

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MALDIVES: Fighting Drug Addiction in Maldivessarah Crowe and Rajat Madhok

Drug addiction among adolescents in the Maldives has emerged as a big health hazard and has come to pose a serious threat for the social fabric of the country. UNICEF is working with local NGOs and authorities to provide counselling and detoxification treatment to addicts. Male, Maldives: In the tropical tourists' paradise of the Maldives, beyond the waving palms and turquoise pools, lurks the ugly problem of youth drug addiction. Drug addiction among adolescents is a major headache for the new government in the Maldives/ Photo credit: UNICEF Many adolescents in this isolated country of islands in the Indian Ocean - which lives off its unique, natural beauty - have turned to a life of deadly addiction that threatens society. Drug addiction touches nearly every family and is a big worry for the new government. And as injection drug use becomes more common, so does the risk of increased incidence of HIV, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases. "Young people have to have hope. Until we are able to give them hope, this is not going to go away," said Vice President Mohammed Wahid Hasaan, a former UNICEF Representative. "If this is not checked, it will have serious effects on the social fabric of the country and will undermine the economy, as well," he said. Threat of HIV transmission UNICEF is working with addicted young people in the country to give them goals and, more important, hope for the future. The road to recovery is tough and often requires that the addicts take medication to help them withdraw from hard drugs. In Male, UNICEF is supporting non-governmental organisations such as Journey, whose volunteers are dedicated to helping drug addicts through counselling and detoxification.

They are also preparing for a potential increase in HIV transmissions. Few drug users here get tested for HIV - and that's a cause for concern. Although less than 1 per cent of the population is estimated to be living with HIV, the true figure could be higher. "We are looking at prevention of HIV, because that's the next issue we might be facing," said UNICEF Maldives Child Protection Officer Mohamed Naeem. "At the moment, Maldives is a low-prevalence country, but because of the high number of young people injecting drugs, there is a big risk that this could change." 'I will never forget' For those who volunteer for rehab, there is hope. At the drug rehabilitation centre on another island near the capital, more than 100 addicts are being treated. Some return time and again, trying to get clean, sometimes resisting the programme's rigid discipline. "When I first joined here, I thought I was taken to a cage," said a young addict at the centre. "After some time I realised this thing really works. They are telling us what real life should be." "Sometimes I robbed people to get drugs," said another addict. "I couldn't sleep without drugs. I couldn't eat. I will never forget that I am an addict and what I suffered through because of drugs. "Treated addicts therapeuticallyIt isn't just the addicts themselves who are worried about the future. The growing number of young addicts, combined with harsh prison sentences for drug offenses, is also threatening the country's future labour supply.Under the current laws, drug users can face up to 25 years in prison. Minister of Health Dr. Aiminath Jameel says that changes in the laws will soon be tabled in Parliament so that addicts are treated therapeutically, rather than criminally. The 'Wake Up' drug abuse-prevention campaign - launched here in 2007 by the National Narcotics Bureau, Journey and UNICEF - is also starting to show positive results in reaching young people before they become addicts.

From http://southasia.oneworld.net/ 03/17/2009

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AZERBAIJAN: Favorable Conditions for Business

Deputy chairman of the Azerbaijan-Turkey Businessmen Association (ATIB) Jemal Yanghin considers that Azerbaijan has favorable conditions for activity of entrepreneurs. According to Interfax-Azerbaijan, the ATIB press release notes that Yanghin said this at the meeting with a delegation of the Turkish society of independent industrialists and business circles (MUSIAD). The meeting participants discussed potential for expansion of cooperation between Azerbaijani and Turkish entrepreneurs. "It is favorable to conduct business in Azerbaijan. The state pays special attention to the entrepreneurship development. Azerbaijan holds active trade operations with the CIS states, the level of prices on housing services is low, the income tax rate is not high, there is a cheap working power, the customs system is improving", says the statement. Yanghn said at the meeting that currently 35% of industrial production in the non-oil sector falls on enterprises that are members of ATIB. ATIB was created in April of 2004. The members are 91 companies with Azerbaijani and Turkish capital. The overall founding capital of the ATIB members makes $800 mln, the overall volume of investments to Azerbaijani economy makes over $3 bln. The companies that are members of the association involve about 40,000 people.

From http://www.today.az/ 03/17/2009

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KYRGYZSTAN: South Korea Sells E-Govt Expertise to Kyrgyzstan

The central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan is to become the eighth country to embrace an e-government master plan with South Korea's help. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 10 March 2009 that mandates cooperation on educational training programmes that will enable Kyrgyzstan to introduce and operate its own e-government system. The MoU calls for the countries to develop an implementation plan by May, and Seoul will pay 340 million won (US$220,700) to help establish an e-government blueprint. Korea will assist Kyrgyzstan to improve its legal and institutional systems, build infrastructure, and establish an e-government working group. As a first step, Korean consultants will travel to Kyrgyzstan to learn about the Kyrgyzstan government's operations and assess its level of ICT before working with their Kyrgyzstan counterparts to devise an e-government system tailored to the needs of the country. Kyrgyzstan public officials will also be invited to observe and experience the Korean e-government system firsthand. The two countries intend to identify additional areas for cooperation as the project progresses. (by Alice Kok)

From http://www.futuregov.net/articles/ 03/18/2009

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TAJIKISTAN: Website to Promote Investments Launched

The State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management (GosComInvest) and the Public Association, Mushovir, have worked out the website, Investment Opportunities in Tajikistan (www.tajinvest.tj) under support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). According to Mushovir, the website is dedicated to promote raising transparency of the investment environment and creating favorable image of the country through opportunely informing potential investors of investment projects and conditions of implementation of them in Tajikistan. The website contains information about investment opportunities in Tajikistan both in Russian and English languages. (by Mavlouda Rafiyeva)

From http://www.asiaplus.tj/ 03/18/2009

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UZBEKISTAN: New Software to Cut Expanses on Printing of Insurance Policies

Actuarial Service Bureau (ASB) developed software on coding and printing insurance policies, ADB executive director Abror Muhitdinov said. Muhitdinov said the software will cut expenses of insurers to production of insurance policies twice. The software will help insurers to print required number of policies and coding will protect policies from counterfeit. Muhitdinov added that currently two insurance companies are using the software.

From http://insurance.uzreport.com/ 03/17/2009

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AUSTRALIA: Labour Force Data for February 2009

The Government has been upfront with the Australian people about the impact of the global financial crisis on employment. The ABS Labour Force figures released today clearly show that the global recession is bearing down on the Australian jobs market. According to the ABS, the unemployment rate increased from 4.8 per cent to 5.2 per cent in the month of February. The number of people in full time work decreased by 53,800 while the number of people in part-time employment increased by 55,600 in February There was also an increase in the participation rate of 0.2 per cent (65.5 per cent). Australia is battling a global recession that is resulting in falling growth and rising unemployment right around the world. The US economy has shed an unprecedented half a million jobs a month in the past four months. The Rudd Government has taken decisive action through our economic stimulus packages to cushion Australians from the worst impacts of this global recession. There is no quick fix but the Government will continue to do all we can to support growth and jobs during this global crisis. There is no doubt that Australia would be in a worse position if the Government hadn't acted decisively to support Australian jobs.

In addition to the $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan, the Government has announced a range of measures to assist job seekers and redundant workers, and will continue to act as necessary: $300 million measure to ensure redundant workers receive intensive assistance and support immediately rather than having to wait up to 3 months; 20,000 training places have also been made available for people made redundant; $145.6 million to support out-of-trade apprentices and trainees; and $950 Learning and Training Bonus for income assistance recipients undertaking enrolled in a structured training course. These are difficult times for many Australians but by working together the Government is confident we will emerge from the Global Financial Crisis a stronger and even more resilient nation.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/12/2009

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Women in Australia 2009 Report Released

Minister for the Status of Women, Tanya Plibersek today released the Women in Australia 2009 report. Women in Australia 2009, the fifth in this biennial series, contains a range of statistics and commentary regarding the status of women in key areas, including women's economic independence, education and training, and health and wellbeing. "This publication is an important tool for promoting gender equality," Ms Plibersek said. "Women in Australia 2009 again highlights that we need to do more to improve gender equality between women and men." The report found that women spend less time in the paid workforce, are more likely to work part-time, work fewer hours, and are more likely to have interrupted career patterns due to caring responsibilities. Women's employment is also concentrated in lower paying sectors and occupations. "Gender pay equity is still an issue of great concern," Ms Plibersek said. "All of these factors have implications for women's economic outcomes and financial independence - both now and into their retirement years.

"Women in Australia 2009 is an important reference tool for people interested in gender equality, and can be used to underpin policy development, programs and projects to help achieve women's equal place in society." Australia is pursuing three key priority areas for advancing gender equality: a. improving women's economic outcomes and financial independence; b. ensuring women's voices are heard at all levels of decision-making; and, c. reducing violence against women. Australia's accession to the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) came into effect two weeks ago. Copies of Women in Australia 2009 are available at http://www.ofw.fahcsia.gov.au/publications/wia_2009/default.htm

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/19/2009

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Celebrating Harmony for All Australians

The diversity and the inclusiveness of Australia will be celebrated today, as part of Harmony Day. Today is a time to celebrate our diversity and promote respect for Australian values of fairness and tolerance for culture, race and religion. Events around the country will promote and celebrate the contribution so many different cultures make to Australia's national identity. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs promotes inclusiveness and multiculturalism through a number of programs, including: Breaking Cycles by Building Neighbourhood Hubs targets families in Victoria with young children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and builds links to key service providers including schools, kindergartens and maternal and child health groups; Sunshine Learning Together is a Victorian English language learning program for parents and their preschool aged children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; and Frankston Community Kitchens has assisted more than 500 people over the last four years to promote healthy eating and social interaction, including among people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds.

As well, we are taking practical steps towards re-setting Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations and recognising the positive role of Indigenous culture and identity. The National Apology to Indigenous Australians, in particular the Stolen Generations, was a first step in building a bridge of respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and we will keep moving forward. The Australian Government also embraces NAIDOC, a week of celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage, through supporting community events. Harmony Day is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to be proud of our diverse and vibrant cultural heritage.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/21/2009

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Broadband to Revolutionise Regional Trauma Care

More than 260 trauma patients in regional Victoria will benefit each year from the Virtual Trauma and Critical Care Unit launched by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today. "The Virtual Trauma and Critical Care Unit puts regional Victoria at the forefront of a revolution in medical services," Senator Conroy said. "Trauma and critical care patients across the Loddon Mallee region now have access to specialist diagnosis and treatment thanks to virtual connections with major hospitals." "Specialists in far away locations will have instant access to the patient's vital signs, clinical test results, high resolution x-rays, images and video allowing them to provide diagnosis and treatment advice." "This solution has obvious benefits for regional communities. It helps overcome skills shortages, enhances the capacity of hospitals and improves patient welfare." Senator Conroy today launched the Virtual Trauma and Critical Care Unit on behalf of the Loddon Mallee Health Alliance and its partners. "This is exactly the type of project that the Government is interested in funding as we work to maximise the benefit of our investments in broadband, such as the National Broadband Network," Senator Conroy said.

On March 5, the Rudd Government announced $46 million in new funds to launch the Digital Regions Initiative. With State and Territory Governments, the program will fund digital projects enabling improved education, health and emergency services. Draft guidelines for the competitive project assessment process will be released for comment in the coming months. " Australia's regional, rural and remote communities deserve better communications systems and greater participation in the digital economy," Senator Conroy said. "In addition to a large number of clinical consultations, it is expected that more than 260 trauma patients attending hospitals in Bendigo, Echuca, Mildura and Swan Hill will benefit from the Virtual Trauma and Critical Care Unit annually." For more information on the Digital Regions Initiative visit: www.dbcde.gov.au/regionaltel.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/23/2009

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NEW ZEALAND: Govt Opens Up Spectrum for More Broadband Infrastructure

Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce today announced that applications are open for access to the Managed Spectrum Park in the 2.5 GHz radio spectrum band. Mr Joyce says this spectrum band offers potential for new regional wireless broadband services to be rolled out. "This will ultimately benefit consumers by providing more competitive service offerings, especially in rural areas."The 2.5 GHz Managed Spectrum Park is a new concept in New Zealand. It is intended for local and regional broadband services, such as WiMAX, and seeks to encourage a flexible, cooperative, low cost and self-managed approach to allocation and use of the radio spectrum resource. Mr Joyce says the MSP will be of interest to smaller industry players, local and regional councils and iwi groups who are considering the deployment of wireless broadband services. Applications close on 4 September 2009 and initial licences will be allocated towards the end of 2009.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/03/2009

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$41 Million for School Buildings

Eighty-one schools around the country would get new or expanded buildings through the first allocation of property funding to schools under the government's recently announced infrastructure package, Education Minister Anne Tolley announced today. "These schools now have the go-ahead to start work to redress their lack of space or need for new buildings," Mrs Tolley said.. "Seventy-four schools will receive $30 million to extend existing buildings, and seven schools will receive $11 million to replace buildings that are no longer economically viable to maintain." A ranking system is applied to ensure that schools with the greatest need have their space deficiencies and building issues addressed first, regardless of school type. Mrs Tolley said that further programmes were likely to be announced later this year. "Infrastructure projects like these support the Government's economic stimulus initiatives"."I am pleased to give these schools the opportunity to improve their properties to help them better manage roll increases, or to build new buildings when they are urgently required to replace outdated facilities," she said.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz 03/12/2009

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Global Financial Market Losses Reach $50 Trillion, Says Study

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The global financial crisis slashed the value of financial assets worldwide by a massive $50 trillion last year, with developing Asia suffering more than other emerging market regions. According to a new study commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) entitled Global Financial Turmoil and Emerging Market Economies: Major Contagion and a Shocking Loss of Wealth?, losses on financial assets in developing Asia in 2008 totaled $9.6 trillion, or just over one year's worth of gross domestic product (GDP). Asia was hit harder than other parts of the developing world because the region's markets have expanded much more rapidly. The value of financial assets to GDP rose to 370% of GDP in developing Asia in 2007 from 250% of GDP in 2003. In Latin America, the ratio only rose by 30%, with the result that estimated losses on financial assets were a much lower $2.1 trillion, or 57% of GDP. "This is by far the most serious crisis to hit the world economy since the Great Depression. While this crisis originated in the US and some European countries, by now no region or country is insulated. I am afraid things may get worse before they get better. However, I remain confident that Asia will be one of the first regions to emerge from it, and it will emerge stronger than ever before," says ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda.

The ADB estimates measure the losses in equity and bond markets, including those backed by mortgages and other assets, and the depreciation of many currencies against the U.S. dollar. Not included are financial derivatives such as credit default swaps that further multiplied the size of the financial markets. The data provide clear proof of the close connections between the markets and the economies around the world, leaving few, if any, countries immune to financial or economic fallouts elsewhere. A recovery can only now be envisaged for late 2009 or early 2010, according to the study. "Most emerging market economies, including in developing Asia and Latin America are at a crossroads, and the next 12 to 18 months will be very difficult," the study says. "However, there has been no destruction of physical and human capital, boding well for a strong recovery, possibly more cautious and sustainable, after the adjustments in the financial markets are worked through over the next year or so." ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda and other experts will discuss the study at the 'South Asia Forum on Impact of the Global Economic and Financial Crisis', a two-day conference being held at ADB headquarters in Manila starting today.

From http://www.adb.org/ 03/09/2009

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World Bank Projects $270-700 Billion Finance Gap for Poor Nations

"The World Bank said Sunday 129 developing countries face a financing shortfall of $270 to $700 billion this year in [that includes] debt payments...plugging foreign trade deficits, because private-sector financial institutions are refraining from providing funds in emerging markets amid the global financial turmoil... The multilateral development bank also projected that global industrial production by the middle of 2009 'could be as much as 15 percent lower than levels in 2008' and that world trade is 'on track in 2009 to record its largest decline in 80 years, with the sharpest losses in East Asia.'..." [Kyodo News (Japan, 03/09)/Factiva] According to the NYT, the report says that "...the crisis...was causing havoc for poorer countries that had nothing to do with the original problem. As a result, it said, nations in Latin America, Africa and East Asia have had not only their growth stifled but their access to credit as well..." [The New York Times (03/09)/Factiva]

The Washington Post adds that "...the report predicted that the global economy will shrink this year for the first time since the 1940s, reducing earlier estimates that emerging markets would propel the world to positive growth... 'We need to react in real time to a growing crisis that is hurting people in developing countries,' World Bank President Robert Zoellick said in a statement. Action is needed by governments and multilateral lenders 'to avoid social and political unrest,' he said..." [The Washington Post (03/09)/Factiva] "This global crisis needs a global solution and preventing an economic catastrophe in developing countries is important for global efforts to overcome this crisis." Zoellick, who in February called for a fund to which each developed country would contribute 0.7 percent of its stimulus package to help poorer countries, urged more investment in safety nets, infrastructure, and small and medium-sized companies. [Agence France Presse]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/09/2009

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Japan to Lend $5 Billion for Developing Nations' Green Projects

"Japan said Saturday it will launch a $5 billion lending facility to help Asian and other developing countries improve...environmental infrastructure. The program was unveiled by Japanese Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano during a two-day meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bankers..." [Kyodo News (Japan, 03/14)/Factiva] Jiji Press adds that "...the aid covers such projects as solar and wind power generation, energy saving, water supply and sewerage systems, and urban transportation systems. Japan plans to work together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank as well as commercial banks in providing the aid..." [Jiji Press (Japan, 03/14)/Factiva] AFP writes that "...Japan is also mulling a 'Green New Deal' plan at home that would address environmental problems while helping pull the country out of recession. Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito is expected to announce a push for wider use of solar panels at schools and government buildings to be included in an economic stimulus package now being drafted..." [Agence France Presse (03/16)/Factiva]

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/16/2009

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CHINA: Overseas Lenders Bank on Mainland

Overseas banks are boosting the number of branches and extending operational hours on the Chinese mainland, with some even opening on Saturdays for the first time, despite the economic fallout in overseas markets. After operating on a trial basis, Singapore's DBS, Southeast Asia's biggest bank, will officially open an outlet in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, today. "The financial crisis has hit the global economy. But the fallout won't stop our network expansion in China to reach more clients," said Stanley Ku, head of consumer banking of DBS Bank (China) Ltd. DBS on Monday opened a branch on Sichuan Road N. in Shanghai while Citibank opened an outlet in Hangzhou on Wednesday. Another Singapore bank, OCBC Bank, said yesterday that it now operates on Saturdays at its four outlets in Shanghai and Chengdu following the practice of its domestic rivals. Hong Kong's Bank of East Asia has been open on weekends and offering services for retail clients since August - the first overseas lender to do so. Twenty of its 64 outlets on the mainland operate on weekends, offering banking services like deposits and wealth management. The overseas banks offer consulting services on weekends. They have also incorporated locally to gain full access to individual clients.

From Shanghai Daily 02/25/2009

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Local Governments May Issue Bonds

China's top legislators are considering giving the go-ahead for local governments to issue bonds, a move to help finance the nation's US$586 billion stimulus package. On Feb 18, a high-level meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee reviewed a State Council proposal to allow local governments to issue bonds. No details were given but experts say the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, is likely to approve the proposal during its annual session this March. The proposal, once approved, would end a decade-long debate on whether local governments should get more fiscal leeway, despite the enormous debts they accumulated over the years. But how to assure the proceeds from the debt issuance are well spent remains a question. Caijing, a Chinese magazine, reported earlier the central government would allow local governments to issue bonds of up to 200 billion yuan this year. The central government itself will issue 750 billion yuan treasury bonds, as it plans a budget deficit of 950 billion yuan for 2009. The record high deficit, nine times 2008's, comes as part of the government's efforts to jack up investment and cope with the global economic slowdown.

China announced a US$586 billion stimulus package last November, for 2009 and 2010, of which the central government would shoulder one-third. Local governments, banks, and private investors are expected to chip in for the rest. But a slump in the real estate sector and the ensuing decrease in land sales mean local governments have little fiscal surplus to pay their parts of the stimulus bill. According to the Ministry of Finance, the government's deficit amounted to 111 billion yuan in 2008. But the total deficit of local governments amounted to 672.8 billion yuan in the first nine months of 2008, roughly 3 percent of the nation's economic output during the period. But some analysts say such fiscal difficulty is only one side of the story. "Government revenue is already more than enough now," said Ma Yu, a senior researcher with the China Society of Economic Reform. "The money they already had hasn't been spent well. So why bother to issue debts?" The government administrative cost grew 147 times from 5.29 billion yuan in 1978 to 777.9 billion yuan in 2006.

In contrast the nation's GDP only expanded 58 times from 358.81 billion yuan in 1978 to 20.94 trillion yuan. Zhu Lijia, a researcher with the China National School of Administration estimated in 2006 that the government spent more than 900 billion yuan on overseas tours, vehicle use and dining each year. How local governments could secure the return on the debts is also still a question. Under current law, local governments are not allowed to issue debts directly. But many have bypassed the prohibition by setting up State-backed investment arms to acquire credit and issue debts. "It's much more convenient for local governments to raise money through State-owned firms and trusts," Zhang Hanya, a senior researcher with the National Development and Reform Commission, said earlier. "The proposal to loosen the limits is part of a long-term reform, rather than a measure to finance the nation's stimulus package," said Zhao Quanhou with the Research Institute for Fiscal Science under the Ministry of Finance.

"Presently few local governments will likely want to resort to it, given the proposal's rigid requirements." According to Zhao, local governments will need to meet strict regulatory requirements to issue bonds directly, including revealing the status of their debts and revenues. "Some local governments have poor balance sheets. If they reveal their books, no one would agree to lend," said Zhao. The total debt held by local governments was estimated to be more than 1 trillion yuan, or 4 million yuan for each township-level government, according to a study by the Development Research Center of the State Council.

From China Daily 03/02/2009

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China to Stimulate Growth in Bank Loans

China's central bank said Tuesday it would ensure a "reasonable and steady" increase in bank loans this year to support the country's economic growth amid the worsening global financial crisis. Liu Shiyu, vice-governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), said the country will "enhance support to the financial sectors for economic growth". "We will enhance the 'window guidance' and inform financial institutions of the (right) meaning of the central government's macroeconomic regulation to guide reasonable loan extensions," the central bank said in a statement on its website. The country is expected to face severe challenges as the global financial crisis is still worsening, the statement said. The central bank has also urged local bank branches to strengthen "window guidance" to ensure ample liquidity to support the country's drive to stimulate economic growth. Last year, the country's new yuan loans amounted to 4.9 trillion yuan, 1.3 trillion yuan more than that of 2007, with bulk of the lending going to rural area development, small and medium-sized enterprises and reconstruction of quake-hit regions.

China announced a 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package late last year to spur domestic demand and prop up the slowing economy. Bank lending is deemed crucial for powering the sagging economy, which expanded only 6.8 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2008, down from 13 percent for 2007. New yuan loans reached 1.6 trillion yuan in January, and according to media reports, it may have touched 1.1 trillion yuan in February, much more than market expectations. "The lending scale in February has been beyond market expectations. It is reasonable and necessary for getting the economy moving," said Dong Xian'an, macroeconomic analyst, Southwest Securities, as cited by Wednesday's China Daily. Dong said the new yuan loans for this year could amount to 6 trillion yuan given the growth momentum in the first two months, although they would not remain at such a high level in the coming months. A report by Haitong Securities said new yuan loans for the whole year could reach 5.5 trillion yuan.

From http://www.chinaview.cn/ 03/04/2009

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China to Expand Enterprise Bond Issuance to Fund Stimulus Projects

China will expand the issuance of enterprise bonds to fund its massive stimulus projects, said Zhang Ping, minister of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) here Friday. Altogether 45 enterprise bonds worth more than 130 billion yuan (19 billion U.S. dollars) have been issued since the fourth quarter of last year, Zhang told a press conference during the parliament's annual session. In addition, more than 50 enterprises have applied for bond issuance worth nearly 100 billion yuan and are waiting for approval, said Zhang. Enterprise bonds in China often refer to bonds issued by state-owned enterprises and must be approved by the NDRC, China's top economic planner. They are in comparison to corporate bonds issued by listed companies, which are under the charge of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The country will also grant policy-related bank loans with a relatively long maturity and low interest rates to fund certain stimulus projects, said Zhang.

From http://www.chinaview.cn/ 03/06/2009

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Call for More Loans to Back Rural Areas

Thirteen domestic lenders, including the Agricultural Bank of China and the Bank of Shanghai, yesterday agreed to lend 65 billion yuan (US$9.5 billion) to support Shanghai's rural economy against the backdrop of a global economic downturn. The loans will be used in infrastructure projects such as railways, renovating houses and boosting the rural cooperative medical system. "Financial support is crucial for Shanghai to achieve its target of a 9-percent growth in gross domestic product," said Vice Mayor Tu Guangshao at the signing ceremony yesterday. He also urged more small-credit firms and village banks to support small businesses, especially in rural areas. Shanghai has approved the formation of 27 small-credit companies, 17 of which have already started operations. The city will help these firms to develop their lending system and implement preferential policies to help the industry. Last month, Chongming County welcomed the city's first village bank which can issue loans within five days for small businesses and three days for rural entities. Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and China Minsheng Banking Corp are also expected to open their outlets in rural areas this year. Tu also called for more sources of financial support such as private equity and venture capital, and he said the city is preparing for an over-the-counter market which can be another channel for PE and VC. "As the Shenzhen Stock Exchange prepares for the launch of a growth enterprise board, Shanghai has also applied to set up an over-the-counter stock exchange to serve the Yangtze River Delta region," Tu said.

From Shanghai Daily 03/10/2009

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China Banking Regulator Says Most Financing Products Profitable in 2008

Financial products sold by 83 banks in China raised up to 3,700 billion yuan (528.6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2008, said an official from China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) on Thursday. Yin Long, an official in charge of supervision on business innovation, said only 2 percent of all financial products reported losses last year and the volume of losses accounted for about 1.6 percent of the raised total. He said the yield of most of the financing products was higher than that of deposits. More than 60 percent of the products were invested in the currency and capital markets. He also said domestic commercial banks needed step up risk management on financing products to avoid losses and disputes.

From http://www.chinaview.cn/ 03/12/2009

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China Banks Told to Boost Bad Loan Coverage to 150%, 21st Says

China's banking regulator told the nation's lenders to boost provisions to 150 percent of their outstanding non-performing loans, the 21st Century Business Herald reported today, without citing anyone. The bad loan ratios of the nation's five biggest banks - Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp., Bank of China Ltd., and Bank of Communications Ltd., will be raised to 150 percent from 130 percent at the end of 2008, the paper said. The requirement for smaller national banks remains unchanged at 150 percent. The regulator asked all banks to raise the ratio to 150 percent to be "prudent", Liu Mingkang, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, told reporters in Beijing last week. The regulator has also told banks to review their advances and plans to conduct spot checks of bank loan books to "ensure quality of growth," said Liu. Loan defaults are the single biggest threat to Chinese banks, which face "a choppy 2009" because bad debts may swell after the economy slowed to 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter, the weakest pace in seven years, Fitch Ratings said in January. The non-performing loan ratio of China banks fell to 2.45 percent of total advances as of Dec. 31, according to government data.

From http://www.bloomberg.com/ 03/12/2009

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Chinese Banks Issue 300 Mln New Bank Cards in 2008

China issued 300.4 million new bank cards last year, up 16.7 percent from 2007, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, said Tuesday in a Web statement. The growth rate was 15.9 percentage points lower than that of 2007. The number of new credit cards issued in 2008 reached 142.3 million, up 57.7 percent from the previous year. The PBOC said point-of sales terminals and automatic teller machines increased 663,900 and 39,900, respectively, to 1.85 million and 167,500. Bank card transactions reached 127.2 trillion yuan (US$18.6 trillion) last year, up 14.1 percent year-on-year, the PBOC said.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/18/2009

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JAPAN: LDP Election Chief Eyeing Formulation of Extra Budget Before Election

Senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Makoto Koga said Sunday that a general election should be held after a fiscal 2009 supplementary budget for another economic stimulus package is formulated and passed during the current session of the Diet. Koga, the ruling party's chief election strategist, said during a TV Asahi talk show that he intends to advise Prime Minister Taro Aso to dissolve the House of Representatives after the prime minister formulates all possible measures to lead Japan out of the recession. ''It's the responsibility of Prime Minister Taro Aso to implement all the economic stimulus measures we can think of and I think I will tell him candidly that 'now is the time to dissolve (the lower house)' after every possible measure is taken,'' Koga said.

From http://home.kyodo.co.jp/ 03/01/2009

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Japan to Use Forex Reserves to Fight Credit Crunch

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan said Wednesday it would use five billion dollars from its currency reserves to help companies raise funds as auto giant Toyota Motor asked the government for financial aid. Tokyo's decision to dip into its one-trillion-dollar forex reserves underscores growing fears that a funding squeeze is deepening the country's worst recession in decades. Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano described the move as an "extraordinary measure" in response to severe market conditions. He said the government was also ready to use all means to tackle stock market swings, which could have a "devastating impact" on the economy.

Companies looking to borrow public funds through the state-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) include Toyota Motor Corp.'s financial unit, which is reportedly seeking about two billion dollars. Toyota Financial Services, which provides loans to car buyers, is in consultations with JBIC but the size of the loan has not been decided, company official Mio Sugito said. "The international financial market is getting tighter, especially in the United States," Sugito said. JBIC's main role is to invest in projects in developing countries, but the government in December decided as an emergency measure to allow the bank to lend to Japanese companies operating in developed countries. The move comes amid concerns that firms are finding it increasingly hard to raise funds from distressed markets and cash-strapped banks. "The economy is in an extremely abnormal situation," said Masamitsu Sakurai, chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives. "We want the government to take swift measures to boost the economy." Toyota Motor ended General Motors' 77-year reign as the world's top selling automaker in 2008, but it has not been immune to the global economic downturn and expects its first ever loss in the current financial year to March.

Analysts, however, said Toyota does not face a cash crunch like its US rivals such as General Motors. "This not like the case of GM," said Yasuaki Iwamoto, auto analyst at Okasan Securities. "This is a positive strategy in which Toyota intends to use its credibility to secure cash flows so that it can cope with the tough situation in the United States," Iwamoto said. Japan has already announced a series of steps to stimulate the economy, including a plan to hand two trillion yen (21 billion dollars) back to the public to kick-start consumer spending. The government said last week that it had started work on an emergency plan to halt a plunge in share prices that Tokyo fears could deepen the recession in Asia's biggest economy. It did not say what form any action might take.

Japan is reportedly considering using public funds to purchase stocks and other assets directly from the market to prop up prices. The Nikkei stock index has fallen more than 18 percent in 2009, approaching levels last seen in 1982, after a record 42 percent plunge last year. The Nikkei ended down 50.43 points, or 0.69 percent, at 7,229.72 Tuesday. At one point the index dipped below last October's 26-year closing low of 7,162.90 before rallying on hopes of market-boosting steps by the government. "Market expectations for measures to boost share prices, which the government is currently preparing, still remain high," said Masatoshi Sato, a strategist at Mizuho Investors Securities.

INDONESIA: Tax Office for the Haves to Be Launched

The creme de la creme of Indonesian earners will soon have a special place to hand over their money, exclusively designed and built by the government: a new tax office for the haves. Expected to be launched in April, the new branch office in Gambir, Central Jakarta, is designed to serve high-wealth individual taxpayers, tax office chief Darmin Nasution said late Wednesday. The office will be next door to the existing large taxpayers' office (LTO), which serves the country's more than 200 top corporate taxpayers. "We've listed 1,200 individual taxpayers [the selection of which is taken] from a combination of news, papers, and other documents," Darmin said. He added the tax office listed the 1,200 taxpayers based on their assets, and not their income, because the latter category was not really representative. "[From the point of] income, they may not be categorized as high-wealth individuals. But their assets are everywhere," he said. Darmin added the tax office for the time being only listed high-wealth individuals living in Jakarta, simply because most of the haves lived in the country's capital. "All of them are businesspeople," he added. Indonesian cigarette baron Michael Hartono and his brother R. Budi Hartono, along with paper tycoon Sukanto Tanoto, palm oil magnate Martua Sitorus and telecoms and retail king Peter Sondakh will likely be among the people targeted by the tax office to be listed in the new office.

The five men were named among the richest people in the world in 2009 by Forbes magazine. The Hartono brothers, who own cigarette company PT Djarum, each have assets worth US$1.7 billion. Sukanto, the owner of Raja Garuda Mas International - a holding company with activities ranging from paper, palm oil, construction and energy - has assets worth $1.6 billion. Darmin said the tax office would check the names of rich people as reported in the media. He added that despite having billions in assets, many rich people often evaded paying taxes. "Most of them don't comply with our [regulations]. We want to fix this, so that they pay the right amount of taxes," Darmin said. The tax office is now shifting its attention to increasing the amount of tax paid by individual taxpayers. Prior to this, corporate tax revenue far outweighed individual tax revenue, he added. "During a crisis, if corporate taxpayers go broke, they can't pay taxes," Darmin said. "But individual taxpayers will keep paying taxes as long as they have an income." To provide better services for these high-wealth individual taxpayers, the tax office is pre-paring selected tax employees to be placed at the new office, said tax office spokesman Djoko Slamet Surjoputro. "We're mapping our employees, based on exams, key performance index, recommendations from their superordinates, educational background and track records," he said. "The scoring will be clear." Indonesia has 12.7 million registered taxpayers, about 8 million of them corporate.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 03/13/2009

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Govt Allocates Rp 210 B to Revamp Traditional Markets

The government will provide economic stimulus funds worth Rp210 billion for renovation of 31 traditional markets in 20 districts/cities, a trade ministry's official said as reported by Antara news agency on Tuesday. "The 210-billion budget is from the budgetary project funding lists for stimulus. Meanwhile from our (trade ministry's) program, the 2009 budget drafted in 2008 is Rp100 billion. So, the total funds (for market renovations) will be Rp310 billion," Subagyo, the trade ministry's domestic trade director general. Traditional markets with serious damages would get funds worth between Rp10 billion and Rp20 billion each, he said. "Many traditional markets are very old. As long as it's not an empty land, we call it renovation," he said. The market renovation program financed with the economic stimulus funds must be completed in October 2009 at the latest. The market renovations would be conducted moderately. "The construction will not reach four floors, but it's just two floors," he said. After the renovation, the local authorities must give priorities to traders who did businesses in the old markets, to get places in renovated markets, he said. The government launched a Rp73.3 trillion fiscal stimulus package on March 1 to tackle the looming impact of the global financial crisis.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 03/17/2009

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PHILIPPINES: PGMA Hikes Emergency Employment Budget to P1-Billion

MANILA (PNA) - The administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has assured the availability of jobs and employment opportunities for poor and underprivileged Filipinos in the face of the global economic slowdown with the allotment of an additional P1 billion to finance its emergency employment program this year. Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) said President Arroyo has instructed all members of her cabinet to fast-track the implementation of government programs designed to strengthen the country's economic competitiveness and ensure new jobs and employment opportunities for workers affected by the global financial meltdown. "The President is closely monitoring the progress of the Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) and she has instructed all agencies to utilize all available funding for the program. We are confident that the country will emerge stronger from the challenges we now confront," he said. He said the additional P1-billion investment for the Arroyo government's emergency jobs program will be sourced from the 2009 appropriations of agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the 2008 savings of various national agencies, and counterpart funding from local government units.

The jobs created under the CLEEP include infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation of hospital facilities, micro-enterprise development as well as job opportunities in environmental protection. The NAPC chief said this latest infusion of cash into the CLEEP raises the government's current and actual investments into the program from P9 billion to nearly P10 billion. "Some 64,000 Filipino workers and 580 households have already found new jobs and income opportunities through the President's Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) as of February 25 this year," Panganiban said. Panganiban made the announcement at the conclusion of a NAPC-initiated high-level technical meeting on the CLEEP held in Quezon City recently. "The purpose of the meeting was to ensure public accountability and transparency in the implementation and planning of the program," (PR/PNA)V3/eda

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/09/2009

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PGMA to Sign the P1.415-T 2009 National Budget on or Before March 15

MANILA (PNA) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will sign into law the P1.415 trillion proposed General Appropriations Act for 2009 on or before March 15. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that Budget and Management Secretary Rolando Andaya informed him that the proposed 2009 national budget will probably be signed within this week. "Mapipirmahan ng Pangulo ang budget, definitely on or before March 15, siguro within this week, yan sabi ni Secretary Andaya," Remonde said. He said the approval of the 2009 national budget will ensure the government's economic stimulus expenditure, such as the P60 billion earmarked for the implementation of the Department of Public Works and Highways' infrastructure projects in the first semester of the year which hope to create 500,000 jobs. "Kasama yan sa ating pump-priming. Kasama yan sa emergency employment program to help our kababayan na naapektuhan ng global economic crisis," he noted. The 2009 national budget focused more on infrastructure and social welfare development particularly that of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which was increased by 118 percent to P10.76 billion from P4.96 billion in 2008. The four other agencies with the biggest increase in allocations compared to 2008 are: Department of Agriculture, P42.6 billion (67.5 percent); Department of Environment and Natural Resources, P12.8 billion (51.2 percent), Department of Health P79.5 billion (40.4 percent), and the Department of Public Works and Highways, P137 billion (34.3 percent). On the other hand, the top five departments with the biggest budget allocations are the Department of Education, P164 billion; Department of Public Works and Highways, P117 billion; the Department of Interior and Local Government, P62 billion; the Department of National Defense, P56 billion; and the Department of Agriculture, P42 billion.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/09/2009

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THAILAND: Cabinet Approves Raising Public Debt

BANGKOK (TNA) - In the wake of the global financial crisis which has already seriously impacted the Thai economy, the coalition government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday acted to increase the amount of public debt to Bt1.4 trillion from Bt1.2 trillion, according to a government spokesman. The spokesman said the decision to increase the public debt for Fiscal 2009 (Oct. 1, 2008-Sept. 30, 2009) follows a Ministry of Finance plan to borrow an additional Bt97 billion. The planned increase came after the government added more than Bt100 billion for the mid-year budget, he said. In addition, the Cabinet agreed to seek US$2 billion in loans from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the spokesman said. The money will be used to improve the national economy and to develop basic infrastructure. The terms of repayment are between seven and 10 years, he said. The borrowing plan will be forwarded to Parliament for approval as required by the Constitution.

From http://enews.mcot.net/ 03/10/2009

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INDIA: India's Inflation Rate Falls for Fifth Straight Week, 3.03 Percent Now

New Delhi: India's annual rate of inflation fell for the fifth consecutive week to 3.03 percent for the week ended Feb 21 from 3.36 percent the week before, official data showed Thursday. The drop in the inflation rate, based on the official wholesale price index, was on account of a 0.1 percent fall in the general index over the week. While the index for primary articles fell 0.2 percent, that for manufactured products also fell marginally by 0.1 percent. The index for fuels, however, remained unchanged. The statistics, released by the industry ministry, also showed that the inflation rate, based on revised estimates, was 5.86 percent for the week ended Dec 27, against 5.91 percent reported earlier on the basis of provisional estimates.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/04/2009

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World Bank to Clear $2.6 Billion Loan for India Soon

"The World Bank, which has decided to step up its exposure to India to $14 billion in the next three years, will soon clear a $2.6 billion special loan package. Under the package, India Infrastructure Finance Company is expected to get $1.2 billion, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) $400 million and Power Grid Corporation $1 billion. The Bank is in advanced stages of approving this special package, World Bank's Economic Adviser for India Giovanna Prennushi told reporters..." Dow Jones adds that "...the World Bank is also working on a $3 billion loan to recapitalize public-sector banks..." Meanwhile, The Hindu reports that "...India can turn the current gloomy economic scenario into an opportunity by investing in infrastructure projects, aimed at removing bottlenecks, to create demand, generate jobs, and spur 5-6 per cent growth in the short term, the World Bank Chief Economist & Senior Vice-President Justin Yifu Lin said... at a press conference hosted by the Export-Import Bank of India on Friday..."

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/16/2009

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India's Inflation Dips Sharply to Historic Low of 0.44 Percent

New Delhi: India's annual rate of inflation fell by as much as 200 basis points to a historic low of 0.44 percent for the week ended March 7 against 2.43 percent for the week before, official data showed Thursday. The statistics on wholesale price index, released by the commerce and industry ministry here, showed that the inflation rate dropped to an all-time low because of a decline of 1 percent in the index for primary articles and 0.8 percent in that for fuels over the week. The index for manufactured articles remained unaltered. Economists explain that low inflation rate does not necessarily mean that prices have fallen. Lower inflation rate only means the rate of rise in prices has come down, not the actual prices.

From http://www.newkerala.com/ 03/19/2009

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PAKISTAN: Finance Ministry Releases Funds for UN BB Probe Commission

LAHORE: The Finance Ministry has released funds for the establishment of a United Nations special commission to probe into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the BBC said on Monday. However, Finance Adviser Shaukat Tareen did not provide details of the released amount. Talking to BBC after addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Tareen said the Finance Ministry had handed over the funds to the Foreign Office to proceed in the establishment of the UN commission. The finance adviser said the Foreign Office would pay the UN for setting up the commission. The UN had announced the setting up of its special commission to investigate into Benazir's assassination after parliament passed a unanimous resolution in this regard. The expenses for setting up the commission were to be borne by the government. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had announced the establishment of an independent commission to probe the assassination of Benazir Bhutto during his visit to Pakistan last month. Chile's UN Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz was named to head the three-member commission. Benazir had been killed in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007 during her election campaign, just as she was leaving a public rally.

From http://www.pakistanlink.com/ 03/03/2009

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ADB Approves $4.4 Billion Lending Program for Pakistan

"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Wednesday it approved a $4.4 billion lending program for Pakistan for 2009 to 2013 to facilitate structural changes, promote investment and improve institutional effectiveness..." Dow Jones adds that "...the aid package will average $1.5 billion per year through 2011, said ADB Country Director for Pakistan Rune Stroem. The main purpose of the aid is to sustain growth, reduce poverty and accelerate the transformation of economy, Stroem said. Most of the assistance will go to improving sectors such as energy, water and infrastructure, and to economic reforms, Stroem said..." However, the Business Recorder writes that "...Stroem expressed serious concern over political instability in Pakistan, and feared that the situation could upset the on-going lending programs of the international donors, including the International Monitory Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the ADB... He said that the security risks... had become a matter of serious concern among the international donors..."

From http://web.worldbank.org/ 03/12/2009

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AZERBAIJAN: Communication Services Grow

In January-February Azerbaijani organizations and population received services in the amount of AZN 123,200,000, which is 1,8% higher than the indicators of the same period of 2008, according to the State Statistical Committee. Of the overall volume 77,3% fell of services, provided to the population. The growth in services in the economic region Guba-Khachmaz made 11.8%, Nagorno-Shirvan 8.7%, Sheki-Zagatala 9.1%, Lenkoran 9%, Absheron economic area 15.8%, Ganja-Gazakh 6.8%.

From http://www.today.az/ 03/16/2009

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TAJIKISTAN: Tajikistan Establishes Two Free Economic Zones

The Tajik government has announced two regions of the country as free economic zones, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports. Tajik Deputy Minister of Economic Development Larissa Kislyakova said the two economic zones are the Suhd region near Khujand city in Tajikistan's north and the Panj region in the southern Tajik province of Khatlon. She said the two regions would enjoy the status of free economic zones for 25 years. For the first seven years, companies operating in the regions will be exempted from taxes. The governor of the Suhd free economic zone, Anvar Yaqubov, told RFE/RL that the Tajik government is trying to expedite the nation's economic development through the establishment of the zones. According to Yaqubov, two more regions in Tajikistan will be announced as free economic zones soon.

From http://www.rferl.org/ 03/18/2009

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UZBEKISTAN: Pakhta Bank Issues Soft Loans to Businesses

Pakhta Bank is actively investing in creation of new modern capacities, modernization and re-equipment of enterprises, expansion of capacities of competitive products and export oriented goods. In line with the presidential resolution from 12 July 2007, Pakhta Bank issues soft credits to implementation of investment projects on deep processing of fruit vegetable and cattle products. The credits are issued for three years with 12 month grace period. Pakhta Bank supports businesses, which modernizing or re-equipping enterprises, agri-industrial complexes to produce competitive goods. The bank also helps in realization of socially important state programmes and projects, improvement of export potential enterprises through purchase of technologies.

From http://finance.uzreport.com/ 03/04/2009

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AUSTRALIA: 63 Jobs & $7m Investment for NE Tasmania

Sixty-three new jobs will be created as $3.7 million in Australian Government funding, and $3.3 million in local business commitments, is provided for 19 projects in the Scottsdale region of Tasmania. Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, and Jodie Campbell MP, Federal Member for Bass, today announced successful applicants from the $3.7 million North East Tasmania Innovation and Investment Fund. "Today's announcement delivers on the Rudd Government's commitment to create sustainable employment in the North East following the closure of Auspine's Tongarah sawmill last year," Senator Carr said. "These fantastic projects, and the high skill sustainable jobs created by them, will provide a much needed boost to the Scottsdale region in these tough economic times. "Projects range from $70,000 to almost $500,000 to support businesses in the timber, engineering, transport, food and agricultural services, tourism and retail sectors." The Australian Government funding will be matched by $3.3 million in contributions from successful applicants - which equates to an average contribution of 47 per cent. "This is a significant sign of confidence in the future of the North East. Although we are experiencing difficult financial times, businesses in the region are clearly optimistic," Ms Campbell said.

Ms Campbell said the fund will do much to secure the long term future for people living in Scottsdale and the North East. "We said right at the outset that it was vital to get this assistance right to best help the Scottsdale community," Ms Campbell said. "Today's announcement shows just how serious we were about this commitment. "The Rudd Government understands just how much pressure working families are under, especially in the midst of this unprecedented global financial crisis. "We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with communities like Scottsdale to help them not just weather this financial storm, but to emerge stronger." Included among the grants is: • the expansion of an existing plant nursery to increase seedling and tree production in Scottsdale, • a project to diversify an established boat building business in Bridport, • the installation of a new automated milking system in Ringarooma, • the expansion of an existing joinery business to manufacture timber furniture in Scottsdale. A list of the successful applicants, including contact numbers, is attached below. It can also be viewed at the AusIndustry website: www.ausindustry.gov.au

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/13/2009

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Extra $70 Million for Redundant Workers

The Rudd Government has sought an additional funding of $70 million to ensure appropriate funds are available to pay General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS) claimants in 2008-09. GEERS is a payment scheme established to assist employees who have lost their employment due to the liquidation or bankruptcy of their employer and who are owed basic employee entitlements. $50 million has been sought to specifically support possible claims for GEERS assistance from employees of ABC Learning. This is the estimated value of employee entitlements that may be paid under GEERS, based on advice received from the Receiver of ABC Learning. A further $20 million has been sought to support the expected increase in demand for GEERS assistance. GEERS assistance provides for up to 3 months unpaid wages, annual leave, long service leave, up to a maximum of 5 weeks payment in lieu of notice and up to a maximum of 16 weeks redundancy entitlement. GEERS assistance is also available for up to three months unremitted employee superannuation contributions. Future expenditure for the Scheme is difficult to estimate as GEERS is demand driven and affected by a number of factors, such as the number of liquidations, the number of claimants, the extent of their outstanding entitlements and the industrial instruments which determine their entitlements. The most recent Budget provided $82.8 million for the scheme for 2008-09. The Rudd Government is seeking an additional $70 million for the rest of the financial year, taking total funding to $152.8 million.

In the December quarter of 2008, a 65.5 per cent increase in the number of individual claims lodged for GEERS assistance was recorded, when compared to the same period in 2007-08. This general increase in demand, together with the anticipated demand from ABC Learning employees prompted the Government to act. GEERS is not designed to act as an incentive for employers to do the wrong thing. Employers are required by law to put enough money away to cover employees' entitlements. Beyond GEERS, the government has recently announced a $300 million measure to ensure redundant workers get assistance and support immediately rather than having to wait up to 3 months. 20,000 training places have also been made available for people made redundant to help them get the skills to get back into the workforce. In addition, someone on income assistance enrolling in a structured training course will now receive a $950 Learning and Training Bonus from the Rudd Government's $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan. $155 million has been targeted to encourage employers, Group Training Organisations and training providers to take on out-of-trade apprentices and trainees in these difficult economic times. All affected workers are strongly encouraged to contact Centrelink as retrenched workers will be eligible for immediate access to intensive assistance with a Job Network member.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/15/2009

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Boost for Start-Up Companies and Jobs

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research today announced that the Australian Government will provide up to $83 million to early stage start-up companies - who have been starved of funds due to the global financial crisis. The Innovation Investment Follow-on Fund (IIFF) is about ensuring a future beyond the financial crisis for our best and brightest start-up companies. These firms are the next Cochlear, Gekko Systems and ResMed. They are doing ground-breaking work in cutting edge areas like clean energy, biotechnology and ICT. If we lose these innovative companies we will never get them back. The companies that could benefit from this fund employ at least 1000 people in high-skill, high-wage jobs. In order to help these firms ride out the financial storm, $83 million will be offered in follow-on funding to over twenty venture capital fund managers licensed by the Commonwealth under existing programs. The fund managers will use this money to invest in innovative firms bringing promising new technologies and services to market. The IIFF is one of a number of initiatives the Government has announced to assist the flow of capital into Australian firms. Making money available for reinvestment will boost confidence and help shake loose additional private sector capital.

The Review of the National Innovation System called for action to improve the supply of venture capital in Australia. The Review emphasised the importance of a functioning venture capital market to a healthy innovation system. The Government has been actively consulting with the venture capital sector about the impact of the financial crisis and their message has been clear: without access to capital now, good prospects will fail, and venture capital funds will have no capacity to support companies with great ideas and technologies. The Government will be providing a full response to the Review of the National Innovation System as part of the budget process, but today's announcement is an important part of building a stronger national innovation system. It is essential that we help these fledgling companies ride out the crisis. The Government will finance the IIFF by reinvesting money that has been returned to the Innovation Investment Fund when firms it supported were floated or sold. Funds will flow to companies as soon as possible.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/18/2009

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FIJI: Interim Govt Looks at Measures to Improve Fiscal Situation

Deregulating the mahogany industry and securing offshore loans are some of the measures being considered to improve Fiji's fiscal situation. In a press statement yesterday interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama said his government was acting decisively to address the existing economic challenges. He pointed out that the global financial crisis, the recent floods, the expiry of the Multi-Fibre Agreement, the eroding preferential prices for Fiji's sugar, and the escalating fuel prices all contributed to the erosion of the country's foreign reserves. And the Fiji Times online reports him saying the public must brace for more bad news given the further reduction in preferential sugar prices and the expected upward cost of fuel. He has also asked Government departments to tighten expenditure to allow for more savings which will be used in capital projects, and asked a committee to explore further options.

From http://www.rnzi.com/ 03/04/2009

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NEW ZEALAND: Transport Funding Realigned and Increased

Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Steven Joyce are today outlining government plans for simpler, more efficient funding of New Zealand's transport system. The biggest effect of the changes will be almost $1 billion in additional investment in state highway construction over the next three years. Mr Key says the package is about better matching transport funding to the realities of how New Zealanders get around each day, and how our goods are transported. Measures include:
replacing regional fuel taxes with smaller increases in national fuel excise and road user charges, which feed into the National Land Transport Fund
confirming the government's commitment to Auckland rail electrification
committing an additional $258 million of the government's capital allocation to land transport over the next two years
amending the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding to make more money available for state highway construction

Mr Key says these measures will, over three years, free up close to one billion additional dollars for building new and improved state highways, taking the total amount available for such work to around $3 billion over three years. "An additional billion dollars of construction of new and improved state highways will be an important stimulant to the economy as more jobs are created in the roading and construction sectors," Mr Key says. "The increased activity will help New Zealand get through the recession, but just as importantly, improving the state highway network will also put the country in a better position to grow more quickly when the world economy picks up again." "The cancelling of regional fuel taxes will take some pressure off the pockets of Auckland drivers, while at the same time the government remains committed to Auckland rail electrification," Mr Key says. The new funding announced today is in addition to that announced in the February infrastructure package.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/16/2009

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Tax Policy Work Programme Focused on International Competitiveness, Retaining Revenue

The Government's new tax policy work programme will focus on better positioning New Zealand in the world economy and maintaining tax revenue during the current global economic crisis, Finance Minister Bill English and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today. The Ministers said good tax design had an important role to play in improving New Zealand's international competitiveness and reducing business compliance costs. "This Government is committed to a tax system that rewards effort, provides better incentives to get ahead and allows our businesses to thrive, both at home and on the world stage," Mr English and Mr Dunne said. Mr Dunne, who released details of the work programme in a speech today to the International Fiscal Association in Christchurch today, said the continuing reform of New Zealand's international tax rules, to better align them with other countries, was high on the agenda. "A primary emphasis of the work programme over the next 18 months is on tax policy that will help New Zealand to be more competitive in world markets, while ensuring the necessary revenue flow is not disrupted. This aims to free New Zealand-based businesses from a tax cost their overseas competitors do not face," the ministers said. An international taxation bill, currently before Parliament, will make changes in this area. The next step will be considering extending the exemption of active income arising from the offshore operation of New Zealand-based businesses to non-portfolio investment funds, branches of New Zealand companies, and financial institutions.

Tax developments in other countries will also flow into the work programme. "We must keep an eye on international influences such as Australia's current comprehensive review of its tax system, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. We will also be watching downward trends in company tax rates in other countries and looking at any implications for New Zealand," Mr Dunne said. The work programme will also follow developments emerging from forums such as last month's Job Summit and the Capital Market Development Taskforce. Job Summit ideas include widening the tax deductions regime to include 'black hole' expenditure - which is currently not covered - on capital raising and new projects and an exemption from approved issuer levy and non-resident withholding tax for widely issued bonds held by non-residents. Mr Dunne said the work programme also gave high priority to the development of a policy on income splitting for tax purposes. As part of its confidence and supply agreement with United Future the Government has agreed to support income splitting legislation through its first reading in Parliament. Aligning the personal, company and trustee tax at a minimum of 30 percent is also a medium-term priority of the work programme, but Mr Dunne said that would depend on the country's economic and fiscal position.

From http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ 03/20/2009

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VANUATU: Currency Declaration Bill Could Turn Away Offshore Banking Clients

Vanuatu's former Finance Minister has warned that new legislation demanding more disclosure of money and assets from foreign visitors will further damage the country's reputation for offshore banking services. Willie Jimmy's comment comes after parliament this month passed the Currency Declaration Bill, which would see visitors having to declare upon entry or exit if they are carrying more than a million vatu, or around ten thousand US dollars, in not only cash but negotiable assets as well. This includes jewellery, credit cards and credit on mobile phones. Mr Jimmy says the law could be a further turn-off for clients of Vanuatu's offshore banking services which are still recovering from Australian federal police raids on their premises last year. "I think that will also have some impact on the visitors coming in and those who are using finance centres and credit cards and travellers cheques and those things that you used to have to come in... but you have to report them if you have over ten thousand dollars US or a million vatu. I think those things will impact on the interests of people who visit Vanuatu."

From http://www.rnzi.com/ 03/20/2009

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ADB President Calls on Governments, Private Sector to Do More to Address Sanitation Issue

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda has called for regional governments and the private sector to do more to help the 1.8 billion people in Asia who lack access to adequate sanitation. "There is urgency to this moment," Mr. Kuroda said in opening remarks at the Sanitation Dialogue at ADB's Manila Headquarters. He added that the issue of sanitation "poses enormous challenges to Asia's environment and public health." The Sanitation Dialogue has brought together a wide range of municipal and national government officials from 17 countries in the Asia and Pacific region. While urging governments to give a greater priority to the issue, Mr. Kuroda stressed that sanitation, like water supply, cannot be sustained on government budgets alone and that more needs to be done to attract private sector investment. "Key to a change in strategy is the consideration of sanitation as a business," Mr. Kuroda said. "The economic returns of good sanitation have been demonstrated universally and we must find clever ways of translating them into effective and sustainable solutions for Asia."

ADB has committed 20% of its Water Financing Partnership Facility to sanitation, which will help provide 200 million people with sustainable access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. Mr. Kuroda cited successful national sanitation initiatives in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, and said ADB would continue to prioritize the issue. "Our annual average lending pipeline for sanitation has increased from US$300 million from the period 2003-2007 to $710 million for 2008-2010," Mr. Kuroda said, adding that as a proportion of ADB's overall funding commitments, water and sanitation projects are expected to increase from an average of 8.5% in 2003-07 to about 17% in 2008-10. Along with private sector participation in sanitation, the Sanitation Dialogue is focussed on the public health and environmental issues associated with poor sanitation and is exploring practical, affordable solutions to address them.

From http://www.adb.org/ 03/03/2009

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Good-bye, Privatization; Hello, Nationalization

E-mail a friend Print this Letter to the Editor Republish ShareThisE-mail newsletters RSS Quick, what's the difference between taking over a bank and nationalizing it? About 13 points - or so I read in Time magazine. Its latest issue cites a Gallup/USA Today poll finding that 57 percent of the American public oppose "temporarily nationalizing US banks." Only 44 percent, however, oppose "temporarily taking [a bank] over." What a difference a word makes. Take over is one of those phrasal verbs, so common in English, that sound concrete and user-friendly but whose meanings are less than clear. We understand what's meant if one friend observes of another, "He really took over the conversation at dinner last night." But just what does "taking over a bank" entail? It's not certain, other than that, should the feds take over one of the really big ones, some would want to be sure the US Treasury had a seat on the Executive Office Redecorating Committee. Nationalize, on the other hand, with all its syllables and its "ize" ending, sounds like something Mussolini would do. It is something he did, in fact. The Italian government took over a number of ailing firms in the 1930s, among them carmaker Alfa Romeo. But Il Duce was not the only one in this game. The early 20th century was full of nationalizations of large companies, notably railroads. Then after World War II, communist governments nationalized private companies in droves, virtually across the board in some cases. It wasn't only communists, though; the French nationalized major banks - and a number of other big companies as well - during this period. And in 1956, the Egyptian government nationalized the Suez Canal, closing it to shipping for a time and buying out shareholders of the Suez Canal Co., the private entity that had been running it. It was a clear sign of a shifting balance of power between the European colonial powers and the countries we now refer to as the developing world.

The counterpart to nationalization is privatization. Remember when that was the big buzzword? Enormous initial public offerings, notably of phone-company stocks, in places like Britain, Japan, and Germany not only helped bring about the telecommunications revolution of the late 20th century but helped create equity investors out of millions who would otherwise never have ventured to own stocks. If privatization is a word drenched in eau de Reagan and parfum Thatcherite, nationalization has about it more than a whiff of stale smoke. The visuals it suggests are the grainy black-and-white of newsreel footage. It is a word from an era gone by - or so I would have suggested until maybe six weeks ago. Legislation has been introduced to give the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation a credit line at the US Treasury worth half a trillion dollars. Speculation abounds that the FDIC is getting ready to go after some really big institutions, not just the Anytown Community Bank. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) of South Carolina is one of a handful of Republicans saying that nationalization shouldn't be off the table. A few weeks ago, bank stock prices tumbled after Sen. Christopher Dodd (D) of Connecticut used the "n" word to refer to what might happen to some major US banks. Prices recovered somewhat after some damage control from the White House. And a few days later, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress, "We don't plan anything like" a full-scale nationalization that wipes out stockholders. But the real surprise to me in the Gallup finding is that it's only 57 percent who oppose temporary nationalization, whatever they think it means.

From http://www.csmonitor.com/ 03/13/2009

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CHINA: E. China Private Enterprises Expand in Preparation for Recovery

In spite of the gloom hanging over the global economy, some large-scale private enterprises in China's eastern coastal regions are optimistically expanding, in stark contrast to their downsized western counterparts. Alibaba Group, the world's largest business-to-business (B2B) corporation in terms of turnover, has launched a new recruitment scheme in February. The Hangzhou-based group plans to take on 5,000 new members in 2009, raising the total number of employees by 45 percent. These newcomers, to be engaged in sales, research and customer service, will be working with the group's subsidiaries such as Alibaba.com, a B2B e-commerce company and Taobao.com, the most popular online shopping website in China. Suggestive of the upbeat prediction from Jack Ma, this expansion program is widely deemed a preparatory step for the recovery to come. Two months ago, Jack Ma, the founder and Chairman of Alibaba Group, forecast an upturn in the country's macroeconomy. "The turning point offers us the best opportunity for recruitment. The early bird catches the worm," said Wu Hang, director of Human Resources of Alibaba Group, adding that the program is made to meet the group's demand for talent. "Online marketplace in China remains unaffected by the global recession," said David Wei,

Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba.com Limited. David's confidence is enhanced by statistics. According to a report published by iResarch Consulting Group, the number of registered online shoppers in China, 120 million by the end of 2008, has hit a record high with an upsurge of 185 percent. Annual online transactions have reported 120 billion yuan, a growth of 128.5 percent compared with lower than 95 percent for 2007. Also, China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) has announced that China has overtaken the United States as the world's largest Internet market with 298 million netizens by the end of 2008. To expand market share in such a rapidly developing Internet market, Alibaba will carry out a series of plans in the next five years, including further investment in Taobao.com. "We will be invested in with 5 billion (731 million U.S. dollars) yuan," said Lu Weixing, spokesman of Taobao.com, on Friday. Alibaba is not alone. Hangzhou Wahaha Group Corp., the biggest beverage maker in China and the fifth largest across the world, intends to employ 5,000 more workers after recruiting 2,000 recently. "New positions result from the 90 new assembly lines that will be put into operation soon," explained Zong Qinghou, Wahaha's Chairman and Managing Director, "We welcome graduates majored in machinery automation, biotechnology, logistics, microbiology, business administration or macromolecular chemistry." Zong also said on Feb. 15 that he is considering marketing products internationally through overseas distributors.

In 2008, the group obtained an income of over 10 million U.S. dollars in markets outside China. The booming rural market is likely to shore up Wahaha's expansion plan. Thanks in large part to consumers in China's rural areas, Wahaha, whose main products are downscale, achieved an increase of 27.19 percent (from 25.81 billion yuan to 32.83 billion yuan) in annual sales and an increase of 50.36 percent (from 3.36 billion yuan to 5.05 billion yuan) in profit in 2008. Now the group occupies 60 percent of the rural consumption market share. NASDAQ-listed NetEase, one of China's largest web portals, launches a pig-raising project that has caused wide concern. Ding Lei, Chief Executive Officer of NetEase, and a famous exponent of China's new rich, decides to set up the company's pig farm in Huzhou, a city near Shanghai. Before mapping out the plan, Ding made a study of agriculture and livestock breeding in areas including Zhejiang, Guangdong, Yunnan, Shandong, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. He even traveled to Japan, the Republic of Korea and Australia to learn more about modern farming. Meanwhile, NetEase plans to develop a website somewhat like Facebook for farmers, on which pork purveyors can exchange breeding tips. The website is also accessible to consumers who can keep an eye on details about the pigs. "I aim to draw greater attention to agriculture and involve the public into resolving food safety problem", Ding emphasized. But the pig-raising plan is regarded as a mirror of NetEase's ambition in exploring the rural market. "The vast countryside will prove to be a new growth engine to the IT giant," said Gu Yikang, an agricultural expert in Zhejiang.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/01/2009

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Wen Calls for Greater Support for Private Companies

Premier Wen Jiabao Monday called for greater support for private companies amid the global financial crisis. The government should give greater support to not only state-owned enterprises but private companies "as long as they can boost economic development and create jobs", said Wen when joining lawmakers from the eastern Zhejiang Province in a panel discussion during the annual parliament session. The non-public sector including private companies is an important part of the socialist market economy, and private enterprises play an important and indispensable role in tackling the global financial crisis, he said. The government should clear obstacles in existing institutions to help the companies solve difficulties in financing to provide a "fair competition environment" for the non-public sector, he said.

From Xinhua News Agency 03/09/2009

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Private Firms Fight Shy of Floats, Buys

Privately-held businesses on the mainland showed the greatest change in attitude towards acquisitions and public listings this year, a survey by the international accountancy firm Grant Thornton International Business showed on Monday. Compared to last year, China had the second biggest fall (of 26 percent) among global businesses intending to make acquisitions and the biggest fall (of 40 percent) among businesses planning for a public listing in the next three years, the survey of 36 economies revealed. Mainland businesses were more enthusiastic about deal-making last year, but have revised their plans in the changed economic climate. Only 41 percent of businesses were now looking for targets as against 67 percent previously. But, there were some important regional differences. Businesses in Beijing are much more acquisitive (53 percent) than those in Shanghai (36 percent) and Guangzhou (35 percent), the survey noted.

From China Daily 03/16/2009

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JAPAN: Public, Private Sectors Forge Agreement on Work-Sharing

Representatives of the government, employers and workers have drafted an agreement for promoting Japanese-style work-sharing to maintain jobs during the recession, sources said Thursday. Prime Minister Taro Aso, Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) Chairman Fujio Mitarai and Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) President Tsuyoshi Takagi are scheduled to meet Monday to adopt the accord. This will be first time in seven years the three parties have forged an agreement on employment since they reached a pact that defined work-sharing in March 2002. The draft says the three parties should cooperate in stabilizing and creating jobs. Japanese-style work-sharing is defined as an effort to maintain employment through employee leave, overwork reduction or transfers. The draft urges the government to expand subsidies to companies that preserve jobs through leave and other measures and use fiscal expansion and tax incentives for creating jobs in priority areas.

From Kyodo News 03/20/2009

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SOUTH KOREA: Privatizing Regional Airports Gets First Chance

Korean Air workers monitor flight routes at the airline's control center in Gonghang-dong, western Seoul, after North Korea refused to guarantee the safety of South Korean civilian planes. [YONHAP] A decision to entrust the operation of a money-losing airport to the private sector has stirred debate over whether private management can turn the tide. The government plans to let a private company run Cheongju International Airport in North Chungcheong, officials said Thursday. It is the first experiment of its kind. The measure has gained attention as nine out of 14 airports - excluding Incheon - in the country are losing money. Yangyang International Airport in Gangwon has no international flights and is losing 28 million won ($18,064) a day. The construction of Uljin airport in North Gyeongsang is nearly complete but the date of the airport's opening is not set as there are no airlines planning to fly there. Only Gimpo, Gimhae, Jeju, Daegu and Gwangju airports are in the black. "We know that the main reason for stagnant provincial airports is lack of demand," said Jang Jong-sik, a rail and aviation director general at the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. "Our goal is to privatize the operation of airports that have some passengers in order to find ways for them to survive." Currently, Korea Airports Corporation is running all 14 airports, but the government intends to break the 30-year-old monopoly. The government hopes that privatization of the operations of the airports will increase efficiency. The Cheongju airport was selected as the first to privatize because the money-losing facility still has over 1 million flyers annually. It is also located in the middle of the country and has international routes to Beijing and Shanghai. The government hopes that a private company can cut the airport's excessive workforce and overhead costs. "If the airport increases international routes and raises the usage of its facility, it will be able to make a profit," said Kim Yeon-myeong, a senior researcher at the Korea Transportation Institute. "Privatization of the Cheongju airport will increase competition among airports and improve service." However, some experts say regulations governing the airports need to be relaxed first. The Cheongju airport, for instance, has 88 employees. Of those, 57 of them are police officers. By law, the number of police officers assigned to a government facility before 2001 cannot be reduced. Provincial airports are also not flexible with landing and takeoff fees. "Domestic airline companies usually operate large airplanes and this caused the number of flights and passengers at regional airports to drop," said Lee Yeong-heok, a professor at Korea Aerospace University. "The government needs to support low-budget airlines [that have] smaller airplanes."

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 03/07/2009

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MALAYSIA: Govt and Private Sector Working Together to Create Jobs

A TOTAL of 163,000 training opportunities and job placements will be undertaken as joint collaboration between the Government and the private sector as a measure to reduce unemployment. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the move will be implemented through training programmes by various government agencies, including government-linked companies (GLCs) and private training institutes in the private sector. "The main objective is to enhance skills to meet industry requirements as well as to reduce dependence on foreign labour. The Government has allocated RM700mil to implement job placements and provide incentives to employers to recruit and train local workers. Among the measures to be taken, he said, was to increase the number of participants under the Special Training and Re-Training Programmes for retrenched workers and the Dual National Training Scheme to enhance skills of those currently employed. "(We will) increase the number of training programmes with the cooperation of industries and related companies, such as in electrical and electronics, welding, robotics and construction.

"In addition, more industrial and technical skills training will be conducted by Skills Training Centres in all states for 10,000 trainees," he said. Another measure is to provide on-the-job training for 1,000 unemployed graduates in the financial sector by the Securities Commission and Bank Negara Malaysia for two years, while 2,000 training opportunities and job placements will be provided in GLCs. Najib said the Government will also establish 22 JobsMalaysia Centres and upgrade 109 of its existing centres. Another 63,000 staff members will be recruited to fill vacancies and serve as contract officers in various government agencies. Since October 2008, a total of 25,000 workers have been retrenched, while 30,900 have been temporarily laid off and 23,900 had to take pay cuts. About 100,000 workers have not been given overtime work, resulting in significant reduction in income.

From http://thestar.com.my/ 03/11/2009

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PHILIPPINES: Gov't, Private Sector to Discuss Means to Expand RP Labor Market Abroad amid Global Economic Crisis

MANILA (PND) - Government and private sector representatives will discuss tomorrow ways to expand the frontiers of the global market for Filipino workers despite the worldwide economic crisis that has affected several countries employing thousands of Filipinos. Called Jobs Forum, the consultative meeting to be held at Malacañang's Rizal Ceremonial Hall will focus on job prospects for Filipinos with 65 new Middle East-based companies. "The event will bring to the fore sectoral inputting and consultations by government with the manning (maritime) and other sea-based and land-based employment agencies and the labor sector which have job prospects in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas," Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said. DOLE officials said labor attaches abroad, through the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in Geneva, Europe; Vancouver, Canada; Kuwait, Riyadh, Al-Khobar, Taiwan and Macau, are attending the Jobs Forum. Officials of the Philippine Overseas Construction Board, contractors licensed by the POEA and the manning agencies have also been invited to attend the gathering. Side issues such reduced salaries, waiver on special coverage earnings, wage, training requirements, liability insurance to be borne by workers, safety nets and protection mechanisms, deployment ban in countries with areas of conflict may also be discussed. Some 200 participants from the government, labor sector, manning agencies, workers groups and overseas sector are expected to attend the forum.

From http://www.gov.ph/ 03/01/2009

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SINGAPORE: More Stringent Rules for Private Schools Soon

SINGAPORE: There will be more stringent rules and regulations, including advertising, for the private education sector in Singapore soon. Authorities are hoping the new Private Education Bill will be passed in Parliament by July - under which, more than 1,000 private schools must adhere to the new rules. And once the new bill comes into effect within the next two years, a new EduTrust scheme will take over the current CASETrust scheme dealing with private schools. EduTrust will focus on the school's financial health and academic processes, as well as the student's overall happiness and welfare. While the scheme is voluntary, the Education Ministry believes the some 350 schools currently having the CASETrust status will strive for the EduTrust mark. Chairman of Council for Private Education, Lin Cheng Ton, said: "Those schools that can get the EduTrust certification are the better schools. So in this case, the better schools are able to take foreign students."

Currently, only private institutions (PIs) with the CASETrust status can enrol foreign students. And soon, they must have the EduTrust mark when it comes into effect. CEO of Council for Private Education, Henry Heng, said: "Let's not forget that the new regime is a little different from what it is presently. The new regime has a regulatory enforcement act which requires the managers of the PIs, who are identified by name and in person, that... if they close down, they have to be able to make transitory plans for the students and failing which, it's an offence under the act itself." The ministry will also step up efforts to check on errant private schools and employ more officers to conduct these checks. In addition, only schools with approved courses will be allowed to advertise them. There will be focus group discussions to get feedback from private education institutions and students. There will also be a public consultation exercise with industry players as well as the public from March 11 till May 6.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 03/10/2009

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BANGLADESH: Govt to Modernise Farm Sector to Attain Food Security

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Bangladesh Representative Ad Spijkers calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the city yesterday. ( Story on Page 16) Photo: PID Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government would introduce latest technology to modernise the agriculture sector and increase the storage capacity of food to ensure food security of the country. Hasina made the remark when Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) Bangladesh Representative Ad Spijkers called on her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the morning. She said more godowns and silos would be built to preserve food and if necessary, the private sector would be encouraged in this regard, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told newsmen. Hasina apprised the FAO official of her government's various plans to make Bangladesh self-sufficient in food again. She said necessary steps would be taken to reduce salinity through forestation across the coastal belt while the navigability of rivers would be restored through massive dredging. The PM also said the government would inspire and help the farmers to increase production of organic food and processed fish as such products have increasing demand in the global market. Spijkers suggested that Bangladesh can produce coffee and cashew nut in the Chittagong Hill Tracts districts in larger volume which will help the country to find out additional sources of food.

The FAO representative appreciated the prime minister for her government's food policy and mentioned the success of the Awami League government during the 1996-2001 period in turning Bangladesh into a food surplus country. Hasina thanked the FAO for its cooperation in improving food situation of Bangladesh and assistances during various natural calamities including the cyclonic storm Sidr on November 15, 2007. Spijkers assured the PM of providing FAO assistances in future to make Bangladesh a food-sufficient country. When the prevailing world economic downturn came up in the discussion, Hasina said the government is fully aware of the urgency of protecting the country from the negative impact of the recession. Already an all-party taskforce has been formed to monitor the situation and take necessary steps, she said. The FAO official recalled the successful participation of Bangladesh in the 1996 World Food Summit under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. He also expressed deep shock at the death of army officers in the February 25-26 Pilkhana carnage and hailed the prime minister for tackling the crisis quickly and peacefully. Spijkers handed over a letter of felicitation from FAO chief to Sheikh Hasina on her assumption of the office of Prime Minister.

From http://www.thedailystar.net/ 03/20/2009

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Govt Will Introduce Modern Tech in Agri Sector: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government would introduce latest technology to modernise the agriculture sector and increase the storage capacity of food to ensure food security of the country. She made the remark when Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative in Bangladesh Ad Spijkers called on her at the Prime Minister's Office in the morning. The Prime Minister said more godowns and silos would be built to preserve food and if necessary, the private sector would be encouraged in this regard, her Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told newsmen. Hasina apprised the FAO official of her government's various plans to make Bangladesh self-sufficient in food again. She said necessary steps would be taken to reduce salinity through forestation across the coastal belt while the navigability of rivers would be restored through massive dredging. The Prime Minister also said the government would inspire and help the farmers to increase production of organic food and processed fish as such products have increasing demand in the global market. Spijkers suggested that Bangladesh can produce coffee and cashew nut in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts in larger volume which will help the country to find out additional sources of food. The FAO representative appreciated the Prime Minister for her government's food policy and mentioned the success of the Awami League government during the 1996-2001 period in turning Bangladesh into a food surplus country. Spijkers hoped that under the skilled and farsighted leadership of the Prime Minister, Bangladesh would be able to become a food-sufficient country again. The Prime Minister thanked the FAO for its cooperation in improving food situation of Bangladesh and its assistances during various natural calamities including the cyclonic storm Sidr on November 15, 2007. Spijkers assured the Prime Minister of providing FAO assistances in future to make Bangladesh a food-sufficient country. As the current world economic downturn came up in the discussion, the Prime Minister said the government is fully aware of the urgency of protecting the country from the negative impact of the recession. Already an all-party taskforce has been set up to monitor the situation and take necessary steps, she said. The FAO official recalled the successful participation of Bangladesh in the 1996 World Food Summit under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. He expressed deep shock at the death of army officers in the February 25-26 Peelkhana carnage and hailed the Prime Minister for tackling the crisis quickly and peacefully. Spijkers handed over a letter of felicitation from FAO chief to Sheikh Hasina on her assumption of the office of Prime Minister. PMO Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman was present.

From http://www.theindependent-bd.com/ 03/20/2009

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INDIA: Sahara Plans to Expand into the Healthcare Sector

Sahara Prime City Ltd, the real estate arm of the Sahara India Pariwar, is looking to expand into the healthcare sector. The group plans to set up three super specialty, multi-disciplinary, tertiary care hospitals in Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Amby Valley at an investment of INR 2,500 crore over the next two-three years And then the plan is to follow it up by high-ended secondary care hospitals in all its 217 Sahara City Homes townships across the country, each of which will have an estimated cost of INR 15-20 crore. And to meet the need of skilled manpower, advanced talks with the New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the John Hopkins University to open a medical college and research centre at its Lucknow hospital are also on.

From http://www.egovonline.net/ 02/27/2009

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Slowdown-Hit DTH Industry Seeks Government Intervention

New Delhi: Hit by the global slowdown and slow growth in subscriber base, the country's direct-to-home (DTH) service providers Tuesday asked the government to bail them out and take a relook at the four-level tax system imposed on them. "With the dollar appreciating against the rupee, the hardware cost has gone up by 10-15 percent," Dish TV chief operating officer Salil Kapoor told reporters on the sidelines of a conference organised by the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa). Tata Sky managing director and chief executive Vikram Kaushik shared the view: "The DTH industry can face massive losses in the years to come on account of low average revenues per user (ARPU) and also the duty that each service provider has to pay while importing hardware." "In a few years to come, one can expect consolidation or players winding up business," he added. Added Kapoor: "The industry is dogged by four levels of taxation - service tax, VAT (value-added tax), licence fee and entertainment tax. The industry will approach the government on this matter." Due to dollar appreciation, the hardware, especially the set-top boxes, which is imported from other countries, has become costlier. Therefore, the DTH players have not benefited much from service duty cuts. However, the current trend has not stopped the companies from launching new offers and services. Players like Dish TV and BIG TV are now offering multi-dwelling units (MDUs), and are exploring options with real estate developers for wiring their projects in the construction stage. The MDU offers a single dish antenna that caters to all flats in a building through multi-switches and amplifiers. Such a tie-up with developers will ensure multiple subscribers for the DTH operators, officials said. At present, DTH operators are bearing the installation cost of the MDU antennas, which is ranging between Rs.1,200-1,500 per flat. However, set-top boxes need to be installed for every television set which has to be bought by the user.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/17/2009

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India Defers New Pension Plan for Private Employees

India today deferred the launch of a new pension scheme for private-sector employees ahead of upcoming general elections. The scheme, which would have allowed investment in stock markets, was earlier scheduled for launch on April 1. The decision has been taken in view of the Model Code of Conduct for Elections, scheduled to be held in April-May, a government statement said on Thursday. In February, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority shortlisted six fund managers - subsidiaries of Reliance Capital, UTI, State Bank of India, IDFC, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and Kotak Mahindra Bank for the new scheme. An expert panel headed by HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh, had recommended that the scheme should give investors the option to invest entirely in equity funds. The panel, constituted by PFRDA, also recommended that other options could include a combination of investment in government bonds, bank deposits, liquid mutual funds, corporate bonds and index funds. The government had in 2004 launched a new pension scheme for its staff in order to reduce liabilities and offer workers better returns on their savings.

From http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ 03/19/2009

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SRI LANKA: DHL to Invest $8 Million in Sri Lanka's Logistics Sector

Colombo: Express and logistics major DHL Thursday announced that it will invest $8 million in Sri Lanka over three years to help the island nation become a logistics hub in South Asia. Announcing a joint venture agreement with Capitol AEI Pvt Ltd, an exclusive agent for DHL Global Forwarding in Sri Lanka, the logistics company said the investments would "go towards the joint venture, employee training, upgrading of information systems and introducing an enhanced range of services for businesses" in the country. "As part of this investment, by end-2009, DHL will launch the 'DHL Fashion and Apparel Centre for Excellence' in Colombo. The centre will comprise a core team of industry experts and be responsible for developing tailored solutions and provide consultancy services to customers," the company said in a statement. The fashion and apparel industry is one of Sri Lanka's largest sources of national income and it contributes nearly 8 percent to the country's gross domestic product and accounts for 45 percent of the export revenue and 67 percent of the total industrial exports. "We are very optimistic about Sri Lanka's growth potential. Being strategically located along the major air and sea routes between Europe and the Far East, Sri Lanka is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the increasing trade flows between South Asia and Europe," said Amadou Diallo, DHL Global Forwarding chief executive for South Asia Pacific. According to DHL, the fashion and apparel logistics industry in South Asia is estimated to be around $3.9 billion. "India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka alone are estimated to account for well over $2.4 billion in this fast-growing industry," DHL said, adding that its services covered the entire logistics value chain of the fashion industry.

From http://www.siliconindia.com/ 03/12/2009

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IRAN: Aviation Industry to Go Private

Flag carrier Iran Air and its subsidiary, Iran Air Tour, have been put on the list of state-run companies to be privatized as part of the program to privatize the aviation industry. Iran Privatization Organization (IPO) Director Gholamreza Kord Zangeneh announced the plan on Sunday, adding that Homa Hotel Group and some airports are also on the privatization list. Except for the Civil Aviation Organization, which is the regulating body of the country's air transportation industry, all other state-run aviation companies will go private, Inn.ir quoted Kord Zangeneh as saying. In 2007, Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called on government officials to speed up the implementation of policies outlined in Article 44 of the Constitution, which calls for the privatization of state-run companies. According to the Fourth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2005-10), Iran Privatization Organization, affiliated to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, is responsible for setting prices and offering shares of state-run companies on the privatization list.

From http://www.iran-daily.com/ 03/03/2009

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TURKEY: Pension Funds Perform Well

Turkey's private pension system grew during the first two months of the year, despite declining consumer appetite and volatile global markets. The total sum invested by Turkey's 12 pension insurance firms reached 6.7 billion Turkish Liras in mid-March, from 6.4 billion liras in January. The system, established in October 2003, consists of 12 insurance companies managing 121 funds. As the crisis set in, the fund range offered by Turkish pension insurance firms has become more conservative. Whereas in September 2008 some 67 percent of all funds were invested in Treasury bills and bonds, the figure reached 71.3 percent by end-January. In the same period, the ratio of equity funds dropped from 7.7 percent of all funds to 7.5 percent. Investments in reverse repossession have also decreased, from 19.9 percent in September to 16.1 percent in January. At present, the remaining 5.1 percent of the funds is invested in other asset classes, according to Turkey's Capital Markets Board, or SPK.

Despite the crisis, the number of participants in the system has grown by some 22,300 people during the first months of the year. On the other hand, participation on the whole remains limited as only 1.77 million of Turkey's 70.5 million people currently contribute to private pension funds. At present, 82 percent of pension plans in Turkey are private contracts. The situation is expected to remain the same. In fact, the financial crisis has reduced the share of corporate contracts from 25 percent last March to 18 percent at present, which means any move toward the creation of a pension second pillar is likely to take place even later than envisioned. Turkish pensions savers are largely from the big cities of western Turkey Ğ 33 percent residing in Istanbul, followed by Ankara, İzmir and Antalya. Participation rates are highest among age group from 25-34 years with 39 percent, followed by those between 35-44 years, with 33.4 percent.

From http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ 03/24/2009

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UZBEKISTAN: Uzbekistan Privatizes 392 Objects in 2008

Uzbekistan privatized 392 objects in 2008 within the framework of the Programme on Decentralization and Privatization, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said quoting State Property Committee's data. Largest number of objects was privatized in Tashkent city (25% of total objects privatized in Uzbekistan), Tashkent region (20.4%), Namangan region (7.4%), Khorezm region (7.1%), Kashkadarya region (6.6%), Samarkand region (5.9%) and Ferghana region (5.9%). About 43.6% of all privatized objects in 2008 were property of local administrations, 13.8% - Ministry of Health and 9.7% - Ministry of Public Education. Uzbekistan received 130.6 billion soums from privatization and decentralization in January-December 2008. The most part of receipts came from privatization of objects in Tashkent city (42.1% of total receipts received from decentralization and privatization), Tashkent region (17.5%), Khorezm region (14.1%) and Syrdarya region (12.6%).

From http://business.uzreport.com/ 03/04/2009

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AUSTRALIA: NSW Electricity Retailers to Be Privatised by Year's End

The New South Wales Government says it is ready to test the market's appetite for its plans to sell electricity retailers. The Government today released its market strategy, which involves selling the retailers, the trading rights to the electricity produced and sites set aside for future power generators. The generators will remain in public hands. Finance Minister Joe Tripodi says he hopes the transactions can be finalised by the end of the year. "It's a big step," he said. "It's opening up the gates, allowing private sector investment into an area that traditionally has been dominated by public funds and it's all about securing the future of electricity jobs and opportunities for growth for NSW." Mr Tripodi is confident there will be cashed-up major players willing to buy. "China is welcome," he said. "We've very interested, in particular, in TRUenergy being an active player. It's already a big investor in New South Wales." The plan was brokered by Premier Nathan Rees after original privatisation plans failed. He says the Government maintains retail price controls until at least 2013 and workers will have the same job guarantees.

From http://www.abc.net.au/ 03/05/2009

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Banks to Maintain Funding to Small Business

Australia's banks today gave important undertakings on the availability and cost of small business finance, Federal Small Business Minister Dr Craig Emerson said. Dr Emerson today facilitated the roundtable discussion between bank representatives and small business organisations in Melbourne to discuss credit flow to small business against the backdrop of the global financial crisis. The banks have indicated that they will seek to maintain funding to the small business sector. And they undertook to pass on to small business, to the maximum extent possible, any reduction in the cost of funds, while maintaining prudential standards. Dr Emerson said the commitment on the availability of funds will help assure the small business community that credit will continue to flow and the undertaking on passing on any reductions to cost of funds will help keep small businesses viable. Banks need to maintain prudential standards to keep them strong during the global financial crisis. As a result of the roundtable, the Government has set up a small business complaints clearing house with the Australian Bankers' Association (ABA). Dr Emerson's office will receive complaints about access to and cost of bank finance which will be passed on through the ABA to senior bank management for response. The Rudd Government also announced the 55 successful applicants for its $4 million small business advisory program during the global financial crisis.

This takes to 91 the number of small business organisations being funded by the Rudd Government to assist small businesses in obtaining finance. The Government has also reached agreement with the Victorian Government to have its Business Loan Finder available through the Commonwealth's business website (www.business.gov.au). The Business Loan Finder is an online information service that helps small business operators easily compare different loan products and find one that best suits their needs. The Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) has indicated small business organisations will continue to work with the ABA to identify and deal with ongoing difficulties small business might face accessing credit during the global financial crisis. Representatives from the ABA, ANZ Bank, Bank of Queensland, Bendigo Bank, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac Bank and Suncorp attended today's roundtable as did the COSBOA and other business organisations. Details of the small business advisory program and the list of successful applicants are available on the AusIndustry website.

From http://www.alp.org.au/ 03/06/2009

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Jail Privatisation Plans 'Upset Cessnock Residents'

Cessnock resident says local families are emotionally distraught as plans to privatise Cessnock jail gain momentum. The second public hearing into the privatisation of Cessnock and Parklea jails is being held today. Cessnock Greens' councillor James Ryan will use his address to urge the Government to rethink its plan. "To be pressing ahead in the sort of dogmatic way that they are is just not commonsense and New South Wales is not getting the best outcome," he said. Tanya Roe from the group, Community Against Privatision, says she will highlight the emotional effect of the plan. "It's like a war, it's ridiculous. There's staff and families going through sheer hell and it has to stop," she said. The Department of Corrective Services came under fire last weekend for shifting 100 prisoners out of Cessnock, due to an unsafe ratio of inmates to prison officers.

From http://www.abc.net.au/ 03/20/2009

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SAMOA: Government Liberalising Telecommunications Market

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Samoa says liberalising the international telecommunications market will create more competition which may drive down prices. The Government will be terminating its exclusive ownership of full International Gateway Services by the end of June, opening the door for companies to apply for a license. The Chief executive of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Tuai'malo Asamu Ah Sam says there is a demand for competition and once the market is liberalised, it will create opportunity. "The benefits that competition brings; not only is there more choice for the users and the business but hopefully the prices will come down by fierce competition between the companies. providing international services, not only in voice but also in the internet and data." Tuai'malo Asamu Ah Sam says the Office of the Regulator will be processing the applications for International Gateway Licenses.

From http://www.rnzi.com/ 03/12/2009

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