|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITU Academy Launched to Strengthen
Capacity Development in ICT
Investment: G20 Governments Must
Step Up Efforts to Resist Protectionism, Says OECD, WTO, UNCTAD Report
First Global Twitter Press Conference on Innovation
15th International Anti-Corruption Conference Closes with an
Urgent Call to End Impunity
New Report Examines Risks of 4
Degree Hotter World by End of Century
Asia Pacific to Lead Global Cloud
Traffic
APEC on Target to Reduce Energy
Intensity, but More Work Needed, Says Early Assessment
Investments in Disaster Risk
Management Essential to Sustaining Growth and Reducing Poverty
Raising Awareness of Violence Against
Women in the Pacific
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHINA: To Resume Construction of
Nuclear Plants
China Works for Safe Dangerous
Waste Disposal
Fair to Highlight Robotic Tech
Technology Can Make Life More
Convenient
CPC Central Committee Politburo
Urges Implementing Congress Spirit
JAPAN: Elected to U.N. Human
Rights Body
SOUTH KOREA: Govt. to Promote
Agricultural Activities Based on Consumer Cooperation
Forum to Promote Civic, Social
Groups Held at Museum
Tuition Burden to Fall 35% on
Average for 1 Mln Students
Gov't Mulling Over Capital Controls
to Curb Won Rally
S. Korea Ranks 29th in Terms of
Business Environment
Survey: 86% of Korean Smokers Want
Tighter Laws on Smoking
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASEAN Leaders Meet Dialogue Partners to
Strengthen Political, Economic Ties
INDONESIA: Minister Calls for Forest
Management
LAOS: Accepted as New WTO Member
Myanmar, UNICEF to Cooperate on Child Development
PHILIPPINES: Public Support Needed to Combat Children's
Malnutrition
The Philippines Launches Mobile App for Disaster
Preparedness
THAILAND: Police Fight Crime Using Social Network
Thailand Prevents Forest Encroachment with GIS Map
Thailand to Introduce Smarter Police Manikins for Traffic
Control
|
|
|
|
|
|
BANGLADESH: Linking Food Security to
Climate Change
INDIA: e-Gov Capacity Building Workshop in J&K
Controlling System Operations of Power Transmission
Building e-Governance Infrastructure
International Co-operation Necessary
to Track Corruption and Recover Assets CBI Special Director
Study to Explore Feasibility of Free
and Open Source Software in E-Gov
|
|
|
|
|
|
AZERBAIJAN: First Satellite to Be
Launched in Early February 2013
High-Tech Park to Be Established in Azerbaijan
International Internet Governance Forum Opens in Azerbaijan
(PHOTO)
Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan Establish Air Links
Azerbaijani Communications Ministry Makes Efforts to Reduce
Roaming Costs
Satellite Technologies Presented in Azerbaijan’s Oil and
Gas Sphere
KAZAKHSTAN: To Create New Model of Labor Relations
Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan Elected to UN Economic and Social
Council
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pacific Looks to 'Asian Century' Report for Tips
AUSTRALIA: Giving $100m to Fight Malaria
FIJI: Water Foundation Assists Rural Children
Fiji’s New Minimum Wage Rates Announced
Pension for 70 and Over
NEW ZEALAND: Govt Hints at Charges for Water
New Zealand Leads World's Health Experts to Join Fight
Against Obesity
New Zealand Seeks to Balance Aims of Two Asia-Pacific Trade
Pacts
NZ Tax Approach 'One Size Fits All' - Global Report
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Government Assesses Country's Food Security
Gender
Equality - Making Progress Through Mainstreaming and Statistics
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITU: Draft of the
Future International Telecommunications Regulations
In December 2012, the World Conference on International
Communications (WCIT 2012) will be taking place in Dubai with a view to
reconsider the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) for the
first time since 1988 under the aegis of the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU). One of the key questions that will be
examined at WCIT is whether or not ‘ICTs’ or the Internet should fall
within the scope of the ITRs. As the ITU has traditionally operated under a
very closed-up, top-down decision-making process, civil society groups are
concerned that the ITR review process might be used to fundamentally change
the multi-stakeholder model that has been the hallmark of Internet
governance up until now. There is also a concern that this process will
have a detrimental impact on the open Internet, freedom of expression and
access to information. Our legal analysis concludes that whilst the ITU
might not be overtaking the Internet just yet, some of the proposals that
have been made give no ground for complacency on the part of civil society,
governments and businesses who want to preserve our Internet freedoms. In
this analysis, ARTICLE 19 reviews key areas of concerns over the ITRs. We
examine the question of definitions and scope of the ITRs as well as
proposals that would give greater control to the ITU over content-related
aspects of Internet policy. We also review the proposal of the European
Telecoms Network Operators (ETNO) on new IP interconnection pricing scheme
and its impact on net neutrality. Finally, we highlight a number of factors
mitigating fears that the ITU might be overtaking the Internet.
Recommendations
1.Every effort should be made to oppose the inclusion of the
terms ‘ICTs’, ‘Internet’ or ‘IP Protocol’ in the International
Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs”);
2.References to 'spam', 'cyber-crime', 'cyber-security', 'data
preservation, retention, protection', 'protection of personal information,
privacy and data', 'information and network security', 'fraud' and other
similar wording should be rejected;
3.The proposal of European Telecoms Network Operators should be resisted as
seriously undermining the net neutrality principle;
4.As a matter of international law, States should make a reservation to
those clauses that fail to comply with international standards on freedom of
expression and the right to privacy on the Internet;
5.Should the revised ITRs fall well below the international standards on
freedom of expression and privacy, States should not sign the revised ITRs;
6.The ITU should open-up its decision-making processes and make its reports
and other documentation available free-of-charge.
From
http://www.article19.org/ 10/26/2012
TOP↑
Draft
Declaration on Fundamental Freedoms in the Digital Age
By: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Italy,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United
Kingdom and the United States of America.
We, the members of the Ministerial Council
of the OSCE declare our strong and unwavering determination to uphold our
Declaration from the 2010 Astana Summit reaffirming:
•our full adherence
to the Charter of the United Nations and to all OSCE norms, principles and
commitments, starting from the Helsinki Final Act, and all other OSCE
documents to which we have agreed, and our responsibility to implement them
fully and in good faith,
•that human rights
and fundamental freedoms are inalienable, and that their protection and
promotion is our first responsibility, and
•that civil society
and free media help us to ensure full respect for human rights, fundamental
freedoms, democracy, including free and fair elections, and the rule of
law.
Recalling in particular Helsinki Final Act Principle VII (on respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms) and Principle X (on fulfillment in
good faith of obligations under international law) and our commitments in
the Copenhagen Document (paragraphs 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3,
10.4 and 24) relating to the exercise of human rights and fundamental
freedoms,
Recognizing that:
•human rights and
fundamental freedoms do not change with new technologies and that they
extend into the Digital Age,
•in the OSCE region and
across the globe individuals increasingly use new connective technologies
to know and act upon their human rights and fundamental freedoms,
•these new
technologies facilitate the expression and dissemination of ideas and
information by individuals, groups and organizations as well as their
ability to create and maintain networks and associations, plan and conduct
their peaceful activities and organize peaceful assemblies online and
offline,
•these new
technologies thereby strengthen the capacity of individuals, acting alone
or in community with others, actively to contribute to the promotion and
protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and to the democratic
development, modernization, prosperity and security of their own countries
and the international community.
We therefore reaffirm:
•our commitments to
respect the exercise by individuals, including members of groups and
organizations, of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including
through new technologies such as the Internet, mobile networks and social
media tools.
From
http://osce.usmission.gov/ 11/24/2012
TOP↑
Asian
Leaders Call for a Global Program to Invest in Disaster-Resilient Schools
and Hospitals
Heads of Governments and Ministers from
Asian countries are calling for a global program to make schools and
hospitals more safe in the event of a natural disaster. The Yogyakarta
Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia, issued by participating
countries at the 5th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk
Management, urged for support towards local-level efforts to make schools
safer in a cost-effective manner and a global program for safe schools and
hospitals. Early action is particularly vital in making the most of
investments in ‘Safe Schools and Hospitals’. “Adopting resilience measures during
planning and implementation processes is a win-win situation. The additional costs are minimal,
and inaction can have dire consequences further down the road,” says
Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG)
for Disaster Risk Reduction. “However, this opportunity can only
materialize when decision makers have the right incentives, tools and
support to take action.” The Government of Indonesia, in partnership with the
World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery
(GFDRR), brought together decision makers from national governments and
development organizations to share best practices in building resilient
schools and hospitals, and to explore ways to scale-up and adapt successful
programs to disaster-vulnerable countries.
Experience shows there is no
one-size-fits-all solution. Countries need to understand the levels of risk
their face, undertaking robust risk analysis in order ensure that design
and constructions are in compliance with technical standards. “Action must
begin today,” said Muhammad Nuh, Minister of Education and Culture,
Government of Indonesia. “In order to proactively address the risks of
natural hazards to protect our schools, we need to understand the exposure
to risk and what cost-effective measures are available.” In Indonesia, a
government program is rehabilitating heavily damaged classrooms in some
20,000 schools. Another plan is
to relocate schools to less high-risk areas. Participants recognize that,
for optimum impact, development and infrastructure planning must mainstream
elements of disaster risk reduction.
“To build the resilience of our education sector, we need to find ways
to transfer successful initiatives. For example, countries could explore
the options to invest in multi-purpose infrastructure, such as the
Bangladesh multi-purpose cyclone facilities, which serve as shelters and
primary schools,” says Neazuddin Miah, Secretary, Ministry of Primary and
Mass Education, Government of Bangladesh. The Asian Ministerial Conference
on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) is a biennial conference organized by
rotation in different Asian countries. To date, four AMCDRRs have been
hosted in the past by China (2005), India (2007), Malaysia (2008) and South
Korea (2010). In 2006, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and
Recovery (GFDRR) was established to assist countries to reduce disaster
risks. GFDRR is a growing partnership of 41 countries and 8 international
organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union. Annual
commitments to activities made by GFDRR have grown from US $6.4 million in
2007 to US$ 46.7 million in 2012.
From
http://www.worldbank.org/ 10/25/2012
TOP↑
ASEAN Countries
Gear Up for Customs Clearance Integration
ASEAN countries are pushing ahead with the
establishment of National Single Window, an initiative for optimising data
exchange and preparing their customs facilities for the regional economic
integration in 2015. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister
Kittirat Na-Ranong said early this month that Thailand’s National Single
Window will be fully established in late 2013, and it will be linked with
other ASEAN countries by 2014. ICT Minister Group Captain Anudith
Nakornthap, Thailand also said that the Electronic Transaction Commission
has accelerated the establishment of electronic windows created to enhance
the connection between private sector and government agencies. “The main
focus is to encourage the linkage of agencies that have not yet linked to
the National Single Window,” he added. According to him, this move will
promote the integration and optimisation of data linkage internally and
externally to be more secured. Also, it will pave way for the linkage to
the ASEAN Single Window scheduled to happen within 2015. While Thailand is
moving forward the national single window project, the Philippines’s Bureau
of Customs (BOC) is also gearing up phase II of the same project to
integrate trade data and services into a single portal following the
success of the establishment of its National Single Window.
“Phase 2 includes preparations for the
Philippines’ interconnection with the ASEAN Single Window,” he added and
explained that the hardware and software components are easy to implement.
But what will probably take more effort and time is the legal aspect. Under
the National Single Window, the BOC processes applications to allow
stakeholders to transact with government agencies through a single Internet-based
window for permits, licenses, and clearances from traders. “The centralised
system provides any agency information at the click of a button. Government
agencies and traders are linked via the Internet through PCs or mobile
devices. Traders can create their application entries and verify before
sending them to the agency,” said Director Kissinger Reyes from the
Management Systems Information Technology Group. Phase 2 of the national
single window will provide a single source of trade data for analytical
purposes. This will call for a government-wide rationalization,
standardization and harmonization of all trade-related data, added Reyes.
Among others under the ASEAN Single Window System, a process called G2G exchanged of Preferential
Certificate of Origin will be applied along with other phytosanitary,
health and veterinary certificates, he explained. As part of realising
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, ASEAN countries signed an agreement
in December 2005 to establish and implement the ASEAN Single Window—an
electronic system that would facilitate international trade and investment
through fast clearance by the Customs Department. This interrelation would
help reduce costs and enhance competitiveness among the member countries,
and constituting one of the mechanisms to achieve the AEC.
From
http://www.futuregov.asia/ 10/29/2012
TOP↑
Regional
Initiatives Boost Pursuit of APEC-Wide Free Trade Area
A slew of regional trade agreement breakthroughs
in the Asia-Pacific in recent days are consistent with APEC member
economies’ region-wide goal for a free trade area and could ultimately be
merged to this effect with the help of new convergence mechanisms being
developed within APEC. The comments were made by APEC Secretariat Executive
Director Ambassador Muhamad Noor on Wednesday during a talk before
academics in Singapore on APEC’s role in promoting regional economic
development. He said that regional trade agreement negotiations, in particular
the Trans-Pacific Partnership which was just given an informal October 2013 target, and the newly
announced talks for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and
tri-lateral free trade agreement between China, Japan and Korea, involve a
large number of APEC member economies. “If in the end they result in
greater liberalization, this would be welcome within the context of APEC’s
broader efforts to advance growth and prosperity through the promotion of
greater trade and economic integration, and could offer new paths to
achieving a region-wide free trade zone that is a shared objective of
members.” APEC member economies continue to make progress on concrete
initiatives that address ‘next generation’ trade and investment issues that
future trade agreements should contain. This includes the endorsement of
new APEC transparency guidelines for regional trade agreements and free
trade agreements endorsed in 2012. “Transparency is a fundamental principle
underlying trade liberalization and facilitation, and key for businesses
and to reducing barriers to trade,” Noor explained. “APEC’s work on
transparency promotes convergence and contributes to APEC’s regional
economic integration agenda, further supporting the realization of a Free
Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.” There are about 50 regional trade
agreements and free trade agreements between APEC’s 21 member economies.
From
http://www.apec.org/ 11/22/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
CHINA:
To Improve Socialist Market Economy, Change of Growth Model
China should accelerate the improvement of
the socialist market economy and the change of the growth model, said Hu
Jintao in his report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party
of China (CPC) on Thursday morning. "In response to changes in both
domestic and international economic developments, we should speed up the
creation of a new growth model and ensure that development is based on
improved quality and performance," he said. He said taking economic
development as the central task is vital to national renewal, and
development still holds the key to addressing all the problems China is
facing. Only by promoting sustained and sound economic development can China
lay a solid material foundation for enhancing the country's prosperity and
strength, improving the people's wellbeing and ensuring social harmony and
stability, he said. In contemporary China, pursuing development in a
scientific way best embodies the thinking that only development counts, he
said. "Taking the pursuit of development in a scientific way as the
underlying guideline and accelerating the change of the growth model as a
major task is a strategic choice we have made for promoting China's overall
development," he reiterated. He said the country should fire all types
of market participants with new vigor for development, increase motivation
for pursuing innovation-driven development, establish a new system for
developing modern industries, and create new favorable conditions for
developing the open economy.
This will make economic development driven
more by domestic demand, especially consumer demand, by a modern service
industry and strategic emerging industries, by scientific and technological
progress, by a workforce of higher quality and innovation in management, by
resource conservation and a circular economy, and by coordinated and mutually
reinforcing urban-rural development and development between regions, Hu
said. He said deepening reform is crucial for accelerating the change of
the growth model. The underlying issue in economic structural reform is how
to strike a balance between the role of the government and that of the
market, he said. While unwaveringly consolidate and develop the public
sector of the economy, the country must also encourage, support and guide
the development of the non-public sector, Hu said. He said reforms should also
be accelerated in fiscal, taxation and financial systems. A multilevel
capital market should be developed, and steady steps be taken to make
interest rates and the RMB exchange rates market-based, and promote the
RMB's convertibility under capital accounts in due course. He stressed that
top priority must be given to scientific and technological innovation in
overall national development; strategic adjustment of the economic
structure should be carried out as the major goal of accelerating the
change of the growth model; urban and rural development should be better
balanced and integrated; and all-around improvements to China's open
economy should be promoted. "We must have firm confidence in winning
the tough battle of deepening reform of the economic structure across the
board and of accelerating the change of the growth model so as to increase
the vitality and competitiveness of China's economy," he said.
From
http://www.china.org.cn/ 11/08/2012
TOP↑
Party Congress
Responds Positively to Age of Internet
The Internet has been unprecedentedly
embedded into the ongoing National Congress of the Communist Party of China
(CPC). Not only can contents on the Internet be found in the congress
report, but online media practitioners are attending the congress in
person. Shu Bin, general manager and chief editor of Rednet.cn, based in
central China's Hunan Province, is one of two Internet media practitioners
attending. The other is Liao Hong, president and chief editor of
People.com.cn. It is the first time that delegates from the Internet sector
are attending. Shu wrote on his microblog of Sina Weibo, "My life has
been about the Internet during the past ten years. As an experienced
netizen, I will record what I see and hear during the congress on the
Internet." He told Xinhua, "This is a new thing, but not
unexpected. We represent 'you' in front of the computer." Shu
expressed the belief that their participation showed the Party's will to
listen to the public and how new media is displaying influence in the new
age. Shu recorded his thoughts before the opening of congress and had
written 25 microblogs. Many netizens are expecting the delegates to share
their words from the congress. The congress report looks at areas such as
reinforcing regulation on the Internet and building a modern communication
system. China has more than 500 million netizens with the Internet,
becoming an economic engine as well as a platform for freedom of speech.
During the congress, both Party delegates and ordinary people can discuss
hot topics on the Internet.
Technological progress has broadened the
channels of democracy and raised people's awareness of their rights, while
at the same time, brought new challenges to the ruling party. The new media,
including the Internet, are a challenge for the Party, as they are going to
change many aspects of governing, which will bring the Party to a brand new
age, said Liu Jingbei, director of China Executive Leadership
Academy-Pudong in Shanghai. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, an American expert on
China issues and writer of "The Man Who Changed China: The Life and
Legacy of Jiang Zemin," identified new social media participating in
politics to be one of the biggest concerns among the new trends for the Party
congress. Some steps have been taken by the Chinese government after heated
online discussions, which show the power of the Internet, he told Xinhua.
State media and local officials have started to use microblogs, online
messengers and other Internet tools to express their views and communicate
with the people. Delegate Shen Haixiong with other delegates suggested
including microblogs and other new media into the congress report.
Convenient and low-cost online supervision should be fully used by the
Party under the complicated circumstances to reinforce its governance
capability, Shen said. On the other hand, pressure from the Internet is one
of the ways of hearing from the public. For a party of more than 90 years
old, there should be more channels to realize transparency. "There is
one thing that you can be sure of -- that is many Party officials are not
as scared as before when talking about the Internet. Microblogs and other
new media are growing into a special channel for people in and out of the
Party," said Meng Jian, professor of Journalism School of Fudan
University in Shanghai.
From
http://www.china.org.cn/ 11/10/2012
TOP↑
China
Plans to Raise RQFII Quota by 200 Billion Yuan
CHINA is planning a nearly three-fold jump
in quotas for the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor scheme,
which permits qualified investors to channel offshore yuan funds into
Chinese mainland stock and bond markets. The securities regulator also said
yesterday that the quota for the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor
scheme - the original, dollar-denominated program that allows institutional
investors to buy stakes in Chinese-listed stocks or bonds - could be lifted
if its current, US$80 billion limit is reached. The RQFII quota will be
raised by 200 billion yuan (US$32 billion) from the current 70 billion
yuan, Guo Shuqing, the head of the China Securities Regulatory Commission,
told reporters yesterday. The increase follows a request by the Hong Kong
authorities, Guo said. Most offshore yuan funds are raised in Hong Kong.
"Last week, before the 18th National Congress of the Party started,
three main Hong Kong government officials
in charge of financial issues raised the issue. 'Can't you expand RQFII
again? 70 billion yuan is too small. Can't you raise it by 200
billion?'" said Guo. He said the central bank and the State
Administration of Foreign Exchange have already agreed to the increase and
are preparing detailed rules, which will be released soon. The RQFII
program was set up to allow foreign investors to use offshore yuan - which
Hong Kong banks have accumulated mainly through yuan-denominated trade
settlement - to buy mainland securities.
Regarding the QFII program, Guo said it
could also be expanded once the current quota is exhausted. "We've
already reached agreement with the central bank and the SAFE. If the US$80
billion gets used up, we will definitely expand it," Guo said. The
CSRC sets an overall quota for the QFII program and approves foreign
institutions as QFIIs, while the SAFE grants quotas to individual
institutions. The SAFE has so far granted about US$30 billion, meaning that
about US$50 billion in additional quotas could still be granted under the
existing quota. Guo also said that certain individual QFIIs will see their
quotas raised. QFII quotas are currently capped at US$1 billion per
institution. "We'll look at individual institutions on a
differentiated basis. For very big institutional investors, in the past we
allowed them to invest at most US$1 billion. Now we'll expand the limit to
US$2 billion, US$3 billion, even US$5 billion," he said.
From
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
JAPAN:
Govt Adopts Stimulus Measures
The government at a Cabinet meeting on
Friday adopted the first round of economic stimulus measures featuring
392.6 billion yen in spending from reserves set aside under the fiscal 2012
state budget.Total spending, including that of local governments and the
private sector, will top 750 billion yen.Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda
instructed Cabinet ministers last week to compile economy-boosting measures
to cope with growing uncertainties over the economy.The government plans to
work out the second round of measures to shore up the economy by the end of
November, including regulatory reforms and financial assistance for small
businesses.At Friday's Cabinet meeting, Noda said the government "will
accelerate efforts to help Japan recover from deflation soon and revitalize
its economy."
The first round of measures is expected to
increase the nation's real gross domestic product for fiscal 2012 by
slightly more than 0.1 percent and create 40,000 new jobs, Chief Cabinet
Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a news conference.The first package
highlights steps for three priority areas under the government's economic
revitalization strategy adopted in July. The three areas are energy and the
environment, health and welfare, and agriculture, forestry and
fisheries.The package also includes measures to support the reconstruction
of areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami last
year.Specifically, 25.1 billion yen will be used as subsidies to promote
purchases of home-use fuel cells, 16 billion yen for the construction and
improvement of processing facilities for farm produce, and 2 billion yen
for research on regenerative medicine using induced pluripotent stem, or
iPS, cells.Meanwhile, 120.3 billion yen in subsidies will help rebuild
plants and retail facilities damaged by the March 2011 disaster.About 45.4
billion yen will finance the improvement of roads, ports and river
facilities to minimize damage from floods stemming from sudden heavy
rains.In addition, 20 billion yen will be spent to repair and strengthen
aged school buildings and 17 billion yen to procure new patrol boats and
helicopters for the Japan Coast Guard to help beef up its patrolling
activities in territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands and Takeshima
islands.
From
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 10/27/2012
TOP↑
Govt May
Phase Out Corporate Pension Funds / Cash-strapped System Seen No Longer
Feasible
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry
compiled on Friday a draft reform plan to dissolve corporate employees'
pension funds over five years and phase out the fund system itself over 10
years, as most of the funds are in poor financial condition.The ministry
plans to take every measure at hand to collect the about 1.11 trillion yen
shortfall in the funds' reserves to cover liabilities to the state-run
pension program for company employees, and make up for the still-remaining
shortfall with the public fund, according to the draft plan.The reform of
the supplement pension system, however, is unlikely to proceed smoothly as
some ruling and opposition party members have urged caution over the
matter.The draft plan was presented at a meeting of the expert panel of the
Social Security Council's pension committee on Friday. The ministry plans
to finalize the plan and submit a bill to revise the corporate employees'
pension insurance law to the regular Diet session next year.Corporate
employees' pension funds are designed mainly for small and midsize
corporations to manage the portion of public funds loaned by the government
on top of employee contributions to corporate pension programs.
However, 287 among the 577 funds
nationwide lack sufficient reserves to repay what they were loaned by the
public pension system in the event that they are dissolved.The ministry
found that cash-strapped funds were short about 1.1 trillion yen after it
conducted a survey following the scandal involving AIJ Investment Advisors
Co., in which corporate pension funds fraudulently disappeared. The finding
prompted the ministry to conclude it would be difficult to maintain the
supplement pension system.The draft plan stated the system would be
abolished 10 years after the revised law comes into force. Regarding funds
with insufficient reserves set aside to cover their public pension
liabilities, the ministry is considering introducing a method to force them
to dissolve. The draft plan also stated pension payments to retirees would
be halted when funds lacking sufficient reserves to cover their liabilities
to the public system apply for dissolution.The draft said measures would be
taken to provide preferable conditions for the funds' dissolution,
including reducing repayment amounts to the public pension system during
the first five years of the 10-year phase-out period. It also said special
measures would be taken to eliminate collective responsibility that would
obligate corporations to shoulder other firms' contributions in the same
fund in the event the firm goes bankrupt.
After being dissolved, funds would be able
to choose whether to remain dissolved or offer other types of corporate
pensions such as defined benefit pensions.The draft also said the parent
organizations of funds should repay the portion loaned by the public
pension program if funds cannot repay the debt themselves. The ministry
would forcibly collect the debts of companies unable to repay the loans by
such measures as seizing assets.However, this has raised concern both
within the ruling and opposition parties that parent companies could be
negatively impacted."Consideration should be taken so that
[dissolution and subsequent repayment] do not negatively affect management
of funds' parent corporations," one party member said.In cases where
debts are not repaid though forcible measures, "Shortfalls should be
covered by the public pension program," according to a ministry
official. A senior Democratic Party of Japan official voiced concern about
the plan, saying "If coverage [of funds' debts] by the state-run
pension program for company employees is introduced on a large scale, the
program's participants may find it unfair."
From
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 11/04/2012
TOP↑
Govt
Picks 42 Projects for Review
The government has selected 42 projects
for a review designed to identify wasteful use of taxpayer money.The
review, set to start next Friday, will cover reconstruction projects after
last year's earthquake and tsunami, measures under the nation's economic
revitalization strategy adopted in July and social security policy steps
such as welfare benefits for the poor.The results will be reflected in the
state budget for fiscal 2013 that begins in April.Prime Minister Yoshihiko
Noda said ample funds should be utilized for projects people in disaster
areas really need, but that spending of reconstruction funds on other projects
should be strictly limited. The government has come under fire for spending
money secured for post-disaster reconstruction on projects that have little
to do with reconstruction efforts.The review, announced Thursday, will
cover 17 post-disaster reconstruction projects for which 730 billion yen
has been sought in budget requests for fiscal 2013. The rest will include
seven projects in line with the revitalization strategy for which 147
billion yen has been requested, as well as four social security projects
for which 13 trillion yen has been sought.The forthcoming event will be the
fifth such review since the Democratic Party of Japan came to power in
2009.In previous sessions, examiners included many members of the Diet. The
upcoming review will involve 12 examiners mostly chosen from the private
and academic sectors.
From
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 11/10/2012
TOP↑
Law
Revision to Help Vulnerable People in Disasters
The Cabinet Office has decided to revise the
Disaster Countermeasures Basic Law to enable local governments to promptly
help people in need of assistance to evacuate and confirm their safety in
an emergency, it has been learned.The revised law would call for
municipalities to compile lists of residents who consent to providing
personal information such as names, addresses, age, gender and health
conditions. Municipalities would then be allowed to distribute the lists to
organizations for the disabled, welfare service providers and other private
sector groups to make it easier for local governments to seek their
cooperation, according to officials.The Cabinet Office aims to submit a
bill to revise the law to next year's ordinary Diet session after asking
experts to discuss the issue, the officials said.
Municipalities are encouraged to compile
lists of people who would have difficulties evacuating during a disaster,
such as the elderly, disabled, infants and pregnant women. Creating the
lists during normal times is expected to help local governments confirm the
whereabouts of vulnerable people and thus, better guide them to safety in a
disaster.Currently, municipalities are not legally required to compile the
lists; however, the central government does encourage them to do so under
its guidelines. As of April 1, 64 percent of municipalities nationwide had
compiled such lists.Under the revised law, the lists could be used not only
during postdisaster periods, but also for disaster drills or when creating
plans to help vulnerable people evacuate in an emergency.As many public
servants themselves became victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake,
local governments could not confirm residents' safety or provide support
immediately after the disaster.
Therefore, many private sector
organizations for the disabled that arrived in the disaster-hit areas asked
local governments to disclose the personal information of disabled
residents in an attempt to confirm their safety. However, among eight such
municipalities in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures, only
Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, agreed to comply, according to a Yomiuri
Shimbun survey conducted three months after the disaster.As a result, some
disabled and other vulnerable people were isolated and unable to receive
any support.Local governments have implemented ordinances to protect
personal information that also allow authorities to share such information
with third parties during an emergency. However, many officials in
disaster-hit areas said they could not disclose personal information unless
they could confirm whether it was being provided to reliable
organizations.Experts pointed out that municipalities were reluctant to
disclose personal details of people in need of assistance at the time of
disaster because they had failed to make arrangements with private sector
groups beforehand.
From
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 11/15/2012
TOP↑
SOUTH KOREA: Collection of Fines, Penalties to Go Up 12%
Next Yr
The
government will levy more fines and penalties by over ten percent next
year. Our Kim Soyon has the details.Report: A look at the government’s
budget plan for 2013 shows revenues from different types of fines and
confiscations are marked at over three-point-six trillion won. This is
about 400 billion won or 12 percent more than this year.The Fair Trade
Commission in particular has earmarked revenues from fines at about 600
billion won, a 50 percent increase from this year’s 400 billion won.Most of
the fines by the watchdog will target companies that abuse their market
domineering status, engage in collusive, unfair trade activities or violate
laws concerning practices with subcontractors.The National Police Agency
has raised fines for traffic and other violations by eleven percent, for
total revenue of some one trillion won.Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry
estimates fines and penalties to generate one-point-eight trillion won in
revenue next year, up one-point-nine percent from this year.However, the
National Assembly Budget Office has stated an opinion that such earmarks
should be decreased as the rate of penalty payments continues to fall.
From
http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 10/23/2012
TOP↑
Gov't
Discusses Support for Green Climate Fund's Launch
The government held its first joint
ministerial meeting on Friday following the selection of Incheon to host
the secretariat of the Green Climate Fund.The meeting held to discuss
follow-up measures was attended by senior officials of 15 offices including
the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign and Environment Ministries.The
meeting chaired by Vice Finance Minister Shin Je-yoon discussed ways to
support the fund's launch by improving institutions, systems and enhancing
living conditions for fund employees stationed in Korea.The government will
draft comprehensive measures along these lines by next month.The Green
Climate Fund was created to help developing nations reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and better adjust to climate change. The agency will take charge
of procuring and executing a large portion of global funds dedicated to
climate change. It aims to raise 100 billion dollars every year through
2020.
From
http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 10/26/2012
TOP↑
Gov't to
Raise Health Insurance Fees by 1.6% for 2013
The government will raise the nation’s
health insurance fees next year by one-point-six percent, the lowest
increase in four years.The Ministry of Health and Welfare convened a
meeting of its committee on health and insurance policies on Thursday and
decided to raise the fees and expand the scope of people who will be
eligible to receive insurance benefits.With the latest decision, people who
receive insurance coverage through their employer are expected to pay
around 92-thousand won in monthly insurance fees next year, up
one-thousand-400 won from this year. People who have community-based health
insurance are expected to pay around 79-thousand won, up one-thousand-250
won from 2012.The government will also approve insurance coverage for
partial dentures for people aged 75 or older, cleft lip and cleft palate
surgery, and tuberculosis diagnosis tests.Later next year, teeth scaling
and ultrasound tests for people with serious illnesses will be gradually
covered by insurance.
From
http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 10/26/2012
TOP↑
PM Calls
for Measures to Secure Electricity Supply During Winter
Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik called on
government agencies to come up with electricity supply measures ahead of the
winter season.Kim said during a national policy-setting meeting at the
central government complex in Seoul on Friday that low temperatures are
expected during the coming winter, and he urged government agencies to come
up with various measures to manage electricity demand.The prime minister
said that the recent shutdown of nuclear power plants operations due to
their components used under fabricated warranties is expected to result in
a mismatch in supply and demand. The Prime Minister said necessary measures
should be put in place to resolve the anxiety of South Korean citizens and
secure sufficient supply.Kim also ordered the Education Ministry to
cooperate with relevant agencies to maintain a fair college entrance
system, stressing that an improved system is required for foreign students
and students in agricultural regions.
From
http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
Gov't to
Boost Support for Korean Adoptees
The government will boost its assistance
for Korean international adoptees.The Ministry of Health and Welfare
revealed during a policy coordination meeting on Friday measures it plans
to carry out to help Korean adoptees trace their roots. The measures also
aim to help adoptees establish their identity by expanding opportunities on
experiencing Korean culture
The ministry also decided during Friday’s
meeting to request the U.S. State Department to confirm whether children
adopted from South Korea by American families acquire U.S. citizenship and
to grant citizenship to adoptees who have not received it. Such a call
apparently comes after a Korean-American adoptee who was deported to South
Korea robbed a bank in Seoul earlier in August. The man’s adoptive parents
had never applied for the American citizenship.The ministry also decided to
seek ways to join the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and
Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption in a bid to protect the
human rights of adoptees.
From
http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/16/2012
TOP↑
PM
Announces Energy Supply and Demand Measures Ahead of Winter
Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik announced
measures to control energy supply and demand on Friday, predicting a severe
energy crisis this winter. He also called on South Korean citizens to make energy
preservation measures. Jang Souie has this report.Report: Prime Minister
Kim Hwang-sik held a press conference at the central government complex in
Seoul on Friday, where he said that he will try his best to have operations
resume at suspended nuclear reactors as soon as possible. Kim added he will
shorten the construction period of new nuclear power plants and utilize
private generators.The prime minister also said that he will mandate
electricity-guzzling companies to reduce energy use by as much as ten
percent in January and February, when energy demand is expected to peak.Kim
continued that starting in January, he will adopt a so-called selective
peak system by charging extra fees on selected days and hours to be
announced a day ahead of time. He added that discount charges will be
applied at other times. As part of nationwide energy preservation efforts,
public organizations will have to keep the temperature at 18 degrees
Celsius or below, and private heaters will be banned. Public servants will
be allowed to wear warm clothes regardless of formalities.Prime Minister
Kim also said he will obligate department stores and hotels to keep
temperatures no higher than 20 degree Celsius. He also urged shopping
centers to keep their doors closed and the public to wear extra layers of
clothes at home and keep indoor temperatures low.This is the second time
Kim has held a meeting on energy supply and demand since May.
From
http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/16/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
INDONESIA:
Gov't Gives Workers Welfare Top Priority
(JAKARTA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian
Vice President Boediono supported wage increase demands voiced by
Indonesian labor unions that have been intensifying in the last few weeks,
local media reported on Wednesday. "Improvement in the welfare of our
working population is one of the government's top priorities,"
Boediono said in his keynote speech to open Investment Summit here on
Tuesday. At least six provinces in the country have agreed to increase the
regional minimum wage for 2013, with 27 others expected to follow suit,
following strikes and protests by labor unions throughout the country.
Boediono urged businessmen and prospective investors to understand the
labor movement's demands for better pay and work conditions, which he
regarded as the fruit of the country's maturing democracy. "We all should
respect it [the labor movement] accordingly," he said as quoted by the
Jakarta Post. Boediono described investors and businessmen in the country
as "the goose laying the golden eggs," heaping praise on them for
the important role they play in Indonesia's economic performance and who
must be protected for the sake of the economy.
However, he argued that the
"goose" should not be the only one enjoying the benefits of the
golden eggs. "Let us also make sure that the benefits are shared
fairly among those who have contributed to the laying of the golden
eggs," the vice president said. "It is in the best interest of
all to strike an appropriate balance between ensuring business activities
prosperity and enhancing the welfare of the working population -- one cannot
have one without having the other," he added. Speaking to investors
attending the summit, Boediono reaffirmed the government's commitment to
"systematically improve the business and investment environment"
in Indonesia, a country that has recently become the new darling of
overseas investors due to its stable economic growth, growing middle class
and young demographic workforce. The two-day summit, held by the Investment
Coordinating Board ( BKPM) and the first event of its kind in the nation's
67-year history, attracted more than 500 participants from 29 countries,
exceeding the board's initial target of 300 participants.
From
http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/07/2012
TOP↑
Indonesia
Targets Global Top 10 by 2050
JAKARTA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) --
Indonesian Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD) launched
Indonesia Vision 2050 here to foster economic growth in the country over
the next four decades, local media reported on Thursday. IBCSD's president
Shinta Widjaja Kamdani said the vision was important to help Indonesia
enter the top-10 of global economies by 2050. "As the private sector,
we need to have a new platform that promotes business solutions to the
challenges of the next decades. Thus, this vision is important because we
need more innovation and different approaches to create sustainability in
business, the environment and human capital," Shinta said on Wednesday
She said businesspeople would need to have more dialogue to identify future
trends in Indonesia and to reach consensus on a vision for a sustainable
Indonesia by 2050. "We plan to create a road map for a sustainable
Indonesia and we hope we will see the progress (in the making of the road
map) next year. I do believe Indonesia would be a much more developed
country by 2050 if we all could prepare the solutions earlier," she
said as quoted by the Jakarta Post daily. She said the IBCSD would work
together with Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), and
other related parties such as the Presidential Working Unit for Supervision
and Management of Development (UKP4) to create the road map.The road map,
according to Shinta, would accelerate creation and implementation new
business solutions and leadership for companies in Indonesia.
From
http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/08/2012
TOP↑
Government Campaigns for Women, Children Health
As the nation
celebrates the 48th National Health Day on Nov. 18, the government will use
the occasion to promote the health of women and children across the
country. Bearing a slogan “Indonesia Loves Health: Safe Mothers, Healthy
Children”, the celebration will include activities on how good health
throughout life’s circle can help mothers experience safe motherhood and
give birth to healthy children. The Health Ministry’s director general for
nutrition and infant and maternal health Slamet Riyadi Yuwono said on
Thursday that the government would use the celebration to strengthen
partnerships with its stakeholders including the private sector,
non-government organizations and civil societies to speed up progress
towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “With only three
years until the 2015 deadline, improvements in children’s and mothers’
health are unlikely unless we do something really serious,” he told a press
briefing on Thursday afternoon.
Indonesia is to reduce maternal mortality
from 228 per 100,000 births in 2007 to 102 by 2015. Infant mortality is
projected to decline from 34 per 1,000 live births to 23. “We also hope
that the number of malnourished children under five years can be reduced to
below 15 percent from the current 18 percent. Without hard work, we are
unlikely to reach the 2015’s
targets,” said Slamet. World Vision Indonesia is one of civil groups working
on mobilizing resources in support of the efforts of the Health Ministry to
hold the 48th National Health Day celebration. World Vision Indonesia’s
campaign director Asteria Aritonang said that her organization is giving
its support not only for the National Health Day celebration but also for
the Global Week of Action for Child Health which will take place
simultaneously in 60 countries throughout the world from Nov. 13 to 20. “In
2011, we had significant progress in reducing infant mortality as the number
of children who died before their fifth birthday globally has reduced to
6.9 million per year from 12 million in 1990. But with more concerted
efforts, we could have achieved even more,” said Asteria. With quite high
income per capita of US$3,000 per year, Indonesia still has a very high
number of children who die before their fifth birthday. Every year 134,000
children under five years die through various preventable health issues.
From
http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 11/10/2012
TOP↑
MYANMAR: Publishing New Foreign Investment Law
YANGON, Nov. 3
(Xinhua) -- Myanmar state media Saturday published the country's new
foreign investment law, passed by the parliament on Thursday and signed by
President U Thein Sein for promulgation on Friday. The 20-chapter law
mainly states that foreigner can make full investment in undertakings
permitted by the Myanmar Investment Commission which will designate the
minimum amount of the investment capital with the consent of the
government. The law allows joint venture operation between foreigner and
local citizen or related government department or organization on
mutually-agreed ratio of investment. Dealing with restricted or banned
undertakings, the law allows foreigner to do the business in partnership
with local citizen and the ratio of foreign capital can be suggested in
accordance with the prescription in the provision. Restricted or prohibited
foreign investment undertakings include those lying within 15 km to the boundary line with
neighbors but do not apply to the economic zone granted by the government.
The restricted foreign investment undertakings also cover those which local
citizen is able to carry out, such as some production and service sectors,
agriculture, livestock breeding and fishing within Myanmar waters. The law
grants five-year income tax holidays from the start of business operation
and commercial tax relief or exemption will be applied on products for
export. The law grants an initial period of 50 years for lease of land for
investment undertakings which is renewable every 10 years and the
commission is tasked to fix the lease prices of the land plots owned by
government department or organization with the pre- consent of the
government.
The law designates that local citizens only
shall be employed in undertakings where no skill is demanded, while in
those areas which need special skill, at least 25 percent of the employees
be local experts or skilled workers for the initial two years from the day
of starting operation, 50 percent for the second two years and 75 percent
for the third two years. Foreign employers are set to have the
responsibility to train local skilled employees to upgrade their skill in
work implementation. The law allows foreign company to transfer all or part
of its stake to other foreigner or local citizen with the pre-consent of
the commission. The law permits transferring back the net profit of foreign
investor through authorized local banks at the designated exchange rate
which is now quoted as market rate. The law guarantees no nationalization
of the foreign-invested business. Before the formal enactment of the new
foreign investment law, the parliament basically agreed with almost all of
those parts of amendments made by the president. The newly introduced Myanmar
foreign investment law replaced the over-two-decade-long 1988 similar law
in a bid to increase attracting foreign investment to the country for
national development in line with its reform strategy.
From
http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/03/2012
TOP↑
PHILIPPINES: City, USAID to Launch Mobile Payment Scheme
The city of
Valenzuela and the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) are collaborating to launch a new partnership that will promote the
use of mobile payments for select government services. The project will
implement the adoption of mobile technology in the city’s financial
transactions to help cut administrative costs, increase transparency,
reduce potential leakage of government funds, and make doing business with
the government easier for citizens. According to USAID Assistant
Administrator for the Bureau of Economic Growth, Education and Environment,
Eric Postel, the project is part of the ‘Scaling Innovations in Mobile
Money Project’ which will target three key areas: payment of government
services, payroll distribution, and payment of private services such as
utilities. He added that it will initially cover real property tax payments
and later include payment of community tax certificates, business permits,
market fees and other local government fees. “It also supports USAID
Forward, an initiative which focuses on innovation and the application of
technology to achieve high-impact development,” Postel said.
From
http://www.futuregov.asia/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
SINGAPORE:
To Conduct Proposals for Tighter Ads Rules of Unhealthy Food, Beverage
SINGAPORE, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's
authorities are reviewing tougher guidelines for advertisements of unhealthy
food and beverage like fast food and soda, aiming at protecting children
from being drawn to a diet that is high in fat, sugar or salt. The
city-state's Health Minister Gan Kim Yong made that statement on Saturday,
adding that a public consultation will be launched next month, local paper
The Strait Times reported. He said some studies have showed that
advertisements in mass media do have an influence on young children's food
choices, as well as their preference for purchase requests through their
parents. This trend is said inconsistent with the country's effort to
encourage its citizens to lead a healthy lifestyle, typically for young
children below the age of 12. "The guidelines will also specify what
are the food that will be classified as undesirable, basically will look at
the content of each food. We are not targeting at specific brands but
looking at the food stuff and studying the content." he added.
According to the report by The Strait Times, Norway, Sweden, and some other
countries have already have some respective regulations in this area, which
the city-state is planning to do the same.
From
http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 10/27/2012
TOP↑
Singapore
Pushes for Greater GIS Collaboration
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and
Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) signed an agreement yesterday that will push for
greater collaboration on geospatial education, training and research and
development.The partnership will enable both organisations to tap into each
other’s expertise and resources in promoting the use of GIS in Singapore.
As part of the agreement, SLA will also be awarding a SLA Geospatial
Scholarship annually starting next year up to 2015 to deserving final year
students in the Geospatial and Mobile Innovation specialization track under
the Diploma in Information Technology Programme in NYP’s School of
Information Technology (SIT). Furthermore, recipients of the scholarship
will also have priority placement to complete their polytechnic industrial
placement with the Geospatial Division in SLA. According to Mr Lai Poh
Hing, Director of NYP’s SIT, the partnership with SLA will create interest
and raise awareness for GIS among students. “The scholarship programme, in
particular, will provide the recipients with opportunities to develop their
full potential to venture into the geospatial industry,” he said. Meanwhile
Mr Ng Siau Yong, Director of GeoSpatial Division, SLA, said that the
partnership is crucial for Singapore to truly realise a spatially-enabled
society. “We hope to groom geospatial professionals through this
scholarship to support the geospatial industry growth in Singapore. This
will allow Singapore to become an increasingly connected first world city
supported by a vibrant geospatial ecosystem,” he said.
From
http://www.futuregov.asia/ 11/08/2012
TOP↑
THAILAND:
PM Outlines 8 Strategies for AEC 2015
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has
instructed all concerned agencies to work with the private sector in
preparing the country for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, while
the government has outlined eight key strategies to ensure the country's
readiness. In a pre-recorded episode of her weekly TV programme
"Yingluck Government Meets the People", the prime minister said
she had chaired a second workshop for state agencies and the private and
civil sectors on Wednesday. The aim was to follow up on various issues
decided during the first meeting when all ministries had been assigned to
assess Thailand's readiness and competencies in relation to various Asean
directives and regulations. At the second meeting, Yingluck said the
government was briefed on the readiness of each industry-assessed state agency.
The premier said she has ordered the ministries to jointly work with the
private sector to re-evaluate readiness in all aspects and present
information to the Cabinet within two weeks.
Yingluck added the government has outlined
eight strategies to prepare the country for the AEC in the next three
years. The strategies include:
- promotion of competitiveness of products, services, trade, and
investment;
- improvement of quality of life and social protection;
- development of basic infrastructure and logistics system to
enhance connectivity;
- human resources development to meet Asean education standards;
- improvement of law and regulations to facilitate trade and
investment;
- promotion of public awareness about the AEC;
- strengthening security issues;
- enhancing urban competitiveness to take advantage of
opportunities in Asean
Yingluck said the Cabinet is committed to
ensuring that the country is ready for the AEC at the national level, while
four subcommittees will also be set up. These subcommittees will implement
the eight strategies at the regional and provincial levels. There will be a
joint committee with the private sector, a subcommittee on basic
infrastructure, and a subcommittee on law amendment.
From http://www.futuregov.asia/ 10/28/2012
TOP↑
VIETNAM:
Lawmakers Debate Land Law
HA NOI (VNS)— Revisions to the Land Law need to
address shortcomings in land management and usage so that land-related
complaints can be reduced, according to National Assembly deputies'
comments yesterday during a discussion on the amended law. Deputies said
the revisions to the law would add to other administrative reforms on land
issues and improve how public land was overseen. All this would limit corruption and
wasteful land usage, they said. Deputy Le Van Hoang from Da Nang City
agreed with other deputies that the revisions should express that land
belongs to all citizens and the State serves as their representative.
Regulations on the draft law, they said, would eliminate inconsistencies in
land plans between different localities. Deputy Huynh Nghia from Da Nang
City said the law should outline clear procedures for revoking land, while
deputy Huynh Ngoc Anh from HCM City wondered how land prices were fixed.
Deputy Hoang said land denunciations came either from citizens who had not
received reasonable compensation for their land being revoked, or from
disparities in land prices between localities and the State. They wondered
whether localities should be entrusted to fix land prices based on their
own conditions.
Constitutional
change
Also during
their discussions yesterday, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung
urged deputies to think hard about new amendments and supplements to the
1992 constitution. "Revising the constitution is a crucial task,"
he said. "The constitution represents the will of the people, so you
have to discuss it thoroughly and take people's ideas into
consideration." The amended constitution introduces a chapter
embracing new, independent institutions, including a constitution council,
national election council – plus the old State auditing agency. The amended
constitution occasionally merges two chapters into one. Those on the
national flag, emblem, anthem, the capital, national day become one chapter
on "the political institution of the Socialist Republic of Viet
Nam". A chapter on "culture, education, science and
technology" merges with a chapter on "economic
institutions". Delegates agreed the changes were needed to build a
law-based State, to ensure people's rights, to build and protect the
country – and to be active in international integration. They also agreed
that the changes would help improve the market economy.
Nguyen Van Phuc, who has worked with a
committee for reforming the constitution in 1978,1992 and again now, said
institutional reform enabled a country to develop in new situations. He
said a detailed report on 20 years of applying the existing Constitution
1992 was needed before any changes were made. He suggested clarification of
such things as citizens' fundamental rights, what constitutes public
ownership – and the relationship between State agencies and local bodies.
Phuc also agreed to establish a council to protect the constitution. Deputy
Huynh Minh Thien from HCM City proposed that, despite pressure from some
deputies, no changes be made to article two of the present constitution
which says: "All
State power belongs
to the people in which the foundation is the alliance between working and
farmers classes and intelligentsia." HCM City deputy Pham Khanh Phong
Lan had proposed changing the words to: "All the State power belongs
to the people and their foundation is great national solidarity." Lan
argued that the changes would synchronise with the Party viewpoint that
great national solidarity was the driving force for social development.
Like many delegates, deputy Vo Thi Dung from
HCM City suggested the constitution confirm that the State economic sector
continue to play a key role in the economy. Most deputies agreed with changes
to an article about human rights. The article says "Citizens have the
right to social securities. The State and society are responsible for
supporting the elderly, the disabled, orphans and the poor. The State must
have policies to support those who made sacrifices for their country. It
must also support their families." Hoa Binh Province deputy Nguyen
Tien Sinh suggested the amended constitution confirm the task of ensuring
balanced economic development among different regions in the country. Today,
the NA deputies will discuss ways to settle land-related denunciations.
—VNS
From
http://vietnamnews.vn/ 11/07/2012
TOP↑
Vietnamese
Legislators Approve Development Goals for 2013
HANOI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Deputies to the
on-going fourth session of the Vietnamese 13th National Assembly (NA) have
approved goals for the country's socio-economic development for 2013 in capital Hanoi on Thursday.
With 91 percent approval, the Resolution on socio-economic development in
2013 defined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 5.5 percent, the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth to be kept at 8 percent, budget
overspending to stay at 4.8 percent of the total GDP, trade deficit at 8
percent, total export turnover to rise 10 percent over 2012, unemployment
rate in urban areas to less than 4 percent and about 1.6 million new jobs
to be created, local VnExpress online reported. Along with these goals, NA
deputies confirmed their determination to implement three strategic
breakthroughs in lines with renewing the growth model and economic
restructuring in 2013. They include improving human resources quality and
perfecting the market economy mechanism, improving competitiveness and
business environment; effectively performing the country's medium- term
investment plan for 2013-2015; restructuring production with priority given
to high value-added products, application of high technology, green
technology, energy saving, and environmental protection. During the
session, NA deputies also reviewed implementation of the development goals
in 2012, of which five out of 15 goals would be unlikely to be realized.
The one-month fourth session is scheduled to conclude on Nov. 22.
From
http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/08/2012
TOP↑
National
Assembly Green Lights Socio-economic Development Plan
HA NOI (VNS)— Members of the National Assembly
yesterday adopted the 2013 socio-economic development plan by a majority
vote of 91.77 per cent. Under the plan, the macro-economy will be stabilised
and inflation reduced. The plan also sets out how to provide better
management of social welfare and to strengthen national defence and social
order. GDP growth has been set at 5.5 per cent compared to 6 to 6.5 per
cent for the present year. The plan outlines hopes to increase exports by
10 per cent while keeping the trade deficit at about 8 per cent. The State
budget deficit has been set below 4.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product
(GDP), similar to last year. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been set at
8 per cent, about 2 per cent less than this year's target of 10 per cent.
Social development capital will be about 30 per cent of GDP, 3 per cent
lower than the 2012 target. The NA also agreed to create about 1.6 million
jobs in 2013, similar to this year, and to reduce the number of poor
households by 2 per cent and poor districts by 4 per cent. Urban
unemployment rate has been targeted at 4 per cent – again, the same as for
2012.
To realise these targets, the NA has called for
closer ties between fiscal and monetary policies in mobilising resources
for economic growth and in restraining inflation. Solutions also include
tackling the difficulties in raising money for businesses by reducing
loan-interest rates for agricultural activities or export production,
reducing bad debts – and adopting policies to help break the frozen
real-estate market. The development plan also calls for stricter control
over the quality of infrastructure work.The NA also said that to reduce the
trade deficit, Viet Nam had to promote export activities while reducing the
importation of luxury goods. It said all Vietnamese should be encouraged to
buy goods made in the nation and implement thrifty practices if called on
to use State money for any activities, including festivals, meetings or
overseas business trips. Educational reform, preventive health and salary
reform remain important considerations under the plan, as is fighting
corruption, ensuring food safety and making administrative reforms. Deputy
Nguyen Van Tien from the southern province of Tien Giang agreed with the
Standing Committee's plan to focus on matters of urgency that concern the
people. "Many supervision reports show only figures that lack of deep
analysis and evaluation from independent organisations and voters,"
said Tien.
Deputy Le Lam from central Thanh Hoa Province
said that since 2006, the NA had spent a lot of time each year discussing
forest management and protection. However, he said the results left a lot
to be desired. "Illegal loggers have been attacking the country's last
forest areas, but we have failed to provide protection on time and
effectively," said Lam. Lam proposed that the NA stop supervising what
it had done, but leave it to ministries, sectors and localities who could
then report to the NA. Deputy Tran Du Lich from HCM City said he had joined
many NA supervision delegations visiting localities and that many good
results had resulted. However, he said supervision reports should not only
gather information from localities but also opinions from local people. To
improve the quality of the reports, Lich proposed increasing the number of
independent consulting experts while limiting those from ministries and the
sector. Deputy Le Thanh Van from northern Hai Phong Port City asked the NA
Standing Committee to assess the NA supervision delegations' operation
methods and increase the strength of the delegations. Deputy Phung Van Hung
from northern Cao Bang Province agreed, saying thousands of citizens'
complaints were sent to the NA and its delegations, but there were no
statistics showing how many had been resolved by supervision.
Disaster
measures
In the
afternoon, NA deputies shared comments on the draft Law on Disaster Risk
Reduction and the revised Law on Science and Technology in separated group
discussions. Most agreed that the introduction of the law on disaster risk
reduction would help localise international conventions signed by Viet Nam.
The draft law also embodied the country's renewed policy on the issue by
shifting focus from disaster response to prevention and management.
Deputies agreed that the State should play a key role in disaster risk
reduction rather than "supporting" work in the area as outlined
in the draft law. Deputy Hoang Dang Quang from central Quang Binh
Province said the State's
role would mean administrations from local levels would guide all tasks in
disaster reduction and control, particularly in ensuring strategies on risk
reduction were integrated into socio-economic development plans. Many
deputies suggested that the law should stipulate how the State would
finance work on disaster risk reduction, how to designate land where
residents are too vulnerable to disasters while also clarifying the duties
of armed forces and other agencies in search and rescue efforts.
Other deputies voiced concerns over the need to
clearly define which agency should be responsible for weather forecasts and
ways to ensure these forecasts were as accurate as possible. Deputy Ha Ngoc
Chien from the northern province of Cao Bang called for domestic
forecasters to improve their work. In regards to the law on science and
technology, most deputies agreed that the legislation needed to be revised
and updated as it had been in force for 12 years. Deputy Dinh Thi Huong Lan
from Cao Bang Province said that over the years, many individuals and
organisations had used money earmarked for scientific studies for other
purposes, leaving a great deal of scientific research unfinished. She
highlighted the need to have incentives to encourage quality work by scientists
and researchers. She also suggested more open policies towards researchers
and scientists from overseas countries, and more opportunities for local
scientists to gain experiences from abroad. — vns
From
http://vietnamnews.vn/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
BANGLADESH: Ecnec Approves 8 Projects Involving Tk 3,020 Cr
Dhaka, Nov 20
(UNB) – The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on
Tuesday approved a Tk 2,040 crore bus rapid transit (BRT) project for
massive upgradation of Gazipur-Airport road, aiming to ease traffic
congestion.The approval was given at an Ecnec meeting held at the NEC
conference room with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in
the chair. Briefing reporters after the meeting, acting Planning Division
Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam said a bus rapid transit (BRT) line would
come into operation on the 20-km route under the project.He said a total of
eight development projects involving Tk 3,020 crore were approved at the
meeting. “Of the total cost, Tk 1,369 crore will come from the government
fund while the remaining Tk 1,651 crore from project assistance.”
The 4-year project, ‘Greater Dhaka
Sustainable Urban Transport Project’, includes the construction of 20-km
bus rapid transit line, 31 stations, a BRT depot, seven flyovers and the
construction of Tongi Bridge.This will create a new public transportation
system in Gazipur-Tongi-Uttara region making the route a safe, environment
friendly and free from traffic congestion.Besides, 50 articulated buses
will be procured under the project. Three development agencies -- ADB, AFD
and GEF -- will provide a loan and grant of Tk 1651 crore for the project.
A loan negotiation has also been completed in this regard.Ecnec approved
another project with a revision under which Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib
Medical University (BSMMU) will be modernised and its existing facilities
to be expanded to convert the country’s lone medical university into a
centre of excellence. The project cost stands at Tk 526 crore.
The other projects approved at the meeting
are: Stipend programme for the trainees of the institutes of marine
technology and technical training centers project (Tk 48 crore-GoB); Fodder
research and development project (Tk 28 crore-GoB); Strengthening the
facilities of training, research and action research through infrastructure
development of Rural Development Academy, Bogra (Tk 30 crore-GoB); Thorough
renewal of worn-out rail and allied works in Chinkeyastana-Ashuganj section
of Bangladesh railway (Tk 236 crore-GoB); Construction of one ro-ro ferry
and one ro-ro pontoon for operation on Chandpur-Shariatpur ferry route (Tk
71 crore-GoB) and Development of Haluaghat-Munshirhat-Dhobaura road project
(Tk 41 crore-GoB).Ecnec members, including Finance Minister AMA Muhith,
Planning Minister AK Khandker, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury,
ministers concerned, advisers to the Prime Minister, members of the
Planning Commission, secretaries and officials concerned attended the
meeting.
From
http://www.unbconnect.com 11/20/2012
TOP↑
INDIA:
Greenpeace Launches the New Version of Energy Revolution
16th November 2012, New Delhi: The roadmap
comes at a critical time when the country is facing massive power shortage
due to the inability of fossil fuels to meet its economic aspirations.
Future of India’s growth lies with massive expansion and deployment of
renewable energy technologies through key policy reforms and significant
investments, without putting any negative impact on its pristine forest and
dependent marginalised communities. The India Energy [R]evolution report
jointly drafted by Greenpeace, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and
the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) focuses on the socio-economic
impacts of renewable energy and proposes the pathway to ensure India’s
energy security in the long run. Earlier this year, the three organisations
released the Global Energy [R]evolution (2) which highlighted the severe
energy constraint the world is facing due to its over-dependence on fossil
fuel.
“Recent electricity grid failure and
severe power shortage due to rising electricity demand constantly reminds
us that coal and other fossil fuels have no future and their era of
dominance is over. There is no cheap coal available without destroying
forests, displacing people and wild animals and it is a heavy price to pay
without any guarantee to meet the growing demand.” said Greenpeace India
Senior Energy Campaigner Abhishek Pratap. “A transition to renewable energy
is the best and the only option for the government to secure the future
growth of our nation.” added Pratap.With over 30 crore people still waiting
to see light in their home and industrial production going into slump with
7 % production loss last year due to lack of electricity supply, India
faces a formidable challenge to build up its energy infrastructure fast
enough to keep pace with economic and social changes. India needs to meet
its twin objective of sustaining high GDP-based economic growth and
providing access of modern energy infrastructure to its people while at the
same time, maintaining its pledge to not exceed its per-capita emission
from that of developed nations. There is a need to diversify the country’s
energy generation and distribution through massive public and private
investment for ensuring the energy security of the nation.
“With consistent and long term renewable
energy policy frame work, India could build up a local renewable energy
industry with an annual turnover of more than-INR 54,000 crore, creating
more up to 24 lakh jobs by 2020. These investments in new renewable power
plants will lead to fuel cost savings paying back the overall investments
between now and 2050 two times over,” says Sven Teske, Senior Energy Expert
from Greenpeace International. “It is a win-win strategy for India to
combine security of energy supply and job creation,” Teske added.
Highlights of the India Energy [R]evolution:
• With
significant shift to renewable energy and energy efficiency at a long-term
basis will enable saving of around one-fourth of energy spending.
• By 2050, India’s
almost entire energy infrastructure i.e. 92 % will be based on renewable
energy sources like Solar (Photovoltaic & Concentrated Solar Power),
Wind (On-shore & off-shore) and Geothermal Energy.
• The job generation
potential of renewable energy and energy efficiency domains can be two to
three times that of conventional energy for e.g. coal, oil. Currently
India’s renewable energy industry employs 2 lakh people. However, this can
be jumped to 14 times by 2030 if Energy [R]evolution pathway is taken. In
the next eight years itself, 24 lakh new jobs will be created in the
renewable energy sector if proper investments are made.
• There will be
significant reduction or in fact stability in the pricing of electricity
generation which remains at INR 3.70
per unit by 2050.
• Total avg. yearly
investment in fossil power to the tune of INR 1, 00,000 crore will be
offset through growth of RE. E[R] proposes that the average renewable
energy investment per year will be close to INR 6, 10, 000 crore from
2011-2050.
• CO2
emission per capita [t/per capita] will go down from 1.4 to a 0.3 ton by
year 2050
“India is one of the most
dynamic markets for wind energy in the world today”, said Steve Sawyer,
Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council. “The reference target
for wind power of 15,000 MW in the 12th Plan Period (April 2012 thru March
2017) should be easily reached; and much more could be achieved with
stable, long term support policies, ideally in the context of a National
Renewable Energy law. This would send a clear signal to investors about the
government’s vision for the scope and potential of wind power, and other
renewable energy technologies.”
Sawyer added.
From
http://southasia.oneworld.net/ 11/16/2012
TOP↑
India Plans Awareness Programmes on Food
Wastage
The Government of
India is planning to implement schemes at the school level to create
awareness to avoid food wastage, says Prof K V Thomas, Union Minister of
Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. Delivering a key note
address at the 27th meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council in
Kochi today, Prof Thomas said the union Human Resources Development
ministry has agreed to implement the schemes. He said India is among the
world's largest food wasting countries. Prof Thomas said a corpus of ten
crore rupees will be created, with the centre contributing 7.5 crore rupees
and rest by the state governments under the State Chief Secretaries to
manage funds under the Consumer Welfare Fund. The Minister said a modern
lab and office of the Bureau of Indian Standards will be set up in Kochi.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the Council Meet.
From
http://southasia.oneworld.net/ 11/16/2012
TOP↑
Pan-India
e-District Project Roll Out by 2016
New Delhi: All the 640 districts in the
country would be covered under e-District Mission Mode Project by 2016,
official sources said here.The project, estimated to cost Rs 1663.08 crore,
proposes to deliver around 50 services on-line at the district level and
its subordinate offices.e-District as a concept proposes integrated,
seamless, and online delivery of citizen services at the district level
through automation of workflow, backend digitization, integration and
process redesign. The services have been shortlisted keeping the citizens
needs as primary service objective.The major service categories include G2C services like issue of
Certificates, Filing of RTI & Public Grievance, Request for new ration
card etc. This project will also provide G2E/G services like revenue cases,
Government dues and recovery etc.
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Information
Technology Mission (KSITM), which launched the pilot projects in Pallakad
and Kannur district, is working towards the state- wide roll out of e-District
Kerala.Through KSITM, citizens can submit applications anytime for availing
the required services. All certificates are issued through the e-District
portal and it also includes the digital signature of the issuing
officer.According to an official press release issued by the KSITM, “As
many as 23 revenue certificates have been already made available online in
the first phase. Nine other departments are preparing to roll out 43
citizen-centric services through the e-District portal.”The National Informatics
Centre (NIC) has developed the e-District application and in order to
enable service delivery through e-District, the government has notified the
Kerala Information Technology (Electronic Delivery of Services) Rules,
2010, under the Central IT Act, 2000.
From
http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 11/16/2012
TOP↑
Rajasthan
to Link 10 Key E-Gov Schemes to Aadhaar
The Rajasthan government has decided to
link 10 key schemes to the Aadhaar unique identification programme as part
of its larger thrust on e-Governance to ensure fast delivery of services
with transparency and accountability. The 10-key schemes include old-age,
widow and differently-abled pension schemes, rural job cards, ration cards,
driving license, property registration, water and electricity connections,
Indira Awas Yojna and student scholarships.“The use of information
technology will bring transparency in work and stop corruption.
Accordingly, Aadhaar enabled service delivery system would be implemented
in a phased manner across the state,” Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said in a
statement.
Besides, the government has also decided
to launch pilot projects to link the delivery of public distribution with
Aadhaar cards in Dudu, Chomu and Shahpura tehsils of the state.To help
implement these ambitious schemes, the Chief MInister has asked all state
departments to spend three percent of their allotted budget on
e-Governance, apart from establishing 750 posts to strengthen the
Information Technology Department.
From
http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 11/19/2012
TOP↑
MALDIVES:
BML to Launch New Soft Loan Scheme
Bank of Maldives (BML) has stated that it
had decided to introduce a new loan scheme as a new product.The bank said
that the new scheme would be an extension to its previous soft loan scheme
which had been well received by the public.BML had previously been issuing
MVR15,000 loans without mortgage in its soft loan scheme. However BML did
not state the ceiling value of the new loan scheme and its interest
rate.BML revealed that many arrangements for introducing the product had
been done and that the service will commence soon.The bank detailed that it
has decided to make it easy for the customers of the new loan scheme. In this
regard BML said that the new loan scheme will not require submitting
quotations. The new loan scheme will only be targeted for bank customers
who get salaries deposited in to their respective BML accounts. BML further
stated that the loans will only be issued to those who have deposited their
salaries continuously for at least one year out of the applicants who meet
the required criteria.The bank stated that the previously issued MVR15,000
small loans will not be ceased with the introduction of the new scheme.
From
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/ 11/11/2012
TOP↑
President
Declares Decision to Hold Forum to Share Future Development Strategies
President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has
declared his decision to hold a National Conference to constitute a forum
for sharing future approaches and strategies on the road towards
development. The President made this announcement while addressing the
nation at the special ceremony held last evening at Dharubaaruge, to mark
this year’s Republic Day.that regard, President Waheed revealed his
expectation that this conference would tap into the mosaic of useful public
opinion and ideas, which could help the nation charter a road-map for
development as per the wish of majority. He also said that the conference,
in general, would compose an active audience involving prominent
politicians, entrepreneurs, tradesmen, scholars, students, women, youth,
judges, lawyers and private applicants.
In his speech, President Waheed expressed
his hopes for a coherent nation peopled by a community of citizens, who are
accommodative to each other’s needs and live in common harmony, adhering to
the ideal of mutual respect and understanding. He further stressed the need
for gender equality, and a society that is productive, livable and secure
enough for healthy familial relations to prosper.The President noted that
the Government had and would always strive to make decisions as beneficial
to the people of the Maldives. He highlighted the need for taking the right
actions as necessary or relevant to the given circumstances or context in a
structured and timely manner. The President further briefed the gathering
on the historic transition of the Maldives from monarchical rule to a
full-fledged republic.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Waheed
reminded the nation of the critical need for its people to sacrifice their
differences in opinion and ideologies, so that peace and harmony may
prevail. He alluded to a potential economic breakdown that could
precipitate due to a failure to establish a sense of common purpose and
stability in the country.He further called on the nation to preserve the
sanctity of National Flag by honoring its three colors, and not allowing
any political prejudices to cloud their judgment of what is righteous and
what is not.
From
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
NEPAL:
ADB to Grant Rs. 946m
for Water Project
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has
agreed to provide grant assistance of around Rs. 946 million (US$ 11 million)
to the government for the implementation of Water Resource Project
Preparatory facility.The agreement to this effect was signed between Lal
Shankar Ghimire, Joint Secretary and Chief of the Foreign Aid Corporation
Division, Ministry of Finance and Kenichi Yokyama, Country Director of
Nepal Resident Mission on Friday with the objective to improve the water
resources management projects.Ministry of Irrigation will be the executing
agency of this project while Department of Irrigation will be the main implementing
agency.The estimated cost of the project is US$ 13.8 million and the
government will invest around US$ 2.8 million for the project.
From
http://www.nepalnews.com/ 11/04/2012
TOP↑
Ambitious
Melamchi Project to Be Completed by 2016
The much-awaited Melamchi Project has made
public its amended work plan aiming to complete the project by March 2016,
state-owned news agency RSS reports.Construction of the 27.5-kilometer
tunnel and head works, one of the major tasks of the project of national
pride, was rescheduled very recently following the termination of contract
with China Railway 15 Bureau Group.The implementing agency of the project-
Melamchi Water Supply Development Board (MWSDB) has finalised the bidding
document for the construction of the tunnel and head works and
international bidding will be called within this week.
In order to commence construction works by
the end of January, international bid will be invited by Friday,
officiating Executive Director of Melamchi Project Ghanashyam Bhattarai
told RSs.The MWSDB will hold a meeting within a day or two and detailed bid
document will be publicized, said Bhattarai claiming that the work will
gain momentum as the government has placed the project under high
priority.The new work shall begin from where the China railway group has
left and all issues related to the construction would be finalized today
following discussion with the consultants, he said. The China Railway Group
has already completed 6.5 kilometers of the tunnel.
Learning from the bitter experience of the
past, the Board this time will award a contract with the company not
quoting the lowest price but with high work efficiency, resources,
technical capacity, human resource, success of the past among others, Mr Bhattarai
said.It may be noted that the construction of the tunnel also falls under
the immediate action plan of administrative and economic reforms unveiled
by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers a few weeks
ago.The project that targets to supply 170 million litres of water daily is
expect to cost more than 464 million US dollars. The construction of the
tunnel and intake alone would cost around 100 million dollars.
The Asian Development Bank that has
contributed the large amount of soft loan for the project has been working
to ensure that the project is completed at any cost to resolve the drinking
water problems of the residents of Kathmandu.It may be noted that two days
after the contract with China Railway Company was annulled, Director
General of the South Asian Department of the Bank, Juan Miranda had
organized a press conference in the capital and expressed commitment to
continue support the project until its completion, even though its cost had
increased.The Company to be awarded the new contract to complete the tunnel
shall receive a time of 36 months and would receive bonus if the work is
completed before 6 months, said officiating executive director Bhattarai.
If the new company works accordingly to
receive a bonus then drinking water from Melamchi would arrive to the
capital in March 2016. The project was estimated to be completed a year
ago, but the China Railway Company delayed the work by repeatedly demanding
for funds citing increasing cost.Meanwhile, Vice-chairman of National
Planning Commission, Dipendra Bahadur Khsetry said that the Government is
expecting cooperation and support of all the sides concerned to complete
the project as per the new schedule.side should obstruct this project of
national pride, he added.By 2025, the capital would require 680 million
liters of drinking water every day. Water supplied from Melamchi is
expected to reach to some 1.1 million residents of Kathmandu.The Melamchi
Water Supply Project (MWSP) founded some 14 years ago was designed to finance
four major components including Infrastructure Development, Social and
Environmental Support, institutional reforms and Project implementation
Support.
The MWSP was projected to cost 464 million
US dollars in 2000. According to the original financial plan, ADB
shouldered the largest financing share equivalent to 120 million US dollars
followed by the World Bank (US$80 million), the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (JBIC), US$52 million equivalent), NORAD (US$28
million equivalent), Sida (US$ 25 million equivalent), the Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA, $18 million equivalent), the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund for International
Development (OFID/OPEC), $14 million equivalent), and NDF ($9 million
equivalent). The Government´s original financing share in the MWSP was
equivalent to 118 million US dollars.
From
http://www.nepalnews.com/ 11/21/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
AZERBAIJAN:
Simplifies Legislation on Creation of New Cities
Under the changes proposed to the law On
the territorial system and political division, the new
administrative-territorial units of the district will be named according to
the name of the territorial unit's center and the city and urban areas - in
line with the name of one of the adjacent territorial units, member of the
committee on regional issues of the Parliament Tahir Rzayev told Trend on
Monday. The changes proposed to the law On the territorial system and
political division mostly related to the creation of administrative units,
their removal, the name and the definition of the boundaries. The new law
simplified mechanism for creating cities. Thus, after the adoption of the
law a few villages or towns, together, can create a city. Rzayev said this
issue is important from the historical point of view and from the point of
view of these areas' socio-economic development. "For example,
creation of the city called Devechi in the area would be commendable in
terms of protection of the toponym after renaming Devechi region in
Shabran. On the other hand, more funds are allocated for the development of
the areas when the villages receive the status of the settlement and
settlements - the status of towns. Development of administrative units is
very important in terms of creating new infrastructure," he said.
Rzayev noted that the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan stipulates
the creation of new cities.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/19/2012
TOP↑
UZBEKISTAN: Electoral Legislation to Be Amended
The members of the Legislative
Chamber of Oliy Majlis (lower house of the Uzbek parliament) adopted
amendments to the laws on "Elections to Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan" and "Elections
to the regional, district and city councils of people's deputies" at
the plenary session on Friday. They are related to further ensuring the
freedom of choice and the development of the electoral legislation, the
Legislative Chamber said. The bill was prepared on the basis of the concept
of further intensifying the democratic reforms and forming the civil
society. It aims to democratize the electoral system, to ensure
transparency and openness of the electoral processes, to increase
efficiency of the election campaign and election commissions' activity. In
particular, the election campaign fixed in the legislation is important in
the context of strengthening a multi-party system, tightening the
inter-party competition, emerging the diverse and extensive forms and
methods of the election campaign. The norms are aimed at ensuring equal
conditions for the candidates to MPs. The election campaign is defined as
the activity carried out during the election campaign and aimed at
encouraging the voters to vote for a candidate for MP or a political party.
This corresponds to the legal practice in the most developed democratic
countries. Moreover, the norms governing the coverage of the election
campaign in the private media outlets have been specified. Their
intensification will ensure more transparency and openness of the elections,
the election campaign and the policy of reforms taken into account the
pluralism of opinions. According to the bill, the terms of payment for air
time and other requirements must be equal and the same for all candidates
for MPs and political parties. The legislation is planned to be
supplemented by such rules as banning the election campaign not only on
Election Day, but the day before the voting, banning the publication of the
results of opinion polls, forecasts of election results and other topics
related to the ongoing elections. The bill has also clearly determined the
terms, order and procedures for early voting, the formation of the polling
stations in prisons, as well as ensuring the rights of observers to attend
the conference of the Uzbek Ecological Movement. This must serve to ensure
more openness and transparency of electing the deputies of this movement.
The bill will be submitted to the Senate of Oliy Majlis for approval. It is
expected that the upper house of the parliament will consider the law in
late November - early December.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/03/2012
TOP↑
Uzbekistan's Legislative Chamber Adopts Law on
"Operational Investigative Activities"
Legislative (lower) Chamber of the
Uzbek Parliament has adopted the law on "Operational Investigative
Activities", said the press service of the Parliament. The draft law
has been developed in response to the Concept of further deepening of democratic
reforms and formation of civil society in the country, proposed by the
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in November 2010. The operational
investigations have been regulated by different regulations such as
government regulations and departmental documents. The draft law includes
the principles and forms of operational-search activity, legal guarantees
of the rule of law, which will organize the existing rules and will help to
secure the protection of rights and legal interests of citizens, as well as
further democratization of the judicial system. When this draft law comes
into force it will enhance the quality of preliminary investigation and
will improve the work on prevention and prompt suppression of offenses. The
law was adopted by the Legislative Chamber and submitted for discussions to
the upper house - the Senate of Oliy Majlis.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
Uzbekistan Develops Bill Regulating
Activity of Interior Bodies
The bill on 'Interior bodies', developed by a special
expert group of a commission preparing legal acts in the area of improving
the system, has been submitted to the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers for
consideration, the Uzbek Interior Ministry said. At present, internal
bodies' activity is governed by several regulations. The bill on 'Interior
bodies' envisages summarising all acts regulating the activity of the
interior bodies which were previously received by the president and Cabinet
of Ministers. The experience of developed foreign countries was examined
during its preparation. While developing the bill, special attention was
paid to the rights and responsibilities of law enforcement bodies, the
legal principles of their work, social security and personal safety,
conditions and procedures of service, financial and material support. This
will eliminate many problems and shortcomings in the work of the internal
bodies at a legislative level. In particular, the bill envisages provisions
on the procedure and conditions of using force, firearms and special
equipment to comply with the rights and freedoms of citizens. Last week,
the bill was discussed during a 'round table', organised by the Human
Rights and Legal Support Department under the Interior Ministry. Representatives
of concerned ministries and departments, the Parliamentary Commissioner for
Human Rights (Ombudsman), the National Centre for Human Rights, the
Institute for Current Legislation Monitoring under the Uzbek President and
the Independent Institute on Civil Society Monitoring attended the
discussions. The recommendations and proposals will be considered and
indicated in the final version of the bill, a statement said.
From http://en.trend.az/
11/23/2012
TOP↑
Uzbek
Legislative Chamber Approves Job Creation Program for 2013
The legislative chamber of Uzbek
Oliy Majlis approved a program at the plenary session on Friday to create jobs
and provide people with them in 2013, the lower chamber of the parliament
said today. According to the program, around 972,700 new jobs are planned
to be created. They will appear after commissioning new large industrial
facilities, renovating and expanding existing enterprises, further
promoting the development of small business, private and family business,
the service sector, home-based jobs etc. A significant part of home-based
jobs will be organized in the regions, which are the traditional centers of
national craftsmanship - Namangan, Ferghana, Andijan, Samarkand and Bukhara
regions. Special attention will be paid to 28 remotely located, as well as
mountain, border areas with insufficient development of production and the
social sphere, as well as high unemployment level. At least 126,000 new
jobs are planned to be created there in 2013 or 5 per cent more than in
2012. Another priority of the program is the employment of vulnerable
categories of citizens. There are at least 100,000 jobs for people with
disabilities and others within the program. An important direction of the
program is the employment of graduates of educational institutions. It is
planned to employ more than 500,000 graduates of professional colleges in
2013 through vacant jobs. At least 900 job fairs will be held in cities and
regions. Moreover, commercial banks plan to continue the practice of
providing graduates of colleges and universities with preferential
micro-loans to organize own business. The commercial banks plan to allocate
5.1 trillion soum loans to support small business and private
entrepreneurship. Concessional loans will be mainly used to finance the
projects aimed at creating jobs in remote rural areas and areas with a
tense situation in the labor market. The employment program approved by the
Legislative Chamber will be submitted to the upper house of the parliament
- the Senate. The program will be discussed in the Senate on December 5 -
6. According to the employment program for 2012, around 967,500 new jobs
are planned to be created. Around 773,000 jobs were created in January -
September 2012. According to the official statistics, the number of
citizens registered in the employment bodies, as job seekers as of late
September hit 18,000 compared to 24,100 as of 2011. The number of
unemployed, defined by "Methods of calculating the unemployed"
approved by the government hit 621,700
in January - September 2012 or 4.8 per cent of the
economically active population.
From http://en.trend.az/
11/24/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
Pacific Advocates Against Violence Commit to Two-Year Plan
The weeklong Pacific regional meeting on the
elimination of violence against women and girls ended in Nadi Friday with a
mandate to step up advocacy and prevention measures to address the issue
across the region. Among the resolutions of the sixth quadrennial meeting
of the Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women was that
programmes aimed at preventing violence against women and girls should be
grounded in a sound understanding, analysis and dynamics of the problem for
these programmes to be effective. The meeting marked the 20th anniversary
of the founding of the network in 1992 and gathered 45 participants from 10
Pacific countries to review work done in network member countries over the
past four years and agree on strategies to address violence against women
and girls before the next meeting. Participants rejected the welfare model
of addressing sexual and gender-based violence, instead advocating for a
rights-based approach. A call was made for prevention programmes to move
beyond the prevention of physical violence to include the prevention of
coercive control, and the recognition of the rights of women and girls.
Resolutions addressed the meeting’s theme of
“prevention and responses” to sexual and gender-based violence. One of the
responses mandated by participants included the call for governments to
make budgetary commitments that would be maintained over the long term to
implement legislation on violence against women and girls. The resolutions
recognised the importance of the training of traditional leaders, leaders
of faith-based organisations and political leaders for a stronger and more
committed approach to eliminating violence against women and girls. A call
was made for compulsory gender and human rights training for all judicial
officers and staff, including members of traditional justice systems.
Protocols within the health sector should be developed to enable them to
respond appropriately to victim/survivors of violence against women and
girls. In this regard, health personnel should be trained and sensitised to
ensure appropriate responses when they access health services.
Women’s network
members from Cook Islands, Fiji,
Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Marshall
Islands, New Caledonia,
Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tonga,
Vanuatu
attended the five-day meeting. Given the momentum and scale of the work
addressing violence against women and girls across the region, the Pacific
Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women resolved to meet biennially
rather than every four years, with the next meeting scheduled for 2014.
From http://www.pina.com.fj 11/19/2012
TOP↑
AUSTRALIA: Releasing Its Energy White
Paper
Australian Energy Minister Martin Ferguson released the
government's energy white paper in Melbourne on Thursday. The 2012 Energy
White Paper sets out the Australian Government's strategic policy framework
to guide Australia's energy transformation to a cleaner and more productive
energy economy. The central objective of the Energy White Paper is to
provide the settings to deliver secure, reliable, clean, competitively
priced energy to consumers; while building a national wealth through the
safe and sustainable development of its energy resources. According to
Ferguson's speech, The Australian Government recognises that rising energy
prices are hurting households and businesses. The white paper said that
Australian electricity pricing needs to be overhauled to stop inefficient
investment in infrastructure which is only used during rare peak demand
times. It also advocates charging more for power at peak times and using
new technologies, like smart meters , which allow customers to monitor and
adjust their energy usage, to help households manage their bills. Ferguson
said there is no quick fix to counter the energy price rises of recent
years, but he is challenging the states to introduce reforms which might
ease some of the pain. The policy paper paves the way for tough
negotiations between the Commonwealth and the states - the first is set for
next month's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.
From http://www.globaltimes.cn/
11/08/2012
TOP↑
Australia Launches Its 1st Action
Plan to Cut Aviation Emission
Australia will reduce its carbon emission of aviation
in the future through its first action plan launched on Tuesday by
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese. The plan schedule to reduce carbon
emission of aviation through improving airplane technology, using biofuels
and taking more efficient processes. "The plan presents past, current
and projected levels of aviation carbon emissions - and I am pleased to
report we're doing well compared to international benchmarks," he told
an Australian Airports Association convention in Melbourne. He also noted
the immediacy of this plan. "Right now, demand for air travel is
growing faster than efficiency gains, and that means our net aviation
carbon footprint will continue to grow," he said. "It requires a
concerted effort by both government and the entire aviation industry to
manage this task," he said.
From http://www.globaltimes.cn
11/13/2012
TOP↑
NEW ZEALAND: Government Unveils
Infrastructure Vision
The New Zealand government Thursday laid out its
controversial infrastructure building program, involving plans to rebuild
the earthquake-battered city of Christchurch and initiatives to support
business growth. The "Building Infrastructure" report, covering
one of the six areas of the government's business growth agenda, set out 67
infrastructure initiatives, including recruiting 900 workers to reconstruct
infrastructure facilities in the city and surrounding Canterbury region.
"For businesses to invest in plant and facilities in New Zealand, they
need to be confident that they will have access to infrastructure that
supports their businesses transport, energy, water and
telecommunications," Finance Minister Bill English said in a
statement. The investments listed in the report included 5.5 billion NZ
dollars ($4.52 billion) for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund; 1.6
billion NZ dollars for ultra-fast broadband and faster rural broadband; 5
billion NZ dollars for the national electricity grid; and 12.2 billion NZ
dollars for roads between 2012 and 2015.
The report set out a vision of resilient and
coordinated infrastructure that contributed to economic growth and
increased quality of life by 2030. "Resilient, efficient and
coordinated infrastructure networks are vital to a well-running economy.
They help the movement of people, goods and information around our country
and around our world," English said. Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
Minister Gerry Brownlee said the region's infrastructure repair was a huge
task and the training of workers for the job over the next five years would
benefit the national economy. To date, 19
km of fresh water piping, 70 km of waste water piping and 5 km of storm water piping had been
laid, but that was only 12 percent of the work, Brownlee said in a
statement. "Roughly 1,020
km of road will need rebuilding, which is half of the
city's urban sealed roads," he said. Business lobby group Business New
Zealand welcomed the report, with chief executive Phil O'Reilly saying
appropriate infrastructure investment would bring more certainty for
business and promote more private sector business investment.
"Infrastructure assets are expensive and long-lasting, and if well
planned and coordinated bring confidence for enterprise," O' Reilly
said in a statement.
However, the opposition Green Party said the report
lacked substance, with only two unstarted, but previously announced
initiatives for highway project and oil and gas development of the
country's east coast. Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said the
center-right National Party-led coalition government had failed to create
jobs with a vision limited to building "uneconomic highways" and
extracting oil from "risky deep-sea wells." "There is
nothing new in this report, nothing that is going to end the crisis in
manufacturing, nothing to reverse the 65,000 increase in the number of
unemployed Kiwis under National, and nothing to end the exodus to
Australia," Norman said in a statement.
From http://www.globaltimes.cn
11/01/2012
TOP↑
Plan to Train 900 in Trades for Christchurch
Rebuild
A plan to train hundreds of workers for the Christchurch
rebuild is being described as extremely timely. 900 tradespeople will be
trained or up-skilled as part of a new government initiative. Bruce Kohn
from the Building Industry Federation says the scheme coincides with a
growing level of activity in the quake-torn city. He says there's a
shortage of all types of workers including roofers, steel handlers and
concrete layers. Mr Kohn hopes people from all over the country take
advantage of the opportunities on offer. He says it's not only builders who
are needed - one company is trying to repair thousands of driveways. Mr
Kohn says the target of 900 new tradespeople needs to be met, because the
demand is there. A social media campaign will be in place and a special bus
will tour the South Island to attract workers to fill the skills gap.
Philip Aldridge from the training group Infra-Train is cautiously
optimistic the hundreds of people needed can be found. He says it's an
exciting opportunity for job hunters and it's a chance for Cantabrians and
others around the country to learn new skills and gain employment for the
next few years.
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz 11/02/2012
TOP↑
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Peter O’Neill’s Pacific
Plan
There is an unmistakable push by Papua New Guinea into
neighbouring economies in the Pacific region to invest and operat3e
businesses there. The promise from its administration is that this trend
will be seen over the next few years. Championing the ‘Pacific Way’ of
looking out for each other, PNG will reach out to as many Pacific islands
countries as it can in a form of engagement that it says will see wealth
from its minerals boom flow through to help them achieve the Millennium
Development Goals and ordinary Pacific Islanders lift living standards. In
an interview with ISLANDS BUSINESS, PNG’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill,
shared his vision of a unified Pacific, where the free movement of trade
and people is a reality, supported by individual national policies to drive
economic development. O’Neill, a former accountant, businessman, Leader of
Opposition and government minister, served as Treasurer in 2007 under Sir
Michael Somare’s government. He was elected Prime Minister in a
parliamentary vote in August this year. O’Neill led a PNG business
delegation to Fiji last month and held informal talks with
Fiji
leader Voreqe Bainimarama. ISLANDS BUSINESS spoke with him. Here’s excerpts
of the interview:
There is a lot of interest lately by PNG investors to
push into the Pacific region. Is this something we will be seeing more of
during your term as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea?
PNG is an economy that is growing and growing very
strongly. Insofar as the opportunities that are there, I think the rest of
the Pacific need to participate in helping us provide the necessary support
in terms of skilled labour force and many other capacities that we in PNG
are lacking. So this is why we are now embarking on a programme where we
work together with other Pacific countries where we can try and encourage
labour mobility, increase trading and investments and, of course, try to
provide regional security in a sense we take advantage of the economic
growth that is now happening in PNG so that we can also assist many other Pacific
Islands Countries.
Now that PNG has opened up free trade to MSG
countries, how do you view the new trade dynamics that will be triggered
off with PNG’s massive population?
I think we in the Pacific as a region with close to 10
million people, we can look after ourselves better if we work together.
That’s why we believe strongly that PNG with a population now of seven
million people need to engage more with the rest of the Pacific. I know
that we talk to our development partners, we talk to everybody around the
world to work with us but we know our Pacific better than anyone else and
it is important that we work together.
PNG has decided to immediately implement its duty free
commitments under MSGTA, instead of gradually phasing out duty from goods on
its Negative List, like Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Why?
We have been in discussions with officials on this
issue for a long time. But PNG is trying to integrate many of the economies
in the Pacific so that we can work on supporting each and this is why we
want to fast-track some of these issues. PNG is working very closely with
Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, mainly because the Melanesian countries
are the biggest in the Pacific and once we are able to engage more actively
together, I think the rest of the Pacific can be able to follow us. As the
economy continues to grow in PNG and opportunities increase, we are able to
assist more and I think in a couple of years time, we will be development
partners in many other sectors, not only in trade and investments, but in
health and education, and so forth.
We have the MSG temporary workers scheme now in place.
What is the extent of PNG’s need for skilled workers?
Over the next few years, world-class resources
projects will be developed in PNG. Some that we are now doing are going to
be the biggest in the world so as a result of that, many of our skilled
workers are now joining those sectors. As a result some other sectors are
missing out on the labour force that is available in PNG. So that is why we
are trying to encourage other Pacific islanders to engage with us and take
advantage of the opportunities that are there. By reducing restrictions
that we have between each other, particularly in labour mobility, Pacific
Islanders who want to come and work in PNG will just have to buy a ticket,
get on a plane and come to PNG, arrive at the airport there and work for
anyone they like and you don’t need a visa, you don’t need government
approval. That’s our ultimate aim, which we’re hoping to achieve throughout
the Pacific. So if Papua New Guineans want to go and invest in Cook Islands
for instance, they don’t necessarily have to go and get a visa. Our
ancestors have been travelling around the Pacific for thousands of years,
these visa concepts are foreign to us.
Pacific economies have differences at local levels,
different challenges, levels of bureaucracies, etc. Is there an
understanding by PICs of what PNG is trying to do and perhaps streamline
their economies so that everyone is on the same page?
We all have our own individual levels of politics in
each individual countries, but our socio-economic issues like poverty,
opportunity to get employment, opportunity to do business, opportunity to
get a better standard of living…those are issues that concern us and PNG of
course as a country with the biggest population in the Pacific, has a
responsibility to help. We have our own challenges within our own country
which we are attending to. But I’m hoping we can get our people in the
Pacific to appreciate that nobody else is going to come and resolve our
issues. We’re talking about climate change, we’re talking billions and
billions of dollars yet no Pacific islands country has seen much of it. So
people are just talking because they think that it’s the right thing to say
but you know we need to resolve our issues, it’s our own efforts that will
make the difference.
Do Papua New Guineans support your vision for PNG
playing a supporting role to other Pacific Island nations and what are the interests
by local (PNG) business in other Pacific Islands?
I think the one that we had this weekend (unveiling of
the re-development plans of Pearl South Pacific in Fiji) is an eye-opener
for most Papua New Guineans. It gives them an opportunity to see that other
Pacific islands are also doing quite well. They come to Fiji, they enjoy the
hospitality, they easily mix with the local community and I think wherever
they go in the Pacific, that is the same. As I said (at the unveiling
ceremony), this is not a relationship that was established overnight. Our
founding father Sir Michael Somare led the way and had a very close
relationship with Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and the others who were here
before, so for us it’s natural therefore that we engage with Fiji and many
other Pacific islands countries. We have a lot of families either living
here or living in PNG, we have Fijians living in Papua New Guinea. So I think it
will be very unfortunate if we do not promote that because we can engage
with Asia much better than the Pacific, because Asia gives us a lot of
opportunities. But while we’re doing that, I think it’s very important that
we take many of our Pacific Islands families with us when we are engaging
at that level. Indonesia
has 200 million people and is one of the biggest markets in Asia and it’s right across from us. But in terms of
culture, the way of life, Indonesia is very different. So we feel very
comfortable in the Pacific and I think Papua New Guineans in general
support the initiative that the government is taking, that is to engage
with the Pacific more, and hopefully we will do that over the next two
years and we look forward to that.....
From http://www.islandsbusiness.com 11/19/2012
TOP↑
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Project
Targets Public Health in Rural Schools
Water tanks and toilets are being installed in rural
schools to improve public health thanks to a national partnership with
AusAID, World Vision and ADRA. Australia's High Commissioner to Solomon
Islands, Matt Anderson, says this has given access to clean water and basic
sanitation services to an additional 3,800 households. Twelve schools were
also connected to improved sanitation facilities last year. Australia is
providing $675 million Solomon dollars over the next four years to assist
the Solomon Islands Government improve health services in Solomon Islands.
Dr. Jagadeesh Nellore, a policy expert on public health, says sanitation
continues to be one of the key health issues in the developing world.
"2.5 billion people, over a third of the world's population, lack
access to adequate sanitation facilities, perpetuating disease and high
rates of child mortality," he says. Dr. Nellore says this puts a
strain on governments that already face a multitude of developmental
challenges. "In order to address diseases that are largely
preventable, stakeholders most focus on achieving access to basic
sanitation...this must be addressed at its early stages, when it is still
manageable." Australia has indicated that it will fund an additional
$72 million Solomon dollars for rural water, sanitation and hygiene
services. The government has also indicated that it will increase budgetary
support.
From http://www.solomontimes.com 11/21/2012
TOP↑
Solomon Islands Parliament Approves
Changes to Custom Bill
The Solomon Islands Customs and Exercise (Amendment) Bill
2012 has been passed in Parliament Wednesday. Introducing the bill in
Parliament for debate, Minister of Finance and Treasury Rick Hou said the
bill was very important. Hou said the amendment of the bill will better
facilitate the regular and timely updates of excise and export duties. “To
better facilitate and improve administration of tariff, excise and export
regimes, an amendment of the Customs and Excise Act is necessary.” He said
trade was one of the very important aspects for a country’s growth and
development. “In fact the Solomon Islands economy has relied solely on the
export and Import sectors, and more than 70% of total Government revenue
comes from international trade.” He explained that the amendment (changes)
allowed Solomon Islands to adopt a new international system in a timely and
planned manner.
“We would like to implement the updated 2012 version
of the Harmonized Coding System (HS 2012). This is a comprehensive
harmonised list of products that was the international standard for classifying
goods for trade and related purposes.” Hou informed Parliament, most
Pacific Island Countries and Trading Partners along with other Melanesian
Spearhead Group members are already using HS2012. He said Regional Free
Trade Agreements will now be negotiated based on the version of the system.
From http://www.pina.com.fj
11/22/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
|
|
World’s Largest Anti-Corruption Conference to Be Held
in Brasilia, 7-10 November
The biennial International Anti-Corruption Conference,
now in its 15th edition, will take place from 7 -10 November in Brasilia. Leading
experts from across a wide array of disciplines connected to the fight
against corruption will discuss in over 50 workshop and plenary sessions
how to best take the fight against corruption forward in five key areas:
ending impunity, clean climate governance, preventing illicit financial
flows, political transitions leading to stable and transparent governments
and clean sports. The four-day event will be opened by the President of
Brazil, Dilma Rousseff. The topics are particularly timely both in the
international arena with a former President of a G-8 country recently
convicted of tax fraud and as frustration grows across the Middle East that
new leadership has not meant renewed efforts to stop corruption. In Brazil,
the timing is auspicious as the conference coincides with the Mensalao case
and comes ahead of the upcoming World Cup and Olympics. The 15th
Anti-Corruption Conference will provide space for debate and discussions
around solutions aiming at taking the fight against corruption to the next
level. An emphasis of the conference will also be the exploration of how
journalists and anti-corruption activists can work together to achieve this
goal. In addition to President Dilma Rousseff, other high-level
representatives of Brazil will include Minister Jorge Hage Sobrinho,
Comptroller General, Izabella Teixeira, Minister for the Environment, José
Eduardo Cardoso, Minister of Justice, as well as Carlos Ayres Britto, Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court.
International speakers during the four-day
program of events will include:
· Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International
· Tawakkol Karman, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
· Thabo Mbeki, Former President of South Africa
· Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace
· Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United
Nations Environment Programme
· Raymond Baker, Director of Global Financial Integrity
· Robert Greenhill, Managing Director and Chief Business
Officer, World Economic Forum
· Baltasar Garzón, Spanish jurist
· Nicholas Shaxson, Author of Treasure Islands
From http://www.transparency.org/ 11/01/2012
TOP↑
Only 43% of
Countries Disclose Public Officials’ Financial Assets, Says World Bank
WASHINGTON, November 8, 2012–
Financial disclosure laws requiring public officials to file a statement of
their assets, liabilities and interests can make corruption easier to
detect. However, a new World Bank database finds that although 78 percent
of countries covered by the database have financial disclosure systems,
only 36 percent systematically check public servants’ disclosures for
irregularities and inconsistencies. To support countries in their fight
against corruption, the World Bank is launching the Financial Disclosure
Law Library to help policymakers and practitioners establish strong
financial disclosure systems. The Library compiles over 1,000 laws and
regulations on financial disclosure and restrictions on public officials’
activities from 176 countries. Financial disclosure by public officials
provides law enforcement with information and evidence for the prevention,
investigation and prosecution of corruption, illicit enrichment and tax
crimes. It also gives citizens the information they need to hold public
officials accountable for their actions. The Library shows that not all
public officials are obligated to declare their assets and interests.
High-level officials are generally included; 93 percent of covered
countries require disclosure for cabinet members, 91 percent for Members of
Parliament and 62 percent for high-ranking prosecutors. However, only 43
percent of countries provide the public with open access to public
officials’ financial disclosures.
“Financial disclosure systems make
it harder for corrupt officials to hide their criminal activities or
ill-gotten wealth,” said Jean Pesme, Manager of Financial Market Integrity
at the World Bank. “Civil society and corruption fighters should back the G20’s call for asset disclosure
systems, because they can be an effective tool for bringing thieving public
servants to justice.” A World Bank analysis published earlier this year,
Using Asset Disclosure for Identifying Politically Exposed Persons, noted
that as much as 93 percent of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
have disclosure systems, while the percentage drops to 53 percent in Middle
East and Northern African countries. While significant variations in
implementation and access exist across the world’s financial disclosure
systems, stakeholders agree that such systems are essential. “Financial
Disclosure is key in the fight against corruption,” says Navil Campos
Paniagua, Manager, Complaints and Investigations Area, General Comptroller
of the Republic
of Costa Rica. “Until
now, countries have been unaware of each other’s efforts when it comes to
asset disclosure laws. The World Bank law library will certainly help
practitioners and policymakers from different countries learn from one
another and boost financial disclosure in their own countries.” The World
Bank’s work in Financial Market Integrity supports transparent and
inclusive financial systems, and the fight against illicit financial flows.
From http://www.worldbank.org/
11/08/2012
TOP↑
Global Forum
on Public Governance: Better Governance for Inclusive Growth
14/11/2012 - The financial and economic crises demonstrate that most
governments need to change the way they run their countries. Though some
have a better track record of reform than others, all can do more to create
inclusive, open and responsible governance that can reduce inequality and
promote economic growth. During the Forum - Better Governance for Inclusive Growth –
economists, policy makers, and senior government officials from developed
and developing countries will highlight new ideas, identifying good
practices and innovative solutions, for advancing the governance reforms
necessary to foster inclusive growth. The Forum is open to media. To
register, please contact: news.contact@oecd.org. For further
information on the Global Forum journalists are invited to contact: Laura
Skoratko (e-mail: Laura.skoratko@oecd.org; tel.: +(33-1) 45
24 81 72) in the Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate.
From http://www.oecd.org/ 11/14/2012
TOP↑
Asia Plan 'Needs
More Reform'
BUSINESS leaders have called on the
Gillard government to accelerate key economic reforms if it is to meet
ambitious productivity targets contained in the Asian Century white paper
aimed at catapulting the nation's living standards into the world's top 10
by 2025. Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday released the Australia in
the Asian Century white paper, reports the The Australian Financial Review,
which sets the goal of boosting the average income by $11,000 to $73,000,
pushing Australia from 13th place to 10th, ahead of Switzerland, Sweden and
Taiwan. The white paper warns that "most of what is required to lift
Australia's productivity is in the hands of individuals, especially
managers of businesses". While business leaders welcomed the paper's
emphasis on closer ties with the world's fastest-growing region, they argue
the government should do more to deliver reforms that reduce red tape, compliance
costs and labour market constraints. Business Council of Australia
president Tony Shepherd said the 2025 targets were challenging.
"Certainly productivity and efficiency start at the firm level but it
is up to government – federal, state and local – to provide the
circumstances and the business environment which encourages businesses to
be more productive," Mr Shepherd said. Writing for The Australian
Financial Review, ANZ chief executive Mike Smith argues the paper should
form part of a broader commitment to reforms that will create a more
flexible economy. "The white paper rightly identifies innovation,
research and development and taxation policy among others as areas for
focus," he said. "Ultimately this will also need to extend to
creating more flexibility in labour markets, for example, by building new
workforce skills, supporting mobility and accommodating a range of business
operating models." To reach the government's target, productivity
growth needs to be "roughly comparable to that experienced in the
1990s", the paper says. In that period, productivity surged off the
back of Hawke, Keating and Howard reforms, including the floating of the
dollar, dismantling of tariffs and labour market deregulation.
From http://qcl.farmonline.com.au/
10/29/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
CHINA: To Recruit
More Civil Servants with Grassroots Experience
China will recruit more people with
grassroots work experience in the upcoming civil servant recruitment,
according to a spokesman of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social
Security. Government offices at or above provincial level should employ
people with more than two years of grassroots work experience, excluding
special posts, said Yin Chengji, at press conference on Thursday.
"China also encourages more college graduates to work at government
posts at or below county level," said Yin, adding that around 12
percent of this year's civil servant posts have been reserved for
college-graduate village officials. There will also be a crackdown on
cheating during recruitment exams in order to ensure a fair test. Exams
will be held in late November. According to sources with the State
Administration of Civil Service, more than 1.38 million people were
qualified to sit the exams as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Civil servant posts
are sought after as they are stable jobs at a time when the job market has
become increasingly tough.
From http://english.gov.cn/
10/25/2012
TOP↑
Chinese Police
to Be More Transparent
China's Ministry of Public Security
has issued a new decree that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013 in an effort to increase the
public's awareness about the job responsibilities of police officers. The
move is meant to ensure the rights of acknowledgement, participation and
supervision over the behavior of the country's police force, Xinhua learned
from the ministry Tuesday. The ministry has issued the new rules based on
experiences obtained in recent years by local police departments in some
localities. These departments have tried some new methods of law
enforcement, such as internet-based information services and case-handling
activities. The new regulations have six chapters and 36 clauses.
From http://www.china.org.cn/
10/30/2012
TOP↑
Sr. Official
Urges Strengthened Judicial Administration
Senior Chinese official Zhou
Yongkang on Tuesday urged lawyers and other judicial administrative system staff
to better safeguard people's legitimate rights and interests and promote
social harmony. Zhou, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau
of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks
while inspecting judicial administration work in Beijing. While visiting
Dacheng Law Offices, Zhou called on lawyers across the country to improve
their professional abilities and actively participate in public welfare
undertakings such as legal assistance and law publicity so as to provide
better legal services to the people and further polish the image of
lawyers. Dacheng Law Offices was found in 1992. With more than 3,100
employees and 47 legal service agencies around the world, it has become one
of Asia's biggest law offices. With the deepening implementation of China's
"go global" strategy, law offices like Dacheng shoulder more
responsibilities in safeguarding China's rights and interests overseas
according to law, said Zhou, also secretary of the CPC Central Commission
for Political and Legal Affairs. He also encouraged Dacheng to strive to
build itself into a world-class brand. Zhou also visited the All-China
Lawyers Association and the Ministry of Justice. He urged the association
to reinforce the supervision over the lawyers' practice and train lawyer
teams with firm political stance and proficient law knowledge. Remarkable
progress has been made in various sectors including prison management,
meditation among the people, community-based rectification, said Zhou at a
meeting held after the inspection. The judicial administrative bodies at
all levels should learn the spirits to be delivered at the upcoming CPC
National Congress, Zhou noted. Zhou urged the judicial administrative
system to deepen the implementation of the principle of "rule of
law," and provide stronger legal support for China's building of a
well-off society in all respects.
From http://www.china.org.cn/
10/30/2012
TOP↑
China Seeks
Better-Educated Military Recruits
China seeks to encourage more
well-educated young people to join the military by giving them preferential
policies, ranging from promotions to better chances of obtaining advanced education.
A recruitment spokesman from the Ministry of National Defense said
Wednesday that young people with college degrees will receive preferential
treatment during this year's recruitment period, which begins on Nov. 1.
College students will be receive loans or tuition subsidies if they join
the military, as well as get help in obtaining employment and further
education after leaving the military, the spokesman said. Online
recruitment is already open to the public, the ministry said in a
statement, adding that candidates can send in online applications before
Nov. 5. The Chinese military started recruiting college graduates in 2001.
More than 130,000 People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers were college
graduates as of the end of 2009. To help the military recruit more
students, the country's top legislature amended the Military Service Law in
2011, raising the maximum age for recruits to 24. To attract more young
applicants, China
relaxed restrictions regarding the height, weight and appearance of recruits
in 2011.
From http://www.china.org.cn/
10/31/2012
TOP↑
More
Transparency Needed to Better Fight Corruption
A raft of property scandals
uncovered by netizens have underscored the need for public officials to
disclose their assets, which is key for curbing corruption and ensuring
social equity. A government official in Guangzhou, capital of south China's
Guangdong Province, was removed from his post after investigators found
that his lifestyle far outpaced his salary. A preliminary investigation
announced last week revealed that Cai Bin, a senior urban management
official from the city's Panyu District, and his family own 22 housing
units, one more than the number claimed by online muckrakers who brought
the scandal to light. In September, Yang Dacai, a former senior work safety
official in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, was sacked due to a
corruption scandal that was exposed after photos were posted online showing
Yang wearing at least 11 expensive wristwatches on multiple occasions.
These scandals were uncovered by Internet users through "human flesh
searches," a form of vigilante activism that involves ferreting out a
target's personal information and publishing it online, to uncover
information regarding those officials' property holdings. However, the
online techniques could not and should not be used as the primary tool for
outing and calling attention to corrupt officials. A long-term and
systematic supervision mechanism is the fundamental means for preventing
and rooting out corruption. Under the current system, officials should
report their property status to higher authorities but not all are required
to do so. Making such reports available to the public is conducive to
improving public supervision.
At present, only newly appointed
grassroots officials in some areas are obliged to disclose their assets
while those with more years of service and higher ranks are exempt. The
scope of property declaration should be expanded to include more officials
in order to better prevent corruption. Earlier this week, local authorities
turned down the request of a college student in the eastern city of Nanjing
to publicize Cai Bin's salary after Cai's property scandal was exposed
early this month. The authorities said that such a disclosure was
"beyond the scope of voluntary information disclosure."
Authorities in Shaanxi Province rejected a similar request to disclose Yang
Dacai's salary, citing similar reasons. However, a number of scholars and
observers argue that such information should be disclosed because
government officials are paid by the citizens and their salaries are a
matter of public interest. The Chinese government has promised further
efforts to make government affairs public and to expand the scope of the
public's right to be informed in accordance with laws, regulations and
policies, so as to enhance the level of guaranteeing citizens' right to
information. In the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015),
which was published in June, the government vowed to make public any
government information that does not involve state or trade secrets or
individual privacy. China began to implement the Provisions on the
Disclosure of Government Information, which was seen as a milestone in
government information disclosure and transparency, in May 2008.
From http://www.china.org.cn/ 10/31/2012
TOP↑
China Explores
Expansion of Grassroots Democracy
Wang Xiulan, a retired medical
professor in her 60s, was surprised that a nod from the most powerful man
in her home village could not make her planned clinic a reality. Wu Liutun,
secretary of the Duqiao Village Committee of the Communist Party of China
(CPC), told her that his signature did not count as it had before. Wu asked
Wang to get permission for the clinic from eight village deputies from the
No. 7 Group, one of the seven subsidiary units of Duqiao Village. Wang, a
retired professor of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Henan University,
based in the provincial capital of Zhengzhou, planned to set up a clinic
where the No. 7 Group is based, also her home village in the town of
Baisha, Zhongmou County, and spend the rest of her life there. But to
achieve this, she would need to obtain approval from at least two-thirds of
the village deputies. "If she comes back, she will enjoy the same
welfare as the other villagers, such as regular distribution of flour and
cooking oil," said Wang Zhanjun, head of the No. 7 Group. "Will
the villagers agree, as their welfare is being shared?" To avoid
concentrating power in the hands of just a few people, Baisha introduced a
villager representative system, or Villager Congress, in 2006. Unlike the
past, when village heads decided everything, all major issues in the
village are now decided by the representatives.According to Chinese law, a
village head is elected by all the villagers, but in most cases, a
supervision system is not in place. Many village chiefs have continued to
find ways to impose autocratic rule, having taken office via bribery or
threats, said analysts. Wukan Village, located in south China's booming
Guangdong Province, grabbed international headlines last year when the
residents of the small village staged three waves of large-scale rallies
over a period of four months to protest what they alleged were illegal land
grabs, corruption and violations of financing and election rules among
officials.
As the urbanization process has
accelerated in recent years, much of Baisha's land has become home to
factories. The distribution of the compensation funds for the occupied
lands is largely controlled by the village heads. In the village head
election in 2005, only 15 of the 23 villages in the town were able to
choose new leaders, for power was hard to be compromised, said Zhu Maitun,
former secretary of the Baisha committee of the CPC. The introduction of
the villager congress system has allowed elections to proceed more
smoothly. In the 2008 village head election, all 23 villages chose new
leaders with the help of the village deputies, as conflicts were first
eliminated among families. Pan Changshui, 60, a farmer administered under
the No. 7 Group, had never imagined that he would one day have a say in
village affairs, as he is not originally from the village. He was first
chosen by his ten family members as their family representative. He then
competed with another ten family representatives to become a unified deputy
for the 11 families. Finally, he became one of the eight deputies of the
No. 7 Group and one of the 53 deputies of Duqiao Village. All the group's
major issues are decided by the deputies at monthly meetings. The village
deputy system gives villagers more room to supervise the village heads and
is crucial for the autonomy of villages, said Dang Guoying, a researcher
with the Rural Economy Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Science.
However, it was not smooth sailing when the system was first introduced in
the village in 2006. Wu Liutun, the village Party chief, worried that his
opinions would no longer matter, but he soon found the benefits of sharing
power.
Wu spent 800 yuan (126.9 U.S.
dollars) on a water pump for the village last year, but some villagers
accused him of taking a kickback. It was hard for him to justify himself.
With the introduction of the village congress, villagers now make decisions
themselves."In the past, you would be criticized if you made one error
out of a hundred," said Yan Zhiqiang, Party chief of Baisha.
"There was a lack of trust between the cadres and the masses."
"Democracy has made the supervision of cadres a reality and the
villagers have their say in public affairs," Yan said. The villagers'
various requests, including compensation for demolition, building roads and
land rentals, have been met with the successful operation of the village
congress. The "village deputy system" is the epitome of China's
exploration of grassroots democracy. Expansion of primary-level democracy
was highlighted in the 17th National Congress of the CPC in 2007. A series
of innovative measures have been taken to improve grassroots democracy,
including the trial direct election of town-level Party chiefs in some
Chinese cities. Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the
CPC Central Committee, called on officials to develop a more wide-reaching
people's democracy and pay more attention to exerting the important role of
the rule of law in the administration of the country and society, at the
opening session of a workshop for ministerial officials and provincial
heads on July 23. Analysts expect more measures to be taken to improve the
grassroots democracy in China during the upcoming 18th National Congress of
the CPC, which will convene on Nov. 8. The expansion of the primary-level
democracy has laid a firm foundation and prepared talents for overall
democracy in China, said Li Liangdong, a researcher with the Party School
of the CPC Central Committee. A plenary deputy conference was held among
the No. 7 Group of Duqiao Village to discuss the feasibility of the retired
professor's clinic in late August. After Wang promised not to enjoy any
welfare from the village and wrote a letter confirming this, the deputies
agreed that Wang could move back to the village and open her clinic.
Wang's dream of returning to her
hometown has finally been realized.
From http://www.china.org.cn/
11/05/2012
TOP↑
Chinese
Prosecutors Capture 76 Fugitive Officials
Chinese prosecuting bodies have
captured 76 government officials who were on the run abroad accused of committing
job-related crimes during the past five years, according to the Ministry of
Supervision. During this period, more than 500 fugitives of
economic-related crimes were also captured from outside China. These
include government officials. "China has made remarkable achievements
since the 17th Party Congress in 2007
in tracking down suspects on the run and in preventing
law-breaking and rule-violating government officials from escaping the
country," a ministry statement said on Monday. Authorities have
coordinated efforts and strengthened international cooperation in tracking
down corrupt officials, the statement said. Since 2007, via extradition,
repatriation or persuasion, smuggling ring boss Lai Changxing as well as
Gao Shan, former director of the Bank of China Hesongjie Branch in Harbin
of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, among other fugitives, have
been sent from Canada, the US and the Republic of Korea to China after
years on the run. Due to international procuratorial cooperation, Xu Chaofan
and Xu Guojun, both former directors of the Bank of China Kaiping Branch in
South China's Guangdong province stood trial in the US and were sentenced
up to 25 years in jail in 2009, according to the statement. Discipline
inspection, supervision and organizational departments have implemented
regulations on reporting officials' personal matters, including income,
housing and families. Rules on officials whose spouses and children have
moved overseas have also been strengthened. The Ministry of Public Security
has tightened rules on the issuance of entry-exit certificates. Since 2008,
it has uncovered 184 government officials who attempted to use fraudulent
identity documents to obtain passports.
From http://www.china.org.cn/
11/06/2012
TOP↑
New Committees
Proposed to Stem Local Misconduct
A new system of village-based supervisory
committees has been proposed in China to stem emerging misconduct and
corruption among local officials and guard against infringement of farmers'
interests. An official document co-publicized on Monday by 12 central-level
departments suggested the committees be formed in villages to improve
supervision over members of village committees, the autonomous bodies that
govern all of a village's public issues. According to a copy posted on the
website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, systematic arrangements should be
made to improve auditing of village officials' economic responsibilities
and hold them accountable. "In some regions, supervision over village
officials is just a formality, and public money or power is improperly
used, even resulting in graft and corruption," the document said. It
warned that such malpractice hinders the country's efforts to build a
socialist new countryside. Under the proposals, no village official should
be relieved from economic responsibilities because of end of tenure or
termination of service, unless auditing shows they are clean. Supervisory
committees should order those who are found by auditors to have embezzled
collective properties, money or resources, to return what they illegally
gained, it said. They should gather opinions and proposals from auditors
for review by villagers' conferences, and transfer cases where relevant to
authorities for handling according to laws, it added.
From http://www.china.org.cn/
11/06/2012
TOP↑
China Vows to
Eliminate All Hurdles for Future Reform
The Communist Party of China (CPC)
will formulate goals, strategic targets and guidelines for future reform
and opening up at its upcoming national congress and vows to eliminate all
ideological and institutional hurdles in the way of scientific development,
a spokesman said Wednesday. Calling reform and opening up a distinctive
feature of China in the new era, Cai Mingzhao, spokesman for the congress,
said at a press conference that upholding and developing socialism with
Chinese characteristics also depend on reform and opening up. "The
Communist Party of China has shown its clear-cut attitude in advancing
reform and opening up," said Cai, citing President Hu Jintao's remarks
in July which described mind emancipation as the "strong ideological
weapon", and reform and opening up as the "strong driving
force" to push forward the causes of the Party and the people. The
Party shall unswervingly advance reform and opening up, stay away from
rigidity and stagnation and never vacillate, the spokesman said. China's
future reforms will revolve around some important sectors, improving the
country's basic socialist economic system, socialist market economy
mechanism, basic distribution system, socialist democratic system, cultural
management system, and social management system, he said. "Going
forward, China will emphasize more on top-down designs and the building of
supporting systems for the benefits of the people and provide more solid
impetus for the national campaign of building a moderately prosperous
society," Cai said.
From http://www.china.org.cn/
11/07/2012
TOP↑
China to Improve
Soft Power with Cultural Sector Reform
BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhuanet) --
Developing and reforming the cultural industry, is a key focus of delegates
at the Party Congress and the public. Representatives from various cultural
agencies have held a joint press conference on the issue. They laid out
specific targets and actions for cultural reforms and the strengthening of
soft power. Culture and the arts are an important part of China’s soft
power. The country began refining its cultural industry 10 years ago. In
2002 at the 16th Party Congress, non-profit cultural undertakings were
separated from the commercial cultural industry. So how effective has this
been? Zhao Shaohua, Chinese Vice Minister of Culture, said, "We have
basically put in place a new performing arts system with companies as main
players, supported by public institutions. Over 99.5 percent of more than
2000 the state-owned cultural institutions have completed their reform
tasks. We have to increases the vitality of enterprises and continue to
reform." So far, 580 printing houses, 3000 bookstores, and 850 film
studios have made the switch to for-profit. And so have 99.5 percent of
China’s arts troupes. By 2020, the cultural industry is expected to be a
pillar industry of the national economy; another goal is increased
international competitiveness. A senior party official says cultural
entities need to stand on their own feet to develop. Sun Zhijun, Deputy
Director, CPC Central Committee Publicity Dept., said, "As for
profit-oriented cultural entities, once they’ve been transformed into
enterprises, they are no longer public institutions. They are independent
market players that independently run their own companies and are
responsible for their own profits and losses." Sun also says the basic
role of cultural programs is to meet the cultural needs of the public. The
free admission policy adopted in 2008 gives more people access to museums
and galleries. This promotes a better sense of identity among Chinese. And
encouraging creativity strengthens the country’s soft power. After more
than 30 years of economic prosperity and social stability, China is playing
more attention to its culture, heritage and arts. Generally speaking, the
country faces a conflict between resources and development. So developing
the cultural industry, which uses few sources but can generate greater
profit, is a natural focus for economic transition.
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
11/12/2012
TOP↑
Central Gov't
Departments Told to Follow Congress Spirit
BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Party members
and officials with various central government departments have been urged
to study and follow the essence of the 18th National Congress to set an
example for other groups and individuals. In a circular released Thursday
by the Work Committee of Central Government Departments under the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, such departments were described as
bearing key responsibilities including advising on important policies,
making decisions about public resources, approving major events and items,
reviewing key cases and legal supervision. Party members and officials with
these departments were told to strictly study the report of the 18th CPC
National Congress and the newly-amended CPC Constitution as well as
"thoroughly and correctly" grasp the essence of the spirit of the
congress in order to improve their work. The committee urged Party members
and officials to incorporate the spirit of the congress into detailed
policies and measures while establishing a system that aims to promote scientific
development and reforms of their central government departments. Moreover,
the circular stressed strengthened ideological construction, close ties
between the CPC and the people as well as firm anti-corruption efforts --
points reflected in the report to the 18th CPC National Congress, which
closed on Wednesday.
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
11/15/2012
TOP↑
Xi Jinping Elected
General Secretary of CPC Central Committee
BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Xi
Jinping was elected general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
Central Committee at the first plenary session of the 18th CPC Central
Committee on Thursday morning. Other members of the newly elected Standing
Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee are Li
Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, and Zhang
Gaoli.
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
11/15/2012
TOP↑
JAPAN: Local Civil Servants May Earn More Than National
Counterparts in FY12
The total
salaries of local public servants in fiscal 2012 are projected to exceed
those of national civil servants for the first time in nine years,
according to a Finance Ministry estimate.The estimate, revealed Thursday,
was presented to the meeting of a subcommittee of the Fiscal System
Council, which advises the minister of finance.According to the estimate,
the index for salaries of local civil servants for fiscal 2012, which ends
in March 2013, stands at 106.9 against 100 for salaries of national civil
servants.Salaries of national civil servants have been cut by 7.8 percent
on average for two years from fiscal 2012 to secure funds for
reconstruction of areas ravaged by the March 11, 2011, earthquake and
tsunami.In response to the estimate, many members of the subcommittee
called on local governments to cut the salaries of their employees.
Meanwhile, the central government was urged to slash tax revenue grants to
local governments.
Civil
servant benefits to be cut
The
government, at a Cabinet meeting Friday, adopted a legislative amendment to
cut retirement allowances for federal civil servants by about 4 million yen
per head.The amendment is designed to narrow the gap between payments for
private-sector employees.
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/
11/03/2012
TOP↑
Ishihara Names, Launches New Political Party
Former
Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara announced Tuesday the launch of a new party
named "Taiyo no To.""I have been extremely dissatisfied with
national politics for a long time," Ishihara said at a news conference
at a Tokyo hotel. "I've decided to work with trusted like-minded
friends for the good of this nation."The new party is a remodeling of
the Sunrise Party of Japan, headed by Takeo Hiranuma, a House of
Representatives member. The party will be eligible for 43 million yen in
political subsidies from the central government for December that had been
destined for the Sunrise Party of Japan.Before the announcement, the
conversion of the Sunrise Party of Japan into the new party, whose name can
be translated as "the party of the sun," was reported to the
Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.Ishihara and Hiranuma are
coleaders of the party.
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/
11/14/2012
TOP↑
Sasagawa to Run for Tokyo Governorship
Takashi
Sasagawa, former chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party General Council,
has announced he will run in the Dec. 16 Tokyo gubernatorial
election.Sasagawa, 77, was a seven-time House of Representatives lawmaker
who served as state minister for science and technology, among other posts.
However, he retired from politics after he lost his seat for Gunma
Constituency No. 2 in
the 2009 lower house election.At a press conference held Tuesday in Tokyo,
Sasagawa said he decided to run in the gubernatorial election after
Shintaro Ishihara abruptly resigned as Tokyo governor. The official
campaign will kick off on Nov. 29.Among his campaign pledges, Sasagawa said
he would improve disaster management measures and make Tokyo a more
comfortable place for senior citizens to live in. Regarding Tokyo's
candidacy for the 2020 Summer Olympics, he said, "I'd like to win more
support from Tokyo residents" for the Games.Sasagawa also said he was
prepared to liquidate or sell off Shinginko Tokyo bank, which is under
corporate reconstruction with financial support from the metropolitan
government. Promising Tokyo
residents that he can serve them "in this emergency," Sasagawa
said that if elected he would give his salary and bonuses away for welfare
and other purposes.
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/
11/15/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
INDONESIA:
Judicial Institutions Need Overhaul
Constitutional Court (MK) chief justice
Mahfud MD has called for the dismissal and replacement of all law
enforcement officials so the nation’s judicial institutions can be freed
from the influence of long-standing corruption. “The old organization bears
the burden of past corruption. Therefore, the judicial institutions
sabotage each other,” he said during an experts panel discussion, themed
“Law, Justice and Social Order” in Jakarta, on Friday. “Judicial
institutions are able to hold each other hostage because they know about
each other’s scandals,” Mahfud was quoted by Antara news agency. Therefore,
he suggested that all law enforcement officials be dismissed and replaced
with new officials. “Some countries have already taken such steps in order
to form a new organization that is free from the influences of the past,”
Mahfud pointed out. Talking about state institutions formed only few years
ago such as the MK, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the
Judicial Commission (KY), Mahfud said: “They have been functioning quite
well”.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 11/10/2012
TOP↑
Indonesia
Launches Nationwide Anti-Corruption Movement
JAKARTA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia
launched a nationwide movement on Sunday aimed at encouraging people to
bear anti-corruption stance in mind as part of the activities to mark the
International Anti-Corruption Day that falls on Dec. 9. The groundbreaking
of the nationwide movement was held in the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) compound, with a huge banner that carries the slogan
"Dare To Be Honest is Great!" covering the entire surface of a
wall of the building. "Corruption can be eradicated by honesty.
Honesty should not only be talked by the people. It must be implemented and
be part of people's daily life. If people doing it every day, the potential
of corruption act can be eliminated," KPK Vice Chairman Bambang
Widjojanto told Xinhua on the sidelines of the event. He pointed out that
honesty would be a basic strategy to encourage public awareness and
commitment in eradicating corruption. The importance of exercising honest
stance was resulted from several discussions to address corruption
eradication efforts that previously had been conducted several times, he
added. Experts agreed that the ongoing efforts to eradicate corruption had
not bought the expected results. The efforts were only focusing on
legal proceedings to eradicate corruption and tend to leave the efforts as
the government's problems, the vice chairman said. Indonesia was ranked the
100th among 183 countries in the Corruption Perception Index of the
Transparency International in 2011, showing that corruption practice was
still significant in the country. In the same survey carried out by the
international anti-corruption agency, Indonesia was ranked 110th among 178
countries and 111th among 180 countries in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/
11/25/2012
TOP↑
MYANMAR:
Gov't Renames Two Ministries
YANGON, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar
government has renamed two ministries in line with the new development of
the country, local media said in their websites Friday. The name of
Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs was changed into Ministry
of Communications and Information Technology, while that of Ministry of
Labor into Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security. A message of
the president's office in this regard was sent to the parliament for
approval Thursday. Myanmar's new government carried out a series of major
government cabinet reshuffle in August-September in line with its reform
strategy. In its 10-day reshuffle process from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7, the
government, with the approval of the parliament, reformed its cabinet with
36 ministries which include mergery of two ministries -- the Ministry of
Electric Power 1 and 2 into one, addition of four ministries to the
President's Office to become six and disbandment of the Ministry of
Industrial Development. In the reshuffle, nine ministers were reassigned,
two ministers and the Auditor-General were asked to resign, 15 former
ministers remained in posts without change, 11 new persons were named to
fill the open ministerial posts, one new auditor-general appointed, one
deputy minister shifted and 19 new deputy ministers appointed. The major
reshuffle of President U Thein Sein's cabinet came more than one year after
he took office on March 2011 and also after U Tin Aung Myint Oo, who
resigned from the post of vice president for health reason, was replaced by
U Nyan Tun.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/02/2012
TOP↑
Myanmar
to Form Tourist Police for Tourists Safety
YANGON, Nov.
12 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will form " Tourist Police" unit
for the sake of international visitor's security and safety, local media
reported Monday. The unit is expected to form before the end of this year
and it will perform tasks in regions where tourists mainly visit, said the
Biweekly Eleven News. The purpose of forming tourist police is to help
foreigners, provide tourists with necessary information related to railway
stations, airports, bus terminals, shopping centers and prevent crimes in
the tourists-dense areas as well as develop tourism industry in Myanmar. At
present, tourist care centers were opened at Yangon, Mandalay and Nyaung U
airports and more centers are to be launched across the country. According
to statistics from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, a total of 420,000
tourists arrived in Myanmar from January to early November this year. The
statistics also show that there were 1091 hotels and guesthouses offering
44,294 rooms up to September 2012. According to official statistics of
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, the number of tourist arrival amounted to
over 800,000 in
2011, up more than 24,000 or 3 percent from over 790,000 in the same period of 2010.
Myanmar earned 319 million U.S. dollars in 2011 from hotel and tourist
sector, up 26 percent from 254 million U.S. dollars in 2010.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
MALAYSIA:
State to Implement e-Procurement
The Government will be expanding the reach
of eProcurement (ePorelehan) to the state of Sabah which will enable
suppliers and vendors in the state to participate in online business
transactions with the government. The ePorelehan (eP) system is an
e-government application supervised by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and
introduced in year 2000, to make it easier to undertake procurement matters
electronically. It aims to provide a more efficient and effective
procurement process as well as savings in the business of procurement such
as through the eBidding module and bidding online. According to eP Unit
Project Director, Datuk Mohd Shafiq Abdullah, the future plans would be to
increase the number of eP and eP@Desa centres in Sabah to facilitate the
suppliers to get services on the eP system wholly. He added that a total of
6,812 suppliers in Sabah are registered with the MOF including 3,502
Bumiputera-status companies, but only 51 per cent are eP-enabled, out of
the total suppliers of 110,327
in Malaysia as of 30 September this year. He urged
suppliers in Sabah to trade actively through the eP, as out of the 4,603
suppliers that are eP-enabled, only 1,119 suppliers or 26 per cent, have
uploaded their catalogues into the eP system. “Through the use of the
integrated eP system, government procurement can be done faster, correctly
and with integrity,” he said.
From http://www.futuregov.asia/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
Govt
Communications to Be Restructured Under New Ministry
SINGAPORE: The government will restructure
the way it communicates, taking into account the current media landscape,
where people source information from various mediums. Information,
Communications and the Arts Minister Yaacob Ibrahim highlighted this as an
area the new Communications and Information Ministry will focus on, from 1
November. New media have been a game-changer in spreading information.
Singapore's Communications and Information Ministry will look at education
-- how to make sense of what one reads on the web, said Dr Yaacob, the man
helming the new ministry. "At the end of the day, we also have to
ensure that people who are surfing the internet, going online, also
understand how to navigate and have the right cyber skills, so to speak, to
ensure they have the info-literacy and media-literacy skills necessary for
them to understand what is being purveyed," he added. Going forward,
the Infocomm Development Authority, Media Development Authority and the
National Library Board will have a bigger role to play in cyber-education.
With more voices being amplified in the digital age, authorities now have
to look more closely at the way government-to-people communications are
being managed. It is in this area that efforts are being made to enhance
the way things are done. A Media Convergence Review Panel has been set up
to assist with re-looking at Singapore's current media policies. The panel
is led by Koh Boon Hwee, former chairman of telco SingTel. The authorities
are paying special attention to how local content is driven with
convergence, and what should be the right regulatory framework in this area,
said Dr Yaacob. "Having local content which is attractive will allow
us to anchor our population, not only to the country but to our sense of
history and our sense as a people and allow us to help in the continuing
conversation of who we are and where we want to go," he said. The
government has been working closely with national broadcaster MediaCorp to
enhance the slew of free-to-air entertainment and current affairs
offerings.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 10/26/2012
TOP↑
SINGAPORE:
Government to Grow Social Services for Future Needs
SINGAPORE: Acting Minister for Community
Development, Youth and Sports, Mr Chan Chun Sing said Singapore needs to grow
its social services much more in future. This is in view of the changing
demographics and advancements in technology, which may see a rising number
of elderly singles and people with disabilities outliving their caregivers.
Social services cater to those who need social support as they may not have
family members to fall back on. "Singles may not have very acute
medical and social needs today, because they are healthy... but the
challenges will come in 20 years' time, when the young singles become the old
singles," said Mr Chan.
"How do you design social services that are within the
community so that you do not uproot people? These are new challenges down
there if 20 to 30 per cent of our people remain single throughout their
lives." Mr Chan said help and support systems will have to evolve with
the changing demographics. The new Social and Family Development ministry
intends to better integrate social services at the community level, to make
support more accessible.
As for manpower, the aim is to attract
more retirees and housewives to meet the higher demand for social services.
Mr Chan said public expectations of such services have also changed. With
the widening income gap, those in the middle income group are also
increasingly feeling unsettled. Singapore already spends about 40 per cent
of its budget on social spending - mostly in the form of transfers for
housing and education. Other areas are in social services, medical
subsidies and employment. Mr Chan said the government is always ready to do
more, but he added resources will be an issue. He said: "This
government will always try do more and try to do better for our people - to
the extent that some people criticise us for doing too much. The real issue
for us is how to get this thing done - where to find the resources... those
are the challenges that are real." Mr Chan said resources will have to
be put to better use, such as helping voluntary welfare organisations pool
resources, through the formation of social service hubs.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/
10/26/2012
TOP↑
Increasing
Need for Inclusive & Democratic Governance: DPM Teo
SINGAPORE: Singapore's
Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo
Chee Hean has spoken of the increasing need for inclusive and democratic
global governance. He said the uncertainty in the international environment
has added to the complexity of global decision-making and that calls for a
global governance model that is inclusive, transparent and based on the
rule of law. Speaking at the 5th Bali Democracy Forum, Mr Teo noted that
uncertainty remains over the global economic outlook with the US and European economies remaining sluggish
while China and India
face a slowdown in their economic growth. Meanwhile, the impact of the the
Arab Spring continues to echo throughout the Middle East while nuclear
proliferation in the Gulf and in Northeast Asia present further challenges. These developments, he said, have implications
for all countries, large and small.
Mr Teo, who is also the Home Affairs
Minister, added that effective global governance cannot ignore the unique
histories, cultures and interests of different regions. In this respect,
regional organisations such as ASEAN can make important contributions to
boosting governance in their respective regions. As for ASEAN, it has
played a key role in maintaining regional security and stability since it
was set up in 1967. To better handle the challenges, the regional grouping
has adapted and evolved over time. The ratification of the ASEAN Charter in
2008, he said, has set the regional grouping on the path to becoming a more
rules-based organisation. Mr Teo stressed that a stable and predictable
rule-based international system is critical to the collective security and
peaceful development of all states.
He made the remarks during the Leaders' General Debate at the Forum
co-chaired by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian
Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 11/08/2012
TOP↑
Health
Ministry to Conduct National Survey
SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry will be
conducting a national survey from this month till June next year to gather
information on the general health status and lifestyle practices of
Singaporeans. The results will be used to track the health of the
population and the progress that has been made in reaching national health
targets. The information will also be used for planning and evaluating
health promotion programmes and healthcare services. A ministry statement
said 18,000 households will be randomly selected to take part in the
survey. These households will receive a letter informing them of the
arrangements. Participants will be interviewed about their health and
lifestyle habits, and have their height and weight measurements taken in
their homes. The ministry said individual information collected in the
survey will be kept confidential and only aggregated data will be
published. It urged the selected households to support the survey, which
independent research company Market Probe Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd has been
commissioned to carry out.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
Parliament
to Discuss Work of Newly-Formed Ministries
SINGAPORE: Parliament sits on Monday and
the newly-formed Ministries of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and
Social and Family Development (MSF) will kick off the sitting with the
Acting Ministers outlining the work of their relevant ministries. MP for
Ang Mo Kio GRC, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, has asked if MCCY will consider
reviewing the admission criteria to the Specialised Independent Schools
(SIS) such as allowing students from all academic streams to gain admission
to the School of the Arts or the Singapore Sports School, as long as they
qualified for the respective artistic or sporting criteria of the SIS.
Nominated MP Nicholas Fang has asked about the role sports can play in
achieving the aims of the new Ministry to engage the youth of Singapore and
enhance community ties. The Employment Act will be up for discussion. The
Acting Minister for Manpower has been asked if his Ministry has plans to
enact legislation to give more employment rights to low-wage contract
workers such as salary increments throughout the tenure of the contract,
statutory benefits under the Employment Act and job security. Another
question will be asked on the Media Development Authority's reversal of an
initial M18 rating for the local film 'Sex.Violence.FamilyValues' to a
rating of Not Allowed For All Rating.
The Minister for Communications and
Information has been asked how the Board of Film Censors and Films
Consultative Panel reconcile any differences in their respective film
classifications. GPC Chairman for Education Lim Biow Chuan wants to know
from the Education Minister if the Ministry will review the criteria for
the award of ASEAN scholarships with a view to scrapping the scholarship
for secondary and pre-university students and awarding the undergraduate
ASEAN scholarship only. And the Ministry will also be asked if it will make
the school principal's character assessment of the student as one of the
criteria for the granting of the scholarship. In total, 79 questions have
been filed for oral answer on topics ranging from housing, healthcare,
education, transport and immigration policies. After question time, Law
Minister K Shanmugam will make a Ministerial Statement to pay tribute to
former Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong. Nine Bills will come up for Second
Reading, among them amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Penal
Code and Criminal Procedure Code, which among other things deal with the
review of the death penalty for drug trafficking and murder cases. Also to
be debated is the Casino Control Amendment Bill, which proposes a visit
limit for vulnerable gamblers.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
|
|
THAILAND:
New Cabinet Announced
His
Majesty the King has issued a royal command to endorse the new Cabinet of
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The appointments of 23 Cabinet members
were announced on TVs Sunday.
The 23 positions endorsed are:
1 Surapong Towichakchaikul became deputy prime minister while holding his
current foreign minister positon.
2 Plodprasop Suraswadi became deputy prime minister.
3 Pongthep Thepkanchana became deputy prime minister.
4 Warathep Ratanakorn become PM's Office minister.
5 Sansanee Nakpong became PM's Office minister.
6 Yukol Limthong became agriculture minister.
7 Siriwat Kachornprasart became deputy agriculture minister.
8 Yutthapong Charassathien became deputy agriculture minister.
9 Chatchachart Sitthiphan became transport minister.
10 Prin Suwannathat became deputy transport minister.
11 Prasert Chanruangthong became deputy transport minister.
12 Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn became energy minister.
13 Natthawut Saikua became deputy commerce minister.
14 Jarupong Ruangsuwan became interior minister.
15 Chat Kuldilok became deputy interior minister.
16 Pracha Prasopdee became deputy interior minister.
17 Sonthaya Khunpluem became culture minister.
18 Worawat Ua-apinyakul became science minister.
19 Sermsak Pongpanit became deputy education minister.
20 Pradit Sinthwanarong became public health minister.
21 Chonlanan Srikaew became deputy public health minister.
22 Prasert Boonchaisuk became industry minister.
23 Thanis Thienthong became deputy industry minister.
Three ministers who were removed from the Cabinet were:
1 Wirun Techapaiboon as deputy finance minister
2 Phum Saraphol as deputy commerce minister
3 Chuchart Harnsawat as deputy interior minister.
From http://www.nationmultimedia.com/ 10/28/2012
TOP↑
VIETNAM: Needs
Higher Education Ministry'
HCM CITY (VNS) — Viet Nam's complex higher
education system needs to be better integrated in order to improve training
quality, a foreign education expert has suggested. At a workshop held
yesterday in HCM City, Martin Hayden, deputy rector of Australia's Southern
Cross University, said Viet Nam should establish a single coordinating body
such as a Ministry of Higher Education and Research for its higher
education system. A single coordinating body, he said, should take
responsibility for implementing national priorities approved by the State
for the higher education system. The higher education sector has been
expanding rapidly. From 2001 to 2011, there were on average eight new
universities and twelve new colleges founded each year, and the enrollment
increased from 162 students per 10,000 persons in 2001 to 251 students per
10,000 persons in 2011. The growth is expected to rise to more than 400
students per 10,000 persons by 2020. Hayden noted that Viet Nam's higher
education system was complex, with national and regional universities,
research institutes, academies, comprehensive schools, specialised schools,
technical and vocational colleges, teacher-training colleges, community
colleges and professional secondary schools.
Authority for decision-making in Viet
Nam's higher education system is widely dispersed and as a consequence,
administration of the system is highly fragmented, according to Hayden. The
government has responsibility for the two national universities. The
Ministry of Training and Education has responsibility for another 54 public
universities and colleges, while 13 other ministries, together with many
State agencies and provincial governments have responsibilities for another
250 public universities and colleges. Hayden said the dispersal of
authority within the system severely limited its capacity to make progress
in a coordinated manner, leading to problems in implementing system-wide
policies. New accountability processes should also be deployed, he
suggested, adding that line-management control by ministries and other
State instrumentalities were significant impediments to accountability.
"Public universities, which are generally not able to make their own
decisions in Viet Nam, should be given more self-governing capacity," he
said.
Viet Nam's public universities rank poorly
in terms of institutional autonomy, even in comparison with public
universities in the former Soviet satellite countries such as Hungary, the
Czech Republic and Lithuania. "The need for a transfer of governance
responsibilities for public universities from the State to university
councils is a matter of high priority," Hayden said. Further expansion
of the public higher education system, however, would require vastly
increased amounts of expenditure. Because the capacity of the Government to
invest even more heavily in the higher system is limited, increased tuition
fees appear to be the only available option, according to Hayden. He said
the government should also set up an independent quality assurance agency
for the higher education system. Organised by the Viet Nam National
University-HCM City's Development Fund in co-operation with the
International Education Institute, the workshop was attended by many
domestic and foreign educational experts. — VNS
From http://vietnamnews.vn/ 11/10/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
BANGLADESH:
Retirement Age Raised by 1 Yr to 60 for Freedom Fighters in Govt Service PM
Dhaka, Nov 21 (UNB) – Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday announced that the retirement age of the freedom
fighter officials and employees in the government services has been
increased by one year more to 60 years.“The age of retirement for the
freedom fighters was earlier increased to 59 years from 57 years. But,
yesterday (Tuesday) we’ve taken the decision to increase their retirement
age by another year to 60 years,” she said at a reception accorded to the
gallantry award recipient freedom fighters and their successors at the
Armed Forces Division.The Prime Minister handed over gifts and cheques to
the gallantry award recipient freedom fighters and their successors.
Hasina said that her government has taken
steps so that the nation remembers decades after decades the invaluable
contributions and supreme sacrifices of the valiant freedom fighters during
the war of liberation.“We’ve not only taken steps for those who have fought
the war of liberation, but also for their successors so that they receive
due respect,” she said seeking cooperation of all to this end.The Prime
Minister said that the nation will always remember with gratitude the
immense contribution of those who sacrificed their lives for liberating the
country responding to the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman in 1971.Highlighting the steps taken by her government to
ensure various facilities for the freedom fighters and their successors,
she said the government has increased the amount of freedom fighters’
allowances and also the number of beneficiaries.
Hasina said the amount of allowances for
freedom fighters has been increased to Tk 2,000 from Tk 1,500 along with
raising the number of beneficiaries to 1.5 lakh from 1.25 lakh.Besides, she
added, monthly allowance for the families of Bir Shreshtha has been
increased to Tk 14,400 from Tk 11,250 while allowance for each of the 2,500
martyred families increased to Tk 7,020 from Tk 5,850.The Prime Minister mentioned
that to preserve information on the veteran freedom fighters and members of
their families, an initiative has been taken to prepare a database under
the management of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.She said that in
order to portray the real history of the war of liberation to the young
generation, initiatives have also been taken to preserve historical places
including the place where Father of the Nation delivered his historic 7th
March speech and where the Pakistani occupation forces had surrendered on
December 16, 1971.
In this regard, she said that construction
works are progressing at the Suhrawardy Udyan for building `Shikha
Chirantan’, an open stage having capacity of 2,000 seats, an underground
museum, and a 156-seat Audio-Visual room.The Prime Minister said that the
poor freedom fighters will be able to receive healthcare facilities from
their nearest hospitals and upazila health complexes, and if necessary,
they will be entitled to receive specialized treatments. Listing various steps taken for the
welfare of the freedom fighters, she said projects have already been
undertaken to construct three-storied Muktijoddha Complex buildings with
five-storey foundation in every district at a cost of Tk 119 crore while
Muktijoddha Bhaban in every Upazilla at a cost of Tk 806 crore.
Hasina mentioned that during her previous
term, quota in government service was first reserved for the children of
the freedom fighters and now it has been extended to their grand
children.She also noted the initiative taken to honour the country’s
foreign friends including late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in
recognition of their historical contributions to the war of liberation in
1971.Hasina reiterated her government's firm commitment to build a hunger-
and poverty-free Bangladesh imbued by the spirit of the war of liberation,
and called upon all to supplement the government efforts to this
end.Earlier, the Prime Minister distributed gifts among 60 gallantry award
winning freedom fighters and their successors including Mother of Bir
Shreshtha Abdur Rauf and Mother of Bir Shreshtha Mostafa Kamal.
Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser Maj Gen
(retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs
Capt (retd) AB Tajul Islam, and chiefs of the three services were, among
others, present on the occasion.Hasina said that it was her government
which had introduced the state honour for the freedom fighters after their
death.Necessary steps have also been taken to increase the amount of grants
for funeral rites of war heroes, she added.
From http://www.unbconnect.com/ 11/21/2012
TOP↑
e-Governance
Means Government at Your Service
Ponnala Lakshmaiaha is a veteran
politician hailing from Telangana with strong technical and academic
background. He is currently a cabinet rank minister in the southern state
of Andhra Pradesh.He has held key portfolios in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet
including Information Technology & Communications, Endowments, Major
& Medium Irrigation, Aqua Culture and Fisheries. He has been in
politics since the late 70’s
and has contributed his share as a cabinet member to the growth of AP
state. He has helped pave way for irrigating hundreds of thousands of acres
of under-cultivated lands into today’s bountiful crop-yielding arable lands
as Minister for Major Irrigation. He has contributed in the areas of policy
formulation for hardware,
animal husbandry, dairy development, poultry, and allied industries
in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Ponnala Lakshmaiah’s political career that
spans over three decades is focused on service to the socially and
economically challenged sections in the state of Andhra PradeshThere is no
doubt that a great progress has been made in the e-Governance space in the
state of Andhra Pradesh. Please share with us your vision for further
improving the governance structure through ICT in Andhra Pradesh?
As far as government is concerned, we are
committed to good governance. This good governance has two components, one
is human element and the second is the infrastructure or the technological
element. To reach out to maximum number of people we need the help of
technology, but this technology must be handled by sensitive and competent
people, only then it will lead to best possible results. The e-Governance
systems are a result of both, the human element and the technology. It
always results in better systems of governance. We are going all out to create
more efficient e-Governance systems, as we are motivated by the desire of
serving people in better ways. That is our vision; whatever we do should
bring maximum possible advantage to the people. The research and the
technological implementation that is happening in name of e-Governance
should benefit the common man and raise his standards of living.
The IT industry in the state has been
growing at a healthy rate. What kind of contributions, in terms of enacting
new policies, has the government in the state made for the development of
the IT industry?The ICT industry has always been the main driver behind the
jobs creation and fostering of regional development in the country. The
Government of Andhra Pradesh is committed to the development of a more competitive
industrial environment. There are large numbers of initiatives that we have
taken to develop the IT industry. In order to promote sustained growth of
ICT sector, not only to enhance the balanced regional socio-economic
development but also to spread the usage of IT to the last mile of the
State, for the benefit of common man,
Government has announced the ICT Policy 2010-2015. If I may say so,
the IT Policy in the state is far more effective as compared to that in any
other state in the country. As a matter of fact, it is well known that in
the world one out of every three IT professionals is from India, and one
out of every three Indian IT professionals is from Andhra Pradesh. This by
itself is a proof of the fact that the state is blessed with abundant
talent in the field of IT. There are more than 700 institutions in the
state that are engaged in churning out highly competent IT professionals.
These talented professionals coming out of our institutions serve the
manpower needs of not just the Andhra based IT industry, but the entire
world. It is a result of work done by the government on the policy and
infrastructure front that we have so many institutes capable of providing
world class training in IT related subjects.
A decision to set up Information
Technology Investment Region (ITIR) around the city of Hyderabad has also
been taken. Will this also lead to improvement in the size and scope of IT
industry?I was about to come to ITIR. The Centre has finally gave “in
principle” approval to the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposal for setting
up an Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) around the city. This
will give a muchneeded boost to the state’s efforts to attract fresh
investments into the industry. The ITIR will be developed in an area of 202
sq km (50,000 acres) in two
phases over a period of 25 years. The ITIR is aimed at attracting an
investment of Rs 2.19 lakh crore in the ITITES sectors and create direct
employment for 15 lakh youths. ITIR is a combination of production units,
public utilities, logistic, environment protection mechanism, residential
areas and administrative services.
ITIRs will include Special Economic Zones, Industrial Parks, Free
Trade Zones, Warehousing zones, Export-Oriented Units, growth centres,
existing settlements and estates.
The most important e-Governance programme
in Andhra Pradesh is the Mee Seva. Tell us about Mee Seva. What are the
ways by which Mee Seva is benefitting the people in the state?Government of
Andhra Pradesh has always been at the forefront of leveraging IT for
development and governance. The Mee Seva means “At Your Service.” It is an
all-inclusive programme, and has vastly benefitted all sections of the
society, and especially the poor section, who rely heavily on welfare
schemes for their well-being. Mee Seva leveraged creation of Centralised
Land Records database, its purification, digital signing and a web-based
application that allows functionaries to take up necessary updation etc.
The unique feature of this application and database is that it is in
Telugu. Through this system lakhs of citizens in the state are able to
access crucial documents and certificates through common kiosks. Crucial
documents get issued to the citizens across the counter.
When we talk about G2C services in the e-Governance
space, we are basically talking about putting governance in the online
pace. But this kind of process also leads to a lot of crucial information
pertaining to the citizen being put in online mediums. So what kind of
security measures are we taking to protect the privacy of the individual?The
intention behind our e-Governance initiatives is very clear; we want to
reach out to the people. The manual systems do not reach to the people in
the ways in which we would want to. So we are using technology to improve
the system of interaction between the government and the people. As far as
the security systems are concerned, they are in place. There is latest
technology being used to provide most convenient and secure gateways for
conducting transactions. We also have laws to give strict punishments to
people who target government websites.
It is an accepted belief that IT industry
is concentrated mainly in the urban areas, so what steps you are taking to
develop IT industry in smaller towns?The government is taking many new
initiatives to ensure that IT industry can also move into our tier 2 towns.
Many new institutions have been allowed to come up in the towns. In fact 5
years ago, hardly any IT industry was located in the town of Vizag, but now
the same place generates revenues of more than `1,000 crore. Similarly
things are going to pick up at other towns also.You have been associated
with many rural development projects. In your opinion what kind of impact
ICT can have on rural industries and on agriculture?
Modern technology has a role to play in
every sector, including agriculture. For instance, in agriculture you need
to know the nature of the soil, you need to know what kind of fertilizers
will be most suitable. You will need information on transplantation of the
produce post harvesting. The thing is that such information can be more
easily accessed through the use of technology Nowadays we have computer
systems that can be accessed in Telgu language. This has brought computing
and Internet close to many farmers. In fact, I would like to tell you that
we are one of the first Unicode members along with IBM, Honeywell and
Microsoft. Only 9 entities are the permanent members, Andhra Pradesh is
10th member. We are taking active measures to ensure that Telgu becomes one
of the premier languages for conducting business on the web.
Mee Seva initiative has become very popular among the people and
many other states in the country are planning to launch their own versions
of Mee Seva.At a ground level, what kind of impact is the Mee Seva
initiative having on the people?In the past, for issue of Caste, Residence,
Income certificates of students, the applications were physically submitted
at Tahsildar Office. This was followed by field verification by concerned VRA/VRO
and after receiving the report, Tahsildar used to issue physically ink
signed certificates. During the high demand months of June-August /
admission closing dates, Tahsildar office used to receive more than 1,000
applications in a day, which resulted in inordinate delays or issue of
certificates without verification. Mee Seva has really made service
delivery very convenient for the citizen. Prior to the launch of Mee Seva
project, applicants used to visit the respective departments to avail
services, many a times applicants were forced to visit these offices to get
their certificates. Under the revised process, Mee Seva is able to issue
certificates across the counter within 15 minutes in 90 percent of the
cases.
Given the fact that the technology keeps
evolving at a very rapid pace, where do you see the governance in the next
10 years?I see paperless, cashless, transparent, hassle free, instantaneous
governance becoming a reality. One thing I believe certainly, with the
talent we have in Andhra Pradesh, a major revolution in governance is bound
to happen. The state has been on the forefront when it comes to the
implementation of Aadhaar. In times to come the Aadhaar system will start
playing a central role in the management of government benefits and subsidies.
From http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
INDIA:
Effective e-Governance for Good Governance
Good governance, as we know, is the
backbone of any society. If we seek to raise our economic standards to
globally advanced levels, our basic infrastructure for governance also
needs to improve in tandem. It is our firm belief that Mee Seva is going to
be the beginning of the change that all of us want to see in governance in the
State of Andhra Pradesh. Mee Seva, the flagship e-Governance initiative of
the State Government, is by itself a proof of how Information and
Communication Technology can be used to create efficient, hassle free
and transparent interface for
the citizens.The
State of Andhra
Pradesh has always been on the forefront when it comes to leveraging IT for
development. The State initiated the eSeva project in 2001 to provide bill
payment services for various Government Departments and private
organisations. One of the first such projects in the country, the eSeva
project served as a single-window solution for the citizens in urban parts
of the State.
Common Service Centres (CSCs) were
established to extend similar benefits to the rural citizens of the State
as part of National e-Governance Project (NeGP).Though eSeva succeeded in
reducing the drudgery of bill-payments at multiple counters, it was still
serving as a ‘post-office’, accepting applications, sending by post to the
concerned office, receiving back and then handing over to the citizens. In
many ways the power of ICT was seen to being under-utilised in various
government records like land records, Registration etc. Citizens had to
make many rounds of the government
departments in order to get hold of the much needed documents.Mee Seva,
which is Telugu for “At Your Service,” was evolved as the need was felt for
a faster, easier and transparent mechanism for delivering various G2C services. The concept is unique
and first-of-its kind in the country. It is the first time that the entire
solution right from the collection of applications till the issue of final
certificates has been turned electronic. It is also possible to track
request through its life cycle at various stages and render it amenable for
monitoring at Tehsil, Division or District level.
There is no requirement of physical
interaction whatsoever between the user and the issuing authority thereby
limiting the chances of corruption and other malpractices. There is no
doubt that over the longer term, initiatives like Mee Seva will incentivise
the economy of the state. We intend to leverage the support of public and
private organisations to keep developing even better e-Governance systems.
An event like the eINDIA 2012 is important, because it is a platform to
highlight the power of ICT to usher seminal efficiencies in governance,
health, education, agriculture and every other field.The eINDIA 2012, which
is being convened from 15-16 November, 2012, at Hyderabad International
Convention Centre (HICC), Andhra Pradesh, will bring together leading
thinkers, policymakers and industrialists from around the world to discuss
ideas and strategies for the future. This event will also be a place to
showcase potential and opportunities in various sectors in Andhra Pradesh.
Our aim, at this juncture, is to showcase Andhra Pradesh’s inherent
strengths, and the opportunities that exist here for industry and
enterprise.With open arms, we welcome the finest thinkers, policy makers
and entrepreneurs, who are arriving for eINDIA 2012.
From http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
PAKISTAN:
Government Will Complete Its Five-Year Term
The Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar
said that the government would complete its 5-year term which ends on March
18. "The elections will be called within 60 days after completion of
this term. We hope the elections would be held by May 2013," he said
while talking to the media at Hyderabad Airport here on Sunday. The
Minister denied that there is any plan to postpone the elections on any
pretext. "These are just rumours," he clarified. He said it is
auspicious for the country that a democratically elected government would
complete its constitutional period.
Talking about the state of the country's
flag carrier airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the Minister
announced that a fleet pf 8 new aircraft is being bought on lease for the
PIA. He noted that the biggest problem of the Pakistan International
Airlines is the shortage of aircraft adding that the government is
addressing that issue. "We are also increasing the revenue of the
PIA," he added. When asked about the complaints of the business
community of Hyderabad about the condition of the runway of Hyderabad
Airport, Qamar said the repair work of the runway would be completed within
3 months as soon as the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority
(CAA) submits a report in that regard. "After this repair work even
the 737 and A20 aircraft would be able to land at the airport," he
said. The Defence Minister praised the performance of the CAA's Training
Center in Hyderabad saying that the aviation staff trained who were even
working in the foreign countries.
From http://www.brecorder.com/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
SBP
Issues Instructions to Improve Transparency
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
has issued detailed instructions for Profit and Loss Distribution and Pool
Management in Islamic Banking Institutions (IBIs) in order to improve
transparency and disclosures and bring standardization in IBIs profit and
loss distribution policies and practices.A statement here on Monday said
that with the issuance of these instructions, which are applicable with
immediate effect, Para IV of annexure-II of IBD Circular No. 2 of 2008
stands withdrawn.Further, the provisions of BPRD Circular No. 7 of 2008
regarding minimum rate of return on savings deposits as amended from time
to time shall no more be applicable on Islamic Banking Institutions.
The failure to comply with SBP
instructions shall invoke penal action under the provisions of Banking
Companies Ordinance, 1962, says IBD Circular No.3 of 2012 issued to the
Presidents/Chief Executives of all Islamic banks and all conventional banks
having Islamic banking branches today. It may be pointed out that the
peculiar nature of relationship between the depositors and Islamic banking
institutions (IBIs) where income earned by the IBI has a direct impact on
depositors return; there was a need for Islamic banking industry to have
well defined, transparent and standardized policies and practices for
profit and loss computation and distribution. As per SBP instructions, each
pool of deposit established by IBIs would act like a virtual enterprise
having explicitly demarcated sources of funds, ownership of specific assets
and income and expenses. The profit earned on the financing and investments
made through such pool of deposits will be shared between IBIs and the
depositors as per pre-agreed profit sharing ratio. In case of loss, the
same will be borne by the depositors in proportion of their investments
unless caused by the negligence and misconduct by the IBIs in managing the
depositors' funds.
From http://www.brecorder.com/ 11/19/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
AZERBAIJAN:
Deputy PM - ICT Sector Is Priority Area
Holding the Global Internet Governance
Forum in Baku is recognition of the fruitful results of the policy for
society's information development in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani deputy Prime
Minister Abid Sharifov said at the opening ceremony today. He said that the
ICT sector in Azerbaijan is a priority area and that the president pays
attention to it. "Thanks to the president's decisions this field is
developing rapidly. This is particularly so in the field of ICT in the
public administration system and rendering electronic services to the
population," he said. The problem with Internet governance for
sustainable economic and social development as discussed at the forum
demonstrates the role of the Internet in our globalising world and
emphasises the importance of the forum and stipulates the broad interest in
the Internet Governance." He added this is testified by the presence
of many participants representing state agencies, businesses and public organisations,
at the forum. "Azerbaijan has been actively developing recently,"
he said. "The ICT and Internet opportunities are widely used in the
country. Internet services became available, the technology of their use
expanded and the number of users increased." He said that close mutual
cooperation at international level can bring about results in resolving
many issues related to the challenges of developing the global world,
including Internet regulation. "Moreover, one must not turn the Internet
into a tool of terrorism, religious, racial, inter-cultural xenophobia,
separatism and other manifestations that are contrary to international
standards," he said.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/06/2012
TOP↑
Azerbaijan
Introduces Centralized Water Infrastructure Governance System
"Azersu" company (Azerbaijani
national water operator) starts implementing a geographic information
system to assess the current state of the sewerage systems and the design of
water supply systems, head of the Department of Information and
Communication Technologies of the company Samir Ganili said at a press
conference today. The project of governing the underground infrastructure -
"Azersu CIS" has been presented there. "The geographic
information system allows analyzing the network and modeling the
infrastructure of drinking and sewage water, conducting geographical
inventory of water infrastructure," he said. The system will also
manage the infrastructures of drinking water, wastewater and rain water and
conduct work on the areas. Bentley Company is implementing Azersu CIS
project. The company has rich experience in creating the geographic
information systems. He said that the project implementation is designed
for three years. The project involves placing the data on the electronic
map in online regime. The operations on creating a system component and
staff training are under completion today. "The operations are
underway to transform archival data in an electronic form," he said.
"The buildings in Baku will be numbered within this project. This will
identify the data on the number of subscribers living in the building,
regulate the flow of water, receive information about emergency
situations."
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/20/2012
TOP↑
Azerbaijan
Creates Electronic Register of Civil Servants
A tender was announced in connection with
the establishment of the registry and the winning company was determined, deputy
chairman of the Commission on the Public Service under the President of
Azerbaijan Vafadar Misirov said on Friday. He noted that a new version of
the registry will be prepared in the coming months, the authorities will be
able to get information about state employees by entering the base. So far,
the registry contains information on approximately 20 thousand civil
servants, he said. Misirov said the authorities send information about the
civil servants in the commission via e-mail, and sometimes there are
mistakes. "State agencies will be able to place information about
public servants after the launch of the new database," vice-president
of the Commission said. Range of information about the civil servants on
the register is defined by the law, he said. It includes information about
the work record card and questionnaire of civil servants. Misirov noted
that civil servants themselves will also be able to read the information in
the registry in the future. "In case of any information change on civil
servant, he may apply to the personnel department," he said.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/23/2012
TOP↑
KYRGYZSTAN: Parliament Approves Interior
Minister’s Candidacy
On Thursday
deputies of Kyrgyz Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) approved Shamil Atakhanov as
Minister of Internal Affairs, KirTAG reported. Only one of the 103
registered deputies voted against. Thus, 102 out of 103 deputies voted for
Atakhanov. 64 year old Shamil Atakhanov is a former head of the National
Security Committee, a retired colonel and a member of the Social Democratic
Party.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/08/2012
TOP↑
KAZAKHSTAN: To Form "Political
Elite"
Kazakhstan will soon make retrenchment of civil
servants, which will affect to the so-called "A" corps, which is
the political class of the republic, Kazakh newspaper "Liter"
reported according to the deputy head of presidential administration Bauyrzhan
Baibek. "This reform is very important. Number of political employees
will be reduced by 6.5 per cent, from 3,277 to 538 people. They will be
people, political appointees, which will be very little," - the deputy
head of Kazakh presidential administration Bauyrzhan Baibek said. According
to him, here will be created as so-called "golden fund" -
"A" corps (including 500 people). This category will be able to
ensure that the economic reforms, social modernization, and in the end they
will bear the responsibility for the inclusion of Kazakhstan in the 50
successful countries. This is not the first action, two years ago,
President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree to reduce of 15 percent of
state government agencies, in result 26 thousand people lost their
positions. This year has been a moratorium on the increase of civil
servants in the country. "Corps "A" are managers, the elite
of the elites, whose will be rigidly selected" - said Bauyrzhan
Baibek. He also added that no one can just simply take place in
"A" corps. According to him, it would create a national
commission under the President. Head of the AP, his deputy, vice-ministers,
deputy speakers of the Senate and the Majilis will be members of this
commission. "The National Commission will select people into the reserve
and only the people from this reserve will be appointed to the position of
the "A" corps, Baibek explained. "If a man falls out of the
"A" corps, at the second time he will never be there,"
Bauyrzhan Baibek assured.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/06/2012
TOP↑
EBRD Signs Memorandum to Develop New Light
Rail System in Kazakh City
The European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) and Kazakh city of Almaty have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
aimed at the development of a new light rail system in the centre of
Kazakhstan's biggest city, the EBRD reported. "The agreement envisages
a project with an estimated cost of $ 300 million. It will cover
construction of about 14 kilometers of light rail tracks to replace the
existing tram route and will also finance new rolling stock and
equipment," the bank said. According to the bank, the future light
rail, also known as fast tram, will be faster and cheaper to build than a
metro and will serve as the backbone of the rest of the surface public
transport system in the city. "Implementation of this project is aimed
at improvement of the urban transport system of Almaty by developing
environmentally friendly modern electrical transport. The project will
result in a better quality of passenger transportation as well as a lower
level of emissions," Almaty's head Akhmetjan Esimov said said at the
signing. This project will be the first major public-private partnership
(PPP) transaction in urban transport to be launched in Kazakhstan. The EBRD
will seek grants to cover costs for legal and technical advisers to assist
the city of Almaty with drafting PPP documents. "The EBRD has also
invested in other urban transport projects in Kazakhstan, in particular the
Almaty buses and trolleybuses," the bank said.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
Representative of Central Communications
Service Under President Appointed in Kazakhstan
Altay Abibullayev was appointed to the position of the
Official representative of Central Communications Service under the
President of Kazakhstan (CCS), the press service of the CCS reported.
"Altay Abibullayev is appointed as the Official Representative of CCS
under President of Kazakhstan," a statement said on Wednesday. The CCS
was established by order of the President Nursultan Nazarbayev to improve
transparency in the activity of Kazakh state agencies and provide a greater
public awareness of the governmental work. According to the press service,
the official representative of the CCS under the President will hold
regular briefings for Kazakh and foreign mass media. Altay Abibullayev was
born in 1974, he is a Master of International Relations at University of Warsaw, Faculty of Journalism and
Political Science. He has served in the foreign policy system since 1997,
held the position of Advisor at the Kazakh Embassy to Poland and Austria,
as well as at the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the International Organizations
in Vienna. Prior to his appointment he served as the Chairman of the
International Information Committee - the official representative of the
Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/14/2012
TOP↑
Nazarbayev Receives Chairman of Kazakh
Agency for Statistics
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan
Nazarbayev received Chairman of the Agency for Statistics Alikhan Smailov
on Thursday. According to the agency's press service, at the meeting A.
Smailov reported on the results of agency's work and prospects of further
improvement of statistical methodology, and development of information
systems. The Chairman of the Agency for Statistics also informed of passage
of the law "On state statistics" formalizing the norms and
standards of the official statistics based on the UN recommendation and
principles of e-Statistics integrated information system. "Currently,
average life expectancy of Kazakhstanis makes 69.6 years. This demonstrates
dynamic development of the healthcare sector and effective state policy
aimed at improvement of the quality of life," Nursultan Nazarbayev
noted. President Nazarbayev also paid attention to the fact that the
national statistics system had improved and become more effective in line
with the international practice. The Kazakh Leader gave specific
instructions on the integration of the agency's information system with the
systems of other government bodies and introduction of the international
standards into its activities.
From http://engnews.gazeta.kz/ 11/15/2012
TOP↑
TAJIKISTAN: President Reshuffles Executive
Personnel of Ministries and Agencies
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon recently made
changes to the executive personnel of some ministries and departments of
the country, the Avesta reports. As the head of state's press service
reported, according to government regulations senior advisor to the
president on economic policy Nematdzhon Buriev was appointed as First
Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, the Deputy Minister of
Justice Abdumanon Kholikov as the First Deputy Minister of Justice, the
head of the Control Department of the Executive Office of the President
Hakim Mirsaev - Deputy Minister of Justice. Karimjon Azizov is appointed as
the First Deputy Director of the TV channel Safina, Shohon Odinaev as the
Deputy Director of Safina TV channel. Muhammad Ghoib, the former director
of the First Channel of Tajik television is appointed as chief editor of
the official publication Jumhuriyat. The president also presented the
candidatures of a chairman of Trade Unions of Sughd province Saidboy
Zakirov for the position of deputy chairman of the Central Commission for
Elections and Referendums and the director of the State Agency for Social
Protection, Employment and Migration at the Ministry of Labour and Social
Protection , Nurullo Mahmadulloev as a member of the Central Commission for
Elections and Referendums to the consideration of Parliament. According to
the Article 13 of the Law 'On the Chamber of Accounts of the Tajik
Republic' the president presented a proposal to the Majlisi Namoyandagon
(Lower House of Parliament) on the appointment of the chief auditors of the
Accounts Chamber. The candidatures of the chief of Anti-Corruption Agency,
Agency of State Financial Control and Anti-Corruption Ashurali Mirzoyev,
the head of the Secretariat of the Committee for Economy and Finance of the
Majlisi Namoyandagon Kosim Muminov, Deputy Head of the Agency - Head of the
State Audit Office of the Agency for State Financial Control and
Anti-Corruption in Dushanbe Faizali Zaripov, Deputy Head of the Agency for
State Financial Control and Anti-Corruption Mahmadali Samiev and Chief of
Finance of Gorno Badakshan Autonomous Region Zikrihudo Samadov were
presented for these positions. During the meeting with the newly appointed
staff, Emomali Rahmon admonished them to undertake honest and faithful
service for the interests of the state and the people and stressed that the
interests of the state and nation should be placed above all other
interests.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
FIJI: Reforms Needed for Stability – PM
The
Fijian government will not hesitate to review structures and relations that
have been an impediment to economic growth, says Prime Minister Commodore
Voreqe Bainimarama. Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year
Awards in Sigatoka, Bainimarama said these impediments have fostered
corruption, created an uneven playing field, cronyism and a jaundiced
system. He said the FNPF reform is one such initiative which despite being
criticised by some economists and those who benefited from a skewered
system managed to get international recognition and an award to FNPF as a
leading superannuation fund. Bainimarama said similarly, the Essential
Industries Decree creates a rational approach to labour relations in
identified critical economic sectors. “Unreasonable and unrealistic labour
relations do not help workers. The do not help employers, they do not help
investment and they do not help families. In fact, they hurt them all as
only a privileged few benefit from a skewered system whose long term
objective is to protect those privileges,” said the Prime Minister. He went
to say that Air Pacific (soon to be Fiji Airways) was saved because his
government made the appropriate decisions which included the application of
the Essential Industries Decree to Air Pacific.
“Now our
national airline has made a remarkable turnaround. Instead of closing down
or cutting jobs as many airlines throughout the world have done, Air
Pacific/Fiji Airways is buying a new aircraft. It is rebranding and can add
more routes. This will create more jobs for Fijians and will expand our
ability to bring more tourists to our shores. All of this will lead to more
growth in our economy. All of this has been done without a single job lost
or exploitation of its workers,” Meanwhile, Bainimarama says the Fiji’s
government believes in hard work, not handouts and wants a strong partnership
with the business community as it works to overcome economic challenges. He
said businesses need consistency from government when it comes to such
things as land availability, access to labour, application of the law, the
supply of raw materials and access to markets. And as part of the
government’s holistic approach to development, they have adopted a long
term view to strive with progressive policies to consolidate Fiji’s
strength as an exporting country.
“We have opened up new markets with our “Look
North” policy which had launched a global diplomatic campaign to engage
with all nations and we are promoting our goods and services with
initiatives such as “Buy Fijian Made” campaign,” he said. “We are also
reforming the Civil Service to make it more responsive to the needs of
business and we have to do a lot more to remove the frustrating red tape
that often gets in the way of dealing with government. We want the Civil
Service to do what it is meant to do and that is to serve the people.” The
Prime Minister added that they have also introduced a range of incentives
to assist export efforts and this includes zero rated duty on plant and
machinery and competitive tax rates to encourage further investment. He
concluded by urging all citizens of the country to back the export sector
as it not only promotes and sells Fijian made products and services but
also keeps the nation’s foreign reserves healthy.
From http://www.islandsbusiness.com 11/19/2012
TOP↑
Fiji Pension Reform a Success: Taito
Three
thousand out of 10,000 members eligible for pension opted out of Fiji’s
National Provident Fund’s (FNPF) new age-based pension scheme which came
into effect in March this year. FNPF chief executive, Aisake Taito said the
significant number was largely due to members’ lack of understanding about
the new scheme. As a result, the fund had to pay out a lump sum of about
$127 million (US$71 million). In fact it was not all smooth sailing for the
fund in implementing the new scheme as there were issues with late payment
of pension. This was however resolved over time. The 7000 members who
decided against lump withdrawal reinvested $168million (US$94 million) into
the new pension scheme. Taito deemed the 70 per cent membership retained as
an indication that the pension reform was a success and that it reflected
the members’ confidence in FNPF. He said Fiji National Provident Fund
recorded a negative contribution of $0.9million (US$0.5 million) for the
financial year ending 30 June 2012. Taito attributed this to more
withdrawals – in housing and flood assistance - than contributions
collected from members. Withdrawals for this period increased to
$318.2million (US$1178.1 million) from $309.5million (US$173.3 million).
Taito also revealed a net surplus of
$115million (US$64 million) recorded by the fund, even after paying out
$127million (US$71 million) to pensioners who opted for a lump sum
withdrawal. As the result of the net surplus the fund’s net assets also
increased to $3.9billion (US$2.2 billion) from $3.8 billion (US$2.1
billion) in 2011. The fund also recorded an increase in total investment
income from $249.9 million (US$139.9 million) in 2012 compared with $238.8
(US$133.7 million) million in 2011. The increase Taito said was largely due
to high returns from the fund’s investments, both domestic and off-shore.
Taito said that the structural changes implemented in the last 12 months
have built a strong foundation to create value for FNPF members and inspire
confidence in the future of the Fund. The total membership of the Fund grew
by 4,633 to almost 373,00 and employers increased by 340 to 7,840.
Meanwhile, in line with industry best practices, the fund has separated
Pension businesses from Contribution businesses. Assets worth $252million
(US$141 million) were set aside for the newly-established Retirement Income
Fund to support pension payments.
From http://www.pina.com.fj 11/22/2012
TOP↑
Pay Rise for Fiji Govt Workers in 2013
Over
4500 Fiji’s civil servants and unestablished government wage earners will
get a pay rise in the new year. From 01 January 2013, all established staff
in the civil service will receive a minimum salary of $10,000 (US$5,650) a
year and a total of 1663 civil servants will benefit from this decision.
While all unestablished government wage earners will receive a 10 per cent
pay rise, also effective from 01 January 2013. This pay rise will benefit
2,878 government wage earners. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance,
Commodore Frank Bainimarama made the announcement during the 2013 National
Budget address in Suva today and said the government will introduce performance-based
bonuses throughout the civil service. “This underscores my government’s
fundamental belief that individuals should be rewarded on merit and
accomplishment. No longer will seniority and personal connections be a path
to advancement. We want to reward the best people and keep them working in
government,” he said.
However,
this bonus will be paid out only to those who perform over and above what
is expected of them. Bonuses for performance in 2013 will be paid in 2014.
“We must retain highly skilled and capable officers in the civil service.
Too often, they are lost to the private sector or regional and
international organisations. By setting salaries that recognize the
different skill requirements for each position, we will retain more skilled
and competent officers in the service.” Bainimarama said the civil service
is doing better, but government will not rest until the job is done. “We
will continue to work to eliminate red tape, buck passing, incompetence,
slackness and corruption in the civil service. At same time, we will
continue to improve the working conditions of civil servants” he added.
Civil servants received a 3 percent pay increase in the 2012 budget while
doctors and nurses received a 6 percent rise and the Police Officers were given
9 percent increase. Fiji’s economy is projected to grow by 2.5 per cent in
2012. Forecast growth for 2013 is 2.7 per cent. For 2013, the Fijian
government estimates total revenue of FJ$2.1 billion (US$1.1 billion) and a
total expenditure of $2.3 billion US$1.2billlion. The estimated net deficit
for 2013 is $218 million (US$123 million) - or 2.8 per cent of GDP.
From http://www.pina.com.fj 11/23/2012
TOP↑
NEW ZEALAND: Govt Sets Up Unit to Lift Maori Economic
Performance
A Maori
unit within the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment will be
set up to drive a government plan to lift Maori economic performance. The
unit will drive a strategy to improve Maori economic outcomes by lifting
Maori educational achievement, through on-job training. The Maori Economic
Development Panel released the Maori economic development strategy and
action plan today. A Maori economic development advisory board will be
appointed by Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples and Minister for
Economic Development Steven Joyce to provide mentoring and evaluation of
the strategy and plan. The plan includes a focus on financial literacy,
increased resources to enhance Maori governance, a private sector action plan
to improve Maori land productivity and a new Maori-oriented investment
fund. The action plan includes 26 action points including improving
educational outcomes for Maori through on-job training, improved governance
of Maori assets and access to capital; and land productivity.
Maori Economic Development Panel chairman
Ngahiwi Tomoana said the panel planned on inter-generational change in
terms of economic development. "This report is the work of nearly 1000
New Zealanders who care deeply about improving the economic status of Maori
and the economic performance of New Zealand," he said. "It's an
important day not just for Maori, but for all New Zealanders. Mr Joyce said
Maori education and training rates had been lagging and were not where they
needed to be. Underachievement in education needed to be dealt with in
order for Maori to achieve their full economic potential. This goal would
form part of Ministry of Education public service targets to improve Maori
outcomes. Dr Sharples said the plan would provide user-friendly programmes
for Maori. He talked about Maori children performing poorly in educational
achievement statistics. "We have to stop kidding ourselves and have
more meaningful programmes," said Dr Sharples. Maori Party MP Te
Ururoa Flavell said the strategy marked another milestone achieved in the
relationship accord between the Maori Party and the National Party.
"We are very pleased to see that the Government has committed to a
plan of action that will support Maori business to flourish into the
future.
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz 11/19/2012
TOP↑
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Joining Anti-Corruption Body
Solomon Islands has
joined the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia
and Pacific as one of its newest members. The country's membership was
reaffirmed at the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative recent meeting in
Hanoi, Vietnam. The other newly admitted member was East Timor. Together,
they brought the total membership of the Anti-Corruption Initiative up to
30 countries. The Inspector General of Vietnam, Huynh Phong Tranh, welcomed
Solomon Islands and East Timor to the organization during the meeting,
which was attended by a local delegation led by Auditor General Edward Ronia.
Mr Ronia said that as a member of the Anti-Corruption Initiative, Solomon
Islands will gain access to updated information on new developments in
anti-corruption measures. More importantly, he said the country, like all
the members of the Initiative, will be obliged to start meeting
anti-corruption requirements under the Initiative. "It is worrying
that Solomon Islands
is still not as proactive in her anti-corruption developments as we could
be," Mr Ronia said. "With the increasing complexity of criminal
activities in the world, it would be a sad state of affairs for Solomon
Islands if she became targeted by international criminals as the weak link
in the fight against corruption in the region."
Mr Ronia
said the next step under the Initiative will be a self-assessment review on
anti-corruption measures in Solomon Islands. "A recommended panel of
reviewers was being prepared for consideration by the Solomon Islands
Government. Thereafter Solomon Islands, together with Norway, is scheduled
to review Pakistan against the UNCAC Convention in 2013." The auditor
general said that as a member of the Initiative, the country will have
direct access to the other member countries' anti-corruption laws, policies
and practices to use as models for implementing similar anti-corruption
arrangements for the Solomon Islands. Mr Ronia said that it is important
that Solomon Islands leaders demonstrate strong political will to fight
against corruption. The country's membership of the Anti-Corruption
Initiative followed on from its accession to the United Nations Convention
Against Corruption (UNCAC) in January this year. Mr Ronia was accompanied
to the Hanoi meet by Andrew Muaki, Director of Governance and
Anti-Corruption in the Prime Minister and Cabinet Office and Jimmy Sendersly,
Acting Director, Financial Intelligence Unit, Central Bank of Solomon
Islands.
From http://www.solomontimes.com/ 11/13/2012
TOP↑
VANUATU: Leaders Sign Agreement to Form New
Government
Two of
Vanuatu’s major political parties have signed an agreement to form a new
coalition government. The new parliament is due to sit from today to elect
a new Prime Minister. In the three weeks since the election, two main
groupings have continued to claim a majority of the 52-seats. The incumbent
Prime Minister, Sato Kilman and deputy Prime Minister, Ham Lini, have
signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the formation of a new coalition. Lini
signed the agreement in the name of a bloc comprising his party, National
United Party, Reunification of Movements for Change, Nagriamel Custom
Movement and Vanuatu National Party. The two leaders refused to speak to
media, saying they will only be available to reveal the composition of
their government after parliament sits. They claim the support of 31 MPs.
From http://www.pina.com.fj 11/19/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITU Academy
Launched to Strengthen Capacity Development in ICT
Geneva, 23 October 2012 – The Global ICT Forum on
Human Capacity Development in Capetown, South Africa, focused on the
migration of analogue to digital broadcasting, was inaugurated today by
Minister of Communications of South Africa Ms Dina Pule. ITU released a
publication on the Digital Dividend: ‘Insights for Spectrum Decisions’ and
conducted information sessions on understanding the transition process from
analogue to digital broadcasting. The Report explores the human capacity
development implications of this transition and addresses how organizations
and nations can prepare human capital for a digital economy. ITU also
launched the ITU Academy, an integrated approach to delivery of training through
an e-Learning platform that will run interdisciplinary courses catering for
a wide range of ICT educational needs. Discussions at the Global ICT Forum
on Human Capacity Development centred on ICTs for capacity building and
explored e-Learning trends, strategies and perspectives as well as
innovative uses of mobile devices for knowledge dissemination. ITU
Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré reiterated the need to expedite the
transition from analogue to digital broadcasting and noted that capacity building
lies at the heart of future ICT development. “Digital broadcasting is the
future, and it is essential that we make the transition sooner than later
to keep pace with the fast pace of change in the ICT sector,” Dr Touré
said.
‘Digital Dividend’ explained
Speaking on different occasions, Mr Brahima Sanou,
Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau noted that ITU
recognizes the need to provide a detailed insight into what the digital
dividend process entails and to help decision makers allocate and manage
spectrum and the digital dividend process. He explained that the digital
dividend is the amount of spectrum freed up by the transition of
terrestrial television broadcasting from analogue to digital. “Digital
broadcasting is inherently more efficient than analogue,” Sanou said.
“Spectrum efficiency gained by the transition of terrestrial analogue
television to digital is the ‘dividend’ that provides a win-win situation
for both consumers and the industry, with more choice and quality in television
services for users and new revenue streams and business models for
operators and service providers.” Guidelines in the Report provide a
framework for developing a roadmap for the analogue to digital transition
process, comprising 43 functional building blocks, with one specifically
dealing with the digital dividend. The Global ICT Forum discussions on the
transition and the ensuing digital dividend examined the strategic intent
and importance of the transition as well as policy, regulatory, technical and
human capacity building implications. Mr François Rancy, Director of ITU's
Radiocommunication Bureau, stated: “Decisions on the allocation of the
digital dividend are among the most important that need to be taken by
regulators and governments in the coming years. These decisions will to a
large extent determine the ability of populations to access the Internet
and broadband. ITU is happy to contribute to exchange experience and best
practices on this important matter.”
New ITU Academy launched
Speaking at the launch of the ITU Academy, Mr Sanou said, “The ITU Academy
will respond to demand for knowledge and skills in information and
communication technology (ICT) training, teaching and research. The Academy
will offer a wide and growing range of general and specialized courses on
all aspects of telecommunications/ICT in Radiocommunication,
Telecommunication Standardization and Telecommunication Development.”
Programmes in the ITU Academy will be delivered both by traditional,
face-to-face means as well as online learning. The programmes will be
designed to equip an expanding number of target groups with the specialist
knowledge and tools needed in the rapidly evolving domain of
telecommunications/ICT and to use the skills and related technology in the
creation of a ‘Knowledge Society’.
From http://www.itu.int/ 10/23/2012
TOP↑
Investment: G20 Governments Must Step Up
Efforts to Resist Protectionism, Says OECD, WTO, UNCTAD Report
31/10/2012 - The
OECD, WTO and UNCTAD have called on G20 governments to step up efforts to
resist protectionism in the face of continuing high unemployment and a weak
economic recovery. In their eighth report to the G20, the organisations say
that strengthened multilateral co-operation is needed and urge countries to
show leadership in keeping markets open. “The temptation towards
protectionism is as strong today as ever with the crisis continuing to
undermine our economies,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “Now
more than ever governments must hold firm on their commitments to open and
transparent investment. G20 leaders have an essential role to play in
revitalising the multilateral trading and investment system.” G20 members
have on the whole continued honouring their pledge not to introduce new
restrictive investment measures, according to analysis of actions taken
between May 2012 and October 2012. Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Russia
and Turkey amended their investment policies, while almost exclusively
reducing restrictions to international capital flows and improving clarity
for investors, according to the report. Twelve G20 members signed bilateral
investment treaties or international investment agreements over that
period, including Australia, China, Japan, Korea and the European Union.
G20 leaders have committed to resist protectionism and promote global trade
and investment at summits since 2008. They mandated WTO, OECD and UNCTAD –
the leading international organisations in international trade and
investment policies – to monitor developments and report publicly on
countries’ adherence to their commitments.
From http://www.oecd.org/ 10/31/2012
TOP↑
First Global Twitter Press Conference on
Innovation
The first Global Twitter Press Conference will be
conducted by Mr. Sam Pitroda on 2nd November. The Adviser to the Prime
Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations and Chairman,
National Innovation Council will host the first global press conference on
Twitter to discuss ‘Global Innovation Roundtable’. The press conference
will be held on the concluding day of the Global Innovation Roundtable
hosted by the National Innovation Council, Government of India. The National
Innovation Council has organized the Second Global Innovation Roundtable on
the 1st and 2nd November 2012
in New Delhi. The Roundtable will see participation of
leaders of Innovation from more than 15 countries. The roundtable will
offer a forum for sharing ideas and experiences among all the participating
countries to identify mechanisms to collaborate on inclusive innovation
that meets global needs of inclusion, access and equity. The Global
Innovation Roundtable will be webcasted live over two days at
http://wstech.wstream.net/innovation/121101/. The National Innovation
Council, Government of India, hosted the first Global Innovation Roundtable
in November 2011 in
New Delhi, India. The Twitter press conference will talk about the
deliberations and outcomes of the Global Innovation Roundtable and will
take up questions from Indian and international media. Mr. Sam Pitroda will
host the conference from his Twitter handle @pitrodasam and will invite
other Global Innovation Roundtable participants to join in. The Twitter
Press Conference will start at 4.00 pm and is scheduled for 1.5 hours. The
hash tag for the conference will be #innovation. The website of the Global
Innovation Roundtable will provide all details of the Global Press
Conference.
From http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 10/31/2012
TOP↑
15th International Anti-Corruption
Conference Closes with an Urgent Call to End Impunity
The need to fight impunity was stressed at the closing
session of the 15th International Anti-Corruption Conference, which called
for the promotion of a culture of transparency leading to a participatory
society in which leaders are accountable. The 15th biennial International
Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) brought together more than 1900
representatives from the public, private and non-profit sectors from 140
countries. With the theme Mobilising People: Connecting Agents of Change,
the conference explored five key global challenges: ending impunity, clean
climate governance, preventing illicit financial flows, political
transitions leading to stable and transparent governments and clean sports.
Over 50 sessions looked for new ways to connect citizens to hold leaders of
both the public and private sector to account, with special emphasis on
using new technologies, social media, as well as supporting younger
generations. “The last four days of vigorous debate spurred fresh
enthusiasm for the fight against corruption, and renewed our determination
to stamp out the impunity that aids and abets corruption in all walks of
government and business,” said the Hon. Justice Barry O’Keefe, chair of the
International Anti-Corruption Council. “The IACC has always been a
much-anticipated global conference and we are proud to have hosted it in
Brazil. We have in these 4 days of work (1,900 experts from 140 countries)
learnt from each other‘s best practices and discussed ideas and viable
solutions to combat and prevent corruption. Brasilia has thus become the
world capital of the fight against corruption,” said Minister Jorge Hage
Comptroller General in Brazil.
Brazil‘s President Dilma Rousseff opened
the Conference. Minister Jorge Hage Sobrinho, Comptroller General of Brazil,
Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota, Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira
and Justice Minister José Eduardo Martins Cardoso also addressed the
Conference. Other prominent speakers included Nobel Prize winner Tawakkol
Karman, Richard Goldstone, Baltasar Garzón and Misha Glenny, author of the
book on organised crime McMafia. Under the IACC Game Changers Initiative,
the conference invited 23 young journalists, from Tunisia to Nepal, to
cover the 15th IACC as part of the Young Journalists’ Initiative. Their stories
can be read here. It also called on 25 developers to hold a four-day
hackathon and develop new tools to help activists fight corruption. In
addition, the Initiative awarded six 5000 euro grants to bring innovative
anti-corruption projects to life. The IACC, first held in 1983, has evolved
into the leading global forum on governance and anti-corruption. The
conference fosters cooperation and innovation in developing tools to tackle
corruption in government, business and society. The 15th IACC was organized
by the IACC Council in cooperation with Transparency International,
Amarribo, Instituto Ethos, and was generously hosted by the Government of
Brazil and the Office of the Comptroller General of Brazil. The IACC
Council expressed sincere appreciation to Senegal for its efforts to combat
corruption and its interest in hosting the IACC conference in the future.
The 16th IACC will be held in Tunisia in 2014. Deputy Prime Minister
Ladgham of Tunisia attended the conference.
From http://www.transparency.org/ 11/10/2012
TOP↑
New Report Examines Risks of 4 Degree
Hotter World by End of Century
WASHINGTON, November 18, 2012 – The world is barreling
down a path to heat up by 4 degrees at the end of the century if the global
community fails to act on climate change, triggering a cascade of
cataclysmic changes that include extreme heat-waves, declining global food
stocks and a sea-level rise affecting hundreds of millions of people,
according to a new scientific report released today that was commissioned
by the World Bank. All regions of the world would suffer – some more than
others – but the report finds that the poor will suffer the most. Turn Down
the Heat, a snapshot of the latest climate science prepared for the World
Bank by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Climate
Analytics, says that the world is on a path to a 4 degree Celsius[1] (4°C) warmer world by end of this
century and current greenhouse gas emissions pledges will not reduce this
by much. “A 4 degree warmer world can, and must be, avoided – we need to
hold warming below 2 degrees,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong
Kim. “Lack of action on climate
change threatens to make the world our children inherit a completely
different world than we are living in today. Climate change is one of the
single biggest challenges facing development, and we need to assume the
moral responsibility to take action on behalf of future generations,
especially the poorest.”
The report says that the 4°C scenarios are potentially
devastating: the inundation of coastal cities; increasing risks for food
production potentially leading to higher under and malnutrition rates; many
dry regions becoming dryer, wet regions wetter; unprecedented heat waves in
many regions, especially in the tropics; substantially exacerbated water
scarcity in many regions; increased intensity of tropical cyclones; and
irreversible loss of biodiversity, including coral reef systems. "The
Earth system's responses to climate change appear to be non-linear,"
points out PIK Director, John Schellnhuber. "If we venture far beyond
the 2 degrees guardrail, towards the 4 degrees line, the risk of crossing
tipping points rises sharply. The only way to avoid this is to break the
business-as-usual pattern of production and consumption." The report
notes, however, that a 4°C
world is not inevitable and that with sustained policy action warming can
still be held below 2°C,
which is the goal adopted by the international community and one that
already brings some serious damages and risks to the environment and human
populations. “The world must tackle the problem of climate change more
aggressively,” Kim said. “Greater adaptation and mitigation efforts are
essential and solutions exist. We need a global response equal to the scale
of the climate problem, a response that puts us on a new path of climate
smart development and shared prosperity. But time is very short.”
The World Bank Group’s work on inclusive green growth
has found that with more efficient and smarter use of energy and natural
resources opportunities exist to drastically reduce the climate impact of
development without slowing poverty alleviation or economic growth. “While
every country will take a different pathway to greener growth and balance
their own need for energy access with energy sustainability, every country
has green growth opportunities to exploit,” said Rachel Kyte, World Bank
Vice President for Sustainable Development. Those initiatives could
include: putting the more than US$ 1 trillion of fossil fuel and other
harmful subsidies to better use; introducing natural capital accounting
into national accounts; expanding both public and private expenditures on
green infrastructure able to withstand extreme weather and urban public
transport systems designed to minimize carbon emission and maximize access
to jobs and services; supporting carbon pricing and international and
national emissions trading schemes; and increasing energy efficiency –
especially in buildings – and the share of renewable power produced. “This
report reinforces the reality that today’s climate volatility affects
everything we do,” Kyte said. “We will redouble our efforts to build
adaptive capacity and resilience, as well as find solutions to the climate
challenge.”
Turn Down The Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided
summarizes a range of the direct and indirect climatic consequences under
the current global path for greenhouse gas emissions. Key findings include:
•Extreme heat waves, that without global warming would
be expected to occur once in several hundred years, will be experienced
during almost all summer months in many regions. The effects would not be evenly
distributed. The largest
warming would be exptected to
occur over land and range from 4° C to 10° C. Increases of 6° C or more in average
monthly summer temperatures would be expected in the Mediterranean, North
Africa, Middle East and parts of the United States.
•Sea level-rise by 0.5 to 1 meter by 2100 is likely,
with higher levels also possible. Some of the most highly vulnerable cities
are located in Mozambique, Madagascar, Mexico, Venezuela, India,
Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
•The most vulnerable regions are in the tropics,
sub-tropics and towards the poles, where multiple impacts are likely to
come together.
•Agriculture, water resources, human health,
biodiversity and ecosystem services are likely to be severely
impacted. This could lead to
large-scale displacement of populations and consequences for human security
and economic and trade systems.
•Many small islands may not be able to sustain their
populations.
The report states that the science is unequivocal that
humans are the cause of global warming, and major changes are already being
observed. The global mean temperature has continued to increase and is now
about 0.8°C
above pre-industrial levels.
While a global warming of 0.8°C may not seem large, the report
notes that many climate change impacts have already started to emerge, and
the shift from 0.8°C
to 2.0°C warming or
beyond will pose much larger challenges. But a global mean temperature
increase of 4°C
approaches the known historic level of change for the planet, which harks
back to the last ice age when much of central Europe and the northern
United States were covered with kilometers of ice and global mean
temperatures were about 4.5°C to 7°C lower. And this contemporary
human-induced climate change, the report notes, is occurring over a
century, not millennia. Kyte said, “The Bank commissioned the Potsdam
Institute for Climate Impact Research and Climate Analytics to make a
summary analysis of the latest climate science, as a means to better
understand the potential impact of a 4°C
warmer world in developing countries.” Today, the Bank is helping 130
countries take action on climate change. Last year, it doubled its
financial lending that contributes to adaptation. The Bank-administered
US$7.2 billion Climate Investment Funds are now operating in 48 countries,
leveraging an additional US$43 billion in clean investment. Increasingly,
the Bank is supporting action on the ground to finance the kind of projects
that help the poor grow their way out of poverty, increase their resilience
to climate change, and achieve emissions reductions.
From http://www.worldbank.org/ 11/18/2012
TOP↑
Asia Pacific to Lead Global Cloud Traffic
Asia Pacific will generate the most cloud traffic by
2016 as compared to North America and Western Europe. The second annual
Cisco Global Cloud Index (2011-2016) indicates that Asia Pacific will
process the most cloud workloads - about 36 percent of the global cloud
workloads by 2016. Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan are
identified as the nation's best prepared to lead this trend. Malaysia,
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and China are the emerging countries that will
contribute heavily to this trend, according to Cisco that also notes Asia
Pacific as ready to support advanced cloud computing applications over
fixed networks. The Index says 2014 will be the first year when the
majority of workloads shift to the cloud. More than 50 percent of all
workloads by that time will be processed in the cloud versus 48 percent in
the traditional IT space.
Four-fold increase in traffic
Cisco also predicts a four-fold increase in global
data centre traffic by 2016 and notes that the vast majority of the data
centre traffic is caused by data centres and cloud-computing workloads used
in activities that are virtually invisible to individuals. About 76 percent
of data centre traffic will stay within the data centre and will be largely
generated by storage, production and development data during 2011-2016.
Seven percent of data centre traffic will be generated between data
centres, and 17 percent of data centre traffic will be fuelled by end-users
accessing clouds for Web surfing, e-mailing and video streaming. The Middle
East and Africa will have the highest cloud traffic growth rate through
2016. The Asia Pacific region will process the most cloud workloads,
followed by North America by this time. "This year's forecast confirms
that strong growth in data centre usage and cloud traffic are global
trends, driven by our growing desire to access personal and business
content anywhere, on any device," said Doug Merritt, senior vice
president, Corporate Marketing, Cisco. "When you couple this growth
with projected increases in connected devices and objects, the
next-generation Internet will be an essential component to enabling much
greater data centre virtualisation and a new world of interconnected
clouds."
From http://www.computerworld.com.sg/ 11/01/2012
TOP↑
APEC on Target to Reduce Energy Intensity,
but More Work Needed, Says Early Assessment
APEC is on target to reduce its energy intensity and meet
its green growth goals to reduce APEC's aggregate energy intensity by 45
percent by 2035, according to an analysis released this week in Chinese
Taipei. Roberto Lozano, a researcher with the Asia-Pacific Energy Research
Center (APERC), said that APEC could reduce energy intensity by 45% by 2035
if it achieves an average growth rate of 2% per year or 9.5% every 5 years.
“APEC’s energy intensity reduction is framed within a permanent commitment
to reduce the effects of climate change, namely greenhouse gas emissions,
while supporting economic growth and development,” Lozano told the APEC
Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation on Thursday. “With 2005
as a reference, it is expected that by 2035 energy intensity will have
decreased 59.3% in the transport, 48.4% in the industry and 45.9% in the
joint demand of the residential, commercial and agriculture sectors,” he
explained. The group acknowledged that in spite of APERC’s latest
projections suggesting that it is possible for APEC to meet its goal of
reducing energy intensity in 45% by 2035, the recent historic trend
indicates that it might still require further efforts to accomplish it. For
that reason, member economies reported on their commitments to boost their
efforts to achieve that goal. At the same time, the work will yield better
trade flows in energy efficient goods and services across the region.
APEC delegates recognized that energy efficiency and
conservation are global issues and vital for the modern civilization. Its
improvement is often considered a major indicator of an economy’s
sustainable development. “Some of the energy savings have been achieved
domestically, but not necessarily across the borders,” said Dr Alex Tong,
Vice President and General Director of the Industrial Technology Research
Institute in Chinese Taipei. Briefing the group about progress made in
Chinese Taipei, Tong explained how ITRI, a nonprofit research and
development agency, developed a platform for loan guarantees to energy
service companies that can work across the border and achieve energy
savings across economies. “Just recently we tried to commercialize recovery
of energy from waste heat,” he continued. “This provides 10% efficiency
over 100 degrees of waste heat. “These energy savings practices without any
fuel will create big savings and each economy has a program to support
energy service companies.” Indentifying a clear pathway to this goal, APEC
Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation Chair Terry Collins
reminded participants that APEC Leaders reaffirmed the need for greater
reform and alignment in regulatory approaches and international standards
to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers.
“Energy efficiency and conservation is common sense but
only commitment and resolution can lead to its implementation,” he said.
“This meeting is a good opportunity for us to share with what has been
accomplished and to realize further improvement through information
exchange. “A responsive approach will be valuable for member economies to
continue their work in the coming years,” he said. Members agreed that
innovation in the industrial and manufacturing sectors across Asia-Pacific
will create energy savings. Work is underway to complete the 5th edition of
the APEC Energy Demand and Supply Outlook which will be published in late
2012. The volumes will include a summary of key trends in demand and
supply; an overview of APEC energy investments and alternative scenarios
for high gas; improved urban planning; and the race for a virtual clean
car.
From http://www.apec.org/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
Investments in Disaster Risk Management
Essential to Sustaining Growth and Reducing Poverty
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The growing incidence of natural
disasters in Asia and the Pacific—where four of five cities globally
classified as at extreme risk are located—threatens to undermine seriously
rapid economic progress, calling for a much stronger focus among
governments on disaster prevention, says a new study from Independent
Evaluation at the Asian Development Bank. The region has borne the brunt of
the physical and economic damage of the sharp rise in natural disasters
since the 1980s. Its people are four times more likely to be affected by
natural disaster than in Africa and 25 times more than in Europe or North
America. With 25% of the world’s gross domestic product, the region
accounted for 38% of the economic losses due to natural disasters during
1980–2009. The study—ADB’s Response to Natural Disasters and Disaster
Risks—calls for projects and programs to put a far greater emphasis on
improving disaster prevention. Much wider recognition is needed of the fact
that natural disasters, particularly storms and floods, are becoming
endemic and that their increasing frequency and severity can slash economic
growth and development. “We have thought for too long that natural
disasters come and go, that they are just an interruption to development,
and that they can be dealt with after they strike,” says the Director
General of Independent Evaluation, Vinod Thomas. “However, there is growing
international recognition that the incidence and impact of natural
disasters are increasing because of persistent poverty, population growth,
and climate change.”
In its review of ADB’s disaster-related projects and
programs, the study notes that disaster prevention accounted for one-third
of investment, compared with two-thirds spent on disaster recovery. Yet, by
some measures, one dollar invested today in reducing disaster risk saves at
least four dollars in future relief and rehabilitation costs. The
independent evaluation study finds that ADB’s disaster-recovery projects
have been much more successful than ADB-supported projects overall. But
many of them had the limited objective of restoring particular types of
infrastructure, rather than rehabilitating livelihoods, or increasing
disaster resilience. So far, very few countries have focused on the
disaster risks in their economic development plans. Member country
governments and ADB must do more to highlight the need for investment in
disaster prevention, not just in infrastructure, but also in relation to
social development. During 1995–2011, ADB provided funding of $10.37
billion for 264 natural disaster interventions, including 104 loans for
$8.55 billion. A special review of ADB’s disaster response programs in
Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan finds several areas where ADB and the
rest of the development community could improve both disaster response and
preparation. In Bangladesh, for example, ADB has been efficient at
renovating damaged roads and bridges. But it can support the proactive and
successful disaster management programs the government has implemented. These
programs have dramatically lowered deaths in this disaster-prone
delta-region caused by regular, powerful cyclones. In a storm in 1997, for
example, 111 were killed in contrast with 300,000 people in a similar storm
in 1970.
In Indonesia—after the earthquake off Sumatra and
resulting tsunami in December 2004, killing more than 200,000 around the
Indian Ocean—the government gained valuable experience, through effective
delegation, in handling the huge numbers of donors that line up to respond
to such disasters. Greater support is now needed for strengthening the
institutions that emerged out of the response to the disaster, including
the National Agency for Disaster Management. This replaced the Aceh-Nias
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (known as BRR)—set up in 2005 and
dissolved in 2009 as it completed its task—as the government’s central
coordinating body for disaster response and prevention. Another lesson
learned in the earthquake-tsunami response is the hugely complex needs such
disasters create. “You cannot simply rehabilitate roads and bridges and
then build temporary shelter. Often, poverty, gender, ethnic issues,
property rights and other problems compound the difficulties and require
much greater attention and capacity for response from the development
community,” says Tomoo Ueda, Principal Evaluation Specialist and the main
author. In Pakistan, where the country’s defense forces have gained respect
for their disaster response, there is significant need for greater support
for civil disaster-management institutions, such as the National Disaster
Management Authority. “Throughout the region, we must recognize that
investments in disaster risk management are an essential means to
sustaining growth and poverty reduction,” says Thomas.
From http://www.adb.org/ 11/13/2012
TOP↑
Raising Awareness of Violence
Against Women in the Pacific
November 25, 2012 – Around one in every three women in
the world over will be physically or sexually abused at some point in their
life; one in four children bear witness to domestic or gender violence. In
some Pacific countries, the statistics are worse. According to the World
Bank's 2012 World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development,
between 60 and 70 per cent of women in Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and
Vanuatu report experiencing some form of domestic violence. The Pacific
region has some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. A
2008 WHO survey found that 23 per cent of women in Kiribati reported abuse
during pregnancy, while 68 per cent of women aged 15-49 experienced
violence from an intimate partner. According to Merilyn Tahi, Coordinator
of the Vanutu’s Women’s Center, “We also have to look into our cultural and
traditional practice to address violence again women.” She explained that,
“In some Vanuatu cultures, on the day of the wedding, women are told about
their roles and that they cannot tell what happens at home outside the
house. And they believe that is culture.”
From http://www.worldbank.org/ 11/25/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
CHINA:
To Resume Construction of Nuclear Plants
The construction of new nuclear power stations, which had
been suspended since the Fukushima disaster in March 2011, will be resumed
in China. But only a small number will be launched by 2015 and all of them
will be located at coastal sites. Prior to the Fukushima disaster, some
energy officials indicated China would embark on as many as 40 nuclear
energy projects during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), and at least
seven inland provinces applied to host plants. In contrast, according to a
statement released on the government website on Wednesday, China will
resume construction of nuclear power plants "in a steady and orderly
way" and "at a reasonable pace".Two programs — the national
plan for nuclear power security (2011-20) and nuclear power development
(2011-20) — were approved on Wednesday at an executive meeting of the State
Council chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao. A national energy development
program up to 2015 was also approved. All new nuclear reactors must comply
with the highest international safety standards, according to the plans. He
Jiankun, director of the Institute of Low Carbon Economy at Tsinghua
University, said nuclear power strikes a balance between an increasing
thirst for energy and the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
"Nuclear energy is irreplaceable," he said. China’s competitiveness
will be compromised if it rejects nuclear power or if it fails to use the
latest nuclear technology, he said. The choice of a site for a nuclear
power station "must be based on thorough scientific research".
And there must be adequate assurances that under no circumstances would
radioactive leakage occur, he added.
China’s
nuclear power generating capacity accounts for just 1.8 percent of its
electricity, lower than the average 14 percent for countries that have
nuclear power, according to a government white paper on energy policies
that was also released on Wednesday. "The development of nuclear power
is significant for the optimization of China's energy structure and will
safeguard national energy security," it said, adding China will continue
to develop nuclear energy in a "safe and highly efficient" way.
Safety is the priority, it said. "China has conducted comprehensive
and stringent security and safety checks following the Fukushima nuclear
accident. The results have proved that the safety of China's nuclear power
is guaranteed," the white paper said. The paper also addressed China's
increasing dependence on imported oil and said its low energy reserves
continue to threaten energy security. Robust economic growth in the past
two decades has transformed the country from a net oil exporter to a major
importer. Experts said energy security and oil security are world issues
that need global solutions. "The world's oil situation is changing
with more geopolitical uncertainties," Tsinghua University's He said.
"The development of gas shale in the United States has alleviated its
reliance on imported oil and lessened its interests in the Middle
East."
China needs to boost oil exploration,
increase global cooperation and contribute to the establishment of an international
system of energy security, he said. Per capita energy consumption in China
is about one-third of that of developed countries but will grow sharply,
the white paper said. Li Zuojun, an economist at the Institute of Resources
and Environmental Policies with the State Council's Development Research
Center, said China must promote low-carbon development. Coal still accounts
for about 70 percent of China's energy consumption and about 80 percent of
its electricity production. Coal production was 3.18 billion metric tons in
2011 and the country aims to curb that to around 3.9 billion tons by 2015,
according to the 12th Five-Year Plan for the coal industry. "China's
energy consumption is highly reliant on abundant coal, which leads to
serious environmental problems," Li said. The country has set a target
to enhance the proportion of non-fossil fuels in the overall primary energy
mix to 15 percent by 2020, while it also plans to cut carbon dioxide
emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ 10/25/2012
TOP↑
China Works for Safe Dangerous Waste
Disposal
The Chinese government has released a guideline to
ensure all dangerous wastes produced by major licensed units at or above
city levels will be safely disposed of by 2015. "Our country's
prevention of pollution from dangerous wastes started late with a weak
foundation and historical consequences. The pressure will be huge and the
situation will remain austere until 2015," said the guideline jointly
adopted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, National Development
and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
and the Ministry of Health. The document, which was made public on Monday,
praised the progress made in that regard between 2006 to 2010, citing that
licensed waste-producing units safely disposed of 8.4 million tonnes of
dangerous wastes in 2010, up 180 percent from 2006. It urged strengthened
control of harmful wastes from the sources, supervising all
waste-processing procedures as well as integrating legal, administrative,
economic and technologic measures to stem illegal dumping of wastes and
improve waste-treating capacities. The guideline came after a series of
waste dumping cases affecting local environments and people's health. In
May, seven people received jail terms from a local district court after two
companies in southwest China's Yunnan Province were found to have dumped
5,000 tonnes of chromium-contaminated waste near a local reservoir and on
nearby hills from April to June last year. Ensuing rainfall reportedly
washed some of the chemicals into local water supplies, causing the deaths
of 77 heads of cattle. No human deaths have been attributed to chromium
pollution in the case, but at least 14 local residents have been diagnosed
with cancer since 2002 and many suspect their diseases were caused by
contaminated drinking water. The guideline set a goal of having 90 percent
of units producing dangerous wastes at all levels and 95 percent of those
dealing with these wastes at all levels to meet government management
standards by 2015. In addition, the document set down several key missions
including surveying dangerous waste, developing an industry to utilize
these wastes, and boosting capacities to safely dispose of heavy metal and
medical wastes.
From http://www.china.org.cn/ 11/01/2012
TOP↑
Fair to Highlight Robotic Tech
ROBOTIC technology will be in the spotlight at the
China International Industry Fair which will display the latest Chinese technological
advances in developing robots. Intelligent robots, or irob, have started to
play an important role in industry, disaster rescue and routine life and
this will be highlighted at the fair, experts said. "The irob is
actually a software robot which can connect with cell phone, television and
a control sensor at home," said May Mei, a researcher at Shanghai
Zhizhen Web Technology Co, the developer. "People can chat with the
robot (equipped) with artificial intelligence and give orders like searching
the Internet for information and controlling electric appliances. So far it
has been widely used by the government and telecommunication companies on
their Internet customer service platform." Mei said the company is
working on an irob system to control all home electric appliances through a
human voice. Zhejiang University, the developer of two robot table tennis
players, said developing them has spawned off other technologies like quick
vision recognition and this has been introduced to industrial and civil
use. The five-day fair opens today at the Shanghai New International Expo
Center in Pudong New Area.
From http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 11/06/2012
TOP↑
Technology
Can Make Life More Convenient
CUTTING-EDGE information technologies and
products, including mobile Internet, cloud computing and GPS, are used in
the transportation, education and medical sectors in Shanghai, Shanghai
Daily learned at an exhibition yesterday. A BMW car that can be unlocked
with an iPhone, a school bus which can keep parents informed of the
location of their child and mobile applications telling people the exact
time when the next bus will arrive were just some of the technologies in
the spotlight as the 14th China International Industry Fair opened
yesterday in Shanghai. China Unicom, the country's No. 2 mobile carrier,
has invested 185 million yuan (US$29.4 million) in cloud computing in 15
cities including Beijing and Shanghai. Cloud services allows users to
access, store and edit data and files online. In Shanghai, China Unicom
provides 10 gigabytes of cloud storage for Word, Excel and picture files,
which can be easily shared through short message and Weibo services.
"It's just like a portable personal data center for every one,"
the official at the booth said, showing the "Smart Cloud"
application on an iPhone. Besides cloud computing, a BMW was also shown
during the fair. Car owners can control the car by phone through China
Unicom's 3G
network, including locking and unlocking doors and turning on the air
conditioner. China Telecom also showed wireless technologies through its 3G and WiFi network. With a
card-swipe device on school buses, parents can get short messages sent to
their mobile phone when their children get on and off buses through China
Telecom's network.
From http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 11/07/2012
TOP↑
CPC Central Committee Politburo Urges
Implementing Congress Spirit
BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the
Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday
to arrange implementing the spirit of the just-concluded 18th CPC National
Congress. The meeting was presided over by CPC Central Committee General
Secretary Xi Jinping. The Party unveiled a new leadership lineup for the
next five years Thursday. A statement released after the meeting described
the 18th CPC National Congress, held from Nov. 8-14, as "an extremely
important meeting convened at the decisive stage of completing the building
of a moderately prosperous society in all respects." It went on to add
that learning, promoting and implementing the congress's spirit concerns
the work of the Party and the country and the lasting development of the
socialist cause with Chinese characteristics. It said this is of great
significance in confidently completing the building of a moderately
prosperous society in all respects, under Xi's leadership. The statement
added that the foremost political task is to concentrate the mind of the Party,
the nation and people of all ethnic backgrounds onto the congress's spirit,
and meet the various tasks and goals that have been set in the congress.
This would be done through learning, promoting and implementing the
congress's spirit, the statement added.
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ 11/16/2012
TOP↑
JAPAN: Elected to U.N. Human Rights Body
The U.N. General Assembly on Monday elected Japan and
17 other countries, including the United States and South Korea, to serve
on the U.N. Human Rights Council for three years beginning Jan. 1.The
council, composed of 47 members, looks into human rights violations in U.N.
member countries and makes recommendations for improvement.Members of the
council are elected by a majority vote of 193 U.N. member countries. Japan
was elected for two consecutive terms from 2006 through 2011.The United
States, which was elected for the second straight term, takes a critical stance
toward the council, saying it is too strict about Israel's human rights
situation. In a statement Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
stressed the need for "ending the Council's disproportionate and
biased focus on Israel."The council was established in 2006, but the
administration of then U.S. President George W. Bush did not seek U.S.
membership.The United States reversed its stance in 2009 under the
administration of President Barack Obama and was elected that year.
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 11/14/2012
TOP↑
SOUTH KOREA: Govt. to Promote Agricultural
Activities Based on Consumer Cooperation
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture
Forestry and Fisheries says that will promote community agricultural
activities in which consumers directly participate in the production and
distribution process.The ministry said these community supportive
activities involve producers and consumers signing contracts to supply
agricultural produce on a regular basis or directly manage stores to sell
the produce.The ministry says it will back the establishment of related
cooperatives and launch educational and consulting websites to nurture
professionals as part of its efforts.In addition, it will support the
establishment of common workshops where seasonal agricultural produce can
be packaged for delivery.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/01/2012
TOP↑
Forum to Promote Civic, Social Groups Held
at Museum
A forum to allow civic and social groups
explain what they do to the public is being held at the National Museum of
Korea in central Seoul.The forum will continue through Saturday and is
designed so civic and social groups can freely and directly communicate
with the public to boost public understanding of their work and
participation in their various activities.A total of 194 groups including
social enterprises and cooperatives are taking part in the event, which is
hosted by the Office of Minister for Special Affairs and is sponsored by
the Happy World Foundation.During the opening ceremony Friday, Stefano
Zamagni, the vice director of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced
International Studies Bologna Center, gave a lecture on the topic of social
economy and the advancement of cooperatives. His speech marked the 2012
International Year of Cooperatives.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/02/2012
TOP↑
Tuition Burden to Fall 35% on Average for
1 Mln Students
The tuition burden on college students
from families in the bottom 70 percent income bracket will fall by an
average 35 percent next year. Our Kim Soyon explains.Report: The Education
Ministry on Wednesday announced plans to ease the college tuition burden
for 2013. Under the plan, students from families earning in the bottom 30
percent will receive 450-thousand to 900-thousand won more in government
scholarships next year.Students in the bottom 40 to 70 percent will also be
eligible to receive state scholarships despite previous ineligibility.Also
from next year, grades will not be a factor for freshmen to receive
scholarships. Any first-year student in the bottom 70 percent income group
will receive a scholarship for their first semester. However, grades will
factor into the awarding of scholarships from the second semester on.
The government budget for scholarships
will be expanded from one-point-seven trillion won this year to over
two-point-two trillion next year. Including scholarships funded by
colleges, over two-point-eight trillion won will be put towards reducing
the tuition burden in 2013.This figure equals roughly 35 percent of actual
tuition paid by students from families earning in the bottom 70 percent.
Some one million students are expected to receive the grants.The ministry
will also revise guidelines so students from families whose economic
situation suddenly worsened due to parents' illness or bankruptcy can also
receive state scholarships.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/07/2012
TOP↑
Gov't Mulling Over Capital Controls to
Curb Won Rally
The South Korean government is looking into
implementing market-control regulations like setting a ceiling for trade in
non-deliverable forwards on the recent rapid appreciation of the won
against the dollar.Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan said during an appearance
on a KBS show on November 11th that if the value of the won continues to
grow quickly then the government would seek to implement three capital
controls: setting a ceiling on NDF trading, taxing foreigners’ investment
in bonds and bank taxation.Bahk also said the government is currently
watching the won very closely and said the government is prepared to
implement any changes or improvements to the three capital controls if
needed.The minister also said it would be difficult for the country to
reach a three percent-range annual growth this year as the ministry had
previously forecast.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/11/2012
TOP↑
S. Korea Ranks 29th in Terms of Business
Environment
Business magazine Forbes has listed South
Korea as the 29th best country in the world for business.The country’s
ranking went up by two notches from last year.New Zealand topped the list
this year, after coming in second last year, backed by its transparent and
stable business environment that encourages entrepreneurship.Canada, which
ranked top place last year, slipped to fifth place this year as it lost
ground on innovation and technology.Denmark ranked second this year,
followed by Hong Kong and Singapore.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/ 11/15/2012
TOP↑
Survey: 86% of Korean Smokers Want Tighter
Laws on Smoking
A new survey finds that the vast majority of
smokers in South Korea think the government should tighten up laws on
smoking.The International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project's team
of some 100 health experts from around 20 countries conducted the survey
three times on roughly 45-hundred smokers in South Korea.A staggering 86
percent of respondents said they believe the government must actively
pursue policies to strengthen smoking regulations, and 40 percent said they
think all types of tobacco should be prohibited.Eighty-eight percent of polled
smokers said they would never pick up smoking if they could turn back the
clock.The survey also found that 94 percent of smokers believe you
shouldn't smoke in cars with children. However, just 29 percent said
smoking should be banned in restaurants.The team of experts said it is
imperative for South Korea to raise taxes on tobacco products. It noted
that South Korean smokers spend less than three percent of their income on
cigarettes, and the number of people who quit smoking due to rising cigarette
prices fell from 38 percent to 27 percent between 2005 and 2010.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/15/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
ASEAN
Leaders Meet Dialogue Partners to Strengthen Political, Economic Ties
PHNOM PENH: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
attended the regular ASEAN Plus One Summits with China, India, Japan and
South Korea, the 4th ASEAN-US Leaders' Meeting and the ASEAN Plus Three
(APT) Commemorative Summit on Monday. A statement from the Singapore
Foreign Affairs MInistry said the 15th ASEAN-China Summit reaffirmed the
strong and multi-faceted relations between ASEAN and China. The summit
explored ways to expand cooperation in areas such as science and
technology, healthcare, culture and investment, as well as activities to
celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership in
2013. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to promote peace,
stability and mutual trust in the South China Sea, and adopted the Joint
Statement of the 15th ASEAN-China Summit on the 10th Anniversary of the
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. At the
ASEAN-India Summit, the leaders looked forward to the Commemorative Summit
to mark the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations, which would be held
in New Delhi next month.
During the ASEAN-Japan Summit, leaders reviewed the
progress of the implementation of the Plan of Action 2011-2015 to implement
the Joint Declaration for Enhancing ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership for
Prospering Together. They also explored activities to mark the 40th
anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations in 2013, including a Commemorative
Summit to be hosted by Japan next year. The ASEAN-South Korea Summit
reviewed the progress of the implementation of the ASEAN-South Korea Plan
of Action 2011-2015 to implement the Joint Declaration on Strategic
Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, and discussed ways to further
strengthen ASEAN-South Korea relations. During the 4th ASEAN-US Leaders'
Meeting, ASEAN and the United States exchanged views on regional and
international issues, and reviewed the state of ASEAN-US cooperation. The
ASEAN leaders also welcomed the US announcement of its Expanded Economic
Engagement (E3) initiative, which aims to help prepare ASEAN member states
to pursue high-standard trade agreements. At the meetings, the leaders also
encouraged the Dialogue Partners to actively support the ASEAN Community
building process and ASEAN Connectivity initiative.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 11/19/2012
TOP↑
INDONESIA: Minister Calls for Forest
Management
JAKARTA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian
Coordinating Minister for Economy, Hatta Rajasa on Friday called to boost forest
management in the country as an effort to decline deforestation. The
minister said that forest management is very important in Indonesia because
the world's attention is focused on forests. "It's all the more
important as the international community regards the forests in Kalimantan
as the lungs of the world," Hatta was quoted by Antara news wire as
saying. He explained that illegal logging activities during the beginning
of 1998 had destroyed 3.5 million hectares of forested area but the figure
could be reduced to 0.25 million hectares. "People should also be
involved in forest management so that they can gain from the economic
aspects of forests," Rajasa said. Meanwhile, Forestry Minister
Zulkifli Hasan said his office would provide funds for the development of
green areas by people. According to him, the people could borrow from the
fund to buy various kinds of trees and saplings for planting. "The
funds are allocated for development of green areas by people," Hasan
said.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/02/2012
TOP↑
LAOS:
Accepted as New WTO Member
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has accepted Laos
as a member after 15 years of negotiations, Minister of Industry and
Commerce Dr Nam Vinhaket announced yesterday. Speaking at a press
conference in Vientiane, Dr Nam said he had signed the WTO accession
protocol and would submit it to the Lao National Assembly to consider and
ratify at the end of this year. This would enable Laos to achieve full
membership in the global trading body early next year. “Laos will
automatically become a full member when the National Assembly informs the
WTO that it has ratified the protocol,” he said, adding that Laos has 180
days to complete the ratification process. An official ceremony to accept
Laos as a WTO member was held on October 26 in Geneva, Switzerland. Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith
attended the event along with Dr Nam and other Lao officials.
Dr Nam said that over the 15 years of negotiations
with WTO, “we amended over 90 laws and regulations to meet WTO
requirements”. This legislation would not only help Laos to integrate its
economy with that of the international community but would also improve the
domestic business climate. According to the World Bank and the
International Finance Corporation, Laos has improved its business landscape
this year thanks to government efforts to streamline the process of
business registration along with import and export procedures. “In a
country like the Lao PDR, the accession process is not limited to changing
some laws and regulations. We had to change our way of doing business.
Indeed, such a mind change is a difficult and time-consuming exercise.
Given the progress we have made, both institutionally, legally and in our
mindset, 15 years actually seems a very short time,” Dr Thongloun said when
speaking in Geneva. “In that period, over 90 laws and regulations were
enacted, including on trading rights, import licensing, customs valuation,
investment, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to
trade, and intellectual property rights.”
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said Laos
had come a long way since it embarked on the road to membership in 1997.
“This is never easy for any least developed country, and Laos' first steps
were slow. But it is now seriously reforming its economy and its
institutions, and has shown skill in its membership negotiations.” “The
ability to strike the deal says much about Laos' own ability, the
flexibility of WTO members who are now implementing a series of deci sions
to speed up least developed countries' accession to the WTO, the technical
assistance several of them have provided, and the invaluable mediation of
the chair of the Working Party, Ambassador Yi Xiaozhun of China,” Lamy
said.
From http://www.asianewsnet.net/ 10/30/2012
TOP↑
Myanmar,
UNICEF to Cooperate on Child Development
YANGON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar
government and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have agreed on
cooperation for the development of children in the country, official media
reported Saturday. Dr. Daw Khin San Yi, Deputy Minister for National
Planning and Economic Development, and UNICEF Resident Representative
Ramesh Shrestha, signed basic cooperation agreement (BCA) in Nay Pyi Taw
recently as the two parties view further cooperation, said the New Light of
Myanmar. The agreement covers young children survival and development,
accessibility of water, environmental cleanliness and personal hygiene,
access to basic education and gender equality, HIV/AIDS and children,
protection of children, supervision and assessment of social policy.
Myanmar and UNICEF established relations in 1950, according to UNICEF.
UNICEF has also been engaged in Myanmar's relief work based on its core
commitments to children. UNICEF works on protection of children, basic
education for children, rural health services, community water supply,
sanitation, HIV/AIDS prevention, early childhood development as well as
immunization programmes. UNICEF, founded in 1950, is the world's leading
development organization working for the well-being of children.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/10/2012
TOP↑
PHILIPPINES:
Public Support Needed to Combat Children's Malnutrition
MANILA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President
Benigno Aquino III on Friday enjoined Filipinos to work with the government
to bring down the incidence of malnutrition and meet the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) target of the United Nations. In his address
during the 2012 National Nutrition Awarding ceremony, Aquino said that
while the government has achieved a lot in fighting malnutrition, much
needs to be done to meet the MDG target of reducing the proportion of
underweight Filipino children to 13.6 percent by 2015. Based on the report
titled "Updating of the Nutritional Status of Filipinos" made by
the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the government was able to bring
down the proportion of underweight children to 20.2 percent in 2011, from
26.5 percent in 1992. Aquino said a major strategy of the Philippine
government to meet the MDG target by 2015 is to focus on the first 1,000
days of each child--from conception to two years old. He said the
government will carry out nutrition counseling for expectant mothers,
prepare them for breastfeeding, put up lactation stations and promote the
regular use of alternative milk.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
The
Philippines Launches Mobile App for Disaster Preparedness
The Department of Science and Technology
launched a mobile application based on its highly successful project called
NOAH which stands for Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards. NOAH
aims to provide reliable and authoritative information about weather
conditions in the country. It is designed to be a disaster preparedness
system to reduce loss of lives, and damages to properties due to
rain-triggered natural hazards. Now that it’s accessible via a mobile
application, Filipinos will be able to access information relevant to
current weather conditions right on the palm of their hands. “When it comes
to getting and accessing information, there is nothing more ubiquitous than
the mobile phone,” Raymund Liboro, Department of Science and Technology
project director for NOAH. A 2011 World Bank study showed that 80 per cent
of Filipino households have a mobile phone, making the application
convenient and accessible. The NOAH mobile application will initially be
available only for Android smartphones. However, its sharing options will
allow users to share information across different social media. Future
enhancements include incorporating a flood forecasting system. “This will
really help us give advance warning to residents of flood-prone areas [and]
if there is a need to evacuate,” said Vic Malano, Deputy Aadministrator of
the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services.
From http://www.futuregov.asia/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
THAILAND:
Police Fight Crime Using Social Network
Metropolitan Police Division 4, Thailand
has recently launched ‘Smart Police Social Network’ project to encourage
police officers to use social networking in their work, and leverage CCTV
and IPCAM to improve performance and efficiency. “I have used LINE and encouraged my
subordinates to do so too,” said Metropolitan Police Division 4 Commander
Major General Naiyawat Padermchit. LINE is a free communication application
famous in Thailand. Maj Gen
Padermchit has eight stations under his jurisdiction and he has encouraged
them to adopt the LINE in sharing crime information. “It would be easier
for police to track down culprits,” he added. Maj Gen Padermchit believed
that social-networking would become an important channel in communicating
and engaging with the citizen, given that a great growing number of people
now engage in social network via their smart phones. Also, police officers
from eight police stations will be trained to integrate new technology such
as CCTV, IPCAM, and variety of social networking to communicate and conduct
real-time crime report directly to the command war room of the Metropolitan
Police Division 4 for a more efficiency in making decision on any critical
situations. Hua Mark police station—one of eight police station under Maj
Gen Padermchit’s command— started Facebook pilot project in May last year,
and received an overwhelming response, said Pol Senior Sgt Major Sombat
Wamahaisri who has been in charge of the station’s Facebook project. “Our
fanpage has more than one-million views and thousands of supporters,” he
disclosed the popularity of the police’s fanpage given than it has existed
for only a little over a year. Major Wamahaisri said that the Smart Police
Social Network project has been inspired greatly from the success of this
Facebook fanpage. Maj Gen Padermchit said this Facebook page had
efficiently facilitated communications between police and local people, and
allowed the Hua Mark police station to get many useful tip-offs.
From http://www.futuregov.asia/ 11/05/2012
TOP↑
Thailand
Prevents Forest Encroachment with GIS Map
Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has
recently introduced ‘DSI Map’ for wider use among public agencies and
citizens across the country to fight against forest encroachment and avoid
land conflict in the country. Developed by Map and Geo-Informatics
Operation Centre under the DSI’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and
Environment Crime, DSI Map is an online mapping portal created based on
data provided by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. “Anyone
with an access to internet can use and benefit from the map data provided
on DSI Map. They only need to have GPS location data and search it on the
programme,” said Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongseenin, Director Bureau of Consumer
Protection and Environment Crime, the DSI. He also added that the mapping
data from the DSI Map will also come with relevant basic information
attached to that plot of land such as reserved forest area noticfication.
“This will help prevent forest encroachment and put an end to land conflict
over the land owned by citizens that is close to the conserved area,” he
says.
The previous version of DSI Map was a
closed programme used by the DSI only before it decided to further develop
the programme into a more user friendly and make it accessible freely over
internet for public and local government to use. “People can now search for
the area information easily and fast as well as receiving accurate and
official information related to the land to avoid conflict,” he said.
Forest encroachment is a major problem Thailand has been confronting. One
of the core causes of the problem derived from unclear boundaries between
the conservation forest and private owned area. To prove the right over the
area takes long time and complicated process in which this inefficiency has
put a lot of injustice to many cases at the court, Pol Lt Col Wongseenin
explained. “This programme together with the basic law on conservative
forest will prevent citizen to encroach into the preserved forest as well
as preventing illegal commercial activities to happen over prohibited area.
At the same time, it will empower people to keep an eye on inappropriate
activities conducted by government officers,” he said. The DSI planned to
promote the wider use of DSI Map to local authorities and citizens in the
relevant areas, and has provided series of training to officers in Ministry
of Justice, local leaders, and citizens in the North East, and the South.
From http://www.futuregov.asia/ 11/08/2012
TOP↑
Thailand
to Introduce Smarter Police Manikins for Traffic Control
Thailand’s Metropolitan Police Bureau will
introduce Smart Police Manikins with 3G
and hidden CCTVs by end of November at critical traffic locations across
the capital. ‘Police Sergeant Cheoy’—Police Manikins whose name means
‘Still’ are widely used and positioned at critical traffic locations in
Bangkok as part of an effort to alert and remind road commuters to respect
traffic regulation. The new and smarter version of Police Sergeant Cheoy is
equipped with new technology of hidden CCTV network with facial recognition
system to detect driver faces, and car identification number more
efficiently. With 3G
technology and Wi Fi connection, Police Sergeant Cheoy will also be able to
transact data to the Traffic Control and Command Centre. Meanwhile, Thai
Traffic Police will be able to access an internet connection with Wi Fi at
395 intersections across Bangkok. The effort will enable real-time feed of
traffic information. Starting last week, traffic police booth at Phaya Thai
intersection was the first to be equipped with Wi-Fi internet connection as
part of “Smart Police” project—a collaborative effort launched by
Metropolitan Police, National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre,
3BB Wi-Fi and the Thai Intelligent Transport Systems Association. Each
police booth at 395 intersections across the capital will be equipped with
webcams to provide a real-time feed of traffic to the Traffic Control and
Command centre, allowing video conferencing as part of an effort to
leverage technology to resolve unexpected traffic problems. “Wi Fi
connection will allow police to leverage devices and technology more
efficiently as well as to send and receive real time traffic situation and
be able to solve traffic problem on time,” said Metropolitan Police Bureau
Deputy Chief Pol Maj Gen Worasak Nopsithiporn. He also added that the Wi Fi
is sponsored free of charge by private sector. “With the connection, the
police will be able to look out for stolen vehicles via a license-plate
detection system,” he inserted.
From http://www.futuregov.asia/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
BANGLADESH: Linking Food Security to
Climate Change
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proposed
the launching of a wide ranging agricultural research initiative under Asia-Europe
Meeting Summit (ASEM). This, she said, would help increase food production,
considering a precarious future in the area of food security, especially in
the light of climate change.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was speaking
during a discussion on global issues on the concluding day of the two-day
ninth Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in the Lao capital yesterday.
"Considering the importance of food security in today’s and future
world, we would like to propose the initiative covering the whole of the agriculture
sector," she said.
Considering the importance of food security in today’s
and future world, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for
launching of an ASEM-wide research initiative covering the whole of the
agriculture sector. “On food security, agriculture in its totality must be
at the center-stage of our agenda. Focus should be on supporting research,
in conventional and in new areas connected to climate change mitigation and
adaptation efforts,” she said. The Prime Minister also urged the Asia
Europe leaders to work to add more value to the progress achieved in the
global negotiation process, plan and declarations to address the climate
change issue to save the humanity.
Urging development partners to live up to their commitments
of delivering additional resources to adapt to and mitigate the adverse
impacts of climate change, the Prime Minister sought to dispell the
confussion between ‘development finance’ and ‘climate change support’. “In
climate change discourse, technology transfer and funding support are
critical. Climate change support must not be confused with development
finance," she said. "Our development partners must honour their
commitments - the resources should be new and additional.”. Stressing the
need for having clarity on mobilisation of funds or, operation of climate
funds, - particularly with the ending of the ‘fast start finance’ this
year, Hasina said a legally-binding document is also required to be
concluded at the earliest - based on ‘equity’ and ‘common but
differentiated responsibilities.’
Terming climate change and food security two most
critical issues and inter-related ones, the premier said, “Both are
important for our survival, sustenance and prosperity in Bangladesh, in
Asia and the world. In recent times, there have been many regional and
global plans and declarations. While these processes are going on, let’s
think how much value we can add to them from within the ASEM.” She said
that there is enough compelling science-based evidence to establish that
climate change is real as it is known that connection between the rise in
temperature and the loss of labour productivity. In terms of dollar, she
said, climate change means a loss of 1 percent of global GDP with
potentiality to rise to three percent. To face the crises, Hasina observed
that the adaptation costs are rising as today; what is possible with US 100
billion, would cost 10 times more in 2030. “The world is aware of the
disastrous fallout of climate change impacts on countries like Bangladesh,”
she said.
Although countries like Bangladesh are least
responsible for climate change, the premier said, her country is doing its
best to resolutely face the challenge. “We are committed to a low carbon
development path and have decided never to exceed the average per capita
emission of the developing countries. It is indeed time for us all to
consider acting positively on our volition - in the interest of our ‘today’
as much as for our ‘tomorrow.’ As agreed at Rio-plus 20, Hasina said the Sustainable
Development Goals must be based on economic, social, and environmental
pillars. “We must now ensure how the multiplicity of voices and concerns
are best secured.” PM said climate change stands to adversely affect
agriculture with an alarming fall in food production, particularly major
cereals like rice, wheat and maize. “In Bangladesh, our loss due to climate
change is about 2 per cent of our annual GDP. With all damages together,
our total loss could be 3 to 4 per cent of our GDP,” she added.
From http://southasia.oneworld.net/ 11/06/2012
TOP↑
INDIA: e-Gov Capacity Building Workshop in
J&K
A 2-day workshop on ‘Capacity Building Measures on
Urban Development and e-Governance’ started on Monday in Jammu &
Kashmir. The workshop has been organized by the Ministry of Urban
Development and Poverty Alleviation.Ms. Neesha Singh, Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Urban and Development and Poverty Alleviation, GoI was the
guest of honour at the workshop. Mr. I P Gautam, Principal Secretary, Urban
Development and Housing, Government of Gujarat was also present to share
his experiences on implementation of e-Governance in Guajrat.The workshop
has been organized by the Ministry of
UD & PA in collaboration with the Regional Capacity Building Hub
(RCBH), CEPT University Ahmadabad and Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC)
under JnNURM, was also attended
by the officers of SMC, SDA, Directorate of ULB including other engineering
departments.
In his inaugural address the Commissioner,
SMC Dr G N Qasba expressed his gratitude to the dignitaries. He said civic
body spread over 240 sq kms with 12 lakh population is contemplating to
provide civic facilities at the doorsteps of its citizens. He hailed the role
of Principal Secretary H & UDD Suresh Kumar as the one who is keen and
interested to upgrade the E-Governance for the benefit and facilities of
City dwellers.He expressed thanks to all participants and speakers. On the
occasion, Neesha Singh assured that there shall be no constraint of funds
for capacity building measures and e-Governance. “It has been decided that henceforth
capacity building measures will be the domain of state government and funds
shall be released with certain financial parameters by the government of
India,” the press release said.
From http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 11/06/2012
TOP↑
Controlling System Operations of Power
Transmission
The Indian power sector has the third
largest transmission network in the world. APTRANSCO is the second largest
T&D network in the country.Improving network performance is the key
priority of APTRANSCO. Post reforms transmission losses have reduced from 9
percent to 4.22 percent during
2011-12 and the lowest amongst state utilities in the country. Transmission
losses during 2012-13 up to July 2012 is 4.02 percent. Transmission system
availability (99.89 percent) in Andhra Pradsh is the highest among trans-
mission utilities in the country. The
failure rate of Power Transformers is 1.53 percent. This has been
achieved by continuous monitoring of power transformers. APTRANSCO is sing latest technologies like Multi Circuit Towers,
INVAR Conductor, Monopole, Gas Insulated Substations and UG Cables to
increase he transmission
capability. APTRANSCO is currently responsible for strengthening, expanding
and controlling the state’s transmission infrastructure at voltage levels of
132 kV and above. It also handles load dispatching operations.
Honours
and awards
In recognition of excellent performance, Central Electricity
Authority (CEA), Ministry of Power (MoP), New Delhi, has conferred on
APTRANSCO the award of “Gold Shield for the year 2010-11” in the category of “Early
Completion of Transmission Projects” for the fastest completion of
Transmission project of 400 KV Double Circuit (DC) line from Kothagudem
Thermal Power Station (Stage-VI) to Khammam Substation in a record time of
17 months as against the CEA norm of 24 months.CEA has hailed APTRANSCO as
one of the best power utilities in the Country. APTRANSCO was chosen for
excellence in “Cost Management Award” by a Jury headed by Justice S. Varma,
Former Chief Justice of Hon’ble Supreme Court for achieving various
economic and efficiency measures. APTRANSCO adjudged as the Joint winner of
prestigious “5th Enertia Award under Best Performance Utility – State
Category” for its continuous excellence in the areas of loss reduction and
transmission system availability. APTRANSCO awarded “National Vigilance
Excellence Award” for the year 2011 at all India level among various banks,
PSUs and other ministries for vigilance activity under preventive vigilance
by the Vigilance Commissioner, Central Vigilance Commission.
IT
initiatives
Various IT initiatives have been taken up to improve the
performance and bring in transparency and accountability. These include CAT
(Consumer Analysis Tool), MATS (Monitoring and Tracking System), TIMS
(Transformer Information Management System), PMRS (Performance Monitoring
and Reporting System), Book consolidation Module and Remote Meter Reading
(RMR) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). e-Vaaradhi, an electronic way to
reach electricity consumers for passing the messages relating to billing information,
power shutdown information, etc. through SMS is introduced.The Department
is in the process of having charters and service standards for all the
services rendered at all levels. APTRANSCO has also adopted many
technologies for minimising losses in the transmission system. These
include:
•
Erection of Reactors at 400 KV Substation
• Reduction in the
length of the transmission line
• Conducting Study
Flow wherever the power factor is less than 0.95 and erecting Capacitor
Banks at the Substation to improve the power factor
• Conducting Energy
Auditing regularly to reduce losses like replacing struck meters, curbing
theft of energy, requesting discoms to install Capacitor Banks
• Strengthening the
transmission system.
Policies adopted by Andhra Pradesh Government to make the state
self-sufficient in electricity
• Additional power
is tied up and flowing in to the grid.
• Power is being
purchased through power exchanges as and when available at a reasonable
rate.
• Synchronisation to
private power plants are given immediately to add additional capacity to
the grid.
• Government of
India has been requested to consider the allocation of additional power
till end of May 2013 to meet the present critical power crisis.
•
Government of India has been requested to arrange additional natural gas of
4.5 MMSCMD, so that gas plants can operate at least 75 percent PLF as
decided by EGoM.
• Government of
India has been requested to allocate power from unallocated share of
Central Generating Stations of Southern Region upto 500 MW. Against this,
Ministry of Power, Government of India allocated 100 MW of power from
Central Generating Stations of Eastern Region from 30.07.2012 to
31.10.2012.
• Government of India
has been requested to allocate power from unallocated Power of 300 MW from
the Kundankulam Atomic Power
Plant and 75 MW from 2nd expansion of Neyveli Lignite Corporation of firm
basis to Andhra Pradesh.
• AP discoms are not
in a position to purchase any quantum of power other than already tied up
due to severe transmission corridor constraint between NEW (North, East,
West) Grid and Southern Grid. PGCIL was requested to expedite the laying of
transmission corridor and to get the lines completed by the end of 2013.
• Government of
India has been requested to ensure that firm coal supply should be
maintained to all units of Simhadri as per Fuel Supply Agreement to operate
at 100 percent PLF. • NTPC has been requested to start generation of
Simhadri 4th unit at the earliest so that another 210 MW power can be
supplied to Andhra Pradesh as per obligations.
• Ministry of New
and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed to fund 40 percent of the
expenditure to be borne for creating transmission, evacuation network for wind and solar
energy. In this connection proposals were already submitted for
transmission and evacuation scheme of 3,150 MW of power costing about
`1,830 crore out of which 40 percent amount i.e. `732 crore is to be
released by MNRE.
e-Governance
system
e-Governance system links development goals, policies,
priorities, plans, programmes, projects, budgets, action plans and
performance owards achieving
the desired objectives. The system involves performance indicators,
performance monitoring, performance measurement, performance-based
evaluation, performance-based review and evidence-based policy-making.
Performance monitoring is a continuous process of collecting and analysing
data to compare how well a project, programme or policy is being implemented
with reference to expected results.APTRANSCO has implemented an efficient
e-Procurement System, which connects buyers and suppliers through
electronic exchange of tenders, catalogues, contracts, POs, invoices, etc.
Through e-Procurement, APTRANSCO can include on-contract and off-contract
buying. It can also include a variety of techniques such as RFPs, quotes,
auctions and reverse auctions. Notification of tenders can be received,
bids can be submitted online and the status of the different bids can be
tracked seamlessly
From http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
Building e-Governance Infrastructure
“The long term focus of KSITM will be on creating an
integrated e-Gov platform wherein the services provided by various
government departments and agencies will get integrated into an unified
system,” says Dr Jayasankar Prasad, Director, Kerala State IT Mission. Please give
us an overview of the ways by which KSITM is facilitating the development
of e-Governance in the state of Kerala. What is the vision under which
KSITM has been created by the state government? Kerala State Information
Technology Mission (KSITM) was formed as a nodal agency for implementation
of the various initiatives under the IT department. KSITM has been piloting
various IT related and IT enabled services /projects in the state since its
inception in 1999. The mission has successfully undertaken the e-Governance
initiatives in the state and has kept the state at par with other states in
India.In your opinion what are the most landmark projects undertaken by
KSITM? What kind of response are your e-Governance projects seeing from the
common citizens?
The most prominent of the project undertaken by KSITM over
the years are the State Data Centre, Kerala State Wide Area Network
(KSWAN), e-Krishi, e-Procurement, State Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG),
Mobile Service Delivery Platform, Sutharya Keralam, Digital Workflow
System, Entegramam – My Village, Fast Reliable Instant Effective Network
for Disbursement of Services (FRIENDS), Service and Payroll Administrative
Repository for Kerala (SPARK), etc. Though the efforts made in e-Enabling
the government departments have resulted in the creation of standalone back-ends,
digital work flows and service delivery channels, the expectations of the
citizens, connected with e-Government, a “one government view” has not been
metfully. KSITM today focusses on consolidating and integrating the various
applications and systems across the government to ensure a seamless
delivery of services to the citizen. The long-term focus of KSITM will be
on creating an integrated e-Gov platform wherein the services provided by
various government departments and agencies will get integrated into an
unified system. The intention is to make all government interactions,
information and transaction services, available electronically through a
single access point, for all the users (citizens, CSC operators, government
employees, resident and non resident Keralites, visitors and business). The
integration and standardisation and consolidation of all government
systems, infrastructure and processes is a vital step in that direction.
This in turn will lead to increased availability, accessibility, productivity
and effectiveness of electronic delivery of public services, increases the
efficiency of the government and also trustworthiness, transparency,
traceability, security and privacy of data.
The state of Kerala has implemented Akshaya for
bridging the digital divide. How effective is this initiative being at the
ground level? What is the situation of digital divide in the state? Akshaya
is acting as an agency to bridge the digital divide and for delivery of
services to the door step of the citizen as a friendly face of the
government. Akshaya network with more than 2000+ Akshaya Centres is
available all across the state at the rate of two per panchayat. It is
ubiquitous,networked, competent and scalable to deliver all sorts of
citizen services. Kerala with its high literacy and ICT penetration has
bridged the divide to a great extent and the well spread out Akshaya
centres which is a unique network of local entrepreneurs is playing its
part in the scheme of things.
Majority of India still speaks in local languages.
What steps are you taking to ensure that there is support for Malayalam
language in e-Governance systems? The flavour of the mother tongue and the
need to provide requisite information and services using the official
language led to the project called Malayalam computing. This is an
initiative for creating capacity and content in the local language,
Malayalam. The broad objectives of the project are to strengthen local
language, Malayalam, using the possibilities provided by Information and
Communication Technologies and to address the linguistic barrier which
prevents the people of Kerala from tapping the new technologies. Government
departments are encouraged to use the Malayalam fonts/language for
communication even through the digital media, interfaces for the same are
available in the digital file flow systems and applications. Further
developments in the area of mobile based Malayalam computing, etc. are in
the pipeline.
Security is an area of concern for every
online system, with incidences of hacking being on the rise. What steps is
KSITM taking to ensure that the e-Governance systems, where lots of private
information on the citizens are stored, are being kept up to date?
Government of Kerala felt the need for setting up of Computer Emergency
Response Team-Kerala (CERT-K) to actively coordinate with CERT-India
(CERT-IN) to ensure cyber security in the state and the team works as a
special project of the KSITM. The team looks into awareness creation,
security audits and proactive and reactive measures with respect to cyber
threats on the government websites and applications.
From http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 11/10/2012
TOP↑
International Co-operation Necessary to Track
Corruption and Recover Assets CBI Special Director
KOLKATA: The need of the hour is to build
international co-operation among law enforcement agencies to battle global
corruption and recover assets, V K Gupta, special director, CBI said at the
2nd Interpol Global Programme on Anti Corruption and Asset Recovery in New
Delhi on Monday. The theme of the programme is "Corruption - A Multi
Jurisdictional Investigation". It is being attended by over 29
participants from the Maldives, Malaysia, Fiji, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and India. Senior Interpol officers are also
participating in the programme.
Gupta inaugurated the conference and said that
corruption has taken centrestage in many countries and emerged as the most
important issue concerning polity and public life. According to him, the
battle against global corruption has to be fought at many levels. "The
design of any government's development programme should provide more
transparency and accountability. Systems and procedures which are opaque,
complicated, centralized and discretionary are a fertile breeding ground
for the evil of corruption. Countries need to engage with each at different
levels to effectively block all physical escape routes for fugitives who
are blatantly indulging in corrupt practices," the special director
said.
CBI special director K Saleem Ali said that asset
recovery and impounding of proceeds of corruption is extremely important.
According to him, this is one factor that really hits those indulging in corrupt
activities. "An 'ethical ambience' is required in society which
promotes transparency, accountability and equitable distribution of powers
to combat the menace of corruption," he said. Additional director R K
Dutta said that new sophisticated and ingenuous methods are being adopted
by those indulging in corruption, to transfer proceeds of crime to various
countries through dubious channels. He said that there is a need for law
enforcement agencies to equip themselves with updated knowledge, skills and
techniques to fight corruption.
The five-day Interpol Global programme,
being organized by the CBI, will have over 14 sessions to be addressed by
experts from Interpol, CBI, NIA, FBI, World Bank, Europol, CFSL and other
law enforcement organizations. Some of the issues to be dealt with include
Role of international Organizations in Asset Recovery, Active Vs Passive
Bribery, Intelligence Collection in Anti-Corruption Cases & Asset
Recovery, Detection, Investigation and Prosecution of Corruption in Exploitation
of Natural Resources, Computer Forensics, and issues in mutual legal
assistance and extradition in asset tracking and recovery. The CBI, the
Interpol's National Central Bureau in India, had organized the first such
Interpol Global programme in February, 2012.
From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ 11/19/2012
TOP↑
Study to Explore Feasibility of Free and
Open Source Software in E-Gov
New Delhi: Trivandrum–based International Centre for
Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS) and the Indian Institute of
Management – Bangalore will jointly conduct a study on the use of free and
open source software in e-Governance.The study, to be completed in 18
months, will cover the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar and Uttar
Pradesh, Lead Researcher of the joint study Rahul De said.The study would
bring out the extent to which free and open source software is used in
government projects, and assess the economics of its use, an ICFOSS statement
said.
“There is still wide variation between different
states in the deployment of free and open source software.,” De,
Hewlett-Packard Chair professor in Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) for Sustainable Economic Development, IIM – Bangalore, said.Besides a
cost advantage, free and open source software comes with other advantages
too — user licenses are liberal, and users are free to customise
software.“With the 2012 Government of India Software Policy providing
explicit support for free and open source software, it becomes imperative
for e-Government applications to consider it,” Rahul De said.
From http://egov.eletsonline.com/ 11/20/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
AZERBAIJAN: First Satellite to Be Launched
in Early February 2013
Regional communication commonwealth (RCC) is expanding
mutually beneficial cooperation between communication administrations in
the field of networking and communication equipment, information
technologies and governing the radio frequency spectrum, Azerbaijani Deputy
Prime Minister Abid Sharifov said at the 47th joint meeting of the council
of heads of RCC communication administrations and 18th Coordination Council
of the CIS member states for Informatization under the RCC. He said that
the organisation contributes to a fruitful cooperation with the
International Telecommunication Union and the Universal Postal Union. The
Baku meeting of RCC heads of communication administrations will give a
positive impetus to the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation of the
member states. "Real GDP in Azerbaijan has increased threefold for the
last seven to eight years in the industrial sector fourfold, in agriculture
- by 1.3 times, in the construction sector by 3.1 times and in transport
and ICT threefold," Sharifov said. He said that around $102 billion
has been drawn since 2004 to develop the economy from all sources of
funding. Around 49.8 per cent were financed from domestic sources. During
this period, around $38.1 billion was invested in the oil and gas sector
and more than $60 billion was transferred to the non-oil sector, as well as
to develop the financial sector of the economy. During these years, the
population's income increased by 5.3 times, the average salary by 4.7 times
and the minimum salary - 10.4 times. The poverty rate declined from 44.7
per cent in 2004 to 7.6 per cent in 2011. During this period, the number of
enterprises has doubled. "At present, telecommunications services and
information technologies are rapidly developing in Azerbaijan, as well as
throughout the world, today," he said. "Azerbaijan holds leading
positions on certain types of communications. Around 65 Internet users and
30 broadband Internet users fall to every 100 people." He said that
one of the most important achievements is to lay telephone lines in all
areas and to electrify the entire telephone network later. The mobile
sector of the Republic is also developing dynamically. At present, around
110 mobile phones fall to every 100 people in the country. This is higher
than the average level. "The first Azerbaijani telecommunications satellite
will be launched in early February 2013," he said. "The satellite
coverage area will include Europe, Asia, Africa and the countries of the
Economic Cooperation Organisation. The telecommunications satellite
services will enhance cooperation among the ECO member states."
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/05/2012
TOP↑
High-Tech Park to Be Established in
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a
decree on the establishment of the High Technology Park in the country.
According to the decree, the "High-tech Park" is a territory
which has the necessary infrastructure, material and technical basis,
management structures for preparation of new and high technologies,
research in the field of energy efficiency, space and telecommunications,
information technology and communications. Joint organization of events by
the Ministries of Communication and Information Technology, Economic
Development, Education, and the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan
should be ensured. LLC "High Tech Park" is being established
under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for the
organization and management of the Park. Reorganization and (or) the abolition
of the company is executed by the President of Azerbaijan. The Cabinet of
Ministers is instructed to ensure the transfer of 30 ha territory of superphosphate
plant, which is subordinated to Azerkimya of SOCAR, to the company, and
inform the President about it. The Ministry of Taxes and the State
Committee for Property Affairs is instructed to take measures for the state
registration of the LLC High Tech Park. The Cabinet of Ministers is
instructed to periodically inform the President of Azerbaijan on the work
done in connection with the execution of the decree.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/05/2012
TOP↑
International Internet Governance Forum
Opens in Azerbaijan (PHOTO)
Azerbaijan is rapidly developing, as well as in the
field of the Internet, Deputy Communication and IT Minister Elmir Valizade
said at the opening of the Seventh International Internet Governance Forum
(IGF) in Baku on Monday. "The Internet is a very fast dynamic for our
country," he said. "The investments in this area are increasing
year on year. While examining the figures of developing the Internet
infrastructure, one can see that Azerbaijan holds one of the leading places
in the region. The price for the Internet service is the same throughout
the country and everyone has access." He said that a good example is
the number of mobile phones which exceed population numbers. These phones
are also used to access the Internet. He added that Azerbaijan is
constantly decreasing prices on the internet and its infrastructure is
rapidly growing. "Our citizens have been able to use an electronic
signature since 2011," he said. "This also facilitates the
development of an electronic government. Currently, around 40 ministries
are working with an electronic signature." He also stressed that the
Trans-Eurasian Information Superhighway project opens up great
opportunities for Azerbaijan. "The Republic is working to improve the
situation with the Internet in the future," he said. "We have an
absolutely free Internet. Every citizen is free to express an opinion on
the Internet. Our government is fully focused to improve the situation in
the future."
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/05/2012
TOP↑
Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan Establish Air Links
Azerbaijan and
Kyrgyzstan have signed an agreement on a new air service, Azerbaijani State
Civil Aviation Administration's website reported on Monday. The parties
coordinated a draft agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan and
Kyrgyzstan, on air service and signed the relevant bilateral document
during negotiations held in Bishkek. 'The legal framework has been set to
begin carrying regular passenger and cargo flights between the two countries',
the report says. The Azerbaijani side was represented in the negotiations
by representatives of Silk Way Airlines and the Azerbaijani Embassy in
Kyrgyzstan.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/19/2012
TOP↑
Azerbaijani Communications Ministry Makes
Efforts to Reduce Roaming Costs
Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and
Information Technologies is taking the necessary steps to reduce the cost
of roaming services, the ministry told Trend on Monday. According to the
ministry, at present in some cases, Azerbaijani citizens are facing
problems whilst using roaming services abroad. The problems include both
the costs and the quality of the GSM-service operators which are yet to be
improved. The main task in solving these problems is to achieve a consensus
on the interconnection costs while staying connected to the guest network.
According to the ministry, the quality of network to deliver voice traffic
is also an important issue which should be clearly negotiated during the
signing of a contract between operators. "Today we have opportunities
both to improve the quality and to further reduce costs for this type of
service. The settlement of the roaming issue is currently being negotiated
between the ministry and mobile operators," the ministry said. Service
providers are often put under pressure by the ministry to resolve these
issues. Because of this, a phased reduction of tariffs has been reached
over the last year. Reduction of roaming costs is being monitored for
countries accounting for the bulk of traffic which are mainly Russia,
Turkey and Iran. According to the ministry, tariff reductions can only take
place through the cooperation of operators. Today Azerbaijani mobile
operators have a roaming agreement with hundreds of foreign operators.
Tariffs of foreign operators and their expenses provided to Azerbaijani
operators are being considered in the formation of tariffs. Ultimately the
final price is determined for example at 1 or 1.5 manat per minute which
does not allow operators to reduce tariffs below a set level. Azerbaijani
mobile operators are not able to reduce roaming tariffs unilaterally.
Therefore, it is very important to continue the negotiations in this
direction. Mutual agreements have already been reached with operators from
Russia, CIS countries, Turkey and the UK, resulting in a 20 to 30 per cent
reduction becoming possible in some directions. This process is to be
continued.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/21/2012
TOP↑
Satellite Technologies Presented in
Azerbaijan’s Oil and Gas Sphere
Azerkosmos under the Azerbaijani Ministry
of Communications and Information Technologies has informed SOCAR's Ecology
Department about the use of satellite technologies in oil and gas and
solving environmental issues, the company said today. According to the
report, the participants were informed about the necessary technical means,
software, and functions to receive information and space data. Azerspace-1,
the launch of which is expected in early 2013, is geostationary and will be
located at an altitude of 36,000 kilometres providing Azerbaijan with many
channels. In the coming days, the results of an Azerkosmos tender for
launching low orbit satellites will be revealed. The satellite will be used
for remote sensing of the earth, mapping and geological studies. Its launch
is expected in 2014. SOCAR includes the Azneft production association (the
companies producing oil and gas on and offshore), the Azerkimya industrial
association (chemical enterprises) and Azerigaz industrial association (gas
distribution).
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/21/2012
TOP↑
KAZAKHSTAN: To Create New Model of Labor Relations
Kazakhstan will create a new model of
labor relations, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan
Serik Abdenov said at the IV Economic Big Business Forum
Expert-100-Kazakhstan. "A new model of labor relations, based on the
principles of decent work, will be created by the order of the President.
First of all the matter is about establishing a decent dialogue between the
employee and the employer," Abdenov said. He noted that at present,
the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is working on a bill relating to
the activities of trade unions and the working partnership. "In
addition the map of social risks is created and the work over the map of
social tension is being carried out. We as a state agency try to prevent
conflicts," he said. He added that actions are held in Kazakhstan due
to non-payment of wages mainly in the construction industry - 76 percent,
and conflicts due to dissatisfaction with the salary mainly in the oil and
gas industry. "So, today, wage arrears in Kazakhstan is 1 billion 37
million tenge ($ 1 - 150 tenge), and it refers to several thousand
employees. This debt is for three months. So families did not receive
income for three months," the minister said.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/07/2012
TOP↑
Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan Elected to UN
Economic and Social Council
The UN General Assembly has elected Turkmenistan and
Kyrgyzstan to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2013-2015, the UN
News Centre said. The Economic and Social Council was established by a
United Nations charter as the principal body responsible for coordinating
the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialised agencies, nine
functional commissions and five regional commissions. The council serves as
the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues
and formulating recommendations toward the policy for member states and the
UN system. It is responsible for: * Promoting higher standards of living,
full employment, and economic and social progress; * Determining the
methods of resolving international problems in economic, social and health
services; * Promoting international cooperation in the field of culture and
education; * Promoting the universal respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. In general, around 18 ECOSOC members were elected at
the last UN General Assembly. It comprises Albania, Croatia, the
Netherlands, Canada, San Marino, United States, Bolivia, Colombia, Haiti,
Benin, Mauritius, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Nepal and Kuwait. Around 54
countries are involved in the council's activity. The General Assembly
elects them, renewing the board by a third annually. Places are distributed
in the following way: 14 seats fall to African countries, 11 - Asian
countries, six - Eastern European States, 10 - Latin American and Caribbean
countries and 13 Western European and other countries. Ashgabat has
previously announced such initiatives as the creation of the UN Energy
Council to resolve the problems of the international energy supply and
concrete proposals to resolve the situation in Afghanistan. The UN Regional
Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia has been operating on a
permanent basis in Ashgabat.
From http://en.trend.az/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
Pacific Looks to 'Asian
Century' Report for Tips
Pacific Island nations have begun
analysing the findings of the Australian government's 'Asian Century' White
Paper on developing closer ties with Asia. According to a 2011 ANZ report,
most Pacific exports to China currently come from PNG with a small
proportion from Solomon Islands. In 2010 the region had a trade surplus of
$US457m with China,
and it has been working to increase that and to expand into other Asian
markets. The White Paper unveiled by Australia's Prime Minister Julia
Gillard on Sunday explains that within a few years Asia will be the world's
largest producer of goods and services, and the world's largest consumer.
"The Pacific Islands very much are looking themselves at their market
and trading and political opportunities in Asia," Dr Paul Barker,
director of the Institute of National Affairs think tank in Papua New
Guinea, told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program. "The Pacific
Islands will be doing the same thing and exploring their Asian opportunities,
and I'm sure they'll all be looking closely at this White Paper to see what
ideas and lessons there are for them." The White Paper argues that the
so-called 'Asian century' is "an Australian opportunity" and lays
out Australia's aspirations for closer ties on trade, education and
security. Dr Barker says the Pacific Islands are unlikely to
"begrudge" Australia's focus on Asia, but said "there would
be a concern that the Pacific shouldn't be left out of the process."
From http://www.radioaustralia.net.au 10/30/2012
TOP↑
AUSTRALIA: Giving $100m
to Fight Malaria
Australia's government has committed
$AU100 million over the next four years to malaria prevention and treatment
around the world. Australia's Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, told the 'Malaria
2012: Saving Lives in the Asia Pacific' conference in Sydney that his
government would commit $AU100 million over the next four years to malaria
prevention and treatment around the world. The funding was announced by
Australia's Foreign Minister, Bob Carr at the 'Malaria 2012: Saving Lives
in the Asia Pacific' conference in Sydney this morning. "Sixty-four
percent of the population of the Asia Pacific are vulnerable to malaria,"
Senator Carr said. "It stalks the land and we have got an opportunity
to eliminate it." He said that $AU14.5 million of the funding would go
towards researching a new strain of drug-resistant malaria found in the
Mekong Basin.
Funding
gap
Another $AU20 million will go to providing treatments,
mosquito nets and rapid diagnostic tests for Australia's close neighbours,
including the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. Recent
research from Australia's Burnet Institute found these countries had some
of the highest incidences of malaria, but were least able to deal with the
disease. Dr Jimmie Rodgers, the director-general of the Secretariat of the
Pacific Community, was at the conference and told Radio Australia's Pacific
Beat program that many Pacific countries were increasingly struggling to
fund malaria eradication initiatives. He explained that in the last 20
years the incidences of malaria had been reduced from 500 per 1,000 head of
population to less than 50
in Solomon Islands, and from 200 per 1,000 head of
population to about 25 in
Vanuatu. "But the funding gap needs to be filled because if its not,
there is a possibility that the gains made in these two countries will be
stagnant or could actually be reversed," Dr Jimmie Rodgers warned.
Good
example
The United Nations has praised Australia's announcement, saying its
commitment to the global fight against malaria is exemplary. "We have
been so impressed by what we've seen over the last several days," Ray
Chambers, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for malaria, said.
"I think what we've started here with Australia's leadership we'll see
be emulated throughout the rest of the world."
From http://www.radioaustralia.net.au 11/02/2012
TOP↑
FIJI: Water Foundation Assists Rural Children
Children
who live in isolated rural communities often find it difficult to attend
school and receive an education because of irregular or non-existent public
transport services. Such was the case for 25 primary school children living
in villages from as far as Bukuya, not accessible by daily or reliable
transportation, who wanted to attend the Navala Catholic School in Ba. But
with the opening of a new dormitory at the school by Fiji Water CEO
Rokoseru Nabalarua, Wednesday, the opportunity for an education has become
a reality for these children. With the assistance of a Fiji Water
Foundation grant of $52,000 (US$29,200) for all material and labour costs,
the new building has a dormitory room, two family rooms and a dining room.
In his address at the opening ceremony, Nabalarua said that access to
education was a human right, and the new dormitory provides safe and
quality living quarters for the children, “their home away from home”.
An architect’s survey in 2010 revealed
that the previously existing facility was beyond repair, with the only
option being to knock the whole structure down and rebuild. With a licensed
carpenter from Navala village at the helm, construction began in March
2011, and he, along with fathers of children attending the school,
completed construction of the dormitory in July 2012, despite setbacks due
to unfavourable weather conditions including flooding of the only access
road. Nabalarua said that the opening of the dormitory sees Navala School
and its students join the more than 100 educational institutions and 30,000
students of all ages already assisted by the FIJI Water Foundation, a part
of the contribution that the Foundation is committed to making in giving
back to the Community.
From http://www.islandsbusiness.com/ 11/01/2012
TOP↑
Fiji’s New Minimum Wage Rates Announced
Fiji’s Minister
for Labour, lndustrial Relations and Employment, Jone Usamate has
promulgated the 2012 new minimum wage rates and conditions for workplaces
covered under the ten (10) Wages Regulations Orders (WROs) effective from
31 October 2012. The Minister said Government's commitment to ensure social
justice prevails for workers and thanked the employers for their
understanding in reaching the new rates after the respective Wages Councils
adopted a productivity-based wage criterion in reviewing the initial rates
proposed by the Councils. Minister Usamate said this was the time in the
history of Fiji that Government has introduced a productivity-based wage
system for the ten sectors covered under the WROs, which also accounts for
the cost of living component. He appealed to all employers to honor their
moral and legal responsibilities to their workers by fully complying with
the new wage rates and minimum conditions under the 2012 WROs.
He also reminded them to continuously
improve their levels of productivity by adopting modern business practices
and to invest in the quality training of their workers to remain
competitive. The Minister revealed the new minimum wage rates under the
2O12 WROs, which cover ten industries or sectors, were revised up by 7.9 to
1O.4%, as compared to the former wage rates of 2O11. This, he said, is
reflective of the positive recovery in the national economy and confidence
in the labour market. The respective percentage increases in minimum wage
rates by sectors under the 2012 WROs are as follows: Security Services
(9.7%); Manufacturing Industry (9.9%) Printing Trades (7.9%); Building and
Civil and Electrical Engineering Trades (7.9%); Road Transport (10%),
Sawmilling and Logging Industry (10.4%); Hotel & Catering Trades
(7.9%); Mining & Quarrying lndustry (7.9%); Wholesale & Retail
Trades (7.9%); and Garment lndustry (9.9%).
From http://www.islandsbusiness.com 11/01/2012
TOP↑
Pension for 70 and Over
A
PENSION will be provided to Fijians aged 70 years and over who do not have
any form of income from January next year. This was revealed by Prime
Minister and Finance Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. Commodore
Bainimarama said the initiative by the government was a first for Fiji. He
said 9000 Fijians who did not have any income, pension or had never been
part of a superannuation scheme would benefit from this assistance.
"The budget for this program is $3.2million," Commodore
Bainimarama said. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty
Alleviation has been tasked with the role of controlling this new pension
project. Minister of Women and Social Welfare Dr Jiko Luveni said the
announcement for people above 70 years was exciting. "It is an
exciting program because it is available to anyone above 70 years and who
is not receiving any form of income at all," Dr Luveni said. She
explained that those entitled for pensions should not be receiving any form
of income even though they live with their families who support them.
"We need senior citizens to have
money, we need to give them the confidence and to be happy and comfortable
with their lives and contribute to their family welfare," Dr Luveni
said. Under Fiji's social welfare system, a household will receive a maximum
of $150 per month including a $30 food voucher. "Nearly 13,000 poor
households will benefit and we will increase the coverage of our poor
population from the current three per cent to 10 per cent. The total budget
for this program is $22.7million," Commodore Bainimarama said. He said
the care and protection program, which targeted children, would continue
with a budget of $5.9million. "With an allocation next year of
$500,000, the welfare graduation scheme focuses on moving recipients from
welfare to workfare. Fiji cannot support a culture of dependency. We must
commit ourselves to the idea that poverty is a temporary state," the
Prime Minister said.
From http://www.fijitimes.com 11/23/2012
TOP↑
NEW ZEALAND: Govt Hints at Charges for
Water
Land and
Water Forum cannot agree on formula but price may be put on water for
farmers and others. Farmers, industries and other large users may be charged
for water under a new policy being developed, Finance Minister Bill English
indicated yesterday. Mr English said water reform may include
"pricing" after the Land and Water Forum - a group made up of
representatives from the farming, industrial and tourism sectors,
conservation groups and iwi - said it could not reach agreement on the
issue. The forum, which has been working to hammer out consensus on how
fresh water should be managed since 2009, produced its third and final
report yesterday. The report dealt specifically with how to allocate water
and manage its quality. However, while it had discussed the question of
taxes and charges for water use "at some length" it was unable to
reach a resolution. Some members of the forum objected to water charges
because activities that depended on water use generated wealth and
employment and water users already paid general taxes and rates.
Members in favour of charging argued that
the benefits of water use needed to be better shared with the wider
community. The Green Party wants a charge on water with at least some of
the money raised used to clean up polluted waterways. Responding to
questions from Greens co-leader Russel Norman yesterday, Mr English said
the Government was interested in further discussing a price on water.
"I would expect that over the next six to nine months we will have the
support of the Green Party in advancing water reform, which may include
developments in the pricing area." Labour environment spokesman Grant
Robertson said while the report did not explicitly advocate water charges,
it did "allow for a regime that would see a fair price paid by major
users".The forum's report, which was welcomed by Federated Farmers,
Horticulture NZ and Business NZ, provided a solid foundation for the
development of water management, said Primary Industries Minister David
Carter.
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz 11/16/2012
TOP↑
New Zealand Leads World's Health Experts to Join Fight Against
Obesity
A new
international network of public health experts from developed and emerging
economies will hold governments and the food industry accountable for
levels of obesity, the New Zealand organizer said Monday. Obesity
prevention expert Professor Boyd Swinburn, of the University of Auckland
School of Population Health, has organized a meeting of 23 experts on
monitoring food composition, food marketing, food labeling and food
pricing. Participants included representatives from the World Health Organization
(WHO), the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, universities in New
Zealand, Australia and North America, and from low and middle-income
countries, including Brazil, India, China, Mexico, South Africa and Fiji.
The network known as INFORMAS (International Network for Food and
Obesity/Non-communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support)
was meeting in Bellagio, Italy, from Nov. 19 to 23, said a statement from
the University of Auckland.
It would
aim to increase the accountability of governments and the food industry in
improving the world's food environments, by monitoring the nutrient content
of foods globally, the marketing of food to children, food prices, and
government and private sector policies around food and obesity. The members
of the network were driven by a collective goal to tackle the alarmingly
high rates of obesity and its related diseases such as diabetes,
cardiovascular diseases and cancer. "We will be collecting
benchmarking data so that governments and the food industry can be measured
against reasonable standards for progress on reducing the unhealthiness of
current food environments because it is mainly these food environments
which are driving up obesity throughout the world," Swinburn said in
the statement. "Over the past few decades, we have seen a dramatic
increase in the supply of cheap, tasty, high-calorie foods that are very
heavily marketed," said Swinburn. The United Nations, the WHO and
public health groups had called for governments and the food industry to
take urgent steps to improve food environments and prevent obesity.
"There
are no good systems in place to measure what governments and the food
industry are doing in relation to food environments. And there are no good
standards in place to benchmark their policies and actions against good
practice. And so there is no way of knowing if their efforts are hitting
the mark," said Swinburn. "In most cases, governments are leaving
the food industry to regulate their own efforts to improve food environments,
and this is clearly failing to result in the improvements. There is
currently no good way of comparing the foods available for sale in
different countries and across time. There is also no good data on the
relative prices of healthy and unhealthy foods in different
countries," he said. "In addition, no-one is keeping track of the
activities of the food industry that have important influences on the food
supply, such as their lobbying of governments and the political donations
they make. This is where INFORMAS will step in." At the meeting, the
group would aim to have in place benchmarks for measuring the progress of
governments and the food industry and finalize an approach to monitoring
the healthiness of food environments in different countries. The first set
of data was expected next year, Swinburn said.
From http://www.globaltimes.cn 11/19/2012
TOP↑
New Zealand Seeks to Balance Aims of Two Asia-Pacific Trade
Pacts
New Zealand
Prime Minister John Key's support for a new Asian free trade agreement
received a mixed response Wednesday, with critics saying he was ignoring an
obvious conflict between the new proposed pact and the ongoing
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks. Key has joined other leaders from
Asian countries in Cambodia to launch negotiations for a 16-nation Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that would include the 10 ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) states, together with Australia,
China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. "The goal is an outcome
that offers New Zealand businesses improved access to key markets across
Asia, and robust trade and investment rules," Key said in a statement
Wednesday. The RCEP offered the opportunity for the first time to negotiate
a free trade relationship with Japan, New Zealand's fourth-largest trading
partner. "New Zealand's participation in RCEP will complement our
existing free trade agreements in Asia," said Key. "Along with our
participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, it also
underlines the government's commitment to ensuring New Zealand actively
participates in the development of the trade and economic architecture of
the Asia-Pacific region."
New
Zealand would work closely with ASEAN and other partners to make the
negotiations a success when they began next year, he said. Critics have
said the United States is using the 11-nation TPP talks as a vehicle to
contain China's economic growth in the Pacific, while the RCEP includes
China and neighboring emerging economy India. The New Zealand International
Business Forum (NZIBF) said Wednesday that while the coverage of the RCEP
could be even bigger than the TPP in terms of its contribution to economic
welfare, they were mutually reinforcing as potential pathways to a wider
Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific. "This negotiation will build on
New Zealand and Australia's existing high quality free trade agreement with
ASEAN and will bring both the giant North Asian economies and India into
the same network," NZIBF chairman Graeme Harrison said in a statement.
However, Auckland University law professor and prominent TPP critic Jane
Kelsey said Key needed "a reality check" if he really believed
New Zealand could maintain a balance between the TPP and the RCEP.
"The US-dominated Trans-Pacific
Partnership Agreement is pitted against the proposed Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership that pivots around China as well as India,"
Kelsey said in a statement Wednesday. The prime minister may not want to
'over-emphasize' the China-
US stand-off, but that is now the dominant narrative of the TPP, "
said Kelsey. New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser had promised that New Zealand would walk away if the TPP
became an exercise in "China-
bashing," but this promise was "more hollow by the day."
"The TPP has now become a geo-political pact. There is a serious risk
that participating governments will sign up for strategic reasons to a text
that surrenders their domestic economies and grants undue influence over
their policy decisions to powerful, largely US, corporate interests,"
said Kelsey. The current TPP trade agreement between Brunei, Chile,
Singapore and New Zealand came into force in 2006, but the United States,
Australia, Peru, Vietnam, Malaysia, Canada and Mexico have joined
negotiations to expand the agreement. Japan announced its interest in
joining the TPP in 2010, when the negotiations began, and Thailand voiced
its interest in joining this week. New Zealand became the first developed nation
to sign a free trade agreement with China in 2008.
From http://www.globaltimes.cn 11/21/2012
TOP↑
NZ Tax Approach 'One Size Fits All' - Global Report
New
Zealand has a "one size fits all" approach to its tax system
which negatively impacts on small businesses, according to a major global
report. The Paying Taxes 2013 study looked at the steps taken worldwide to
make it easier and cheaper for small and medium-sized businesses to pay
taxes in the year to May 2012. Overall, governments had continued reforming
their tax systems despite global economic uncertainty, said the World Bank,
International Finance Corporation and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report.
New Zealand was described in the 165-page report as generally following a
"broad based, low rate" approach to tax policy. "This
approach, along with a high standard of tax administration through the
Inland Revenue, has led to the present system being well recognised as comprehensive
and coherent. However, the New Zealand tax system is not without issues and
limitations."
Although
SMEs made up 97 per cent of kiwi businesses, the income tax system adopted
a "one size fits all approach" which failed to distinguish
between large multinationals and small businesses. "This means that
SMEs are required to complete the same income tax compliance requirements
as larger more complicated businesses." The New Zealand Institute of
Chartered Accountants had released two discussion documents over the past
three years suggesting a more simple tax regime for SME's, it said. The
report also said the kiwi government's focus on returning to surplus by
2014/15 had put pressure on Inland Revenue (IRD) to increase tax revenue by
generally getting tougher on closing loopholes, enforcing legislation, and
pursuing tax debts. IRD had won a number of "high profile court
cases" on the general anti avoidance rule, it said. "Businesses
now face a degree of uncertainty as to when legitimate tax planning becomes
tax avoidance. Some tax professionals believe the tax avoidance pendulum
has swung too far in the Inland Revenue's favour and that this may
ultimately require legislative intervention."
Overall,
the New Zealand tax system had proved resilient in light of domestic and
global economic conditions, the report said. Reforms announced in the 2010
Budget had contributed to a fall in New Zealand's total tax rate and the
time spent by tax payers in making their payments, it said. In terms of
global averages, medium-sized companies paid a Total Tax Rate (the cost of
all taxes borne) of 44.7 per cent of profits, made 27.2 payments, and spent
267 hours complying with its tax requirements in the year. In comparison,
New Zealand SMEs paid an average Total Tax Rate of 33.5 per cent, made
eight payments, and spent 152 hours meeting tax requirements. Out of the
185 economies, the most common tax reform in the year was the introduction
or improvement of online systems for tax compliance, which occurred in 16
countries. The number of economies which made reforms dropped from 35 last
year to 31 this year. Paying Taxes 2013 measured all mandatory taxes and
contributions that a medium-sized firm must pay in a given year, including
profit or corporate income tax, property taxes, dividend tax, and capital
gains tax.
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz 11/22/2012
TOP↑
SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Government Assesses Country's Food Security
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock says it is
important that the Ministry and the Government have information on the food
security situation in homes across the country. It says that is why the
Ministry has allocated $135,000 dollars to conduct the survey out of the
$2.5 million allocated to the Women in Agriculture Development Programme
for 2012. The survey will help the Ministry design a programme that
addresses the needs of the day, and the needs of women folk in the country.
It is understood that a multi-sectoral approach will be taken, with a
particular focus on four the main pillars of food security:
- The availability of food products, which requires a
sustainable agri-food chain, intensification of agricultural production,
and the development of international trade and regional integration.
Support for smallholder farmers is essential insofar as rural areas are
more affected by shortages;
- Access to food, through supporting employment,
increasing income and social mechanisms for income compensation, including
in times of crisis;
- The nutritional value of food intake, particularly
for pregnant and lactating women and children under five. This area of
action specifically requires training and education actions, as well as
greater agricultural diversification;
- Crisis prevention and management, by uniting the
different humanitarian and development actors to implement the Linking
Relief, Rehabilitation and Development (LRRD) and Disaster Risk Reduction
(DRR) strategies.
The Ministry calls on the public especially at village
level to participate and support the survey, so that it can develop the
right approach to deal with food security.
From http://www.solomontimes.com 11/18/2012
TOP↑
Gender Equality - Making
Progress Through Mainstreaming and Statistics
Officials
from 15 Pacific Island countries discussed opportunities for strengthening
national capacities in gender mainstreaming at a regional meeting organised
by SPC with support from the United Nations Population Fund and UN Women in
Nadi in November. The Regional Gender Mainstreaming Stocktake and Gender
Statistics Meeting built on a 'gender stocktake' of six countries in the
region - Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea,
Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Tonga - which highlighted some of the
gaps and entry points for advancing gender equality in those countries. SPC
carried out the stocktake in 2009-2010. Several other Pacific Island
countries are now interested in a stocktake of where they stand in
progressing towards gender equality. 'There's increased awareness of gender
equality issues in the region, particularly since the recent Forum Leaders
meeting held in Cook Islands, and a realisation that to achieve gender
equality, government systems have to be in place, and working in a
coordinated and transparent way,' said Linda Peterson, Manager of SPC's
Human Development Programme.
Ruth
Pokura, Director for Gender and Development, Ministry of Internal Affairs,
Cook Islands reported that the stocktake has prompted the Public Service
Commission in her country to incorporate gender mainstreaming in the public
service as a key result area in the job descriptions of permanent secretaries.
In the Solomon Islands, Janet Tuhaika, Director of Women's Development,
Ministry for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, said the stocktake
was 'a positive step for the Solomon Islands government and as a result we
have received several requests to support gender mainstreaming in key
sector areas of government.'The meeting also focused on SPC's gender
statistics work with Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Marshall Islands. 'Quite
often statistics are seen as just technical - however, collecting sex disaggregated
data and also ensuring our national statistics offices include gender
indicators is important for reporting on CEDAW and other international
human rights instruments,' said Rothina Ilo from the Department of Women's
Affairs, Vanuatu. SPC's Gender Advisor Brigitte Leduc said that the
collection of gender statistics requires collaboration with planning and
national statistics offices. 'Analysing the statistics from a gender
perspective helps us to understand the key causes of gender inequality and
to address them.'
From http://www.solomontimes.com 11/21/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
|
|
World
Bank Report: Helping the Poor Through Localized Development Is Tough, but
Essential
WASHINGTON, Nov.15 – Few dispute the value of letting
citizens have a say in development projects affecting their lives. After
all, if local people participate in decision-making, contribute cash and
labor to build roads, or organize neighborhood committees to resolve
conflicts, they will be more in charge of their destinies and can hold
governments more accountable. Over the past two decades, development
experts have focused more on boosting local participation, with the World
Bank investing nearly $85 billion over the past decade on community-driven
development projects and decentralization. With other donors investing
billions more, today community-based organizations, such as school
management committees, community health groups, water-user groups, and village
councils, are widely found in the developing world. What kind of results
have these efforts produced? Has civic engagement been jumpstarted? Has
this contained conflict or corruption? Has access for the poor to schools
or health facilities improved? Has poverty declined? Designing and
implementing successful participatory development projects is complex and
difficult, according to a new World Bank Policy Research Report,
“Localizing Development: Does Participation Work?” Five years in the
making, the report provides a comprehensive look at efforts by donors and
governments to “induce” civic engagement in development.
The report, which draws on more than 500 studies,
could help local participatory projects become more results-oriented and
evidence-based. It says success, where it has come, has taken a great deal
of commitment and time – from both project staff and governments – to
create inclusive and accountable local institutions. Participatory
development projects have a strong record when it comes to health and
education. Indeed, there are some common features among community-based
programs that have done well in reaching the poor and improving services.
One a responsive state, as in Brazil’s. Programa Saude da Famılia, which
provides free health services and is managed by municipal governments under
the supervision of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Assessments of this
program reveal substantial health effects, especially for newborn babies
and young children. In addition, the program is cost effective, at some $30
per capita. Another key to success is significant effort in building
capacity at the local level, as was the case with Ghana’s Community Health
and Family Planning Project. It is also vital to pay a great deal of
attention to context and to commit strongly to transparent monitoring
systems, as in Indonesia’s Kecamatan Development Program. Many of these
findings debunk popular myths about community participation in development.
The most common myth is that poor and disadvantaged communities have ample
“social capital,” and can therefore be quickly mobilized to act
collectively in their own interest. The other is that community-driven
development projects can replace or bypass state structures that are seen
as sluggish at best or corrupt at worst.
“Rarely is much thought given to how difficult it is
to effectively organize groups of people to act in a way that solves market
and government failures,” said Vijayendra Rao, lead economist in the World
Bank’s Development Research Group, who co-authored the book with colleague
Ghazala Mansuri, who has since become a lead economist in the World Bank’s
Poverty Reduction and Equity Group. “In fact, local development faces
multiple challenges, such as lack of coordination, inequality, lack of
transparency, corruption, free-riding, and low capacity.” That helps
explain why it is no easy job trying to induce civic engagement in
development. Indeed, the report shows that, by and large, community-driven
development projects, tend to deliver education and health services
effectively, while reducing poverty and corruption tends to be more
challenging. In some instances, development efforts could be more sensitive
to complex contexts like social, political, historical or geographical
realities. For example, some projects are vulnerable to being captured by
local elites who may use their preferential access to allocate project
benefits to themselves, their families or their social networks. One can
start to make sense of this, the authors argue, by understanding that
deliberate top-down efforts to amplify grassroots citizen engagement
creates challenges, which are fundamentally different from those emerging
from more “organic” forms of participation, such as civic watchdog groups,
environmental movements or the recent democracy movements in the Middle
East.
At the heart of the problem, the authors
contend, is how projects assess what it takes to engage civil society. Most
poor and disadvantaged people live in societies that have longstanding
hierarchies of power and privilege, and those at the bottom of the rung are
severely limited in access to opportunities. This constitutes what the
authors call ‘civil society failure,’ a phenomenon that can be corrected by
some degree of reversal in local power relations. Such a correction
requires shifts in social interactions, norms and local cultures and is far
from easy. As a result, participatory projects sometimes struggle to build
cohesive, sustainable organizations. “Genuine efforts at inducing civic
engagement require a sustained long-term commitment and a clear
understanding of the social and political forces at all levels of society,”
Mansuri said. “Building dams, bridges, roads, and even schools and clinics
is much easier than changing social and political systems. To do this well,
we need to invest a great deal more in learning about what works.” That,
Rao said, requires a real change in how donors and governments design and
carry out participatory projects. There is no quick fix for the challenges
documented in Localizing Development, but it moves us toward understanding
what it will take to support civic engagement for more equitable and
sustainable development. By thinking through local development policy with
civil society in mind, practitioners and policy makers can better
understand when civic participation is likely to solve a development
challenge, as well as what may be needed to successfully organize the
disadvantaged to act in their own interest. The World Bank is also
constantly seeking to improve its community-driven development projects
also taking steps to improve monitoring and evaluation of Bank-supported
participatory efforts. Policy Research Reports (PRRs), which are released
every few years, aim to contribute to the debate on appropriate public
policies for developing economies.
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 11/15/2012
TOP↑
UNESCO
Launches Global Survey on Internet Privacy and Freedom of Expression at the
Internet Governance Forum
How do the “digital footprints” of Internet and
cellphone users affect privacy, and what impact does this have on freedom
of expression? These questions lie at the heart of a new study released by
UNESCO this week. The new report also served as the basis of a
well-attended workshop on Wednesday addressed by a renowned expert panel at
the 2012 Internet Governance Forum Panellist Katitza Rodriguez, from the
Electronic Frontier Foundation, pointed out how correlations of data could
allow inferences about the religious views and sexual orientation of
individuals, at a time in history when privacy was still an emerging right.
Organized in collaboration with Global Partners & Associates, the
Council of Europe and Article 19, the workshop also heard from Andrew Puddephatt
and Ben Wagner, who contributed to the global survey. The two experts
highlighted how challenges to privacy protection have multiplied through
the advent of new types and amounts of information being collected. In
addition, they pointed to issues around data storage and analysis,
surveillance by public and private actors, and to the growth of markets for
personal data. Puddephatt and Wagner also explained how privacy rights, and
anonymity, can reinforce freedom of expression, yet also limit it, such as
when journalists wish to publish information about personal bank accounts
that expose corruption. When freedom of expression and privacy clash, the
decision on which should prevail should be guided by an assessment of which
right best serves the public interest, said the two researchers.
The pair reiterated the recommendations in
the report that strong constitutional protection is needed to safeguard
both privacy and freedom of expression. They proposed a highly limited role
for criminal law to protect privacy, putting the emphasis instead on civil
remedies for violations. Other speakers included Gabrielle Guillemin from
Article 19, who argued against privacy being protected prior to
publication. Sophie Kwasny of the Council of Europe highlighted the importance
of work to set standards for privacy and data protection. Max Senges of
Google warned against setting privacy barriers too high, giving examples of
data enabling customised services to individuals as well as being necessary
for developing online simultaneous interpretation. He also stressed how
corporate self-regulation, and media and information literacy for users,
could protect privacy and freedom of expression. Ceren Ünal, from Bilkent
University Faculty of Law in Turkey, emphasized the importance of simple,
practical privacy protection instruments being made available in diverse
languages to accompany users’ education. David Souter, from ICT Development
Associates, praised the UNESCO study for linking freedom of expression and
privacy rights in the light of a constantly changing Internet in which many
people have not adapted their behavior to new privacy threats. Director of
UNESCO’s Division of Freedom of Expression and Media Development, Guy
Berger, chaired the workshop and reported its outcomes at the IGF’s main
session on Security, Privacy and Openness, held on Thursday. The Global
Survey on Internet Privacy and Freedom of Expression is part of the UNESCO
Series on Internet Freedom and is framed within the Organization’s mandate
to promote comprehensive freedom of expression online and offline.
From http://www.i-policy.org/ 11/17/2012
TOP↑
Web
Advertising to Grow Faster Than Broad Market in 2013
Internet advertising spending is projected
to increase 15 percent in 2013, while total ad growth will be weaker on
concerns about Europe, the U.S. budget and the lack of major media events
next year. Global Web ad spending is expected to jump to $101.8 billion
next year from $88.4 billion, according to Zenith Optimedia Group Ltd.
Total spending on ads may grow 4.9 percent to $530 billion, trimmed from
the 6 percent increase estimated earlier this year, according to data
compiled by Bloomberg Industries released today. Digital and emerging
markets will drive growth, Paul Sweeney, a Bloomberg Industries analyst,
said in a report. While the London Olympics and the U.S. presidential
election helped boost spending on advertising in 2012, there will be no
comparable high-profile sporting or political events in 2013. “A deepening
of the European crisis has led to heightened caution in developed markets,
as agencies reported drastic budget cuts in the third quarter,” Sweeney
said. Mobile ads, which still make up a smaller part of total spending, may
grow 51 percent to $9.7 billion, according to New York-based EMarketer Inc.
Martin Sorrell, chief executive officer at the world’s largest advertising
company, WPP Plc (WPP), has voiced concerns about the outlook as pressure
mounts form the coming “fiscal cliff” -- $607 billion in spending cuts and
tax increases to automatically take effect in January unless lawmakers act.
WPP cut full-year sales targets for 2012 following third- quarter results
last month. Revenue growth for the year will be 2.5 percent to 3 percent,
down from an earlier forecast of about 3.5 percent.
From http://www.businessweek.com/ 11/23/2012
TOP↑
ASEAN
Dynamism: Agricultural Transformation & Food Security 2040
November 5, 2012 - A side event of the Annual Meetings
of the IMF and World Bank on the theme of "Agriculture Transformation
& Food Security Strategies 2040”
was held on October 11, 2012 at the Hotel Okura in Tokyo. The objective of
the event was to discuss the findings of a study conducted by JICA focusing
on food security strategy in three counties in ASEAN, Vietnam, the
Philippines and Indonesia. The event brought together ministers, senior
policy makers, officials of multilateral and bilateral development
assistance agencies to realize agricultural transformation that is vital in
the region in order to enhance food security by 2040. How should
governments and the private sector respond to new challenges in the region
to enhance food security? Mr. Hideaki Domichi, the Senior Vice President of
JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) expressed his expectation in
his opening remarks that this event will serve as a starting point for an
extensive policy dialogue as well as a road map in the region for food
security. Ms. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director of the World Bank,
emphasized the necessity of new policies to respond to the new constraints
such as increase in population and urbanization under region’s common
characteristics such as scare water resources and land. She explained that
boosting agriculture research and extension system, modernizing water
management system, resolving land-related issues as well as to promote
effective public interventions in the sectors are important to raise
productivity.
Mr. Harinder Kohli, Chief Leader, Centennial Group
then presented the study conducted by JICA. He pointed out several
fundamental drivers that will affect the future prospects for agricultural
production in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) such as 1)
Increase in population; 2) Increase in income; 3) Changing in the demand
for food production; and 4) Scarcity of land and water. To respond to these
drivers, there is a need for major transformation to move to higher-value
crops. Furthermore, greater cooperation among the countries is necessary. A
panel discussion participated by six panelists followed the keynote address
by Mr. Kohli. Mr. Hiroto
Arakawa, Vice President of JICA took the role of moderator for the session.
Mr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning, Director
General, National Economic Development Authority, the Philippines explained that the
concept of food security consists of food availability, accessibility,
utilization and stability. He emphasized that the concept of “food
accessibility” is important considering history of famines and hunger in
Asia due to inequity of purchasing power in spite of food supplies at the
national level. Furthermore, he explained that increase in agriculture
productivity by itself will not lead to sustained poverty reduction in
rural areas. Policies need to address the issues though fostering dynamic
linkage between the farm and the non-farm sectors of the economy. Priority
of various options should be determined based on the impact.
Ms. Armida Alisjahbana, State Minister of National
Development Planning, Chairperson of the National Planning Agency in Indonesia
agreed that the issue of linkages between agriculture sector to the rest of
the economy is important. In addition, she emphasized on sustainability and
necessity of new varieties that adapt to the new climatic condition in the
region. Mr. Dang Kim Son, Director General of the Institute of Policy and
Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam mentioned that
bringing small scale farmers into the new reform of market integration is
essential. A Public and Private Partnership approach is important to bring
more private sector in the economy of the country to connect production to
the market to have higher value added products. Mr. Klaus Rohland, Country
Director for China, Mongolia and Korea at the World Bank mentioned that
synergy of factors, such as urbanization and climate change should be
considered. He also explained that some cooperative mechanisms are
necessary to raise the scale of operations. Finally, he concluded his
intervention mentioning that credibility and trust is important in ASEAN
region. Mr. Pierre Jacquet, President of Global Development Network, Former
Executive Director and Chief Economist of Agence Francaise de Development
(AFD), mentioned that food security should include concept of ability to
mitigate risks and to manage risks. He emphasized that we need to move from
crisis management to risk management. He also pointed out the importance of
coordination among donors.
Mr. Masayoshi Honma, Professor, Department of
Agricultural and Resources Economics, Graduate School of Agricultural and
life Sciences at the University of Tokyo mentioned that a bottom-up
approach rather than a top-down approach should be taken for food security
policy. The private sector should play a bigger role. He also emphasized
that common rules and institutional harmonization would be very important
for more efficient use of regional and global resources. Finally, Mr. John
Roome, Director of Sustainable Development, East Asia and the Pacific
Region, at the World Bank concluded that the shape of agriculture over the
next 30 years is going to be very different from 30 years ago. Therefore,
adaptation to the change is critical and food security has to be within the
context of transformation of agriculture over the next 30 years. He also
emphasized that applying this discussion into practical implementation is
important. For the implementation, precise strategies will be needed. At
the end, he concluded the event emphasizing that all the factors, such as
the public sector, civil society need to work together to enhance food security
in ASEAN by 2040.
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 11/05/2012
TOP↑
Asia's
Shift to Greener Transport Key to Global Sustainability - ADB Forum
Asia must scale up sustainable transport development
or face a bleak future of congested roads, pollution, ill health and
economic damage, which could have ripple effects around the world, a high
level transport forum in Manila heard. View infographic in higher
resolution.“The choice is to let unsustainable transport become entrenched
with dire consequences for the economy, quality of life, health and climate
change, or to begin making the changes needed for a sustainable transport
future,” said Bindu Lohani, Vice President for Knowledge Management and
Sustainable Development at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The third ADB
Transport Forum focuses on “Inclusive and Sustainable Transport,” providing
a platform for more than 400 global transport experts, civil society
representatives, development partners and senior officials from developing
member countries to discuss key regional transport challenges, share
knowledge, and brainstorm ideas to improve the sector. Booming cities and
rising incomes are fueling a dramatic surge in vehicle fleets across Asia.
In 1980, just one in 10 motorized vehicles in the world was in Asia, but by
2030 the region is expected to account for nearly half the global total.
The epidemic of cars and trucks already weighs heavily, with Asia’s cities
now suffering the highest air pollution levels in the world and traffic
accidents in the region killing nearly 2,000 people a day.
Watch this video on how a road project in
the PRC is making roads safer and empowering women.Without a change in
current transport development patterns in Asia,
global carbon dioxide emissions and fuel prices will keep rising, with grim
consequences for climate change, energy security, and economic growth.
Asia’s policymakers are already responding, with investments in railways
and other non-motorized public transport, user friendly urban planning, and
the adoption of efficiency measures like fuel economy standards for
vehicles. However, Asia’s needs are vast, with estimated investments of
$2.5 trillion required between 2010 and 2020 to help close the
infrastructure gap in transport. View photo essay on rebuilding roads after
the Wenchuan earthquake struck the PRC.ADB has provided financing,
knowledge, and capacity building support to help developing member countries
scale up sustainable transport development. Its sector loans are around $3
billion a year and growing, including assistance for bus rapid transit
systems in Bangladesh and People’s Republic of China (PRC), as well as
metro rail lines in Viet Nam. It is also supporting climate change
mitigation and adaptation measures like the planned development of inland
waterways in the PRC to reduce road freight volumes; and cross border
transport initiatives, including regional railways. By 2020 lending for
roads is expected to be overtaken by investment in urban transport,
railways and other subsectors.
From http://www.adb.org/ 11/06/2012
TOP↑
Asia to
Power Global Trade Growth
Asia will be the primary driver of global trade growth
for years to come, according to a new report from HSBC. China, India and
Vietnam are among the best positioned, with exports expected to post
double-digit annual increases for decades. "The pattern of global
trade will be increasingly influenced by the rapidly growing Asian
economies, whose exports and imports will continue to grow strongly,"
the report says. Overall, global trade is forecast to increase by 5% in
2013 before jumping to annual rates of 6% to 7% until 2016. But stumbling
blocks remain. Europe is mired in a debt-induced funk, and the continent's
growth prospects remain weak. Simon Constantinides, regional head of trade
and receivables finance for HSBC, said that Europe's fiscal situation is
one of the biggest risks examined by the bank. "We can't ignore
Europe," Constantinides said. "It's one of the biggest concerns
and challenges facing the global economy." However, in a finding that
underscores the increasingly global nature of trade, Europe's prospects
will be helped by rising exports to developing economies, especially in
Asia.
Related: EU, China spar again over solar trade
One of the biggest destinations for European goods will be
China, as the world's second largest economy attempts to move from an
investment-dependent model to one based on consumer spending. "This
shift creates export opportunities for businesses right across the
developed world as countries such as China, which were previously known as
centers for production and manufacturing, become equally important as a
market for Western exports," HSBC's James Emmett, the bank's head of
trade and receivables finance, said in a statement. There are other bright
spots as well. Bangladesh
is expected to benefit greatly from trade with India, with its total trade
projected to increase 19% between 2013 to 2015. Brazil,
meanwhile, will ramp up trade with India,
Vietnam and China.
From http://money.cnn.com/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
Developing
Asian Economies Must Focus on Greener, More Inclusive Growth – ADB
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – While advanced economies
gradually rebuild their balance sheets, Asia’s emerging markets need to
diversify sources of growth to boost GDP, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
President Haruhiko Kuroda said today during an address at the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Global Dialogue in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“Tomorrow’s successful economies will focus on effectively transforming
themselves through growth that reaches more people, especially the poor,”
Mr. Kuroda said. “Growth must be more inclusive, green and knowledge-led.”
The ASEAN Global Dialogue brings together leaders and key officials from
ASEAN and East Asia countries, as well as development partners, to explore
challenges and discuss solutions to a range of issues facing the region,
including the ongoing global financial crisis, climate change, conflicts,
and food and energy security. While global growth remains sluggish,
developing Asia is in better shape with 6.1% growth expected this year, Mr.
Kuroda told participants. ASEAN economies have shown particular resilience.
He noted that with 420 million Asians entering the labor market by 2030, job
creation will remain a daunting challenge for the region. Infrastructure
development is essential to job creation efforts, and in response to
ASEAN’s massive infrastructure needs the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund was
created earlier this year. Mr. Kuroda also noted that freer trade and
greater macroeconomic cooperation within the region will enhance
efficiency, strengthen stability and sustain growth.
From http://www.adb.org/ 11/20/2012
TOP↑
Asia's Regional Bond Markets Expand but
Many Risks Loom
Emerging East Asia’s local currency bond markets
continue to expand and are performing well, but risks loom large on the
horizon, warned the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) latest Asia Bond
Monitor. “There are a number of downside risks to the local bond markets.
The US could fall over the fiscal cliff and the new Chinese leadership has
to deal with slowing growth in the world’s second largest economy,” said
Iwan Azis, Head of ADB’s Office of Regional Economic Integration. “A surge
in volatile capital inflows and rising inflation in the region are also
potential threats.” Volatility spillovers from mature markets to local bond
markets are another major risk. The report showed that external shocks and
volatility are also increasingly being transmitted between domestic markets
and between markets across Asia as they expand and their influence grows.
This means that regulators in Asia need to monitor and coordinate market
policies nationally as well as regionally and globally. Bond yields fell in
most countries in the third quarter on the back of moderating inflation,
strong economic performance, and steady investor demand, with the exception
of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) where concerns over slower economic
growth and inflation have pushed yields higher. The region’s bond markets
are, however, increasingly diverse in terms of growth rates, issuance, and
yields.
At $6.2 trillion, the region’s local
currency bond market was 3.5% bigger than at end of June 2012 and 11.0%
larger than at the end of September 2011. Government bonds continue to
dominate with $4.1 trillion outstanding at the end of September, 3.1% more
than at the end of June. Some markets, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and the
PRC saw solid growth in their government markets over the quarter. However,
those of the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong, China grew only a tad while
the markets of Indonesia and Viet Nam shrank slightly, due to a sharp drop
in issuance by monetary authorities. The amount of Sertifikat Bank
Indonesia bills outstanding fell by 23.9% on quarter while State Bank of
Viet Nam bills tumbled 62%.Corporate bond markets continued to expand at a
faster rate than their sovereign counterparts though with $2.2 trillion
outstanding at the end of September, up 4.2% on quarter, with most markets
posting growth. Overall, bond issuance differed sharply between countries
over the quarter, however, with gross bond sales rising 38.1% in Malaysia,
13.0% in the Philippines, and 10.5% in the PRC but tumbling 81.3% in Viet
Nam, 25.9% in Hong Kong, China and down 8.1% in Thailand. The report’s
annual liquidity survey showed an uptick in liquidity in both government
and corporate bonds for the region as a whole. The survey showed that
increased investor diversity, greater availability of hedging instruments,
and more transparency are key to boosting activity in emerging East Asia’s local currency bond markets. The Asia
Bond Monitor assesses the markets of the PRC; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia;
the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; the Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; and
Viet Nam.
From http://www.adb.org/ 11/22/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
CHINA: Govt Shirks Pension Contributions
With many still arguing about whether China should
extend the country's retirement age to shore up the financial shortfalls
facing its pension system, He Ping, director of the Social Security
Research Institute, recently proposed increasing workers' personal pension
contributions. As I see it, neither raising the retirement age nor forcing
people to pay more to the system will address the country's pension
shortage. Workers across China already pay about 8 percent of their
salaries to the country's pension scheme, much more than elsewhere in the
world. Yet, personal incomes in China are still relatively low, with the
average person in the country making just one fifteenth of the average US
income. With earnings so low and pension fees so high, it is unreasonable
to ask people to have more pension money deducted from their wages.
Actually, the real cause behind the pension fund gap is a lack of
government funding. In 2011, social security funds only accounted for about
15 percent of the government's fiscal expenditures, much lower than the 30
and 50 percent seen in most developed countries.
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ 10/23/2012
TOP↑
China Sees Need to Create Chinese Intel
THE Chinese semiconductor industry needs
industrial restructuring and consolidation to create internationally
competitive firms, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said
yesterday. The next-generation chip design and manufacturing requires huge
investment and talent. Because of a lack of capital and talent, Chinese
firms are lagging behind global giants like Samsung and Qualcomm. The
technology gap between the domestic semiconductor industry and its overseas
peers has been widening, said Ding Wenwu, director general of the ministry's
electronics information division. "China doesn't have a leading firm
in the semiconductor industry, like Intel, Samsung or Qualcomm," Ding
said during the IC China 2012 conference held in Shanghai yesterday. He
said the government is drafting plans to encourage industry consolidation
but he didn't elaborate. The revenue of the chip design sector surged 20
percent in the first six months, triple the integrated circuit industry's
growth rate. In the first half, China's IC revenue totaled 85.2 billion yuan
(US$13.5 billion), up 7.5 percent annually. It accounted about 10 percent
of the global IC market, the China Semiconductor Industry Association said.
Meanwhile at the IC China 2012, Applied Materials Inc, a US-based
semiconductor equipment provider, signed a memorandum of understanding to
enhance the Shanghai Integrated Circuit R&D Center's research and
development capabilities in 12-inch wafer manufacturing.
From http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 10/24/2012
TOP↑
Shanghai to Boost Outsourcing Efforts
SHANGHAI will continue to develop its outsourcing industry
to help the city restructure its economy and bolster the service sector,
government officials said yesterday. The city's software and information
technology service sector may expand 20 percent annually, with market value
expected at 600 billion yuan (US$95.2 billion) by 2015, said Fu Xinhua,
vice chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and
Informatization. The software service industry will contribute about 40
percent of the overall information technology industry in the city, Fu told
the Global IT Outsourcing Forum 2012
in Shanghai yesterday. He Jifeng, a member of the Chinese
Academy of Sciences and president of the Software Engineering Institute of
East China Normal University, said "Shanghai should foster more
high-end outsourcing contractors especially in the finance sector."
The contract value of software outsourcing in Shanghai surged 40.5 percent
annually in the first three quarters to US$1.4 billion, the Shanghai
Municipal Commission of Commerce said.
From http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 10/26/2012
TOP↑
High-Tech Products Take Center Stage
A WIRELESS system able to warn people before jaywalking,
an air cleaner system for subway stations and specially designed handsets
for students - these are some of the high-tech products or services that
will be on show during the 2012 China International Industry Fair. The
latest developments in automation, electrical systems and industrial robots
will be shown during the fair, city officials said yesterday. Robots will
be one of the main highlights during the five-day fair, which opens on
November 6. Nearly 60 companies from around the world will showcase robots,
including the smallest robot made by ABB and domestically developed robots.
An air cleaner system made by Shanghai Tianyue Development Co are now
installed in 10 Shanghai Metro stations for tests. The system will be
gradually installed in all stations in the city, according to Wang
Lingling, Tianyue's general manager. "Metro stations are often full of
air pollution and bacteria, which can harm the health of thousands of
passengers every day," Wang said. After the system was installed in
Xujiahui Station, pollution and bacteria levels dropped 60 percent, the
company said. Shanghai Super Star Industrial Development Co designed a
system that detects people when jaywalking at intersections. The system has
been installed at nine intersections in the Pudong New Area. It uses a
warning voice when people break traffic rules. A video and related messages
will be transferred to traffic police departments. Meanwhile, a student
handset that can report a user's location will also be on display. The
price of the model is about 300 yuan (US$47.6), although it may drop
further if the maker, AWIT, can secure a deal with carriers in the future,
according to Chen Lanfei, the company's marketing manager.
From http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 10/31/2012
TOP↑
Social Tech Boost
FULLY utilized social technologies can create as much
as US$1.3 trillion in value annually in four industry sectors globally,
McKinsey & Co said in a report yesterday. Four commercial sectors
including consumer goods, retail financial services, professional services
and advanced manufacturing are expected to benefit from social technologies
in terms of product development and operations, marketing and sales-related
activities as well as improvements in business support activities.
From http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 11/07/2012
TOP↑
China's Economy Shows Positive Signs, with
Uncertainties
The Chinese economy has shown positive
signs of stabilizing but it's hard to judge what it will be next year, governor
of China's central bank said Thursday. Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the
People's Bank of China (PBOC), made the remarks during a panel
discussion with delegates from the financial sector to the 18th National
Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which opened Thursday
morning in Beijing. China's economic momentum will depend on not only
domestic conditions, but also changes brought by the global financial
crisis, said Zhou, who is also a CPC delegate to the national congress.
"It has become increasingly clear that the Chinese economy is now
moving towards a better direction," he said. Due to the impact of the
sovereign debt crisis in Europe, China's economy began slowing this year.
The Chinese economy expanded only 7.4 percent year on year in the third
quarter of 2012, marking a downturn for seven straight quarters, the
National Bureau of Statistics said. As the government adopted a series of
fiscal and monetary measures and accelerated the approvals of investment
projects to spur the slowing economy, the domestic economy has stabilized
since September with better indicators, Zhou said. He said it's hard to
judge how the global financial crisis will continue to affect the Chinese
economy, because the spreading of the European debt crisis and the
so-called "fiscal cliff" problem in the United States have
increased uncertainties of the world economy. "We need to monitor the
effect on our economy of the monetary easing policies launched recently by
the United States and the European Union," he said. China is likely to
maintain the policy continuity "to some extent" in 2013, but will
leave "ample room" to make the policy targeted and flexible. The
CPC Central Committee will set the tone for the economy at an economic work
conference scheduled to convene at the end of this year.
From http://www.china.org.cn/ 11/09/2012
TOP↑
China Focus: Online Shopping Bonanza
Breaks Records
HANGZHOU, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- More than two billion
yuan was spent in the first 70 minutes of a 24-hour shopping bonanza at
China's largest business-to-customer online purchase website on Sunday.
More than 10 million people swarmed to Taobao.com, for its 24-hour
50-percent-off carnival because of "Single's Day." November 11
(11/11)represents four single people. The sale has been initiated by the
e-commerce company Alibaba Group with Taobao.com and Tmall.com, based in
Hangzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang Province. As of 11:18 a.m. Sunday, trade volume reached
7.9 billion yuan (1.265 billion U.S. dollars), exceeding the 5.2 billion
yuan in the 24 hours on Nov. 11 last year. Volume reached 10 billion yuan
as of 1:38 p.m., which was the target for the 24 hours. It was realized 10
hours in advance, according to the company's statistics. The sales carnival
is also testing the banking system and express delivery systems. Wu Liying,
a bank employee in Hangzhou worked overnight to avoid any collapse of the
banking system. "It's been too hustle and bustle," Wu told
Xinhua. "The scale has exceeded the daily volume, which has brought
great challenges to our system." Payment channels at some banks
appeared to falter, just as they did last year on the same day. Although the
Alipay.com, payment platform of Alibaba Group connecting the website to
banks, has had a project team in place since August, the online system of
China Construction Bank broke down for a while due.
Systems of the Bank of China and Industrial Bank were
alerted as being too busy. According to the China Construction Bank,
transaction flow exceeded six times than usual during night hours. The
system failed from 1:15 a.m.
to 2:00 a.m. in branches
in Sichuan Province and Beijing. The event has also triggered a busy day
for logistics industries. "I can only slept two hours at night. Some
online shops needed to start deliveries at 3 a.m.," said Wang Yunda, a courier of
Shentong Express in Hangzhou. Last year, 20 million packages were delivered
with some customers having to wait three months for their goods. Other
e-commerce companies, including 360buy.com, suning.com and dangdang.com
have joined in marketing on the same day to form a real tide sweeping the
whole Internet purchase, said Lu Zhenwang, observer of e-commerce. Consumer
habits have been changing in the country and new online space emerged in
the world's largest market with the largest population, Lu said. The number
of netizens reached 538 million in June while the popularity rate is only
39.3 percent in China, according to the latest statistics of China Internet
Network Information Center (CNNIC). "The rate is 70 percent in western
countries, which indicates China's large potential for online
purchasing," said Jing Linbo, researcher of Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences. Although exports continued to improve in October it was only
described as a "slight improvement" by Chen Deming, minister of
commerce.
"China's economy cannot only count on
exports, which is still hard to predict, while investment is influenced by
policies and macroeconomic environment. Thus, domestic demand carries more
expectation to stimulate China's economy," Jing said. "Online
purchases shows the potential of China," he said. The
report of 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
raised a new goal to double people's income by 2020 from 2010. This
requires the Party to not only stimulate domestic demand but also balance
supply and demand, said Huang Hao, associate professor of Chinese Academy
of Social Sciences. "The online purchase platform shows great
consuming capacity, which offers a channel to balance supply and demand as
some commodities were transferred from traditional sellers," Huang
said. Some companies transferred their storage from downtown department
stores to e-commerce depots right before Single's Day, which created a new
way to decrease the storage of traditional retailers, he said. "The
large social collaboration triggered by e-commerce marketing pushes the
limits of each one in the chain. More peaks will come to be both tests and
chances," said Zhang Yong, president of Tmall.com. Ma Yun, board
chairman of Alibaba Group, which runs Taobao.com, said that e-commerce is
complementary to advanced traditional retailer in the U.S. "However,
China's infrastructures and traditional retail industry is not perfect
enough, which gives e-commerce a chance to become mainstream to stimulate
domestic demand, while logistics and other supporting facilities can
improve and match up," Ma told Xinhua.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/11/2012
TOP↑
China to Become Largest Robot Consumer in
2014
Demand for industrial robots is predicted to hit
32,000 units by 2014 making China the world's largest robotics consumer.
According to the International Federation of Robotics, the sector's
technology and production have gained momentum amid higher labor costs and
China's efforts to restructure its economic growth pattern and improve
energy efficiency. At the China International Industry Fair, which closed
yesterday, China's robot manufacturers exhibited their models in direct
competition with their foreign counterparts. The fair attracted more than
1,800 participants over the five-day exhibition. At the event, SIASUN Robot
& Automation Co. demonstrated their new models, which are integrated
with numerical control machines that can accomplish multi-procedure
processes. The company's self-designed products have been exported to
overseas markets including the US, Canada, Russia and India. Despite the
growing sector, the industry warned that a lack of core technology will
stall the development of robot manufacturing in the country. Gu Chunyuan,
vice president at manufacturer ABB (China) Limited, said, "despite the
substantive demand, Chinese manufacturers still have to rely on some
overseas suppliers for many key components, which may hinder the
independent growth of China's robot sector." Gu also highlighted the
importance in supporting downstream industries and nurturing professional
talent to improve development of the sector.
From http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 11/11/2012
TOP↑
China to Become Largest Economy 'In 4
Years'
CHINA is expected to become the world's
largest economy in four years as the balance of economic power is forecast
to shift over the next five decades, the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development has forecast. Fast-growing emerging economies
will account for an ever-increasing share of global output in the next half
century, it said, and China's gross domestic product will surpass the
eurozone's this year. The United States is expected to cede its place as
the world's largest economy to China as early as 2016, according to the
latest OECD report. However, analyst John Ross, a visiting professor at
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said it could take a bit longer for China to
top the list. "I think this is a bit exaggerated. It will take five to
seven years to happen," he said. The OECD also said that India's GDP
was expected to pass that of the US over the long term. The combined output
of China and India would exceed the current Group of Seven economies' GDP
by around 2025, and by 2060 it would be more than one and a half times
larger, whereas in 2010 China and India accounted for less than half of the
G7's output. The G7 is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
the UK and the US. Fast-aging economic heavyweights, such as Japan and the
eurozone, will gradually lose ground on the global GDP table to countries
with a younger population, such as Indonesia and Brazil, the OECD said.
"The balance of economic power will shift dramatically over the next
50 years in a baseline scenario," Angel Gurria, secretary-general of
OECD, said. "The publishing of the long-term forecast report is a
wake-up call as we will face new challenges to ensure a prosperous and
sustainable world for all," Gurria said. The report comes at a time
when worries are mounting around the world over the eurozone debt crisis
and the American budgetary challenge. The OECD said that global output
would edge up annually by 3 percent in the next half century, mainly driven
by productivity improvements and human capital growth, while a great
variance between regions and countries was expected.
From http://www.shanghaidaily.com/ 11/12/2012
TOP↑
Chinese Public
Calls for Investment in Elderly Care
BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Most Chinese hope the
government will increase its investment in care for the elderly, according
to the results of an online survey published on Tuesday. In a poll
conducted by the China Youth Daily, 86.4 percent of 8,476 respondents said
they want more government investment in rehabilitation and care for senior
citizens over the next decade, according to a report in the Tuesday edition
of the newspaper. The issue of caring for the elderly has become
imperative, as it concerns the people's livelihoods, the newspaper quoted
Tong Xiao, a social development researcher at the East China University of
Political Science and Law, as saying. Tong urged greater commitment by
public organizations and volunteers to take care of the elderly, adding
that the aging population will create an increasing burden for the
government. In the survey, more than half of respondents said high pressure
in the workplace and living costs have made it difficult to take care of
their own parents. About 39.7 percent of the people surveyed said it is not
feasible for them to move their parents closer to home to look after them,
while 36.4 percent said they believe nursing homes are not currently
suitable for their parents. Moreover, restrictions in the current medicare
insurance system, which requires cumbersome procedures for people to get
coverage for medical fees incurred outside of their registered area of
residence, have made it even more difficult for elderly parents to visit
and live with their only children working in other cities, Tong said. The
survey indicated that 64.1 percent of the respondents wanted the government
to expand coverage for pension plans, while 52.4 percent said a gap in
pension plans between urban and rural areas, as well as between different
kinds of employers, must be eliminated.
Disparities in different pension plans
have caused many young people to change their career choices and thus
affected the distribution of human resources, since many people end up
choosing positions in government departments or government-sponsored
organizations in order to secure their pensions, said Zhang Yi, a
researcher with the Institute of Sociology under the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences. A telephone survey conducted by the Guangzhou
Public-Opinion Research Center indicated that about 66 percent of Chinese
have confidence in the government's ability to provide elderly care. More
than 60 percent of the survey's 5,000 respondents said they are content
with the current pension system, while 41 percent of people from low-income
groups said they disapprove. Pension payments are still below the average
living standard for most cities and townships because the government is
still working to expand the system to cover more people, said Shen
Shuguang, a professor at the Lingnan College at Sun Yat-sen University.
Shen suggested increasing personal contributions and fiscal support for the
pension system in order to raise the payment level in the future. In a
speech delivered at the opening of the 18th National Congress of the
Communist Party of China (CPC) on Nov. 8, President Hu Jintao said the
Party will intensify efforts to improve basic public services and ensure
that everyone can enjoy access to education, employment, medical care and
housing.
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ 11/13/2012
TOP↑
Chinese Socialism
Worthy of Genuine Respect
BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese pupils are better
at math than most of their global peers. Teachers usually encourage them to
solve a problem using whatever method works best to get the correct answer.
China's
aspiration for a successful society that benefits all its people is much
the same situation as the diligent math students. Chinese President Hu
Jintao's recent political announcement that China will follow a "path
of socialism with Chinese characteristics" disappoints some Western
ideologues. However, China's mode of socialism turned China from an
impoverished country into the world's second largest economy in the past
three decades and thus deserves sober-minded consideration and genuine
respect. The economic success of many industrialized countries, largely in
the West, after World War II reinforced the self-righteousness of
Westerners who tend to deride ways other than capitalism and who admonish
the rest of the world to take a similar path. Over the last couple of
decades, some Western thinkers have asserted that history has ended with
the triumph of capitalism and all other paths have been proven wrong.
Nevertheless, as predicted by Karl Marx and Joseph Schumpeter, the
intrinsic defects of capitalism result in recurrent crises, the latest
round of which erupted on a chaotic Wall Street and in Frankfurt's
financial district. Among 90 percent of the world's countries adopting
capitalism, only a tiny fraction can be regarded as prosperous. Capitalism,
with a history of nearly 500 years, first acquired primitive accumulation
through colonization and plundering, often by coercive means.
Modern capitalism and liberal democracy are sometimes
compromised by money, as seen in the latest U.S. presidential election --
the most expensive in U.S. history -- with campaign costs soaring into the
billions of dollars. The Nobel laureate Michael Spence has described the
U.S. electoral process as "an evolution from one propertied man, one
vote; to one man, one vote; to one person, one vote; trending to one
dollar, one vote." The Tea Party, which used to label itself as a
grassroots movement, was later found to be financed by wealthy backers such
as the Koch Brothers and others, who sought to influence political power.
The social flaws of capitalism, together with the financial crisis and the
European debt crisis, should encourage people to rethink the Western
development model. In contrast, a socialist China is able to pool all
necessary resources to solve major problems and reduce unnecessary
bickering over de facto power competition. The effectiveness of this system
helps explain why China has maintained a relatively steady course against
the backdrop of the current international crisis. China's pursuit of
socialism is an inevitable choice in history. After the Opium War in 1840,
China became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, as foreign powers
expanded their aggression against China. The country was devastated by
incessant wars and turbulence, and the people suffered from hunger, poverty
and oppression. During the struggle of the Chinese people, none of the
Westernization movements, such as the 1898 Reform Movement or the 1911
Revolution, prevailed. It is the Communist Party of China (CPC) that
changed China's once doomed fate.
In recent years, the social unrest caused by Russia's
"shock therapy," Latin America's "radical reform" and
some African countries' copying of the U.S. political system have proven
that unwise imitation of the Western system can be disastrous. Although
many problems exist, China generally ensures political and social stability
and follows a path of socialism that accommodates Chinese features. At the
same time, China is ready to learn from other countries. The late leader
Deng Xiaoping, the architect of the country's reform and opening-up policy,
said socialism should be enriched by all the achievements of human
civilization in a bid to gain comparative advantage over capitalism.
Addressing the 18th CPC National Congress, Hu said, "We should respect
diversity of civilizations and development paths, respect and safeguard the
rights of all peoples to independently choose their social system and
development path, learn from others to make up for our shortcomings, and
advance human civilization." Like different methods leading to the
same correct answer in math, both capitalism and socialism attempt to
achieve an ideal society that can be shared by all human beings. It is still
too soon to judge which system is better at achieving this goal. China has
no reason to abandon a path proven workable by history and suitable to its
conditions in order to turn to a path that has already failed the Chinese
people. Let China follow its own way and let the rest of the world
genuinely respect China for pursuing its own unique path.
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ 11/13/2012
TOP↑
JAPAN: High Turnover Seen in Education,
Food Fields
Nearly 50 percent of employees in the education and
food industries quit their jobs within three years of graduating from
university, according to a government survey.The survey compiled by the
Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry presented turnover rates for the first
time by industry amid growing concerns about young people leaving their
jobs within a short period.According to the survey released Wednesday,
429,019 students got a job just after graduating from college in March
2009. Among them, 123,582, or 28.8 percent, quit their jobs within three
years.Meanwhile, firms in the electric utility and gas industries had lower
than 10 percent turnover.By industry, those working at education companies,
including teachers at cram schools and private schools, scored the highest
turnover rate of 48.8 percent, while those in the hospitality, restaurant
and service industries had 48.5 percent turnover. On the other hand,
turnover was as low as at 6.1 percent for the mining and quarrying
industries. Employee turnover at power, gas and water supply firms was 7.4
percent, and 15.6 percent for manufacturers."We'd like companies to
use the industry data to think about ways to improve their working
environment," an official of the ministry said.
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 11/02/2012
TOP↑
SDF Officer to Study U.S. Cyberdefense
The Defense Ministry will send a senior
Self-Defense Forces officer to the U.S. Strategic Command's cyberdefense
division, informed sources have said.The ministry plans to station an SDF
field-grade officer from fiscal 2013, with the cyberdefense group to learn
U.S. cutting-edge cybersecurity technology to boost SDF cyberdefense
capabilities, the sources said.In 2010, the United States established the
Cyber Command, under the U.S. Strategic Command, to oversee the
cyberdefense units of the army, navy, air force and marines.At the end of
fiscal 2013, the SDF plans to create a cyberdefense unit in the Joint Staff
Office.
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 11/11/2012
TOP↑
K Computer Drops to No. 3 in World Rankings
The K computer fell from second to third on the list
of the world's fastest supercomputers, according to the latest semiannual
global ranking.Titan, built by Cray Inc. of the United States, won first
place on the TOP500 List, knocking IBM Corp.'s Sequoia out of the top
spot.Titan achieved 17.59 petaflops, or quadrillions of calculations per
second.The maximal performance of the K computer, installed at the Riken
Advanced Institute for Computational Science in Kobe, was 10.51 petaflops,
unchanged from June. It topped the list in June and November last year.The
K computer began full operations in September this year and has been used
to carry out 31 research projects in five fields, including medical care,
disaster prevention and manufacturing.
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 11/14/2012
TOP↑
SDF Seeks White-hat Hackers / Cyberdefense
Skills Hard to Cultivate, Especially at SDF Wages
The Defense Ministry is having trouble finding enough
qualified personnel to staff its 100-member cyberdefense unit planned to be
launched in fiscal 2013.The new unit needs experts in computer viruses and
hacking techniques, but developing qualified personnel within the ministry
has been slow going, and outside recruitment has faced difficulties in
terms of pay and security.At a meeting of the House of Representatives
Security Committee on Nov. 8, a committee member asked: "The
militaries of the United States and Europe have hired [outside] hackers,
but the Japanese people consider hackers to be the bad guys. Will the
Defense Ministry hire them?"Daisuke Miyajima, parliamentary vice
defense minister, declined to comment, but another senior ministry official
informally confirmed that they are indeed looking to hire hackers."We
cannot defend our computer systems without knowing how they will be
attacked," he said. "We are looking to hire talents who cannot be
developed by the Self-Defense Forces under the defense-only policy."
However, the ministry said it is not looking to hire
"bad" hackers who access computers illegally. The ministry said
it wants "good" hackers who are gifted engineers with deep
knowledge of how computers and networks operate.Currently, the SDF has four
units comprising 360 members total, including the command communication
unit, that are responsible for protecting its computer system.The ministry
has been unable to find enough qualified staff to run the new 100-member
unit among its existing teams.Although the SDF has sent personnel to
Carnegie Mellon University in the United States to study computer virus
analysis since 2000, only 30 people have so far completed the program.
The senior official said the ministry must hire
outside experts if it wants to launch the new unit in time, but the
salaries the SDF is offering have hindered recruiting.SDF members who serve
in particular ways, such as on combat aircraft or submarines, are paid
relatively well. For example, a captain who pilots a jet receives a flight
allowance of about 200,000 yen a month in addition to a basic monthly
salary of about 300,000 yen.SDF computer engineers, however, are not
eligible for special pay.The ministry can opt to hire experts from private
companies through special contracts with the firms, but this method creates
problems in terms of how to protect classified information after the
contracts expire.Militaries around the world are already recruiting
private-sector IT experts.The commander of a U.S. cyberdefense unit
attracted attention in July by calling for hackers to join the military.
At a hacker conference in Las Vegas, the commander
said that while the pay was low, they would have a great time in the
military.It has also been reported that the Chinese military hires outside
experts to help run its cyberwarfare unit."It is difficult for
military education, which aims to institutionalize its members, to develop
geniuses," said Motohiro Tsuchiya, Keio University professor and
member of a government information security panel. "In cyberspace,
just having one gifted hacker can make a huge difference. Japan should
modernize its human resource development system to keep up with other
militaries."
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 11/17/2012
TOP↑
SOUTH KOREA: No. of Self-employed People
Aged 60 and Over Surges
The number of self-employed people aged 60
and over has surged by more than 100-thousand from last year. Our Bae
Joo-yon has more.REPORT: Statistics Korea announced on Thursday that around
one-point-eight million people aged 60 or older were estimated to be
self-employed as of August, up nearly 110-thousand from a year ago. Of
those, some one-point-three million ran their businesses alone.The
statistics agency said that the number of self-employed people aged 60 and
older saw a decline up until 2010 then began to surge from last year,
apparently due to a rise in the older population and a jump in the number
of retirees who are not able to enjoy national pension benefits.The total
number of self-employed people in South Korea, including those who work for
a family business without getting paid, stood at seven-point-one million,
up two percent from a year ago. Of the total, the number of men grew by
roughly 120-thousand to four-point-three million, while the number of women
rose by 16-thousand to two-point-eight million. The statistics agency found
that among the total number of self-employed people, around one-point-nine
million were graduates of college or graduate schools. That’s up
169-thousand from last year. The agency added that 210-thousand people who
are college or graduate school graduates were estimated to work at
businesses run by their families or spouses without getting paid. The
number of such people rose by 23-thousand from last year.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 10/25/2012
TOP↑
Gov’t to Toughen Up Crackdown on Online
Porn
The government aims to block the distribution channels
of online pornography, which has been blamed for a recent streak of sex
crimes against women and children in South Korea. Our Kim Soyon tells us
more.Report: The government held a national policy coordination meeting
Friday chaired by Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and announced comprehensive
measures to eradicate obscene materials to create a sound, healthy
society.The government will continuously monitor online hard-drives and
file-sharing sites and activate a filtering system on pornographic
materials around the clock. It will also mandate that Web site operators
implement technical protective measures against porn.Unregistered
hard-drives will be clamped down on and obscene sites with servers based
overseas will be blocked at the source via countries used as international
gateways for Internet traffic.Korea will also strengthen global cooperation
with Interpol and others to crack down on foreign Web sites that heavily
upload child porn materials. It will also seek to become a member of
organizations including the Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse
Online.The government will also lay out a legal foundation to enforce
administrative sanctions on adult Internet cafes including shutting down
businesses.The overall prison term will be increased for people producing
child pornography, while the exact sentencing terms will be decided during
the legislation process.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/ 10/26/2012
TOP↑
Gov't Announces Plan to Evaluate Online,
Mobile Games
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
says it will evaluate online and mobile games in line with the so-called
"shutdown law” in an attempt to foster sound gaming habits among
Korean youth.The ministry will base its assessment on seven questions to
determine if a game can trigger addiction. A list of 21 questions will also
be used to identify problematic teen behavior resulting from online game
playing.All online and mobile games that can be played on cell phones, tablet
computers and other devices will be evaluated. If the shutdown rule is
deemed necessary for a game, it will be made unavailable to minors under
age 16 from midnight on May 20th next year.Some of the evaluation questions
focus on a game's reward system, the division of roles among players, and
the addictive nature of its rules.The Korea Association of Game Industry is
protesting the ministry's measure, saying the government is automatically
assuming that online games are harmful. It added the shutdown is
unrealistic as industry factors are not being taken into consideration.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 10/31/2012
TOP↑
KMA Joins Hands with World Bank to Battle
Climate Change
The Korea Meteorological Administration is
teaming up with the World Bank to help fight climate change.KMA
administrator Cho Seok-joon signed a memorandum of understanding with
Francis Ghesquiere, manager for the World Bank’s Disaster Risk Management
Practice Group, on Saturday at World Bank headquarters in Washington.The
agreement is for cooperation in responding to climate change in developing
countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines. The World Bank offered to
work with the KMA, since South Korea has been recognized as a model
regarding the quick modernization of its weather forecast system.Under the
agreement, the KMA will provide its resources and equipment to countries
recommended by either the World Bank or KMA when needed, with funding coming
from the World Bank.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/03/2012
TOP↑
South
Korea Third in OECD in IT Industry R&D Investment
South Korean companies’ investment in IT and
communications research and development accounts for nearly one-point-five
percent of the country’s gross domestic product.According to a report from
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, investment in
research by South Korean IT and communications companies accounted for
one-point-48 percent of the nation’s GDP, coming in third after Finland and
Taiwan out of 38 countries.Only four countries had a ratio of over one
percent: South Korea, Finland, Taiwan, and Israel.By sector, manufacturing
investment by conglomerates like Samsung Electronics accounted for
one-point-36 percent of South Korea’s GDP, while software and contents made
up 0.13 percent.Out of the total investment for research and development
made in South Korea, 53-point-one percent was for the IT industry, leaving
South Korea in fourth place after Taiwan, Finland and Greece, respectively.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/ 11/04/2012
TOP↑
S. Korean Women
Rank 8th Globally in Life Expectancy
A new report finds that South Korean women are
expected to live an average of 84 years and men 77-point-three years.
That’s higher than the average life expectancy of advanced
nations.According to the United Nations Population Fund report issued by
the Planned Population Federation of Korea, South Korean women ranked
eighth in terms of average life expectancy while Korean men came in 26th
place.The report found that the global average life expectancy is
71-point-six years for women and 67-point-one years for men. The expectancy
was higher for advanced countries at 81-point-three years for women and
74-point-six years for men.The report also said that the world’s total
population grew by some 78 million from last year to stand at roughly seven
billion this year.By country, China had the largest population in the world
with one-point-three billion people followed by India with one-point-two
billion and the U.S. with 300 million.South Korea’s population stood at
48-point-six million, putting it at 26th in population size out of 189
countries. The combined population of the two Koreas was estimated at
73-point-two million, which ranks 19th in world populations.
From http://world.kbs.co.kr/11/15/2012
TOP↑
|
|
|
|
ASEAN
Urged to Bridge Digital Divide
ICT Ministers of ASEAN member-countries gathered in
Cebu, the Philippines last week and agreed to enhance their collaboration
on critical ICT programmes towards implementing the ASEAN ICT Masterplan
(AIM) targeted for completion by 2015. Vice President Jejomar Binay
represented President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino in the 12th Asean
Telecommunications and IT Ministers (TELMIN) meeting during November 15 and
16, noting that ASEAN is stronger when connected and in creating ICT jobs.
The key address of the meeting was the concern over bridging the digital
divide as it is considered one of six pillars needed to be built as the
important foundation of the AIM. This two-day event was chaired by TELMIN
Chair the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario
Montejo, and welcomed senior officials and regulators in charge of ICT in
their respective countries to update the progress of the implementation of
the AIM. “We agreed that we need to reach out to the unserved and
underserved areas of our countries, nothing that many applications of ICT
can bring about productivity to sectors that might need it,” said Montejo.
He cited an example on agriculture sector that real time weather updates
could help the agriculture sector improve farming management.
According to him, this meeting also helped
the member countries learn and share information to benefit the entire
ASEAN. “There is a great potential for improvement in productivity that
lead to more savings if everyone can become competitive,” he added. Montejo
pointed out applications like remote medical diagnosis conducted by
Singapore government, and smart identification cards from Singapore and
Malaysia that can be used to pay toll fees and access to public
transportation systems. During his welcome speech, he talked about the
progress of Integrated Government Philippines project (iGovPhil) accepting
that the Philippine government still remains bullish with the opportunities
that the ICT can provide for governance. “We are particularly upbeat about
our iGovPhil project — our flagship e-governance initiative which will
provide the unifying common application services, enterprise architecture,
and physical infrastructure to eventually ensure inter-operability and
secure data sharing across all e-government systems,” said he. “We believe
that this suite of inter-operable systems and strategic applications of
iGovPhil will transform how governance is done in our country. For us, this
means smarter government,” he added.
From http://www.futuregov.asia/ 11/19/2012
TOP↑
INDONESIA: President Stresses Domestic
Consumption Key to Spur Growth
JAKARTA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono emphasized Tuesday that domestic consumption is
the main driver of the country's economic growth and that export-oriented
economic style was not suitable for Indonesia. "Indonesia's economic
growth is dominated by domestic consumption, so Indonesia doesn't need to
follow the foreign economic strategy which is apt to
export-orientation," President Yudhoyono said here in Indonesia's
National Economic Committee Tuesday, as quoted by Indonesia's kompas.com.
Indonesia's rapid economic growth over the past few years had turned
middle-class households richer. With a population of about 240 million,
middle class comprises 60.9 percent of Indonesians in 2011, according to a
survey by Indonesian central bank. Data released by Indonesia's Central
Statistics Agency (BPS) last week shows the Southeast Asia's largest
economy grew 6.2 percent in the third quarter thanks to strong domestic
consumption despite the global economic slowdown.
Yudhoyono said countries like China,
Singapore were the model of export-orientated economies, relying on huge
trade surpluses to get economic developed, it is not necessary for
Indonesia to follow their style. Unlike its neighboring countries,
Indonesia's economy is driven by domestic consumption, which accounts for
almost 60 percent of the country's overall economy. Strong domestic demand
helps provide Indonesia with some protection against international
fluctuations in commodity prices and demand, according to analysts.
"Besides development of domestic market, Indonesia also needs to
develop and implement the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia's
Economic Development Master Plan (MP3EI) to fuel the economic growth,"
the president added. Indonesia unveiled the ambitious blueprint MP3EI last
year, aiming to drive the country to be one of the world's ten biggest
economies by 2025 with GDP to reach 4.5 trillion U.S. dollars and the per
capita income from the present 3,000 U.S. dollars to 15, 000 U.S. dollars.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/ 11/13/2012
TOP↑
Indonesian Employers Face Gov't Labor
| |
