ICPE Member States News (8 March 2010)

Albania

Balkan ministers take on border safety issue (Balkan Insight): Balkan interior ministers have gathered at a two-day regional conference in Tirana to discuss cooperation in handling border security and responses to
transnational crime.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the all the countries in the region and several EU delegations, as well as Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha.

Albania aims to develop mobile banking for the public (Balkans.com): The Albanian government will set up a working group to draft an action plan on developing mobile banking in the Balkan country for the public.

Algeria

Egypt's Orascom Telecom Says Algerian Unit Tax Appeal Rejected (The Wall Street Journal): Algerian authorities have rejected Orascom Telecom's (ORTE.CI) appeal against claims its Djezzy unit owed back taxes and penalties, the largest Arab mobile operator by subscribers said late Sunday.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh to import 25,000 tonnes of rice from Burma (Siddique Islam):  Bangladesh will be importing 25,000 metric tonnes of sunned rice from Burma shortly to meet growing demand, officials said.

Bangladesh social laboratory for inclusive banking (The New Nation): "Sustainable banking leaders are in the right place. Bangladesh is indeed the social laboratory for innovation and for inclusive banking and finance," Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank, said while speaking at the end of the second day of Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) Conference.

Bangladesh To Use Monetary Tool Again Monday (Siddique Islam): Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) - The central bank of Bangladesh will resume auction of 30-day Bangladesh Bank bills on Monday, aiming to mop up excess liquidity from the market, officials told AHN Media on Sunday.

Bosna and Herzegovina

Decision on Ganic Release Request Due March 11 (Balkan Insight): In the second hearing since he was arrested on Monday, A British High Court today deferred its decision on Ejup Ganic's release from custody until Thursday, March 11, in order to wait for Serbia to submit evidence for its extradition request. Meanwhile, protesters gathered in Sarajevo today to demand his release.

DRC

Zambia, Congo DR and Namibia sign agreement on transport (Post Zambia): Zambia has signed an agreement aimed at harmonising all aspects of transport, trade and spatial development with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Namibia.

Guinea

Lack of funding is threatening the UNHAS (Afrol News): Lack of funding is threatening the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in Guinea, which needs over $3 million before the end of March to be able to continue transporting urgent relief items and aid workers in the country and the wider region.
“I am deeply concerned about the impact of a possible discontinuation of the flights in the absence of alternatives in terms of air transport,” said Fatma Samoura, Country Director in Guinea for the World Food Programme (WFP), which manages the air service.

Guyana

Agriculture Ministry to assist Haslington, Grove, Paradise with land clearing exercise - to provide more lands for cultivation (ReliefWeb): The Ministry of Agriculture will be embarking on a rigorous land clearing exercise to further enhance cultivation practices of farmers and boost productivity. These were the sentiments of Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud, during a farmers' meeting at Haslington/Golden Grove Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) office today.

Guyana, UK, Ethiopia, Norway in efforts to raise US$100B in climate finance (NNN-GINA): Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo will join his British, Ethiopian and Norwegian counterparts to mobilize US$100 billion in annual finance for developing countries’ efforts to combat climate change.

India
We failed on sugar, says PM (Hindustan Times): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday admitted to the government’s failure in controlling sugar prices and said ways of ensuring such a crisis never occurs again need to be found.

Bill in LS to allow SBI to raise more capital from market (Hindustan Times): A bill, seeking to reduce Centre's shareholding in the State Bank of India (SBI) from 55 per cent now to 51 per cent and to allow the bank to raise more capital from the market through preference shares, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee moved the State Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2010, amidst slogan shouting by SP, RJD and BSP members against the women's reservation bill in its present form.

PM calls all-party meeting on Women’s Reservation Bill (The Indian Express): With proceedings in Parliament all but suspended over the tabling and expected passage of the more than decade-old Women’s Reservation Bill on Monday, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has called for an all-party meeting in the hope of arriving at a political consensus and avoid the Bill being put to a voice vote later this evening.

India NMDC to invest upto $3.9 bln in 2nd steel plant (Hindustan Times): India's top iron ore miner NMDC is planning to set up a 2-million tonne steel plant in Karnataka with an estimated investment of Rs 160-180 billion rupees ($3.5 billion-$3.9 billion), a senior company official said.

Essar plans $8-10 bn UK listing of energy biz (Hindustan Times): Ruia-controlled Essar Group is planning to go in for a $8-10 billion (Rs 36,400 crore to 45,500 crore) international listing (in London) of its energy business that includes coal, power, oil and gas.

Women happier in PSUs, says survey (Hindustan Times): Women engaged in the private sector may be getting fat salaries but their job satisfaction level is low compared to their public sector counterparts, a survey of 773 working women has said.

Rupee gains 14 paise against dollar in early trade (The Times of India): The Indian rupee appreciated by 14 paise to 45.46 a dollar in the early trade today, extending its rally for the sixth straight session, largely on continued capital inflows amid firming Asian currencies.

Iraq

Votes being counted in Iraq election (BBC): Iraqi vote counters wait for ballot boxes to be opened in Baghdad Counting is under way in Iraq's elections, with preliminary results expected in several days.

CNOOC and Sinochem to close Missan oil field deal in Iraq (SteelGuru): China Knowledge reported that A consortium led by CNOOC Ltd a subsidiary China National Offshore Oil Corp is expected to win the bid for developing the Missan oil field complex in Southern Iraq.

Nepal

Nepal Gets $5 Mn Food Assistance From USA (RTT News):  The United States has provided an assistance of USD 5 million to Nepal for the U.N. World Food Program's (WFP) operations in the Himalayan country as a part of its 2009 commitment.

Nepal may see slower growth in remittance (Nepalnews.com): International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that Nepal  is unlikely to see the robust growth from remittances in the near future.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka to Seek Tenants for $550 Million Tax-Free Port Zone (BusinessWeek): Sri Lanka plans to invite overseas and local companies this month to set up operations in a new $550 million tax-free port zone as the end of the island’s civil war boosts trade and investment.

Syria

President al-Assad Receives Message from Saudi King on Bilateral Relations and Regional Developments (SANA): President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday received a verbal message from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the close bilateral relations and the latest regional developments.

Syria, Saudi Arabia Sign Five Agreements, Memos of Understanding and Documents on Customs, Trade and Economy (SANA): Syria and Saudi Arabia signed on Sunday five agreements, memos of understanding and documents in the fields of customs, trade and economy at the conclusion of the deliberations of the Syrian-Saudi Joint Committee and the 1st Syrian-Saudi Businessmen Forum.

Arab Businessmen: Syria Rich with Investment Opportunities (SANA): Syrian government has opened the door for the private sector to make investment projects in the various sectors to reach a strategic public-private partnership to boost economic and social development.

Tanzania
Kakobe loses out on power line (Daily News): The government yesterday said “there will be no change of route” for high-voltage electricity line, firmly putting to an end the conflict between the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) and the Full Gospel Bible Fellowship (FGBF) over the dispute.

The government’s decision comes a day after the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr William Ngeleja had visited the area and held discussion with the church’s leader, Bishop Zakaria Kakobe.

Kikwete right on Africa feeding the World, but... (Daily News):
The 40th Edition of the ‘Davos World Economic Forum’ (WEF-2010) founded by Professor Klaus Schwab in the belief that ‘global multi-stakeholder cooperation lies at the heart of the Forum’s mission to improve the state of the world…’was held in Switzerland January 27-31, 2010.

Zambia
RB optimistic about Zambia’s future (Daily Mail): Banda says he is optimistic Zambia will record and witness positive changes in economic development within the next few years.

Mr Banda said the beginning of the changes should start now while he is still in office so that he can share the joy of economic growth with the rest of the Zambians.