Adel Imam sees great potential for a strong film industry in the UAE Expresses hope that the region will soon be rid of the tragedy of terrorism Dubai, December 13, 2005: At a press conference during the 2nd Dubai International Film Festival, Adel Imam, the celebrated Egyptian actor and Arab icon said that he saw great potential for the development of a strong regional film industry based in the UAE. “I see greatness in the UAE. Established regional cinema centres and the UAE can collaborate to develop and take Arab cinema to the world,” he added. “The UAE, especially Dubai, has the potential and the opportunity to attract a strong well established film industry in light of the massive media projects like the Dubai Media City and the Dubai Studio City. The possibility of cooperation between the UAE and countries with well developed cinema will reflect enormously on building this industry in the region,” he said. The importance of the festival was reflected in the fact that he put his play ‘Bodyguard’ on hold to attend it. “I could not attend the Dubai festival last year as I had a packed schedule. I am honoured to be invited and to be able to attend this edition,” said Adel. Taking the example of Egyptian cinema and explaining his neutral ideology, Adel Imam said: “Egyptian cinema never follows the ideology of any political party. It always has room for other ideologies. Our cinema is full of examples when the government was opposed from the beginning of its history. I will always be an Egyptian at heart and an Arab in outlook.” A strong opponent of terrorism, Adel Iman said: “Killing of peaceful artists like Moustafa Akkad or simple civilians is inexcusable. But we will rise above such circumstances through artistic creativity. I hope we can all stand together against terrorism and all Arab countries can live in peace.” On the question of his preference for theatre as compared to cinema, Adel Imam said: “When a play is successful, I cannot stop it even if it runs for 7 years. There is great love and appreciation from the audience and great love between the actors as well. But now I do one film every year. It is better to make fewer great films than 70 useless ones.”“The truth is I am treated very well by Arab people wherever I go. You cannot imagine the joy I feel when their love, hospitality and generosity is everywhere. Nothing can compare to the love of the people,” he concluded. RETAINING PASSPORTS OF WORKERS The Minister of State (I/C) for Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Oscar Fernandes told the Lok Sabha today that as per information received from the Indian Missions in Gulf countries, the sponsors normally retain the passports of the employees when they reach the destination country in order to obtain work permit/extension or renewal of visas and for security reasons as well as to discourage lateral movement of the emigrant workers to other employers. Such passports are returned to the employees by the sponsor in case of need, such as foreign travel or return to India. In case of any inconvenience reported, the concerned Mission immediately takes up the case with the sponsor directly and with the local authorities through local foreign office.This information was given by Shri Oscar Fernandes in reply to a question by Adv. (Smt.) P. Satheedevi. ADB's Annual Lending to India to Exceed $2.5 Billion by 2008 NEW DELHI, INDIA - ADB plans to increase its lending to India to $2.65 billion in 2008, according to a new Country Strategy and Program Update. The level was $1.12 billion in 2005."The program reflects the continuing priority of upgrading infrastructure, which accounts for more than three quarters of the three year pipeline, and gives emphasis to agriculture and rural development to create jobs and make the country's growth more broad based," says Tadashi Kondo, ADB Country Director in India. Transport projects account for the bulk (36%) of ADB's infrastructure lending pipeline, followed by urban sector operations (21%), and energy sector projects (20%).Loans for developing the agribusiness sector, improving water resource management, strengthening commodity markets, and boosting coastal resources management account for around 11% of the program. The remaining pipeline comprises loans to assist with public resource management in Assam and West Bengal, strengthen rural finance institutions, and promote private sector participation in infrastructure. ADB will continue to focus its development efforts on relatively weak states such as Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, and those in the Northeast. Infrastructure operations (including urban projects and transport projects) for Uttaranchal and the northeastern states have been included in the three-year program. ADB will also work closely with the Government in facilitating public-private partnerships on critical infrastructure such as in the transport and urban sectors. Workshops and roadshows will be organized to encourage private sector participation, both domestic and foreign. India's high growth, which reached almost 7% in 2004, is expected to be maintained over the next two years. But achieving the Government's target of 8% growth depends critically on upgrading infrastructure as well improving agricultural growth. The Government is thus giving high priority to programs such as Bharat Nirman, National Highway Development Program, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (or the Rural Roads Development program), Power for all by 2012, and the National Urban Renewal Mission. CSPU 2005 takes concrete steps to increase the relevance, responsiveness, and results-orientation of ADB's India program by focusing on improving project readiness, project implementation, and capacity building. A grant technical assistance facility ($15 million each in 2006 and 2007) is being created to undertake detailed project design and engineering studies so that projects are fully prepared and ready to award contracts by the time they become effective. Regular sector portfolio reviews being organized by ADB and the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, will help in removing implementation bottlenecks, promote cross-learning and transfer of best practices across states and executing agencies. Workshops will be organized to strengthen relatively weak capacity executing agencies in ADB's partner states and to familiarize their staff with ADB's policies and procedures. A workshop focusing on the Northeastern states was recently organized by ADB and DEA in Guwahati. ADB's recently approved Innovation and Efficiency Initiative (IEI) allow multi-tranche lending, increase flexibility in cost sharing arrangements, expand the list of expenses eligible for ADB financing, and allow subsovereign and nonsovereign public sector financing. Procurement processes and safeguard requirements are also being streamlined under the IEI program. The IEI reforms are already being incorporated into the India program. The recently negotiated Rural Roads Sector II project ($750 million) will offer multi-tranche financing. Emirates Float Glass to set up 600 tonne per day float glass plant in the UAE December 14, 2005 Emirates Float Glass (EFG) LLC, founded by Dubai Investments PJSC has announced that it has signed license and construction agreements to set up new a 600 tonne per day state-of-the-art float glass plant in UAE. EFG? license agreement with PPG Industries will provide EFG with the process and product technology services, process assessment and product licensing rights while IANUA SPA has been awarded the lump sum turnkey contract to construct the plant in a 320,000 square meter plot of land under the construction agreement. The agreement was signed by Khalid Kalban, Managing Director and CEO, Dubai Investments PJSC on behalf of EFG. William Klingensmith, Vice President - Flat Glass Division represented PPG Industries while Dr. Andrea Greinschgl, Technical Director represented IANUA SPA. Kalban said, ?he selection of PPG Industries as the technology partner indicates the strong resolve on EFG? part to produce high quality products for its customers. The float glass line will start production in 2007 and within 2-3 years we plan to expand by setting up a number of related manufacturing facilities including additional float line, coating line and related products.·o:p> Klingensmith expressing his complete confidence in EFG? success stated ?PG will assure both short term and long term success of EFG through transfer of state-of-the art technology to produce a wide range of high end float glass products meeting highest quality standards as well as ongoing technical and marketing support· PPG Industries, founded in 1883, is a global supplier of glass, coatings, fibre glass and chemicals. The company has about 50 production facilities in the United States and about 108 worldwide, including subsidiaries, joint ventures and equity affiliates. PPG Industries registered an annual turnover of US$ 9.5 billion and US$ 684 million net profits in 2004. Dr. Greinschgl expressed his happiness in being selected as the main contractor for Emirates Float Glass. He said that the PPG and IANUA team of engineers has already commenced the basic design activities. IANUA has been involved since 1975 in designing and building machinery and plants used in glass manufacturing process around the world. Dubai Investments, the promoter of EFG, owns two major glass processing units in UAE and has announced its intentions to acquire a third plant in Saudi Arabia. These three facilities alone will account for more than 50 per cent of the output from EFG. ?he project is of strategic importance to the UAE? industrial development. We have selected this project in line with the objectives of our Government to focus on import substitution and export oriented projects that facilitate diversification of our industrial base,· Kalban concluded. NGO calls for accurate civilian death toll BAGHDAD, 14 December (IRIN) - A Washington-based humanitarian organisation urged the US government this week to accurately count and identify all civilian casualties of the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq, following a recent announcement by US President George Bush that 30,000 Iraqi civilians had been killed to date."CIVIC believes the US military needs to keep statistics on civilian casualties, particularly those caused by US actions in Iraq," read a statement from the Campaign for Innocent Victims of Conflict (CIVIC). Tara Sutton, Acting Field Director of CIVIC, said she believed that records were only being kept "to a certain extent" in the form of "after-incident reports" filed by the US military after any armed engagement."Keeping accurate statistics on civilian casualties is not only the right thing to do in conflict, it mitigates resentment among Iraqi citizens and will help the military minimize harm to civilians in the future," she said. In a 12 December speech in Philadelphia, the US president said that some 30,000 Iraqis had died in the conflict since the US-led war and occupation began in March 2003."The acknowledgement by President Bush of the human cost of war is a positive step by this administration. It must now go further and make the counting and compensation of civilians part of US policy in conflict," said Sutton. "We believe that the US military goes to great lengths to avoid harming civilians; however unless they keep records, there remains little way to improve," she added. Hassan Kubaissy, a professor at Baghdad University who has been keeping an independent count of the casualties, disputed the figure cited in Bush's speech."These numbers are not accurate at all," he said. "In Fallujah alone, more than 10,000 people died, and now the US president says only 30,000 have died in total? This is inaccurate." A Dossier on Civilian Casualties in Iraq from 2003 to 2005, published by non-governmental organisation Iraq Body Count in association with the Oxford Research Group, documented the killing of 30,892 civilians in the first two years of the occupation. Some 30 percent of these were killed in the initial invasion. The dossier estimates that women and children account for 20 percent of the total figure, and that half of the registered civilian deaths occurred in the capital, Baghdad.At least 45,000 civilians have also been wounded, according to the report. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights and CIVIC have said that less than 10 percent of victims' families have received some form of compensation for damages."We are urging the US government to make condolence payments an integral part of policy in Iraq, when it can be proven that US military accidents caused civilian death or injury," said the CIVIC statement. Under current policy, remuneration is "discretionary," meaning that US military officers in Iraq can make the decision on the spot whether or not to compensate survivors of slain civilians or owners of destroyed property. A report released this week by the Oxford Research Group stated that the payment of compensation for deaths, injuries and damaged property would serve to "lessen bitterness and reduce terror" in Iraq.In places where significant offensives against insurgents had occurred, such as Fallujah, it said that more substantial funds were needed for a "massive rebuilding programme" aimed at creating jobs and restoring the dignity of residents.Most of those whose homes were destroyed in the Fallujah offensive late last year - many of whom are still living in makeshift refugee camps - had not received any compensation, the report added. Labour Conference calls for Enhanced Social Security The 40th session of Indian Labour Conference (ILC) which concluded here today, has called for expeditious enactment of comprehensive legislation covering social security aspect and the service conditions of unorganised sector workers. It said that a tripartite Working Committee should be set up to prepare a final draft Bill for this purpose. The Committee will examine all the four draft Bills, viz., one each prepared by the Ministry of Labour & Employment and the National Advisory Council and two draft Bills forwarded by the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector. It will also take into account the recommendations/suggestions from all stakeholders. The ILC said that all unorganised workers including home-based, wage workers, migrant workers and self- employed workers whose average monthly earnings do not exceed Rs.6500/- per month should be covered. It said that floor-level social security schemes like life and accident cover, health insurance and maternity benefit should be funded by the Central Government. The ILC said that administrative and infrastructure expenditure under the proposed legislation should also be borne by the Central Government for initial five years. It called for designing of social security schemes prior to introduction of the legislation. The other recommendations included setting up of tripartite Social Security Boards at the Centre and in the States/UTs to formulate/review the schemes under the legislation. In order to promote better industrial relations, the ILC approved the proposal to set up Grievance Redressal Authority with certain changes. It commented that every industry/establishment employing 50 or more workmen must have one or more grievance redressal committees which should consist of equal number of representatives from the management and the workers. The size of the committee should not be less than 2 and not more than 6. These committees would in no way affect the right of the workers to raise disputes under the Industrial Disputes Act. With regard to Amendment of the Section 2-A of the ID Act, the ILC said that the Central Government should be the ‘appropriate Government’ in respect of Central Public Sector Undertakings and State Governments should be the appropriate Government in respect of State PSUs. However, it did not agree to the proposal that the Central Government should be the appropriate Government in respect of the disputes of national importance. The proposed amendment to extend time period from six months to three years in respect of declaring any industry as public utility service was supported by representatives of employers and state Governments. However, trade unions representatives did not agree to it. There was a consensus at the Conference to empower Tribunals under the ID Act to enforce the award/order given by them as a decree of civil court. The Conference agreed to direct reference of disputes connected with termination, dismissal, retrenchment, discharge to Industrial Tribunals. The Trade Unions did not endorse the proposal to amend provisions of the Chapter V-B of ID Act to raise the number filter of workmen employed in an establishment to 300 from the present 100. However, the employers’ representative supported the proposed change. Raising of the retrenchment compensation suitably was supported by the Trade Union leaders but the employers’ representatives were not willing to consider amendment in this regard unless the proposed changes in the ChapterV-B were agreed to by the Trade Unions and the State Governments. The two-day ILC which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister yesterday discussed in detail the issues concerning Social Security for Unorganized Sector Workers and amendment to Labour Laws. The Conference was attended by the representatives of the employees, employers, states and central Governments. Bahrain Goes Democratic : GNA Report The Kingdom of Bahrain has witnessed over the last years comprehensive development in all fields as a result of the modernization and reform process, led by HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Since HM the King's accession to the throne in 1999 and his successful reforms which met worldwide admiration, freedoms, economic competence and popular unity received a tremendous boost in addition to the people- Leadership interaction which has been much reinforced. During the current year, royal initiatives of HM the King, pouring into democracy, have continued over the year, reinforcing freedom and broadening popular participation to attain social justice and equality within the framework of the action charter's principles and constitutional laws. Both the Representatives and Shura Councils have been eyed while witnessing open and transparent deliberations on the overall national causes such as integration of the people in decision sharing, represented by their elected representatives, in cooperation with Shura members who are known for broad experience and wisdom. Under the parliament dome, citizens' issues were at the forefront of discussions as the representatives Council raised tens of proposals and formed inquest committees to pose questions to Ministers. The Councils worked on reinforcing democratic practices and putting into force the action charter's principles such as law supremacy, judicial independence, strengthening personal freedoms, social equality, human rights and transparency in government dealings, updating economic regulations, and reinforcing private sector's developmental role. The legislative practice went on at ease and clarity through a host of mechanisms which were specified by sub-committees to pass proposals and laws in cooperation with the executive authority. The Shura council assumed a big role during the third term, holding 35 ordinary sessions and two extraordinary ones whereas the Shura members doubled efforts during the term and were able to make tremendous achievements, presenting 16 draft proposals, discussing 63 draft laws, of which 45 were referred to the government for issuance and the rest were sent back to the Representative Council for further study and consultation. The Council also approved the 2005-2006 state budget as it sent 7 draft laws to the government, sent 2 back to the Representatives Council, rejected two others and put off three draft laws to the forthcoming term. The Council also posed 28 questions to various ministers who wholeheartedly answered them. As to the Representatives Council, it made tremendous achievements over the past sessions, discussing 124 draft laws, of which 91 were approved and 160 proposals of which 50 were endorsed as well as it listened to 270 suggestions, of which 117 were passed, and posed 210 questions, which were all answered. Both the Shura and Representatives Councils had an outstanding presence at parliamentary gatherings and discussions at the Arab and global levels and presented Bahrain's democratic experience which was tipped by all as "pioneering in the region". The Two councils also took part in discussions on the possibility of establishing a GCC parliament and a common Arab Parliament, affiliated to the Arab League. Out of firm belief in Bahrain's belonging to the Arab and Islamic world and out of response to the Islamic causes worldwide, the two councils crystallized clear stances in support of the Palestinians and the Iraqis. Despite all these democratic achievements, the two councils still have a lot to do in the future to reinforce Bahrain's position among other nations in line with HM the King's directives, uttered in the royal address at the inaugural ceremony of the National Assembly. -Courtesy Gulf News Agency. Bahrain. Protest March by 450 Workers from Sonapur to Diera for Non Payment of Salary DUBAI – About 450 workers of a construction company who have marched from their Sonapur labour camp to reach a Labour office in protest against the non-payment of pending salary were prevented by Dubai police and the company owners agreed to pay one months salary to settle the matter. “We have not been paid salary for six months and the seventh month is started now. Earlier the company said the pending salary will be paid on August 25, which they did not follow,” said one of the employees of Ahmed Bin Dasmal company. However, the company officials who were summoned to the Al Qesis Police Station have agreed to pay two months salary in this month itself. Motorists and early morning walkers encountered the workers procession which reached up to the Clock Tower in Diera. The Indian workers, mainly from Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala marched with Bengaladeshi and Pakistani workers who said their monthly salary ranges from Dhs.500 to 800. “They had promised to give salary on August 30, which was also not fulfilled. We have no other alternative but to approach the concerned authorities,” he added. The construction workers, mostly Indians, Pakistanis and Bengladeshi nationals started their protest march at 4 AM and reached Al Mullah Plaza. Four company buses followed the procession. Company officials said every month salary was paid to the workers, but workers are agitated about seven months pending salary. Some employees said even if their salary is delayed, their company will not deduct any money from the salary. About 4000 people work for the company and 50 per cent were given a months salary, said company’s labour officer. “We were planning to give salary to the rest, but they started striking work,” he added. “We do not have money to pay for food. There is no light and water in some of the camps. We came here to work and earn some money for our family. What can we do when the company is not paying salary for six months,” added an Indian worker. Workers added that they were taken in groups to the Al Qesis Police Station. Workers are not allowed to stage demonstrations and police directed them to the police station to settle the problem in an amicable manner. “The canteen people are sending us back without giving food because their money is not paid. Without the company paying our salary how can we have food?” asked an agitated worker. “We have started the protest march at 4 AM when there was no traffic problem and no heat. We did not get water to drink as we are confined in the buses,” complained another worker. “Some workers have not joined the procession but are abstaining from work. They are sitting in their camp,” he added. “There was a big traffic block near Al Mullah Plaza and I could not reach office on time. I saw many workers marching peacefully towards Al Mullah Plaza,” said a pick up van driver, an eyewitness. PIA to Start Direct Flight Gwadar GWADAR: The government has decided to start direct PIA Gwadar-United Arab Emirates (UAE) flight service twice in a week aimed to develop and facilitate foreign as well as local investors to Gwadar-deep sea project. Well-placed sources informed Online Tuesday that PIA would resume flights two days in a week to Gwadar, Turbat and Muscat. The PIA service would provide enhanced facilities to dwellers while investors of UAE would gain easy access for investment-related purposes in Gwadar-deep sea project. Earlier, Senator Dr. Ismail Buledi along with PIA general manager and DCO Gwadar inaugurated the first-ever flight to Muscat from Gwadar. He thanked Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for his personal interests in Balochistan development saying that resumption of PIA flights would facilitate dwellers of Turbat as well as Gwadar while on the other hand investors from UAE would gain easy access to Gwadar. He also thanked chairman national flag carrier for his personal interest to start PIA flights from Gwadar-Turbat to UAE Secret tribunal orders Reuters cameraman held for six months Key Humanitarian Developments in Iraq More than 1,000 Shi’ite pilgrims were killed in stampede in a district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad on Wednesday, officials said. Many women, children and elderly people, drowned on their way to the Kadhimiya mosque, when railings along a bridge over the River Tigris gave way under pressure. One million pilgrims are said to have converged for the pilgrimage and this is biggest loss of life in Iraq in a single day since the US-led invasion in 2003. Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari on Thursday dismissed calls for government ministers to resign over the deaths, the international media reported. Rumours of a suicide attack are said to have sparked the stampede, reports said. Pilgrims gather every year at the mosque to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Moussa al-Khadhim, a prominent figure in Shi’ite history. He is buried at the Kadhimiya mosque, which gives the district its name. It was reported last Friday that the bodies of 36 men had been found dumped in a river near the Iraqi town of Kut, according to local police. All had been shot in the head in an execution style. The men had been handcuffed and the bodies left partially clothed, officials explained. The authorities believe that the men were killed several days before their bodies were thrown in the river. Meanwhile, the US military in Iraq released on Wednesday a Reuters cameraman held for three days without charge, but continued to hold another freelancer working for the news agency and at least four other journalists on unspecified charges. Haidar Kadhem was travelling on assignment in a car with his soundman Walid Khaled, who was shot dead,” a statement from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) said. Kadhem was lightly wounded. US military spokesman Lt. Col. Steve Boylan told CPJ that Kadhem had been detained "due to inconsistencies in his story" that "warrant further questioning." Another Reuters journalist, freelance photographer and cameraman Ali Mashhadani has been held incommunicado and without explanation by US forces since 8 August.“This is simply unacceptable,” said CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper. “Through these detentions the U.S. military gives every impression that it is not accountable. That’s a bad example to give the citizens of an emerging democracy.” US and Iraqi military forces routinely detain Iraqi journalists without charge or explanation, and some have been held for months, the CJP said. Other news dominating the headlines from Iraq this week was the submission on Sunday of the new draft constitution, despite its rejection from Sunni members of the Constitution Committee. There have been major concerns over issues of federalism, reference to Islamic law and women’s rights in the charter. However, the new draft was hailed by the international community. The United Kingdom, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, welcomed the publication of the constitution. “The Presidency congratulates the Iraqi people on reaching this important milestone in the political process,” a statement said. Dubai Accreditation Centre becomes associate member of ILAC In less than three months of its inception as an organizational unit in Dubai Municipality, the Dubai Accreditation Centre (DAC) has been recognized by the Australia-based International Laboratories Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) as an associate member of the international body. The DAC gives approval to compliance evaluating bodies such as testing and calibration laboratories, inspection units and other bodies that issue compliance certificates. The ILAC has conferred associate membership to DAC after ascertaining its compliance with the requirements for getting such memberships. Eng. Abdullah Al Shaibani, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Technical Services Affairs and Head of the Supervising Committee on DAC said that on the basis of this membership the DAC can officially represent the field of accreditation of laboratories and inspection bodies in the meetings of the General Assembly of the ILAC, which are held annually. The General Assembly is the body that formulates the policies and decisions of approval of ILAC at international level regarding accreditation of laboratories and inspection bodies. He said that based on this membership DAC will also be entitled to many other rights such as voting right on the decisions of the General Assembly, participation in technical committees formed by the ILAC and participation in preparing and reviewing the publications of the ILAC. However, DAC will not be allowed to sign multi-pronged mutual recognition agreement because this right is reserved for only full members. Qualifying for signing recognition agreement is subject to conditions such as complying with international specifications of ISO/IEC 17011 and passing through accreditation body for evaluation process known as Peer Evaluation by an evaluation team specially registered with ILAC. Al Shaibani said getting membership was the fruit of the concerted efforts by the employees of the DAC since more than three years when it was part of the Dubai Central Laboratory Department. “Due to the perception of the officials at Dubai Municipality on the basic role played by accreditation in international free trade the DAC was separated from the Dubai Central Laboratory Department and given the necessary freedom for achieving the required neutrality according to international specifications,” he said. Eng. Adnan Sharafi, Director of DAC said the centre will strive for getting full membership in the ILAC after fulfilling the requirements for that category in a year’s time. He said signing mutual recognition agreement with ILAC is very important because it becomes the main reason for accepting accreditation certificates issued by accreditation centres internationally. “Accepting accreditation certificates issued by accreditation centres means accepting certificates and test result reports issued by compliance evaluating bodies that are approved by the centre in any other part of the world. It also include avoiding loss of time and effort for re-testing during transferring the reports and test certificates from country to country that helps international free trade and realizing the international principle, “Tested once accepted everywhere,” said Sharafi. The DAC has given approval to 13 laboratories in the field of chemical, biological, physiological and mechanical tests on a number of products. It also approved a laboratory for calibration of mass and power as per international specifications of ISO/IEC 17025, in addition to seven inspection bodies that conduct inspection on safety requirements for lifting equipments that are used at the building construction sites that conform the international specifications of ISO/IEC 17025. With this the total number of bodies approved till date by the DAC has become 21 laboratories and approved bodies. The activities of the DAC will be expanded in the near future to include accreditation of bodies that issue compliance certificates to products, individuals as well as systems. The DAC also has future plans for enhancing the standard of test and inspection results and issuing certificates and also strengthening its credibility as well as enhancing the safety standards and contributing in the process of releasing the shackles hindering free trade movement. Middle East Focus on contrasting fortunes with the “digital divide DUBAI, 29 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - With developed countries forging ahead and the Middle East generally lagging in information and communications technology, there is a danger that the growing “digital divide” could hinder economic development, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). “The size and scale of the potential benefits foregone through failure to participate in the new ‘digital society’ are likely to be much greater” even than those missed in previous technological leaps, UNCTAD argues, in trying to help international and state policy-makers focus on the issue. Yet, Egypt has made solid progress in the development of ICT, and has important lessons to offer other countries – not least in the Middle East, which is lagging behind the US and Europe, the UN agency argued in its ICT Development Indices 2004, released earlier this summer. The lessons may be helpful to neighbours such as Yemen, ranked 136 of 165 countries in the indices, and where ICT development has regressed steadily – relative to other countries – in the last decade. UNCTAD compiled its ICT Development Indices – covering 2004 but released earlier this year – using per capita measures of connectivity, public access and government policy in regard to internet hosting, personal computers, mainline telephony, mobile telephony and internet usage. There are sharply contrasting trends according to the type of technology, the agency said, with strong gains in access to mobiles and the internet in many developing countries. In terms of ICT as a whole, though, OECD countries forged ahead, dominating in ICT connectivity and diffusion. “Changes in ranking are generally small for Arab and Asian countries”. In other words, “countries with strong telecommunications development are maintaining their lead and building on their advantages”. Despite the overall trends remaining very stable over recent years, some countries (such as Egypt, China, the Czech Republic and South Korea) have made strong gains in ICT – especially on internet access and use in Egypt’s case. The development of ICT in the Middle East is estimated to be three to four years behind the US, and two years behind Europe, according to UNCTAD. This partly reflects the lesser importance many of the countries devote to this sector, the agency said, but there is evidence that governments in the region are now giving greater recognition to ICT, with good results. The Gulf states typically stand higher in the ICT diffusion rankings than other Arab states, with the United Arab Emirates (20) and Kuwait (42) making good progress. Some other Middle Eastern countries are included in the mid-range of the ICT development indices, including Lebanon at 64 and Jordan at 75. Iran sits at 84 in the rankings, and Egypt jumped 42 places to 112 between 1995 and 2002, the latest date for which the index provided figures. Syria stands at 104, while Yemen lags behind in ICT development at 136 of 165 countries covered. The details to generate a ranking are not available for Iraq. Egypt, in particular, has been active in adopting a broad range of policy changes to facilitate ICT development: it has established a national technology plan, promoted infrastructural development, e-government and e-commerce, supported IT-related research and development, tackled training needs and subscription charges, and established public-private working groups to address particular concerns. In fact, Egypt’s progress may be underestimated in the rankings – based as they are on per capita measures of diffusion – since notable “islands of achievement” in ICT are averaged over large populations to yield rankings that may be lower than expected. Egypt’s particular success has been in expanding the number of internet users, and UNCTAD has highlighted the country as an example of how innovative government policy – and, crucially, its implementation – can foster ICT development and improve the diffusion of technology in society. EGYPT MAKES SOLID PROGRESS In Egypt, according to UNCTAD, “a dynamic Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has played a strong role” in ICT promotion and diffusion, collaborating successfully with the private sector and emphasising the importance of public-private partnerships. Without strong demand-led ICT development, the country drew on traditions of central governance and policy leadership to drive a supply-led approach. The Ministry of Communications invested heavily in infrastructure itself – in establishing internet exchange points as hubs for Middle Eastern traffic, for instance – while also encouraging private companies, according to UNCTAD. More tangibly, the ministry abolished dial-up internet subscription charges in January 2002, with Telecom Egypt and consumers’ internet service providers sharing the cost instead. Prices were reduced to the rate of a local call, making them among the most competitive in the world at around US 18 cents an hour. Not surprisingly, abolishing subscription charges “had a direct effect on internet usage”, UNCTAD reported, and some three million people in Egypt are now internet users. The government’s success was partly due to pioneering IT clubs designed to promote awareness and affordable access, including to people in poorer areas, the report said. Egypt had promoted grassroots community access points through IT clubs, it said, in order “to extend access and basic IT training to a wider range of customers and communities”. These clubs were established in youth centres, sports clubs, cultural centres, schools, mosques, churches and NGOs in every governorate. As an indication of their success, it noted their continuing expansion, with 191 established in 2003 alone and the ministry planning to achieve 1,000 clubs by the end of this year. YEMEN LAGS BEHIND In contrast with Egypt’s surge, Yemen lags near the lower end of the ICT indices, having regressed since 1995 (relative to other countries) in terms of connectivity, diffusion and policy. In 1995, Yemen stood at 102 in the rankings, but that had slipped to 128 by 1999 and to 136 by 2002, according to UNCTAD. “Yemen needs the political will to develop ICT, as well as creating awareness among the society on the importance of bridging the digital divide between the world and us,” said Yasser Thamer, director general of public relations and media at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the capital, Sana. “We also need well-trained people, able to deal with such technology in a professional way, so that we turn Yemen into a producer in the area of ICT rather than just a consumer.” Thamer also said there was inadequate networking and coordination on ICT and its usage in Yemen, even between different government institutions. Yet he disputed that Yemen deserved as low a ranking as 136 on the ICT indices, suggesting that it should probably be up around 100 or 105. Part of the reason for Yemen’s low ranking, he said, was the relative lack of awareness in the rest of the world about technology issues in Yemen. “We are not in close contact with the world,” he said. “We do not provide our latest updates on ICT to agencies like UNCTAD. This is why we have been given that rank.” Yemen had made some good progress in terms of ICT in the last few years, Thamer said. The capacity of the landline phone service has been increased from 460,000 lines in the year 2000 to 1.9 million lines in 2005. The number of mobile phone subscribers had soared from just 27,000 in 2000 to 1.2 million in 2002, and was still rising, he added. The state-owned Yemen Mobile, which Thamer described as the first fully mobile CDMA (wireless) network in the Middle East, has 170,000 subscribers, with the rest divided among the two GSM service providers: Spacetel and Sabafon. On internet use, according to the ministry, recent figures showed an increase in subscribers to some 105,000 in 2002, up from 8,000 with the sole internet provider, TeleYemen, in 1996. Yet, the number of internet users remains very low in comparison with the population of 19.7 million population and global access figures, and some 60 percent of total internet subscriptions are owned by the business community, according to local studies. “Public policy-makers tend to limit the definition of ICT to computers and computer networks only,” technology expert Helmi Noman told IRIN, in suggesting reasons for Yemen’s poor progress. “There is a lack of a comprehensive vision of the value of ICT in the development context.” Generally, Noman said, “ICT is envisioned as part of either the service or production sector. However, the impact, usability, and sustainability of ICT in development are not strongly understood.” Because there is no “comprehensive vision of the value of ICT in development”, Noman suggested, “there is no implementation plan that makes effective use of ICT to address the Millennium Development Goals.” Yemen also suffered from weak donor support for projects that harness the power of ICT for development, he added. The lowest technology penetration rate in Yemen is among educational institutions (2 percent) and government offices (1 percent), according to Noman. The internet population is concentrated in five large cities, with almost 60 percent in the capital city of Sana alone. “This is not surprising given that the percentage of the urban population is 24.7 percent of the total population,” he said. The availability and cost of PCs (a locally assembled PC costs an average of US$600) and widespread illiteracy were among the other key obstacles to technology diffusion, Nomad added. THE ROAD AHEAD The importance of technology to economic development has long been recognised and is particularly true of ICT in the “knowledge economy” of a global market, according to UNCTAD. In particular, technology opens up income and growth opportunities in communications, the reorganisation of production processes and improved efficiency across a whole range of economic activities. In effect, the agency says, it offers the potential to assist developing countries “leap frog” entire stages of development. Not only should countries be promoting ICT in its own right, according to UNCTAD, but its development should be closely linked to the development of education, trade, health and other sectors to generate wider benefits and synergies. A major challenge for policy-makers, it says, “lies in addressing the issue of digital divide between rich and poor countries, rural and urban areas, men and women, skilled and unskilled citizens, and large and small enterprises.” EGYPT: Focus on upcoming election CAIRO, 2 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - The streets of Egypt are filling up with election banners, mostly supporting the incumbent President Hosni Mubarak, as campaigning for the first ever contested election reaches a climax. On 4 September, candidates will hold their final rallies, before observing a three-day break in campaigning on the eve of the 7 September presidential elections. The past week saw candidates criss-crossing the country, delivering speeches and presenting their policies to voters throughout the country. NOUR’S JOURNEY SOUTH The most dramatic journey was the whistle stop train tour of Ayman Nour, the candidate of the liberal Ghad Party, and one of Mubarak’s most prominent competitiors. Nour took buses and trains deep into Egypt’s south, a part of the country traditionally ignored by the wealthier capital city and Delta region. The Ghad Party held a series of rallies and marches in the towns of Minya, Assiut, Edfu, Kom Ombo and finally Aswan. According to observers, there were large turnouts in the heavily Nubian areas around Kom Ombo and Aswan. Nour rallies were announced by trucks equipped with loud speakers announcing the arrival of Nour who “comes by train, not by plane” – a reference to Mubarak’s preferred method of visiting the south for short stops. Nour’s speeches focused on the economic problems in the country and what he described as the government’s history of broken promises. There was also a strong focus on government corruption. In more informal meetings on the street in various cities, Nour also discussed local problems and issues. MUBARAK’S MESSAGE The Mubarak campaign visited Upper Egypt as well, with a 29 August campaign stop in Assiut. The president brushed over the main themes of his campaign, including industrial and agricultural reform as well as promises of increased political participation in his next term. Significantly for Upper Egypt, though, was his acknowledgement of the disparities in development that have taken place. According to UNDP’s 2004 Egypt Human Development report, development in the south has significantly lagged behind the north. Per capita incomes in some southern provinces are a third that of Cairo. The president promised new schools and hospitals as well as investment so that the two halves of the country would “move forward in tandem” once more. He also addressed the nationwide housing shortage in several campaign stops during the week, promising to change the laws governing the building of houses so that young people could more easily start families. In Egyptian culture, a man can often not marry until he can offer the bride an apartment. “I know finding appropriate housing represents an obstacle to many of our youth,” he told several thousand supporters in Assiut. “I feel for their problems.” EFFECTIVE ADS The campaign of the historic Wafd Party and its candidate Noman Gomaa, the other main competitor for Mubarak, saw significantly fewer campaign stops than the others. The campaign, however, has been buoyed by an effective advertising campaign focusing on the country’s problems. The print campaign, which has appeared in most of the country’s major newspapers, both state-owned and independent, began with the evocative phrase “we’ve had it!” The advertisement then laid out the major complaints of the people, including rising prices, corruption and unemployment. The second installment of the campaign went under the banner, “we’re suffocating” which further elaborated the problems with the regime, including lack of democracy. In the final days of the campaign, the slogan has now changed to “the demands” as the Wafd then put forward its candidate as a solution to the problems outlined in previous ads. While the Wafd’s Gomaa lacks the charisma of Nour, the party has massive advantages in funding, reporting over US $1 million for its campaign war chest, which is equal to that of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). Most of their funds have gone to print and media political advertisements. Advertising for Nour’s campaign has been minimal. THE ISSUE OF TURNOUT One of the biggest concerns of the elections have not been who will win the contests, which most see as a foregone conclusion in favour of the incumbent, but whether people will come out and vote. According to the NDP, turnout for parliamentary elections in 2000 was only 20 percent. Traditionally people don’t vote—or even apply for the necessary voting card. Candidates have been encouraging people in various speeches to buck this trend and get out and vote. Privately, NDP officials admit that a turnout of just 40 percent would be seen as a major victory. In the 25 May referendum on the amendment of the constitution to allow contested presidential elections, the Interior Ministry reported a 53 percent turnout. Critics have cast doubt on that figure and a report released by the Judges’ Club said that just a cursory review of various polling stations revealed a turnout of around 3 percent. In the 2000 parliamentary elections, security forces often prevented voters expected to choose opposition candidates. For his part, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif announced that security forces have been ordered to exhibit “maximum restraint” during elections. So far during the campaign, there have been no clashes with security. Voting will begin at 8am local time on 7 September and end at 8pm, with voting conducted at 9,737 auxiliary polling stations, which will then report to 329 primary stations. If voters go to a polling station where their name is registered, they will only need their identity card, but if they go to a more distant polling station, they will have to produce their voting card.