K M I N T E R V I E W S E R I E S Young Achievers Series Click here Health, Police Authorities Rule Out Existence of alleged Nurse Gang Spreading Aids infection in Oman UAE By V M Sathish DUBAI - About a week after a Libyan court condemned five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor to death by firing squad allegedly for infecting patients with the AIDS virus, the UAE authorities have said that there is no AIDS gang spreading the fatal disease in the Emirates. According to international news agencies, a sixth Bulgarian accused, a doctor, received four years in prison for changing foreign currency on the black market. He stood trial for infecting patients with AIDS, but his verdict did not mention that charge, said an AP report. Nine Libyan hospital officials were acquitted of negligence. The gang has allegedly infected children with AIDS virus. Following this report AIDS crime gang scare spread wildly through the Internet, Email and SMS messages to a level demanding the UAE Police to came out with a statement denying the existence of any such gang of nurses in the Emirates. The UAE Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said in a statement to the local newspapers that the AIDS Injection Squad of nurses and doctors is only a rumour. He told the Gulf News that there was no one who came forward with concrete proof that that they met the so called gang. Major General Saif Al Shaafar, assistant undersecretary in the Ministry of Interior for Security Affairs also told local media that reports received from the various security authorities confirmed there was no such gang. Normally Health Ministry officials and nurses do not go house to house to provide injections. In Oman also such emails have been circulated. "There are a number of people going around these days pretending they are from the Ministry of Health. They are trying to give injection which they say prevent you from gettin several illnesses. This injection is for spreading AIDS. Please inform whoever is in the house while you are at work to be alert when they see those people. Their target are kids, so please inform your kids while playing outside in the afternoon to be careful," said a report in the Oman Forum. The rumour was spread though the word of mouth, electronic messages and the Internet. According to these messages, three women pretending to be nurses are spreading AIDS around the city in the guise of a vaccination drive. Several messengers claimed that an AIDS gang has been visiting homes asking residents to take anti-diabetic vaccinations under a campaign by the Ministry of Health. Some residents have locked their doors and prevented their children from going outside. Unconfirmed reports said some children were injected with HIV infected syringes. The Gulf News said quoting a UAE national that a group of women claiming to be nurses had visited his house, but he turned them away and called the police. According to speculation, the gang has infected around 10 families with AIDS. An email circulated to the media said: "Yesterday one of my doctor friends sent me a message saying: be careful everyone, there is a group called 'AIDS RANGER GROUP' which comes to houses pretending to be from the Health Authority, providing vaccines to cure many diseases such as AIDS, diabetes and others, but actually they inject people with infected syringes. Earlier KM report alerted people to be cautious while going to public places like cinemas where alleged gangs place infected syringes and sharp objects on cushioned chairs. According to Reuter Reports from South Africa, South African prison gangs were using HIV infection as punishment, ordering gang members carrying the AIDS virus to rape disobedient inmates in a ritual known as "slow puncture. According to a spokesman for the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons the new practice first came to sometimes back and was believed to be spreading. The rape would be carried out by one person, or sometimes several. Giving a slow puncture', means in prison jargons that the victim would die over a period of time.South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world, with about 4.8 million people, or one in nine of the country's population of 42 million, infected with the virus which causes AIDS. (KM News Bureau) Starcom MediaVest Wins Yahoo! Middle East Online Award - Dubai, UAE, May 17, 2004 - Starcom MediaVest Group, the region's largest media planning and buying specialist, was honoured at the first Yahoo! Middle East Online Awards for its proactive online activity. SMG was the only media agency to receive an award at the ceremony recently held in Dubai. "This award not only recognizes our clients' unyielding commitment to this developing medium and the creative executions and innovative technologies used to build these online campaigns, but also our understanding of consumers' evolving media consumption habits and changing social behaviours, which are being served by these technologies," said Philip Jabbour, media director, SMG. SMG clients General Motors and Nokia also were recognized at the Awards for their online involvement, built on campaigns developed cooperatively with the client, SMG and iLeo MENA, the digital and customer relationship management (CRM) agency. "Working hand-in-hand, this integrated team from SMG and iLeo is able to offer its clients an optimal mix of creative online material, strategic media planning and targeted media buying that delivers enhanced exposure to the brands we serve," Jabbour added. Some of the campaigns mentioned at the awards ceremony included the richly interactive GM Stars website, the Cadillac SRX launch banner ad and the geo-targeted Chevrolet Optra banner campaign that shows the car's price in the viewer's local currency. Nokia campaigns mentioned at the ceremony included the first-of-a-kind Nokia Game online gaming adventure, as well as online campaigns launching the N-Gage™ and the Nokia 6800. The Middle East Online Awards were initiated by Yahoo! to recognize those advertisers and agencies that have consistently invested over the years in online marketing, not only on Yahoo! but other websites across the region. (KM News) Sonia Proposes Sushama Disposes? Smt. Sonia Gandhi accompanied by Dr. Manmohan Singh of the Indian National Congress called on the President, today at 12.15 p.m. Smt. Gandhi had discussions with the President. She told the President that she would meet him again tomorrow along with letters of support from other political parties for a Congress led government. Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, called on the President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam today and told him that she felt Smt. Sonia Gandhi should not be the Prime Minister of this country, because she was of foreign origin. A delegation of ‘Rashtriya Swabhiman Aandolan’ headed by Shri Govindacharya with four others also called on the President and gave a representation pleading that “Mrs. Sonia Gandhi should not be allowed to be sworn in as the Prime Minister.” The President simply heard them. Shri Ambeth Rajan, National Treasurer and Shri Satish Mishra, National General Secretary, Bahujan Samaj Party called on the President and gave a letter signed by Ms. Mayawati pledging “issued-based” outside support to the New Coalition Front Government being led by Smt. Sonia Gandhi.” RBI Governor Announces New Credit Policy Dr. Y. Venugopal Reddy, Governor, RBI, in a meeting with Chief Executives of major commercial banks today presented the annual policy Statement for 2004-05. The Statement follows the pattern already set in the previous years. Broadly, the Statement covered a review of macroeconomic and monetary developments with several analytical and structural issues concerning financial sector and monetary policy. It delineated and elaborated on various areas in which RBI has been taking measures from time to time and provided a focus on broad policies that are intended to be pursued for the year 2004-05, while retaining the flexibility to take specific measures promptly and effectively as the evolving circumstances warrant. He announced a number of measures for strengthening the financial system, improving the credit delivery mechanism and indicated measures addressing institutional improvements to support growth consistent with stability in a medium-term perspective. He also underscored the need to deepen the consultative process to achieve further social good. Following are the highlights of the Annual Policy Statement for 2004-05: Domestic Developments * GDP growth for 2004-05 projected at 6.5-7.0 per cent. * Assuming no significant supply shocks and appropriate management of liquidity, the inflation rate projected for policy purposes at around 5.0 per cent during 2004-05. * Growth in reserve money and Money supply (M3) were higher during 2003-04 reflecting capital inflows; the expansionary impact of foreign currency assets, however, was neutralised to a large extent by substantial open market operation (OMO) including sustained repo operations under LAF. * Sustained pick-up in non-food credit since September; total flow of resources to the commercial sector was higher than last year. * Government market borrowing programme in 2003-04 completed at a much lower cost; while noting reduction in fiscal deficit, need to step up capital expenditure stressed. * Further reduction in interest rates in money and government securities markets observed in 2003-04. * Public sector banks have reduced their BPLR in the range of 25-100 basis points. * RBI to continue with its policy of active liquidity management; Market Stabilisation Scheme (MSS), is an additional tool. External Developments * Global economic recovery has broadened and strengthened faster than expected despite some uncertainties. * The exchange rate of the rupee appreciated vis-à-vis US dollar but depreciated against the Euro, Pound sterling and Japanese yen in 2003-04. * India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by US $ 37.6 billion during fiscal 2003-04 and are at US $ 118.6 billion by May 7, 2004. * India’s exports in US dollar terms increased by 17.1 per cent while imports by 25.3 per cent; the current account expected to register surplus during 2003-04 for the third year in succession. * Exchange rate management, as in the past, based on flexibility, without a fixed or pre-announced target, but with ability to intervene. * The most distinguishing feature of the external sector during 2003-04 relates to the large capital flows with its inevitable implications for the conduct of domestic monetary policy and exchange rate management. Overall Assessment * Despite uncertainties, India’s position among the top performers globally in terms of GDP growth is expected to continue during 2004-05. * As regards prices, despite overhang of problems on account of oil prices and large domestic liquidity, price situation unlikely to cause concern to macro stability during 2004-05. * Need to overcome the bottlenecks in flow of bank credit to agriculture and small & medium enterprises emphasised. * Restructuring of rural banking sector stressed for enhancing the quality, purposiveness and reach of banking in India. * Whereas the Reserve Bank will continue to provide a policy environment that avoids excessive and destabilizing volatility as a public good, market participants were urged to take into account the portfolio risks arising from any unexpected developments and provide adequately for them. * The outlook for the external sector accords comfort to the conduct of public policies. Stance of Monetary Policy * Monetary management during 2003-04 broadly in conformity with the stance of the policy set out for the year.* Projected expansion of money supply (M3) at 14.0 per cent with credit growth by 16.0-16.5 per cent during 2004-05.* Noticeable uncertainties including geopolitical risks impacting on international oil economy reckoned while designing the stance of monetary policy. As such, the inflationary situation needs to be watched closely and there could be no room for complacency on this count. * The overall stance of monetary policy for 2004-05 will be: (i) provision of adequate liquidity to meet credit growth and support investment and export demand while keeping a very close watch on the movements in the price level. (ii) Consistent with the above, while continuing with status quo, RBI to pursue an interest rate environment that is conducive to maintaining momentum of growth and, macroeconomic and price stability. Measures * Bank Rate kept stable at 6.0 per cent. * Repo Rate unchanged at 4.5 per cent. * Revised LAF scheme operationalised. * The entire export credit refinance was made available at reverse repo rate. * Almost all banks have adopted the new system of BPLR and the rates are lower from their earlier PLRs. * Banks are encouraged to align the pricing of credit to assessment of credit risk to improve credit delivery and credit culture. * RBI accepted some recommendations of the interim Report of Vyas Committee for implementation, e.g., loans for storage facilities under priority sector, securitised agricultural loans as priority sector lending, waiving margin/security requirements for certain agricultural loans up to a limit, NPA norms for crops loans aligned to crop seasons. * Development of mechanism for debt restructuring for medium enterprises on the lines of corporate debt restructuring. * Definition of infrastructure lending broadened. * Working Group constituted on Credit Enhancement by State Governments for financing infrastructure. * A Gold Card Scheme for creditworthy exporters drawn up. * Various restructuring options being considered by the Government and other stakeholders for rationalising the structure of RRBs - Vyas Committee is also looking into restructuring of RRBs. * Limit on the lending of non-bank participants in the call/notice money market reduced to 45 percent effective June 26, 2004. * Automated value-free transfer of securities proposed between market participants and the CCIL under CBLO. * RBI constituted Working Group to review the performance of negotiated dealing system (NDS). * Clearing of OTC derivatives through CCIL being considered. * CCIL to work out arrangement for settlement of trades in non-SLR debt instruments for NDS members. * Discussion paper on Capital Indexed Bonds being put in public domain. * The ECB limit already enhanced to US $ 500 million under the automatic route for investment in the real sector. * Resident individuals already permitted to remit freely up to US $ 25,000 per calendar year. * Indian corporates and partnership firms allowed to invest overseas upto 100 per cent of their net worth. * Banks allowed to raise long-term bonds to finance infrastructure. * The extant limit on unsecured exposures for banks withdrawn. * Exposures on all public financial institutions (PFIs) to attract a risk weight of 100 per cent. * Banks required to maintain capital charge for market risk in a phased manner. * Banks to draw a road map for migration to Basel II. * Banks to make higher provisioning according to the age of NPAs. * Banks/FIs to provide credit information to CIBIL. * Banks to fully adhere to the KYC policy for opening new accounts. * Report of the Working Group on Financial Conglomerates is being put in public domain. * Risk based supervision extended to more banks. * Fresh licences to UCBs only after a comprehensive policy. * Report of the Working Group on Development Finance Institutions is being put in public domain. * Technical Group to evaluate the regulatory and supervisory systems deployed by refinancing institutions (RFIs). * Waiver of service charges on banks for electronic funds transfer and electronic clearing services. * RBI sets up a Board for Payment and Settlement Systems. * RBI expects most commercial banks to join the RTGS system by June 2004. * A Working Group on Electronic Funds Transfer for Capital Market constituted. * Single window services for all transactions in RBI cash department. * Operationalisation of On-line Tax Accounting System by June 2004. * Standing Committee on Procedures and Performance Audit on Public Services has submitted four Reports, being put in the public domain. * The recommendations of the Advisory/Technical Groups on International Financial Standards and Codes are being pursued RTE SIGNS DEAL AT ATM TO EXPAND 'JUST A DROP' CHARITY IN REGION DUBAI 16th May 2004 'Just a Drop', the Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) charity that raises cash to provide clean water for children around the globe, is set to expand in the Middle East and sub continent on the back of a deal signed with the French Bottled Water Company (FBWC) at Arabian Travel Market 2004, the Middle East's largest travel and tourism show. Under the deal FBWC will donate 2.5 per cent of sales income from all bottles of Santé still and sparkling mineral water it sells across the region. And FBWC will work closely with RTE's representative in Dubai to recruit more companies to support 'Just a Drop' and increase awareness of the cause at any hospitality and travel trade related gatherings, ranging from health and fitness to lifestyle and environment events it stages across the region. Santé will be given free space at ATM and any other RTE event introduced to the Middle East and sub continent to promote the alliance between the two and raise money and awareness for 'Just a Drop'. Tom Nutley, a 'Just a Drop' Trustee and RTE's Chairman, said: "We are working hard to expand the work of 'Just a Drop', which is the only global travel and tourism industry appeal dedicated to provide clean water to thousands of children and their families. All funds raised go straight to the work of the appeal and this joint venture with FBWC will not only bring in more cash for the cause through sales of Santé but also through signing up more businesses in the travel trade to extend our work. " The charity supports water, sanitation and health projects worldwide. It also assists in providing water purifying tablets, water containers and hygiene packs to the victims of disasters, such as in times of major floods and earthquakes. It has been involved in a wide range of projects from drilling 50 new wells in nine villages across Cambodia to drilling wells and launching a community healthcare programme in Ethiopia. Rajesh Arab, Chief Executive Officer, FBWC, said: "We will be launching our flagship product, Santé, in the UAE this month and then rolling it out across the Middle East and sub continent. Our targeted sales should provide strong support for the 'Just a Drop' and we will also be working with RTE to gain support from other businesses in the travel and tourism industry for this important cause." Santé - which in French means 'health' and 'good cheer' - is bottled at source at the St Léger, Ste-Sophie & Aurèle springs in the heart of the French countryside. Caption: Arab and Nutley sign the 'Just a Drop' deal.(KM News) Tanmia trains team to provide focused evaluation of job-seekers DUBAI May 16, 2004 The National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) has embarked on an ambitious new project that aims to upgrade the evaluation skills of its employment officers with the objective of advising and guiding National job-seekers into appropriate placements in the job market. Launched nine months ago in association with an international consultancy firm specializing in assessment testing, the project is currently passing through a practical stage of studying its direct impact on candidates, taking into account the local environment and culture. The assessment tools were tested on certain groups of registered job-seekers from different backgrounds, in an effort to validate and adapt these tools to cover a wide range of subjects. The tests included English Language Proficiency (written and oral), Work Values Inventory, Interest Inventory, Vocational Aptitude and IT proficiency. "There is a real need to develop scientific evaluation modules to assess job-seekers, education and professional preferences as well as their skills, interests and aptitude," said Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Awar, Director General, Tanmia. "This project is aimed at training our employment officers to administer the testing process. It is designed to develop the career path of all National job-seekers at different levels to drive personal achievements and self-motivation.. " As part of the project, Tanmia employment officers are being trained in areas like test administration and scoring, analysis of test results, writing test reports and presenting the information to Tanmia clients. Dr. Al-Awar added: "Experts have developed highly effective tools to help our employment officers evaluate job-seekers' abilities and direct them to specific job streams, based on their ability. Such an approach will increase the confidence levels of Nationals and increase their chances of integration in the job market, especially in the private sector." Dr. Al-Awar said this project could lead to the establishment of a job seeker assessment facility at Tanmia, a move that will considerably enhance Tanmia's ability to produce well-rounded employees from its database of National job-seekers. "Adopting new assessment and career guidance tools in collaboration with an internationally renowned specialist firm is one of Tanmia's strategies to become a more effective instrument in raising the numbers of Nationals' recruitment in the private sector," commented Dr. Al-Awar. "It will help us identify strengths and weaknesses of job- seekers, as well as enable us to advise them on further skills development courses, with particular jobs in minds. The current stage of testing the new modules on different sets of job seekers will demonstrate how effective these tools are and how they can be adapted to meet the needs of the local market and socio-cultural environment." (KM News) MID EAST NEEDS TO SHARE PRIVATE & PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCES, SAYS SARRAF ' DUBAI - 16th May 2004 Jacques J. Sarraf, the former head of Lebanon's Association of Industrialists and Chairman of the country's giant Malia Group, says Middle East businesses need to be better organised and transparent and willing to share experiences. Speaking on his appointment as a corporate ambassador for the ground-breaking 'Leaders in Dubai' event, which will be staged in Dubai this November, Sarraf said the event is fundamental to promoting better institutions and an opportunity to share experiences. "This event constitutes a fundamental move towards better economic organisation and experience sharing in the region," he said. "The Middle East desperately needs such well co-ordinated, high profile events instead of individual seminars which often lack organisation and focus. "With so many of the region's top businessmen attending this event, there will be an opportunity for comprehensive economic discussions and hopefully the sharing of leadership ideas to help the economic development of the Middle East." Sarraf 2/ Seven global personalities, all leaders in their own fields, will address 'Leaders in Dubai,' which will be held at the Dubai International Convention Centre from November 29-30. They include: former Mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani; Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, Tom Peters, the U-guru of management; best-selling author Frank Maguire; MIT's Professor of Management and Economics, Lester Thurow; influential futurists, Alvin Toffler and former GE Chairman and CEO, Jack Welch, who will address the audience via a live satellite link. Sarraf, who is also a founder of the Lebanese Russian Association and a founder and honorary President of the Lebanese/Canadian Business Association in addition to the Vice President of the Union of Mediterranean Confederation of Enterprises, was selected as one of around 15 corporate leadership ambassadors for his pioneering role in industrial development within Lebanon and within the I.T. sector through his Al Malia chairmanship. He joins a growing 'Leaders in Dubai' corporate ambassador lobby which also includes Abdulla Al Zamil, the Chief Operating Officer of Saudi Arabia's Zamil Industrial Investment Company and Hussain M. Sultan, Group Chief Executive and Board Member, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC). Sarraf 3/ The corporate ambassadors initiative came directly at the request of the 'Leaders in Dubai' speakers who wanted to assemble a group of the most recognised and contemporary business leaders in the Middle East to be their VIP guests at the event and network ideas for future leadership development in the region. "Jacques Sarraf has taken a leading and high profile role in the redevelopment of Lebanon's industrial sector following the ending of the civil war hostilities in the early 90s," said Sheena Dunne, Project Manager, Leading Minds, which is organising the event. "His appointment as corporate ambassador recognises his determination and leadership role in assisting the rebuilding process." 'Leaders in Dubai' is expected to attract more than 1,500 business leaders. It will be the biggest business conference to be held at the Dubai International Convention Centre since the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in September 2003. Caption: Sarraf - takes up corporate ambassador role for 'Leaders in Dubai.' (KM News)   @KM 2004 Page Designed by V M Sathish