Jordan Launches JD 2.5 Million Programme to get 20,000 Government Employees ICT Trained, Tata Engineering total Automobile sales up by 31.3%, Passenger vehicles post 35% growth -Gulf Traffic to host launch for Solar powered Roadside Message Boards Give us Liberty or Death --tells Keralite Teachers Family Facing deportation from Iran.IMF Concludes 2002 Article IV Consultation with the Republic of Yemen The Fairmount Dubai named official hotel for Index 2002 Saudi Arabia to Recruit 500 English Teachers from India, Pakistan.
The Chief Minister of Kerala Shri A.K Anthony calls on the Deputy Prime Minister Shri L.K. Advani in New Delhi on August 12, 2002 (Monday).
The Chief Minister of Kerala Shri A.K. Anthony calls on the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on August 12, 2002 (Monday).
Saudi Arabia to Recruit 500 English Teachers from India, Pakistan.
The Saudi Ministry of Education will recruit more than 500 foreign teachers to teach English in Saudi public schools starting from the academic year scheduled to begin on Sept. 24. The Ministry officials have contracted with 500 teachers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Kenya to meet the teaching needs in teaching English which is being introduced in the primary level for the first time in Saudi Arabia this year
Expatriate allowed to do part time courses in Saudi Universities.
Bachelor’ Degree from King Abdul Aziz University hrough part-time study.
A.M.Ashraf
Riyadh -August 12, 2002. Changing a long standing policy of keeping the expatriate students away from Saudi Universities, King Abdul Aziz University university will start admitting expat students from next week onwardds to engage in degree courses in business administration, public administration, Islamic studies, Arabic language, English language and sociology. The university also offers diploma courses for expatriates intending to join its evening classes on a full-time basis.
According to Hussein Saleh Al-Badri, director of communications at the deanship for social service and continuous education, the university expected at least 500 expatriates to enroll on a part-time basis for the bachelor’s courses offered by the Faculty of Economics and Administration and Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The university will charge fees ranging from SR14,000 to SR40,000 for the two-year diploma courses depending on the subject of specialization. The university was still to decide how many expatriates it could accommodate for full-time evening courses.Most of the Universities in the Gulf countries used to be exclusive institutions for their own citizens. The trend seems to be changing because new private universities are keen to admit expatriate students.--keralamonitor.com
Gulf Traffic to host launch for Solar powered Roadside Message Boards
12th August, 2002
Click the picture for detailed view.
Dubai -- A new range of solar-powered portable variable message signs will be
launched in the Middle East by Irish roadside equipment specialist PWS
Traffic Systems, at Gulf Traffic 2002, the region's premier road
transport conference and exhibition, to be held in Dubai this October.The move comes hard on the heels of Dubai Police Traffic Department's
recent decision to introduce solar-powered radar cameras to monitor
speeding vehicles, as international roadside equipment specialists are
lining up for a slice of the region's lucrative solar-energy apparatus sector."The Gulf's guaranteed sunshine throughout the year makes solar-powered
roadside equipment a highly efficient, cost effective and eco-friendly
solution to the region's road and traffic sector," said John McAteer,
Director, PWS Traffic Systems.The state-of-the-art solar-powered mobile unit, which uses the energy of
the sun and the latest in light emitting diode (LED) technology to
generate messages, can also be fitted with radar speed detection,
traffic counters and GSM modems.The new system allows tailor-made signs to be stationed in areas where
electricity is not available, as it stores solar energy by day and it
releases it by night or in cloudy conditions.Other PWS solar-powered products are already deployed in various
locations across the region, including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.PWS Traffic Systems, with GCC representatives in the UAE, Saudi Arabia,
Qatar and Oman, is among 60 companies to have contracted for Gulf
Traffic so far."The event has, to date, attracted exhibitors from the UK, Europe, the
Far East and Middle East, Canada and the USA and is heading for a sell
out as we expect a total of 100 companies to participate," said Jessica
Sutherland, General Manager, IIR Exhibitions & Conference, the event's organisers.
Backed by seven UAE municipalities, 11 GCC ministries and industry
bodies spanning three continents, Gulf Traffic 2002 will be held at
Dubai's Crowne Plaza Hotel from October 26-29.
August 12, 2002. keralamonitor.com
Give us Liberty or Death --tells Keralite Teachers Family Facing deportation from Iran.
Family of four--husband, wife, children will be arrested on August 18, deported to Pak-Iran boarder.
Sacked teacher put on six months probotion after working six years in the school! School manager prepared termination letter of two teachers six months in advance! Indian teachers in Iran paid salary in Indian rupees!
The Alien office in Tehran stamped Exit on the passport of Jerry Thomas and family for the 18th of August. Five days from the family of four will be arrested by the Iranian Police, deported to the Iranian-Pakistan desert area and leave them in the Persian Desert --that is what the Indian Ambassador in Tehran is planning to do. The family is desparately seeking help from various sources to get at least a decent exit from the foreign land. Indian Embassy which is supposed to be protecting Indian citizens abroad seems to be acting with vengance and malice towards a Keralite family without any humanitarian consideration."Under any circumstances his visa should not be renewed without the consent of the Indian Embassy,' writes the official with vengence.See the official letter
As the election to the School Managing Committee is on the 29th of August. The present committee members want the Jerry family out of Iran before the election. 'Can the NRK Minister Mr. M.M. Hassan, whose responsibility is to ensure safty and welfare of the Keralite community abroad about this and do something about it so that the family is allowed to stay in Tehran till the ourt case is settled. The Embassy of India keeps on writing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran asking them to see that the Jerry family is not allowed to stay in Tehran to fight their pending case.
The Embassy of India is forcing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to throw them out of Iran. The Indian School has not paid him any of his contractual dues and even the air ticket. Then how do they expect him to leave Tehran? Even though he told the Alien office all this, they
they can't do anything about it. They even told the Keralite family that if they don't leave on the 18th of August, they would be forced to arrest four of them and leave them at the
Pakistan border.!Is that what the Embassy of India wants the Iranian Aliens Office to do."They want me to
be totally destroyed. Even the British would not have done anything so vile to the Indians. After terminating my services and stamping Exit on my passport, the Embassy's role in my whole episode should have been over. Then why are they continuing to harass me like this? Am I a world renowned terrorist or something?Instead of helping him to get his dues settled from the Indian School, the Embassy of India is out on a witch-hunt to destroy this Keralite family? " It is high time the Embassy of India came out openly and told me the reason for this kind of attack. Till now they have not told me anything or provided me with any reason for the attack on me. What is my fault? I have
written to the new President of our dear motherland, but I have not received any response from him either. My time is running out. I have only 6 more days to get justice. Then the Alien office will be forced to deport me from Iran. They will be forced to dump my
family and me at the Pakistan border. I hope at least that will make the Indian Ambassador and his Representative very happy."The Holy Gurudwara in Tehran has been helping all immigrants in Iran, irrespective of religion, nationality or any other consideration. They used to help all the immigrants who are in trouble by providing them with food, shelter and even air ticket. But in my case, even they are not ready to come forward because the Embassy of India has threatened to stamp anyone helping me, as a terrorist, and deport him or her. The Embassy of India has spread such terror in the minds of the Indians in Tehran that even the house of God is afraid of the Indian Embassy in Tehran,' Jerry says. "I know not what others may think, but as to me give me liberty or give me death!', he says in desparation.
The Iranian Authorities were very kind to the Keralite family me and they gave an extension on the exit the Embassy of India had got stamped on my passport. "Since I have a
court case in the Labour Court, the helpful Iranian authorities gave me extension. The Indian Embassy has threatened the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Tehran that if they help me anymore by giving me extension, two Iranian teachers will be deported from India,' Jerry says."Then I went to the court and got a stay on my exit, which was for only 15 days. After that, when I went to get a further extension because the Labour Court had given me a date which was 45 days hence, the Indian Embassy wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
forced them to write to the Court also not to give me extension. Now our stay in Tehran is getting over,' he says.Total Automobile sales up by 31.3%, Passenger vehicles post 35% growth
Commercial vehicle sales up by 27%, Q1 sales up 45.6%Mumbai --August 12, 2002. keralamonitor.com
Tata Engineering reported a total sale of 16853 vehicles in the domestic market in June '02, representing an increase of 31.3% over 12833 vehicles sold in June '01.
July 8, 2002, Mumbai: First Quarter sales stood at 38961 nos. as compared to 33191 vehicles sold in the corresponding period last year, showing a sharp increase of 17.4%.Commercial Vehicles
Sales of commercial vehicles continued to show a healthy growth with total sales volumes of 7700 nos. in June '02 registering an increase of 27% over June last year. First Quarter sales of 21376 commercial vehicles showed a significant 45.6% growth over 14694 vehicles sold in the corresponding period last year.Passenger Vehicles
The passenger car business registered a total sale of 9154 nos. in the domestic market registering a growth of 35% over June '01 and 75% over May '02. The Company ended the first quarter with a total domestic sale of 17590 vehicles and an overall share of 11.5% in the passenger vehicle market.Indica registered a sale of 7056 nos. in June '02, growing by 48% over June '01 and continued to lead the compact segment market. The Indica ended the first quarter with total sale of 11905 nos. Utility vehicle sales at 2097 nos. grew by 4% over June '01 and ended the first quarter with a cumulative sale of 5684 nos.
Gulf Traffick to witness launch of Solar Powered Roadside Message Signs.
August 12, 2002. keralamonitor.com
A new range of solar-powered portable variable message signs will be
launched in the Middle East by Irish roadside equipment specialist PWS
Traffic Systems, at Gulf Traffic 2002, the region's premier road
transport conference and exhibition, to be held in Dubai this October.The move comes hard on the heels of Dubai Police Traffic Department's
recent decision to introduce solar-powered radar cameras to monitor
speeding vehicles, as international roadside equipment specialists are
lining up for a slice of the region's lucrative solar-energy apparatus sector."The Gulf's guaranteed sunshine throughout the year makes solar-powered
roadside equipment a highly efficient, cost effective and eco-friendly
solution to the region's road and traffic sector," said John McAteer,
Director, PWS Traffic Systems.The state-of-the-art solar-powered mobile unit, which uses the energy of
the sun and the latest in light emitting diode (LED) technology to
generate messages, can also be fitted with radar speed detection,
traffic counters and GSM modems.The new system allows tailor-made signs to be stationed in areas where
electricity is not available, as it stores solar energy by day and it
releases it by night or in cloudy conditions.Other PWS solar-powered products are already deployed in various
locations across the region, including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.PWS Traffic Systems, with GCC representatives in the UAE, Saudi Arabia,
Qatar and Oman, is among 60 companies to have contracted for Gulf
Traffic so far."The event has, to date, attracted exhibitors from the UK, Europe, the
Far East and Middle East, Canada and the USA and is heading for a sell
out as we expect a total of 100 companies to participate," said Jessica
Sutherland, General Manager, IIR Exhibitions & Conference, the event's organisers.Backed by seven UAE municipalities, 11 GCC ministries and industry
bodies spanning three continents, Gulf Traffic 2002 will be held at
Dubai's Crowne Plaza Hotel from October 26-29.
The Fairmount Dubai named official hotel for Index 2002
August 12, 2002. keralamonitor.com
Michael Kaile, Vice President & General Manager, The
Fairmont Dubai and Kim Willis, Project Manager, dmg Index Exhibitions in
front of the Fairmont Dubai's unique glass sculptured fountain.Global trade show company, dmg Index Exhibitions, organisers of the
annual Index interiors and furniture show held in Dubai, has signed up
The Fairmont Dubai as the official Index 2002 hotel."The Fairmont Dubai's close proximity to the Dubai International
Exhibition Centre (DIEC) means trade shows, their exhibitors and
visitors are a key target segment for us," said Michael Kaile, Vice
President & General Manager of The Fairmont Dubai. "As Index is the
largest exhibition held at the DIEC, it is essential we build a working
relationship with the organisers."One of Dubai's newest landmarks, The Fairmont Dubai opened at the
beginning of this year. The pedestrian bridge across Sheikh Zayed Road,
linking DIEC and the 394-room Fairmont hotel, appropriately named The
Fairmont Walkway, is the first bridge of its kind linking both sides of
the busy highway."With upwards of 1,000 exhibitors and in excess of 25,000 visitors,
Index provides an unparalleled branding opportunity. The Fairmont Dubai
is ideally situated offering not only excellent access to DIEC but
acting as a reciprocal gateway to the vibrant Sheikh Zayed Road strips
for exhibitors as well as local residents and tourists" concluded
Michael Kaile, Vice President & General Manager.Index 2002 will be held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre
from October 2-6 this year."The Fairmont Dubai and Index are an ideal match," said Kim Willis,
Project Director, Dmg Index Exhibitions. "As striking as the Fairmont is
from the outside, its use of interior design technologies is first rate.
The hotel is virtually a showcase of what visitors can expect to see at
Index."To date, exhibitors from 40 countries have contracted for Index 2002,
which will have first-time representation from companies from Japan,
Luxembourg and Morocco."Available space is now at a premium and we may soon be in the position
of establishing a waiting list," said Willis.Index 2002 will also incorporate the Arabshop retail and shop-fitting arena.
dmg Index Exhibitions Limited is part of the giant dmg World Media
group, one of the world's leading trade show companies with over 400
events worldwide annually. Since establishing in Dubai five years ago,
the company now owns and operates four highly successful trade events,
including Index, the Big 5 construction and contracting exhibition, The
Hotel Show, the trade event for suppliers to the hospitality industry
and The Office Exhibition for the office and facilities management sector.
Jordan Launches JD 2.5 Million Programme to get 20,000 Government Employees ICT Trained
MoICT Rolls Out First Arabic ICDL Programme To Get e-Government Employees
Certified to International StandardsAmman, 12 August 2002
The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MoICT) today
launched the first phase of the International Computer Driving License
(ICDL), part of the e-Government ICT Literacy Training Programme, in its
continued efforts to implement e-Government practices. The initiative,
valued at JD 2.5 million, aims to train 20,000 government employees from
across the Kingdom and get them ICT literate by the year 2005.“It is our responsibility to increase the IT competency of civil servants
and equip them with the necessary skills to bring the benefits of
e-government to every citizen”, said Dr. Fawaz H. Zu’bi, Minister of ICT.
“We have laid the foundation for the e-Government programme in Jordan and
this is the official kick-off to get Government employees fully trained.
The e-Government programme is all about changing the way services are
delivered and offering the tools for people to facilitate their work and
deliver better service the citizens. We are on the right track and citizens
will soon be seeing the differences.”The ICDL programme covers basic IT literacy and is divided into four
modules: an introduction to IT, Windows Environment, Word Processing,
Communications and Internet. For the first time, in addition to English,
the programme will be taught in Arabic. Preparations for the programme have
been underway for two months, which included translation of all of the
course materials and awareness programmes for both the training providers
and the training coordinators of involved governmental institutions.“This pilot phase, which includes the training of 1,000 government
employees, has successfully been kicked-off with training taking place
initially in nine public and private centres. The training courses take two
months to complete followed by the candidates undergoing examination to
obtain ICDL certification,” said Dr. Nabeel Fayoumi, ICT Education and
Training Advisor at the Ministry of ICT. “We are working in partnership with
the training providers and the training recipient entities to create
linkages and to provide a solid model for government training capacities.
The value is not only in the training, but rather the integrated process
that is taking place in raising the level of IT skills and awareness
throughout the whole of government.”Last month, the Ministry of ICT signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO
to provide funding for the IT training to Jordanian government employees and
facilitate the introduction of the ICDL for the pilot training and
certification programme. The USAID-funded AMIR Program, through its
Information and Communications Technology Initiative, will provide
management support of the programme, which includes; technical assistance,
devising implementation plans, monitoring the roll-out and reviewing the
business planIMF Concludes 2002 Article IV Consultation with the Republic of Yemen
On July 31, 2002, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with the Republic of Yemen.1
A stabilization of oil production and a decline in non-oil GDP growth
caused total GDP growth to slow down from 5.1 percent in 2000 to 3.3
percent in 2001. The decline in the growth of non-oil GDP (about 2/3 of
total GDP) reflected weaker-than-expected performance in the agriculture,
manufacturing, and electricity sectors. Large increases in the prices of
diesel (70 percent increase) and electricity (about 30 percent increase) in
July-August 2001, and inadequate rainfall led to a sharp rise in the
consumer price index (CPI) and the 12-month CPI inflation rate reached
22 percent by end-December 2001. Core inflation has, however,
remained in the single digits.The budget surplus narrowed from 8.5 percent of GDP in 2000 to 2.8
percent in 2001, on account of weaker oil prices, lower central bank profit
remittances (due to lower earnings on foreign reserves) and higher
expenditure, notably for wages, defense, and border demarcation. The
increase in the domestic price of diesel led to a substantial reduction in
government fuel subsidies, from 6 percent of GDP in 2000 to 4 percent in
2001.
Gross foreign reserves of the central bank rose by US$747 million in 2001
to reach US$3.6 billion by year-end. Rising imports and falling exports
caused the current account surplus to narrow relative to 2000.The rial has
been depreciating by about 4 percent a year vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar, but
the increase in inflation has caused substantial real appreciation in 2001.
Broad money growth decelerated markedly relative to 2000, to around 19
percent by end-2001.The outlook for 2002 appears relatively stable: non-oil growth is expected
to pick up to around 5 percent and, on present trends, inflation should
return to single digits by year-end. A deceleration of monetary growth has
been targeted to support disinflation, and the central bank remains
committed to a flexible exchange rate regime.The weakening of oil prices compared to 2001 should cause the budget
surplus to narrow to a near balanced position in 2002. Total government
expenditure and non-oil revenue are expected to remain roughly
unchanged in percent of GDP relative to 2001. Anticipated increases in
wage and defense spending are to be offset by a containment of
development spending. In order to enhance the effectiveness of
government spending, responsibility for health, education, and new
development projects has been transferred to the newly elected local
councils. In all, about 20 percent of expenditure is to be transferred to
local governments to meet their new responsibilities in 2002.
Consistent with its intention to make 2002 "the year of civil service
reform", the government plans to take a number of measures in 2002 to
improve payroll control, and accelerate the retirement and retrenchment of
excess civil servants.These measures will include the issuance of biometric
cards to government employees to help identify ghost workers and double
dippers, the retirement of remaining over-age civil servants, and the
removal from the payroll of some 11,000 civil servants who are to be
transferred to the Civil Service Fund for a transitional period of two years.
At the same time, restructuring plans for seven pilot agencies and ministries
are expected to be submitted in 2002.
On other structural issues, a
General Sales Tax (GST) was signed into law
in early 2002, but implementation has been deferred pending a
general
review of the indirect tax system. Although problem loans remain,
the
quality of banks' loan portfolio has continued to improve. However,
access
to bank credit remains limited. Privatization has resumed, notably
for small-
and medium-sized enterprises, for which tenders are under way.
The
privatization of larger public enterprises, such as the National
Bank of
Yemen, the Aden refinery, and cement factories is still under
discussion.
Widespread poverty (42 percent of population in 1998), inadequate
per
capita growth and a projected steady decline of oil revenues
starting in
2003 constitute core challenges for the medium term. To address
these
challenges, the government has prepared a Poverty Reduction Strategy
Paper (PRSP) that presents a comprehensive and coherent strategy
for
poverty reduction in Yemen for the period 2003-2005. The PRSP
identifies the need for improvements in governance and structural
reforms
to reach higher and sustained growth. It sets medium-term budgetary
targets aimed at maintaining sustainable fiscal and external
positions as oil
revenues decline, and targets a marked improvement in the composition
of
spending with a compression of non-productive spending and increases
in
development and social spending