| Caribbean to mull EU market access offer
The European Union (EU) yesterday proposed to remove all remaining quota and tariff limitations on access to the EU market for all African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions, with the exception of South Africa, as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) negotiations. Caribbean negotiators are expected to consider this offer next week, among other issues. The initial proposal would become effective immediately following the signing of an agreement, with a phase-in period for rice and sugar, an EU release out of Brussels said yesterday. Commenting on the offer, Guyana's Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Dr Henry Jeffrey told Stabroek News yesterday, "the Caribbean would have to give much consideration to what this actually means in terms of our negotiations of an EPA." For example, he said, in the case of sugar, "the Caribbean is looking for a 'managed market' situation, which gives us guaranteed access at a negotiated price based upon a historic and legal arrangement: The Sugar Protocol." .
GMA welcomes HK, Saudi investments
President Arroyo welcomed yesterday the investments of Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud and Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, saying these will serve as "magnets" for more investors to the Philippines.
Mrs. Arroyo also said the investment of the Saudi princes group is a clear vote of confidence from the Middle East, where more than a million Filipinos are employed.
Alwaleeds Kingdom Hotel Investment (KHI) has entered into a joint venture agreement to build a $153-million hotel complex in Makati Citys central business district, while Li Ka-shings PCCW Limited, the largest telecommunications firm in Hong Kong, has signed a deal with the Philippine-based IP-Contact Center Outsourcing Inc. (IPCCO) for call center services in the country.
"They are the latest, so we have what you call marquee names coming into our country...
Finance ministry maintains GDP projection
CHIANG MAI -- Thailand's revised economic growth projection for 2007 by the World Bank, which sees a retreat to only 4.3 per cent from an earlier projected 4.6 per cent, is in line with forecasts by the finance ministry, a ministry spokesman said Friday. Spokesman Somchai Sujjapongse said despite the reduced World Bank projection, his ministry maintains that this year's growth will be some 4 - 4.5 per cent, and that discussions among concerned officials will take place if Thai economic growth declines below 4 per cent. This year's projected growth will be reviewed by concerned government agencies next month, he said. On Thursday, the World Bank announced that Thailand's political uncertainties and policy blunders leading to a slowdown in investment would slow the country's economic growth to 4.3 per cent in 2007 compared to 5 per cent in 2006.
`Study house' for tribal students mooted
KOCHI: A recent study by the Kochi-based Centre for Socio-Economic & Environmental Studies (CSES) has suggested the creation of a new institution called the `Paditha Veedu' (study house) in each tribal `ooru'/settlement/colony to improve the quality of education of Scheduled Tribe children. The study has made other suggestions for improving the quality of education for tribal children. The TTC curriculum in districts with tribal concentration should have tribal content. The study suggests that the continuation of alternative schooling under the Sarva Shikshan Abhiyan (single teacher multi-grade schools) needs to be seriously debated. Teacher appointments in tribal areas should be done with emphasis on tribal preferences. Traditional skills and new soft skills should be transmitted through formal school system.
MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY PRESENTS HR YOUNG LECTURE SERIES
Monmouth University's School of Business Administration is pleased to announce that Joel L. Naroff, PhD, chief economist for Commerce Bancorp, will speak at the seventeenth annual H.R. Young Lecture Series on Thursday, April 12, 2007, at 6 p.m. in Young Auditorium. Registration is required and will begin at 5:30 p.m. A reception will be held immediately after the lecture in Wilson Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Nationally acclaimed economic expert Joel L. Naroff, PhD, serves as Commerce Bancorp's Chief Economist. Dr. Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors, advises Commerce customers on a broad range of domestic and international economic issues and provides up-to-the-minute insight regarding local, national, and global financial trends and developments.
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