MEMORY LANE – School Activities.

This is the picture of Dira Aisha Amran classmates of Year 6, together with her teacher, at the Christ Church Bentick School, Marylabone Road, City of Westminster of London. Dira Aisha was in the sitting's row and she sits on the centre, wearing with her school's uniform.

Dira Aisha Amran attended her primary school in London, starting from year 3, till year 6. Her previous school before London was the St. Teresa Primary School in Kuching, Sarawak. Her school in London was the Christ Church Bentick School, Marylebone Road, in the City of Westminster of London. She managed to sit and completed her SAT examination, which is similar examination to UPSR in Malaysia.

She attended quite a number of extra curriculum activities which was organized by her school. Her schoolmates and classmates came from various races, i.e. English, various Arab ethnics from middle-east (i.e. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordanian, Lebanese, Iranian, Syrians, Iraqi, and Yemenis), Afghanis, Chinese, black African, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and whites from Eastern Europe.

Dira Aisha participated for the co-curriculum activities together with the rests of the students. Dira Aisha Amran attended her extra curriculum activity which was organized by her school. Her schoolmates and classmates are on the stage and can be seen Dira Aisha standing on the centre with the rests of her classmates – training for the acting on stage's show.

Dira Aisha Amran attended her extra curriculum activity which was organized by her school. Her schoolmates and classmates are on the stage and can be seen Dira Aisha standing on the centre with the rests of her classmates – training for the acting on stage show.

Dira Aisha Amran is on stage with her classmates and schoolmates – training for the stage show. She is in number 5 from left on the picture. She attended her extra curriculum activities in her school.

Dira Aisha Amran standing beside the “faces of the world”, where initiative for photographs were taken for all children in any part of the globe and Dira Aisha’s face was included in the collection of the world children and it has been registered and booked, and circulated to all over the world for the purpose of charity initiative.

Dira Aisha Amran standing beside the “faces of the world”, where initiative for photographs were taken for all children in any part of the globe and Dira Aisha’s face was included in the collection of the world children and it has been registered and booked, and circulated to all over the world for the purpose of charity initiative. Can be seen Dira Aisha face on the second top at the centre.

This are Dira Aisha’s classmates, among others, are English, various Arab ethnics from middle-east (i.e. Egypt, Jordanian, Lebanese, Iranian, Syrians,), Afghanis, Chinese, black African, Pakistani, and whites from Eastern Europe.

This also one of Dira Aisha’s classmates, black African who is currently became British citizen and settled down in London.

Salam.......................

MEMORY LANE - Birthday Party II

Picture shows that Dira Aisha was about to blow her birthday cake candle light during the party at our home - Apartment 67 & 68, Park West Hotel and Apartments, Kendal Street, off Edgware Road, London. Next to her is her mum, Mdm Hajjah Rohaya Haji Ma'aya, where her mum tried to assist her for cutting the cake in slices, and join together are her Malay and Chinese friends. From R2L: Christine; Mdm Rohaya; Dira Aisha; Wan Noor Amran (daughter of the owner of the popular Malay restaurant located at Edgware Road - Mawar Restaurant - apart from "Satay House" in London); Firdaus Azhar; Farisha Azhar and two of her friends.

Dira Aisha Amran, had many occasions of celebrating her birthday and this memory lane wanted to highlight of that occasion was happened at our home, during our period of stay in the West End, city of London, United Kingdom.

Dira Aisha had invited a few of her friends for celebrating her birthday. All the Malay friends were not from her school at primary school which was the Christ Church Bentick School at Marylebone Road, West End, London. However the Chinese friends were from the same school with her.

Picture shows that Dira Aisha was about to blow her birthday cake candle lights during the party at our home - can be seen was her mum, Mdm Hajjah Rohaya Haji Ma'aya, together are her Malay and Chinese friends.

Dira Aisha was blowing candle lights of her birthday cake, during the party at our home - together with her Malay and Chinese friends.

Dira Aisha was about to cut the birthday cake, during the party at our home - together with her Malay and Chinese friends.


Dira Aisha was looking at the birthday cake, during the party at our home - together with her Malay and Chinese friends and can be seen the small girl, Farisha Azhar (far right).


Picture shows that Dira Aisha and her friends was relax at the sofa in our living hall of our home - Apartment 67 & 68, Park West Hotel and Apartments, Kendal Street, off Edgware Road, (West End) London.


Picture shows that Dira Aisha and her friends was relax and eating the cake, as well as, other foods, and relax at the sofa in our living hall of our home - Apartment 67 & 68, Park West Hotel and Apartments, Kendal Street, off Edgware Road, London.


Dira Aisha was taking the slice of the birthday cake, during the party at our home - together with her Malay and Chinese friends; and can be seen the small girl, Farisha Azhar (far right)was looking at the cake very enthusiatically.


Picture shows that Dira Aisha was about to blow her birthday cake candle light during the party at our home - Apartment 67 & 68, Park West Hotel and Apartments, Kendal Street, off Edgware Road, London. Next to her is her mum, Mdm Hajjah Rohaya Haji Ma'aya, where her mum tried to assist her in blowing the candle lights and the party was join together with her Malay and Chinese friends.


Dira Aisha was about to blow her birthday cake candle lights during the party at our home - Apartment 67 & 68, Park West Hotel and Apartments, Kendal Street, off Edgware Road, London. Next to her is her mum, Mdm Hajjah Rohaya Haji Ma'aya, where her mum tried to assist her in blowing the candle lights and its was join together by her Malay and Chinese friends.

In our living hall at our home, where guests were came for the party, among others are, Mr Azhar Sulaiman and Mr Ismail at our home - Apartment 67 & 68, Park West Hotel and Apartments, Kendal Street, off Edgware Road, London.

Salam...................

MEMORY LANE – Visiting Brighton / Worthing.

Can be seen were Dora Azida (with sun glasses) with Dira Aisha at the bridge to “the Pier” at Worthing town, south of England. The sea water level was at high tide and can also be seen the beach along side with road and the town of Worthing (used to be fishing village in England).

As expected in many areas in the United Kingdom, some tourists went to certain places due to nostalgia memory. This was the intention of our trip to Brighton and Worthing, where it’s located in the south of England – at the frontage of English Channel Sea.

The reason being was, I was an overseas student for post graduate certificate course for 4 months on Private and Public Financial Management conducted by the Sussex University of Brighton, in collaboration with the Crown Agents Training Centre of Worthing.

One of the days, we droved down with our Mercedes car from London to south of England and when we reached Worthing, we try to locate our home at Ridge Road in the Worthing town. We managed to meet Mrs Khan (the land lord) and talked to her on our previous memory lane during our stayed in Worthing. We used to rent one of her room in her house during my studied at the University of Sussex.

During weekends, we normally went to the seaside, especially at the piers and watched many white peoples together with their families went there and played with all sort of games at the pier that located right on the sea.

We went with the same purpose and we had the intention of visited interesting places at Worthing town and Brighton city.

This was the environment inside of the Pier – can be seen Dira Aisha was trying to put one pence in the hope to get many pences in return of her investment. It just a mini slot machines located in the Pier’s building for tourists, for enables them to play with. Can be seen Dora Azida and Mdm Hajjah Rohaya Haji Ma’aya, were inside the Pier watching Dira Aisha trying her luck, at Worthing town.


Salam..................

SELAMAT BERPUASA BAGI SEMUA PEMBACA “KAWAN”

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islam uses a lunar calendar - that is, each month begins with the sighting of the new moon.

For more than a billion Muslims around the world is practicing fasting during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a "month of blessing" marked by prayer, fasting, and charity and Muslims retains its focus on self-sacrifice and devotion to Allah (God).


Muslims practice sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan. This means that Muslims do not eat or drink while fasting. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam. Fasting serves many purposes. While Muslims are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. And in this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers.


Therefore, Blog “Kawan” would like to wish “SELAMAT BERPUASA” to all:

i. Semua ahli UMNO Bahagian Jelebu;
ii. Semua Ketua Cawangan Dan AJK Cawangan-Cawangan UMNO Bhg Jelebu;
iii. Semua Ketua Dan AJK Wanita UMNO Cawangan-Cawangan Bhg. Jelebu;
iv. Semua Ketua Dan AJK Pemuda UMNO Cawangan-Cawangan Bhg Jelebu;
v. Semua Ketua Dan AJK Puteri UMNO Cawangan-Cawangan Bhg Jelebu;
vi. Ketua UMNO Bahagian, Timbalan Ketua UMNO Bahagian, Naib Ketua UNMO Bahagian dan AJK UMNO Bahagian Jelebu;
vii. Ketua Wanita UMNO Bahagian dan AJK Wanita UMNO Bahagian Jelebu;
viii. Ketua Pemuda UMNO Bahagian dan AJK Pemuda Bahagian Jelebu;
ix. Pmg Ketua Puteri UMNO Bahagian dan AJK Puteri Bahagian Jelebu;
x. Rakan-rakan di Kuching dan seluruh Sarawak;
xi. Jiran-jiran di Taman Rashidah Utama, Seremban dan Rakan-rakan di Seremban;
xii. Jiran-Jiran di Taman Segambut SPPK, off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur dan Rakan-rakan di Kuala Lumpur.



Salam.........

EXPENSIVE CITIES IN THE WORLD FOR EXPATRIATES

EXPENSIVE CITIES IN THE WORLD

Beijing City

Just for information:

Here is some of the survey concerning cost of living for expatriates in major cities of the world.

According to the China Daily indicated - "Beijing costlier than Hong Kong, survey finds - strong Asian currencies push up costs for international workers ":

• Results of survey, conducted in March 2009 and released on 10 June, indicates that strong domestic currencies, such as the Renminbi and the Yen, are pushing up the cost of living for expatriates sent to major Asian locations.

Beijing City - modern

• Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong are the 26th, 28th and 29th most expensive cities, respectively, for expatriates.

Tokyo City

• Luanda, Angola, is the most expensive city in the world, followed by Tokyo, Nagoya, Yokohama and Kobe. Rankings of other major cities include Geneva (8), Brussels (34) Washington (46) and New Delhi (217).

City of New Delhi

City of Geneva

Washington DC

• ECA International website (eca-international.com) indicates that within ASEAN, Singapore is the most expensive city (rank 72 worldwide), followed by Bangkok (174), Vientiane (183), Hanoi (186), Jakarta (190), Manila (202) and Kuala Lumpur (210 ).

City of Jakarta

City of Singapore

City of Kuala Lumpur

• ECA International survey compares a basket of 125 consumer goods and services commonly purchased by expatriates.

For our information, ……. salam.

NANO CAR FROM INDIA

Much-Awaited ‘Nano’ CAR BEEN Launched BY INDIA Tata Motors

On 23 March 2009, India Tata Motors has commercially launched the Rs 100,000 (US$2,000) price tag small car ‘Nano’. In term of Malaysian value is only RM6,000.

The car was much awaited across India since unveiled at the Auto Expo in New Delhi on 10 January 2008.

Tata Motors keeps its price promise as Nano Standard version priced at US$ 2,000 ex-Factory Pantnagar (excluding transportation charges and value added tax).

Main features of Tata Nano:

- rear-engine;
- sheet-metal body;
- spacious passenger compartment;
- tubeless tyres;
- wider rear wheels;
- intrusion-resistant doors;
- reinforced passenger compartment;
- lowest CO2 emission at 101 gm/km;

Nano, rolled out from Tata Motors’ plant in Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), is available in three variants:

i. Nano Standard

- ex-showroom price US$ 2,467 (Rs 123,360);
- three colour options;
- single-tone seats; and
- fold-down rear seat

ii. Nano CX

- ex-showroom price US$ 2,967 (Rs 148,360);
- five colour options;
- heating and air-conditioning;
- two-tone seats;
- booster-assisted brakes;
- fold-down rear seat with nap rest

iii. Nano LX

- ex-showroom price US$ 3,447 (Rs 172,360);
- central locking;
- front power windows;
- fog lamps;
- electric trip meter;
- cup holder in front console;
- mobile charger point;
- rear spoiler

Specifications:

- two-cylinder 624 cc petrol engine;
- four-speed gear box;
- top speed of 105 kmph;
- fuel tank capacity of 15 litre;
- mileage of 23.6 km/litre (highest for any petrol car in India);
- ground clearance of 180 mm;

- dimension:

o weight of 600 kg;
o length of 3.1 metre;
o height of 1.6 metre; and
o width of 1.5 metre

Nano has the smallest exterior footprint, but is 21% more spacious than smallest car available.

In India booking of Tata Nano will open from 9 - 25 April 2009 with an application amount of:

- US$ 1,900 (Rs 95,000) for Nano Standard;

- US$ 2,400 (Rs 120,000) for Nano CX; and

- US$ 2,800 (Rs 140,000) for Nano LX

Tata Motors has entered into agreements with 15 preferred banks/non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) to enable customers to book the car at US$ 60 (Rs 3,000) under financing scheme.

The allotment of first phase of 100,000 Nano cars will be through computerized random selection procedure.

These 100,000 allotments will be price protected for the launch prices till delivery of the cars but the booking amount will not bear any interest for the customers.

Delivery of Tata Nano will commence from July 2009.

The launch of Tata Nano cars is expected to bring a revolution in the automobile sector as the cheap-priced car will create a huge demand in the recession-hit sector.

The delivery of 100,000 cars may take one year, as the first batch will roll out from the Pantnagar plant, which has a capacity to produce 50,000 cars annually. However, the situation will improve after Tata’s plant at Sanand in Gujarat, capable of producing 350,000 car per annum, becomes operational early next year.

Price protection for the first 100,000 cars indicates that the Rs 100,000 price tag for the basic petrol-driven car will be revised later.

Nano project had faced several hurdles leading to delay of the launch of the car because of stiff protest at the Singur plant in West Bengal on the land acquisition issues, forcing Tata Motors to shift plant to Sanand in Gurjarat last year.

According to market research firm Crisil, Nano will make the car affordable to an additional 14 million families, including 58 million two-wheeler owners.

This is just for our information on the new technology on car manufacturing in India………… salam.

Gambar ini hanyalah sekadar gambar hiasan sahaja
untuk rencana ini. Ianya bukanlah gambar Wanita
UMNO Bahagian Jelebu.

PERGERAKAN WANITA UMNO BAHAGIAN JELEBU BAGI TEMPOH 2008-2011

Disenaraikan nama-nama pegawai Pentadbiran untuk Jawatan Kuasa Wanita UMNO Bahagian Jelebu bagi tempoh 2008 hingga 2011. Nama-nama pegawai wanita adalah seperti berikut:

JAWATANKUASA WANITA UMNO BAHAGIAN JELEBU:

Pengerusi Tetap : Puan Rosiah Kassim

Timb. Peng Tetap : Puan Faridah Abd Razak

Ketua Wanita : Cik Zuraidah Mohd Zin

Naib Ketua Wanita : Pn Siti Mariam Mohd Dusa

Setiausaha : Pn Roziah Shafie

Bendahari : Pn Fatimah Abd Jabar

Ketua Penerangan : Pn Siti Hawa Abd Mukti

AJK Wanita Bhg :

Pn Norsiah Usul; : Pn Northamilah Ishak; : Pn Esah Kassim; : Pn Saleha Manaf; : Pn Chik Nah Ibrahim; : Pn Siti Zaleha Shabudin; : Pn Makalsom Ismail; : Pn Adibah Abd Aziz; : Pn Asiah Yassin; : YM Raja Mis Sariah Raja Hamzah; : Pn Zariah Khairuddin; : Puan Zaiton Sulaiman; : Pn Halimahtun Sa’diahtun Haji Ahmad; : Pn Noriah Ali; : Pn Rahana Sulaiman; : Pn Hasnah Mohd Diah; : dan : Pn Norahain Mahmud.

Sepertimana yang diharapkan agar Pergerakan Wanita UMNO Bahagian Jelebu akan terus berjaya, serta bergerak dengan pantas dalam menjadikan UMNO sebuah parti yang berwibawa, diharapbergantung oleh orang-orang Melayu sepanjang masa.

Selamat Berjuang !!!.

RECLASSIFICATION OF HANDPHONES

EURO-PEAN UNION ON HAND PHONE

The European Union (EU) intention to reclassify or set the criteria for certain types of "multifunction" products, of hand phones with GPS function, of certain size, etc.

The EU has been actively working to lower the telecommunication costs for consumers, by lowering roaming costs.

If mobile phones with the additional mobile broadcasting features are reclassified as TVs with attached 14% EU import duty, this would increase the costs to customers.

The European Communities have signed up to the 1996 Information Technology Agreement (ITA). The ITA guarantees a duty free import for all mobile phones under heading 8517.

"Mobile phones” defining as "Cellular or mobile phones are wireless communication devices that simultaneously send and receive voice, data or other mobile communication transmissions via radio waves.

Mobile phones are capable of converting user's voice, into radio waves, and radio waves back into voice. The radio waves from a cellular or mobile phone travel to a cellular base station. Subsequently, they are forwarded to the base station situated closest available to the destination cellular or mobile phone."

"Mobile phones generally have the following characteristics".

• They are "pocket-sized" i.e. have dimensions, which do not exceed 170 mm x 100 mm x 45 mm. The size in which it is actually carried by the consumer is the most compact, smallest form.

Mobile phones can also consist of separate parts forming a mobile phone kit, such as, a wrist mobile phone with a detachable headset.

Devices are becoming increasingly larger, due to consumer expectations for larger screens and keypads that provide increased usability.

The needs of special user groups, such as, growing market segment for elderly people.

• It has a dialing sector of the push-button or touch screen type.

"User interface" instead of "a dialing sector and "voice input.

• It is capable of operating without an external source of electric power;

• It have a microphone and an earphone, either in the same unit or in the form of a detachable headset for the transmission and reception of voice enabling voice communication when the apparatus is held to the ear.

• It incorporate other components, such as, an amplifier and an antenna for telephony, which provide for dual-way short-range transmission of voice within a network consisting of base stations and using mobile telephony frequency bands.

• It can be used as a telephony communication device equipped with a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card that has been activated.

Hand phones also have other features, such as, sending and receiving SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages, emails; packet switching for access to the Internet; sending and receiving positioning signals; gaming; receiving radio or television signals; capturing, recording and reproducing sound and images.

Access to the Internet, sending and receiving positioning signals, navigating, routing, maps, gaming, Bluetooth, NFC Near Field Communication, receiving radio or television programs.

Additional features, such as, clocks, calculators, address books, PDAs, caller IDs, games, MP3 players, cameras, FM-radios, Mobile TVs or GPS locators.

Able to send or receive data, video, images, audio signals, i.e. supporting communication to the internet and thereby enabling web browsing, e-mail or “information management use” via the cellular or other wireless network.

This subheading excludes apparatus with a wireless telephony function incorporating:

• Personal digital assistant incorporating an alphanumerical keypad.

There is a suggestion on an inbuilt memory to have exceeding 16 Gigabytes.

However, based on EC data, Malaysia’s exports of hand phones under CN85171200 (telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks), totaled Euro 443.8 million in 2007 (RM2.067 billion). Are we going to effect by these measures?

Survival.

“Survival” Dalam Takrif Yang Mudah

Apa yang kita dapati sesuatu yang menarik kepada sesaorang pemimpin ialah apabila kita dapati sesaorang pemimpin itu sudi secara sukarela, mendengar apa yang hendak kita sampaikan kepadanya. Apabila kita bercakap kepada dia, dia selalunya menunggu untuk kita menyatakan sesuatu, iaitu sesuatu pekara yang dia (pemimpin) tidak tahu lagi dan ingin tahu. Orang yang mendengar (pemimpin) itu, ingin untuk belajar sesuatu yang baru yang dia tidak tahu.

Didalam soal ini kita semua perlu menjana untuk mengatasi masalah untuk bagaimana “survival”, khususnya dalam berniaga, terutama didalam keadaan krisis kewangan yang melanda ekonomi dunia sekarang.

Berbagai artikel kita boleh baca..... tetapi saya perturunkan dibawah ini, antaranya:

Disini dinyatakan bagaimana sesaorang itu untuk “survive” – Sesaorang ahli perniagaan bersama isterinya berniaga barang kemas/emas batu permata wanita, dimana mereka menjual barang kemas batu permata wanita yang bermutu tinggi. Kebanyakan pelanggan-pelanggan mereka adalah kaum hawa yang terdiri dari wanita dewasa dan wanita remaja. Pandangan mereka adalah selagi ada wanita yang mempunyai telinga, leher, tangan, jari tangan dan kaki, mereka berfikir, mereka boleh menjual sebahagian dari barang kemas – emas, batu permata wanita tersebut kepada pelanggan mereka.

Disinilah bermulanya bagaimana mereka memulakan perniagaan mereka tersebut.

Kebanyakan wanita amat menyukai jika dilihat diri mereka sangat cantik dan menawan apabila memakai barangan kemas bermutu tinggi tersebut.

Selain dari itu, sudah menjadi pengetahuan umum bahawa membeli emas, permata, berlian adalah dianggap sebagai salah satu pelaburan yang bagus dan tidak merugikan.

Kalau dibaca ini, ianya mungkin berbunyi/nampak mudah sahaja, tetapi mengapa ianya perlu terlalu menyusahkan atau bermasalah?.

Dinyatakan juga, pada suatu ketika seorang usahawan industri terkemuka dari Afrika Selatan bernama Ernest Oppenheimer, pengasas “the Anglo American Corporation dan De Beers Diamonds ada menyatakan pekara yang sama juga.

Diperingkat awal sejarahnya, Oppenheimer berada dipersimpangan dalam menentukan bentuk perniagaan beliau. Dengan mempunyai modal yang kurang, Oppenheimer telah membuat keputusan samada ingin pergi secara besar-besaran kearah industri perkilangan dan pembuatan produk besi keluli, atau, melabur secara besar-besaran di lombong berlian beliau di Afrika Selatan.

Oppenheimer telah memilih untuk berlian, kerana beliau memikirkan beliau mempunyai kepercayaan terhadap berlian, disebabkan oleh jangkaan yang tepat terhadap kehendak dan naluri wanita yang ada yang mempunyai elemen-elemen ego, banggakan diri, hidung tinggi, bila memakai barangan kemas yang bernilai tinggi dibadan mereka, berbanding jangkaan terhadap permintaan bagi barangan industri di pasaran.

Selagi ada manusia di dunia ini, disitulah adanya permintaan yang memberangsangkan untuk barangan dan perkhidmatan yang diperlukan oleh mereka.

Melihat terhadap penjualan barangan yang kita promosikan, kita sebagai peniaga, perlu:

· membuat dan menyediakan produk/barangan yang berkualiti tinggi;

· meletakkan harga yang amat berpatutan;

· mengeluar, mempunyai rekaan dan mempamerkan barangan yang begitu/amat menarik di mata pelanggan;

· menjadi sejujur-jujurnya dalam didalam menyampai/menyerahkan barangan yang dikehendaki oleh pelanggan tersebut;

· Memberi khidmat kepada pelanggan dengan dengan senyuman yang sejujur-jujurnya;

· Akhirnya, perlu sesungguh-sungguhnya menumpukan perhatian kepada “core-business” perniagaan yang ada sepenuhnya dan jangan terjadi peralihan tumpuan kepada pekara-pekara yang lain (don’t get side tracked).

Ini akan menjadikan kita dapat melalui perjalanan perniagaan kita secara lancar dan perniagaan kita akan dapat berkembang dengan baik – diharapkan.......

Kalau pun kita “apply” ianya di dalam politik (sekirnya kita seorang ahli politik) juga adalah mempunyai pekara dan cara yang lebih kurang sama sahaja.

Barrier To Trade

Bringing Down the Trade Barriers

Helping small exporters in developing countries adapt to new global trade condition. How to overcome the difficulties of small to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) taking up global market opportunities on the WTO issues, where two key messages emerged.

The first was the need for the WTO to engage the private sector by keeping pace with the evolution of business practises; the second was the critical role the WTO can play in providing transparency, predictability and legal certainty to SMEs in developing countries.

Views from the private sectors of developing countries and the WTO Secretariat were obtained on the WTO’s role in dealing with emerging issues, in particular the many private standards and non-tariff measures, facilitating trade in services, as well as, growing regionalism and bilateralism.

Buyers’ Market

The market has changed drastically over the years, from a suppliers’ market to an extreme buyers’ market. Suppliers are under increasing pressure from large retailers to meet various private and highly stringent standards while at the same time being forced to accept restrictive commercial terms. While lead times are being reduced, penalties for late deliveries are getting har-sher. Furthermore, it is increasingly common for payment options to include 90 days’ open-credit terms, and insurance cover is getting higher and more difficult for SMEs to obtain. While the proliferation of private standards is difficult to address, the WTO – through the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade – provides a good basis for raising the issues and resolving disputes. In addition, Aid for Trade can assist the development and expansion of productive capacities and the reduction of trade costs. Regional development banks can also work with SMEs to upscale their certification, packaging and labelling standards. But it was agreed that the mounting market dominance of large retail chains may need to be addressed through effective cooperation and implementation of competition and anti-trust regulations.

Trade in Services

Liberalizing trade in services was also a major issue, characterized by a recent survey in the developing countries that identified the need for domestic policy reform to create the right regulatory framework. Some of the Chamber of Commerce in developing countries emphasized, ‘We are already open but we are not ready to open’, meaning some developing countries are open to foreign service-providers but are reluctant to make legally binding multilateral, regional and bilateral commitments, because it lacks the enabling regulation, as well as, the awareness, expertise, public prioritizing and private sector willingness to engage in the WTO process. Many other key and typical challenges were identified in the developing countries. Four of these – difficulties in obtaining travel documents; regulatory and licensing barriers in foreign markets; market access barriers in foreign markets; and lack of market information – can be addressed within the WTO.

Responding to Regionalism

Also reviewed was the role of the WTO in the face of growing regionalism, following debate about whether bilateral and regional agreements serve as ‘building blocks’ or ‘stumbling blocks’ for an open international trading system. The plethora of regional agreements establishes a patchwork of commitments and creates systemic frictions between the bilateral/regional agreements and the WTO agreements. It was accepted that the scope of the WTO dispute-settlement mechanism (DSM) should be strengthened to apply its rules to regional agreements; that, in the face of this growing regionalism, the WTO had a critical role in building analytical capabilities and negotiating skills in developing countries; and that the WTO could establish an advisory centre to provide direct assistance and training on bilateral and regional negotiations.

Under a new transparency mechanism adopted, the WTO Secretariat has a mandate to prepare factual reports on all bilateral and regional trade agreements. While these reports cannot form value judgements, they alert other WTO members of the rules and practices in bilateral and regional trade agreements that adversely affect non-parties to the agreements. It was acknowledged, however, that the WTO might need to take a more proactive approach in future in addressing these issues.

INFORMATION ON NEW PESTICIDES REGULATION IN THE EU

I attached below some of the information concerning pesticides packages regulation by the European Community (EC) for our information. This information may also good for traders who use to trade with the European Union (EU) business person counter-part for EU market. The information are as below:

“The European Commission introduced its proposal for a pesticides package in July 2006 aimed at protecting human health and the environment from dangerous or excessive pesticide use in agriculture production. The package includes a new Regulation to tighten the environmental and health criteria on the usage of pesticides before they are allowed into the EU market and a Directive laying down common objectives and requirements for sustainable use of pesticides.

On 13 January 2009, the European Parliament has voted in favour of the new EU pesticides legislation. The final legislation is now expected to be formally adopted by the Council of the European Union soon. It will then enter into force later in 2009.

Once adopted, a positive list of approved chemical substances of pesticides will be drawn up at EU level. The legislation will then enable EU member states to license pesticides at national level on the basis of the list or through mutual recognition of authorised products within a specified geographical zone. The EU is to be divided into three zones - north, centre and south - with compulsory mutual recognition within each zone as the basic rule.

The pesticides package will also ban 22 highly toxic chemicals that can trigger cancer or cause neural, hormonal or genetic damage. These groups of chemicals must be replaced by safer alternatives, but their use is permitted for a limited period of five years if it can be proven that they are essential for crop survival.

The draft Regulation is planned to supercede existing EU law gradually. Pesticides that can be placed on the EU market under current legislation will remain available until their existing authorisation expires, to prevent any large-scale withdrawal of products from the EU market.
Similarly, EU member states must implement the Directive on sustainable use of pesticides by early 2011.

Malaysia’s export of agricultural products to the European market will be subjected to this new rule. If the new legislation were to be implemented, Malaysia has to be more stringent on the use of pesticides in its agricultural production, to ensure that no banned chemicals are used and that the detectable level of pesticide residues must not be beyond the general default maximum residue level (MRL) of 0.01 mg/kg. It may also affect other processed products where the raw materials are sourced from the farms.

Together with the other EU legislation such as REACH, there is concern among the industry and third countries that the new legislation highlights the EU increasing shift away from scientific risk-based assessment of chemicals substances to hazard-based criteria for granting market authorisations.”

GONG XI FA CHAI

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR TO ALL READERS

This year, Chinese celebrate the year of the Ox.

Those who were born in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985 and 1997 are Ox or Bull people. According to the assessment, they make good surgeons, army/military generals and also hair-dressers (I suspected those days for ladies), but now men also good as hair-dresser.

According to my friend, they say these people are stubborn also, but some believe they make good Managers and Civil Engineers as well. What about good politician???......

Therefore, to the Chinese friends, may I wish all of you "Gong Xi Fa Chai".

CURRENT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FLOW

Here are some interesting information concerning the flow of Direct Foreign Investment (FDI) for KAWAN’S readers’ information:

UNCTAD recently released new estimates on Global foreign direct investment (FDI). Complete UNCTAD estimates is attached (please refer below).

Global flows of FDI fell 21% to US$1.4 trillion in 2008 from a record high of US$1.8 trillion in 2007, and set to decline further in 2009.

Preliminary data for 2008 indicates that a number of countries that were formally leading recipients of FDI experienced the sharpest drops in 2008:

· UK - fell by 51% to US$109 billion;
· France - fell by 27.6% to US$114.3 billion;
· Italy - fell 94.3% to US$2.3 billion;
· Germany – fell 48.9% to US$48.9 billion; and
· Netherlands – fell 70.4% to US$29.5 billion.

However, inflows to the US fell by just 5.5%, to US$220 billion.

In Asia, inflows fell by 2.2%, mainly due to a 21.3% drop in investment in the Middle East. However, inflows were increased in China and India, 10.2% to US$92 billion and 59.9% to US$36.7 billion respectively. Malaysia enjoyed 53.4% increase from 2007 figure of US$8.4 billion to US$12.9 billion in 2008, while Singapore incurred a drop of 57.2% in their investment inflows. Thailand and Indonesia experienced a drop in investment inflows, 4.4% and 21.3% respectively.

Africa attracted more investment in 2008, with inflows up 16.8% from 2007 to US$61.9 billion. Inflows to Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 12.7% to US$142.3 billion.
UNCTAD stated that:

· Factors such as anticipated global recession, tighter credit conditions, falling corporate profits, uncertainties for global economic growth as well as companies’ announced plans to reduce production, lay off workers, and cut capital expenditures will contribute to reduce FDI.

· In the short-term, the negative impacts of the financial and economic crises on FDI are expected to remain dominant and to contribute to a continued fall in overall FDI through 2009.

· Developing countries will not be spared, and FDI falls in 2009 is expected to be more widespread.

· Public policies will play a major role in the establishment of favorable conditions for a quick recovery of FDI flows.

· Structural reforms aimed at ensuring more stability in the world financial system, prompt and effective economic stimuli by national governments, renewed commitment to an open attitude towards FDI, the implementation of policies aimed at favoring investment and innovation especially in the fields of environment, new energy sources, and small and medium-sized enterprises are key issues in this respect.

· With the reforms, the current crisis thus could turn into a major opportunity for creating new impetus for global FDI provided that policymakers resist calls for more protectionism and other policies that restrict FDI.

Beyond 2009, the outlook for FDI flows is still unclear due to the exceptional magnitude of the present crisis and the fact that it could lead to major structural changes in the world economy. UNCTAD expects (worst-case scenario) that FDI flows may not start to rise again until 2012.

WELCOME READERS OF KAWAN.

This blog was established with the objective of providing a platform for the writer to provide his views on various issues that might have give some attention of the readers in areas of government administration, issues concerning production of industrial products, issues concerning trading of cross border, international trade and it also could have some political discussion at national and international arena.

It also have some issues that might give certain business opportunities to the readers on how certain people to earn certain amount of income to the small business practitioners for small business activities.

Therefore, being the blog operator, I would very much WELCOME all readers to this blog KAWAN. I really very much appreciate, if readers could put your view or comment on issue that discussed in this blog.

Thank you very much indeed to all friends (kawan) in advance for your future input.....................................