Indomie emerged as the Most Socially Responsible in Child Centered Corporate Social Responsibility at the 2nd Social Enterprise Reports and Awards (SERA) 2008 held in Lagos

Dufil Prima Foods, manufacturer of children’s favourite meal, Indomie Instant Noodles emerged the Most Socially Responsible in Child Centered Corporate Social Responsibility at the 2nd Social Enterprise Reports and Awards (SERA) 2008 held in Lagos on Friday, August 15, 2008 at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The SERA Awards, which was organized by TruContact communications in association with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and endorsed by Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) recognizes and celebrate the role of corporate organisations in social giving and social transformation in Nigeria.

The award which was sponsored by UNICEF was presented to Dufil Prima Foods by Mr. Toyin Akinosho, Publisher, Africa Oil & Gas Report and assisted by Clara Chime Okoro, Executive Producer/COO, Brand World Media made it the second SERA award the company has won.

Speaking at the event, Ken Egbas, Managing Partner, TruContact Communications Ltd., stated that the 2008 Social Enterprise Reports & Awards explores how corporate organisations are contributing to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria

“We recognise that a very important engine of growth and development for any developing nations today, lies in the ability to strategically cultivate and harness private as well as the public sector efforts thereby opening up vistas of opportunity for public-private partnerships that contribute not only to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, but also the country’s development interests.”

He said by exploring the domain of social enterprise stakeholders whether large or medium sized corporations, governments, not-for-profits, communities, individuals, citizens, young, old, men and women, all needed to be engaged in shaping the future of the country.

Also speaking at the event, Iea Jonathan-Ichaver, Representative of Country Manager, UNICEF, congratulated Dufil Prima Foods and commended the company for distinguishing itself as an exemplary friend to children throughout the country.

Dufil Prima Foods Head of Marketing, Pawan Sharma said: “We are so pleased that TruContact Communications in collaboration with NIPR, FIRS and SON is recognizing Dufil Prima Foods’ important work and contributions to community investing. This award clearly demonstrates that by taking a truly entrepreneurial approach to solving social and environmental problems we can make a huge impact to our immediate communities and across the nation.”

For over 12 years now, Dufil Prima Foods has consistently demonstrated its social responsibility by supporting various activities in the areas of education, sports, women empowerment and youth development; the company has partnered various governmental and non-governmental organizations to promote causes that have direct bearing on the lives of its consumers.

Mr. Deepak Singhal, CEO, Dufil Prima Foods who disclosed this in Lagos yesterday during the arrival of the 20 lucky winners of the Indomie Wrapper Quest Promo from Dubai said that fresh strategies will be adopted to further place this corporate core values at the centre of the Dufil principles and also puts it into action with stronger conviction.

Singhal said in the past 10 years, Dufil Prima Foods have invested several million of naira into various sporting engagements and initiatives. The company’s support for such activities has become an important part of its philanthropic responsibilities.

He stated that the company has contributed to the education of abandoned and motherless children at the Ijamido Motherless Home, Ota, Ogun State. The company has donated computers to help train the children and prepare them for a working environment, Musical instruments to develop their appreciation of music, and a daily supply of food to sustain them. He explained that the Indomie’s hospitals project features the donation of hospital equipment to various hospitals in Nigeria. Recently, Indomie donated baby-weighing scales, digital thermometers, and sphygmomanometer, equipment for measuring arterial blood pressure to Isolo General Hospital, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Surulere General Hospital, General Hospital, Lagos, Mushin General Hospital and Gbagada General Hospital. In addition, the company also donated a new creche building to the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.

Not stopping here, DUFIL Prima Foods has partnered with Sponsor a Child Nigeria, a UNICEF partner, to build a resource centre at the home to facilitate IT and vocational training for these children. Singhal also expressed that the company has embarked on various water projects in Ota, Ogun State as part of its efforts in eradicating guinea worm and other water borne diseases. Some of the beneficiaries are the Idedo and Otun communities at the Ade/Odo Ota local government in Ogun State.

Of particular note is its contributions to educational development tagged “Indomie School Project”. Via Dufil Prima Foods School Adoption Programs, Indomie signboards publicise the adopted schools, and the company sponsors most school activities including sporting events. Indomie has donated more than 15,000 educational charts to over 2000 schools in Lagos.

Nigerians eat over 1.1 million bags of Indomie a day, according to De United Food Industries Limited, owners of the Indomie brand of noodles, the leading brand in the Nigerian market.

According to Piyush Nair, Marketing Director of the company, which started importing Indomie into Nigeria from Indonesia in the early 90s, and quickly realised it had to set up manufacturing facility to meet the demand, that is just a little of the potential that the Nigerian market holds for this explosive flavour of noodles.

Making comparisons with Indonesia, Nair says while the per capita consumption of noodles there is about 47 packs per annum, per Indonesian, in Nigeria today it is about 1.5 packs per Nigerian. “Our aim is to try and see that we at least grow to about 14 packs or 15 packs in about four years time for a Nigerian. Once we have done that I would say that we are half way down the road”, Nair says.

No wonder Indomie now has three manufacturing facilities in the country, and directly employs over 600 staff and indirectly employs 1000 people. The company even has plans to build an extra manufacturing facility very soon.

But why is Indomie succeeding where ither have tried and failed? According to Nair, whose company had to buy over the facility of one of its competitors, Indomie had to undergo gruelling consumer research where it was found that even though a lot of Nigerians liked noodles, they wanted it to have a special taste and a special flavour. “And we actually have formulated this specially for Nigeria and all our products here are specially formulated for Nigeria”, he says.

“It’s all about believing in the the Nigerian consumer and I think Indomie believes in the Nigerian consumer because the products which we have here today are something which has been specially designed and formulated by Nigerians and for Nigerians.”

During the just concluded Lagos International Trade Fare, the Indomie Centre was in full swing with mouth-watering selections of its delicacies on offer to visitors at grossly discounted prices.

According to Nair, “Indomie’s mission at the fare is to have a very high share of stomach from the Nigerian consumer. We would like Indomie to become a staple food product, which hopefully will replace garri, rice and yam.”

Nair says Indomie’s aim is to get itself identified with the Nigerian consumers, as part of the Nigerian landscape. “The trade fare gives us the perfect opportunity to actually sample our products out to over 15,000 people from diverse socio-economic categories”, he says.

Though Indomie’s service at the Trade Fare had a semblance to what might occur should the company venture into the fastfood business, Nair was quick to dispel such thoughts of a plan like that. “We are not going to get into the fast food business. Indomie in Nigeria today is had as a meal, but is predominantly during the breakfast time. What we would like to do in the company is to try and look at opportunities where you could actually get Nigerians to try a product and we definitely will go where there is such opportunity”, he said. He said such opportunities could be at trade fares, at schools, or at other campings. “We definitely will look at investments like we have made for the trade fare”, he added.

This year’s trade fair is not Indomie’s first. In fact it is its fourth.

However the company has since changed from its focus of just selling Indomie, we must get Nigerians to have Indomie. “What basic changes we have made in the format for the Trade fare this year is that we are actually serving Indomie the way Nigerians have it. They have it with beans they have it with boiled egg, they have it with fried dodo, they have it with chicken, they have it with beef. So we actually are giving them the product the way they are used to having it”, Nair says.

On plans to take their fast selling product outside of Nigeria as an export, the Marketing Director of Indomie say the company is patient. “At this point in time we are selling over 1.1 million bags a day. Our capacity is full. We are definitely not looking at export for the next 12 months because it’s important to feed and service the existing market in Nigeria. And the opportunity here is boundless. So the focus is to concentrate on Nigeria and then afterwards, maybe 12, 14 months we would look at exports. But there is no way we’ll leave our home base in Nigeria and focus on exports”, he says.

Indomie earnings have grown by three digit figures in the last two years. Nair is always very complementary of the Nigerian consumer in talking of Indomie’s success. “I think we owe our success to nobody but the Nigerian consumer. Consumers in Nigeria have stood by Indomie and made us what we are today. We came in here many years ago as a baby and the Nigerians have made this baby grow into an an adult, but we still have a long way to go”, he says.

Perhaps that is why Indomie has taken up active role in social responsibility issues.

The company, which says in terms of age group, children are its most loyal consumers, making about 40 per cent of its market, says it has adopted about a hundred and eighty schools in Lagos and Otta for provision of basic infrastrutural facilities like blackboards, other educational aids and even contest. “You know children are one of our key target audience and what better way than bond with children, because with children there’s a lot of empathy and love which you build”, Nair says.

Indomie also sponsors grassroots sports development. Based on a slogan ‘thinking tomorrow today’ the company has sponsored a handball team, which eventually became the national champion and was selected to represent Nigeria for an international hanball competition. Indomie is also looking at grassroots football. Over the past few months Indomie has also started a programme called indomie mums where it selects mothers from various local government areas, and teach them the basics of how to cook noodles and basics of house keeping. “And then these mums go back and actually try and run a restaurant in the areas which they operate. They start a catering unit with the help of Indomie”, Nair explains. “Now this is our small way of telling Nigerians thank you so much for having stood by us”, he adds.

Indomie is shining bright in Nigeria

Indomie is the brand name of the world’s largest instant noodle manufacturer, Indofood Group which is located in Indonesia. It is at the same time the leader of Indonesian instant noodle. The products’ distribution line covers diverse continents such as Australia, Asia, Africa, the United States and many European countries. D-8 Secretary General, Dipo Alam, said that Indomie is a perfect example of intra-investment among D-8 countries. Besides Indomie, investment within member countries has also been introduced by The Indorama Group of Indonesia.

Indorama is a global manufacturer of diversified industrial products - polyolefins (PE and PP), polyesters and intermediates (PTA, PET resin, filament yarns and staple fibre) and spun yarns. The group also produces cement, fabrics and medical gloves with 2007 turnover and total assets estimated at US$1.6 billion and US$ 2.2 billion respectively and its products shipped to over 85 countries across the five continents. The company is investing in spun yarn in Turkey, PTA in Nigeria, and fertilizer in Egypt.

Alam said that D-8 has scheduled sets of working visits to Nigeria to further explain and encourage cooperation schemes within D-8 membercountries to Nigerian authorities in very near future.

Poulterer Banvit confident of weathering financial crisis and emerging a winner.

The CEO of Bandırma Vitaminli Yem Sanayi A.Ş (Banvit) Ömer Görener

“We will expand our market share in 2009 and have no plans to lay off any of our 2,400 employees due to the economic slowdown,” the top official at Turkey’s largest integrated poultry producer has said, as quoted by the Turkish leading newspaper, TodaysZaman.

Ömer Görener, the CEO of Bandırma Vitaminli Yem Sanayi A.Ş (Banvit), shared his company’s perspective and his expectations for the industry in 2009 with Let’s Talk Business. He said Banvit has continuously expanded its production base by increasing existing capacity and implementing new investment projects, not just in Turkey but also abroad. The company’s ultimate goal, he explained, is to become a key player in the regional food industry.

Görener is confident that they can easily compete with industry giants worldwide, especially in the European market. “Unlike firms in Thailand and Brazil, we do not simply produce bulk chicken or chicken parts,” he said, “But we can rather cater to special product categories in niche markets.” The company supplies a range of frozen, cooked and ready-to-cook chicken and turkey products, including whole birds, legs, breasts, skewered pieces, breaded products and special products, such as ground and boneless meat and wings. It supplies to Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dominos, Pizza Hut and McDonalds either directly or through dealers nationwide.

Banvit also offers convenience products, such as burgers, kebabs, breaded products, meatballs and pastries, and charcuterie products, such as frankfurters, ham, salami and sausages. “If a supermarket chain in Germany places an order for a special chicken product, we can have the shipment ready in a week, as opposed to the month it would take a Brazilian company.”

Banvit has over 1,000 different products in terms of stock-keeping unit products (SKU) in its portfolio and conducts regular consumer surveys to keep abreast of shifting taste trends.

An American who helped Banvit grow

The history of Banvit goes back to 1955, when the Görener family first settled in Bandırma. In 1967, Vural Görener, Ömer Görener’s father, established a partnership with the Koçman family, another prominent family that owned a feed plant at the time. With the expansion of chicken farms, the company’s business grew. Banvit decided to enter the white meat sector after a World Bank study determined that the region was good for chicken breeding.

Vural Görener enlisted the help of American Jess Merkle, a veteran in the chicken business and founder of Country Pride, which was later acquired by ConAgra and then by Pilgrim’s Pride. At 75 years of age, Merkle offered his services through the International Executive Service Corps — a non-profit economic development firm that was established by David Rockefeller in 1964 to assist development programs abroad using volunteers, mostly retired professionals.

“He taught us the nuts and bolts of the chicken business, including marketing,” Görener recalls. His father framed Merkle’s business card and it hangs on the wall behind the office desk. Another turning point for the company was an advertising blitz run by Lades, a chicken brand owned by Entaş, which was formed as a joint corporation by Oyak in 1987. “We reaped the benefits of that commercial campaign run by Lades even though we did not pay a dime for it,” Görener said. “Lades could not keep up with the demand boom, and we made up the difference in the consumer market,” he added.

A graduate of the St. Benoit French High School, Ömer Görener completed his university education at the University of Nebraska with a major in economics. He joined the firm in 1987 as deputy general manager, and now he runs the company as CEO. He loves hiking and mountain climbing and seems to have addiction to sailing. “The sea is everything for me,” he says.

The growth of the company has been impressive for the last three years, though it hit a snag in the fourth quarter of 2008 primarily because of the external impact on the economy due to the ongoing global crisis. It posted TL 543.5 million in sales revenue in 2007, a 49 percent increase over 2006. Görener said the total figure for 2008 would exceed TL 650 million even though sales plummeted toward the end of the year.

The most recent data for the first nine months of 2008 shows that Banvit has increased its sales by 21.8 percent over the same period the previous year. Sales for the first nine months totaled TL 503.3 million, compared to TL 413 million in the same period in 2007. Though the company will reach or even exceed its 2008 target in sales revenue, the strong dollar against the Turkish lira will have a negative impact on company finances. “Our debt is tied to foreign currency and every Kr 10 increase in the dollar’s value means we lose $14 million,” Görener said.

The poultry industry has already started to feel the pinch of the economic slowdown. In fact, there has been a 25-30 percent decline in capacity utilization industry wide since summer 2008, and some poultry producers such as Mupi, Aytaç and Köy-Tür Ege have shut down operations entirely. Görener argued that Banvit is the only poultry firm that will survive the slowdown in 2009 without resorting to reducing production in its plants. “We have not scaled back our production and are not planning to do so,” he said, explaining that Banvit, unlike its competitors, has a low-cost structure thanks to its qualified and dedicated workforce.

Well-known brand among consumers

Qualified workforce and cutting-edge technology are keys to Banvit Success

Pointing out that the company’s financial indicators are in good standing, Görener maintained they have a sufficient cushion to absorb market shocks and reduced demand. “The fact that Banvit has an expanded network reach and the brand is very well known among consumers gives us a competitive edge in today’s tough business environment,” he said. He also noted that he does not feel uneasy about the future because the poultry business operates in the basic food market, which usually comes last in family budget restructuring, unlike luxury items such as cars and electronics. Nonetheless, the company will have to shelve growth plans until the dust settles and uncertainty about the future outlook of the economy is dispelled.

When asked how Banvit can maintain a low-cost structure in the poultry business, Görener said a qualified workforce and cutting-edge technology helped the company be very competitive. “We were the first one in 1996 to adopt computerized technology to monitor everything, from the hatchery to production, and even to the sales point,” he explained. In fact, Banvit contracted with a US-based technology firm that specialized in developing programs for the poultry business. “They come in, update our programs and overhaul our systems every year,” he added.

Banvit also has the advantage of being able to monitor sales volume on supermarket shelves. “We work closely with our retailers, and some have even opened their systems up to us so we can monitor what is going on at the point of sale in real time,” Görener noted, adding that this has enabled Banvit to swiftly respond to changing market conditions.

Around 19 percent of Banvit’s shares are traded on the İstanbul Stock Exchange (İMKB), while the rest is owned by major stakeholders, including the Görener, Koçman and Ebubekir families. Görener said they have no plans to offer more stock to the public at this time. The last partner Banvit took on was the International Finance Corporation (IFC) when it secured major financing from IFC in 2007 to upgrade its poultry processing operations and associated facilities, including slaughterhouses, processing plants, feed mills and cold storage facilities, in Turkey.

Asked if the shareholders would be willing to sell the business if the price was right, Görener said they would consider any offers but that he did not think the shareholders are particularly looking to sell Banvit. “We are open to joint ventures and partner offers provided that they will contribute to the growth of Banvit,” he stressed. However, he dismissed the suggestion that Banvit might enter into other sectors, such as construction or tourism. “I think everybody should be involved in promoting what they do best,” he said.

The company also entered the Romanian market in 1999 by setting up Banvit Aliment Romania S.R.L. With an expanded hatchery, parent stock farms and a feed mill in the country, Banvit enjoys an 18 percent market share there. “We would like to launch our European operations from this country, as it is already an EU member-state,” Görener said. The hatchery alone can produce 700,000 eggs per week.

Expansion to overseas market

Banvit facilities including slaughterhouses, processing plants, feed mills and cold storage facilities

Banvit would like to expand its Romanian operations not just for a launching pad to export to other EU member-countries, but also to target the 23 million consumers in the Romanian market. “We wanted to take advantage of the agriculture potential in Romania,” he explained, indicating that their 10 million ton corn production capacity can easily be doubled in the future. He said their goal is to set up a state-of-the-art integrated production facility in Romania.

Banvit has committed considerable resources to implementing an emergency action plan in the event that avian flu becomes an issue of concern for public health and safety. It has also developed a comprehensive plan to increase public awareness on issues of food hygiene, provide training for contracted farmers and enhance bio-security measures taken on contracted farms, processing plants and adjoining areas. It has a communication strategy to inform and update consumers through mass-media advertisements and provides traceability information on all its poultry products. In the bird flu scare of 2006, the company implemented this action plan and stockpiled Tamiflu — the only drug known to be effective against bird flu — in the event of an emergency. “Our policy is transparency,” Görener stressed, adding, “The company has worked closely with government agencies and informed the public regularly using the press.” Banvit maintains ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 22000 certification for its processing operations in Turkey.

High corn prices increase cost

Chicken production in Turkey amounted to 1 million tons in 2008, with consumption at 15.2 kilograms per person. Production is expected to hit 1.5 million in 2013, according to State Planning Organization (DPT) estimates. In 2005 Turkey ranked 14th in the world in terms of chicken production. According to EU reports, the facilities of many Turkish firms, including Banvit, meet or even exceed EU standards. However, an EU import ban on chicken from Turkey is still in effect, and resolving the issue will take a great deal of bureaucratic red tape.

The industry provides employment to 500,000 people. Including families, it is estimated to be supporting 2 million people. The total turnover for the industry is over $3 billion. Processing plants operate at 85 percent capacity on average, though this is expected to decrease in 2009 due to declining in demand.

Industry interest groups complain about the high cost of chicken feed, specifically corn, which constitutes 55 percent of all feed. While the price per ton is $261 on average in world markets, it is $400 in the Turkish domestic market. Increasing use of corn in bio-fuel production has pushed corn prices up worldwide, though it may decrease with the drop in oil prices.

Banvit uses special lab to monitor and detect possible problems in production process

Banvit also has a special lab to monitor and detect possible problems in the production process and employs mobile units to disinfect hatcheries and spray surrounding areas. “They swab and take samples from breeder farms to make sure everything is alright,” Görener said. For example, all vehicles entering the premises of the Banvit production facility in Bandırma get sprayed down and all visitors are must sterilize their shoes in a special bin located at the gate.

Including its sales force and contracted breeders, the company employs 5,000 people nationwide, mostly in Bandırma, where it generates 80 percent of its revenue. Görener says the company currently has no plans to move its headquarters to İstanbul. “We have talked about this at company meetings and have decided against it,” he said. Banvit supports 2,000 families in Bandırma alone. “But if we are to be a global player and add new production plants in other places, we may have to establish our base in a centrally located region like İstanbul,” he acknowledges.

Banvit has also expanded into the red-meat business in Turkey by establishing a 19,000-head cattle feedlot in Bandırma. The marginal cost of red meat is lower, as the company has already invested in storage and distribution networks for chicken and turkey products nationwide. “Our customers pushed us into this segment because they wanted to work with a reliable supplier,” Görener said. The company aims to double its daily red-meat production in 2009 from 300 cattle a day to 600.

D-8 is scheduled to hold the 1st Ministerial Meeting on Food Security in Kuala Lumpur, on February 25-27. Secretary General, Dipo Alam, said that he expects participations from developed poulterers such as the Turkish Banvit and other potentials poulterers across the D-8 region to exchange knowledges and recommendations to further strengthen the outcome of the meeting for wider benefit of the member countries.

Iran Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari

Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari says Iran wants to claim a 10 percent share of global gas trade, either through pipelines or liquefied natural gas. He said Iran is prepared to begin negotiations with Europe on supplying natural gas to the energy-starving continent.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari told lawmakers at the European Parliament in Brussels last week that Tehran is set for closer energy ties with the EU. According to IRNA, he added, “We are ready to contribute and we are ready for dialogue.“

The remarks come as Europe seeks to lessen its reliance on Russian gas in the wake of a recent Moscow-Kiev row on transit issues.

Rising Output

Millions of Europeans from nearly 20 countries suffered from a gas stoppage at the beginning of 2009 as Russia and Ukraine failed to renew a contract that expired on the first day of January. EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia; 80 percent of Russian supplies are transited to Europe via Ukraine. “Iran is a reliable source for energy, whether for gas or oil“, Safari added.

Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari said plans to increase its oil and gas output dramatically over the next few years. He added that by 2014, Iran’s oil output will jump to 5.3 million barrels per day, from the current 4.35 MMbbl/d. Natural gas output is projected to soar to 1.5 billion cubic meters per day, from the current 540 million cubic meters per day.

According to the official, the country will also invest $140 billion on new projects between 2005 and 2014, with some $63 billion being provided internally. Several new greenfield refinery projects are underway, and the country will have enough domestic refining capacity by 2011 to enable it to curtail its gasoline imports, which now average about 20 million liters per day, or almost one-third of the country’s total gasoline consumption.

The oil and gas deals the country is doing with the Malaysians, Indonesians, Syrians, Venezuelans, Chinese, and others provide evidence that America’s ability to influence global energy policy, particularly when it comes to policies that involve illegal sanctions against Iran, is diminishing. Iran wants to be the second-largest gas producer in the world and claim a 10 percent share of the global gas trade, either through pipelines or liquefied natural gas. While Nozari mentioned several other projects, including the hoped-for growth in Iran’s LNG production capacity, he notably commented, “In our strategic gas export plan, we have allocated 150 million cubic meters per day for export to Europe via pipeline.“

Nozari made it clear that the country is a reliable source for energy and that it is open to doing business with the EU in the energy sector, especially gas exports.

Economic Opportunity

Experts say last year’s confrontation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia between the West and Russia has provided a timely economic opportunity for Iran’s economic, energy and gas exports to Europe.

Following the relatively widespread political disagreements which have occurred between the West and Russia over Georgia, and the ensuing consequences, the West is now worried that Russia will take retributive measures in the field of energy and gas exports, an area which is the Achilles’ heel of a large number of western European states.

Europe has a number of options to choose from in its quest to diversify its energy sources. Considering the relatively rich supplies of oil and gas they have, Turkmenistan, the countries surrounding the Caspian Sea and the countries in the North African continent are suitable options.

However, it can be said that the most important country for Europe when it comes to diversifying its oil and gas sources, one which is its first choice and dependable in all aspects, is Iran.

After Russia, Iran has the second-largest natural gas reserves in the world, and stands head and shoulders above its rivals.

D-8’s Economist, Esen Gonen, said that D-8 has been continously aiming to further increase intra-trade among the member countries, including in energy sector. She said that as a grouping, D-8 possess a huge potential and many areas of cooperation are not fully explored and optimized yet. She said that D-8 has prepared the Roadmap of 2018 for development of the region and has been agreed by memberstates during the D-8’s Kuala Lumpur 6th Summit earlier this year.

“Iran cooperates together with fellow member countries of D-8, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, in various gas field projects,” she added.

Enough Forex Reserves

Iran forex reserves meet the country's need

Meanwhile, Central Bank of Iran’s Deputy-Governor Reza Raai has said that the country’s $80b hard currency reserves meet the country’s essential needs by 1388 year-end (March 2010).

He was cited by ISNA as adding that: “Fortunately, the state of country’s hard currency reserves is such that even if the current conditions continue in international markets the national hard currency reserves will meet our import needs by March 2010.”

He emphasized that: “Under the current conditions; a fall in hard currency revenues is natural and covers nearly all countries. But, in regard to our country, this trend is not a threat, because, if necessary, we can take advantage of national hard currency revenues gained at the first half of current year (March-September 2008).”

Special Economic Energy Zone absorbs $36b foreign investment in a decade

Another encouraging news also came from the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) of Iran. Foreign entities have invested some $36 billion in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) during the past 10 years, said PSEEZ managing director on Friday.

“$100 million worth of projects will come on stream in two weeks in the zone,” Abdol-Jalil Razavi added, according to SHANA.

“Roads, electricity substations, optical fiber network and telecommunication facilities, a 132-KV transmission line, healthcare and medical treatment centers, water supply and water desalination systems are among these projects,” he explained.

He went on to say that the private sector has invested some $1.5 billion in the PSEEZ during the past 4 years.

Pars Special Economic Energy Zone was established in 1998 for the utilization of South Pars oil and gas resources.

PSEEZ is located in the Persian Gulf coast of Assaluyeh, 300 Kilometers east of Bushehr and 570 Kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, Iran.

The Bangladesh government cut down the fertiliser price to help farmers

The government today brought down the prices of non-urea fertilisers in a bid to help the farmers in the coming Boro season.

The price of TSP (triple super phosphate) came down from Tk 75-80 to Tk 40 per a kg, MoP (murate of potash) was reduced from Tk 69-70 to Tk 35 and DAP (diammonium phosphate) from Tk 87-90 to Tk 45, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said today after a meeting at the finance ministry.

With the new pricing, the government’s subsidy on non-urea fertiliser stands at 55 percent, which was 15 percent before, to reduce production cost of rice in Boro season.

This means over Tk 2,700 crore fresh subsidy would be needed — Tk 1520 crore to government institutions that import DAP, TSP and MOP and Tk 1236 crore to private importers.

On top of this, the government has already been forking out Tk 4,200 crore subsidy on urea — Tk 30 a kg — to keep prices at Tk 12 for farmers.

The demand for urea fertiliser this season is 12.10 lakh metric tonne (MT) while the demand for TSP is 3.75 lakh MT, MoP 2.50 lakh MT and DAP over 1 lakh MT.

D-8 has been urging its member to implement food security programs. The organization is scheduled to have its first Minister Meeting on Food Security that will discuss joint-investment on fertilizer to support food security program of D-8, among other things. Earlier in the 6th Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, one of the result was that head of states of D-8 pledged their readiness to deal with the global challenges regarding with the skyrocketing food prices. Some identified potential cooperation that discussed among D-8 head of states and need to be followed for their implementation were:

* To develop some fertilizer and pesticide plants in D-8 countries, and apply Preferential Trade Agreement for exporting and importing the products to ease D-8 farmers to produce more food products and the supply;
* To develop cooperation on animal feed factory within D-8 countries; and apply Preferential Trade Agreement for exporting and importing the products;
* To establish a Seeds Bank in D-8 Countries for enough seeds stock whenever are needed for increasing more food products within the countries, as well as a ready stock whenever needed by farmers because of natural disasters, and other unfortunate situation;
* To establish D-8 Food Fund for helping the needy on the food within D-8 countries caused by current unfortunate situation in food crisis time;
* To set up an R&D and technological cooperation in the areas of agricultural development, especially to increase the productivity both in inland-farming and agro-based industry;
* To cooperate for diversifying agricultural products supply, including fishery; animal husbandry; and organic products;
* To establish capacity building, including education and training program; and
* To establish a public-private partnership, by involving more private sectors participation in the programs.

Turkey and Pakistan cooperates to establish wind farm for power generation in Pakistan

Islamabad—Zorlu Enerji, the first company to establish wind farm for power generation in Pakistan, on Saturday signed Energy Purchase Agreement with Hyderabad Electric Supply Corporation for purchase of 6 MW electricity generated at the company’s facility in Jhimpir. The agreement was signed by Mr. Murat Sungar Bursa, President Zorlu Enerji, on behalf of Zorlu Eneji and Mr. Karim Buksh Qureshi, CEO HESCO representing HESCO. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Chairman AEDB / Minister Water & Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Turkish Ambassador Mr. Engin Soysal.

The signing of Energy Purchase Agreement between the IPP and HESCO took the country further closer to towards exploitation of its vast wind energy resource for meeting its growing energy needs. NEPRA has awarded tariff of US scents 12.1057 per KWh, which is cheaper than the electricity generated from thermal sources. The power generated from the first phase would be evacuated to Jhimphir grid station by HESCO and would be sufficient to electrify 6900 homes in Hyderabad region.

The Zorlu Enerji wind farm would be one of the cleanest power plants in the country displacing 10,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, as compared to a fossil fuel power plant. Harnessing the strong winds coming from south west, the wind farm is first commercial wind power project of the country, comprising 5 towers in the first phase with an installed capacity of 1.2 MW wind turbine generator per tower. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister Water & Power/Chairman AEDB congratulated Mr. Murat Sungar Bursa, Zorlu Enerji President for undertaking the project that supports the government’s derive towards greater exploitation of renewable energy resources. He thanked the Turkish firm for its assistance in helping Pakistan enter the era of wind energy. Mr Ashraf said Pakistan is proud of its friendship with Turkey.

President of Pakistan would perform the inauguration of the land mark project in the first week of Feburary, said Chairman AEDB/ Minister Water & Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf with CEO AEDB and President Zorlu Enerji (Pvt) Ltd., “This project shows the Pakistan government’s persistence at tapping indigenous Renewable Energy sources as a strategy to meet growing energy needs”, said the AEDB chairman/ Minister Water & Power. We need a relentless effort to harness our own energy resources and not be forever held hostage by volatile international oil prices,” he added. “We have brotherly relations with Pakistan and Government has sent us here with a special message to do utmost in increasing trade and commerce. Additionally, we look forward cooperating with Pakistan in defence, agriculture and women empowerment for producing tangible results”, said the Turkish ambassador, Mr. Engin Soysal.

Mr. Arif Alauddin, CEO AEDB said the realization of wind farm represents an important milestone in the country’s strategy to in contribution of Renewable Energy sources. He said more of such good news particularly in the sector of waste to energy and hydro sector were in the pipeline. He thanked the federal government, federal minister for water and power, Sindh government, NTDC, CPPA, NEPRA, HESCO for their help in the setting up of the country’s first wind farm. The project which in subsequent phases would be expanded to a 50 MW wind farm is currently using gearless vensys 62 with 1.2 MW technology. President Zorlu Enerji (Pvt) Ltd., Mr. Murat Sungar Bursa speaking on this occasion said incentives offered by Pakistan ‘s Renewable Energy Policy were a major factor in the company’s decision to invest here.

D-8 countries are rich with natural resources. The growing world economic activity and industrial production in the past four decades has resulted in a significant increase in the demand of minerals globally. In recent years, international increased consumption has further boosted world minerals demand and prices. Thus creating incentives and opportunities for D-8 member countries to commercialize their mineral reserves.

At the 6th Summit of the D-8 in July 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Heads of State/Government of member countries reiterated their commitment to carry on the ideas of economic cooperation among D-8 countries, in all aspects of economic cooperation, including in energy. The Summit also adopted Roadmap of Developing Eight Countries for Economic and Social Cooperation in the Second Decade of Cooperation (2008-2018) which is meant to be the guidance of D-8 cooperation. Strengthened by the adoption of Kuala Lumpur Declaration at the 6th Summit, D-8 countries has reaffirmed their commitment to urgently address the energy issues through collaborative efforts in various areas.

D-8 has held the first D-8 Working Group on Mining and Minerals Meeting theming “A Resonant Minerals Sector for Sustainable Development”, in Bali, Indonesia, earlier in December 2008.

Indonesia recognizes the potential of D-8 countries which have endowed with abundant of various mineral resources, and therefore proposed cooperation in the areas of mining and minerals through a Working Group on Mining and Mineral, which was responded favourably by the member countries at the 4th D-8 working Group on Energy last June in Cairo.

In that first meeting of the WGMM, the objectives drawn particularly is for D-8 to set up its groundwork as the basis for future cooperation through WGMM, such as:

1. To find solution the recent global crisis  situation issue and its impact regarding of mining and mineral industries through dialog and strong relationship among D-8 member country;
2. To exchange views on the latest issues, developments and trends in the fast growing areas of mining and minerals and to seek the possibility of formulating  concrete D-8 cooperation programs through cooperation in industries, investments, trade, technology. And business;
3. To identify potencies, opportunities, challenges, and threats of D-8 in mining and minerals business/industries, as well as to attempt to facilitate the meeting among the stakeholders, such as government/regulators, companies, investors, private sectors and financial institutions/banks;
4. To appoint focal /contact point of the WGMM at respective member countries.

The Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and a number of relief organizations are continuing to send humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people

The Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and a number of relief organizations are continuing to send humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in the face of recent Israeli air strikes and the current land invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Five trailers from Turkey carrying food, medicine, medical supplies and blankets reached Palestinians yesterday morning through the Kerem Shalom border crossing to the Gaza Strip. Officials in Gaza have confirmed the arrival of the aid, which includes 3,300 food packages, 5,000 blankets and 20 medicine and medical supplies packages.

Aydın Özdemir, the head of the Kızılay’s humanitarian aid campaign to Palestinians, said the Turkish Kızılay initially sent 11,000 aid packages to Gaza on Jan. 2, and they were told by Palestinian officials that the supplies would last for about a month and supply 150,000 people.

Israeli officials did not open the border crossing yesterday again on the grounds that there was a security concern.

As part of the aid campaign for Gaza, the Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) Association continues to send relief to the people of Gaza mostly through the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing. The organization sent medicine, powdered milk and baby food packages to Gaza yesterday. They will give more of the same supplies tomorrow. Previously, the association sent three truck loads and a trailer full of supplies to the region.

Medical doctors from the organization visited and help treat 22 Gazans.

Students hold minute of silence for Palestinian casualties

Students hold minute of silence for Palestinian casualties in Turkey

Turkish students fell silent for one minute as a mark of respect to those Palestinians who lost their lives as part of the Israeli raids. At 11 a.m. yesterday, students across Turkey stood for a minute-long silence after a nationwide decree from the Ministry of Education.

Minister of Education Hüseyin Çelik asked students to remember the Palestinian students and children who have lost their lives in the offensive that Israel began 17 days ago. The death toll had risen to more than 900 as of yesterday and includes at least 380 civilians.

Teachers told students that Palestinian children have no chance to go to warm homes and sleep well at night: “Even if it is just for one minute, we want to show them that we put ourselves in their place and we are at their side.”

The ministry’s decree also indicated that a drawing competition with the topic of the “humanitarian drama in Palestine” will be open to students at primary and secondary schools to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Erdoğan visits hospitalized Palestinians

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Palestinians wounded in the ongoing Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip

In Ankara, the teary-eyed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited wounded Palestinians hospitalized at Atatürk Teaching and Research Hospital in the Turkish capital. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited 10 Palestinians wounded in the ongoing Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.

Erdoğan was briefed on the patients’ conditions while at the capital’s Atatürk Teaching and Research Hospital.

“Ten wounded Palestinians were airlifted to Turkey by medical plane. The wounded were accompanied by escorts,” Erdoğan said, adding that they are currently engaged in talks to bring more injured Palestinians to Turkey. He also said that the wounded were seriously hurt, probably by phosphorus bombs.

The prime minister appeared moved by the critical condition of the Palestinian patients and had tears in his eyes.

Ferhan Altınbaşak, a nurse affiliated with the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay), said the injured were in serious condition.

“We have brought some Palestinians wounded in Israeli strikes to Ankara for medical attention as part of a humanitarian aid campaign being carried out by the Red Crescent,” Altınbaşak said.

The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli attacks, which began more than two weeks ago, has risen past 900 and includes at least 380 civilians. More than 3,600 Palestinians have been wounded.

Cease-fire in the Middle East is close: Turkey

Turkey’s negotiations may result in a cease-fire in Gaza, according to the prime minister, who says Israel is also expected to participate in the talks in Cairo. Diplomats are happy with the shuttle diplomacy conducted by Turkey. Negotiations between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s adviser and Syria and Egypt over finding a cease-fire to the Gaza conflict were heading in good direction, according to the prime minister.

“Negotiations are underway not only in Egypt but also in SyriaÉ Israel is also expected to participate in the talks in CairoÉ I believe (the parties) will get closer to (a cease-fire) with Israeli involvement. That is the possibility,” Erdoğan told reporters after visiting an Ankara hospital where Palestinians, injured as a result of the Gaza offensive, were being treated.

Turkey is moving ahead with its shuttle diplomacy with Professor Ahmet Davutoğlu, accompanied by officials from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, holding talks in Egypt over the weekend and then traveling to Syria for talks with Hamas. After wrapping up talks, the delegation returned to Cairo for further meetings.

Turkey warm to troop deployment

“The first results from the Turkish shuttle diplomacy are positive. The priority right now is a cease-fire,” a Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

Turkey is playing a key role in the talks because Hamas - due to tension with Egypt - currently has more confidence in Turkey than it does in Egypt, reported the London-based Arabic al-Hayat newspaper, citing diplomatic sources. According to sources, in the current talks Turkey is acting as a mediator between Egypt and Hamas, not between Hamas and Israel, it added.

Turkey yesterday repeated calls for the creation of an international monitoring mechanism to establish a cease-fire. “We have already shown our sensitivity over the deployment of international observers. This process can be continued with an international monitoring delegation,” said Erdoğan yesterday.

The Turkish diplomat told the Daily News that if formed, the mechanism would involve not civilians but soldiers. The Al-Hayat newspaper reported that Hamas was warm to a Turkish force being deployed at the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian-Gaza border despite its earlier refusal of the presence of any international troops.

Hamas would only consent to the deployment of Turkish forces in the Strip if all of the crossings into Gaza were opened, said the paper.

Too early to talk on observers

“What we are focusing at the moment is establishing a truce. It is too early to speak about the formation or the tasks of international observers while fighting continues,” said an Egyptian diplomatic source to the Daily News. “What we want first is to stop the fire and after that there could be negotiations about the tasks of international observers and which countries those forces could come from,” he said.

In Ankara, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larjani held talks with Erdoğan and President Abdullah Gül yesterday, ahead of an emergency meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, or OIC, set for Wednesday.

“The main issue will be Gaza and the combination of Islamic countries’ aid to Palestinian people,” said a diplomatic source. No statement was made to the press after the meetings. Tehran said it supported Turkey’s Gaza plan, reported the Anatolia news agency. Hamid Rıza Hacıbabayi from Iran’s parliament said Iran supported the Turkish plan that foresees a halt to the Israeli offensive and aid to the Palestinians. On Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be in Turkey as part of a regional tour.

DEIK chairperson, Zuhal Mansfield, giving her presentation during D-8 26th Commission Meeting

In accordance with the main purposes of the organization, D-8 member countries have already designed several agreements including the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), Administrative Assistance on Custom Matters, and Simplification on Visa Procedures for Business Persons.

During the recent D-8 6th Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a number of accomplishments have been made within these lines. Ideas such as Visa Simplification, and establishment of a D-8 free trade area alongside had made progress in forging a Preferential Trade Agreement. Four members of the forum have already concluded bilateral Free Trade Agreements, and this trend is expected to encompass all others. The Summit also resulted in Malaysia signing an agreement on simplification of visa procedures for D8 businessmen.

D-8 Secretary General, Dipo Alam, said during the Summit that the grouping shall work together so that the developed countries could remove their tariff and non-tariff barriers against their productive exports.

The Summit also officially endorsed the Roadmap for Economic Cooperation in the Second Decade of Cooperation (2008-2018) as “the vision to guide our activities in the next ten years” and instructed the D-8 Commission as well as the secretariat to translate the roadmap into action plans.

The roadmap is aimed at increasing trade between member states from the current five percent to at least 10 to 15 percent of the total trade volume of D-8 countries. It places emphasis on three areas: a preferential trade agreement (PTA) that will be the main vehicle of trade between member countries, the customs agreement that will facilitate the movement of goods, and the visa agreement enabling smoother travel of the business community from one member state to another.

Zuhal Mansfield

The urgency to expedite the visa exemption, or at least, simplification, has been gaining weight recently as the private sectors are stressing the importance of the agreement to boost trade among the member countries. In the 26th Session of the D-8 Commission Meeting in Istanbul recently, the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) through its chairperson, Zuhal Mansfield reiterated how significant the visa agreement is for enhancement of D-8 commercial relations. Noting that Visa is not required for Turkish citizens visiting Malaysia and Iran, but is a must for the rest of the member countries, Mansfield said that visa procedures are the obstacles in developing business among D-8 countries.

“Any attempt for exemption of visa, if not, visa simplification will tremendously contribute to enhancement of Turkey’s economical relations with other D-8 countries,” she said in her presentation. She added that this might be realized for the owners of companies with an annual turnover at an amount determined by D-8.

D-8 Secretariat through its Secretary General, Dipo Alam, has followed up her suggestion by circulating letters to D-8 Head of States, appealing the countries that has not yet ratified the D-8 Visa Agreement to expedite the ratification process. Prior this year, D-8 Secretariat has made similar appeal and three member countries (Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan) has responded in timely manner.

“We hope that the readiness from these countries can work as a locomotive for further intra-trade relations among moslem and developing countres,” said Dipo Alam, adding that he believes the rest of the countries will do expedite the ratification process very soon. He noted that Malaysia government had completed the rest of member countries signing the visa agreement during the last summit, and now entering the ratification process.

Turkish trucks filled with medicine being loaded to victims of Israeli air strikes in Palestine

Albeit its genuine interests lies in economic domain within the member countries, D-8 Organization deemed the urgency to voice its concern over the rupturing conflict between Israel-Palestine that has led to the Israelian air strikes on the Gaza Strip that has been launched for more than 10 days.

The Israel Air Force begun the air strikes on the Gaza Strip since Dec. 27,2008 and later on Saturday evening, Israeli troops launched the ground incursion, causing some 500 Palestinians dead and 2,400 injury, according to the latest news reports. Israel says it launched the offensive to stop rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza that have killed several Israelis.

Member countries through their respective authorities had voiced their deepest concern over this problem.

Pressuring UN for Special Session on Halting Violence

Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also the D-8 Chairman this period, said that Malaysia’s permanent representative to the UN will hold discussions with other officials in the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, or OIC, on how best to push for such a session.

“I hope the United States and its allies will not impede efforts to convene the special general assembly,” Abdullah was quoted as saying by the Malaysian national news agency, Bernama.

Foreign ministers from OIC countries issued a statement following a meeting in Saudi Arabia over the weekend saying all Muslim nations should cooperate with other UN members to call for a special General Assembly session titled “Uniting for Peace.”

In a separate statement, Abdullah said Israel’s ground offensive “is an act of total war which the international community should not tolerate.”

Abdullah added that in its own show of support and solidarity, the Malaysian Government has decided to contribute US$ 1 million to the people of Gaza which is to be channeled through MERCY Malaysia.

On the other hand, the Hon. Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia,  participated in the Emergency Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) on 3 January 2009 at the Headquarters of the General Secretariat of the OIC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In his Statement, the Hon. Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim expressed Malaysia’s strong condemnation of Israel’s disproportionate, indiscriminate and excessive attacks on Gaza which is a blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. He expressed his dismay over the inability of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to reach a decision calling for a ceasefire. Given this scenario,  Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim urged the OIC together with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Arab League to work towards demanding for the convening of an Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the Situation in Palestine. Malaysia also called for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to de-escalate the conflict.

He urged the OIC to take immediate measures by calling for a Special Session of the Human Rights Council to address the infringements of human rights and humanitarian law by Israel. The OIC Secretary General was also requested to undertake consultations with other international and regional organizations aimed at calling for a ceasefire and addressing the deteriorating humanitarian condition in Gaza. He further stressed that Palestinian Unity is paramount as continuing split between Hamas and Fatah would only benefit Israel at the expense of Palestinians who had suffered the most.

Consequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia has decided to activate the Humanitarian Fund for the Palestinian people to enable the Malaysian public to contribute donations towards lifting the sufferings of the Palestinian people.

Medical Support and Observer Team

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

In the neighboring country, Indonesia, who held the chairmanship of D-8 prior to Malaysia, the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the country is prepared to send its nationals to become part of an observer team in the Gaza Strip if there is a ceasefire.

“If the United Nations (UN) and the international community agree on sending a monitoring team, Indonesia is prepared to send her best people to become part of the team,” he said.

“This is because the Indonesian government must consider the safety of the Indonesian nationals too,” he said as quoted by the Antara news agency.

Susilo said that besides sending humanitarian aid worth US1 million, Indonesia was also preparing a medical team to be sent to districts which were giving temporary protection to the people of Gaza who had become victims of the Israeli aggression.

Indonesia on Sunday also called on United Nations (UN) to work on renewing dialog and negotiations on the Palestine-Israeli conflict among each side and sending an observation team to Gaza, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The Indonesian government has called on the United Nations Security Council, which is now in session, to adopt a resolution requiring the conflicting parties to put an end to their hostilities and establish a truce. It also calls for the monitoring of the truce by a UN observers team,” said the statement, adding that Indonesia was ready to take part in a UN Observation Team.

Indonesian Ambassador, A.M. Fachir visited Palestinians victims in Nasser Hospital, Cairo

It also called on all groups in Palestine to unite, saying “Unity among all factions in Palestine is urgently needed. Reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah factions is a must because disunity will only benefit Israel and victimizes innocent civilians.”

In Cairo, the Indonesian ambassador for Egypt, A.M. Fachir and his wife, Yasmin Fachir, made visits to the Nasser hospital that treat the Palestinian victims of the strikes, as the expression of the country’s deepest concern and sympathy. The visit was solemnly greeted by the hospital Director, Dr Bahaa el-Din Abou Zeid, who led the ambassador to meet directly with the victims.

“Safe Corridor” in the Strip for Medical and Food Deliveries

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak

Spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, sent urgent messages to the UN Secretary General, the Security Council President for the current month and the Foreign Ministers of the five permanent members of the Council concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Spokesman outlined that in his messages, Aboul Gheit asked for the consideration of a proposal to establish “safe corridors” in the Strip to deliver food and medicines to the inhabitants till the end of the military operations, taking into consideration the fragility of the humanitarian situation and the negative impact of the ground offensive.

The Spokesman said that the Egyptian proposal aims to spare the Palestinian civilians as much as possible the horrors and repercussions of military operations, especially in relation to the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

On Monday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak also held talks with his visiting French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy on means of ending the current Israeli attacks against Gaza.

During the meeting at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the two leaders discussed the ongoing Egyptian efforts to help reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, according to the official MENA news agency.

They also tackled means of restoring calmness between the Palestinians and Israel in order to pave the way for the resumption of their stalled peace talks leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Along the same line, Foreign Adviser of Bangladesh’s caretaker government Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Monday expressed his grave concern at the deteriorating situation in Gaza and urged to stop fighting.

Chowdhury said that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged a cease-fire and “we entirely endorse his urgings.”

“The Israeli ground action is extremely worrying as it places us on the brink of full scale war,” he said in a press statement of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

Chowdhury said, “Peace in Palestine is essential for global stability which today is seriously threatened because of the events in Gaza. The fighting must be stopped forthwith. Further killings of innocent civilian are totally unacceptable.”

Pakistan Urges Israel to halt Violence

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Sunday called for immediate halt to the Israeli ground and air assault on Gaza to avoid human losses and destruction. “The government of Pakistan has condemned Israeli ground and Air attacks. We think it is unjustified and must be immediately stopped,” Qureshi told a news conference at the eastern Pakistani city of Multan.

“Israeli aggression must end and it should stop ground and aerial attacks and solve the problem through dialogues” Qureshi said, adding “the cease-fire must be revived to avoid human losses and destruction.”

Qureshi said that foreign ministers from Islamic countries met in Jeddah Saturday and Pakistan fully took part in the proceedings and presented its stance.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday said Pakistan expressed grave concern over the attacks in Gaza and called for cessation of the attacks against unarmed and innocent Palestinians.

Talking to a Special Envoy of Iran Gholamhossein Nozari here at the President’s House, Zardari said the attacks were violative of the United Nations Charter.

The News Network International news agency quoted Zardari as saying that the Pakistani government had also urged the international community to bring to end the violence against the Palestinians and promote a peaceful, just and durable settlement of the Palestinian issue in accordance with relevant United Nation Security Council resolutions.

Iranian Hospital Ready to Treat Palestinian Strikes Victims

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki

Support and sympathy also came from Iran, where the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said that Iranian hospitals are ready to admit the wounded Palestinians for medical treatment.

Expressing deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza Strip, he said due to increase in the number of martyrs and wounded Palestinians as a result of the continued invasion, the Iranian hospitals are ready to receive the injured Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in a message to his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit, announced readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to set up a makeshift hospital in the Egyptian territory and close to the Gaza Strip.

In his message, the Iranian FM urged Cairo to cooperate with Tehran in that regard.

Turkish health ministry sends 13 tons medicine to Gaza

From Turkey, the Turkish Ministry of Health has sent 13 tons of medicine and medical equipment to Gaza. The aid was sent to the region by a plane of the Turkish Airlines through WHO.

Turkish PM, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President, Hosni Mobarak

The Ministry also sent two experts to the region to provide coordination of the humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, a Turkish health team is waiting for Egypt’s permission to bring in injured Palestinian people for medical treatment in Turkey.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been shuttling between Arab capitals to seek a consensus among bitterly divided Arab leaders before approaching Israel with a diplomatic proposal.

Mr. Erdogan has met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the past several days. Prime Minister Erdogan is also due to meet with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, Saturday.

Al-Arabiya TV reported that Mr. Erdogan also met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, and Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Abdallah Challah, while in Damascus, to sound them out over conditions for a Gaza cease-fire.

In Nigeria, irked by the on-going destructions of lives and properties in Gaza strip, coalition of Muslim groups under the aegis of Conference of Islamic Organization (CIO) has called on the United Nations and governments to intervene immediately to stop the killings of innocent people in the area.

Condemning the killings of innocent people including women and children by the security operatives from Israel and the retaliations from Hamas group, CIO noted that it was time the international community called to order the Israelis government to restrain from further bombardment of the Gaza strip to save lives and property of the people in the area.

(From various sources.)

Muhyiddin and Rachid shaking hands after their meeting at Muhyiddin’s office in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia and Egypt should encourage their business sectors to make use of the nations’ role as trade gateways to the Asian and Arab-African regions. International Trade and Industry Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there were many opportunities that could be tapped from Malaysia-Egypt ties.

“Egypt is not only a gateway to the African continent. It’s also linked to the rest of Europe.

“As Malaysia is the trade and investment gateway for Asean, we can increase our joint co-operation and enhance it.

“We have agreed to form the Malaysia-Egypt trade and investment committee as soon as possible to plan the bilateral agendas of interest to both countries,” he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from Egypt Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid at his office here yesterday.

Muhyiddin admitted that while the trade volume had increased in the past few years, it was still small.

Rachid agreed, saying Egypt is opening its infrastructure development projects in the form of public-private enterprise arrangements.

“This will be a big opportunities for Malaysian companies to participate in the development of roads, airports, ports and water supply projects,” he added. Matrade chief executive officer Datuk Norharuddin Nordin said the Egyptian middle class market was large.

D-8 Economist, Esen Gonen, said that Egypt jumped 11 places in aggregate rankings on the ease of doing business and scored the world’s 10th business reformer in 2008, according to the World Bank’s “Doing Business 2009 Report.”

“Egypt has implemented one-stop shops for import/export and business start-up, undertaken sweeping tax reforms, continually improved its credit information systems, and modified listing rules of the Egyptian Stock Exchange [further protecting minority shareholders],” she explained the report.

The report also cited that Egypt made starting a business easier by reducing the paid-in minimum capital requirement by more than 80 percent, abolishing bar association fees, and automating tax registration.

D-8 Secretary General, Dr. Dipo Alam is pleased with this WB’s report, and believes that D-8 economic cooperation has greater prospect to develop within the framework of D-8 cooperation.

Air Asia X aims to expand sales tenfold to 10b dollars

Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia X said it can weather the storm of a sharply deteriorating global economy and is hiring pilots to expand its routes to China, India, South Korea and Japan.

Chief Executive Azran Osman Rani told AFP that while it was a challenging period for the aviation industry as many countries slip into a recession and carriers go bust, there were “a lot of business opportunities for us.”

Bookings for its direct London flight on its leased Airbus 340-300, due to begin March 11, were overwhelming, he said, with 30,000 seats sold.

Demand was great as ticket prices cost about 2,000 ringgit (580 dollars), less than half the price of a regular non-budget flight. AirAsia X will fly five times a week between the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur and Stansted Airport on the outskirts of London.

Azran said AirAsia X was looking to expand its routes in 2009 into northern India including New Delhi, Amritsar and Mumbai, and to Beijing. In 2010 it aims to target South Korea and to Tokyo, Hokkaido in northern Japan and Kyushu in the south.

Azran said it was taking on new staff for its expansion. “We are still hiring pilots and cabin crew despite the tough economic outlook next year,” he said. AirAsia X, which currently flies to Australia’s Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne, and Hangzhou in China, will end the year with about 362 million ringgit in sales.

It aims to expand sales tenfold to one billion dollars by the end of 2010, despite the global slowdown.

Air Asia is taking new staff for its expansion

Azran said the main challenge amid the uncertain global outlook was “to effectively scale up the scope of our business while keeping the lid on costs.”

He said that oil prices, which have sunk sharply in recent months, were not expected to surge in the short and medium term.

The carrier currently has three A330-300 aircraft, one of which is leased. It has placed an order for 25 more by 2013, of which Airbus has delivered two.
Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has taken a 20 percent stake in the airline and the British billionaire has vowed to ensure that it turns a profit.

D-8 Civil Aviation Working Group so far has organized a number of Working Group meetings since 2007. D-8 Secretary General, Dipo Alam, cherished this news and said that he will bring up this encouraging news and discuss it in the scheduled working groups in near future. He added that the organization is very much pleased by positive efforts from all aviation communities in D-8 countries to support and improve service, production, and business opportunities among memberstates. “Opportunities are out there, and we should focus all our efforts to reach them,” Alam said.