Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from September 2005

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from September 2005

nterview with Miida Takashi, President & CEO, Max Co., Ltd.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Interviewer: Takamasu Kanji Staplers are called "HOTCHKISS" in Japan. MAX has a 75% share of Japan's stapler market, and the company's name is regarded as synonymous with...

nterview with Miida Takashi, President & CEO, Max Co., Ltd.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Interviewer: Takamasu Kanji You have been moving into the field of housing environmental units for last few years. Do they have a connection with fastening technologies? Miida:...

iSeePet: A System for Communicating with Your Pet.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Perhaps you will be getting home late due to an emergency appointment. Not having prepared food for your pet, it must be starving. Staying at home alone, how on earth will your pet pass the...

Beyond the e-Japan Strategy:Vision for Information-based Economy and Industries.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Murakami Teruyasu Entering the 2nd Stage of IT Enhancement The e-Japan strategy is an IT infrastructure development policy that began after the collapse of the IT bubble,...

The Next Stage of the e-Japan Strategy.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Kokuryo Jiro The e-Japan Strategy, the pillar of Japan's national information technology (IT) initiatives, is about to enter its second stage. Details of the new strategy,...

Communication by Electric Pot.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) It is something we use every day, but it can also serve as an opportunity to communicate with a family member who lives far away. What is it? It's the i-POT by Zojirushi corporation....

Participatory Journalism in Japan.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Yukawa Tsuruaki Blogs are breaking new journalistic ground in the United States. In South Korea, a public participatory news site called "OhmyNews" has become established as a...

Interview with Nakamura Masao, President and CEO, NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Interviewer: Murakami Kuniko NTT DoCoMo, Inc., which holds a majority share of the Japanese mobile phone market, was slow to promote the third-generation (3G) mobile service...

Interview with Ochiai Masami, Chairman, Index Corp.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Interviewer: Kitamoto Ichiro Index Corporation is Japan's largest provider of mobile phone content such as ring tone melodies and e-commerce sites. Looking ahead in this age...

Electronic Medical Charts Spreading Fast.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Okabe Hiroshi A tissue sample taken out of a patient was carefully placed under an electronic microscope to determine whether it contains cancerous cells. The microscope was...

Asia Broadband Program.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Kitamoto Ichiro Give all people in Asia access to high-speed, high-capacity Internet service by 2010 - such an ambitious project is now being promoted by the Japanese...

The Rebirth of the Japanese Movie Industry.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Kurosawa Tsuneo Japan's movie industry is making a strong comeback after a long slump. The number of moviegoers is on the rise after years of decline, while various Japanese...

The First 21st Century World EXPO Finally Brings Down Its Curtain on Sept. 25.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: JEF Editorial Section The EXPO 2005 is reaching its height not only in its host prefecture Aichi but in throughout Japan. It now refutes a suspicious rumor that it would crash...

The Triangle of Japan, South Korea and the United States in Northeast Asia:.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Inoguchi Takashi South Korea at the Center? Korea was long called the Hermit Kingdom by Westerners. However, the time has gone forever for Korea to remain as such, and the...

Basic Policies 2005 Highlights Half-Complete Structural Reform.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Izumi Masaki In June, the government called a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP) and an extraordinary cabinet meeting, and officially approved the...

Japanese Traditional Festivals.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Totsuka Takashi Hinamatsuri and Tango no Sekku In Japan when a girl is born, a set of Hina dolls are displayed in the home for one month before the Hinamatsuri, a festival for...

In Search of Japan's Position in Asia.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Kokubun Ryosei Since modern times, Japan has been in a continuous struggle to define its position in Asia. This definition, however, continues to be elusive. After the arrival...

A Sanctuary for Female Commuters.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Matsunaga Tsutomu A large pink sticker with a floral design has been attached to the train. The same stickers are on the platform where the carriages stop, and male passengers...

The "Advanced IT Prefecture".
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Goto Masaaki Okayama Prefecture is making an effort to develop its IT infrastructure ahead of other prefectures in Japan, based on the concept that an information network...

Man and Nature: To Protect or to Be Protected?
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Ogoura Kazuo Across the history of mankind and of different cultural traditions, it is possible to discern two distinct approaches to nature. The first is to see it as...

How Should the Issue of ODA for Africa Be Addressed?
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Hatakeyama Noboru The G8 summit in Gleneagles, the United Kingdom, emphasized the importance of a drastic increase in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa. Asia and...

Japanese Civilization (Part 22) Part 1.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Kawakatsu Heita R. A. SILOW made extensive investigations into the genetic aspects of taxonomic divergence in the diploid Asiatic cottons. He maintained that; (a)...

Trends of the IT Society.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Tsukio Yoshio Advance of the IT Society In Japan, the IT society started with the VI&P Plan, a long-term initiative announced by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) in the...

Shiretoko.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) The northeast Hokkaido, Shiretoko, was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List on July 14. The Shiretoko Peninsula is located in Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, and is the lowest...

No Signs of a Halt to Population Decline.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) The age of depopulation is on the horizon in Japan. The total fertility rate - the number of children born to each woman during her reproductive years - came to 1.29 in 2004, marking an...

Hot Debate Underway on 'Cool Biz' Campaign.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) The Japanese government has launched a "Cool Biz" campaign to encourage men to take off their jackets and ties to help curb global warming. The Ministry of the Environment is enthusiastic...

Reforming Japan's Bureaucracy.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Sasaki Takeshi In the Koizumi Cabinet's "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Policy Management and Structural Reform 2005," reflecting the resolution of various problems...

The Impact of IT on Our Lives.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Nohara Sawako How IT Has Changed Our Lives The impact of the widespread penetration of IT in our daily lives today can be broadly divided into three categories. First, the...

Transborder Traffic in Southeast Asia.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Shiraishi Takashi Transborder traffic in Southeast Asia, above all in the Celebes Sea, between the northern part of Indonesia's Sulawesi and Mindanao in the southern...

Japanese Civilization (Part 22) Part2.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Byline: Kawakatsu Heita Levant Cottons The so-called Levant cotton belonged to the typical form of G. herbaceum, called persium. Hutchinson describes the characteristics of the crop:...

Foreign Buying of Japanese Businesses Hits Record High.
September 1, 2005... (From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI)) Direct investment in Japan by foreigners - share acquisition and long-term lending to Japanese businesses - soared 90% in FY 2004 from the previous year to a record \4,026.5 billion,...

Thailand: Phuket Air cancels nearly all scheduled flights.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - Hit by a spate of bad publicity, a poor public image and soured overseas business partnerships, Phuket Airlines has decided to make a soft landing - ending most scheduled flights, ceasing...

Thailand: Finance Ministry cuts GDP growth forecast.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Economy - The Finance Ministry Tuesday cut its 2005 economic growth forecast by a half-point to 4.1% to 4.6% due to the impact of higher-than-expected global oil prices, the Bangkok Post reports. ...

Thailand: Despite opposition, Thai Beverage says it still wants to become listed on SET.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - Thai Beverage Co insists that it will go ahead with plans to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand once it receives regulatory approval, the Bangkok Post reports. The holding...

Thailand: PTT Plc to increase stake in Bangchak Petroleum.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - PTT Plc, the state-owned energy conglomerate, will increase its holding in Bangchak Petroleum Plc to support a strategy to produce more lucrative lighter oil products and cut back on...

Thailand: Official explains pension fund contribution requirements.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - A mandatory savings law will start with a minimum contribution requirement of 3% of employee salaries per month and potentially increasing to 6% in the near future, says Naris Chaiyasoot,...

Thailand: Logistics federation is formed.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Thai Federation on Logistics (TFL) has been formed with a goal to help local businesses improve their competitiveness by reducing the country's logistics costs to 15% of GDP within...

Thailand: Asia Plus Securities executive says foreigners should buy Thai stocks.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Investment - Foreign investors continue to buy Thai stocks despite a regional selloff on Monday that was triggered by a leap in oil prices above $70 a barrel, according to Kongkiat Opaswongkarn, chief...

Thailand: Expert explains value of "reverse logistics".
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - Reverse logistics has often been viewed as the unwanted stepchild of supply chain management. It has been tolerated as a necessary cost of business, described as a regulatory compliance...

Thailand: SME Bank to upgrade IT system.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) says it is preparing to spend one billion baht to improve and upgrade its information technology system, the...

Thailand: City Realty to develop condominium, services apartment project on Wireless Road.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - City Realty Co Ltd, the property arm of the Sophonpanich family, plans to develop a condominium and serviced apartment complex worth five billion baht on Wireless Road in mid-2006,...

Thailand: Rules on land donation to government to be revised.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Finance Ministry plans to revise the law to allow those who donate land to the government to take back the property if it has not been used within five years for the agreed purpose, the...

Thailand: Observer comments on Bangkok's potential for becoming fashion centre.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Commentary - Bangkok Fashion Week has come and gone in a flurry of flouncing models, glamorous designs and hi-so hi-jinks, accompanied by the usual chorus of cheerleaders and doomsayers. While I don't...

Thailand: Sweet corn exporters may face anti-dumping investigation by EU.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - European canned sweet corn producers have threatened to seek an anti-dumping investigation of products from Thailand, the world's fourth largest exporter, the Bangkok Post reports. ...

Royal Philips Electronics upbeat over medical systems business in Thailand.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - Netherlands-based electronics giant Royal Philips Electronics believes it can achieve double-digit growth this year for its medical systems business in Thailand, despite the economic...

Thailand: Shrimp producers want right to hire unregistered alien workers.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Local shrimp producers have called on the government to relax a labour rule and allow them to hire non-registered alien workers or else the industry risks missing its export projection, the...

Thailand: Central Pattana announces 5-year plan.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Central Pattana Plc, the listed property development arm of the Central Group, will decentralise management to increase efficiency and prepare for overseas expansion, the Bangkok Post...

Thailand: New way of producing ethanol discovered.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The National Research Council of Thailand has discovered a new technology to produce ethanol from tapiocas. This breakthrough can help Thailand deal with the insufficient supply of...

Thai Foreign Affairs Minister signs MOU with North Korean Foreign Minister, opening door for further cooperation.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section General News - The visit to North Korea by the foreign affairs minister was a success, with agreements to expand cooperation between Thailand and North Korea, both diplomatic and economic. Foreign...

Meteorological Department of Thailand issues warning to people in Northeast & North to be on lookout for floods.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - A depression over Vietnam's Tangkia Gulf at 7 pm last night had an epicentre located roughly 250 kilometres northeast of Nakhon Phanom. The storm was expected to move westward into...

Thai Prime Minister to spend whole day at World Expo 2005 in Japan.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government & Politics - The prime minister will spend today (August 31, 2005) visiting the World Expo 2005 fair as part of his official visit to Japan. The prime minister will start his day with a 1...

Thailand's private sector should be allowed to join with digging of waterways.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The prime minister has deemed that the private sector should be allowed to join with the state sector in digging up waterways to solve the flooding problems, as both sides would benefit....

Thailand: BMA to close Sanam Luang during 11 PM and 5 AM starting September.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has endorsed closure of Sanam Luang during the times of 11 pm and 5 am, in addressing social problems. BMA Spokesperson Phutthiphong Punnakant...

Thailand: Transport Minister asserts that BRT buses will be very safe.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The transport minister has asserted that the BRT rapid buses to be used in substitution of the electric train sections in the Purple Line and Orange Line would have the highest safety. ...

Thailand: Several shops to be opened in Silom underground train station.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Tetro Mall Development Company Limited is planning to open up several stores around SILOM underground train station ahead of schedule. The actual opening date is September 9th. Mr....

Thailand: House Speaker Bhokin believes budget act 2006 to proceed well.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government & Politics - House Speaker Bhokin Balakula has expressed confidence that the Budget Act 2006 debate will proceed smoothly. Mr. Bhokin said he is not at all concerned about the Budget Act...

Thai youngsters invited to join Youth Centre Day 2005.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Bangkok will organize an event entitled "Youth Centre Day 2005" at the Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai-Japan) in Din Daeng. The festivity will...

Thailand needs to pay more attention on environment.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Thai Prime Minister has paid attention to creating more awareness for country's natural and environmental restoration, after discovering that leading technologies have serious concerns...

Thailand: GSB Trat branch to support OTOP development.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - At the Trat Seathong conference room, Trat Deputy Governor Somyos Tantiyaporn has presided over a meeting and workshop for the committee of the OTOP network, to lay down the production and...

Thailand: Cabinet endorses new calculation method for electricity charges.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry has indicated that starting from October, the electricity price calculation will be linked with the fuel price. Permanent Secretary...

Duty free shopping scheme in Thailand's Andaman provinces starts tomorrow.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The tax relaxation for duty free shopping by domestic tourists traveling to the Andaman provinces of Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi will start from tomorrow until the end of December. Aiming...

Thailand: Assets Capitalization Fair to be organized in Phang Nga Province aiming to provide people with finance source access.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - After two years' operation, the Assets Capitalization Bureau is now playing a pro-active campaign in providing small businesses and the people with easy access to finance sources. Natee...

Pirate CDs seized in three big stores in Phuket, Thailand.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - A total of 1,500 CDs and VCDs of music and movies, Thai and foreign, were seized by a special task force in three leading stores in Phuket. A number of copied garments were also found. The...

International business leaders visit to tsunami stricken areas in Southern Thailand to assess if it needs further assistance.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - International business leaders from around the world are now visiting the Andaman provinces to assess progress on assistance provided to the victims and see what are still in need. Thirteen...

Public Debt Management Office prepares soft loans for local administrative bodies in Thailand's six tsunami affected provinces.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura revealed this after discussing with officers from the Finance Ministry's Public Debt Management office that it is preparing to support the local...

Thailand: Phang-Nga Governor reaffirms preparedness to welcome mobile cabinet meeting next week.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Speaking about the preparation for the Thai mobile cabinet meeting to take place in Phang-Nga during September 5th and 6th, Phang-Nga Governor Anuwat Methewiboonwut reaffirmed that the...

Thailand's petroleum giant PTT to invest more in Bang Chak Petroleum.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - PTT is planning to buy additional shares in Bang Chak Petroleum to increase its stake to about 15 per cent, a report in Krungthep Turakij said. The PTT board has approved a proposal...

Thailand's Matching Studio expands with giant screens.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - Matching Studio is expanding its business in a joint venture with the owners of the Siam Centre shopping mall, Krungthep Turakij reported. Matching Studio is planning to invest 120...

Thai authorities reduce GDP prediction.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Economy - The Ministry of Finance has reduced its GDP growth prediction this year from 4.6-5.1 per cent to 4.1-4.6 per cent, a report in Krungthep Turakij said. The Ministry of Finance has reduced its...

Thai mobile phone service provider True wants own international gateway.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - True Corp is planning to ask permission to set up an international gateway in order to reduce its broadband internet costs, a report in Krungthep Turakij said. True Corp is asking the...

Thai farmers protest East Water Resources Co.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - A group of farmers in Chachoengsao Province are protesting Eastern Water Resources (EASTW)'s use of water from the Bangpakong River, a report in Krungthep Turakij said. A group of...

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin is in Japan seeking a deeper, broader economic accord.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government & Politics - Thai Prime Minister Thaskin Shinawatra today (August 31, 2005) visited the Aichi Expo 2005 in central Japan during the first day of his two-day official visit. He aims to forge an...

Thailand's Ministry of Finance decreases economic growth projection.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Economy - The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has revised its economic growth estimate for this year downward to 4.1-4.6 per cent, from 4.6-5.1 per cent projected earlier, upon the continued rise in fuel...

Thailand: Returnee' numbers grow as more insurgents surrender in Narathiwat Province.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Deputy Prime Minister Pol. Maj. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya said that 20 suspected insurgents turned themselves in today in Narathiwat, joining more than 50 militants who had earlier...

Thailand's PM begins official visit to Japan.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government & Politics - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has embarked on a two-day official visit to Japan today (August 30, 2005), aimed at forging an economic cooperation agreement between the two...

Thai ceasefire observers begin task in Aceh, Indonesia.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Regional News - Lt. Gen. Niphat Thonglek, head of the Thai delegation to observe the ceasefire in Aceh, witnessed the meeting between the Indonesian government and the independence movement, as the Thai...

Ministry of Finance proposes loans, refinance to aid businesses on Thailand's southern border.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - The Finance Ministry will propose several measures at weekly Cabinet meeting to help businesses which are languishing in the wake of violence plaguing the three southern border provinces....

Thai PM sees need to revise economic restructuring plan.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Economy - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra saw it necessary to revise the economic restructuring plan since fuel prices had surged much higher than expected, disclosed Ampon Kittiampon, Secretary-General...

Countdown to Suvarnabhumi: Aviation Department plans first flight permit for Thailand's new airport.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Department of Aviation will issue the first flight permit for the new Suvarnabhumi Airport to make possible the September 29 arrival of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on a special...

Thai teams to explore contract-farming plans with Mekong neighbours.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government & Politics - The Agriculture and Co-operatives Ministry is assembling teams of officials to conduct field studies for contract-farming agreements with neighbouring countries, starting with...

Thai government set to crack down on migrant workers.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Illegal migrant workers in Thailand face arrest and deportation after the expiry today (August 30, 2005) of a deadline for foreign workers to register with the authorities. Employment...

Thailand: Two shot dead in Narathiwat, two injured in Yala bombing.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Two people have been killed, including a village head, and two others injured in separate incidents in the insurgency-hit southern provinces on Narathiwat and Yala. Witnesses said a...

Thailand: Current oil price surge is worrying, says SET chief.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - The Stock Exchange of Thailand's President Kittirat Na Ranong yesterday conceded the global oil price surge to US$70 per barrel was very worrying, but believed it would eventually edge...

Thailand: Govt urged not to intervene in oil prices through PTT.
September 1, 2005... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - The government should end its intervention in fuel prices through PTT Plc since it could have an effect on future investment and share distribution of EGAT Plc, according to a leading oil...