NEWSPAGE 18 May
2012

(Photo: Creative New Zealand )

(Photo: UN)

SAMOA: Samoa launching of the 2012 Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific
Source: UN Resident Coordinator Press Release

Samoa joined the global launch of the 2012 UN Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific on Friday 11th May 2012. The launch was jointly hosted by the Central Bank of Samoa and the United Nations System.

Asia and the Pacific faces another year of slowing growth as demand for its exports falls in developed nations and capital costs rise, but the region will remain the anchor of global economic stability, according to latest United Nations projections released in Apia.

Commodity price volatility is another major concern for the region which also faces a long-term trend of rising commodity prices, says the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2012: Pursuing shared prosperity in an era of turbulence and high commodity prices, the flagship publication of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

According to the Minister of Finance, Honourable Faumuina Tiatia Faaolatane Liuga, “the launching of the 2012 report is timely as Samoa faces the tough challenges of recovering from the dual impact of the global financial recession and the 2009 tsunami only to be faced again by a second round of uncertainties in the global financial environment emanating mainly from the slowdown in the US economy and the Eurozone debt crisis.”

The Pacific has not been isolated from global instability and while some Pacific economies are expected to experience increased or stable economic growth in 2012, many are likely to experience a growth slowdown. The economies in the Pacific will continue to be affected by commodity price volatility.

The growth rate of the region’s developing economies is projected to slow down to 6.5 per cent in 2012 from 7.0 per cent last year, compared to a strong 8.9 per cent in 2010, estimates the annual ESCAP report. However, the slowdown in growth will help lower inflation in Asia and the Pacific which is projected to moderate from 6.1 per cent in 2011 to 4.8 per cent this year.

 “A concerted effort is required from the Government, UN, donors, communities and NGOs to ensure that the quality of growth in Samoa must be improved and inclusive of the poor and vulnerable groups”, said Ms Nileema Noble, the UN Resident Coordinator for Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

Policy challenges and options The Survey highlights a number of key policy challenges and options for Asia-Pacific countries - amongst them: managing the balance between growth and inflation, using several inflation fighting measures beyond monetary policy alone; coping with capital flows and dealing with considerable exchange rate volatility, and; addressing jobless growth and unemployment by encouraging domestic consumption to act as an enhanced engine of growth and productivity, improving working conditions and income equality.

Lower aggregate growth of 5.7 per cent is projected for Pacific island developing economies in 2012, due mainly to lower growth in Papua New Guinea. The economies of FSM, Palau, PNG and Solomon Islands are expected to slow, while those of the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are projected to see improvements in GDP growth in 2012.

In Samoa, prospects for medium term growth are generally positive but the 2008 HIES shows that poverty and income disparities have been increasing. Although there is expected to be a reduction in the post tsunami reconstruction; tourism, remittances and manufacturing are expected to increase and contribute to GDP growth, which is forecast to be 2.5% in 2012.

The performance of the tourism sector is also important to the economic prospects of many economies in the subregion, as was the case in 2011 when the tourism sector rebounded in mid 2011 and contributed to economic growth in several of these economies. There are clear signs of strong competition for tourists in the Pacific region. In 2011, Pacific destinations with the exception of Vanuatu reported an increase in tourists from Australia with Samoa showing the largest gain at 27%, followed by Fiji with 13%.

The number of NZ tourists to Samoa and Vanuatu declined over the same period but this was offset by higher departures to CKI, Fiji and Tonga. Improving the resilience of the PICs to future economic and financial shocks is an ongoing challenge. In the short term they need to address the following issues:

 Maintaining macroeconomic stability and improving their fiscal positions

 Maintaining inflation levels at an acceptable level so that the poor are not affected in a significant way

 Addressing unemployment through deliberate job creation opportunities

 Continuing to review and refine social protection policies so that those living below poverty levels are looked after

Learning to live with high commodity prices The Survey analyses short- and medium-term challenges facing the region, highlighting the trend of rising commodity prices. In addition to price volatility, the Asia-Pacific region must deal with a long-term trend of rising commodity prices, driven by rapid growth in emerging economies.

Making growth inclusive Another priority for the region is to make growth more inclusive. Levels of income inequality have grown by a worrying 15 per cent in developing Asia-Pacific economies since the 1990s.

“Social progress in Asia and the Pacific has been hampered by increasing income inequality. Achievement of measures of the health-related and educational aspects of human development, when adjusted for inequality, is considerably lower for many countries in the region, ranging from a potential loss in achievement of 10 per cent to 30 per cent,” Dr. Heyzer said.

More than 1 billion workers in the region are in vulnerable employment with developing countries failing to generate sufficient work opportunities in the formal sector, notes the Survey. Young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults with the region’s youth unemployment rate projected to remain at 10.2 per cent in 2012.

“The good news is that most countries are in a favourable position to undertake a wide range of actions to stimulate and rebalance growth to make it more durable and better serve those most in need,” said United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer while launching the Survey in Bangkok.

Photos: Iosefa Maiava, Head Of UNESCAP Pacific Office (left), Keynote Address delivered by Hon. Faumuina Tiatia Faaolatane Liuga (right). Q&A session with Magele Philip Penn of Central Bank Of Samoa and Iosefa Maiava (bottom left), UN Resident Coordinator, Nileema Noble (bottom right).
 

AUSTRALIA: Get Fit, Have Fun

Attention all schools and sporting groups - now is the time to approach the Australian High Commission and apply for a sporting grant of up to $20,000 Tala.

Applications for the 2012 Australian Sports Outreach Program have just opened.

Last year, the Samoa Hockey Federation, the Samoa Tourism Authority and the Asau Sports Centre received a total of more than $40,000 worth of funding.

In 2010, Faatuatua Christian College, the Samoa Swimming Federation and Palauli Sports Centre were given grants.

Who will receive grants in 2012?

“These grants can be used by sporting organisations to reach people they otherwise wouldn’t and to provide equipment they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford,” Australian High Commissioner Stephen Henningham said.

“I look forward to helping sporting groups encourage people to lead healthy lifestyles. But be quick - applications close on 8 June 2012.”

Previous winners of the grants also include Palauli Sports Centre, Samoa Swimming Federation, the Judo Association of Samoa, The Oceania Academy of Sports, Satapuala Sports Club, The Canoe Club, Samoa Cricket Association, Samoa Primary School, Vaiala Beach School and KL Taekwondo Club.

Applications need to be submitted at the Australian High Commission by 8 June 2012 so that they can be forwarded to Australia for assessment.

Further details, including the application form, funding guidelines, example of a successful grant application, selection criteria for application, and a funding timeline can be obtained through the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website:

www.dfat.gov.au/geo/spacific/asop/index.html or by emailing [email protected].

The Australian High Commission will accept either hardcopy or emailed applications.

Please email applications to [email protected], by 8 June 2012.
 

KIRIBATI: Kiribati Parliamentarians Curbing Corruption in the Public Sector
Source: UNDP Press Release

Parliamentarians in Kiribati are set to seek amendments to increase powers for an important committee that scrutinises public spending. This development stemmed from training for parliamentarians to familiarise them with the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) powers and functions.

Since independence, the Committee has always had closed hearings, making them inaccessible to the public including the Members of Parliament who are not part of the committee. The Committee currently has limited powers and resources to undertake investigations and to hold the Government accountable for the implementation of its recommendations, resulting in weakening of its ability to address corruption in the public sector.

As one of the Kiribati Parliament’s oversight mechanisms, the Public Accounts Committee when effectively used can become an effective tool for ensuring the accountability of public funds and curbing corruption in the public sector.

During the Public Accounts Committee Workshop the Kiribati Parliamentarians noted that the powers of the Committee were limited to the consideration of the Auditor General’s report and it had no power to recommend the criminal prosecution and the filling of appropriate charges, civil or administrative, of any person established by the Committee to have violated the public finance laws. Rest of the 46 Members of Parliament (MPs) also discussed the powers and structure of the PAC, it’s role in relation to the police, the state-owned enterprises and the Island Councils as well as the powers and resources that it needs to have in order to be effective in addressing corruption in the public sector.

“This was a very useful meeting in that it enlightens the new MPs to Public Accounts Committee of their duties for the next two years. It was also useful to other MPs, managers of state-owned enterprises and relevant ministries and bodies by making them aware of how to address the corrupt practices that we begin to see in all areas of the public service,” said the Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Thomas Iuta at the closure of the workshop.

The newly appointed Chairperson of the Committee, Honourable Tangariki Reete, one of four women MPs elected to the Kiribati Parliament in October 2011 found the workshop to have been very timely and useful.

“Since this is my first time to be appointed as the Chairperson of the PAC, this workshop was very educative, informative and what I have learnt will guide me in my new position. It is a way forward for women in Kiribati to do better in looking after something very important for our country,” she said.

The three day workshop concluded on 5 May with concrete recommendations and requested the Speaker to seek their approval in Parliament during the August 2012 session. The recommendations included proposed amendments to existing laws with a view of broadening the powers, authority and scope of the PAC to strengthen its oversight function; measures to address poor follow-up on recommendations of the PAC, and that the Committee conduct public awareness and public hearing to increase public understanding of the PAC roles and allows opportunity for feedback on PAC reports.

The workshop was designed and facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Kiribati Parliament staff and the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly including senior officials from government departments. The workshop is an activity of UNDP’s Kiribati Parliament Support Project 2009 - 2012. UNDP supports the Parliaments in several Pacific Islands countries, including Kiribati.
 

USA: U.S. - Malaysia relations
Source: Office of Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Press Release

Ranking Member Eni Faleomavaega of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific announced today that he visited Malaysia from April 4-11, 2012 where he met with Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Razak, other government officials and NGOs. Faleomavaega shares his thoughts in the following op-ed about U.S.-Malaysia relations.

In Samoan, we have a saying - Ou te le to’ai fa’a i’a a po - which means I do not come secretly like a fish in the night, but I am here to meet you all, to converse with you, to tell you my wishes.

My wishes for the good people of Malaysia are simple. My wish is that the United States and Malaysia will keep up what we have and expand our partnership in a way that transforms us. Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Razak said it like this. He said, “As the most ethnically diverse people in the region, Malaysians have always embraced outsiders and, while we may not see eye to eye on every issue or approve of everything each other says or does, as long as I am Prime Minister you will always be welcome in our country.”

As a Member of the U.S. Congress and in my official capacity as the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, I say the same to the people of Malaysia. You will always be welcome in the U.S., and I thank you for welcoming back young Americans to serve as volunteers.

After a 30-year lapse, I applaud President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Najib for their leadership in fostering closer relations by reviving the spirit of the Peace Corps program through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program. Prime Minister Najib requested U.S. support for English-language education in Malaysia, and President Obama responded by providing Fulbright volunteers who will assist Malaysia’s next generation with the critical English-language skills necessary to succeed in our globalized economy.

The United States and Malaysia have a long history of people-to-people exchanges. Over 100,000 Malaysians have studied in the United States. More than 1,500 Malaysians are alumni of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Together, we are making lasting memories and promoting mutual understanding and respect.

Since 2009, the U.S.-Malaysia relationship has become stronger than it has ever been. The United States is Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner and Malaysia is the 22nd largest trading partner of the United States. Two-way trade between our nations amounts to about $40 billion annually. On a cumulative basis, the United States is the largest foreign investor in Malaysia.

In 2010, Malaysia joined negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement (FTA). The TPP is a proposed regional free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. If implemented, it would be the second largest U.S. free trade agreement after NAFTA, based on trade flows. We also cooperate closely on security.

Since taking office, President Obama has stressed the need for a renewed focus on the Asia and the Pacific. The Asia Pacific region has become a key driver of global politics. No region of the world is more dynamic than Asia. The Asia Pacific region has seven of the ten largest armies in the world. As Senator Inouye said years ago, “for every 747 that flies across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States, four 747s fly between the U.S. and the Asia Pacific region.”

The Asia Pacific region is home to more than 60% of the world’s population and more than half of the global GDP. The United States is the largest TPP market in GDP and population. In merchandise trade, the United States imports more from Malaysia than any other TPP country.

No doubt the U.S. needs to renew its engagement with the region, and I am pleased that we are doing this in Malaysia. During my visit to Malaysia, I had the opportunity to observe your political process. I met with you on the streets and in your shops. I had breakfast at a Chinese-owned shop that has been run by the same family for more than three generations. I ate your ethnic foods. I saw you at Pasar Batu Bahat.

I attended a rally where more than 70,000 of you gathered, and it was my privilege to meet with PM Najib during my visit. What I saw in PM Najib’s character and demeanor is a leader who is committed to the establishment of peace and prosperity for the people of Malaysia. It was also clear to me that, like President Obama, PM Najib wants to establish a closer relationship between our two countries.

I commend both leaders and, as you move forward with your elections, it is my wish that you will remember that Malaysia is an independent and sovereign nation. As such, you should never surrender to any type of foreign interference in your elections, whether it be from another government, an ally or even non-government organizations (NGOs).

Malaysia has a bright future if you hold together. My wish is that you will hold together as one Malaysia, and that we will remain partners and friends for years to come.
 

(Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat)

VANUATU: Vanuatu student outlines education needs to 9th FEdMM
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release
 
A 14-year old Grade 8 student of Vanuatu has been given the opportunity of addressing a Forum Education Ministers’ Meeting on the education needs of Pacific islands children.

Looking very confident, Mark Rory of Fresh Water School in Port Vila took the podium in front of the Prime Minister of Vanuatu and about 50 delegates including Forum Education Ministers, development partners, and representatives of CROP and United Nations agencies and other education stakeholders to outline what he believed are the learning needs of children in the region.

“With the changing trends in the region, Pacific Island Governments strive to develop education policies geared to enhance, improve and sustain a quality of education in our region,” Rory said.

“On this occasion, we children of Vanuatu on behalf of other Pacific islands children encourage our leaders to continue to discuss and find appropriate solutions to our needs.”

Rory explained the needs as follows:

• We will appreciate well trained teachers who are competent.
• The Pacific island countries should continue to strengthen partnership at national and regional levels. An idea to set up process to exchange teaching skills and knowledge between pacific island teachers would be a positive step towards a sustainable quality education.
• Furthermore, Pacific island countries curriculum and teaching resources are riches and deserve to be shared to build a holistic and uniform PACIFIC.
• Our island nations can also set up processes for short term exchange programmes.
• Language of instruction is a struggle for us students to have quality education. We need to have clear language policy in place to enable us to use our mother tongues to understand things and learn more effectively.

During the two-day meeting, Forum Education Ministers will discuss education priorities for the region as well as several papers on topics including:

• Pacific Professional Standards for Principals;
• Pacific Benchmarking the Quality of Education for Results;
• Regional Framework for ICT in Education in the Pacific;
• A Regional Framework for Technical and Vocational Education and Training; and
• Pacific Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Education Framework

Photos: Mark Rory addressing the 9th FEdMM (left), Young Vanuatu dancers perform for the 9th FEdMM delegates (right).