ICT
in Transition Countries: ICT Policy Reform and Rural Communication
Infrastructure
PORTAL NEWS
1. The best web-site covering Millennium Goals: Call
for Applications! The Central Asian Gateway project
and UNDP Kyrgyzstan invites you to participate in the contest “The best
Internet-resources in Central Asia, promoting Millennium Goals”. The
main purpose of this contest is to raise public awareness about the
efforts of the Central Asian countries and international community for
achieving the goals of poverty reduction and sustainable development,
which were prioritized in the UN Millennium Declaration. More information...
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EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
- REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP
1. October 17, 2006. Kyrgyz FM discussed issues of
activating cooperation with the EU. A meeting of the board of Foreign
Ministry of Kyrgyzstan chaired by Foreign Minister Alikbek Jekshenkulov
took place in Bishkek. One of the basic issues of the agenda was
the development of Kyrgyzstan’s cooperation with the European Union. More information...
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2. October 18, 2006. A number of documents
concerning Uzbekistan’s membership in EurAsEC came into force. Three
international agreements concerning Uzbekistan’s membership in the Eurasian
Economic Community, signed by the President of Uzbekistan, came into force.
The following documents are to be implemented on October 14: "Agreement on the
Customs Union and the Single Economic Zone", "Agreement on cooperation in
protection of external borders of the member states of the Eurasian
Economic Community" and "Convention on privileges and immunities of
Eurasian Economic Community". More information...
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3. October 18, 2006. Kyrgyz FM and Uzbek Ambassador
agreed to hold the meeting of Kyrgyz-Uzbek intergovernmental commission
in the near future. Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs Alikbek
Jekshenkulov met with Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of
Uzbekistan A. Salahitdinov. Issues of bilateral
cooperation were discussed in the course of the meeting. The parties agreed to hold the meeting of
Joint inter-governmental commission on bilateral cooperation between the
Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan to implement agreements in the near future. More information...
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4. October 20, 2006. CIS Antiterrorist Centre
prepared draft agreement on information exchange. The CIS
Antiterrorist Centre has prepared a draft agreement on information
exchange to combat terrorism. This agreement
will regulate the multilateral
interstate exchange of information resources of the antiterrorist
services. More information...
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5. October 20, 2006. Kazakh President expected to
visit Brussels in December 2006. According to the European Commissioner
for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, the Kazakh President is expected to
visit Brussels in December 2006. More information...
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6. October 20, 2006. Tajik president, Russian
ambassador discussed cooperation issues. State and prospects of
further expansion of Tajik-Russian relations were the major topics of
President Emomali Rahmonov’s discussions with the Russian Ambassador to
Tajikistan Ramazan Abdulatipov in Dushanbe. In the course of the talks
the parties discussed the issues related to further expansion of cooperation
between Tajikistan and Russia in the fields of economy, commerce,
energy, transportation, farm produce processing, metallurgy, education,
science and culture. More information...
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7. October 23, 2006. EC, Kazakhstan to sign
memorandum on mutual understanding in energy. The European
Commission and Kazakhstan are going to sign a memorandum on mutual
understanding in energy issues. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EC Commissioner for
External Relations and the European Neighbourhood Policy, made such
statement at a meeting with Nurtai Abykayev, the Chairman of the Senate of
RK. More information...
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8. October 25, 2006. Kazakhstan, Russia intend to
hold a forum of business circles. Kazakhstan and Russia are going to
hold a forum of business circles. A corresponding agreement has been
reached during the meeting between Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Ambassador of
Kazakhstan, and Yevgeny Primakov, President of Commerce & Industry
Chamber of Russia. More information...
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9. October 25, 2006. Joint declaration adopted in
Urumqi. The Ministerial Conference brought together ministers and
senior officials from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as senior
representatives of CAREC’s six partner multilateral institutions (MIs),
and bilateral and other regional organizations. During the conference
there were adopted the Urumqi Declaration and the Comprehensive Action
Plan for the Program to strengthen the momentum and increase the
benefits of regional cooperation. More
information...
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10. October 27, 2006. Regional Silk Road Mayors'
Forum took place in Tashkent. The First Regional forum of mayors of
the cities along the Great Silk Road was held in Tashkent. During the
two-days forum, mayors of the Uzbekistan cities, China, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, representatives of various international
organizations discussed various aspects of expanding the cooperation,
the available opportunities and prospects for the development of tourism
along the Silk Road. More information...
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11. October 26, 2006. Prospects of cooperation
between WB and Tajikistan were discussed in Dushanbe. President
Emomali Rahmonov met with Annette Dixon, the acting World Bank’s Director for the countries
of Central Asia. In the course of the talks the parties
discussed Tajikistan’s monetary policy, investment environment and
development of private sector in the republic and also touched upon
problems of the cotton sector and the implementation of energy projects.
More information...
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12. October 30, 2006. Ukraine hopes for continuation
of cooperation with Turkmenistan in gas sector. Turkmen President
received Ukrainian first deputy minister of fuel and energy Vadim Chuprun.
During the conversation, a number of topics of mutual interest were
discussed. More information...
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13. October 30, 2006. Budget of EurAsEC for 2007 was
approved. Creation of a Customs union was the main topic at the 17th
interstate council session of EurAsEC member countries with
participation of the heads of governments. Issues of effective
utilization of water-energy resources of EurAsEC member countries and
creation of a common energy market were also discussed at the meeting.
More information…
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- ECONOMIC REFORMS
1. October 16, 2006. WTO highly appreciated economic
reforms in Kyrgyzstan. The first trade policy review was conducted at the
WTO headquarters, where the Kyrgyz delegation led by state's secretary of
the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism Sabyrbek Moldokulov took
part. The trade policy review is conducted by each WTO country-member to
provide transparency of trade and investment policy of the country. More information...
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2. October 17, 2006. IMF Country Office in
Tajikistan presented Central Asia economic outlook report. The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Country Office in Tajikistan presented
a report entitled “Prospects of Regional Economic Development of Central
Asia” in Dushanbe. More information...
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3. October 19, 2006. Kazakhstan to invest USD800
million in Tajikistan’s energy sector. Kazakhstan intends to invest
USD 800 million in Tajikistan’s energy sector. Such statement was made
after a series of meetings held by representatives from Kazakhstan
Investment Fund with Tajik officials in Dushanbe. The Kazak delegation
sought ways and opportunities for investing in various sectors of
Tajikistan’s economy. More information...
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4. October 23, 2006. A session of the Cabinet of
Ministers of Uzbekistan took place in Tashkent. A session of the
government of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held in Tashkent,
where the results of socio-economic development of country for the period of nine
months were discussed and additional measures to achieve
forecasts of the current year were determined. More information...
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5. October 24, 2006. ADB has confirmed a new
strategy for investments in Uzbekistan. As ADB representative Juan
Miranda manifested, ADB approved a new strategy for investments into the
economy of Uzbekistan. More information...
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6. October 25, 2006. International Business Council
presented recommendations for the Kyrgyz Republic. IBC presented its
recommendations in regard of the improvement of economic situation in
Kyrgyz Republic in 2006-2007 at the conference, held in "Khayat Rigency
Bishkek". More information...
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7. October 27, 2006. Kazakhstan to invest
millions of US dollars in Tajik economy. According to
the Kazakh Ambassador to Tajikistan Yerlan Abildayev,
Kazakhstan is considering a number of projects to improve Tajikistan’s
agrarian sector, as well as that of energy and mining. Abildayev noted that in
the first stage, Kazakhstan intends to annually invest dozens of
millions of US dollars in Tajikistan’s economy, “but the arrival of
investors in Tajikistan is contingent on the openness of Tajik authorities”.
More information...
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8. October 30, 2006. Days of Kazakhstan national economy took
place in Germany. Kazakhstani Economy Days took place in German
cities Iena and Dresden. The embassy of Kazakhstan to Germany, the
General Consulate of the republic in Frankfurt-on-Maine, the Committee
for Investments of the Ministry of Industry and trade of RK,
participated in the event. Representatives of the
Ministries of Economy of Thuringia and Saxonia, as well as businessmen
from different federal lands of Germany interested in co-operation with
Kazakhstan, participated in the event. More information...
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9. October 30, 2006. Tajikistan to start work on
completing construction of Roghun plant next year. President
Rahmonov has pointed to the importance of hydropower resources as world
reserves of other energy resources run low. “World reserves of coal, oil
and natural gas annually decrease and at present the use of hydropower
resources is of great significance,” Rahmonov told at the second
regional electricity trade conference.
More information...
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- ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT
1. October 17, 2006. ICT Scientific center held the
conference. Scientific conference, dedicated to the future prospects
of the ICT development and organized by the mutual cooperation with the
scientific community of oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan, was held in
ICT Scientific center of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. Scholars
from the Russian Federation along with the researches from Central Asia
took part in the forum. More information...
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2. October 18, 2006. Launching of www.exim.uz within
the framework of program "BUSINESS FORUM OF UZBEKISTAN". Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Ministry of
Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of
Uzbekistan and with the support of representative Program of Development
of the United Nations in Uzbekistan, within the framework of the
project" BUSINESS FORUM of UZBEKISTAN " created the website www.exim.uz.
Basic users to whom this website is targeted are exporters of Uzbekistan
and potential foreign partners. More information...
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3. October 20, 2006. Seminar on the issues of
information security in the sphere of communications and
informatization. Republican seminar "Information security in the
sphere of communications and informatization. problems and their
resolutions" was held in Tashkent and organized by the Uzbek agency of
communication and informatization, the Center for scientific and
marketing research and Scientific community of radiotechnics,
electronics and communications. More information...
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- HEALTH
1. October 30, 2006. Germany granted 16m euro for
reforming of health care sector of Kyrgyzstan. Germany allocated
grant at the amount of 16 million euro for the Manas Taalimi health care reform
program of Kyrgyzstan. Signing of the corresponding agreement took place
at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Kyrgyzstan. More information…
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- EDUCATION
1. October 26, 2006. Bishkek hosted international
Central Asian conference on Education for Sustainable Development.
The fifth international Central Asian conference on Education for
Sustainable Development (ESD) was held in Bishkek. The objective of the
conference was strengthening of interstate and inter-sector cooperation
in the sphere of education for sustainable development, coordination and
integration of national programs with regional and global initiatives.
More information...
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2. October 25, 2006. Japan provides US$275,427 in
grants for four projects in Tajikistan. The Embassy of Japan signed
grant contracts awarded under the auspices of Japan’s Grant
Assistance for Grass Roots Human Security Projects. The total amount of grants for the four
projects is US$ 275,427. More information...
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3. October 27, 2006. World Bank approves USD 40
million credit for Uzbekistan. The World Bank's Board of Executive
Directors approved a US$40 million IDA credit for the Uzbekistan Basic
Education Project. The Project will help to improve the quality and overall
cost effectiveness of basic education in the country. More information...
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- PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
1. October 19, 2006. EBRD MSFF in Kyrgyzstan lent 61
thousand 733 credits for the development of small and medium businesses.
During its functioning in Kyrgyzstan the EBRD Micro and Small Finance
Facility (MSFF) lent 61 thousand 733 credits totaling of $ 133 million
for development of small and medium business. Micro and rural finance
supports stable democratic and market-oriented development by working
with the portion of the population that is beyond the reach of the
formal market economy. More information...
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2. October 23, 2006. IDA grants Kyrgyzstan USD 5
million within the Reducing Technical Barriers for Entrepreneurship and
Trade Project. International Development Association will grant
Kyrgyzstan USD 5 million. The corresponding agreement was signed at the
Finance Ministry of Kyrgyzstan. From the Kyrgyz side the agreement is
signed by Minister Akylbek Japarov. The grant is allocated within the
framework of the project "Reducing technical barriers for
entrepreneurship and trade". More information...
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- CIVIL SOCIETY
1. October 30, 2006. Presentation of the "Support to Social Initiatives" Fund
took place in Tashkent. Tashkent hosted a
forum of public organizations “NGOs in establishment
and development of social dialogue”. The event was dedicated to the
presentation of the new public organization - a "Support to Social
Initiatives" Fund (FSSI). The FSSI was founded by Ecosan,
National Association of NGOs of Uzbekistan, Fund “Forum of
Culture and Art of Uzbekistan”, "Mehr Nuri" charity fund and other public
organizations. More information...
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- OTHER
1. October 16, 2006. Science fund to be created in
Kazakhstan. "A Science Fund is going to be created to finance and
co-ordinate experimental and design efforts - a JSC with a hundred per
cent state participation," – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan
Nazarbayev said at a round-date meeting of the National Academy
of Sciences of Kazakhstan dedicated to its 60th anniversary. According
to the President, "the area of activities of this Fund will include
financing and monitoring of experimental and design works".. More information...
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2. October 20, 2006. UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights is probably to open its regional office in Bishkek. Opening of
the regional office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)
will be discussed by heads of this Commission at the beginning of the
next year in Bishkek. This intention was discussed during the meeting of
Kyrgyz Prosecutor General Kambaraly Kongantiev with the delegation of
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights led by Fabrizio Hochschild. More information...
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3. October 26, 2006. Turkmenistan extends social
benefits for population until 2030. Turkmenistan's supreme
representative and legislative body Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council)
has adopted a program of development of the basic sector of the national
economy, oil and gas, until 2030. The members of the People's Council
adopted a decision to extend free use of gas, electricity, water and
salt for the citizens of Turkmenistan until 2030. More information...
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. November 5, 2006. "Logo of SCO
Meeting" competition. The president’s administrative department of Kyrgyzstan
announced the "Logo of meeting of the Council of SCO Presidents
(Shanghai Cooperation Organization)" competition, which will take place in Bishkek in
2007. Pupils and students of educational institutions of art,
painters, designers and others can participate in the contest.
Participants should submit maximum three works. The draft of an emblem
is to be given on a A4 sheet and in electronic .jpg format.
The image should be in color and black-and-white. Applications
will be accepted till November 5, 2006. More information....
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2. The best web-site covering Millennium Goals: Call
for Applications! The Central Asian Gateway project
and UNDP Kyrgyzstan invites you to participate in the contest “The best
Internet-resources in Central Asia, promoting Millennium Goals”. The
main purpose of this contest is to raise public awareness about the
efforts of the Central Asian countries and international community for
achieving the goals of poverty reduction and sustainable development,
which were prioritized in the UN Millennium Declaration. More information....
Back
to the top
3. DM2007 Competition. The World Bank’s
Development Marketplace (DM) is a competitive grant program that
identifies and supports emerging development ideas. The 2007 Global
Development Marketplace (DM2007) will be held in collaboration with the
Health, Nutrition and Population team of the World Bank. The objective
of DM2007 is to recognize and support innovative approaches for
achieving better health outcomes for poor people. For more information, please visit http://www.developmentmarketplace.org/ or write to: DMinfo@worldbank.org. Deadline
for submitting proposals is November 17, 2006.
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4. Grants Program of the USAID's “Economic Policy
Reform Project in Uzbekistan”. USAID's “Economic Policy Reform
Project in Uzbekistan”, implemented by BearingPoint LLC invites
submission of proposals to conduct economic policy-relevant researches
under 2007 Grant Program. The science studies on the themes, marked in
Report of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in session of the
Cabinet of Ministers in 2006, indicated as most important priorities of
deepening economic reforms is expected to be financed.
More information....
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5. November 1-4, 2006. Central Asian International
Exhibition WorldFood. The 9th Central Asian exposition WorldFood to
take place at the Atakent exhibition complex in Almaty. The exhibition
will be held with the support of the Government of Kazakhstan and
Agriculture, Industry and Trade Ministries of the country. The
exhibition will embrace the latest achievements of food industry,
ingredients, supplements, modern technologies, equipment, etc. Besides,
Central Asian producers are believed to introduce their products and
necessary items for hotels, restaurants and supermarkets at the expo. More information....
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6. March 7-9, 2007. INTED2007 - International
Technology, Education and Development Conference. The INTED2007
Organizing Committee invites you to participate in the International
Technology, Education and Development Conference in Valencia (Spain).
The general objective of the conference is the promotion of
international collaboration in the field of technology, engineering and
science education. INTED 2007 provides an International Forum for
researchers, engineers, professors, educational scientists and
technologists in the areas of Education, Science and Technology. The
deadline for submitting abstracts is December 1st, 2006. For more
information, please write to: inted2007@iated.org. More information....
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7. March 26-27, 2007. Sixth GEP Postgraduate
Conference. The Sixth GEP (Globalization and Economic Policy)
Postgraduate Conference will take place at the University of Nottingham.
The objective of the Conference is to bring together a number of PhD
students to discuss their own research ideas with established
researchers in a relaxed and open atmosphere. The Conference is open to
graduate students engaged in the preparation of a doctoral dissertation
or approaching this stage. Contact: Dr. Zhihong Yu, zhihong.yu@nottingham.ac.uk.
More information....
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8. May 25-27, 2007. XII Spring Meeting of Young
Economists. The 2007 Spring Meeting of Young Economists (SMYE) will
be convened in Hamburg, Germany. It will be hosted by the University of
Hamburg, Department of Economics and Social Science. The conference is
intended to give non-tenured young economists such as PhD students,
Post-doctoral Researchers, and Assistant Professors, a chance to meet,
present and discuss their work. The conference covers every area of
economics and features a rich program for them to get together.
More information....
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There are more than 4200 events relevant to
socio-economic development of the Central Asian region in the portal's
Calendar. For more events please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php.
NEWLY ADDED DOCUMENTS
There are more than 4100 links to analytical documents
relevant to socio-economic development and effective governance in the
Central Asian countries in the CAG portal's Publications'
database.
1.
Global Employment Trends for Youth. This report adds to growing evidence of a global situation in which young people face increasing difficulties when entering the labour force. One of the principal findings of the report is that a global deficit of decent work opportunities has resulted in a situation in which one out of three youth in the world is either seeking but unable to find work, has given up on the job search entirely or is working but still living below the US$2 a day poverty line. Prepared and published by the International Labour Organization in 2006. See the document…
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2. Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation:
Transport Sector Strategy Study. The document represents a research
paper of Asian Development Bank that introduces the study of transport
sector in Central Asia. Prepared by ADB in 2006. See the document…
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3.
Technical Assistance Report: "Republic of Uzbekistan: Preparing the Rural Basic Education Project". The document represents a technical assistance report, prepared by the Asian Development Bank. The report purports to elaborate the issues related to the technical assistance project to be implemented in Uzbekistan in the sphere of rural basic education. Prepared by ADB in 2006.
See the document…
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4. The policy framework for investment. This
policy brief gives an overview of the OECD's Policy Framework for
Investment (PFI). The aim of the PFI is assist governments in boosting
private investment, and to support development and the fight against
poverty and promote responsible participation of all governments in the
global economy. Prepared by the OECD Development Centre in 2006. See the document…
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5.
The technical assistance completion report "Strengthening the Legal and Policy Framework for Foreign Investment". The document is an ADB technical assistance completion report, which aims to discuss the outcomes of the Technical Assistance operations in Uzbekistan. The assistance was needed to (i) develop a comprehensive strategy to promote FDI, (ii) develop a consistent legal and regulatory framework for FDI and (iii) improve Ministry of Justice' capacity to implement the regulations and ensure appropriate protection for foreign investors. Prepared by Tanabe M. in 2006. See the document…
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6. Connecting regions for growth and jobs. This
document is the speech of D. Huebner, the member of the European
Commission responsible for Regional Policy, presented on Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) seminar held in Brussels on October 11,
2006. See the document…
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7. Overcoming poverty through enterprise. The
document contains fifteen case studies to illustrate the opportunities,
successes and dedication of Vietnamese individuals who have created
their own small businesses from nothing. Written as a series of stories,
the cases are hugely diverse, yet all share the achievement of realizing
market opportunities and taking advantage of them. Not only for their
own benefit, but also for the good of the wider community. Prepared by
ADB in 2005. See the document…
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8. CSTO deepens military ties. The article is
devoted to the elaboration of the military relationship between the
member-states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and its
recent trends and achievements. Particular attention is given to the
rejoining of Uzbekistan. Author: R.Weitz. Published on October 18, 2006.
See the document…
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9. ICT in Transition Countries: ICT Policy Reform
and Rural Communication Infrastructure. This publication compiles
papers presented by various speakers at the seminar on ICT policy reform
and rural communication infrastructure, organized by the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). See the document…
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UNDP country offices in respective countries.