• Business Day (South Africa): Emerging markets

China has in recent years made economic foray into Nigeria, taking particular interest in crude oil, which it needs for its booming industries, and in telecommunications, transportation and agriculture.
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Nigeria last year to meet former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who relinquished power in May.
Both leaders discussed expanding cooperation in n numerous areas. Sino-Nigeria trade reportedly hit $2.83 billion in 2005, up 29.6% from 2004.
Jianxiong said preliminary work on the Ogun-Guangdong Free trade Zone has already begun.
The paper described the project as one of the biggest single investments in Nigeria outside the oil and gas sector.
Jianxiong said the first phase of the project would involve the physical development of an area of 2.5 square kilometers within five years. Nigeria is already building the Olokola Free Trade Zone on the borders of Ogun and Ondo states. The $8.9 billion Olokola liquefied natural gas will be located there.
-By Obafemi Oredein, contributing to Dow Jones Newswires; [phone] [ 21-09-07 1613GMT ]
Document DJI0000020070921e39l000z6
Intelsat: Proton loss not good news
2,534 words

21 September 2007

Inside Satellite TV

INSATV

English

© 2007, M2 Communications, Ltd. All Rights Reserved
Inside Satellite TV sat down with Intelsat s president & CEO Dave McGlade in the bustling Hall 1 (otherwise know as satellite alley ) of the giant IBC event at Amsterdam. Surrounded by his rivals he nevertheless was relaxed about Intelsat s position, and talked about the problems, opportunities and challenges ahead for the industry.
Our conversation took place just hours after the Proton catastrophe,

which affected J-Sat. Two major incidents in the past year affecting

Sea Launch and now Proton is not good news for the industry, he said.


On the other hand there are a number of providers and I am assuming Atlas is still available to the industry, but we want to see Sea Launch get back to its manifest as quickly as possible which will take some pressure out of the system. The competitors, now largely in the shape of Arianespace, might well have benefited by raising prices because of the constraints in capacity but this, like everything in this industry, ebbs and flows and eventually cycles through. Right now we are in the middle of a cycle where life for smaller (satellite) operators is a little tougher. When you ve Intelsat s scale, and because of our negotiations we have options that mitigate this exact risk, not just over launch schedules but in terms of financial impact and because of our fleet size in terms of back-up. We have a launch scheduled with Ariane later this month, and then there s our Horizons 2 craft (with J-SAT) shortly after that. But the industry as a whole hates these problems, so I hope the Proton team can quickly resolve the problems and we can all get back to normal.
We have seen prices impacted already because of Sea Launch, and a more or less single supplier is not a market. Dave McGlade
McGlade said he was seeking much greater flexibility in the launcher area: There are a number of other players looking to get into the major launch space, and I am not alone in hoping that more flexibility comes into the sector. We have seen prices impacted already because of Sea Launch, and a more or less single supplier is not a market. I d hope that the Proton loss would not impact prices further but we ll have to wait and see. Intelsat is not impacted with our upcoming launches, and if prices rise we hope that portion of the cycle will not hit us. We are also protected by firm insurance contracts for our planned launches, so we are in good shape.
Intelsat works closely with Telenor at 1 deg West (with Intelsat 10.02). McGlade was asked whether this relationship restricted his activity over the rest of Europe. First of all, Telenor is a great partner to have, and we ve had a relationship with them for a long time and are very active with them now. That being said there s no way we are not going to think how we can grow, not only in Europe but also throughout the Middle East and Africa. If you look at Africa we have the lion s share of the market and in the normal course of business we d expect to grow there. But it s important to remember that our unique strategy is to work closely with smaller, regional operators, working with them and deliberately not coming in as some sort of behemoth coming into a relationship. That s not our style, which is collaborative. It is about trading win-wins and we have demonstrated that, not just with Telenor but with people like J-Sat, where we have provided growth for them and benefited from mutual growth. For us we will continue to develop and seek new business over Europe. We know we have the majority of the capacity over Central and Eastern Europe anyway, although clearly we don t have the DTH platforms that we d like to have and that SES Astra and Eutelsat have, and I d love to have the sort of prices they both get. We feel we can continue to grow in Central & Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
EMEA McGlade said Intelsat was very committed to these regions. Our recent GlobeCast (WorldTV over Europe) announcement will only help, and adds to the neighbourhood. The trends, towards globalisation, are all with us. Some may not like it but this trend is with us. When you see

what s happening in terms of globalisation then ask yourself what

company is better placed to serve those clients than us. With 52


satellites in the fleet, and operating over 200 countries and territories. There s only Intelsat. There s also been a big difference. The majority of content used to flow from the USA out to the rest of the world. That still happens, but the content flow is also into the US, and from Europe to the Far East, or the Latino markets, and from Latin America to Europe. Content is flowing every way. Moving it is our business. We love satellites, but there are times when fibre makes more sense, so we go that way too.
Hard decisions sometimes needed RTI, the national broadcaster of the Ivory Coast (Cote d Ivoire), has lost its satellite signals over Africa and the Mid-East. According to reports the broadcaster hasn t paid its bills.
BBC Monitoring, in a report Sept 14, said the signals had been down since Sept 7. The detailed report quotes from a letter sent on August 29 by Intelsat to RTI saying that the Ivorian finance manager at the Ministry of Communication had promised that an initial payment would be made, and that another payment would be made by September 15. Each payment was worth CFA Francs 60m (or some $116,000). However, RTI s total indebtedness to Intelsat is quoted as being CFA Francs 225m (about $450,000).
Issa Sangare Yeresso, deputy MD at RTI, and in charge of the management of antennas, was reported saying that he had just noticed the rural re-transmitters were not working. Such a situation is a disturbing one. People call me from everywhere."
A couple of days later all was sweetness and light, at least at Intelsat. Contracts were signed by Ivorian communications minister, Ibrahim Sy Savane, which agreed that catch up payments equal to CFA francs 29m a month would be paid.
He was optimistic about developments like HD: Just look what will happen with the Olympic Games in 2008. It s always crazy, but layer on High-Def and you find all of a sudden that there s a huge demand for pre-Games coverage also in HD. The Olympics will be a huge driver for HD, on top of what s already happening. We are today, I absolutely believe, at an inflection point for HD programming, and in my view we are going to see acceleration towards everything being in HD not just because they want to monetise their HD service because in many cases they can t yet get any real benefit financially, but they want to differentiate their service and move to an upper tier of quality. Once you have HD it is hard to look away from it. In terms of our own revenues HDTV is having a minor impact currently, but I believe they will grow well next year and really take off in 2009. We were the first to get HD channels and we re now carrying 26 channels. Demand is picking up and that demand will continue.
Government Intelsat also has a growing governmental/NGO business through its Intelsat General Corp, a separate entity. We feel very good about this branch of the business. And it has grown. Initially we had the original Intelsat government segment, Comsat s business and PanAmSat s G2 business, and put them together and we ve a great business that s by far the largest in the FSS business. Intelsat has a proxy company to handle all the secret and sensitive stuff, and we are also involved in German military satellite comms, Australia, and other NATO countries and there s been the increase in demand from Iraq and Afghanistan that everyone knows about. But my feeling is that down the road, even if there are military reductions in time, you still need our sort of technology in place to cover that number of people. Even closer to home along the US border with Mexico there s a demand from the Border Protection folks. It s the post 9/11 environment that we are all now used to. Unmanned aerial vehicles have also been a great application for us. We are also busy with Cisco on the IRIS (Internet Router in Space) program, where we eventually they can use Internet routing more efficiently.
Nevertheless, Intelsat s position in this domain is under threat from new entrants looking to military and speciality traffic, and two weeks ago Abu Dhabi firmed up its own plans to have a craft built and launched. New players coming into the market is not a new thing. Just look at the Chinese plans with Venezuela and Nigeria, or Vietnam putting up a satellite, and now the UAE. I know there s always the potential for cannibalisation of our business, but if a customer wants reliability, absolute security and the sort of back up that only a player like us can provide, then we have little to fear. You need that large fleet, and a company that s going to be around. 52 satellites versus 1? That sounds like a risk to me. If your business plan blows up then you simply don t have a business for another three years or so. New entrants like this have only a marginal impact. There are only two global players in the business, us and SES. There s what can be best described as a super-regional in the shape of Eutelsat. Most of the rest are single country services, and highly focussed.
Acquisitions Intelsat is still fine-tuning its acquisition of PanAmSat, a deal which closed in July 2006. McGlade was asked whether this now closed out any prospects of further M&A opportunities in the future. We big the biggest deal ever with PanAmSat, and we are still open to smaller deals that make sense, but it has to be value creating, and make sense. We are constantly on the look out for these opportunities, in space and on the ground, but they ve got to be smart because we will not over-pay. We ll walk away from so-called opportunities that made no sense or were ridiculously overpriced. A better company knows how to walk away from a bad deal. In two-and-a-half years we ve created $5bn on incremental value for shareholders, that s good and we ve more to do, but we all have to recognise that there are not that many opportunities out there. And we are always prepared to work with a player. In other words it isn t always an investment that s needed, just like Telenor. We are, I believe, developing a reputation that we can a co-operative leader and absolutely not an arrogant leader in our business. Some people may argue with us that we should just kill them, but that s not our

approach, and we look for ways to make a business relationship a

win-win for both parties and I can tell you the strategy is working


well.
State of the industry At the moment it s good times for us, with an improving environment that looks likely to continue for some time yet. At the macro level we are really making strides in how we work with and for our clients. We have enhanced the organisation, and our staff are getting better all the time. I really believe we are gelling well. The key mow is growing these assets intelligently, and how do we avoid the dip from exuberance to recession which seems to plague our industry. My sense is that if we are smart, and talk to our customers so that we build wisely for growth but not go crazy and regret it later. Everyone knows that our business cycles take so long. If we something terrific happening in the market and say we might have a slice of this or that new service, well it can take the best part of 3 years to fully respond to the opportunity. Worse, you might be committing those assets for 15 or 18 years. Will the business still be there? I can tell you, you had better have a plan fully worked out for that.
Asked what Intelsat s customers were talking about, and McGlade expressed concern about the roller-coaster business cycles of recent years. We went from a situation where there was no anxiety about capacity because of the excess, to one where there s real concern over capacity. What we are trying to do is having a strong dialogue with our customers so that we know where they re heading. We also look at networked services, and what s happening in broadband. We have seen good growth at WildBlue and HNS, and in Canada. My view is that it is all happening in North America, and I only hope that the same will happen in Europe, and some of the developing nations. You would think, wouldn t you, that in some of these countries where there s low tele-density and improving economic conditions that demand would grow (for broadband and two-way satellite). Ultimately it should grow. There s always a position for satellite, and I d like this to show more signs of life and today it s not where it should be. On the media side, new channels, new HDTV channels are growing by the day. Some of our PTT customers are going after broadcasting licences because of liberalisation, and saying to us they re launching a bouquet, so we see more capacity going that way, as well as the never-ending supply of DTH services. We are also ready and waiting for IPTV, but it s a bit like high-def was, where everyone spent years talking about it and all of a sudden it s everywhere. I hope the same happens to IPTV. I m cautiously optimistic! We already have a platform ready to expand. Demand will continue, and even if better compression comes along it will still mean that demand has grown and will continue to grow. [] Arianespace on Sept 19 signed a contract with J-SAT for the launch of JCSAT-12, due for launch in the summer of 2009.
The one thing I love about the satellite business is its ubiquity. Tell me one company on Earth that has the ability to reach more people than Intelsat? Through its own network. We have to continue to innovate and develop these new services. And we are very excited by mobile, working with MediaFlo. Distributed via M2 Communications Ltd - http://www.m2.com
Document INSATV0020070921e39l0000f

Globalisation, Nigeria and the 2020 Vision [analysis]
by Samuel C. Onwubiko

2,069 words

17 September 2007

12:03 PM

All Africa

AFNWS

English

(c) 2007 AllAfrica, All Rights Reserved
Abuja, Sep 17, 2007 (Leadership/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- Nigeria under the government of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has set a towring dream to become one of the 20th most developed global economies by the year 2020.
In this essay, Samuel C. Onwubiko, while expressing reservations on the daunting ambition also suggest how the nation can surmount the hurdles and cross to the promised land.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua made the most promising and challenging policy statement of his administration on June 18, 2007 while declaring open the international conference organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to brainstorm on the Financial System Strategy (FSS) 2020 vision. The president revealed the goal of his administration to register the presence of Nigeria among the top 20 economies of the world.
He was corroborated by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, some days later, at the graduation ceremony of the National War College, Abuja, where the later stated the resolve of the administration to 'conquer the Dynasties of poverty.' Also at the presidential retreat organised for ministers, permanent secretaries and special advisers in Abuja between the 18th and 20th of July, 2007, the president revealed that the federal government has set a 13% annual growth rate for the economy till 2011 when his tenure expires.
The president had earlier at his inauguration speech on May 29, 2007, acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at setting the economy on the path of growth and the resolve of his government to focus on accelerating the economy and other reforms by creating more jobs, reducing inflation and maintaining exchange rates for the attainment of rapid growth and development.
This is the first policy statement not just geared towards a buoyant economy but also at embracing global economy. The past has been characterised by escapist arguments and pessimistic views on the negative and terribly destructive nature of globalisation by third world countries. They saw globalisation as an exclusive cult of few advantaged industrialised nations spearheaded by the United States of America who set the standards. They saw it as a further exploitation and colonisation of the weak and disadvantaged nations by the more developed ones, especially with the roles played by institutions associated with forces of globalisation like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 98, The World Bank, The World Trade Organisation (WTO) etc. They failed to realise that it is a development in the flux of time, a trend whose time has come and a phase in human development and historical evolution. Though it could be excruciating, ferocious, ravaging to the weaks and the groups that cannot absorb or utilize it, it is unstoppable.
But globalisation is not that evil and this can be justified by the progress made by hitherto underdeveloped countries like India, China and other Asian countries, even South Africa our neighbours, who are able to tap from the opportunities afforded by this new order. With its inherent contradictions and conceptual paradox, while it creates fragmentation, it generates inter-dependence and solidarity. Even as it provides opportunities for the spread of global wealth among regions and countries, it increases disparities between states and reinforces equalities among states and regions. It is a catalyst for development and reinforces tension also.
There may be strong economic growth in states that embrace globalisation, there my be declining poverty, but there is a yawning widening gap between the rich and the poor within nations as well as between states. Despite all these, the whole idea about integration of the globe, of reconnecting the human community and the bridging of international boundaries is unavoidable and inescapable. Nations who do not join the global train do so at their own peril.
Nigeria may have started experimentations at globalising. But how possible is the realisation or attainment of this 2020 dream, considering our rather belated realisation at joining the train, the time frame since 2020 is just 13 years away, and also considering that we are a distant 147 in the economic indices (ranking)? Will 2020 go the way of other past ritualistic unattainable ambitions? Health for all by the year 2000, housing for all by the year 2000, electricity for all by the year. Where are they today?
Target 2020 is realisable and achievable with political will and sincerity of purpose and commitment on the part of all stakeholders. Nigeria must copy from other globalised economies or emerging market economies especially India, China, and other Asian countries, who within a short period of time and with the least expectation grabbed the opportunities provided by globalisation and have positioned themselves as 'alternative economies' and 'kings in waiting' to the USA and central Europe.
China and Nigeria share certain common similarities. China is the most populated country in Asia, while Nigeria is in Africa. Like China in Asia, Nigeria is expected to play a major role in future world politics in her region. The two countries share similar experiences of external interest in their countries and, moreover, both countries in the course of nationhood, gave into complacency and inertia. China we are told had a head start over Europe and would have surpassed the later's civilization as a result of their initial integrity and creativity.
Nigeria on her own part is a country endowed with rich natural, human and material resources and had started with this slogan of 'Giant of Africa,' but all these has not been harnessed to greatness. China set on the path of realisation and restructuring with the socialist Revolution of 1949. Chairman Mao Tse Tung and his Chinese communist party charted the course to development anchored on nationalism. Since then China has not looked back.
This could be the opportunity Nigeria has been waiting for. A wholistic and encompassing approach needs to be adopted following the various reforms adopted by these transition economies which goes in tandem with global trends. Government must start the fixing, upgrading and development of its social infrastructures, those inter-connected structural elements that form the framework supporting an entire system, that helps other economic agents to produce goods and services, like electricity, clean water, good roads, transportation, affordable houses etc. since it is the catalyst of economic growth.
The various reforms initiated by the past government especially the monetary and financial sector policies seem to have yielded some good result. The recapitalisation exercise which pegged the asset base of banks operating in Nigeria to a minimum of N25 billion has brought confidence and integrity in that sector. A well developed financial system is a catalyst for the growth attainment of a nation's economy since it allocates resources with high expected returns, and can mobilise capital from disparate savers. The reforms in the insurance, Aviation and Telecoms industry should be consolidated.
The privatisation exercise or the sale of state owned enterprises is very vital to a developing economy. The exercise seems to have generated much controversy as a result of its flawed approach. The vanishing of state owned enterprises are visible in advanced/developed economies and transition/emerging market economies. They are drain pipes and absorb large amount of funds that would be better spent on basic social services. When business is allowed for the bureaucrats, inefficiency sets in.
The fight against corruption should be intensified and should adopt an all encompassing approach. The EFCC should be strengthened and totally depoliticised, and the anti-graft agency should extend its dragnet beyond its present scope. The fight against corruption should not just be apprehending and prosecuting offenders, there is a need for government to look at the entire gamut of corruption, because like crime, it is not a one man activity; it is anchored on connivance and ring syndicate.
Government can arrest corruption by making it unattractive through re-organising and building a reputable civil service where recruitment and promotion are merit based. Korea, China, Taiwan and Malaysia lay emphasis on exams and recruitment from the academia. Recruitment and promotion are based on capabilities and performance rather than quota. Singapore and Malaysia offer incentive based compensation for civil servants. Encouragement comes in form of rewards and decoration in China, while public disgrace goes the way of civil servants that engage in corruption.
The education sector reform which started with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) with primary education as its target is in order. The share of public expenditure on education whether primary, secondary or tertiary should be increased for appropriate funding towards research, equipments books facilities and others.
Research should be encouraged to enable students and lecturers alike to acquire new ideas to become more creative.
Agriculture, the abandoned must be revived. Most East Asian countries witnessed growth in both agricultural output and agricultural productivity through certain land reforms especially China, Taiwan and Korea. Heavy investment in rural areas, agricultural extension services to speed diffusion of green revolution technologies, substantial investment should be made in irrigation and other rural infrastructures to hasten adoption of high yielding varieties, new crops and the use of manufactured input, such as fertilizer and equipments to cultivate.
Population control is very vital to 2020 target and there is need for a new demographic transition from a high to low birth rate. A transition to low fertility will not only lead to a decline in death rate, it will reduce the weight on the economy. Nigeria witnessed a high degree of population explosion between 1960-1990, even to date, without commensurate economic development in the areas of industries and job creation to absorb the population. Government should embark on serious population control measures targeted discouraging the politicisation of population.
Towards 2020 and a place in the global arena, Nigeria must tow the path of technological development. This whole talk about economic globalisation, first world, developed economy etc. centres around technology and the ability to produce, or turn raw materials into finished products for sale to other countries.
Technology has placed certain nations above others and has upstaged naturally endowed nations below those that have no natural resources. Technology has brought about civilisation, modernisation and industrialisation. The scientific and technological mastery of white civilization has palced it above others. The concept is all about the attempt by man to alter nature and the environment by human praxis. Technology has made nonsense of natural endowments as man's inventions seem to have taken over. Without technology, natural resources would have remained unhannessed, unexplored, untapped and unexploited.
Asian countries are closing in on the West and America as a result of their adoption of technology. China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea etc. started with an openness to foreign technology through the import of machinery.
Our scientists and technologists scattered all over the world are some of the best, they could be brought back as China did to improve our technology in Nigeria. With thousands of artisans and technicians, scientists and technologists in our institutions, and with an encouraging environment and atmosphere provided by government, Nigeria will become a first rate technological country.
The Rapid/sustained economic growth of 13% per annum which the government has set out to achieve is possible with macro-economic stability, keeping budget deficits manageable and keeping the exchange rate stable and in line. Rapid economic growth is a sinequa non, a panacea for a robust economy. It leads to high domestic product and could lead to higher allocations to vital sectors of the economy. Rapid growth also creates jobs, increase real wages and raises the rate of return on labour force skills.
The involvement and encouragement of the private sector and the encouragement of local manufacturing industries and a drive for export growth will lead to a shift from resource based to manufacturing exports economy. Government should, therefore, encourage innovation, competition, creativity, productivity and individualism.
The present government has started well in its resolve to strengthen democracy, its institutions and the rule of law. But there is the need to revisit and address those areas of our nationhood like imbalance and favouritism.
The onus to the realisation of 2020 vision lies on the Yar'Adua government who has set out to achieve it. If the government should put structures in place, achieve sound public finances and administration with a continuous sustained improvement of growth rate, his successor will have little or nothing to do come 2020.
Samuel C. Onwubiko contributed this piece from Abuja
Document AFNWS00020070917e39h000ye

The Reuters Daybook World Diary
3,634 words

14 September 2007

07:00 PM

Reuters Washington Daybook Report

REUTWR

English

(c) 2007 Reuters Limited

THE REUTERS DAYBOOK DIARY OF WORLD EVENTS

Friday, September 14, 2007

-----

The Reuters Daybook World Diary editor is Timothy Ryan

(reachable via email at: [e-mail])

The diary is transmitted to daybook subscribers every

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If you have information for the daybook or any

questions, please call 202-898-8345.

Subscribers: Call the Reuters editorial helpdesk at

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Items with a * sign are new listings AND occur in the

United States and Canada.

Items with a + sign appear in the diary for the first

time and are happening outside of the United States and Canada.
------

------


September 15
*WASHINGTON -- A White House report on the situation in Iraq will be sent to Congress by Sept. 15.
+KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- Ruling Democratic Progressive Party holds a rally to demonstrate support for Taiwan's bid for membership of the United Nations.
+SHANGHAI, China -- China holds a major air raid drill in Shanghai (0200), the likely target of Taiwan missiles in the event of a conflict.
+IRAQ -- Visiting Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) holds a conference call briefing with reporters while visiting Iraq.
WASHINGTON -- A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop war and End Racism) Coalition, Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, hold an anti-Iraq war march and rally to coincide with the status report by General Petraeus.
UNITED NATIONS -- Chief prosecutor of the U.N. war crimes tribunal for Balkans, Carla del Ponte due to step down.
DUBAI -- Smoking ban in the hallways, food courts, children's play areas and emergency exits of Dubai's sprawling shopping malls, comes into effect. On May 30, Dubai imposed a ban on smoking in government buildings, schools and colleges.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Deadline for U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to put its nomination to stage 2016 Games before the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
September 16
*WASHINGTON -- 2nd Annual "National Constitution Day Celebration on the Mall" with 25 new American citizens to be sworn in from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, China, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Laos, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Ukraine and Vietnam. U.S. Capitol Building on the west side, next to the Capitol Reflecting Pool
*INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Democratic Senator Tom Harkin hold his 30th Annual Steak Fry featuring speeches by 2008 Democratic presidential candidates: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.).
+WASHINGTON -- President Bush returns to the White House from Camp David, Md.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) are among the speakers at the 3-day World Forum on the Future of Democracy, at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. (through September 18).
OPORTO, Portugal -- Informal Meeting of Agriculture Ministers (through Sept. 18).
GREECE -- Parliamentary elections.
LOS ANGELES -- The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards are held at the Shrine Auditorium.
September 17
*WASHINGTON -- President Bush to host Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates at the White House; later, President Bush participates in a photo opportunity with the 2007 National Spelling Bee Champion.
*WASHINGTON -- The Heritage Foundation hosts "Cuba in the Crossroads" discussion with U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.
*WASHINGTON -- Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte speaks at a State Department ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the agreement on the establishment of the Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers (NRRCs) between the former Soviet Union and the U.S.
*WASHINGTON -- U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab speaks to the American Association of Chambers of Commerce in Latin America at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
*WASHINGTON -- The National Press Club Professional Development Committee holds a symposium on "Reporting National Security in an Age of Terror." Participants include Judge William Webster, former director of the CIA and FBI.
*NEW YORK -- Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan gives a brief talk about his new book, reads excerpts and then signs book. Barnes and Noble Bookstore/Union Square, 33 E. 17th Street. New York City.
*ATLANTA -- ATF Acting Director Michael Sullivan gives the keynote address at the Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
*WASHINGTON -- The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) holds its political action Conference. Democratic candidates for president: Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards speak, at the Washington Hilton.
*LAS VEGAS -- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Citizenship Chief Alfonso Aguilar leads a Citizenship Day naturalization ceremony and deliver remarks on the importance of citizenship at the Cashman Center.
+PARIS/LONDON -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will visit Paris to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and other senior French officials. Paulson will then travel to London to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling in the afternoon.
+ISLAMABAD -- Supreme Court to begin regular hearings on legal challenges filed by opposition politicians and a lawyers' association against President Pervez Musharraf's rule.
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Republican presidential candidates participate in a Values Voter presidential debate at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m.. Representatives from the Eagle Forum, the American Family Association, the Free Congress Foundation, the Foundation for Moral Law, Faith2Action, Vision America, and the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education participate.
VIENNA -- IAEA General Conference (through Sept. 21).
BELGRADE -- World Health Organization's Regional Committee holds a session (to Sept. 20).
BRUSSELS -- EU Justice and Home Affairs Council Meeting (through Sept. 18).
LISBON -- Seminar on EU-India - Cooperation in the area of employment and social affairs (through Sept. 18).
CHICAGO -- R&B singer R Kelly will go on trial on child pornography charges related to a widely circulated videotape depicting sexual acts between a man and an allegedly underage girl.
September 18
*NEW YORK -- Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is interview by his wife, NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell at the 92nd Street Y.
*WASHINGTON -- The Council on Foreign Relations hosts The Nexus of Science, Technology, and Foreign Policy Series: "Can Coal Be Clean? The Promise of Climate Change Technology.
*WASHINGTON -- Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing on "Breaking the Methamphetamine Supply Chain: Meeting Challenges at the Border."
*WASHINGTON -- Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte speaks at the 40th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Chambers of Commerce in Latin America.
*WASHINGTON -- Leonel Fernandez, president of the Dominican Republic; and Jose Miquel Insulza, secretary general of Organization of American States speak at a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) discussion on "Constitutional Reform."
+JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Israel for talks with leaders. Rice will then travel to the West Bank for meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (through Sept. 20).
+PARIS -- President Nicolas Sarkozy due to unveil his reform plans.
+GABALA, Azerbaijan -- Officials from Russia, United States and Azerbaijan are expected to have consultations on Moscow's offer of the joint use of Gabala radar station it leases in Azerbaijan.
+HARARE -- The Constitutional Bill, which would allow President Robert Mugabe to pick a successor, due to be presented in parliament.
+NEPAL -- Maoists are expected to launch street protests from Sept. 18 insisting that the country should be declared a republic before the constituent assembly elections set for Nov. 22.
VIENNA -- IAEA Scientific Forum (through Sept. 19).
LISBON -- EU-Turkey Troika meeting.
September 19
*WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom holds a hearing at on "Sectarian Violence in Iraq and the Refugee Crisis." Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Sauerbrey; and Judy Cheng-Hopkins, United Nations high commissioner for refugees', and assistant high commissioner for operations testify.
*WASHINGTON -- Elisa Carrio, Argentine presidential candidate, delivers a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
+TOKYO -- Japan's ruling Liberal Party is expected to pick a successor on Sept. 19 or Sept. 25 to outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
+NEW DELHI -- The Indian government holds the next round of talks with its communist allies over a controversial India-U.S. nuclear deal which has threatened to split the ruling coalition.
BANGKOK -- One year anniversary of military coup in Thailand. The armed forces seized power without firing a shot, dismissing prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government in the country's first coup in 15 years.
BUCHAREST - Hearings at the Supreme Court of Justice resume in a second graft trial against former prime minister Adrian Nastase, after being postponed in June.
LONDON - Sentencing of Bachan Athwal, 70, and her son Sukhdave Singh Athwal, convicted of the "honour killing" of Sikh Heathrow Airport worker, Surjit Kaur Athwal. The two killed Surjit, who disappeared in December in 1998 after she decided to walk out of her arranged marriage with Sukhdave. Surjit was lured to India by Bachan and Sukhdave on the pretext of attending family weddings but was instead strangled.
NEW YORK -- The Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. holds "The Dream Concert" at Radio City Music Hall to benefit the building of the memorial on the National Mall in Washington. Garth Brooks, Joss Stone, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, and Queen Latifah perform.
WASHINGTON -- Former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan discusses his upcoming book titled, "The Age of Turbulence, Adventures in a New World," as well as on the current turmoil in the public and global markets and the workings of the global economy, at a George Washington University forum.
WASHINGTON -- National Press Club luncheon with Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker.
September 20
*WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on "Subprime Crisis and Solution"; Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson also testify before a House Financial Services Committee hearing, "Legislative and Regulatory Options for Minimizing and Mitigating Mortgage Foreclosures."
*WASHINGTON -- House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment holds a hearing on "U.S. Assistance in East Asia and the Pacific: An Overview." Glyn Davies, deputy assistant secretary of State in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, testifies.
NEW YORK -- G8 Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting.
NEW ORLEANS - Fall meeting of the U.S. House of Bishops (to Sept. 25). To be attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
PARIS -- Paris Fashion week spring summer 2008 collections (through Oct 8).
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain -- The 55th annual San Sebastian International Film Festival (through Sept. 29).
September 21
+FRANKFURT, Germany -- Fifty Years of the Deutsche Bundesbank Conference. Speakers include: Federal Reserve Board Governor Frederic Mishkin; and Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn.
*PHILADELPHIA -- Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Charles Plosser gives welcome remarks before the "Recent Developments in Consumer Credit and Payments" organized by the Research Department and Payment Cards Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
*ALBANY, N.Y. -- Federal Reserve Board Governor Kevin Warsh speaks on "Financial Market Developments" before the State University of New York at Albany's School of Business.
*WASHINGTON -- The Center for Study of Islam and Democracy holds a discussion on "The Role of the Media in West-Islam Relations" with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, at Georgetown University.
*WASHINGTON -- President Bush delivers remarks to the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Sports Champions on the South Lawn of the White House.
WORLD -- Yom Kippur Jewish holiday.
LISBON -- EU-New Zealand Troika meeting.
MONTEREY, Calif. -- The 50th annual Monterey Jazz Festival (through Sept. 23).
WASHINGTON -- National Press Club luncheon with Cristian Samper, acting secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
MICHIGAN -- Mackinac Republican Conference. 2008 Republican presidential candidates: former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R-N.Y.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) are scheduled to speak.
September 22
UNITED NATIONS -- (TENTATIVE) U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to call a meeting on the future of Iraq as well as a session of the Quartet mediators on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (weekend of Sept. 22-23).
MUNICH -- Oktoberfest (through Oct. 3).
MALI -- Independence Day.
MILAN, Italy -- Women Spring/Summer 2008 Fashion shows start (through Sept. 29).
CHINA -- China's capital and the financial hub of Shanghai observes "no car" day, along with over 100 other cities. Private cars will be barred from some roads, forcing people to walk, use public transport or get back on the bicycles.
GAITHERSBURG, Md. -- The 2007 North American Police Equestrian Championships (NAPEC), the international competition for mounted police officers and their equine partners from across the U.S. and Canada, is held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, Maryland (through September 23).
September 23
UNITED NATIONS -- (TENTATIVE) The Quartet of Middle East mediators -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- are expected to meet.
BOURNEMOUTH, UK - Labor Party annual conference (to Sept. 27).
September 25
*WASHINGTON -- India Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram speaks on "India's Economic Growth and Outlook" at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
*MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. -- Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Charles Plosser speaks on "Invention, Productivity and the Economy" before the New Jersey Technology Council.
*WASHINGTON -- President Bush travels to New York k City, NY and remains there overnight. He returns to the White House on Sept. 26.
WASHINGTON -- The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) meets to consider the proposed 2008 state Delegate Selection Plans.
September 26
*VANCOUVER -- The 26th annual Vancouver International Film Festival, through Oct. 12.
*MINNEAPOLIS -- Court hearing for embattled Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), who is attempting to withdraw his guilty plea for disorderly conduct after an arrest in June at a Minneapolis airport bathroom sex sting. Craig, who may attempt to finish his Senate term if he can get the convinction removed, had stated it was his intention to resign from the Senate on September 30.
HANOVER, N.H. -- The Democratic National Committee sponsors a debate with 2008 Democratic presidential candidates.
September 27
+HAMBURG -- The 15th annual Hamburg Film Festival opens with "Odette Toulemonde," the directorial debut of French author Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (through Oct. 4).
*CHICAGO -- Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the International Monetary Fund co-sponsored "Globalization and Systemic Risk" international banking conference.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Van Halen begins its first tour with original vocalist David Lee Roth in more than 20 years, at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
PHILADELPHIA -- U2 lead singer Bono and DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), the advocacy organization he co-founded to combat poverty and disease in Africa, receive the 2007 Liberty Medal in an outdoor ceremony at the National Constitution Center in Historic Philadelphia. The medal, and its accompanying $100,000 prize, will recognize Bono and DATA for spurring a global response to the crisis of AIDS and extreme poverty.
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration hosts the leaders of the major economies at an energy security and climate change meeting in Washington (through September 28).
BALTIMORE -- Morgan State University hosts a PBS debate of the 2008 Republican presidential candidates. Actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), a newly-declared 2008 Republican presidential candidate, participates.
September 28
NEW YORK -- The 45th annual New York Film Festival (through Oct. 14).
September 30
WASHINGTON -- Target date for the resignation date for Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), ending his 17-year Senate career after his arrest and guilty plea of disorderly conduct stemming from a June incident in a men's bathroom at a Minnesota airport.
October 2
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. -- Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), facing charges for allegedly assaulting an airline worker in August at Dulles Airport after becoming irate about his missing luggage, appears in General District Court in Loudoun County, Virginia.
October 3
SAN SALVADOR -- The Inter-American Development Bank holds the 10th Microenterprise Forum in San Salvador, El Salvador, a conference on a vital economic sector for Latin America and the Caribbean (through Oct. 5).
October 6
WASHINGTON -- Stand in the Gap 2007 (SITB2007), a "sacred gathering of men rally" sponsored by the National Coalition of Men's Ministries. to be held on the grounds of the Washington Monument.
October 11
*WASHINGTON -- The Kennedy Center awards Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to actor and comedian Billy Crystal. The lineup of speakers includes: Robert De Niro, Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg, John Goodman, Rob Reiner, Martin Short, Barbara Walters, Robin Williams.
October 13
MOSCOW -- Boxing's WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev (who had been scheduled to meet WBO titleholder Sultan Ibragimov, who withdrew from the bout because of a stomach ailment) fights 44-year-old former champ Evander Holyfield, in Holyfied's quest to win the heavyweight title for a fifth time.
October 15
NEW YORK -- FOX Business Network (FBN) launch.
(POSTPONED) WASHINGTON -- Grand opening of The Newseum.
October 17
PYONGYANG -- 81st Anniversary of the founding of the 'Down with Imperialism' Movement.
NAIROBI -- Humanitarian Development Summit for humanitarian relief organizations (through Oct. 19).
LISBON -- EU-Ukraine Troika meeting.
October 18
LISBON -- EU heads of state and government summit (through Oct. 19).
KOSOVO/UNITED NATIONS -- Deadline for U.N. Security Council resolution on Kosovo may pave the way for Kosovo independence 120 days after the U.N. agreed a four-month delay, despite Russian objections to the plan.
October 19
WASHINGTON -- G7 finance ministers, ECB policy makers and central bankers to attend the 2007 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (to Oct. 21).
TATE LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom -- Turner Prize 2007 exhibition (through Jan. 13).
October 20
WASHINGTON -- 2007 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (through Oct. 21).
ST. DENIS, France -- Rugby World Cup Final.
October 21
POLAND -- Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on Oct. 21 or Nov. 18 following a blow up in July between the conservative ruling and their volatile mix of leftist and far-right partners.
WASHINGTON -- 2007 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (final day).
CUBA -- General municipal elections.
TURKEY -- The first possible date for holding referendum on a constitutional reform for the direct election of Turkey's future presidents by the people.
SLOVENIA -- Presidential elections.
October 22
STRASBOURG -- EU parliament plenary session (through Oct. 25).
LISBON -- EU-Canada Troika meeting.
LUXEMBOURG -- EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting (through Oct. 23).
LOME -- Mandate of Togo's National Assembly due to expire.
October 24
MILAN -- Trial resumes of seven Italians and 26 Americans -- the latter, all believed to be CIA agents, in absentia -- on charges of kidnapping a terrorism suspect in Milan in 2003 and then flying him to Egypt, where he says he was tortured.
LISBON -- European Conference on the Fight against Doping in Sport.
October 25
SINGAPORE/SYDNEY -- The first commercial flight on the new Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger plane, is due to fly from Singapore to Sydney.
BEIJING -- Seventh World Conference on Sport and Environment (through Oct. 27).
October 26
MAFRA, Portugal -- EU-Russia Summit.
ALGARVE, Portugal -- 6th European Tourism Forum (through Oct. 27).
October 27
CHIBA CITY, Japan -- The world's largest automotive event - Tokyo Motor Show (to Nov. 11).
October 28
ARGENTINA -- Presidential elections.
SOFIA -- Bulgaria holds local elections.
SARAJEVO -- Terry Davids, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, visits Bosnia.
EUROPE -- Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends.
October 29
LOS ANGELES -- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) holds 30th international public meetings (through Nov. 2).
BANGALORE, India -- 10th edition of IT and Telecom event "Bangalore IT.in", billed as biggest in Asia.
October 30
LONDON (TENTATIVE) -- Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to visit the United Kingdom.
October 31
UNITED NATIONS/SUDAN -- Mandate of the U.N. Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) expires.
IVORY COAST -- Deadline for Ivory Coast to hold elections. The U.N. Security Council resolution extended the transitional government for a second year and shifted power from president to its prime minister to guide the volatile West African nation to long delayed elections by Oct. 31.
November 1
WASHINGTON -- Release date for possible 2008 presidential candidate and former House speaker Newt Gingrich's (R-Ga.) book, titled, "A Contract with the Earth."
November 4
VIETNAM -- U.S. companies participate in the first-ever Secretarial Business Development Mission to Vietnam takes place through Nov. 8 and includes visits Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is coordinated the trade trip. LAS VEGAS -- CNN and the Nevada Democratic Party host the Nevada Democratic Presidential Debate -- exactly one year before the 2008 presidential election -- at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
November 7
NASHVILLE -- The 41st annual Country Music Association Awards ceremony at Sommet Center in Nashville.
November 13
WASHINGTON -- The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) honors Egyptian blogger Wael Abbas and Burmese investigative reporter May Thingyan Hein along with Founders Award recipient Tom Brokaw at the 10th annual ICFJ Awards Dinner at the Ronald Reagan Building. Bob Woodruff of ABC News keynotes. George Stephanopoulos of ABC News hosts the event.
November 22
ATLANTA -- The NFL's Atlanta Falcons host the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts in a Thanksgiving night game at the Georgia Dome.
November 28
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Republican Party of Florida/CNN/YouTube hold a two-hour debate for Republican presidential candidates at the Mahaffey Theater within the Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts in St. Petersburg, to air live on CNN and CNN En Espanol.
December 10
RICHMOND, Va. -- Sentencing day for Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick, who pleaded guilty in August to charges related to illegal dogfighting at the U.S. Courthouse in Richmond.

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The Reuters Daybook World Diary

September 14, 2007

REUTERS


DIARY-WORLD|LANGEN|REUWW
Document REUTWR0020070914e39e0000s
Suntech Supplies BIPV Component of 750kW Green Building Project in Sicily
755 words

12 September 2007

08:00 AM

PR Newswire (U.S.)

PRN

English

Copyright © 2007 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.
WUXI, China, Sept. 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), one of the world's leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced that it has supplied 230 MSK Photovol Glass panels to Socovoltaic Systems, a Socotherm and TSNergy Inc. joint venture company that designs, manufactures and installs integrated PV systems. The 10kW building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solution will form an integral component of a 750kW solar system for a 25,000 square meter green building project in the Sicilian city of Pozzallo, Italy.
Suntech's MSK Photovol Glass panels are semitransparent, thin film BIPV panels that transmit up to 10% of light while generating electricity. This level of light transmission allows for visibility while protecting against excessive solar heat gain, glare, and the damaging effects of UV rays. The aesthetic glass panels used in the green building project are insulated for even greater energy efficiency, and will provide a highly visible showcase for the total 750kW solar system that is slated to be installed at the site.
''Projects such as this green building in Sicily demonstrate the strong and long term global sales market for BIPV products and especially thin film PV modules. We are pleased to be involved with this important project that showcases Suntech's leading concepts in the world of PV and architecture,'' said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO.
The BIPV system engineering for the building has been spearheaded by US- based thin film and BIPV expert TSNergy on behalf of Socovoltaic Systems. ''Having spent over half a decade in the manufacturing and applications of thin film photovoltaics, we believe that Suntech's MSK Photovol Glass solution is one of the best currently available on the market,'' said Tom Moran, Partner and CEO of TSNergy Inc. ''We see great potential for BIPV products over the next few decades as the market evolves.''
In May 2007, Suntech broke ground on a thin film R&D and manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China. The thin film modules produced will primarily be used in Suntech's MSK BIPV applications.
About TSNergy, Inc.
TSNergy Inc., an American Corporation, is active in the design, production, and commercialization of next generation photovoltaic materials and building integrated photovoltaic systems, for widespread residential and commercial use. For more information, please visit: http://www.tsnergy.com .
About Socotherm
Socotherm, a public company listed on the Italian Stock Exchange and founded in 1859 in Vicenza, Italy is a world-wide pipe coating contractor with plants in Italy, Spain, Australia, Malaysia, China, Nigeria, Angola, Qatar, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and USA. The Group offers all types of pipe coating services world-wide to the Oil and Gas industry from External/Internal Anticorrosion Coatings to Concrete Weight Coating and Thermal Insulation. For more information, please visit: http://www.socotherm.com .
About Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. is a leading solar energy company in the world as measured by both production output and capacity of solar cells and modules. Suntech provides solar solutions for a green future. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a variety of high quality, cost effective and environmentally friendly PV cells and modules for electric power applications in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech's majority-owned subsidiary, MSK Corporation is one of the top-ranked companies in the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) space. Suntech's customers are located in various markets worldwide, including key markets throughout Europe, North America, Japan and China. For more information, please visit http://www.suntech-power.com .

For more information, please contact:
In Europe:

Jerry Stokes

President Suntech Europe

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]
In the United States:

Sanjay M. Hurry

Vice President

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]
In China:

Rory Macpherson