asia
[This article was published in the August 2007 issue of the eGov Magazine (http://www.egovonline.net) ]
News
WORLD-BANK
World Bank debars two firms under India Reproductive and Child Health Projects
The World Bank has declared two India-based firms, Nestor Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Nestor) and Pure Pharma Ltd. (Pure Pharma), ineligible to be awarded Bank-financed contracts. Both firms were found to have engaged in collusive practices in connection with the Bank-financed Reproductive and Child Health Project (RCH I) in India. Nestor has been debarred for a period of three years, while Pure Pharma is debarred for one year.
Governance matters from 1996 to 2006: World Bank Report
The report, Governance Matters, 2007: Worldwide Governance Indicators 1996-2006 (of the World Bank) recently launched, shows that a number of countries-including in Africa-are making progress in improving governance and fighting corruption.
UN summit aims to harness technology for Africa
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the head of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have strongly endorsed a summit to be held in 2007, which aims to boost information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in Africa to advance development on the continent. The Connect Africa Summit, to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 29 to 30 October, will bring together the private sector, governments and international organizations so as to seek ways to address the
Legislation Committee urges Karnataka Govt. to open BangaloreOne centres
A Subordinate Legislation Committee of the State Legislature on E-governance has urged the Karnataka state government to open BangaloreOne type centres, in all district headquarters for the benefit of the public.
World Bank grants US $8 million fund to Mongolia
The World Bank is funding to Mongolia to upgrade information and communications services across the country with the help from Japan.
World Bank supports Bangladesh’s efforts to improve public procurement system
The World Bank has approved a US$ 23.6 on 5 July, 2007 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to support the Government of Bangladesh
MIGA supports telecommunications investment in Afghanistan
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which is a member of the World Bank Group, has said that it would be supporting a new investment that will provide state-of-the-art telecommunications services in Afghanistan. The guarantee, which is of the amount US$ 76.5 million in coverage, will protect the investment against the noncommercial risks of transfer restriction, and expropriation.
Use satellite technology for water management
The chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G. Madhavan Nair, has called for the application of satellite technology for better water management in Kerala, India.
