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S. Korea, Tunisia to promote cultural ties, student exchange program

South Korea and Tunisia agreed on June 30 to boost student exchanges and other cultural ties as the two nations mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and his counterpart Abdelwaheb Abdallah signed two agreements -- Arrangement on Cooperation in Youth Matters and Program of Cultural Cooperation -- immediately after their talks here, the ministry said. The Tunisian minister is on a three-day trip to Seoul that began on June 29. "The ministers exchanged views on issues of mutual concern and the geopolitical situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East," a ministry official said. He said Tunisia is one of South Korea's major partners in Africa, adding that bilateral trade has continued to expand despite the geographical distance between the two sides since diplomatic relations were established in 1969. "Tunisia has supported South Korea's position on the international stage with regard to issues pertinent to the Korean Peninsula," he said.

Kenya Power seeks investors for 3 power plants

World economy at risk from H1N1

Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC) said on Friday it was looking for power companies to install up to three 60-80 Megawatt heavy fuel oil-fired power stations in or around the capital Nairobi. The company said in a statement it wanted the new plants to be up and running during 2010. The plants would operate under a 20-25-year build, own and operate arrangement. Kenya Power is the sole electricity transmitter in east Africa's biggest economy. Like other economies on the continent, Kenya needs massive investment in power generation to meet growing demand. Most of Kenya's electricity is generated by hydropower dams and peak demand can outstrip supply.

Uncertain of the shocking global economic cost of H1N1? Ask Mexico. When the authorities there announced a five-day suspension of all "non-essential" activities around the country shortly after the confirmation of the first case of flu on April 2, the cost was as high as $57 million (Dh209 million) per day, according to government estimates. The national currency, the peso, fell four per cent against the dollar; the local stock market fell three per cent; and all hopes of a profitable tourism season were dashed.

GCC to invest $70b in energy projects

S.Korea, UAE signs Air Services MoU

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are expected to spend close to $70 billion in energy projects this year, roughly in line with their actual capital expenditure of $60 billion-$70 billion estimated in energy projects in 2008, research conducted by Contax and supported by the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) shows. "About a half of this spending will be in the power and water sectors," Edmund O'Sullivan MEED's chairman for events, said at the opening of the Arabian World Construction Summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

S.Korea and the United Arab Emirates represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) signed an Air Services Memorandum of Understanding on May 7 in Abu Dhabi, to discuss and establish operations on the Korea and Abu Dhabi route. The MoU was signed by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Mr. Sang-Do KIM, Director of International Air Transport Division, Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Representatives from Abu Dhabi Department of Transport and Etihad Airways, attended the meeting.

Prime Goal of Tunisia to Join the Ranks of Advanced Nations: President Ben Ali

Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali said in an interview with Oxford Business Group that "Tunisia has a diversified economy, capable of interacting with, and adapting to, changes in the world economy" In this interview, Tunisian President Ben Ali stressed that Tunisia’s major gains over the past five years and national priorities in the areas of economic development, investment, youth and employment, in the context of performances made over the past couple of decades. Oxford Business Group's series of publications are renowned as the leading source of economic information for nearly 30 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. These reports written by a team of analysts who are based on the ground for six months every year and the result of hundreds of interviews making them unrivalled in the market are the most extensive independent, unbiased and accurate intelligence available anywhere. In his interview with Oxford Business Group, Tunisian President Ben Ali also addressed relations of partnership in Tunisia's international co-operation, in particular in light of the global economic situation, as well as the Tunisian approach aimed at ensuring best possible position to higher graduates in the knowledge society and favouring complementarity between the role of the State and associative fabric's in consecration of self-construction which is one of the characteristics of modern society.

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