Cambodia Opens 1^st Ethanol Plant for Bio-fuel from Cassava

PONGNEA LEU, Cambodia—On November 17, Cambodia opened its first ethanol factory to generate bio-fuel from cassasva flour, a news report said. At the opening of the pioneer venture invested in by the MH Bio-energy Group of South Korea, Prime Minister Hun Sen predicted the factory will become “the market place of cassava products for local farmers.” Cassava is one of the most important economic crops in rural Cambodia. The factory here has already made investments to grow cassava on 8,000 hectares of land in Kampong Speu province, and has opened branches in Kampong Cham and Battambang provinces. Industry, Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem said the Pongnea Leu factory has a designed annual export capacity of 36,000 tons of ethanol fuel, with concentration on the European market. The factory's administration head, Sar Peov, said a ton of ethanol fuel sells at about $700 on the international market.

Philippine Peacekeepers Honored by UN

MANILA—The United Nations has awarded medals to Filipino peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), in recognition of their “significant contribution to the African country's recovery and stabilization,” the Philippine embassy in Washington has announced. The Philippine Mission to the UN said 165 members of the 10^th Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent under Colonel Danilo Pamonag received UN medals from Mrs. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Rule of Law, during ceremonies in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. The Philippine contingent was first deployed to Liberia in 2003 to serve as Force Headquarters Support Unit in charge of providing security patrols. It also provides protection for the UN Special Representative and his deputies and visiting officials. 

EWC Reports on U.S. States' Economic Ties with Asia

HONOLULU—The Hawaii-based East-West Center (EWC) has come up with the following “Did you know?” list concerning U.S. states and Asia: 1) Washington's exports to Asia make up 12% of the state's GDP, the highest in the U.S. 2) Massachusetts' 8^th congressional district had 8,735 foreign students from Asia, who contributed $271 million to the state's economy, the most in the country. 3) New Jersey has 485,000 foreign-born residents from Asia who account for 5.5% of the state's population, the third highest percentage in the U.S. 4) Montana's exports to Asia grew by 339% from 2001 to 2007, the fastest such growth in the country. 

UN Official Warns of Possible Asian Social Strife

BANGKOK—A senior UN official has warned of the prospect of social unrest as the export-driven economies of Asia begin to slow in response to the fallout from the global financial crisis, a news report said. Mr. Ajay Chhibber, head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for Asia and the Pacific, told reporters here the slowdown in major markets such as the U.S. and Europe “poses fundamental problems for Asian economies that have used exports to fuel their extraordinary growth.” He said 900 million Asians live below the poverty line, which is considered an income of less than $1.25 a day. And, he added, “there are another 300 million who just came out of that group, to they are literally on the margin.” Mr. Chhibber, who worked for the World Bank in Asia before joining the UN, suggested Asia “experiment” with conditional cash transfers, in which poor families are paid if parents ensure their children stay in school and get their shots.

Asia Specialists Urge 'Deeper' US-ASIAN Links

WASHINGTON—In the current East-West Dialogue, an online forum of the Hawaii-based East West Center (EWC), Michael Plummer calls for ambitious new initiatives leading to a U.S.-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) “economic space” and a US-ASEAN partnership fund to “deepen civic and cultural ties.” Plummer is a professor of international economics at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Bologna, Italy, and an EWC Senior Fellow. Other specialists on Asia—Scot Marciel, Kishore Mahbubani and Chalongplhob Sussangkarn—agree with Plummer that the US-ASEAN relationship is vital and in the Dialogue article offer further suggestions, confirming that gains from a “deeper partnership are mutual” and that “the region is receptive to U.S. Initiatives.” For the entire article, visit EWCUpdates@EastWestCenter.org.  

Tong Replaces Fong at Hong Kong DC Office

HONG KONG—The new Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs in the U.S. Is Donald Tong, the government here has announced. He succeeds Miss Margaret Fong. The position is that of the most senior Hong Kong representative in the U.S. As commissioner, Mr. Tong will continue Hong Kong's efforts to enhance economic, trade and cultural ties with the U.S. and oversee the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO) in Washington, New York and San Francisco. He said Hong Kong-U.S. relations “have been characterized by cooperation on a range of issues, such as economic and trade development, counter terrorism and global health protection.” He added that “Beyond our...market-based philosophies, we also share many common values. We are committed to a free and open society, buttressed by our rule of law tradition, independence judiciary and clean and efficient government.” Mr. Tong is not unfamiliar with his new place of business: he was First Secretary in the HKETO in Washington from 1991 to 1994. Welcome back, Mr. Tong.  

'New Silk Road' Planned for Kazakhstan

ALMATY—The Asia Development Bank (ADB) last month announced a $700 million loan to improve part of a 1,700-mile (2,715-kilometer) road in Kazakhstan which will go from the city of Aktobe on the Russian border in the west to China in the east. The Economist said the road is part of a larger, $6.7 billion program, partly financed by other international institutions and is scheduled to be completed in 2015. The ADB's Juan Miranda said the road is expected to increase travel speed by 40% and lower freight-transport costs by 50%. Kazakhstan's road-freight transportation is predicted t increase by approximately 10% a year, and the number of vehicles by about 5%. The road is expected to be a great stimulus to the economy of he Central Asian nation and the region. Mr. Miranda has already called it “a new Silk Road.”