NewzIntel.com

Category: Tourism

  • MIL-OSI China: In China’s Harbin, world’s largest ice-and-snow park draws record visitors

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    HARBIN, Feb. 12 — Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, has welcomed over 3 million visits as of Tuesday, setting a new attendance record just 52 days into its 26th edition, organizers announced.

    Located in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province and often referred to as the “city of ice,” this year’s park was built with 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow and features elaborate ice structures inspired by the 9th Asian Winter Games, which Harbin is hosting.

    Beyond its artistic ice sculptures, the park offers a range of interactive winter attractions, including a snowflake ice maze, ice rinks, and a massive ice slide complemented by over 20 smaller ones.

    “It’s freezing, but absolutely stunning! During the day, the ice sculptures glisten like crystals, and at night, dazzling lights transform the park into a winter wonderland,” said Mandizvidza Shalom Zivo, a visitor from Zimbabwe.

    The park covers 1 million square meters, up from 800,000 square meters last year. This is the largest in its 26-year history.

    As an established ice-and-snow theme park, Harbin Ice-Snow World stands out as one of China’s iconic winter attractions. It surged in popularity on Chinese social media last winter, becoming an internet sensation as passion for winter sports and tourism continues to rise across the country.

    “Through this park, we aim to enhance the global reputation of Heilongjiang and Harbin as premier winter destinations,” said Sun Zemin, deputy director of the marketing department at Harbin Ice-Snow World Park Co., Ltd.

    With its booming ice-and-snow tourism, northeast China has gained fresh appeal. Once known as the country’s rustbelt, the region has long struggled with a painful economic transition and talent outflows.

    China aims to boost its ice-and-snow economy as a new source of growth, targeting an economic scale of 1.2 trillion yuan (about 167.34 billion U.S. dollars) by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, according to guidelines released by the State Council last year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China expands silver tourism train services to cater to growing elderly travel market

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China expands silver tourism train services to cater to growing elderly travel market

    BEIJING, Feb. 12 — As the sun rose over the snow-capped peaks of the Qinling Mountains, a group of silver-haired retirees eagerly boarded a Silk Road-themed tourism train in Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.

    For the next three days, these seniors embarked on a leisurely journey through the picturesque landscapes of central China, relaxing in hot springs and savoring local delicacies, traveling on one of many specialized tourism trains that are revolutionizing travel for China’s growing elderly population.

    On Tuesday, nine Chinese government agencies and state-owned enterprises, including the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, unveiled an action plan to expand and improve senior-friendly tourism train services, in the latest bid to create more inclusive and enjoyable travel experiences for the elderly.

    The initiative aims to enrich the tourism market, promote services consumption and cater to the growing demand for elderly-friendly travel options. It plans to create a nationwide network of specialized trains catering to older travelers by 2027, with over 100 designed routes and 2,500 scheduled trips annually, according to a press conference held later on Tuesday.

    The concept of senior-focused rail travel has been gaining momentum across China. According to China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group Co., Ltd., over 77 percent of passengers on its special tourism trains have been aged 55 or above in recent years.

    A 15-day railway tour to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has proved particularly popular, allowing seniors to explore the vast region’s diverse landscapes and cultural heritage in comfort. “Compared to self-drive tours, railway tours cut costs, save time and conserve energy, making them very suitable for elderly travelers,” 61-year-old Wang Zhanqi, who hails from Qinghai Province and took the Xinjiang railway tour last year, told Xinhua.

    He particularly enjoyed photographing the winding streets and traditional architecture in the ancient city of Kashgar, and sampling water from Karez wells, which collect the melted ice and snow from the Tianshan Mountains.

    Shaanxi’s Silk Road train, capable of carrying over 200 passengers per trip, is equipped with senior-friendly features like wide beds, temperature control systems and emergency call buttons. The train also boasts such entertainment facilities as karaoke rooms and mahjong tables, creating a lively and social atmosphere for its passengers.

    These specialized trains provide more than just transportation, offering comprehensive services tailored to the needs of older travelers. Many feature onboard medical staff, health monitoring equipment and specially designed meals. The popular Panda Express service, which departs from Sichuan Province, includes niche cultural activities such as ethnic-style welcome ceremonies and traditional performances, adding a level of cultural immersion to an already distinctive journey.

    “We strive to ensure a safer, more comfortable travel experience for the elderly,” said Yang Tao, general manager of Xi’an Railway International Travel Service Co., Ltd. “Silver-haired tourists generally have strong purchasing power and are inclined to buy handicrafts.”

    The economic potential of this market is substantial. According to a recent blue paper on China’s silver economy, the sector is currently valued at 7 trillion yuan (about 976 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for about 6 percent of the country’s GDP, with tourism being a key growth area.

    Elderly adults in China had amassed wealth totaling 78.4 trillion yuan by 2023, according to the China National Committee on Aging. And the overall silver economy is projected to reach 30 trillion yuan by 2035, which would represent 10 percent of China’s GDP.

    Recognizing the increasing purchasing power and travel aspirations of China’s elderly population, the action plan released on Tuesday outlines a series of measures to develop the sector further, including measures to expand services offerings, develop themed routes, and enhance medical and senior care services on trains.

    Measures will be taken to upgrade the trains so that they are more age-friendly, green and comfortable, which will be supported by China’s large-scale equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in programs, and additional measures will be implemented to tailor themed travel routes and products for seniors.

    Highlighting the integration of health care services into senior tourism trains, the action plan notes that medical professionals will be stationed on board, and medical expenses incurred during travel will be eligible for cross-regional medical insurance settlement, simplifying the claims process for elderly passengers.

    The plan also advocates improved coordination between tourism trains and scenic areas, encouraging local tourist destinations to offer tailored services such as reservations, green channels, transportation connections and dedicated reception facilities for senior travelers.

    The action plan aims to create a comprehensive national network of senior-friendly tourism trains by 2027, with established service standards and recognizable brand identities.

    These specialized train services will utilize off-peak travel periods to avoid conflicting with regular passenger services, ensuring that the trains operate efficiently without disrupting the broader transportation system, MOC official Kong Dejun said at the press conference.

    From onboard medical care to senior-friendly meals and entertainment, silver tourism trains are more than a mode of transport: they are redefining what it means to travel in one’s golden years. Analysts note that China’s railways, already arteries of economic development, are poised to enrich the lives of the nation’s growing elderly population.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Baku talks heat up: New climate finance deal, urban challenges in COP29 spotlight

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    As intense round-the-clock COP29 climate talks enter their final stretch in Baku, delegates on Wednesday are eagerly awaiting updates on the progress of negotiations regarding a new climate finance target. Meanwhile, high-level discussions also continued, with a focus on key issues such as urbanization, transport, and tourism.

    The source of the hundreds of billions, if not trillions, of funds that developing nations say will be needed to adapt to a fast-changing climate – governments, multilateral banks, or the private sector – has become a major subject of contention during the last eight days.

    The good, the bad about cities

    Meanwhile, away from the COP29 negotiations, the urgent need to cut emissions, adapt to a changing climate, lessen the effects of the crisis, and shield people from catastrophic weather events are among the themes in the many speeches given by government officials, heads of UN organizations, climate experts and leaders of civil society.

    Home to half the world’s population, with some 2.4 billion more expected to move to urban areas within the next 20 years, cities contribute significantly to global emissions while also being disproportionately impacted the effects of climate change.

    In its latest World Cities report, UN-Habitat, the UN agency dealing with human settlements and sustainable urban development, says billions of people currently living in cities could experience an additional temperature rise of at least 0.5 degrees Celsius by 2040.

    At the same time, measures to offset the impact of climate change on urban populations still do not match the scale and intensity of the challenges faced by cities.

    Addressing a ministerial meeting at COP29 today, Anaclaudia Rossbach, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, warned that rapid and unplanned urban development pose threats to biodiversity, the environment, and food security.

    This also leads to social fragmentation and financial deterioration. While the construction sector accounts for 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, the UN-Habitat chief said 96 homes need to be built every day to meet the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

    As such adequate funding and cooperation at all levels are necessary to address these twin challenges.

    “There is only one road to pursue, one track, one we walk collectively where social, urban, and climate needs are addressed harmoniously over solid economic ground,” Ms. Rossbach stressed.

    She added: “Yes, we do need more finance flowing to cities. We need to plan and prioritize. Land is scarce and needs to fulfill its social and ecological functions. Social and housing needs are vast.”

    “We take care of people; people take care of the planet. And we should leave no one behind,” she concluded.

    UNFCCC/Kiara Worth

    Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, addresses a Ministerial meeting on urbanization and climate change, at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

    Emissions rising

    In a separate session today, speakers noted an ongoing issue that could seriously hamper many efforts to address climate-driven impacts in cities, and elsewhere.

    According to the latest report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), global emissions increased by 1.3 per cent in 2023 – when they should have decreased.

    “To limit warming to 1.5°C, updated National Contributions – climate commitments that each country makes – should enable a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.

    She highlighted that 52 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from just 25 megacities, including, among others, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Moscow, and New York City.

    “This means the actions you take in setting standards for energy efficiency, determining energy sources, managing waste and methane emissions, improving public transport, encouraging electric mobility, and promoting pedestrian-friendly cities can make a massive impact,” she told mayors from around the world gathered at the event.

    Tourism and climate change

    For the first time ever the issue of tourism is being discussed at a COP, formally the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in the context of its impact on climate.

    In 2023, the tourism sector recovered from the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic, as international arrivals rebounded to almost 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. That year, the sector contributed three per cent to the global gross domestic product (GDP), amounting to $3.3 trillion, and employed one in every ten people worldwide.

    In an interview with UNifeed, Ms. Andersen reiterated her call on stakeholders at COP29 to make sure tourism industry lessens its carbon footprint.

    “We need to understand that the tourism sector is impacted by climate change. And so, it is both a victim of and a contributor to climate change. That is why having this first tourism focus at a COP is very important.”

    Renewable energy transition

    Meanwhile, Selwyn Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action, reminded attendees at COP29 that humanity already has the knowledge and tools needed to effectively combat climate change.

    “A revolution in the transition to renewable energy is already underway. It cannot be stopped,” he said.

    “However, the question remains whether the speed of this transition will prevent its worst consequences. And secondly, whether it will be fair enough to reduce inequality within and between countries.”

    UNFCCC/Kiara Worth

    Negotiating teams at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, pictured here during a break in the talks, are working to reach agreement on a new climate financing deal.

    Will a breakthrough at COP29 be possible?

    The results of the negotiations in Baku will provide answers to some of these questions.

    The focus of the Baku talks is on agreeing a new climate finance goal that will provide countries – especially the most vulnerable – with the means to take stronger climate action. At stake are trillions of dollars that developing countries need to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

    According to UNEP, Cedric Schuster, chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), stated yesterday that the “top-level priority is minimum allocation floors for small island developing States of $39 billion a year, and $220 billion a year for least developed countries, both in grant-equivalent terms. Any [outcome] texts that do not include these aspects will not be acceptable for these groups.”

    Sierra Leone’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jiwoh Abdulai, emphasized the concern many developing countries share, namely, the form this money should take.

    “Don’t use the word ‘donor,’” he said on Tuesday. “That implies charity. There is a climate debt that needs to be paid. We are talking about lives and livelihoods. Our people are paying with their lives.”

    Discussions also touched on the very definition of a ‘developing country.’ Some negotiators have argued that countries like China or certain Gulf states no longer fall into this category, given the growth of their economies since the adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992.

    Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga, Director of the Division of Intergovernmental Support and Collective Progress of the UNFCCC, noted that every delegation comes to COP29 with its aspirations and hopes.

    “In multilateralism, the results are sometimes different from what any one country imagines. This underscores the importance of flexibility, cooperation, and the willingness to adapt to changing circumstances and international relations,” she said.

    Want to know more? Check out our special events page, where you can find all our coverage of COP29, including stories and videos, explainers and our newsletter.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: For walks and family recreation: what the sites of the Winter in Moscow project will delight you with

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    At the project sites “Winter in Moscow” you can immerse yourself in a real fairy tale. Installations, colorful lights, designer photo zones and cozy winter gardens make the city truly festive and turn a walk with family and friends into a magical adventure.

    For example, at the beginning of Kuznetsky Most Street a Christmas station appeared. There you can warm up with hot drinks and buy holiday souvenirs. The upper part of the street was decorated with a pine forest, through which a Christmas express rushes. And decorations, gazebos and snowman figures create an atmosphere of a winter fairy tale.

    Stoleshnikov Lane was decorated in red and gold. Unusual arches with mini-shops were installed here, where you can buy holiday souvenirs and try seasonal delicacies. Garlands with golden bells were spread over the lane, and the promenade area was decorated with coniferous plants and classic Christmas compositions.

    Kamergersky Lane has become a cozy lounge area with comfortable benches. The space is decorated with coniferous and evergreen plants, and the shop windows are also decorated in an original way. On this site, you can have a cup of tea and try signature treats as part of the Moscow Tea Party festival.

    On Tverskoy Boulevard, near the monument to K.A. Timiryazev, there is a fairytale forest. The central place in it is occupied by a five-meter Nordman fir, decorated with retro toys and lights. The space organically combines mountain pines, willows and ornamental shrubs. Backlighting in the form of balls makes this area especially beautiful in the evening.

    The square near the Barrikadnaya metro station has been decorated with giant holiday gifts and multi-tiered green areas, where fir trees, as well as Serbian and blue spruces, are harmoniously combined. Garlands and golden accents create an atmosphere of coziness and warmth.

    Hexagonal display cases with plant compositions were installed at Birzhevaya Square and at Chistye Prudy. These are sites for memorable winter photographs.

    New Arbat has been transformed into a winter garden with coniferous trees, huge Christmas tree balls and retro cars hovering in the air. Old Arbat has been decorated in the “Warm Traditions” concept – a reminder of childhood and family holidays. Here you can see a knitted train decorated with soft woolen details, as well as various Christmas accessories.

    Project “Winter in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which until February 28 brings together various events in the capital. Citizens and tourists are invited to remember traditions and history, warm up with tea and hot buns, go ice skating, watch ice shows, give gifts to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, and show concern for those who need it.

    Muscovites and guests of the capital are offered a huge selection of events in the open air and in cultural and sports institutions. The atmosphere of winter traditions has engulfed the entire city – more than 1.9 thousand sites are open. The project organically intertwined with the largest festivals of the capital “Moscow Estates”, “Moscow Tea Party”, “City of Light” and many others. All information about the project and events of the winter season can be found in a special section of mos.ru.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149977073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – Channel 7

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    NATARSHA BELLING: Taxpayers could soon own Rex Airlines. The Federal Government says it’s open to acquiring the regional carrier and making it state owned if administrators can’t sell. And joining us live this afternoon is Transport Minister Catherine King. Minister, good afternoon. Thank you for joining us. Now, you’ve said it is a last resort, but at this stage there are no real bidders emerging. So is it likely?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is the second sale process is about to start. There were no bidders on that expedited first sale process. What’s become evident, if we are to continue to have strong regional carriers and a strong Rex Airlines, is that it will require some support from the Commonwealth. We’ve indicated today that we are working very closely with the administrators on that second sale process, that we are willing to step in with support for our bidders, for the airline. We hope very much there is a market based solution and that the second sale process is successful. But we also want to say really clearly that it is too important to have a regional carrier of this nature- for this to fail. So we are also signalling that we will start the work to ensure that if the second sale process is not successful, then we will look to work with the states and territories around the possible acquisition by the Commonwealth.

    But we’re not there yet. What we’re at the moment is really saying, we are doing everything we can to make sure that there is a successful second sale, and to make sure that we continue to provide those services that are much needed in regional communities.

    NATARSHA BELLING: So why should taxpayers pay for it if you can’t find any other solutions at this stage?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing I’d say is that regional aviation is an incredibly important public good. Being able to make sure that we can get regional communities to medical appointments in our capital cities, or making sure that tourism actually operates in our regions, that is a really important part of our economies. But also remember, we already have seen $150 million plus JobKeeper provided to this airline by the Liberal and National Party with no strings attached, and we’re now in the position that we’re in. So where we are going to have to step in and provide support in order to make sure a second sale process is in place, we want to make sure that there is guarantees around regional routes, guarantees around regional services, guarantees about good governance to make sure we’ve got a strong regional aviator into the future.

    NATARSHA BELLING: All right, Minister. Hope it works, especially for regional people across the country. Thanks for joining us this afternoon.

    CATHERINE KING: Absolutely. Thank you so much for your interest.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls to visit Nouméa for key political talks

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

    French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has announced he will travel to New Caledonia later this month to pursue talks on the French territory’s political future.

    These discussions on February 22 follow preliminary talks held last week in Paris in “bilateral” mode with a wide range of political stakeholders.

    The talks, which included pro-independence and pro-France parties, were said to have “allowed to restore a climate of trust between France and New Caledonia’s politicians”.

    Those meetings contributed to “a better understanding” of “everyone’s expectations” and “clarify everyone’s respective projects”, Valls said.

    Between February 4 and 9, Valls said he had met “at least twice” with delegations from all six parties and movements represented in New Caledonia’s Congress.

    The main goal was to resume the political process and allow everyone to “project themselves into the future” after the May 2024 riots.

    The riots caused 14 dead, hundreds of injured, arson and looting of hundreds of businesses and an estimated damage of some 2.2 billion euros (NZ$4 billion).

    ‘Touched all topics’
    “We have touched on all topics, extensively and without any taboo, including the events related to the riots that broke out in New Caledonia in May 2024.”

    Valls said in this post-riot situation, “everyone bears their own responsibilities, but the French State may also have a part of responsibility for what happened a few months ago”.

    New Caledonia’s key economic leaders Mimsy Daly and David Guyenne with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls. Image: MEDEF NC/RNZ

    At the weekend, as part of the week-long talks, Valls and French Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin hosted a three-hour session dedicated to New Caledonia’s “devastated” economy.

    High on the agenda of the conference were crucial subjects, such as France’s assistance package, the need to reform and reduce costs in New Caledonia (including in the public service workforce) — as well as key sectors such as the health, tourism sectors and the nickel mining and processing industry — which has been facing an unprecedented crisis for the past two years.

    Unemployment benefits
    There was also a significant chapter dedicated to the duration of special unemployment benefits for those who have lost their jobs due to the riots’ destruction.

    Another sensitive point raised was the long and difficult process for businesses (especially very small, small and medium) damaged and destroyed for the same reasons to get insurance companies to pay compensation.

    Most insurance companies represented in New Caledonia have, since the May 2024 riots, cancelled the “riot risk” from their insurance coverage.

    This has so far made it impossible for riot-damaged businesses to renew their insurance cover under the same terms as before.

    French assistance to post-riot recovery in New Caledonia includes a 1 billion euros (NZ$1.8 billion) loan ceiling and a special fund of some 192 million euros (NZ$350 million) dedicated to the reconstruction of public buildings, mainly schools.

    New Caledonia’s students are returning to school next week as part of the new academic year.

    French Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin speaking from Paris to New Caledonia audience via a vision conference during the Economic Forum last Saturday. Image: NC la 1ère TV/RNZ

    Economy and politics closely intertwined
     Valls stressed once again that “there cannot be an economic recovery without a political compromise, just like there cannot be any lasting political solution without economic recovery”.

    “(France) needs to be there so that the economic slump (caused by the riots) does not turn into a social disaster which, in turn, would exacerbate political fractures”.

    “The government of France will be on your side. No matter what happens. We are absolutely taking charge of our responsibilities.”

    The “economic Forum” was also the first time delegations from all political tendencies, even though they did not talk to each other directly, were at least sitting in the same room.

    “Thank you all for being here, this is a beautiful picture of New Caledonia. Maybe the economy can do more than politics”, Valls told the Economic Forum last Saturday.

    Next step: ‘trilateral’ meetings
     The next step, in New Caledonia, is for Valls to attempt holding “trilateral” meetings (involving all parties, pro and anti-independence and France) around the same table, which was not the case in Paris last week.

    The format of those Nouméa talks, however, “remains to be determined”.

    Valls said he could stay in New Caledonia for as long as one week because, he said, “I want to take time”, including to not only meet politicians, but also economic and civil society stakeholders.

    The 62-year-old French minister, who is also a former Prime Minister, as a political adviser to the then French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard, was involved in the signing of the Matignon Accord, signed in 1988 between France, pro-independence and pro-France parties, which effectively put an end to half a decade of quasi civil war in the French Pacific archipelago.

    He also stressed that any future discussion would be based on the “foundation and basis” of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords which, he said, was “the only possible way”.

    The Nouméa Accord, signed in 1998 between the same parties, paved the way for a gradual transfer of powers from France to New Caledonia as well as a status of wider autonomy, often described in the legal jargon as “sui generis”.

    Until now, under the Nouméa Accord, the key powers remaining to be transferred by France were foreign affairs (shared with New Caledonia), currency, law and order, defence and justice.

    New Caledonia’s authorities have not requested the implementation of the transfer for another three portfolios: higher education, research, audiovisual communication and the administration of communes.

    An exit protocol
    But the 1998 deal also included an exit protocol, depending on the results of three referendums on self-determination.

    Those referendums were held in 2018, 2020 and 2021 and they all yielded a majority of votes against independence.

    However, New Caledonia’s pro-independence movement largely boycotted the third poll and has since contested its validity.

    Pro-France and pro-independence camps hold radically different views on how New Caledonia should evolve in its post-Nouméa Accord (1998) future status.

    The options mentioned so far by local parties range from a quick independence (a five-year process to begin in September 2025 following the anticipated signature of a “Kanaky Accord”) to some sort of yet undefined “shared sovereignty” that could imply an “independence-association”, or a status of “associated state” for New Caledonia.

    Pro-France parties, however, have previously stated they were determined to push for New Caledonia to remain part of France and, in corollary, that New Caledonia’s three provinces (North, South and Loyalty Islands) should be granted more separate powers, a formula sometimes described as “internal federalism” but criticised by pro-independence parties as a form of “apartheid”.

    Complicating factor
    Another complicating factor is that both sides — pro-independence and pro-France camps — are also divided between moderate and radical components.

    Last week, during question time in Parliament, Valls expressed concern at the current polarised situation: “People talk about racism, civil war. A common and shared project can only be built through dialogue.

    “The (previously signed, respectively in 1988 and 1998) Matignon and Nouméa Accords, both bearing the prospect of a decolonisation process, are the foundation of our discussions. I would even say they are part of my DNA,” the minister said.

    Referring to any future outcome of the current talks, he said they will have to be “inventive, ambitious, bold in order to build a compromise and do away with any radical position, all radical positions, in order to offer a common project for New Caledonia, for its youth, for concord and for peace”.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Successful localization of disaster risk reduction efforts in Nepal is supported through well-coordinated UN partners present at the provincial levels, and innovative research partnership

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Nepal is exposed to a range of natural hazards, such as floods, landslides, droughts, and severe weather events including lightning storms. Nepal’s population is very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as it largely relies on agriculture, tourism and natural resources, with a shift towards services and away from agriculture in recent years. The accelerated melting of the glaciers in the Himalayas increases the risk from related hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods and avalanches. It also impacts the availability of water and hydropower for 2 billion people downstream of major Asian rivers originating in the Himalayas in the longer term. Nepal is further prone to earthquakes as it is located above the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Environmental sustainability, climate and disaster resilience are a priority of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 for Nepal, including a focus area on the reduction of vulnerabilities, disaster risk reduction, preparedness and effective response and recovery. The Results Group on Disaster Risk Reduction is co-chaired by WFP and UNDP, who coordinate closely with the Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Humanitarian Country Team. Leaving no-one behind and the localization of sustainable development efforts cut across the four priorities of the Framework and translates into targeting the most vulnerable through household-level data gathering and supporting social protection systems.

    The United Nations organizations are supporting Nepal’s localised approach to resilience building and disaster risk reduction at the federal, provincial, and local levels of government. Close and sustained cooperation at all levels of government since the federalisation in 2017 has led to the creation of disaster risk reduction plans that are implemented with government resources, with the United Nations organizations mainly being requested to provide specialised technical support.

    An innovative system of providing single entry points for government officials is the Provincial Focal Point Agencies concept, which nominates one of the UN organizations present at the provincial level as the focal point to liaise with provincial governments, relay information, convene development partners around the request for support, and hold coordination meetings. The Provincial Focal Point Agencies are supported in their function through a direct line of communication with the UN Resident Coordinator. This concept has already demonstrated its efficiency for disaster risk governance and emergency management. For example, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restrictions were in place and around 100,000 migrant workers were returning to Nepal at once, the conditions in more than 1,000 quarantine sites were assessed by locally-based development partners. At the request of the Government of Nepal, the Provincial Focal Points Agencies reached out to the partners, trained them on the survey provided by the Government, and the assessment of quarantine sites was completed within two weeks.

    In 2023, the Promoting Action for Disaster Risk Governance and Working to Achieve Preparedness for Risk Reduction through Technical Assistance in Nepal (PARIWARTAN) project concluded. It was implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in consortium with the National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal, Practical Action Consulting, and Lutheran World Federation. It provided technical assistance to the three tiers of government (federal level, 7 provinces, 753 local levels) in implementing the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act in a coordinated and inclusive manner. The Disaster Risk Management Localization Manual: An Operational Training Manual for Disaster Risk Management Capacity Building of Local Governments was developed in close coordination with the Government of Nepal. More than 19,900 government officials were trained on disaster risk reduction and management in all 753 local level municipalities that supported strengthening community resilience. The training has spurred local government actions such as the formulation or amendment of legal documents, standards and guidelines to implement disaster preparedness and response activities, the increase of budgets allocated for disaster risk management, the formation of disaster risk management committees, as well as a shift in focus from response to preparedness prioritizing multiple hazards prevalent in the local context.

    Over the last 10 years the United Nations Country Team has built a unique and innovative research partnership with a consortium of universities to provide new forms of evidence to guide disaster risk governance. This consortium, called Sajag-Nepal, includes organisations in Nepal, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Working together, the consortium and the Resident Coordinator’s Office have pioneered a new scenario ensemble[1] approach to understanding hazards, enabling risk-informed contingency planning for both the annual monsoon and for infrequent large earthquakes. For earthquakes, the Resident Coordinator’s Office worked with researchers to develop an ensemble of possible impacts in a future earthquake, irrespective of where that earthquake occurs. This ensemble now forms the basis of both cluster contingency plans and provincial preparedness planning. For the monsoon, Sajag-Nepal researchers are using data on past monsoon impacts recorded in the government’s portal to anticipate the possible pattern of impacts in the next monsoon, helping the humanitarian clusters and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) to develop a more informed preparedness plan. The research has also developed a novel way of anticipating landslide impacts during the monsoon using 14-day rainfall forecasts. The Resident Coordinator’s Office is exploring the use of this approach as a readiness trigger for possible anticipatory action. The project is also using participatory mapping in several landslide-prone areas of Nepal to understand how people move and how their exposure to landslides varies over different time scales – with the ultimate goal of being able to better map the risks that residents face in these communities.

    The Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response in Western Regions of Nepal (SUPER) project is being implemented by a UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women consortium along with local implementing partners across three provinces and four municipalities in Western Nepal. The project works in close coordination with the NDRRMA at the federal level, as well as with provincial and local level decision makers. The project uses the earthquake scenario ensembles that were co-created by the Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Sajag-Nepal team. It enhances and institutionalizes municipal and provincial preparedness for urban and earthquake risks in 3 provinces and 4 municipalities in the western regions of Nepal. It does so by enhancing the understanding of risk, preparedness measures, reducing risk, including through reinforcing building codes and retrofitting practices. The project works with multiple stakeholders at all three federal tiers, including the community, private ector, academia, international governmental organizations, UN organizations, the Nepal Red Cross Society, and international and national non-governmental organizations.

    As the government has ownership of the project and provides it with a budget in its annual plans the sustainability of the work is ensured. The project results are delivered under the leadership of respective government authorities and include impact modelling of potential earthquake scenarios, vulnerability and capacity assessments, strengthening Emergency Operation Centres and capacity building – for example supporting the development of earthquake contingency plans for clusters (such as Health, Protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), which were developed with the leadership of relevant provincial ministries and were referred to extensively during the 2023 Jajarkot earthquake response.

    The SUPER consortium collaborates with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, and partners such as WHO, WFP, and IFRC to strengthen humanitarian architecture and cluster mechanisms in provinces, also through the development of cluster contingency plans. This strengthening proved very effective in response to the Jajarkot earthquake in 2023. For example, the implementation of the Health Contingency Plan was endorsed within the same day, and all sectoral information was efficiently relayed by WFP as the Provincial Focal Point Agency. The project has been working towards enabling gender equality, disability and social inclusion mainstreaming in disaster risk reduction through developing a checklist for disaster preparedness, as well as a gender-responsive costing framework for earthquakes and urban flooding, conducting a women’s safety audit together with women-led community-based organizations, and a simulation exercise on resource pooling with gender-responsive considerations.

    UNICEF’s Child-Centred Disaster Risk Reduction Programme emphasizes the importance of disaster and climate risk assessments to take children’s vulnerabilities and special needs into account. This includes raising children’s awareness of hazards and what to do as prevention and preparedness measures and empowering them to act as multipliers within their communities.

    Nepal has a UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Anticipatory Action pilot framework to provide collective anticipatory humanitarian action to people at risk of predicted severe monsoon flooding with delivery planned through UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, WFP and WHO in partnership with the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) and national NGOs and in close collaboration with the federal, provincial and local authorities.

    Also, IOM, jointly with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), Tribhuvan University’s Central Department of Population Studies (CDPS) and the National Planning Commission have established a Migration School in 2023, a two-week academic forum to foster collaboration among educational institutions, policymakers and experts on human mobility, including climate and disaster displacement.

    [1] scenario ensembles: estimation of the likelihood and scale of future hazard impacts, determining locations where impacts are most likely to occur, along with the average and worst-case impacts for all locations, so that both emergency relief and disaster risk reduction activities can be prioritized; source: Robinson, T.; Rosser, N.; Densmore, A.; Oven, K.; Shrestha, S.; Guragain, R. (2018) Use of scenario ensembles for deriving seismic risk

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: In the shadow of Mount Vesuvius

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    My first field trip of 2025 was to Naples, for a fascinating day and a half of visits to volcanic sites.

    In Naples, volcanoes are ever present in the public consciousness. From archival paintings dating from the 18th century to decorative art in restaurants and shops, Mount Vesuvius is the most iconic image of modern Naples.

    My Italian colleagues gave me a crash course on managing the city’s disaster risks – most notably the presence of a live volcano. I was treated to fascinating insights from volcanologists, seismologists, meteorologists, hydrologists, structural engineers, civil protection officers, psychologists, and risk communicators – including Chiara Cardaci from Italian Civil Protection and Mauro Di Vito, the director of the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

    Our detailed and interesting discussions taught me a lot about volcano risk. Here are my highlights:

    1. Every volcano has a unique personality.

    Not all volcanoes are iconic towering landmarks like Japan’s Mount Fuji, Indonesia’s Mount Merapi, Italy’s Mount Vesuvius, or the Philippines’ Mount Pinatubo. In Naples itself, the Campi Flegrei caldera may not look like it to an untrained visitor, but it is a very active volcanic site.

    Each volcano has a different style – some are explosive, and others erupt more slowly (“effusive” in volcanologists’ terminology). Some have a different character at different times – sometimes explosive, sometimes effusive. As a result, the hazard potential of every individual active volcano is quite unique.

    2. Early warning for volcanic eruptions is inherently challenging

    An effective early warning would require that we are able to predict and convey the time, location and nature of eruption at a volcanic site. But this is difficult – especially with sufficient lead time. Probabilistic risk assessments, however, are possible – so we can estimate the likelihood of eruption over 10 years, 50 years and so on. Scenarios can be developed for these likely eruptions.

    While the science of estimating volcanic risk is seated primarily in the domain of volcanology, it also draws on other disciplines: meteorology (to determine which way the wind will carry the volcanic ash), hydrology (to work out how the ground water could be affected), anthropology (to analyze how people may perceive and respond to risk), communication science (to determine the best way to communicate risk). For each scenario, preparedness plans for evacuation and other response measures need to be developed and practised.

    3. Ultimately it is human actions that increase or decrease risk

    The presence of people, capital assets, and economic activity (e.g. tourism, agriculture) around volcanic sites has steadily increased over the years, sometimes without attention to risk-sensitive land-use planning. Some of these areas are experiencing gradual uplift of the ground, a phenomenon known as bradyseism.

    Despite this, human settlements continue to grow – and even flourish – in these areas. This is a major driver of risk. In such areas, we must replan, redevelop and explore adaptive infrastructure that can be modified over time to suit the changing conditions and minimize the risks from seismic events

    4. Historic eruptions can present new risks

    Signatures of past eruptions are all around volcanic sites, and can become new hazards.

    For example, slopes around volcanic sites have ash deposits from eruptions that may have taken place centuries ago. Extreme rainfall on and around these slopes may cause large and sudden mudslides (lahars) with devastating consequences for nearby human settlements. To manage these risks, we need to adopt a multi-hazard approach.

    5. Volcanoes are resources as well as hazards

    Volcanic ash from previous eruptions often provides fertile soils for cultivation; many of the rocks around volcanic sites have excellent strength and geotechnical properties that are suitable as construction materials; volcanic sites offer great potential for geothermal energy; and many volcanic sites are picturesque, with fascinating geothermal activity, making them attractive tourist destinations.

    Because of these features, any human settlement around volcanic sites needs to be carefully managed to maximize the potential benefits and minimize the potential harm.

    The government and people of Italy set an inspiring example in their pursuit of disaster risk reduction. They have made long-term investment in continuous improvements of understanding disaster risk, communicating risk to the population, and co-creating risk management plans with all stakeholders.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sydney Airport lands Hong Kong Airlines with daily non-stop flights

    Source: Sydney Airport

    Wednesday 12 February 2025

    • Hong Kong Airlines service to Sydney to launch on 20 June 2025
    • Daily service will boost seat capacity to Hong Kong by 20 percent
    • Cements Hong Kong as Sydney Airport’s 3rd busiest route after Singapore and Auckland

    Sydney Airport is set to welcome its second Hong-Kong based carrier, with Hong Kong Airlines to launch its inaugural daily service between Hong Kong and Sydney on 20 June 2025.

    This new service increases daily flights between the two cities from five to six and boosts seat capacity on the route by nearly 20 percent, giving passengers more choice and convenience than ever before.

    The arrival of Hong Kong Airlines follows the recent expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia, the first in nearly two decades. The expansion of traffic rights highlights the demand for travel on the already popular Hong Kong-Sydney route, further supported by Hong Kong International Airport’s increased capacity with its new third runway, which can now cater for 120 million passengers annually.

    The historic connection between Sydney and Hong Kong dates back 75 years to 1949, when Qantas first launched a charter service on this route. Today, it remains one of Sydney Airport’s busiest, with more than 850,000 passengers flying between the two cities in 2024 — 72% of pre-COVID levels — maintaining Hong Kong’s rank as Sydney’s third-busiest city route after Singapore and Auckland.

    The arrival of Hong Kong Airlines increases the number of carriers operating at Sydney Airport to a record 52, with Sydney Airport set to be the airline’s first capital city destination in Australia.

    Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “The arrival of Hong Kong Airlines marks an important new chapter for Sydney Airport and strengthens the long-standing connection between Sydney and Hong Kong. This new daily service not only increases capacity but also provides passengers with more choice to explore one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.

    “The arrival of Hong Kong Airlines will enhance opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Sydney and Hong Kong, delivering significant economic benefits to New South Wales, and Australia.

    “The support of the NSW Government and Destination NSW was critical in securing this new service and it’s a great example of how our strong and productive partnership is delivering for Sydney and NSW.

    “I would also like to thank and recognise the Albanese Government for their recent work in delivering the expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia. The new services announced today are a direct consequence of these efforts and will boost trade, economic growth, and job creation.”

    Hong Kong Airlines Chairman Mr Yan Bo said: “This is an important milestone for Hong Kong Airlines. In the past, we only operated flights to the Gold Coast and Cairns in Australia, offering passengers access to popular tourist hotspots in Queensland.

    “Now, we are honoured to extend our reach to Sydney, the country’s most iconic city. This new route will enable us to serve a broader range of international travellers and is also a testament to the efforts of the two governments to actively support more bilateral air traffic rights.

    “We are committed to providing passengers with high-quality services and competitive prices, ensuring they have more diverse and convenient options for their travel plans.”

    Hong Kong Airlines President Mr Jeff Sun said: “The three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport has increased the capacity for additional flights, and with the support of the two governments and related organisations, we are delighted to become the second Hong Kong-based airline to operate in Sydney.

    “This new service will promote tourism, economic and cultural ties between Hong Kong and Australia. Sydney and Hong Kong have a rich shared history in aviation, and we are proud to be a part of this new chapter. Not only will it bring convenience to travellers, but it will also serve as a bridge connecting with our extensive mainland Chinese network.”

    The Hon. Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, said: ““Since coming to government, we’ve landed a record number of air services agreements with over a dozen international markets, including Hong Kong, Canada, Malaysia, Chile, Turkiye, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.

    “We’re so pleased to see Sydney Airport leveraging Australia’s new bilateral air agreements – with Turkiye since November and now with Hong Kong.

    “The Australian Government is working to expand our international aviation network, because more flights means more competition, more choice, and a better experience for Australian travellers.”

    The Hon. John Graham MLC, NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism, said: “We are very excited to welcome Hong Kong Airlines to Sydney Airport.

    “The NSW Government is working to grow our visitor economy and boosting aviation capacity to key markets like Hong Kong will be critical in achieving that growth.

    “Hong Kong is a priority international market for Sydney, with incoming travellers contributing $290 million to the NSW visitor economy over the last year.”

    Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said: “We welcome the arrival of Hong Kong Airlines which will further boost seat capacity between Hong Kong and Australia.

    “When the new direct services begin in June it will be easier than ever before for Hong Kong business and leisure travellers to visit Australia. We hope these daily services will help to drive increased visitation, providing a further boost to our visitor economy.”

    Schedule information

    Flight Number Origin/Destination Departure/Arrival (Local)
    HX17 HKG-SYD 22:25 – 09:50+1
    HX18 SYD-HKG 11:30 – 18:50

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Outbound tourists encounter, enjoy Chinese New Year festivities abroad

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Although far away from home, Chinese tourist Ye Manning and her family could still feel the familiar Spring Festival vibes on their trip to Japan, as they came across red street banners and shopping window decorations there in tribute to the traditional Chinese holiday.

    Attracted by the convenient visa application process and convenient transportation services to this neighboring country, the family traveled to Japanese cities including Tokyo and Osaka, and enjoyed local cuisine, scenic spots and pop culture during the Spring Festival holiday, which ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 this year.

    Noting the presence of Spring Festival elements in Japan, Ye was quoted in an article by China Youth Daily as saying: “These details not only arouse a sense of belonging for Chinese tourists away from home during the holiday, but also mirror how far the Spring Festival culture has spread around the world.”

    Like Ye, post-1990 generation youth Zhang Yu also chose to spend the Spring Festival outside China, traveling to the resort island of Phuket in Thailand with his family. As a delightful surprise during this trip, another international tourist hailing from Europe greeted Zhang and wished him a “Happy Spring Festival.”

    “At that time, I felt this holiday also being celebrated in a foreign country, and that really touched my heart,” said Zhang.

    Against the backdrop of China’s inbound travel boom during the holiday, which saw a proliferation of “China Travel” content shared by international tourists on social media platforms, many Chinese people opted for outbound trips to overseas destinations in pursuit of diversified, cross-cultural experiences for the traditional holiday.

    According to China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA), during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, border inspection authorities across the country handled over 14 million entries and exits by domestic and international travelers, up 6.3 percent year on year. Among these, about 7.7 million entry-exit trips were made by Chinese mainland residents, up 5 percent year on year.

    According to Chinese online travel platform Qunar, Chinese tourists visited more than 2,100 overseas cities during the Spring Festival holiday this year, a surge of 50 percent compared with 2024.

    Data from another online travel platform, Trip.com, showed that Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore were among the most popular outbound destinations for Chinese travelers during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday.

    In particular, Japan stood out among short-distance overseas travel destinations as total tourism orders for trips to Japan had doubled compared to last year’s figure during the holiday season. As for long-haul travel, the most sought-after destinations such as the United States, Spain, Italy and France saw an increase of 53 percent, 82 percent, 56 percent and 50 percent in tourism orders, respectively, according to Trip.com.

    “With the recovery of the global tourism market, Chinese tourists continue to expand the radius of their trips during the Spring Festival,” said the China Youth Daily article. “From tropical Southeast Asian islands to ancient European towns and bustling North American cities, Chinese travelers can be found everywhere.”

    This year’s Spring Festival, which marked the start of the Year of Snake, was the first since its inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. With the Chinese New Year becoming a festival celebrated worldwide, nearly 20 countries have designated the Spring Festival as an official holiday, while Spring Festival customs are celebrated in almost 200 countries and regions across the globe. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Historic street showcases beauty of cultural fusion in Harbin

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    HARBIN, Feb. 11 — Harbin, the capital of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang Province, once again captured global attention as the 9th Asian Winter Games opened here last week.

    As a renowned destination for ice-and-snow tourism, Harbin offers a wealth of cultural experiences.

    The city’s iconic Central Street, lined with dozens of European-style buildings, features a striking mix of Renaissance, Baroque, Eclectic and modern architectural styles, making it popular among visitors.

    Embracing the excitement created by Harbin’s hosting of the Asian Winter Games, the 1,450-meter-long street is adorned with ice sculptures and snow carvings, integrating cultural heritage with the enchantment of the season.

    “Harbin is a beautiful city, with stunning streets and architecture. The Ice and Snow World at night is beyond our imagination. While Russia also has ice and snow, coming here has allowed us to experience the unique beauty and romance of ice and snow,” said Alexander Adelev, a tourist from Russia.

    According to the Central Street administrative committee, as a historic and cultural district, the street is expanding commercial space and highlighting local features to promote the innovation and transformation of time-honored brands.

    At the same time, it is actively introducing emerging industries in cultural communication and innovation-driven entrepreneurship to meet diverse and personalized consumer demands.

    The 3rd Asian Winter Games was held in Harbin in 1996. At a memorial hall on the street dedicated to the city’s achievement of hosting this event twice, visitors can explore the history of the Asian Winter Games while browsing a selection of cultural and creative products.

    Refrigerator magnets available at this hall boast clever designs, featuring everything from Harbin’s signature dish to the mascots of the ongoing Asian Winter Games. These AR-enabled magnets, when scanned, bring Harbin’s iconic landmarks to life in stunning glasses-free 3D.

    “These refrigerator magnets and other items here feel so unique, with clever designs. We rarely see such cultural and creative products back home. They are definitely worth taking back,” said Zhang Chongxin, a tourist from Guangdong Province in the south of China.

    In recent years, several historic buildings along the Central Street in Harbin have undergone extensive renovations, seamlessly blending preservation with modern functionality in this northeast China city.

    These revitalized structures have been repurposed into cafes, boutique shops, cultural venues and creative spaces — breathing new life into the area while maintaining its architectural heritage.

    “The older a historic building is, the more intriguing it feels to people,” said Song Xingwen, owner of both a cafe and a restaurant housed in a heritage building on the street.

    “Revitalizing old buildings requires preserving their original charm and allowing century-old architecture to regain its elegance, while striking a balance between preservation and commercialization,” Song said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW regional airports set to fly high

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future, investing almost $12 million to upgrade regional airports across New South Wales. 

    Airports are vital for regional communities, providing critical access to emergency healthcare, as well as commerce, industry, tourism and education. 

    This funding, which is provided under Round 4 of the Regional Airports Program, will deliver essential upgrades – such as runway resurfacing, fencing, lighting and drainage – that improve safety, enhance accessibility and boost capacity at our regions’ airports. 

    In Merimbula, Bega Valley Shire Council will receive almost $3.8 million to deliver stage two of Merimbula Airport’s runway extension. This will construct an 80-metre pavement extension at both ends of the runway, providing an 1,800-metre runway take-off length.

    The extended length will enable larger narrow-bodied aircraft to land, supporting emergency services including larger firefighting and military aircraft, as well as additional capacity for passenger services, boosting the economy and tourism and protecting the region’s community. 

    Further north, in Moruya, Eurobodalla Shire Council will receive over $200,000 to reseal the runway, taxiways and apron pavement and replace the apron lighting at Moruya Airport.  

    This will ensure the continued safe operation of the airport, safeguarding its role as a lifeline for the community and a gateway for access to vital services and for visitors to the region. Works will support the continued use of the airport by emergency services, including the RFDS and aerial fire-fighting even for night and low visibility operations, as well as regular passenger services 

    Other works to be funded under Round 4 include: 

    • $5 million for Albury City Council to deliver a full runway overlay to improve safety and strengthen the surface for larger aircraft to land at Albury Airport. This will support visitor levels and emergency services, particularly during bushfire season; 
    • $1 million for Moree Plains Shire Council to upgrade the aeromedical apron, taxiway and parking bays at Moree Regional Airport, creating a 24-hour aeromedical facility;
    • Almost $500,000 for Griffith City Council to replace the ageing runway lights at Griffith Regional Airport, which is critical for safety and ongoing operations, especially for RFDS and NSW Air Ambulance; 
    • $220,000 for Mid-Western Regional Council to upgrade stormwater drainage at Mudgee Regional Airport, which has experienced prolonged closure due to heavy rain affecting passenger and emergency medical flights; 

    Today’s announcement builds on the nearly $100 million that has already been delivered to support 194 projects under the first three rounds of the program. 

    For more information on the Regional Airports Program, including a full list of Round 4 projects in NSW, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/regional-remote-aviation/regional-airports-program.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

    “We’re backing regional communities by backing regional aviation, because we know our regions deserve access to critical services that only aviation can deliver. 

    “Upgrades like these aren’t just improvements, they’re the difference between regional residents getting medical help, firefighters getting access during an emergency and economies growing through tourism.

    “We want our regions to remain connected to loved ones, healthcare and opportunity.”  

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain:

    “Merimbula Airport is a critical access point for our community and emergency services during disasters, which is why I’m proud to deliver over $3.7 million towards this runway extension.

    “This upgrade will support larger aerial firefighting tanker aircraft to land when we need them most, make it easier for larger military transport to operate out of the airport, and also increase the safety for in-flight emergency recoveries.

    “The extended runway will also ensure Merimbula Airport continues to attract aircraft that support our local businesses and visitor economy – while keeping people connected to work, health services and family.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips:

    “I am absolutely delighted to see improvements at Moruya Airport which is a lifeline for our economy, cuts commuting times for local people, and helps get our local produce to national and international markets.

    “Not only that, but many people rely on air services for healthcare, emergency services and to stay connected with family.

    “This investment will create more jobs, help local farmers, and support our social and economic connections across Australia. It’s great news for our regions.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Belize on Advancing Education for Women and Girls, Raise Questions on Gang Warfare and Gender-Based Violence and on Female Healthcare

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the combined fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize, with Committee Experts commending the State for advancing education for women and girls, while raising questions on gender-based violence in the context of gang warfare and on access to healthcare for women and girls.

    A Committee Expert commended the State party for advancing the rights of women and girls to education, including through the creation of the Belize Education Upliftment Programme launched to improve access to education for students from low-income households. Additionally, the Committee commended the State party for introducing compulsory psychosocial support sessions for children aged five and six, aimed at building their emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and positive behaviours for building relationships.

    Another Expert said the pervasive gender-based violence in Belize needed to be considered in the context of high levels of insecurity, and of proliferation of firearms and their possession and use by criminal networks and armed gangs. About 65 per cent of women and girls who were murdered were victims of gender-related murders or femicide, and 50 per cent of these murders were committed with firearms. What measures would the State party undertake to guarantee quality support services for women survivors of gender-based violence? Another Expert said gang warfare had impacted many women in Belize, including putting them at risk of gender-based violence. How did the Government ensure services for gang-impacted women?

    A Committee Expert said the Committee appreciated that the Government had removed all fees in public hospitals and was very impressed at the recent decision to waive all taxes on female sanitary products. Could statistics on minor girls’ pregnancies and births be provided? What did the State party plan to do to fight the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy? It was concerning that abortion was only permitted in a few circumstances. Did the State party plan to change its criminal law so women and girls could safely access services to terminate unplanned pregnancy? Could statistics on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS be provided? Was radiotherapy, including for breast cancer, still not available in the country?

    The delegation said Belize was carrying out measures to tackle gun violence and drug imports, including through daily policing efforts and conducting regular border checks. There was a close connection between gangs, drugs and guns. Significant work was being done to reach out to vulnerable communities and youth, guiding them away from guns. Interventions and mediations between rival groups was carried out to enhance the security of citizens. Efforts had been made to strengthen reporting around gender-based violence and gun violence. While the data was available, there needed to be further analysis. The State would focus efforts on this.

    The delegation said Belize had taken steps to address the legal and procedural barriers in women’s health services, particularly in regard to access to medical termination of pregnancy. The Government had invested over 200,000 USD in providing contraceptives. Mobile health clinics continued to be implemented within all villages. Mothers received counselling before contraceptives were provided, ensuring informed decision-making. The Government recognised the challenges faced by women in accessing comprehensive cancer care, including the lack of radiotherapy, requiring travelling abroad. Radiotherapy was not feasible for in-country infrastructure, and the Government therefore aimed to provide support and financial aid to women requiring these services. In 2023, Belize eliminated woman to child transmission of HIV and syphilis, which was a landmark medical achievement.

    Introducing the report, Elvia Vega Samos, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs of Belize and head of the delegation, said the National Gender Policy 2024–2030 represented a landmark achievement in Belize’s ongoing efforts to promote gender equality, providing a comprehensive framework addressing gender-responsive healthcare, education, economic empowerment, institutional strengthening, women’s leadership, and the elimination of gender-based violence. While these achievements demonstrated progress, challenges persisted, including constraints in adequately staffing and retaining professionals in key gender and social service sectors, as well as insufficient investments and funding.

    In closing remarks, Ms. Vega Samos expressed sincere appreciation for the meaningful dialogue. Belize was proud of the progress made. However, the State recognised that challenges remained, particularly when addressing gender-based violence, inequality and the disproportionate impact of climate change.

    In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chair, thanked Belize for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women in the country.

    The delegation of Belize was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the National Women’s Commission.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 12 February to begin its consideration of the eighth periodic report of Congo (CEDAW/C/COG/8).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the combined fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize (CEDAW/C/BLZ/5-9).

    Presentation of Report 

    ELVIA VEGA SAMOS, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs of Belize and head of the delegation, said since the last review, Belize had made significant progress in advancing legal protections and rights for women and girls, including through the enactment of the National Women’s Commission Act in 2023, which formalised the Commission’s role in advancing gender equality and ensuring alignment with the principles of the Convention.

    Other key pieces of legislation included the Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence (Prohibition) Act, which addressed gaps in access to justice and enhanced protections for survivors of gender-based violence; the passage of the Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2024, which raised the legal age of marriage to 18 and prohibited parental consent for minors to marry; a revised and stronger Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, which strengthened workplace protections against harassment; amendments to the Married Women’s Property Act, which expanded women’s economic rights; the Disabilities Act, which reinforced the rights of women and girls with disabilities; the Cybercrime Act 2021, which offered additional legal protections for women and girls in digital spaces; and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2013, which addressed labour and sex trafficking and forced marriage.

    Belize had also acceded to the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of older women.

    The National Gender Policy 2024–2030 represented a landmark achievement in Belize’s ongoing efforts to promote gender equality, providing a comprehensive framework addressing gender-responsive healthcare, education, economic empowerment, institutional strengthening, women’s leadership, and the elimination of gender-based violence.

    Belize had developed and implemented gender-based violence multisectoral protocols alongside the gender-based violence referral mechanism and pathway, improving collaboration among law enforcement, healthcare providers, legal aid services, and social support agencies, and ensuring more timely and effective interventions. Gender-based violence hotlines now provided 24/7 crisis assistance, using multiple modalities such as regular calls, SMS, and WhatsApp. Belize had also advanced efforts to improve gender-based violence data collection, coordination, and reporting efficiency through the integrated data collection and reporting system.

    Belize continued to make progress in increasing women’s representation in leadership across various sectors, strengthening governance and fostering inclusive policies. Promoting gender parity remained a national priority. Women now accounted for 22 per cent of Belize’s National Assembly, the highest representation in the country’s history. The establishment of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus in 2023 was a powerful step forward in creating an inclusive and equitable legislative environment, acting as a formal platform to discuss gender related issues, addressing legislative gaps, advocating for policy changes, and promoting women’s leadership.

    Training programmes under the engaging men and boys initiative had fostered community dialogues and challenged harmful gender norms, supporting women’s participation in leadership roles. Women led major judicial and prosecutorial offices, including the naming of an acting female Chief Justice in 2019 and the appointment of a female Chief Justice in 2022.

    The State had intensified efforts to enhance women’s economic participation through targeted initiatives and policy reforms. Over 1,000 women had received training in business strategy, digital skills, and entrepreneurship through initiatives like the Belize Women’s Economic Empowerment Project. The Decent Work Country Programme, launched in 2024, focused on women’s economic empowerment through skills training, labour rights awareness, and access to financial resources. Programmes such as BOOST (Building Opportunities for our Social Transformation) addressed multidimensional poverty and supported female-headed households through targeted cash transfers and vocational training.

    Belize had made strides in integrating gender-sensitive approaches into education, including introducing a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Academy to encourage girls’ participation in high-income careers. Comprehensive sexuality education had been integrated into the National Health Curriculum to address social norms and promote gender equality, and programmes targeting school dropout rates among girls due to early pregnancies or child marriage had been initiated, ensuring continuity in education for young mothers.

    While these achievements demonstrated progress, challenges persisted, including constraints in adequately staffing and retaining professionals in key gender and social service sectors, as well as insufficient investments and funding. Gender-based violence remained prevalent, with Belize recording a five per cent increase in domestic violence cases in 2023. The National Gender-Based Violence Action Plan and its accompanying behavioural change communication campaign, “it ends with me,” aimed to challenge harmful norms and reduce violence against women and girls.

    As a small island developing State, Belize faced disproportionate impacts of climate change, which heightened vulnerabilities for women, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. The National Climate Change Gender Action Plan addressed these intersecting challenges, promoting resilience and adaptation strategies. Indigenous women, women with disabilities, and lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and intersex persons faced compounded barriers to accessing justice, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Initiatives like the Essential Services Package for Women Subject to Violence ensured holistic support for marginalised groups.

    The Government of Belize remained steadfast in its dedication to fully realising gender equality. The roadmap for the future included expanding access to gender-responsive social services; enhancing data systems to ensure evidence-based policymaking; strengthening partnerships with civil society, development partners, and international organizations; advocating for removing of cultural and structural barriers that hindered women’s full participation; promoting initiatives targeting young women and girls; and strengthening the legislative framework. Ms. Vega Samos reaffirmed Belize’s commitment to the Convention and welcomed the Committee’s recommendations.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    RHODA REDDOCK, Committee Vice-Chair and Country Rapporteur for Belize, said the dialogue was taking place in a context of extensive gang and gun violence linked to narco-trafficking which affected Belize and the wider Caribbean and Central America. What had been the implications of this for women’s rights and gender equality, and what were the State’s efforts in this regard? In 1990, Belize signed and ratified the Convention and in 2002, it acceded to its Optional Protocol, one of only three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to do so. Unfortunately, there were reservations on articles 8 and 9, which removed access to the inquiry mechanism of the Optional Protocol, reducing its efficacy for Belizean women and Girls. Would the State party reconsider the reservations on articles 8 and 9 of the Optional Protocol to ensure the expansion of rights for Belizean women and girls?

    Ms. Reddock commended the State party on developments since the last dialogue in 2007, including the 2011 amendment of the Labour Act Ch 297 to protect workers from unfair dismissal and unequal treatment due to pregnancy, HIV status, or filing a sexual harassment complaint; the 2013 Criminal Code amendments to strengthen penalties for sexual crimes; the 2016 decriminalisation of same sex unions; and in April 2023 – a waiver of general sales tax on feminine hygiene products, which was very important. However, the Committee remained concerned, at the lack of implementation of many of the important laws and mechanisms.

    What mechanisms were in place to monitor and evaluate impact, and report on progress in the implementation of the new laws and mechanisms? In 2023, Belize enacted the Legal Aid Act to ensure legal assistance to improve access to justice. What was its implementation status?

    Were there plans to domesticate the Convention into local legislation to ensure the applicability of all its provisions? Did the State party plan to incorporate indigenous rights into the Constitution or specific national legislation? Ms. Reddock commended the State party on the 2018 Gender Equality Protocol for Judicial Officers, and efforts to enhance the capacity of Magistrates Courts and the Family Court to enhance protection for women and girls. What had been the impact of these new legal mechanisms in improving access to justice for women and girls in rural and urban communities?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Belize retained its reservations to articles 8 and 9 but recognised the importance of accessing mechanisms for redress. Where allegations arose concerning the matters covered under the Convention, the State held that mechanisms could be established to ensure due process and accountability, within the country’s legal framework.

    The National Women’s Commission provided ongoing education and support to women and girls. It also encompassed workshops, roundtables and community affairs. Special legal clinics were held twice a year targeting vulnerable populations.

    As part of the process of the implementation of the laws, the National Women’s Commission was positioned as the policy and advisory arm in this regard and was supporting in terms of the implementation. The Commission took the lead in terms of advocacy and promoting the acts. There were also national gender and gender-based violence committees, comprised of members of Governments, non-governmental organizations and other partners, that also provided advocacy support and advice on the implementation of the laws. The State understood that more needed to be done to improve the monitoring and reporting in this regard.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert congratulated Belize on the steps taken to transform the National Women’s Commission into an independent body, as well as steps taken to improve the Sub-Committees. What percentage of the budget of the institutions was covered from the regular budget of the State party, and what percentage depended on external financing? What steps were being taken to guarantee the participation of indigenous women in the drafting and assessment of policies which concerned them? When would Belize have a national human rights institution in place which was in line with the Paris Principles?

    Another Expert said women faced persistent challenges during the reporting period, regarding the electoral process. The 2021 municipal elections marked significant progress with 22 per cent of female members of parliament, but this was far below the level of parity. When would the State party impose a gender quota for increasing the political participation of women? Would the State party consider adopting temporary special measures to increase access to education for rural women and girls?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said 60 per cent of the budget of the National Women’s Commission was provided by the Government while 40 per cent was provided by external funding. A roadmap had been approved for transforming the Office of the Ombudsman into the National Human Rights Institution, which was currently under implementation. There was no specific timeline, but a process was underway to expand the mandate of the Ombudsman and ensure the sustainability of the Human Rights Commission. A Committee, consisting of representatives of the Government, civil society, and academic and international partners was monitoring this process. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had offered technical capacity building in this regard.

    Belize had a Women’s Parliamentary Caucus with a strategic plan. The State would continue to undertake advocacy and ensure changes were made to ensure more women were involved in politics at the higher level.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said research showed that half of the women in Belize experienced violence at some point in their life. Early marriages and unions still existed as a harmful practice. How would the State party ensure the monitoring of measures of tackling harmful gender stereotypes and cultural practices? The State party was commended for legislation and policy measures to combat gender-based violence. Despite these important steps, women and girls continued to be the main victims of both domestic and sexual violence, with 99 per cent of the victims of sexual violence being females.

    The pervasive gender-based violence in Belize needed to be considered in the context of high levels of insecurity, and of proliferation of firearms and their possession and use by criminal networks and armed gangs. About 65 per cent of women and girls who were murdered were victims of gender-related murders or femicide, and 50 per cent of these murders were committed with firearms. What measures would the State party undertake to guarantee quality support services for women survivors of gender-based violence? Did the State party provide support to women’s non-governmental organizations which provided these services? How many shelters existed?

    Was the practice of mobile women’s centres maintained? How many centres were available in rural and indigenous communities? What programmes were in place for controlling and eliminating the provision of weapons? What was the timeline for explicitly including the crime of femicide within the Penal Code?

    Another Expert commended the State party for legal reforms in trafficking; however, no new prosecutions had been enacted within the last two years. What would be done to improve judicial efficiency? How would the State party ensure adequate sentencing in line with the severity of the crime? What was the timeline for the implementation of the National Action Plan on Trafficking? Would the State party allocate adequate resources to shelters for victim assistance?

    Could information be provided on the new labour policy? What was being done to provide oversight on labour recruitment? How would Belize enhance victim identification and screening processes, including in groups such as Cuban medical workers? What actions did the State party take to address the trafficking and exploitation of Mayan girls? What was being done to prevent the sexual exploitation of children in tourist regions? How was the Government addressing the involvement of international actors in these crimes? What measures was the Government taking to address the underground nature of sex trafficking since the pandemic?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the engagement of the men and boys programme began in 2020 and involved men and boys as advocates. Men from all facets of society were trained all over the country, including from indigenous populations. Around 1,000 men and boys had been trained, and many more had expressed willingness to be involved in the programme. Uniformed services participated in the training and masculinity and femininity were key components of the training programme. The State was aiming to establish a national shelter strategy to cater to the different types of shelters necessary, to provide short- and long-term care, including emergency services.

    The work of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council had been to strengthen overall operations and ability to convict. There had not been programmes which strategically targeted vulnerable groups. However, campaigns were being promulgated in rural and hard-to-reach areas to support victims and survivors.

    In 2023 and 2024, there were 10 women killed as a result of femicide. The State needed a multisectoral analysis approach; this was currently a weak area which needed to be improved.

    Gender training was provided at the Police Academy as part of the training requirements for police.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said the number of women candidates at the last elections was very low, at 14.8 per cent. In view of the upcoming elections this year, were there any concrete measures planned to increase the number of women in parliament? What were the plans and strategies of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus? How was it resourced?

    The high number of women working in the judiciary in Belize was impressive and should be seen as an example for other countries. The current Governor-General of Belize was a woman; the first indigenous governor-general from the Americas in the Commonwealth. The Committee also welcomed the new gender policy which looked to advance women in politics and government. What measures were being taken to implement goal number five of the gender policy? Who was responsible for implementing the activity? How would the Government strengthen women’s advocacy groups? Could more information be provided about the representation of women, including indigenous women, in Belize’s diplomatic services? What was the percentage of women running in the 2025 elections? 

    Another Expert asked how stateless determination procedures were implemented in Belize? What kind of advocacy programmes were being developed in regard to birth registration? What plans were there to enhance birth registration processes, particularly for migrant women?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the implementation of the gender policy was the responsibility of all organizations which provided gender and gender-based violence services. The National Women’s Commission was responsible for the monitoring of the gender policy. Advocacy groups continued to be a treasured partner of the Government and were included in the trainings and in areas where legislation would be passed. Two indigenous forums had been hosted by women and girls to determine areas which needed improvement. Access to health, affordability of health care services and education were key issues which continued to be raised.

    There had been a lot of work relating to birth registration, with key international partners, and numerous mobile clinics rolled out in this regard. In 2023, thousands of births were documented because of the mobile units. There had been a good uptake in the clinics to ensure there were no barriers in terms of access for indigenous persons due to language.

    Thirty rural communities had benefitted from registration campaigns. Special efforts were made to reach indigenous and Mayan communities and migrant populations. There was a strong network on the ground for people who required support.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    A Committee Expert commended the State party for advancing the rights of women and girls to education, including through the creation of the Belize Education Upliftment Programme launched to improve access to education for students from low-income households. Additionally, the Committee commended the State party for introducing compulsory psychosocial support sessions for children aged five and six, aimed at building their emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and positive behaviours for building relationships.

    What concrete actions was the State party taking to increase enrolment rates and address teen pregnancies in schools. What was being done to support the physical and mental wellbeing of adolescent mothers to support their re-enrolment in school? Could information about the school meal programme be provided? How were nutritional standards being introduced in schools? How was it ensured that nutritious meals were provided at schools? How did the State party ensure the physical and mental safety of girls at school, as well as in the online sphere?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State was committed to ensuring the continuation of education for all, including girls who became pregnant. The “lead like a girl” forum occurred every year, involving 100 high schools around the country whose students competed in challenges, before launching the “lead like a girl” pledge. Efforts were being made to provide nutritious meal options in schools. There was a zero-tolerance approach to bullying within the school environment and continued efforts were in place to strengthen legislation in this regard.

    The child marriage and early union strategy was in place, and a data profile had been developed to understand the state of this phenomenon within the country. The Marriage Act had been amended to increase the age of marriage from 16 to 18. Specific institutional policies were being developed for schools in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and community education was promoted.

    Recently, a master’s degree in social work had been launched from the University of Belize, and other approaches for strengthening social work were also in progress.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    A Committee Expert commended the State party for its progress in labour and employment, including a decline in the unemployment rate and an increase in the minimum wage across all categories. However, persistent gender disparities remained in the labour force, with women’s participation at around 43 per cent compared to men’s 69 per cent, largely due to domestic and care giving responsibilities. Could the State party elaborate on the decent work programme? What strategies were in place to increase female workforce participation? What measures had been implemented to challenge gender norms which designated unpaid domestic work as a woman’s responsibility?

    What was the current status of the equal opportunities bill and what were the next steps for its advancement? What was being done to enhance the national health insurance system? Was the State party considering accession to the International Labour Organization Convention 189? What specific measures were being implemented to accelerate the reduction of the gender pay gap? The Committee welcomed the new sexual harassment bill endorsed by the Cabinet in 2024. What was its current status and what mechanisms were in place for its implementation?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said there was a particular focus on vulnerable women, and all efforts within the Ministry had been mobilised in that direction. There was only a small percent of people covered by social security schemes, and the State was aiming to increase participation through targeted outreach and involvement in the social protection scheme. Two cohorts had been tested and piloted which were inclusive of direct training and employment services. The State was aiming to include elements such as free or subsided day care as part of the services provided.

    There was increased access to education and skills training for women, particularly those in rural and indigenous areas. The State was looking at financial incentives for female entrepreneurs to decrease their dependence on low paying jobs. Environmental and social safeguards were being put in place to cater to indigenous communities and their livelihoods.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    A Committee Expert said the Committee appreciated that the Government had removed all fees in public hospitals and was very impressed at the recent decision to waive all taxes on female sanitary products. Could statistics on minor girls’ pregnancies and births be provided? What did the State party plan to do to fight the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy? It was concerning that abortion was only permitted in a few circumstances. Did the State party plan to change its criminal law that so women and girls could safely access services to terminate unplanned pregnancy?

    Were contraceptives subsidised by the State? If so, which ones and to what extent? What awareness campaigns were planned to enhance safe reproduction health literacy in Belize, especially to address issues such as unsafe abortion and sexually transmitted diseases? Could statistics on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS be provided? Was radiotherapy, including for breast cancer, still not available in the country? What steps were being taken to address maternal mortality? What were the main challenges in ensuring equitable access to health care services for elderly women?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Belize had taken steps to address the legal and procedural barriers in women’s health services, particularly in regard to access to medical termination of pregnancy. It was important to ensure parents, individuals and schools received the required information, and that contraception was accessible. The Government had invested over 200,000 USD in providing contraceptives. Mobile health clinics continued to be used within all villages. Mothers received counselling before contraceptives were provided, ensuring informed decision-making. Additional measures were being taken to improve the emergency response for survivors of sexual violence.

    The Government recognised the challenges faced by women in accessing comprehensive cancer care, including the lack of radiotherapy, requiring travelling abroad. Radiotherapy was not feasible for in-country infrastructure, and the Government therefore aimed to provide support and financial aid to women requiring these services. There were oncology centres in different parts of the country. Human papillomavirus screening was available to women aged 30 to 49 and human papillomavirus vaccines were administered to adolescents, reducing the risk of cervical cancer to future generations.

    An estimated 3,700 people were living with HIV in Belize, with the majority of them being males. In 2023, Belize eliminated woman to child transmission of HIV and syphilis, which was a landmark medical achievement.

    When a pregnancy posed a risk to the life of the woman, medical termination was legally allowed. It was also allowed to preserve the mental and physical health of the woman, in cases of rape or incest, and in cases of foetal abnormality. Abortion was an area which was under consideration by the Government.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said the Committee welcomed the revised national gender policy, and its establishment of five priority areas. Was there gender-awareness training for loan officers? What training had been undertaken to increase women’s financial literacy? What social protections existed for self-employed women? What measures existed to ensure girls and women in rural areas enjoyed equal opportunity to participate in sports recreationally and professionally?

    Another Expert said Belize contributed less than 0.001 per cent of global emissions, and was a model of the blue economy, which should be congratulated. What was the leadership role of women in the sustainable use of oceans, including women scientists in marine biology? Gang warfare had impacted many women in Belize, including putting them at risk of gender-based violence. How did the Government ensure services for gang-impacted women? How were the laws of gender-based violence made culturally specific for rural women?

    What was the policy of Mayan women’s consent for companies to operate on Mayan land? The Mayans of Toledo lived in close proximity to land where logging had been permitted. What efforts was the State party taking to secure the land rights of the Mayan women? How many female sex workers were incarcerated? Would the State consider decriminalising prostitution? It was hoped that the State would consider some of the archaic language used in certain laws. What was the timeframe for the adoption of the Older Persons Act?

    RHODA REDDOCK, Vice-Chair and Country Rapporteur for Belize, asked if there was recognition of the special needs of women in detention, particularly regarding childbirth? Would the State consider implementing the Bangkok Rules?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Belize’s investment and climate action plan aimed at addressing several financial barriers for female entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas. Measures taken included mentorship programmes, capacity building initiatives, and financial literacy training. The plan mandated that 50 per cent of the training budgets be allocated to women entrepreneurs. The programme also encouraged financial institutions to increase small and medium enterprise lending. These measures collectively aimed to level the playing field, enabling women to access and maximise credit resources for sustainable business success.

    The sports policy for 2025 highlighted areas in the expansion of sports, but the investment in women’s infrastructure needed to be reflected, including support for female athletes and the prevention of gender-based violence in sports. Part of the work of indigenous peoples’ affairs was to ensure that the consent of Mayan women was provided. The social policy took aging into consideration.

    Belize was carrying out measures to tackle gun violence and drug imports, including through daily policing efforts and conducting regular border checks. There was a close connection between gangs, drugs and guns, and significant work was being carried out to reach out to vulnerable communities and youth, guiding them away from guns. Interventions and mediations between rival groups was carried out to enhance the security of citizens.

    Belize had embraced the 30 per cent quotas but the Government now needed to implement these. It was hoped the State would eventually reach fifty-fifty parity. It was currently on paper, but the tangible changes were not yet being seen.

    Efforts had been made to strengthen reporting around gender-based violence and gun violence. While the data was available, there needed to be further analysis. The State would focus efforts on this.

    The State would look at the Bangkok Rules as an additional standard which could also be pursued.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    A Committee Expert commended Belize for the steps taken to finetune its legal framework in the sphere of family relationships, including the new law on family and childhood and the new law on married persons. What were the most significant proposals contained in these draft laws? In what way did judges incorporate a gender perspective in cases of family violence? Were there any limitations based on women in care work when it came to inheriting from their deceased husbands?

    What was being done to eradicate early and de facto unions? How was the Government engaging with ethnicities in rural areas in this regard? Would the State recognise same sex marriages and de facto unions going forward? What was being done with the general public, particularly men, to raise awareness about early unions?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Belize had recently increased the age of marriage to 18, with no exceptions. The courts looked at the best interests of the child, and ensured there was engagement of both parents in their parental ability, and also took into account the risk of harm to the child. There had been some recent work done in terms of inheritance and division of assets. Recognising same sex marriages was part of the continued work being undertaken by the Government. The child marriage and early union strategy aimed to work with young people to understand the implications of early unions, and the type of support available for them.

    The State had engaged pastors and leaders when drawing up the child marriage bill, as they had been the ones responsible for marrying young girls. It was one thing to change the law, but another to change hearts and minds. The Government was striving to implement educational strategies, using the media, social media and posters, to foster behavioural change.

    Closing Remarks

    ELVIA VEGA SAMOS, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs of Belize and head of the delegation, expressed sincere appreciation for the meaningful dialogue. Belize was proud of the progress made. However, the State recognised that challenges remained, particularly when addressing gender-based violence, inequality and the disproportionate impact of climate change. The journey towards gender equality was ongoing, and Ms. Vega Samos thanked all those who had assisted Belize so far in strengthening human rights.

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, thanked Belize for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women in the country.

     

     

     

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    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently. 

     

    CEDAW25.007E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Welcome Croatia’s Anti-Discrimination Measures, Raise Issues Concerning Reported Exploitation of Migrant Workers and the Social Benefit Scheme

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the second periodic report of Croatia under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with Committee Experts commending the State’s law and national action plan against discrimination, and raising issues concerning reported exploitation of migrant workers and the social benefit scheme.

    Karla Vanessa Lemus de Vásquez, Committee Expert and Lead Member of the Taskforce on Croatia, welcomed Croatia’s law against discrimination and the national action plan on combatting discrimination and protecting human rights.

    Joo-Young Lee, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce on Croatia, said migrant workers in Croatia were particularly vulnerable to poor working conditions, including non-payment for work, and failure to provide breaks or employment contracts.  What measures had been taken to address labour exploitation of migrant workers?

    Ms. Lee also cited reports that social assistance benefits were inadequate and often not sufficient to cover the cost of living.  What measures had the State party taken to address this?  Why had the number of beneficiaries decreased recently, and why did some regions require recipients of benefits to participate in community service?

    Ivan Vidiš, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of Croatia and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said that the State party was proud of the reforms underway in Croatia.  In early 2023, Croatia joined the Schengen area, and the euro was introduced as a national currency.

    Mr. Vidiš said the National Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination for the period up to 2027 was adopted to ensure coordinated action by State administration bodies in the field of human rights protection and anti-discrimination, and to raise awareness of equality.

    On protections for migrant workers, Mr. Vidiš said labour legislation provided for third-country nationals legally working in Croatia to have the same rights as national workers, and the new Act on Combatting Undeclared Work obliged the employer to pay six months of salary to unregistered workers as well as a fine.

    On the social benefit scheme, the delegation said the number of recipients of the guaranteed minimum benefit had been dropping recently, in line with the reduction in unemployment.  The benefit had been increased three times in recent years, and the State party had developed a new Social Welfare Act that would increase the minimum social benefit.  The Act would also allow for persons to be excused from community service activities if they were unable to participate.

    In concluding remarks, Ms. Lemus de Vásquez thanked the delegation for the information shared, which provided insight into the progress achieved and measures planned to give effect to the Covenant in Croatia.  The Committee’s aim was to ensure the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights for all persons in Croatia.

    Mr. Vidiš, in his concluding remarks, said Croatia was passionate about its work, open about its challenges, and determined to address them.  Economic, social and cultural rights were the cornerstone of the State party’s efforts.  Mr. Vidiš thanked the Committee for its constructive approach to the dialogue.

    In her concluding remarks, Laura-Maria Craciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the open and constructive way in which it had participated in the dialogue.  The Committee hoped that Croatia would address the Committee’s forthcoming recommendations with a constructive spirit.

    The delegation of Croatia was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy; Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Property; Ministry of Science, Education and Youth; Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities; Ministry of Finance; Croatian Employment Service; Ministry of the Interior; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation; and the Permanent Mission of Croatia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee’s seventy-seventh session is being held until 28 February 2025.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 February to begin its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Peru (E/C.12/PER/5).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the second periodic report of Croatia (E/C.12/HRV/2).

    Presentation of Report

    IVAN VIDIŠ, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of Croatia and head of the delegation, said that the State party was proud of the reforms underway in Croatia.  In early 2023, Croatia joined the Schengen area, and the euro was introduced as a national currency.  As part of the European Economic Area, Croatia was exposed to inflationary developments caused the pandemic and then the war in Ukraine.  The Government intervened to a limited extent in energy prices and provided seven aid packages, all with the aim of protecting particularly vulnerable population groups.

    The National Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination for the period up to 2027 was adopted to ensure coordinated action by State administration bodies in the field of human rights protection and anti-discrimination, and to raise awareness of equality. 

    The State party had implemented a series of measures to strengthen workers’ rights.  The new Act on Combatting Undeclared Workers provided strict measures for employers who did not declare workers, including giving such workers the right to be registered and receive pay, pension and health insurance for the last six months, and foreign workers had access to the same protections as national workers.  Active employment policy measures had resulted in a historically low number of unemployed people.  Unemployment benefits had been increased and amendments had also been made to the labour legislation, laying down provisions on work through digital labour platforms and limiting the use of fixed-term contracts.

    In 2024, the salaries of civil servants and public service employees financed from the State budget were reformed towards a more transparent and fairer system.  The remuneration system for judges and prosecutors had also been revised to ensure that they could work smoothly and independently.  The minimum wage was constantly increasing and had almost doubled compared to 2019.

    To promote the social inclusion of vulnerable groups, the Government had provided increased rights and coverage for these groups in the Social Welfare Act and adopted the inclusive benefit, which significantly improved living standards.  Further, the State party had implemented measures to support elderly people.

    A new national plan for protection against violence against women and domestic violence, covering the period up to 2028, was under development.  As part of this plan, in 2024, a package of regulations dedicated to combatting violence against women and domestic violence entered into force, which included amendments to the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Act on Protection from Domestic Violence.  The legislative package tightened sentencing and strengthened protective measures for victims.  The revised Criminal Code introduced a definition of “gender-based violence against women” that was in line with the Istanbul Convention and a new criminal offence of femicide.

    There were 123,000 foreign workers in Croatia.  The State party had introduced legislation to combat undeclared work, and existing labour legislation provided for third-country nationals legally working in Croatia to have the same rights as national workers.

    After the 2020 earthquakes, many public facilities had been renovated, and multi-dwelling buildings and family replacement houses were being built.  To ensure the availability of housing, especially for young families, Croatia’s first national housing policy plan up to 2030 had been drawn up.  At the end of 2024, the Government adopted a programme for the construction and renovation of housing units in assisted areas to help young people and families access housing and to encourage population growth in these areas.

    Significant measures had also been taken over the last three years to strengthen the free legal aid system.  A call for funding for projects to provide primary legal aid was launched for a three-year period from 2023 to 2025.  Funding for projects increased by 100 per cent in 2023.

    Croatia expressed its strong commitment to the realisation of the human rights enshrined in the Covenant, demonstrated by its achievement of a high level of human rights protection.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    KARLA VANESSA LEMUS DE VÁSQUEZ, Committee Expert, Country Rapporteur and Lead Member of the Taskforce on Croatia, asked about the number of cases in which the Covenant was invoked in domestic courts.  What was the domestic legal status of the treaty bodies’ observations?  Did Croatia plan to adopt the Optional Protocol?  How had the legislature and civil society participated in implementing the Committee’s previous concluding observations and in drafting the State party’s reports?  Did the State party have a national follow-up mechanism to coordinate follow-up activities?

    Croatia had great potential, considering its location, resources and human capital.  However, the State party was reportedly overdependent on the tourism industry, which hampered the productivity of businesses.  What measures were in place to increase the productivity of the private sector and reduce dependence on tourism?  Were there measures in place to build workers’ capacities?

    Croatia did not have a national action plan on business and human rights and due diligence regulations were not sufficient.  What measures had the State party implemented to transpose the European Union directive on due diligence into national law?  What measures were in place to ensure due diligence in the private sector and to help victims of human rights violations to access justice?

    Croatia had received low grades in greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, and climate policy in a recent review.  Would Croatia be able to meet its climate commitments for 2030 and 2050?  What were the main challenges in this regard?  How would the State party rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions?  What plans were in place to eradicate subsidies for fossil fuels and to reallocate funds to renewable energy?

    Official development assistance represented 0.2 per cent of gross domestic product, well below the 0.7 per cent recommended by the United Nations.  Were there plans to increase the budget allocated to such assistance in the next few years?

    The Committee welcomed the law against discrimination and the national action plan on combatting discrimination and protecting human rights.  Had the 2024 and 2025 plans been implemented and to what extent?

    The Roma had been facing discrimination regarding access to housing and healthcare in Croatia.  What progress had been made in combatting hate crimes against the Roma and in implementing the national action plan on inclusion of the Roma?  What measures were in place to address the gender gap in participation in the labour market and to combat stereotypes against women in the private sector?  Were there any wage equality measures in place?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Croatia had one of the highest growth rates for gross domestic product in the European Union, at 3.6 per cent.  The State party had been using European Union funds to increase skills for around 140,000 citizens.  Judicial experts and judges had received training on the Covenant.  Croatia was working to continuously train public officers on human rights, particularly the rights of the Roma and vulnerable women and girls.

    Discussion on signing the Optional Protocol was ongoing, with public consultations being carried out.  If stakeholders found that the Optional Protocol was relevant to Croatia, the State party would launch ratification procedures.

    Croatia had working groups for developing legislation that included experts from line ministries and civil society representatives.  Analyses were carried out to determine areas where legislation needed to be aligned with international law and the recommendations of treaty bodies.

    Croatia had a strong tourism industry due to its location and natural and cultural heritage.  The Government was promoting sustainable tourism, implementing accommodation and environmental policies to regulate development in the sector.  There were around 270,000 pieces of property used for short-term renting to tourists.  New regulations addressed this, encouraging owners to provide long-term rental schemes and permanent housing.

    The State party was working on reforming vocational training to increase its availability, quality and relevance, and reduce school dropouts.  A new modular curriculum had been developed to allow students to engage in work experience activities.

    The new national action plan on the inclusion of the Roma covered the period of 2021 to 2027.  Around 57 per cent of financing programmes were in the education field.  The Government was also working on policies promoting access to healthcare and improved quality of life for the Roma population.

    Croatia was a part of the European Union’s ambitious climate policy, which aimed to make Europe climate neutral by 2050.  Under this policy, Croatia was working to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.  The national strategy on low carbon development and the national energy and climate plan had been developed to guide efforts to achieve climate objectives.  The plan included a measure for gradually abolishing subsidies for fossil fuels.  The State party had been monitoring national emissions using a database on emissions.

    Croatia’s gender employment gap, at 11.4 per cent, was lower than the European Union average.  Wage transparency policies were helping the State to achieve equal pay for equal work.  Measures had been developed to support access to employment for women in rural areas and women over the age of 50.

    There had been a spike in hate crimes following the increase in foreign workers in the State party.  To combat this, the Government had developed educational measures to promote the integration of foreign workers in society.

    Croatia was this year preparing to transpose the European Union directive on due diligence.  The national action plan on responsible businesses, which was being drafted by experts, aimed to support the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on measures implemented to bolster the capacity of the Ombudswoman’s office to ensure that it could carry out its mandate; the composition of bodies monitoring the implementation of treaty body recommendations; plans to address challenges related to disparities in regional development; the legal status of the Covenant in domestic legislation; measures to address unequal distribution of free legal aid services across the country; plans to broaden awareness raising activities on economic, social and cultural rights; and whether the State party planned to draft national action plans on human rights protections.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that in Croatia, the Covenant had legal status and was directly applicable.  Public tender was provided to legal clinics to facilitate the provision of free legal aid across the State.  Funds for free legal aid were increased by 100 per cent in 2023 and by a further 30 per cent in 2024.  Transport fees were paid by the State when persons needed to travel more than 60 kilometres to attend courts.

    The salary system for the civil service had been reformed, including salaries for staff of the Ombudswoman’s Office.  On average, salaries for civil servants had been increased by around 30 per cent.  The budget for the Office had increased gradually since 2022.

    The Ministry of Labour, Pension System and Social Policy had a special service coordinating the implementation of the Covenant and other international documents.  Policies related to implementation were discussed with representatives of trade unions and civil society.

    The Federal Government was pursuing fiscal decentralisation and providing local and regional governments with funding to be used in regional development projects.  It sought to address gaps between less and more developed regions.

    The Social Housing Fund encouraged the population to live and work in rural areas, and a new programme on the construction of housing for young people focused on housing developments in rural areas.

    The new national action plan on human rights had been prepared but was currently being discussed in the Government.  The former plan was still in force.  National action plans on combatting trafficking in persons, promoting the inclusion of the Roma, and fighting discrimination were also being implemented.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Croatia, said that the State party had implemented employment policy measures focusing on the integration of vulnerable people into the labour market.  What impact had those measures had?  What was the trend in rates of young people who were not in employment, education or training over the last five years?

    What measures were in place to address the discrimination and prejudice faced by Roma persons in the workplace?  The disability employment gap was around 23 per cent as of 2023, related to a lack of reasonable accommodation measures.  How was the State party promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace?

    The Committee noted legislation addressing unregistered, unpaid and precarious work, but such work remained prevalent in the State party.  Migrant workers were particularly vulnerable to poor working conditions, including non-payment for work, and failure to provide breaks or employment contracts.  What were the root causes of labour exploitation of migrant workers and what measures had been taken to address them?  How was the State party working to improve the capacity of public officials to uphold migrant workers’ rights and impose appropriate sanctions on persons who violated those rights?

    Social assistance benefits were reportedly inadequate and often not sufficient to cover the cost of living.  What measures had the State party taken to address this?  Why had the number of beneficiaries decreased recently?  What budget had been devoted to social benefits in the last five years?  What measures had been implemented to improve social services for persons with disabilities, older persons, and persons living in rural areas?

    The “at risk of poverty” rate was around 42 per cent in Croatia.  This was reportedly due to strict requirements limiting access to unemployment benefits.  How did the State party ensure that unemployed persons did not fall into poverty?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State party provided educational and training support to unemployed persons.  Several hundreds of persons had found employment through the Government’s on-the-job training programme.

    Legislative changes and State-funded support centres had led to an increase in the registration of persons with disabilities and their inclusion in the labour market.  The unemployment rate for persons with disabilities was currently at a record low level.  The Government financed up to two-thirds of the salaries of persons with disabilities, including self-employed persons, and financed the adaption of workplaces to the needs of persons with disabilities.  The employment rate of persons with disabilities had increased by 70 per cent in recent years.

    The new Act on Combatting Undeclared Work obliged the employer to pay six months of salary to unregistered workers as well as a fine of 2,600 euros.  There was a public register of employers that had employed unregistered workers.

    The Government also had a register of persons who were not in employment, education or training.  It was planning programmes to involve these persons in education or the labour market.  Only 13 per cent of young people were currently unemployed, down from a historic high of around 50 per cent.  Croatia had removed many restrictions related to accessing unemployment benefits.

    Foreign workers received materials informing them of their rights to State services, including health care, unemployment benefits and complaints mechanisms.  The Government supported foreign workers to learn the Croatian language.

    The guaranteed minimum benefit was provided to persons who did not have basic sustenance.  More than 40,000 persons received this benefit.  The number of recipients had been dropping in recent years, in line with the reduction in unemployment.  The benefit had been increased three times in recent years, and there were plans to increase it further, along with other benefits.  The Government was working to amend the Social Welfare Act to increase the base payment for single parents and their children by 25 per cent.  The national allowance for the elderly provided support to persons who did not have sufficient pensions.  The Government was strengthening the capacities of institutions to monitor poverty and better combat it.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Croatia, said it was welcome that the Act on Foreigner Workers would be amended and that the basic social benefit had increased.

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the assessment of measures for housing provided to foreign workers; the methodology used to assess citizens’ risk of poverty; why some regions required recipients of benefits to participate in community service; the timeframe in which the minimum wage had increased and whether it covered the cost of living; whether rules regarding the renewal of temporary work contracts led to unemployment; measures being taken to promote entrepreneurship; the nationalities of migrant workers in the State party; and policies being implemented to enable women to enter the labour market and promote sharing of domestic work tasks.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said there were clear criteria in place regarding the accommodation of foreign workers.  The Government was working with the embassies of foreign countries to inform migrant workers about their rights.

    The percentage of persons at risk of poverty had not increased in recent years.  The State party had developed a new Social Welfare Act that would increase the minimum social benefit and would allow for persons to be excused from community service activities if they were unable to participate.  Community service often helped unemployed persons to enter the labour market.

    Around two per cent of workers received the minimum wage.  The Government had worked to ensure that all workers in vulnerable sectors such as manufacturing received at least the minimum wage.  The nominal minimum wage had been increased by 130 per cent between 2016 and 2025.  The real increase, taking inflation into account, was around 70 per cent.  The minimum wage was calculated considering other benefits being received.

    There were around 6,000 self-employed persons receiving State benefits.  Most benefits were provided in the food and construction industries.

    The State was developing a law to promote women’s return to work after childbirth.  It was financing the construction of kindergartens and schools and providing parental leave for fathers, which more than 60 per cent of fathers were taking.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Croatia, said the escalation of violence against women in recent years in the State party was of great concern.  What measures were in place to provide support for victims, particularly women with disabilities?  How was the State party preventing the abuse of women with disabilities in institutions and addressing harmful practices affecting Roma women and children?  What measures were in place to prevent all forms of trafficking in persons, identify victims, prevent reprisals against victims after they reported offences, and ensure that penalties for trafficking were commensurate with the seriousness of offences?  How was the State party addressing the effects of inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable persons?

    Croatia did not have a needs-based housing policy or an effective strategy for addressing homelessness.  Approximately 6.5 per cent per cent of the population did not have access to the water supply network and many of the Roma lived in poor housing conditions.  What measures were in place to improve access to housing and housing conditions for vulnerable persons, prevent evictions of the Roma, and tackle homelessness?

    Some people in remote areas, particularly the Roma, had limited access to health services.  There was a shortage in healthcare staff in rural areas and long waiting lists for specialised care.  What measures were in place to provide timely access to quality healthcare in remote areas and to reduce waiting lists?  How would the State party promote access to healthcare for asylum seekers and persons with disabilities?  What steps had been taken to promote access to safe abortions when mothers’ lives were at risk?  What resources had been allocated to setting up mobile health teams and community mental health care services, and to combatting the high suicide rate?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the national action plan on social services aimed to facilitate access to these services, secure a better regional distribution of services, including services for the elderly, and promote deinstitutionalisation and foster care.  Payments to foster families had been increased and media campaigns had been carried out to highlight their importance.  The act on personal assistance of 2023 regulated the recruitment of personal assistants for persons with disabilities.  Over 5,000 assistants were currently employed, and the Government was working to recruit more.

    The Government was conducting roundtables and workshops with employers to encourage the increased employment of the Roma and other vulnerable groups.  Career management centres were being established in every region of the State to support their access to employment.

    Croatia had issues with affordable housing, influenced by the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and inflation.  Consultations were being carried out on a national housing plan, which would be adopted soon.  Under the plan, settlement of vulnerable and young persons and settlement in underdeveloped areas would be encouraged.  Croatia had a shortage of around 270,000 residential units compared to demand.  There were also around 50,000 unused residential units; the Government planned to adopt legislation to allow the State to take over empty units and provide them to vulnerable persons.  New laws would make it possible to build more affordable housing and expand land allocated for affordable housing.  The procedure for obtaining permits for building family homes would soon be simplified.

    The State party provided housing for victims of domestic violence and was also building family homes for the Roma community in rural areas.  Housing had also been provided for persons under international protection, and for persons whose homes were destroyed in earthquakes.  The State had also provided accommodation for over 600 homeless persons.  Large cities and counties provided food to homeless persons through social kitchens.

    Croatia had amended the Act on Water, which enhanced access to water for vulnerable groups.  Local government units were obliged to provide water for human use and to install wells in public spaces.  The State was investing heavily in the water distribution network to improve the quality and availability of water.

    The Government had provided seven different support packages to reduce the prices of energy, food, fuel and gas.  As a result, Croatia had the lowest energy prices in the European Union.  Some 70 retail products had also been subsidised by the State to protect vulnerable groups, and cash supports had been provided for more than 700,000 retirees.

    The Government was working to improve the legislative framework against gender-based violence.  Gender-based violence was treated as an aggravating circumstance in the Criminal Code, and Croatia was one of the first countries in Europe to make femicide a stand-alone crime.  The law against family violence had also been amended to increase sanctions for perpetrators and support for victims.  Victims were examined via video-link unless they insisted on being in the courtroom.  Training on gender-based violence was provided for judges, prosecutors and police officers.  

    A new national action plan on the prevention of sexual violence was currently being developed.  Twenty-six shelters were available for victims of sexual and gender-based violence in all territories of the State.  Ten million euros had been devoted to financing these shelters.  A new media campaign was being carried out on preventing violence against women.

    To increase access to primary healthcare, a new healthcare service network had been established that included mobile medical and psychiatric healthcare teams.  These teams covered a wide geographical area and included emergency helicopter and maritime services.  The Government had also increased the availability of telehealth services.  Each county had at least one hospital.  Croatia was close to the European Union average for the number of doctors per 100,000 inhabitants and the number of doctors was increasing.  The Government provided funds for residencies for young doctors.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    One Committee Expert welcomed indicators developed by the State party on measuring poverty, while another praised the State party’s various initiatives promoting access to housing.

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on progress in the implementation of the national strategy on reducing drug-related harm; measures to prevent house demolition and forced evictions of vulnerable groups, and remedies provided to affected persons; statistics on homelessness and the average period of stay in shelters; whether takeovers of unused units were temporary or permanent, and whether the Government planned to pay compensation to owners; how the State responded when people could not afford to pay utility bills or their mortgage; measures to prevent the discriminatory effects of reporting obligations required to receive health insurance; and plans to update poverty indicators from a multidimensional lens.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that in 2023, the Government adopted the national strategy on addiction, which aimed to reduce harms and risks related to addiction.  Every year, it implemented over 300 intervention programmes related to addiction.  The Government primarily rehabilitated adults in the social welfare system, but some addicts were in the prison system.  Non-governmental organizations provided counselling and intervention services for addicts.  Around one-third of addicts in treatment were women.  The Government was developing measures to support women addicts and provide social housing for them.

    Under State guidelines on the provision of abortions, patients could demand terminations of pregnancy in all hospitals in the State.  In cases of conscientious objection from doctors, patients were referred to other doctors or institutions.  

    The act on compulsory health insurance provided the right to healthcare for persons under international protection and asylum seekers and their family members, as well as unaccompanied minors.  Many citizens who lived abroad used free telehealth services in Croatia, abusing the system.  This was why the obligation of reporting to authorities once every three months to obtain health insurance had been introduced.

    Croatia had adopted a strategy framework on the development of mental healthcare, which aimed to reduce the suicide rate and improve the mental health of children and workers in particular.

    Courts applied the caselaw of the European Court of Human Rights regarding evictions, so it was very difficult to forcefully evict people from their homes.  The Government was increasing fiscal pressures on unused properties and implementing measures that made long-term rent more beneficial for owners than short-term rent.  The State would also rent and sublet private unused apartments at a reduced price; it would not forcefully take these properties away from owners.  A new property tax had been developed to replace taxation on vacation homes.  All properties used for long-term rent were excluded from the tax.

    It was difficult to count homeless people who had not approached relevant service providers.  Homeless persons could receive personal identification documents by registering at a local institute for social welfare.  The Government was empowering homeless persons to gain employment.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    ASLAN ABASHIDZE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Croatia, asked for disaggregated data on school enrolment, completion and dropout rates at primary and secondary levels for the last 10 years.  Which ethnic groups had high dropout rates?  What progress had been made in promoting the inclusion of the Roma in the education system?  All children, including Roma children, needed to attend preschool education.  Who was responsible on collecting data on Roma children who were eligible to attend preschool?  How many Roma children had attended preschool over the past five years and how many had progressed to primary and secondary education?  

    What measures were in place to ensure that refugees and migrants had access to quality Croatian language courses and higher education?  Had a new programme been adopted to support these groups in 2025?  Were there specific measures to support Serbian children’s education?  There were reports of vandalism targeting Serbian monuments and Orthodox churches.  Had these incidents been investigated and violators held responsible?  How would the Government ensure that such violence did not occur in the future?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the dropout rate in Croatia was around two per cent, which was around the lowest rate in the European Union.  There was a system that monitored students, but it did not record the national affiliation of students.  Data on Roma students had been gathered since 2008, however.  This data informed the Government’s activities for Roma students.  Around 70 per cent of Roma students attended secondary school; this was lower than the national average.  The national action plan on the inclusion of the Roma included activities encouraging education for Roma children, including scholarships for Roma pupils in secondary schools.  Annually, between 50 and 100 Roma children dropout out of school.  The number of Roma university students receiving scholarships had increased in recent years.  “Roma assistants” were employed in primary schools to support Roma children.  On average, around 400 Roma children were enrolled in kindergartens each year.  Local governments funded kindergarten education for Roma children.

    One year of preschool education was mandatory for all pupils.  The Government funded preschool programmes for each child.  Over the next three years, it would invest around 200 million euros in this public service.  Croatian language courses were provided to all students who did not speak Croatian, starting from primary level.

    Vandalism based on ethnicity was treated as a form of discrimination and a hate crime, and was punished with a harsher sentence.  The State party was cooperating with civil society organizations representing ethnic groups to prevent such incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.

    The Ministry of Culture and Media had secured funds to support the needs of national minorities.  Funds were being devoted to cultural associations, libraries and there were other measures of protecting the cultural heritage of minorities.  Public broadcasters were required to devote a portion of broadcasts to programmes for national minorities.  The Government also helped fund the cultural activities of persons with disabilities.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on whether foreign students received free higher education; the number of foreign students in the State; steps taken to enhance inclusive education for persons with disabilities; whether indexation was used to calculate social assistance benefits; whether trade union rights were adequately granted to all workers, including police and military personnel; measures implemented to encourage reporting of racial discrimination offences and prevent such discrimination; the delegation’s response to reports of insufficient funding and will from authorities to address hate-related crimes; and statistics on crimes against Serbians.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that in 2024, there were 531 foreign students enrolled in Croatian universities.  The Government had adopted guidelines on supporting children with disabilities, who were entitled to specially trained teaching assistants.

    Croatia used automatic indexation to calculate elderly benefits and pensions, based on cost-of-living indicators.  There was no index system for the guaranteed minimum benefit, which was increased once per year by the Government, considering various factors.  A project had been launched to better monitor poverty rates through the Central Population Register, which would be established this year.

    Trade unions in Croatia could create their own networks, participate in the drafting of legislation and national policies, and participate in parliamentary debates.  The Government was drafting an action plan to encourage all employers to conclude collective agreements.  The scope of certain collective agreements was extended by the State to prevent unfair competition or restrictions on workers’ rights.  Only active military personnel were restricted from forming trade unions in line with existing legislation; police officers could form and join unions.  Property used by trade unions was formerly owned by the State, but legislation that entered into force last week transferred ownership to a trade union fund.

    In 2023, the State party recorded 61 hate crimes against ethnic minorities.  This was a decrease from the 67 crimes reported in 2021.  Authorities needed to consider these as serious offences and respond appropriately.  The judicial academy provided training for judges and judicial workers on the prohibition of discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech, including anti-Semitism.  Thirteen workshops would be held in 2025.  Police officers were also involved in workshops on preventing anti-Semitism, hate speech and all forms of discrimination.

    Closing Remarks

    KARLA VANESSA LEMUS DE VÁSQUEZ, Committee Expert, Country Rapporteur and Lead Member of the Taskforce on Croatia, thanked the delegation for the information shared, which provided insight into the progress achieved and measures planned to give effect to the Covenant in Croatia.  The Committee’s aim was to ensure the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights for all persons in Croatia.  She thanked all persons who had contributed to the successful dialogue.

    IVAN VIDIŠ, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of Croatia and head of the delegation, said Croatia was making every effort to make progress.  The State party was passionate about its work, open about its challenges, and determined to address them.  Croatia had faced aggression in its past, and the Committee needed to consider the difficult path the country had travelled.  Economic, social and cultural rights were the cornerstone of the State party’s efforts.  The cost-of-living crisis was a major concern currently, but the State party’s measures supporting energy and other costs had lightened the burden for residents.  Croatia was facing a demographic decline, but incentives were in place to support a reversal of demographic trends.  Parliament had recently agreed on a declaration regarding the rights of older people, who made up an increasingly large portion of the population.  Mr. Vidiš thanked the Committee for its constructive approach to the dialogue.

     

    LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN-TATU, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the open and constructive way in which it had participated in the dialogue.  The dialogue with Croatia would continue, as the Committee would select three follow-up recommendations that it called on the State party to address within 24 months.  It hoped that Croatia would continue to address the Committee’s recommendations with a constructive spirit.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

    CESCR25.002E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon powers winning network experience on Super Bowl Sunday

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon powers winning network experience on Super Bowl Sunday

    What you need to know:

    • Verizon customers in New Orleans used 93.5 TB of data on Super Bowl Sunday.
    • The fans at Caesars Superdome used 38.1 TB of data in and around the stadium.
    • Verizon customers benefited from 2.4x faster download and 4.8x faster upload speeds than the competition.

    NEW YORK – As the official 5G network of the NFL, Verizon powered the gameday experience across New Orleans on Super Bowl Sunday. As fans gathered to watch the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Verizon customers used 93.5 TB of data. No matter where they were celebrating, fans benefited from the massive network upgrades made across the city and were able to watch game highlights, keep tabs on players’ stats, and livestream with friends to share their experience.

    The fans in attendance at Caesars Superdome used 38.1 TB of data in and around the stadium, with approximately 53% of the 65,719 attendees using Verizon’s network.

    Verizon customers benefited from super-fast speeds1 in the stadium, with 2.4x faster median download speeds and 4.8x faster median upload speeds than the competition!

    • Peak: Download speed 4,161 Mbps, Upload speed 1,067 Mbps
    • Median: Download speed 1,775 Mbps, Upload speed 159 Mbps

    Committed to New Orleans for the future

    For the past three years, Verizon has been focused on providing the most reliable network experience in New Orleans for our customers, and has been making significant investments that nearly triple New Orleans’ network capacity and ready it for the more than 18 million tourists and business travelers who come to the city each year. Verizon laid out more than 560 miles of fiber in the Greater New Orleans area, which is enough fiber to wrap around the outside of the Caesars Superdome 869 times.

    Verizon added unmatched large capacity connections across the city and at the most congested areas in New Orleans, including Bourbon Street, the New Orleans Convention Center, Louis Armstrong International Airport, Smoothie King Arena, Woldenberg Park, and Jackson Square. This means that when even the largest crowds were gathered, customers had the gold-star network experience they expect from Verizon.

    A super-sized network for the Superdome

    At Caesars Superdome, Verizon delivered an exceptional network experience so fans could capture and share every moment. Verizon’s engineers worked tirelessly to add enough coverage and capacity to cover a small city, deploying 511 5G UltraWideband and 155 C-band radios covering the stadium’s seating areas, back of the house, suites, lounges, press box, concourse areas and entry ways.

    1 Measurement results are based on umlaut testing of 486 to 532 samples per network operator during the actual game, including half time show.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister meets President of the Republic of Estonia

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 6:19PM by PIB Delhi

    ​Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met today with H.E. Mr. Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris. This was the first meeting between the two leaders.

    Prime Minister and President Karis underlined that warm and friendly relations between India and Estonia are based on their shared commitment to democracy, rule of law and the values of freedom and pluralism. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment, IT and digital, culture, tourism and people-to-people ties. They discussed the ongoing bilateral cooperation in the field of cyber security. Prime Minister invited the Estonian government and companies to explore the opportunities offered by the India growth story and take advantage of programmes such as Digital India.

    The two leaders noted the importance of the India-Estonia partnership also in the context of the India-EU strategic partnership. They welcomed the initiation of ministerial exchanges in the India-Nordic-Baltic format. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, and cooperation at the United Nations.

    The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the growing cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Estonia. In this regard, PM appreciated the popularity of Yoga in Estonia.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2101892) Visitor Counter : 38

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A fierce tussle over a Northern Territory river reveals Australia’s stark choice on water justice

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    The Roper River Chris Ison/Shutterstock

    Water is now a contested resource around the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the fight playing out over the Northern Territory’s Roper River – one of the last free-flowing rivers in Australia, nurtured by the enduring presence of First Nations custodians.

    The territory government recently doubled water extraction allowances from the aquifer that feeds the Roper River, making billions of litres available to irrigators, for free. The change risks permanent damage not just to the river but to world-famous springs and sacred sites fundamentally important to Traditional Owners.

    Australia has a very poor track record on maintaining healthy river systems, and on respecting First Nations rights to access and use water.

    The Roper River represents a chance to change course on decades of water policy failure. It also shows we must transform how Australia’s water is valued, who uses it, and who decides how vital rivers should be managed.

    What’s happening on the Roper River?

    The Roper River runs east for 400 kilometres from the Katherine region to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

    First Nations people comprise 73% of the population in the Roper River area. Amid socioeconomic challenges, Country sustains them as it has done for 65,000 years. It is integral to maintaining cultural knowledge, as well as ceremonial practices, environmental care and traditional food systems. Traditional Owners’ rights are recognised through Aboriginal freehold land and native title across the area.

    Irrigated crops including melons, mangoes and cotton are grown over a small part of the river catchment.

    In a string of recent decisions – mainly the designation of regional “water allocation plans” – the territory government has vastly increased potential extraction from underground aquifers. This could allow agriculture and other industries to expand.

    The Mataranka plan, which applies to the Roper River, now allows irrigators to double the amount of water extracted from an underground aquifer crucial to the river’s dry-season flows. These new extraction amounts would fill 25,000 Olympic swimming pools a year. The groundwater also feeds thermal springs at Mataranka – a sacred site and tourism drawcard.

    The groundwater also feeds thermal springs at Mataranka, a tourism drawcard.
    Martin Helgemeir/Shutterstock

    The decision came despite staunch opposition from Traditional Owners. As Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told SBS:

    Both the previous and the current NT Government have ignored the voices of Traditional Owners, who have repeatedly said that the health and viability of the Roper River and the springs at Mataranka are at great risk.

    Water is life. It is our most valuable resource and Traditional Owners have an obligation to take care of the land and areas of cultural significance.

    The Baaka: a sad story of degradation

    Sadly, this story is not new to Australia. We need only look to the Baaka (Lower Darling River) in New South Wales as a cautionary tale.

    More than a century of water extraction has left the river and its wetlands degraded. This was demonstrated in 2023 when up to 30 million fish died due to low levels of dissolved oxygen, caused by, among other factors, too much water extracted upstream.

    The ecological damage has harmed the health and wellbeing of river communities – especially Traditional Owners such as the Barkandji people, who have long relied on the river for sustenance.

    The problem is getting worse. As research late last year showed, an investment of more than A$8 billion to date has failed to prevent a stark decline in the health of the Murray-Darling Basin river system.

    Martuwarra: another river in peril

    Martuwarra, or the Fitzroy River, runs through Western Australia’s Kimberley region. It is the state’s largest Aboriginal Cultural Heritage site and is on the national heritage list. Evidence indicates human occupation along the Martuwarra for at least 35,000  years.

    Traditional knowledge indicates climate change – among other harms – is threatening the Martuwarra. Ecological and ground water systems are drying up, making traditional food and medicine harder to find.

    This harms Indigenous custodians reliant on the Martuwarra for their lifeways and livelihoods.

    But there is hope. The Indigenous-led Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council has united West Kimberley people, First Peoples and others, along with stakeholders. It seeks to foster joint decision-making on planning and management to take full account of the social, cultural, spiritual and environmental impacts of water allocation across the catchment.

    This world-leading example shows what can be achieved when Traditional Owners and their partners unite to defend nature, water and Country as sources of life, not just resources to be exploited.

    Finding answers

    Many of the world’s largest rivers are suffering from neglect and destruction. Last month, on the world’s inaugural Water Justice Day, people around the globe fighting for water justice came together in Canberra.

    Community members, researchers, Elders, advocates and decision-makers gathered to share stories from Argentina, Australia, India, Kenya, Brazil and Mexico.

    Each tale described people working together to push back against water injustice, whether it involved unequal access, theft, dispossession, pollution or post-truth claims about water.

    Participants also watched the premiere screening of the short film EveryOne, EveryWhere, EveryWhen. It highlights what is at stake for Australia’s living rivers – Baaka, Roper and Martuwarra – and tells of the struggle to bring justice to these rivers and their people.

    A trailer for the film EveryOne, EveryWhere, EveryWhen.

    A fork in the river

    Clearly, the time for water reform is now. So what does this mean in practice?

    First, the precautionary principle must be deeply embedded in all government decisions. This means the potential for serious environmental damage must be properly considered, and actions taken to avoid it, even when science is not certain.

    Second, permission from First Peoples should be obtained for any activity affecting their land or waters, following the principles of “free, prior and informed consent”.

    And finally, both Indigenous knowledge and Western science must be brought together to plan, monitor and regulate all water extraction, to ensure our precious rivers are managed for both the present and the future.

    Australians face a stark choice.

    We can keep gifting valuable water resources to powerful commercial interests, while ignoring the warning signs our rivers are sending.

    Or we can follow First Nations leaders and listen to what Country is telling us: to safeguard water for everyone, including non-human kin, to secure a liveable and thriving future for all.

    In response to issues raised in this article, the NT’s Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Joshua Burgoyne, said the Mataranka water allocation plan provides certainty to the environment and the community and supports regional economic development.

    He said the plan was “precautionary, evidenced based, and developed with considered involvement from local community representatives” including Traditional Owners, and preserves more than 90% of dry season flows to the Roper River.

    Quentin Grafton receives funding from the Australian Research Council and is the Convenor of the Water Justice Hub.

    Anne Poelina is Chair, Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council. She is Professor, Chair and Senior Research Fellow Indigenous Knowledges and affiliated with Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Broome. She is Project Lead for an Australian Research Council Funded Project.

    Sarah Milne has received funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. A fierce tussle over a Northern Territory river reveals Australia’s stark choice on water justice – https://theconversation.com/a-fierce-tussle-over-a-northern-territory-river-reveals-australias-stark-choice-on-water-justice-248766

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: In the last ten years since the government headed by PM Narendra Modi took over and particularly post-Covid, Indian systems of Medicine have earned global recognition

    Source: Government of India (2)

    In the last ten years since the government headed by PM Narendra Modi took over and particularly post-Covid, Indian systems of Medicine have earned global recognition

    India Leads Global Revival of Unani Medicine, Blending Tradition with Modern Science: Dr. Jitendra Singh

    It was PM Modi who for the first time set up a separate Ministry for AYUSH and proposed International Day of Yoga

    Integrative Healthcare Takes Centre Stage as India Advances Medical Innovation with AI and Genomics in Unani Medicine, says the Minister

    India Emerges as a Hub for Unani Medicine Studies, Driving Academic and Medical Tourism Worldwide: Dr. Jitendra Singh

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 7:59PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said today that in the last ten years since the government headed by PM Narendra Modi took over and particularly post-Covid, Indian systems of Medicine have earned global recognition. He recalled, it was PM Modi who for the first time set up a separate Ministry for AYUSH and proposed International Day of Yoga.

    The Minister reaffirmed the Modi Govt’s commitment to reviving and globalizing Unani medicine, emphasizing its crucial role in integrative healthcare solutions.

    Speaking on the occasion of Unani Day 2025 and the International Conference on “Innovations in Unani Medicine for Integrative Health Solutions – A Way Forward,”the Minister highlighted how India’s traditional medical systems are gaining renewed global recognition, particularly in the post-2014 era.

    “India possesses a vast treasure of traditional medical knowledge, which is not only our legacy but also our strength. We are ensuring that this rich legacy is preserved, modernized, and globally recognized through technology-driven innovations,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh.

    The Minister underscored that the AYUSH sector has witnessed unprecedented growth, with the manufacturing value of AYUSH-based medicines and products soaring from $3 billion in 2014 to $24 billion today, an eightfold increase. This remarkable expansion, he said, reflects India’s leadership in holistic healthcare.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing holistic medicine into the mainstream through key policy reforms and international initiatives. He highlighted that the 2017 National Health Policy introduced the concept of integrated healthcare, combining Unani and Ayurveda with allopathy for a more comprehensive approach to treatment and wellness.

    “If Prime Minister Modi had not emphasized the importance of AYUSH, we would not have seen such rapid growth in the sector. Today, traditional medicine is not just being revived but is also shaping the future of healthcare worldwide,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh.

    The Minister noted that India’s leadership in preventive healthcare gained further prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people across the world turned to Unani, Ayurveda, and naturopathy for immunity-boosting solutions.

    “During the pandemic, doctors and experts from across the world reached out to us for Unani and Ayurvedic formulations to boost immunity. This global recognition reinforces our responsibility to further develop and promote our traditional medical systems,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh also emphasized India’s role as a pioneer in modern medical innovations, recalling how the country developed the first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine and emerged as a global hub for preventive healthcare solutions.

    India’s next big leap in healthcare lies in integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific advancements, opined the Minister. He noted that Unani and other traditional medicine systems are being strengthened through technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Gene Therapy.

    “We are now in an era where traditional knowledge is being combined with advanced scientific techniques. Whether it is AI-driven diagnostics, genome-based therapies, or evidence-backed Unani treatments, India is leading the way in medical innovation,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh.

    Citing a recent medical breakthrough in gene therapy for Haemophilia, successfully conducted in India, Dr. Jitendra Singh asserted that the future of medicine lies in the fusion of traditional and modern approaches.

    The Minister also highlighted India’s emergence as a leading destination for medical and academic tourism. He pointed out that postgraduate courses in Unani medicine are now being offered in Hyderabad and Srinagar, making India an academic hub for holistic medicine.

    “Academic tourism is a new frontier for India. Students and researchers from across the world are now coming here to study Unani medicine. This will further strengthen India’s position as a global center for traditional medical education,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh.

    In his concluding remarks, the Minister called for a global effort to integrate Unani medicine into mainstream healthcare systems.“A truly ‘Viksit Bharat’ must be built on the foundation of a healthy India. By combining our ancient knowledge with modern scientific advancements, we can provide revolutionary healthcare solutions to the world,”.

    The International Conference on Unani Medicine will serve as a platform for global experts, researchers, and policymakers to discuss how digital advancements, scientific research, and policy reforms can drive the next wave of growth in Unani and integrative healthcare.

    *******

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2101967) Visitor Counter : 45

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Airports and Economic Growth – Transport Committee

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Will airports expansion drive regional economic growth?

    Whether expanding airports in the south east of England can benefit the rest of the UK economy will be the focus of a Transport Committee evidence session.

    MPs will question Aviation Minister Mike Kane MP and a senior Department for Transport official, following a panel with economists and industry experts.

    It comes after the Government recently announced support for a third runway at Heathrow and proposed expansions at Gatwick, Luton and other airports.

    Witnesses may be asked to consider economic factors linked to airport expansion such as: the tourism industry, tax revenues generated, the UK’s large aircraft manufacturing sector, increased capacity for air freight, and catalytic effects on other businesses.

    The New Economics Foundation, which is represented among witnesses in this session, has said it has been “some time” since the Government has assessed the “marginal economic impact” that airports expansion may have. The think tank has also pointed to varying methods of calculating the net economic impact that increased air travel has on the UK economy. For example, whether greater outbound travel by Brits could see a larger proportion of consumer spending happen abroad rather than at home, and to what extent that is offset by money spent in the UK from international tourists.

    Heathrow has itself previously said that expansion would mean growing its workforce of 28,600 people to over 100,000. The cross-party Committee will question a representative of Frontier Economics, a think tank commissioned by Heathrow Airport to look into the potential economic benefits of building a third runway.

    There will also be questions about the capacity of airports around the UK, whether they are surpassing or failing to meet demand, forecasts on future demand, and the role that larger ‘hub’ airports could play with smaller regional ones – a ‘hub and spoke’ model.

    The Minister and DfT will be asked to explain how airport expansion will fit into a wider national strategy for the aviation sector, and how air travel strategically links with other transport networks such as roads and railways.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8EHcgHCdkI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In Khabarovsk, Yuri Trutnev held meetings on the implementation of master plans and met with investors

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the implementation of long-term plans for the integrated socio-economic development of the Khabarovsk urban agglomeration and the urban district “City of Komsomolsk-on-Amur” for the period up to 2030

    February 11, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the implementation of long-term plans for the integrated socio-economic development of the Khabarovsk urban agglomeration and the urban district “City of Komsomolsk-on-Amur” for the period up to 2030

    February 11, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev inspected the new modular multifunctional sports hall at School No. 9 in Khabarovsk and attended a training session for children’s sports groups in Kyokushin karate and other martial arts

    February 11, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev inspected the new modular multifunctional sports hall at School No. 9 in Khabarovsk and attended a training session for children’s sports groups in Kyokushin karate and other martial arts

    February 11, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the implementation of long-term plans for the integrated socio-economic development of the Khabarovsk urban agglomeration and the urban district “City of Komsomolsk-on-Amur” for the period up to 2030

    During a working visit to Khabarovsk Krai, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev held meetings on the implementation of long-term plans for the comprehensive socio-economic development of the Khabarovsk urban agglomeration and the urban district “City of Komsomolsk-on-Amur” for the period up to 2030, on the implementation of major investment projects in the region, and also visited a number of social facilities.

    “In accordance with the instructions of the President of Russia, master plan activities are being implemented in the Khabarovsk agglomeration and Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Khabarovsk Krai. The development plans for the two cities include 48 activities for 414 billion rubles. More than 124 billion rubles have already been allocated from budgets at all levels for the implementation of activities until 2030,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting on the implementation of master plans.

    The master plans of the Khabarovsk agglomeration and Komsomolsk-on-Amur were approved by the President of Russia in 2023. Of the 84 objects of the master plans of the Khabarovsk Territory, four have been completed, ten are being designed, 21 are under construction, and 49 are in the planning stage. As part of the implementation of the master plans in Khabarovsk in 2024, 16 trolleybuses and 10 trams were purchased, and preferential financing was approved through VEB.RF for the construction of the Far Eastern bus cluster. New microdistricts with developed social infrastructure and rental housing are being built in the Northern District. Under the Far Eastern concession, projects have begun to build the Far Eastern Art Museum and the Far Eastern Children’s Recreation and Health Center.

    “We will complete the design in the first half of the year. I gave instructions to begin preparing the construction sites. The new museum will open to visitors in the first quarter of 2028. Its halls will display over 15 thousand works of art. The first children’s camp created in the region in the post-Soviet period will be completed in 2027. The company has begun preparing the construction site. Once commissioned, the camp will be able to accommodate over 5 thousand children per year,” said Dmitry Demeshin, Governor of Khabarovsk Krai.

    In Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the reconstruction of the embankment will be completed in March, and the innovative interactive center “Euristics” is planned to be launched. “The long-term plan for Komsomolsk-on-Amur provides for the revitalization of iconic spaces. It was decided to allocate more than 400 million rubles from the regional reserve fund for the restoration of the Stroitel cultural center. The design and estimate documentation is ready. The work will take two years,” the head of the region specified.

    Yuri Trutnev noted the need to complete the construction of social facilities, including a children’s hospital complex and an inter-district oncology dispensary in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and asked Dmitry Demeshin to pay special attention to them.

    Funds are allocated for the implementation of master plans from the presidential single subsidy. As explained by the Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov, the Presidium of the Government Commission on the Socio-Economic Development of the Far East supported three events: the creation of the Far Eastern Children’s Recreation and Health Center, the construction of the Far Eastern Art Museum building, and the fifth stage of the construction of the unified embankment.

    The creation of a “Far Eastern quarter” in the Zheleznodorozhny district of Khabarovsk was discussed. The project was developed to support integrated development.

    During a meeting on the implementation of major investment projects in the region, Yuri Trutnev noted that Khabarovsk Krai is one of the leaders in attracting investment in the Far East. “Here, 145 investment projects are being implemented with state support. More than 15.3 thousand jobs have been created, 63 enterprises have been introduced. Our priority task is to ensure the timely and successful implementation of investment projects, providing comprehensive support to investors,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.

    The meeting discussed projects in the fields of mining, logistics, tourism, construction and transport infrastructure. A-Steel presented a project to build a mining and processing plant based on the Milkan iron ore deposit. Amur Minerals, a resident of the priority development area, is building a mining and processing plant at the Malmyzhskoye deposit in the Nanai district. Elga Management Company LLC is creating the Pacific Ocean railway and a sea coal terminal near Cape Manorsky. VB Khabarovsk presented a project to build a high-tech warehouse complex, the implementation of which is planned for the new integrated investment site of the priority development area Khabarovsk – Severnaya. The development of the Kholdomi mountain resort was discussed. The Etalon financial and construction group held a presentation of the Khabarovsk-City project. Projects for the development of port infrastructure were also discussed.

    Yuri Trutnev visited the regional branch of the Voin center. The Khabarovsk branch of the Voin center opened its doors on May 11, 2023 and has already achieved significant success. If in 2023, 1,413 people completed its educational programs, then in 2024 it has already trained 3,067 cadets. Over the entire period of its work, the branch team has held about 200 military-patriotic events in educational institutions of the region, master classes with employees of law enforcement agencies, and exhibitions.

    On the same day, the Deputy Prime Minister inspected the new modular multifunctional sports hall at School No. 9 in Khabarovsk and attended a training session of children’s sports groups in Kyokushin karate and other types of martial arts. The facility is one of six being built in Khabarovsk under the “50 Sports Halls in Far Eastern Schools” program at the initiative of three-time Kyokushin karate world champion Khaid Mantayev together with the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and with the personal support of Yuri Trutnev. The new sports hall is equipped with all the necessary equipment and was built as part of the social development plan for economic growth centers in Khabarovsk Krai using funds from the presidential single subsidy provided by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East. The modular hall with an area of 360 square meters will be able to accommodate about 30 sports fans at a time. The sports hall will include mini-football, basketball, volleyball, karate, taekwondo and judo. In the future, there are plans to open hand-to-hand combat and gymnastics sections here, as well as install a boxing ring.

    Yuri Trutnev also visited a site in the village of Blagovatnoye where it is planned to create a training ground for UAV operators and conduct classes as part of the development of a system of patriotic education and military-sports training.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes the 2024 Article IV Consultation with Qatar

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    February 11, 2025

    Washington, DC: On January 27, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Qatar.

    Growth normalization after the 2022 FIFA World Cup continued, with signs of strengthening activities more recently. Real GDP growth is projected to improve gradually to 2 percent in 2024–25 supported by public investment, spillovers from the ongoing LNG expansion project, and strong tourism. Medium-term growth is expected to accelerate to 4¾ percent on average, boosted by the significant LNG production expansion and initial gains from implementing reforms guided by the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). Headline inflation will likely ease to 1 percent in 2024 and converge to around 2 percent over the medium term.

    With lower hydrocarbon prices, both the current account and fiscal surpluses narrowed in 2023, to 17 percent of GDP and 5½ percent of GDP, respectively. The twin surpluses moderated further in 2024. Over the medium, as Qatar’s LNG production expands massively, both the current and fiscal accounts will likely remain in surpluses, albeit declining as a share of GDP, as hydrocarbon prices are projected to fall.

    Banks are well-capitalized, liquid, and profitable, with the capital adequacy ratio of close to 20 percent and return on equity of 14½ percent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2024. Since the implementation of QCB measures to reduce banks’ net short-term foreign liabilities, banks’ non-resident deposits declined significantly, and banks have lengthened the average maturity and diversified further the sources of foreign funding. The sector-wide NPL ratio remained broadly unchanged at slightly below 4 percent and the provisioning coverage ratio is relatively high at above 80 percent.   

    Qatar has started to implement the ambitious Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) to build a more diversified, knowledge-based and private sector-driven economy. Guided by NDS3, reform momentum has strengthened significantly, including to attract and retain high-skilled expatriate workers, foster innovation, promote public-private partnerships, and further improve the business efficiency. Qatar is well positioned to leverage digitalization and AI for productivity gains, and the nation’s climate agenda is advancing.

    Risks to the outlook are broadly balanced. Main downside risks stem from the global headwinds, including a sharper-than-expected global growth slowdown, increased volatility in global financial conditions and commodity prices, and further worsening of geopolitical tensions. The regional conflict has had limited impact on Qatar but adds further to the downside risks through lower tourism and capital inflows, and more volatile hydrocarbon prices. Domestic downside risk stems mainly from further weaknesses in the real estate sector, although strong tourism and policy measures introduced in 2023 could mitigate the risk. Over the medium and long term, supply in the global natural gas market is expected to expand significantly, potentially putting downward pressure on prices. On the upside, sustained high hydrocarbon prices and accelerated NDS3 reforms would strengthen the outlook. However, if ambitious NDS3 initiatives lead to resource misallocation, both the public finance and growth prospect would be affected.

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed Qatar’s continued resilience to external shocks and its favorable medium-term outlook, driven by significant increases in LNG production and the reforms under the Third National Development Strategy. Directors agreed that maintaining prudent macroeconomic policies and accelerating reform efforts would further solidify macroeconomic stability and resilience to shocks while boosting prosperity.

    Directors commended the authorities’ commitment to continued fiscal prudence and called for accelerating fiscal reforms. They recommended adopting a medium-term fiscal anchor to help ensure intergenerational equity, and reiterated the need to accelerate revenue diversification, particularly by introducing the value-added tax. Directors highlighted the importance of improving spending efficiency and composition, particularly by enhancing public investment management. They welcomed the ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal institutions and adopt a full-fledged medium-term fiscal framework with enhanced fiscal risk management.

    Directors supported the authorities’ efforts to maintain financial stability and deepen domestic financial markets, while encouraging them to consider undertaking a Financial Sector Assessment Program update. They welcomed the newly introduced risk-based supervision and recommended formalizing the financial safety net and continuing to adjust macroprudential policies to mitigate potential macro-financial risks. Directors encouraged the authorities to sustain their progress in fighting financial crimes.

    Directors agreed that the exchange rate peg continues to serve Qatar well. They concurred that, as conditions allow, strengthening the operational framework would further enhance monetary policy transmission.

    Directors supported the authorities’ strategy to build a more diversified, private sector-led, and knowledge-based economy. They recommended fostering innovation and business efficiency and enhancing human capital by attracting and retaining more high-skilled expatriate workers, improving Qatari nationals’ employment in the private sector, and further increasing female labor force participation. Directors agreed that aligning domestic energy prices with export prices would benefit public finances and support climate goals. They also encouraged the authorities to close remaining data gaps, with the help of IMF capacity development.

    It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Qatar will be held on the standard 12-month cycle.

    Qatar: Selected Macroeconomic Indicators, 2021-25
    (Quota: 735.1 million SDRs, November 2024)
    (Per capita income: U.S.$69,541, 2023)
    (Life expectancy at birth: 81.6 years, 2022)
    (Population: 3.1 million, 2023)
    Projections
    2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
    Production and prices (percent change)
    Real GDP (2018 prices) 1.6 4.2 1.2 1.7 2.4
    Hydrocarbon 1/ -0.3 1.7 1.4 1.4 3.0
    Nonhydrocarbon 2.8 5.7 1.1 1.9 2.1
    CPI inflation (average) 2.3 5.0 3.0 1.0 1.4
    Public finances (percent of GDP)
    Revenue 29.6 34.7 32.8 26.2 28.7
    Expenditure 29.4 24.3 27.3 25.9 26.2
    Current 18.3 15.6 17.5 17.2 17.5
    Capital 11.1 8.8 9.7 8.7 8.7
    Central government fiscal balance 0.2 10.4 5.6 0.3 2.5
    Money (percent change)
    Broad money 1.4 17.4 1.1 4.1 5.6
    Credit to private sector 9.5 7.4 4.9 5.5 6.1
    External sector (percent of GDP unless otherwise noted)
    Exports 58.7 68.6 60.4 58.7 60.1
    Imports 34.1 31.6 33.9 33.4 35.1
    Current account balance 14.6 26.8 17.1 16.6 15.5
    in billions of U.S. dollars 26.3 63.1 36.5 37.0 35.2
    External debt 161.4 115.5 123.2 118.1 116.8
    Central Bank’s reserves 23.5 20.1 24.2 24.5 25.4
    in months of next year’s imports 6.6 7.7 8.1 8.0 7.9
    Exchange rate (per U.S. dollar) 2/ 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6
    Real effective exchange rate (percent change) 3/ -2.6 6.5 0.2 -0.5 …
    Sources: Qatari authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.
    1/ Includes crude oil, natural gas, propane, butane, and condensates.
    2/ January 6, 2025
    3/ November 2024.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chair of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summing up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Angham Al Shami

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/02/11/pr25034-qatar-imf-executive-board-concludes-the-2024-article-iv-consultation

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IMF Executive Board Concludes the 2024 Article IV Consultation with Qatar

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    February 11, 2025

    Washington, DC: On January 27, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Qatar.

    Growth normalization after the 2022 FIFA World Cup continued, with signs of strengthening activities more recently. Real GDP growth is projected to improve gradually to 2 percent in 2024–25 supported by public investment, spillovers from the ongoing LNG expansion project, and strong tourism. Medium-term growth is expected to accelerate to 4¾ percent on average, boosted by the significant LNG production expansion and initial gains from implementing reforms guided by the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). Headline inflation will likely ease to 1 percent in 2024 and converge to around 2 percent over the medium term.

    With lower hydrocarbon prices, both the current account and fiscal surpluses narrowed in 2023, to 17 percent of GDP and 5½ percent of GDP, respectively. The twin surpluses moderated further in 2024. Over the medium, as Qatar’s LNG production expands massively, both the current and fiscal accounts will likely remain in surpluses, albeit declining as a share of GDP, as hydrocarbon prices are projected to fall.

    Banks are well-capitalized, liquid, and profitable, with the capital adequacy ratio of close to 20 percent and return on equity of 14½ percent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2024. Since the implementation of QCB measures to reduce banks’ net short-term foreign liabilities, banks’ non-resident deposits declined significantly, and banks have lengthened the average maturity and diversified further the sources of foreign funding. The sector-wide NPL ratio remained broadly unchanged at slightly below 4 percent and the provisioning coverage ratio is relatively high at above 80 percent.   

    Qatar has started to implement the ambitious Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) to build a more diversified, knowledge-based and private sector-driven economy. Guided by NDS3, reform momentum has strengthened significantly, including to attract and retain high-skilled expatriate workers, foster innovation, promote public-private partnerships, and further improve the business efficiency. Qatar is well positioned to leverage digitalization and AI for productivity gains, and the nation’s climate agenda is advancing.

    Risks to the outlook are broadly balanced. Main downside risks stem from the global headwinds, including a sharper-than-expected global growth slowdown, increased volatility in global financial conditions and commodity prices, and further worsening of geopolitical tensions. The regional conflict has had limited impact on Qatar but adds further to the downside risks through lower tourism and capital inflows, and more volatile hydrocarbon prices. Domestic downside risk stems mainly from further weaknesses in the real estate sector, although strong tourism and policy measures introduced in 2023 could mitigate the risk. Over the medium and long term, supply in the global natural gas market is expected to expand significantly, potentially putting downward pressure on prices. On the upside, sustained high hydrocarbon prices and accelerated NDS3 reforms would strengthen the outlook. However, if ambitious NDS3 initiatives lead to resource misallocation, both the public finance and growth prospect would be affected.

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed Qatar’s continued resilience to external shocks and its favorable medium-term outlook, driven by significant increases in LNG production and the reforms under the Third National Development Strategy. Directors agreed that maintaining prudent macroeconomic policies and accelerating reform efforts would further solidify macroeconomic stability and resilience to shocks while boosting prosperity.

    Directors commended the authorities’ commitment to continued fiscal prudence and called for accelerating fiscal reforms. They recommended adopting a medium-term fiscal anchor to help ensure intergenerational equity, and reiterated the need to accelerate revenue diversification, particularly by introducing the value-added tax. Directors highlighted the importance of improving spending efficiency and composition, particularly by enhancing public investment management. They welcomed the ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal institutions and adopt a full-fledged medium-term fiscal framework with enhanced fiscal risk management.

    Directors supported the authorities’ efforts to maintain financial stability and deepen domestic financial markets, while encouraging them to consider undertaking a Financial Sector Assessment Program update. They welcomed the newly introduced risk-based supervision and recommended formalizing the financial safety net and continuing to adjust macroprudential policies to mitigate potential macro-financial risks. Directors encouraged the authorities to sustain their progress in fighting financial crimes.

    Directors agreed that the exchange rate peg continues to serve Qatar well. They concurred that, as conditions allow, strengthening the operational framework would further enhance monetary policy transmission.

    Directors supported the authorities’ strategy to build a more diversified, private sector-led, and knowledge-based economy. They recommended fostering innovation and business efficiency and enhancing human capital by attracting and retaining more high-skilled expatriate workers, improving Qatari nationals’ employment in the private sector, and further increasing female labor force participation. Directors agreed that aligning domestic energy prices with export prices would benefit public finances and support climate goals. They also encouraged the authorities to close remaining data gaps, with the help of IMF capacity development.

    It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Qatar will be held on the standard 12-month cycle.

    Qatar: Selected Macroeconomic Indicators, 2021-25
    (Quota: 735.1 million SDRs, November 2024)
    (Per capita income: U.S.$69,541, 2023)
    (Life expectancy at birth: 81.6 years, 2022)
    (Population: 3.1 million, 2023)
    Projections
    2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
    Production and prices (percent change)
    Real GDP (2018 prices) 1.6 4.2 1.2 1.7 2.4
    Hydrocarbon 1/ -0.3 1.7 1.4 1.4 3.0
    Nonhydrocarbon 2.8 5.7 1.1 1.9 2.1
    CPI inflation (average) 2.3 5.0 3.0 1.0 1.4
    Public finances (percent of GDP)
    Revenue 29.6 34.7 32.8 26.2 28.7
    Expenditure 29.4 24.3 27.3 25.9 26.2
    Current 18.3 15.6 17.5 17.2 17.5
    Capital 11.1 8.8 9.7 8.7 8.7
    Central government fiscal balance 0.2 10.4 5.6 0.3 2.5
    Money (percent change)
    Broad money 1.4 17.4 1.1 4.1 5.6
    Credit to private sector 9.5 7.4 4.9 5.5 6.1
    External sector (percent of GDP unless otherwise noted)
    Exports 58.7 68.6 60.4 58.7 60.1
    Imports 34.1 31.6 33.9 33.4 35.1
    Current account balance 14.6 26.8 17.1 16.6 15.5
    in billions of U.S. dollars 26.3 63.1 36.5 37.0 35.2
    External debt 161.4 115.5 123.2 118.1 116.8
    Central Bank’s reserves 23.5 20.1 24.2 24.5 25.4
    in months of next year’s imports 6.6 7.7 8.1 8.0 7.9
    Exchange rate (per U.S. dollar) 2/ 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6
    Real effective exchange rate (percent change) 3/ -2.6 6.5 0.2 -0.5 …
    Sources: Qatari authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.
    1/ Includes crude oil, natural gas, propane, butane, and condensates.
    2/ January 6, 2025
    3/ November 2024.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chair of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summing up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Angham Al Shami

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Parkway International Capital Group Kicks Off 2025 with $12.3 Million Refinance for Charleston Boutique Hotel

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Parkway International Capital Group (PIC Group) is pleased to announce the successful closing of a $12.3 million refinance loan for a historic boutique hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. This transaction marks PIC Group’s first deal of the year, setting the stage for another strong year of strategic financing solutions for real estate investors and developers.

    Supporting Growth in One of America’s Top Travel Destinations
    The borrower is a well-established boutique hotel operator with a track record of successfully restoring and managing heritage properties across the Southeast. With Charleston experiencing record-high tourism and occupancy rates, the borrower sought a refinance solution to reduce debt costs and fund property enhancements.

    • 52-room luxury boutique hotel housed in a restored 19th-century landmark
    • Planned upgrades, including modernized guest suites, sustainability enhancements, and expanded amenities
    • Prime location in Charleston’s historic district, a top-ranked U.S. travel destination
    • Refinancing structured to optimize cash flow and unlock capital for future investments

    “Charleston remains one of the most sought-after destinations in the country, and this financing ensures our borrower can continue delivering an elevated guest experience while optimizing financial performance,” said Jonathan Lockard, VP Originations of Parkway International Capital Group. “We are proud to start the year by providing a tailored financing solution that supports both operational flexibility and long-term success.”

    Strategic Loan Terms for Long-Term Growth
    PIC Group structured this refinance package to lower the borrower’s debt service while freeing up capital for reinvestment:

    • Loan Amount: $12,300,000
    • Loan Term: 48 months, interest-only
    • Interest Rate: Fixed at 8.75%
    • Loan-to-Value (LTV): 70%
    • $2 Million Cash-Out Component allocated for property renovations and operational enhancements

    “This financing not only lowers our borrower’s annual debt obligations but also allows them to strategically reinvest in the property,” added Jonathan. “With the hospitality sector in Charleston seeing continued strength, this loan positions the hotel for sustained growth and profitability.”

    New Year, New Momentum: Faster Deals, Greater Capital Access
    As PIC Group’s first transaction of 2025, this deal reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to helping developers, operators, and investors thrive in today’s market. To enhance efficiency and capital deployment this year, PIC Group has:

    • Expanded its investor network, ensuring faster approvals and greater funding flexibility
    • Streamlined underwriting and closing processes, allowing for quicker turnaround times
    • Increased capital availability for multifamily, hospitality, industrial, and mixed-use projects

    Looking Ahead: More Deals on the Horizon
    With a strong pipeline for 2025, Parkway International Capital Group remains a trusted capital partner for real estate investors seeking customized financing solutions.

    About Parkway International Capital Group
    Parkway International Capital Group (PIC Group) is a leading private commercial lending firm, specializing in tailored financing solutions for real estate developers and investors. With a focus on efficiency, innovation, and strategic capital deployment, PIC Group partners with clients to bring high-value real estate projects to life.

    Media Contact

    Marvin Fincham
    Visit our website at pic-group.net
    Email us at loans@pic-group.net

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Tax needs to be replaced not reformed say Scottish Greens

    Source: Scottish Greens

    11 Feb 2025 Finance

    Councils and local communities deserve our support to succeed.

    More in Finance

    Council Tax is a broken system that needs to be replaced rather than reformed, says Scottish Greens spokesperson for local government, Ariane Burgess MSP. 

    The call comes as the Scottish Government has announced that it is taking action to make the system “fairer.”

    Ms Burgess said:

    “Council tax is an outdated and broken tax that works for nobody. 

    “It isn’t fair to the households who are paying it and does not benefit the councils that are struggling to fund essential services.

    “From schools and social care to waste collections, libraries and community centres, our councils are on the front line of delivering for our communities. We need to support them. 

    “Tweaking and reforming it is not enough. It is time to replace it with a fairer and more progressive system that would see most households paying less while the wealthiest would pay more.”

    Ms Burgess added:

    “The Scottish Greens have already delivered important reforms, like doubling Council Tax on holiday homes and allowing councils to set tourist levies, raising money for local services and helping to tackle the housing crisis.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SETTING UP OF FLOATING JETTIES

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:11PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is actively promoting the establishment of floating jetties across various locations in India. These initiatives aim to enhance infrastructure for both fishing activities, tourism and cargo transport. A total of 50 locations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have been identified for implementation under Phase I of floating jetties projects out of which 12 locations in Andhra Pradesh are floating jetties related to fisheries. The details are at Annexure.

    Floating jetties can significantly benefit both fishermen and cargo transport. For fishermen, they provide stable docking in varying water levels, enabling year-round access to the water, reducing downtime caused by tides, and improving safety and convenience for unloading catch. For cargo transport, floating jetties offer flexibility in accommodating different vessel sizes, enhancing port capacity and efficiency, and supporting both small-scale and large-scale shipping. This infrastructure boosts logistics, reduces congestion at fixed docks, and facilitates smoother, uninterrupted operations.

    This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in Rajya Sabha, today.

     

    ***

    G.D. Hallikeri/Henry

    (Release ID: 2101764) Visitor Counter : 41

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE INDEX

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:08PM by PIB Delhi

    As per the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI), 2023 India moved up to 22nd Rank in the Global Ranking in International Shipments category and the Overall 38th Rank in Logistics Performance Index score. Indian Ports have registered quantum improvement in “Turn Around Time”. Global comparison of Indian Ports on “Turn Around Time” parameter, as published in World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Report-2023, acknowledges Indian Ports “Turn Around Time” as 0.9 days which is better than USA (1.5 days), Australia (1.7 days), Belgium (1.3 days), Canada (2.0 days), Germany (1.3 days), UAE (1.1 days), Singapore (1.0 days), Russian Federation (1.8 days), Malaysia (1.0 days), Ireland (1.2 days), Indonesia (1.1 days), New Zealand (1.1 days) and South Africa (2.8 days).

    The Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 was developed in alignment with the principles of the blue economy. It outlines long-term aspirations for India’s maritime sector and provides a broad action plan for implementation. The vision aims to transform the sector through various key initiatives, including the expansion of port capacity through greenfield and brownfield developments, enhancing operational efficiency by leveraging automation and digitization, and making the sector more sustainable through green initiatives such as the development of hydrogen hubs. In addition to sustainability, the vision emphasizes the development of islands and the cruise sector, aiming to boost coastal tourism and related infrastructure. It also focuses on strengthening maritime capacity building by enhancing workforce training and skill development. Furthermore, the vision aspires to elevate India’s global maritime presence by increasing participation in international maritime platforms. Another critical area of focus is the shipbuilding and repair sector. The vision seeks to position India as a global leader in shipbuilding while also working toward increasing the country’s shipping tonnage. To achieve these ambitious objectives, the strategy proposes a comprehensive set of interventions spanning infrastructure development, policy reforms, technological advancements, institutional strengthening, and regulatory enhancements.

    GMIS 2023 attracted investment commitment of ₹10 lakh crore. This includes signing of 360 MoUs, with an investment commitment of ₹8.35 lakh crore (including international collaborations), and the announcement of additional investible projects worth ₹1.68 lakh crore.

    This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in Rajya Sabha, today.

    ***

    G.D. Hallikeri/Henry

    (Release ID: 2101760) Visitor Counter : 42

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Addressing the impact of mass tourism in Spain – E-000445/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000445/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE), Estrella Galán (The Left)

    • 1.Does the Commission acknowledge the significant impact of mass tourism in Spain, particularly as a key factor in the housing crisis the country is facing?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to suggest concrete measures to support sustainable tourism and minimise the negative effects of tourism in the most affected areas of Spain?
    • 3.How much funding does the Commission plan to allocate to promote tourism, especially in coastal regions, given that overcrowding is pushing these areas to the brink of collapse?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LD to hold Youth Employment Expo

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Labour Department (LD) will hold the Youth Employment Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on February 15 (Saturday). The Expo is an event jointly organised by the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Youth Employment Scheme, the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) and the Youth Employment Start (Y.E.S.) of the LD, providing abundant opportunities to work locally and in GBA Mainland cities for young people aged 29 or below, as well as introducing the diverse youth employment services of the LD.
          
         The Chief Executive in the 2024 Policy Address announced measures to strengthen employment services and support for young people, including, starting from 2025, relaxing the eligibility requirements for the GBA Youth Employment Scheme to allow young people aged 29 or below with sub-degree or higher qualifications to join the Scheme and increasing the allowance granted to enterprises. Moreover, the upper age limit for YETP participants has been raised to provide employment support services to young people aged 15 to 29 with sub-degree or below qualifications.
          
         A total of 47 organisations from various industries, including airline services, hotels, banking, public services, retail, transport, construction, catering, tourism, security and technology, will join the Expo, providing over 1 200 on-the-job training vacancies for young people to work locally and in GBA Mainland cities. Eligible young job seekers are welcome to submit applications on the spot and may be invited for on-site interviews.
          
         The Expo also features career talks, sharing sessions, course introduction and demonstration of the programmes, employment consultation, interview preparation consultation, resume photo shooting, etc. Singers Ms Gin Lee and Mr Andy Lai will join the Expo and share their stories of pursuing their own career developments. The talk and sharing sessions will be conducted in Cantonese. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, the Youth Entrepreneurship Bazaar will also be run by business members of Y.E.S. at the Expo, selling a diverse range of handcrafted and innovative products. Members of the public are welcome to visit.
          
         The Expo will be held from 11am to 6pm at 3G Exhibition Hall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Admission is free. Last admission time is 5.30pm. For details of the Expo, please visit the LD’s website www.labour.gov.hk.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Qatar Airways YouTube ads showcase innovation, strategic partnerships, and enhanced passenger experiences, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Qatar Airways YouTube ads showcase innovation, strategic partnerships, and enhanced passenger experiences, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    Qatar Airways’ YouTube advertising campaigns for the last six months (August 2024 to January 2025) focus on strategic collaborations, technological advancements, and enhancing passenger experiences. The airline leverages major global events, sports sponsorships and cutting-edge inflight technology to engage diverse audiences. By emphasizing seamless connectivity, luxury offerings, and exclusive partnerships, the campaigns appeal to sports enthusiasts, high-end travelers, and those seeking convenience. This approach reflects Qatar Airways’ commitment to elevating the travel experience and expanding its global presence, according to the Global Ads Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Sagar Kishor, Ads Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Qatar Airways’ advertising campaign highlights its strategy of leveraging partnerships with prominent events like Formula 1 and the UEFA Champions League, while also showcasing innovations such as Starlink Wi-Fi and ORYX ONE. The ads emphasized the airline’s focus on enhancing both in-flight and on-ground experiences, aiming to enhance global connectivity and cultural engagement. By showcasing diverse destinations and highlighting the potential for unique travel experiences, the campaign aims to inspire and appeal to those seeking meaningful adventures and a comprehensive journey.”

    Below are the key focus areas of Qatar Airways’ advertisements, revealed by GlobalData’s Global Ads Platform:

    Technological innovation: Qatar Airways consistently showcases its adoption of new technologies, including Starlink-powered Wi-Fi, which is described as offering “the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky.” The airline also highlights advancements in aircraft design and passenger comfort, such as the Qsuite 2.0, aiming to provide a seamless and connected travel experience.

    Strategic partnerships: The airline’s collaborations with prominent sporting events and organizations, such as Formula 1, the UEFA Champions League, and FIFA, are prominently featured. These partnerships are used to associate Qatar Airways with excitement, global reach, and high performance, increasing overall brand visibility.

    In-flight entertainment: The airline emphasizes its exclusive entertainment offerings, such as the “Pit Stop” series on ORYX ONE, showcasing high-quality in-flight content that enhances the overall passenger experience. This approach highlights Qatar Airways’ commitment to providing a comprehensive and enjoyable travel journey.

    Human connection and personalization: The “Cabin Crew Essentials” and “Star in Your Own Adventure” advertisements focus on relatable stories and individual experiences. This approach fosters a sense of connection with the audience, positioning Qatar Airways as an enabler of personal journeys and meaningful moments.

    Destination promotion and global reach: Qatar Airways’ ads highlight its global reach with seamless connections to over 170 destinations, showcasing cultural landmarks from Texas, Italy, and Qatar. This positions the airline as a gateway to enriching travel experiences, promoting tourism, cultural exploration, and major events.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Principality of Andorra: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    February 11, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Andorra La Vella – February 11, 2025

    The Andorran economy is doing well. This provides a window of opportunity to address substantial long-term challenges. The authorities have consolidated the country’s macro-financial framework and reinforced buffers. However, Andorra’s real GDP per capita—while high in absolute terms—has remained flat over the last 50 years, with growth largely driven by population increases. Going forward, population aging is both an economic and a fiscal concern, and climate change challenges an economic model largely dependent on winter tourism. Ambitious structural reforms are needed to unlock investment and lift productivity.

    Economic Outlook

    The Andorra economy continues to show resilience and to grow above its potential. Growth in 2024 surprised slightly on the upside, at an estimated 2.1 percent, driven by the service, banking and construction sectors. Inflation is subsiding gradually, reaching 2.6 percent at the end of 2024, despite limited economic slack and a still tight labor market. The current account surplus remains very large, estimated at 15.1 percent of GDP in 2024. The strong performance of banks continued in 2024 supported by high interest margins and increased fees and commissions.

    Going forward, GDP is expected to slow to the level of potential growth. Real GDP growth is forecasted at 1.7 percent in 2025 and 1.5 percent from 2027 onwards. Inflation is projected to stabilize at 1.7 percent over the medium term. Short-term risks are balanced: greater uncertainty in the global economy and the potential for adverse shocks such as deepening geoeconomic fragmentation, supply disruptions, recurrent commodity price fluctuations and a reversal of monetary policy loosening are downside risks to growth and inflation. On the upside, Andorra, like other service-oriented economies in Europe, could benefit from stronger demand, and grow faster than projected. Solid buffers mitigate risks.

    Challenges are concentrated over the medium-term, as stagnating income growth makes it challenging to address the impact of population aging and climate change. With long life expectancy and low fertility rates, Andorra’s population is expected to age rapidly—removing an engine for GDP growth and creating fiscal liabilities over the long term. Fiscal costs from pensions and healthcare will be substantial. More frequent climate shocks can affect the economic cycle in an economy largely reliant on winter tourism, and structurally warmer temperatures will require extensive adaptation.

    Policy priorities

    The solid macroeconomic position and the credibility of the policy framework provide Andorra with an opportunity for implementing far-reaching structural reforms. Diversifying the economy to enhance resilience, unlocking investment and lifting productivity to raise income levels, and addressing the costs of aging and climate change should be driving the policy agenda. The recently negotiated EU Association Agreement (EUAA), if approved by referendum, could offer an opportunity to support the reform momentum, but would also bring challenges.

    Maintaining a solid fiscal framework given spending pressures over the medium term

    Maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy within the fiscal framework is important and will provide room for more public investment. In a microstate that needs fiscal buffers against external shocks, entrenching fiscal space is important. In addition, the credibility of the fiscal framework and the primary surplus provide room for higher public investment to support potential growth and mitigate structural bottlenecks.

    • A balanced 2025 budget focused on economic priorities. The 2025 budget finds a welcome balance between maintaining a conservative fiscal stance but building on the authorities’ structural priorities, with a focus on health, housing, maintaining purchasing power, and education. Overall, the 2025 budget foresees a deficit of 0.9 percent of GDP. Given past practice of adjusting expenditures in line with incoming revenues, staff forecasts a small surplus of about 0.3 percent of GDP.
    • Room for growth-enhancing public spending. The fiscal framework, which prescribes an overall deficit limit of 1 percent of GDP and a central government debt ceiling of 40 percent of GDP, provides room for higher public spending targeted towards growth-enhancing investment. Spending should be focused on the structural needs of the economy: social and affordable housing, upskilling the workforce and addressing labor shortages, connectivity to support economic diversification, and investments to lift potential growth. As under-execution of budgeted public investment is customary, delivering on investment plans should be a policy objective.

    Over the medium term, Andorra faces rising spending pressures from aging, as well as a need to adapt to climate change—engaging reforms early is paramount. Staff estimates that by 2050, pension system expenditures will rise by 6.7 percentage points while healthcare expenditures will increase by 2 percentage points. Acting early on pension and healthcare reforms is needed to anticipate and mitigate the fiscal impact of aging.

    • Pension reform has been on the government’s agenda for some time and is overdue. The menu of options to put the system on the sustainable path is well understood, from increasing contribution rates and reducing conversion rates to increasing the retirement age. Concluding the reform in an expeditious and comprehensive manner is needed to ensure the sustainability of the social security fund in the long run.
    • A reform of the healthcare system should aim to contain long-term costs while raising healthcare revenues . Experience from other advanced economies provides a blueprint for potential measures, in 4 areas: (i) enhance cost efficiency, (ii) strengthen preventive care, (iii) increase revenues for healthcare while preserving equity, and (iv) improve governance. The National Pact brought together stakeholders and should continue its work to strengthen the healthcare system.

    · Beyond direct policies in the pension and healthcare areas, broader measures would be helpful to buffer the additional long-term fiscal costs of aging. Domestic revenue mobilization and migration policies can help.

    • Climate change also exposes the government to future contingent liabilities. Public investment needs to increase to meet Andorra’s climate change mitigation targets and to provide adequate support to the adaptation of the private sector. In addition, fiscal space will be increasingly needed to buffer the negative impact of climate shocks.

    Precautionary borrowing and a rapid reduction in public debt provide the authorities with flexibility in managing the debt profile. The authorities are reaping the benefits of an effective debt management strategy that is projected to bring public debt down to 30 percent of GDP by 2026, that lengthened its maturity to 6.3 years and that keeps public debt service low. The authorities should continue to monitor market conditions for an upcoming debt maturity of €500 million public bonds in 2027, including for further diversifying debt and extending its maturity to decrease rollover risks and mitigate consequences from potential increases in interest rates.

    Consolidating banking performance in a changing environment

    Strengthening further the resilience of the banking system during periods of high profitability is appropriate. The banking sector displays solid fundamentals, with large capital and liquidity buffers. However, given the large size of the banking sector, the supervisor should remain vigilant. Available supervisory tools should complement each other, including by supporting the lender of last resort facility introduced in 2022 by continued close supervision and a well-designed resolution framework to ensure that critical problems are identified and addressed early. The activation of a countercyclical capital buffer in 2024 was timely to increase banking system resilience during high bank profitability.

    The changing financial landscape, notably with the continued international expansion of banks and a possible EUAA, brings opportunities and challenges for Andorran banks. Banks have been growing in the EU where they run independent subsidiaries focused on private banking services, and the EUAA would facilitate this expansion, notably in the asset management business. Domestically, the EUAA has the potential to create a more dynamic domestic market but also to open Andorra to greater competition. The authorities should work closely with banks to prepare for the transition and safeguard financial stability.

    Ambitious structural reforms to unlock investment and lift productivity, support the diversification of the economy and help mitigate climate change.

    A comprehensive set of structural measures is important and should focus on the following:

    • Addressing frictions, notably labor and housing shortages. Public investment in education and well-designed immigration policies can improve knowledge capital in Andorra and raise labor productivity. Multiple housing measures were implemented recently—including the extension of existing rental contracts, the creation of a public affordable housing park, tax incentives for owners who offer affordable housing, suspension of tourist accommodation licenses, fees on empty houses and on real estate purchases by foreigners. The authorities should aim at providing market-based incentives for investing in affordable housing while minimizing distortions.
    • Creating a business environment conducive to higher investment. Recommendations encompass reducing administrative rigidities associated with doing business in Andorra, promoting access to financing, and implementing measures to attract and retain talent.
    • Supporting the development of higher value-added sectors, including the digital economy. With limited space for manufacturing, Andorra can look at the experience of peer countries that have successfully diversified towards the digital economy. Government policies, including the 2022 Law on the digital economy, entrepreneurship, and innovation and the Digitalization Strategy 2020-2030 were welcome initial steps.

    The EUAA could provide further momentum for reforms towards diversification, unlock investment, and raise productivity in Andorra, but is not without its own challenges. The agreement signals a strong commitment to deeper integration with the EU and to reinforce Andorran institutions in their coherence with EU standards. Empirical evidence on the benefits of EU membership provides useful lessons for EU association. It suggests that while the impact can be significant and positive, it builds up over time, and is conditional on well-designed domestic reforms during the accession period. While the impact varies with country-specific circumstances, it materializes through a few channels: structural reforms in the period preceding accession/association, greater capital accumulation, notably FDI, and higher productivity. In Andorra, room for increasing investment and productivity is substantial. Transition periods for key sectors such as telecom and banking mitigate the risks of disruption and fiscal space can cover transition costs. Preparedness is essential to realize the benefits of association, and reduce potential downsides, such as greater regional competition.

    The climate adaptation strategy needs to be accelerated given the macrocriticality of global warming for Andorra. Because of its higher altitude, Andorra is less exposed than other winter tourism locations in the region and should use this window of opportunity to enact needed policies, support the development of higher value-added service sectors and diversify away from winter tourism. The authorities should expedite the development and execution of a climate adaptation strategy.

    *

    The mission thanks the authorities and all our counterparts for a constructive and candid policy dialogue, for engaging in a productive and transparent collaboration, and for their hospitality during the official visit of the IMF to Andorra.

    Andorra: Selected Social and Economic Indicators

    I. Social Indicators

    Population (2023)

    85101

    Population at risk of poverty (percent, 2020)

    13

    Per capita income (2023, euros)

    40511

    Human Development Index Rank (2021)

    40 (out of 189)

    Gini Index (2020)

    32

    Life expectancy at birth (2024)

    83.9

    II. Economic Indicators

    Projections

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    NATIONAL ACCOUNTS AND PRICES

    (annual change, percent, unless otherwise indicated)

    Real GDP

    9.6

    2.6

    2.1

    1.7

    1.6

    1.5

    1.5

    1.5

    1.5

    Nominal GDP

    14.2

    9.0

    5.0

    3.7

    3.4

    3.3

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2

    GDP deflator

    4.2

    6.3

    2.9

    1.9

    1.8

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    (contribution to nominal GDP growth, percentage points)

    Consumption

    6.5

    7.0

    3.6

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    2.4

    2.4

    Private

    6.2

    3.5

    1.7

    1.5

    1.5

    1.5

    1.5

    1.4

    1.4

    Public

    0.3

    3.4

    1.9

    1.0

    1.0

    1.0

    1.0

    1.0

    1.0

    Investment

    6.8

    -2.2

    0.9

    0.5

    0.6

    0.3

    0.3

    0.4

    0.5

    Private 1/

    6.4

    -3.1

    0.2

    0.0

    0.4

    0.1

    0.1

    0.2

    0.3

    Public

    0.4

    0.9

    0.7

    0.5

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    Net exports of goods and services

    0.9

    4.3

    0.7

    0.6

    0.4

    0.4

    0.4

    0.4

    0.4

    Exports

    18.8

    10.4

    4.2

    3.3

    2.8

    2.8

    2.9

    2.9

    2.8

    Imports

    18.0

    6.1

    3.5

    2.7

    2.5

    2.4

    2.5

    2.5

    2.4

    Prices

    Inflation (percent, period average)

    6.2

    5.6

    3.1

    2.2

    1.8

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    Inflation (percent, end of period)

    7.2

    4.6

    2.6

    2.0

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    Unemployment rate (percent)

    2.1

    1.6

    1.6

    1.6

    1.8

    1.8

    1.9

    2.0

    2.0

    EXTERNAL SECTOR

    (percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

    Current account

    11.6

    14.2

    15.1

    17.0

    17.0

    17.0

    17.0

    17.0

    17.0

    Balance on goods and services

    8.8

    12.0

    12.0

    12.2

    12.1

    12.1

    12.1

    12.1

    12.1

    Exports of goods and services

    80.9

    83.7

    83.7

    83.9

    83.8

    83.9

    84.1

    84.2

    84.3

    Imports of goods and services

    72.2

    71.8

    71.6

    71.7

    71.7

    71.8

    71.9

    72.1

    72.2

    Primary income, net

    4.3

    3.5

    4.3

    6.1

    6.1

    6.1

    6.1

    6.1

    6.1

    Secondary income, net

    -1.4

    -1.3

    -1.3

    -1.3

    -1.3

    -1.3

    -1.3

    -1.3

    -1.3

    Capital account

    0.0

    -0.1

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Financial account

    12.7

    13.5

    15.1

    17.0

    17.0

    17.0

    17.0

    17.0

    17.0

    Errors and omissions

    1.1

    -0.6

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Gross international reserves (millions of euros) 2/

    338.4

    338.7

    399.0

    399.0

    399.0

    399.0

    399.0

    399.0

    399.0

    FISCAL SECTOR

    (percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

    General Government 3/

    Revenue

    39.7

    38.0

    37.9

    37.8

    37.7

    37.8

    37.8

    37.7

    37.8

    Expenditure

    34.9

    35.9

    36.5

    36.7

    36.6

    36.9

    36.9

    37.0

    37.0

    Interest

    0.7

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    0.8

    0.8

    0.8

    0.8

    Primary balance

    5.6

    2.7

    2.0

    1.7

    1.6

    1.6

    1.7

    1.6

    1.6

    Net lending/borrowing (overall balance)

    4.8

    2.1

    1.5

    1.1

    1.1

    0.8

    0.9

    0.8

    0.8

    Public debt

    38.9

    35.5

    33.7

    32.5

    31.5

    30.5

    30.0

    29.5

    29.0

    Central Government 4/

    Revenue

    21.7

    19.8

    21.3

    20.8

    20.8

    20.8

    20.8

    20.8

    20.9

    Expenditure

    18.7

    19.1

    20.4

    20.5

    20.5

    20.6

    20.7

    20.6

    20.7

    Interest

    0.7

    0.5

    0.5

    0.5

    0.5

    0.7

    0.7

    0.7

    0.7

    Primary balance

    3.6

    1.2

    1.4

    0.8

    0.8

    0.9

    0.8

    0.9

    0.9

    Net lending/borrowing (overall balance)

    2.9

    0.7

    0.9

    0.3

    0.3

    0.2

    0.1

    0.2

    0.2

    Public debt

    37.1

    34.0

    32.3

    31.2

    30.1

    29.2

    28.7

    28.3

    27.9

    BANKING SECTOR5 /

    (percent, unless otherwise indicated)

    Regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets

    20.3

    21.7

    21.2

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Nonperforming loans to total gross loans

    3.3

    2.2

    2.1

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Credit to nonfinancial private sector

    Level (percent of GDP)

    116.4

    101.3

    94.5

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Corporates

    61.8

    55.1

    51.1

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Households

    54.6

    46.2

    43.4

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Growth (nominal)

    -1.7

    -5.2

    -2.0

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Corporates

    2.6

    -2.8

    -2.5

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Households

    -6.1

    -7.8

    -1.3

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Credit to public sector

    Level (percent of GDP)

    2.2

    1.8

    1.5

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Growth (nominal)

    -8.4

    -10.0

    -13.0

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Memorandum items

    Exchange rate (€/USD, period average) 6/

    0.95

    0.92

    0.92

    0.97

    0.97

    0.97

    0.97

    0.97

    0.97

    Nominal GDP (millions of euros)

    3,210

    3,501

    3,676

    3,811

    3,942

    4,070

    4,202

    4,338

    4,478

    Sources: Andorran authorities, Eurostat, and IMF staff calculations.

    1/ The contribution of private investment is derived as a residual and includes investments of state-owned enterprises.

    2/ The increase of gross international reserves in 2022 is due to €100 million deposited at the Bank of Spain, €40 million at the Banque de France, and €60 million at the Nederlandsche Bank as gross international reserves. In 2024, additional €60 million reserves were accounted, mainly deposited at the Bank of Spain.

    3/ The general government comprises the central government, local governments, and the social security fund.

    4/ The central government comprises Govern d’Andorra, as well as nonmarket, nonprofit institutional units.

    5/ 2024 data corresponds to 2024Q3.

    6/ The table reports the exchange rate €/USD because Andorra is a euroized economy.
    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Camila Perez

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/02/11/andorra-cs-2025

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