Day: May 15, 2023

Malaysia and the Republic of Korea (Rok) will strengthen bilateral cooperation and trade in agriculture, according to Malaysia’s Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS).

The ministry said the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture cooperation on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy this year.

Under the document, the two countries will share knowledge, experience, best practice, and business opportunities as well as cooperation proposals in food security and agricultural innovation technology to deal with the challenges in the agricultural sector.

Earlier, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu received RoK’s Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Chung Hwang-Keun at Putrajaya, which was also the first meeting between the two leaders.

According to MAFS, the RoK is an important trading partner of Malaysia, active in strengthening its agricultural trade relations.

From 2020 to 2022, the value of agricultural trade between the two countries shows progressive and positive growth, which increased to 1 billion RM (222.37 million USD) annually.

The Look East Policy, announced by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, aims to shift the focus of the relationship from the West to emerging Asian countries, especially Japan and the RoK, thereby helping to promote industrialisation in Malaysia./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The new Laos-Australia Sustainable Energy Partnership (LASEP) will expand cooperation to support Laos’ sustainable energy transition, with a focus on stronger planning and a greater understanding of renewable energy technology.

(KPL) Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, joined Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Phosay Sayasone to sign the Memorandum of Subsidiary Arrangement for Laos-Australia Sustainable Energy Partnership (LASEP) in Vientiane on May 15.

The signing was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saleumxay Kommasith.

The energy sector is pivotal to Laos’ prosperity and the Government’s aim to pursue a green economy that will advance Laos from Least Developed Country status and help achieve its climate commitments.

“LASEP responds to the development needs regarding sustainable renewable energy in the Lao PDR by assisting in the form of technical capacity building to strengthen and improve understanding of policy planning in the energy sector,” said Mr Phosay Sayasone.

“Both countries are taking action on the energy transition to drive economic growth and build resilience to climate change. In Australia we are transforming our electricity sector, with 82% of electricity to come from renewable energy by 2030. We have a lot of experience to share in energy planning and low-emissions technology to support Laos’ energy ambitions,” said Paul Kelly.

Australia’s Partnerships for Infrastructure initiative will implement LASEP with Laos’ Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM). The expected budget for LASEP’s initial phase is A$3 million.

Reflecting our shared commitment to climate change and the energy transition, Australia has delivered preparatory activities which build on longstanding cooperation and establish strong foundations for LASEP. A recent visit to Australia and an ongoing research study are exploring Laos’ potential to develop a hydrogen industry.

In 2022, Australia organised an energy roundtable between MEM and the Australian Energy Regulator and a visit to Thailand on sustainable energy development. We also supported The Australian National University to deliver a five week course for Lao officials on the grid integration of renewable energy.

Ahead of Laos’ 2024 ASEAN Chair Year, LASEP will also advance our shared commitment to work together to support ASEAN’s clean energy and climate agenda.

Source: Lao News Agency

The city of Mineralnye Vody will host the Second Business Forum-Exhibition “Resorts of Russia 2023”, dedicated to the development of tourist areas in the Russian Federation, the TVBRICS channel reported.

According to the media outlet, the program of the event includes analysis of state policy and legal regulation in the field of domestic tourism, infrastructure development, sanatoriums, regulation of hotel services, as well as security issues of the tourist and recreational infrastructure.

The Government of the Russian Federation pays great attention to the development of the hotel industry. According to industry experts, municipalities play an important role in building an attractive tourist region.

The event will be held at the Minvody-EXPO exhibition center, the largest in the North Caucasus Federal District.

The participants of the Russian Resorts 2023 forum-exhibition will also be able to visit the exhibition of digital, engineering, design and construction solutions for equipping hotels and tourist areas.

In addition, participation in the event provides an opportunity to acquire new business partners and invaluable experience in communication with industry professionals.

Source: Lao News Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won most of the votes in the Sunday elections, with 49.44%, but stayed short of the 50% needed to win the elections in the first round, so he will go to a runoff in two weeks with Kemal Kilicdaroglu, from the Republican People’s Party who got 44.89%.

The other two candidates in the electoral campaign Sinan Ogan (5.3%), from the ATA Alliance, and Muharrem Ince, from the Homeland Party, who had pulled out of the race in a potential boost for Kilicdaroglu’s chances, got anyhow 0.4% of the ballots.

Ahmet Yener, the head of the Turkish election board, said that 71.64% of the votes within the country and 18.76 percent of the votes from abroad were entered into its system.

President Erdogan, who was reported to be in the capital Ankara by Turkish state media earlier in the day, made a surprise appearance in Istanbul later in the day, where he greeted supporters as he left his residence in the Istanbul district of Uskudar, local media reported.

Some opinion polls before the election had pointed to a very tight race but gave opposition Kilicdaroglu, who heads a six-party alliance, a slight lead. Two surveys on Friday even showed him above the 50% threshold, but Erdogan’s movement did much better than expected.

According to Hakan Akbas, managing director of political advisory Strategic Advisory Services, “Erdogan will have an advantage in a second vote after his alliance did far better than the opposition’s alliance.”

The runoff will take place on May 28.

Source: Lao News Agency