Daily Archives: August 4, 2021

Protecting Africas wildlife from unstainable and illegal harvest and trade and the contribution legal trade and use can provide towards livelihoods and development of Africas people is at the heart of a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between TRAFFIC and the African Union Commission (AUC).

Under this agreement, the parties will collaborate to support the African Union Member States policies for environment, wildlife management and trade, and conservation and recognise that wild flora and fauna loss affect African peoples livelihoods, especially during post-pandemic recovery. It acts as a framework to combat the illegal exploitation and trade in Africa's rich wildlife with a joint goal of protecting flora, and fauna on land, wetlands, and marine ecosystems.

The Memorandum of Understanding is a significant step towards implementing the African Union's Wildlife Strategy and was signed by Her Excellency Ambassador Josefa Sacko, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and Steven Broad, TRAFFIC Executive Director.

On the occasion of signing, the MoU, H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) states: For the African Union, this is an important MoU for the safeguarding of Africas wild biodiversity. We are looking forward to deepening our already great collaboration with TRAFFIC and are welcoming TRAFFICs technical support and policy which stems from its evidence-based experience, on how to keep the use and trade of wild harvested flora and fauna at legal and sustainable and levels, and on how to best combat any illegal trade and overexploitation threatening our biodiversity.

We are committed to improving the sustainability of Africa's wildlife, environment and legal trade to support national economies and local development across the continent alongside the African Union Commission. It is a promising and welcome step towards sustainable wildlife trade in Africa said Richard Scobey, Executive Director for TRAFFIC.

With 45 years of experience, a global network of expertise and ongoing projects in the field, TRAFFIC will provide the AUC and its Member States with the latest evidence-based technical guidance to implement sustainable natural resource strategies that support national economies and local community development. Existing TRAFFIC projects like Reducing Illegal Timber Exports already work with communities living adjacent to forests with the legal knowledge and tools to reap the rewards of legal, sustainable forest management.

Additionally, TRAFFICs growing portfolio of work with private sector companies along the supply chain including e-commerce, transportation and financial sector companies directly support common interests and sustainable development agendas. TRAFFIC will also collaborate with and support the African Union Commission in the effective implementation of the Green Recovery Action Plan, providing support especially to the Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions component.

On the international front, TRAFFIC will also assist the AU and its Member States to prepare for and build relationships at multilateral summits such as The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These crucial meetings can be informed by holistic and pioneering methods like the Trade in Wildlife eXchange (TWIX) platforms in Central, Southern and Eastern Africa to support the elimination of the illegal trade of Africas fauna and flora. At the same time, other international TRAFFIC behaviour change projects work across the globe to reduce demand for illegally and unsustainably harvested wild fauna and flora at the end of the supply chain, whilst supporting choices for wildlife stemming from sustainable and legal sources.

H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko continues to express: The AU is further looking forward to co-operating with TRAFFIC in preparations for key multilateral and bilateral fora, such as for example for CBD and CITES, as well as for the environmental components of the Commissions frameworks and partnerships. We hope that African negotiators participating at such fora can be better capacitated. We also welcome TRAFFICs commitment to collaborate with and support the Commission in the effective implementation of the Green Recovery Action Plan, providing support especially to the Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions component to which we can bring considerable technical expertise and international experience.

Existing intergovernmental relationships between the AU and the Member States allow coordination with the relevant ministry departments and other government sectors. In a post-pandemic world, not only will this be vital for conservation and development but will enable sound and evidence-based responses to zoonoses-induced threats stemming from wildlife trade.

Download logo

Africanews provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes.

More here:

The African Union Commission and TRAFFIC Sign a Memorandum of Understanding to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade and Support Development - Africanews...

Resources Available to Communities Facing Fossil Fuel Power Plant Closures, Including Disadvantaged Communities

August 03, 2021

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $5 million for the Just Transition Site Reuse Planning Program to facilitate site reuse planning services and support for communities facing fossil fuel power plant closures. The program will provide eligible communities with resources to begin charting a sustainable and economically viable path forward through site reuse planning services from designated experts, the development of a toolkit as a resource, and enhanced assistance for disadvantaged communities. This announcement supports Governor Cuomo's nation-leading goal of a 100 percent zero-emissions electric grid by 2040 and a just transition under the under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

"This administration is empowering local governments and residents to fight climate change with resources that will help amplify their voices in the clean energy transition," Governor Cuomo said. "This program will lead to greater engagement from the community to chart a greener future that strengthens economic growth, particularly disadvantaged communities that have been disproportionally impacted by harmful emissions in the past."

Ensuring a just transition for communities as New York State grows its renewable energy future provides opportunities for communities hosting conventional energy infrastructure to proactively plan to address site reuse. Under this new program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York State is providing vital support to help enhance locally based engagement and help improve community transition outcomes. A Statewide Site Reuse Toolkit utilizing the information from the site planning processes will be developed as an online resource to provide tools to help other communities facing or planning for site reuse. It will include information on local, regional, state, and federal programs to assist communities with economic development, brownfield reuse, and other aspects supporting successful site redevelopment.

Doreen M. Harris, President & CEO, NYSERDA, said, "Communities across New York deserve a just transition, and we are taking a proactive approach to equip them with the support and resources needed for effective planning and reuse. Helping communities build a sustainable, economically viable, and environmentally friendly future is a priority as we move to a clean electric grid to meet our climate and clean energy goals."

Eligible communities are local governments that have a fossil fuel power plant located in their community, including those that have had a power plant close in the last five years, are facing current or future known closures, or are home to other operating fossil fuel facilities that commenced operations prior to 1990. Applicants may apply for planning services valued up to $150,000. Services awarded will be scaled based on site characteristics, and areas where plant closures impact a disadvantaged community may qualify for additional assistance valued at up to $10,000.

Planning services may include, but are not limited to, site reuse planning, environmental assessments, economic analysis, demolition and abatement assessments, and public health impact evaluation. To apply, click here. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until August 5, 2024, or until funds are no longer available. If selected for the program, local governments must sign a participation agreement and appoint a project liaison to ensure community participation in planning the transition from a conventional energy facility and toward community-wide environmental and economic health. The liaison will work with NYSERDA to select and be matched with a designated site reuse planning expert from a pre-determined list of companies that were chosen through a competitive process.

For communities and plants that have already undertaken preliminary analyses, support under this program may also include next-phase steps that maximize community engagement and proper site reuse, including but not limited to a detailed infrastructure assessment, further environmental assessment, marketing and community engagement strategies, and workforce development strategies, in addition to other designated support as determined by NYSERDA and the site reuse experts.

Bergman Associates, P.C. was selected through a competitive process to help develop the statewide toolkit. The toolkit, individual site reuse plans, and community strategies under consideration will seek to reflect and align with the issues and opportunities for site reuse identified by the Just Transition Working Group, and presented to the Climate Action Council on April 12, 2021, as required by the Climate Act.

Public Service Commission Chair John B. Howard said, "Smart cessation funds are in the public interest. As we transition from older, existing generation to zero carbon generation, we will create a cleaner grid of the future that requires a comprehensive approach to ease the financial implications for impacted communities, including those that are disadvantaged, and are in the interest of all electric customers."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "The State-led closure of coal-burning power plants and the ongoing transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy will be a boon to our economy, our environment, and the health of our communities. As we continue to prioritize the just transition to clean technologies and help develop plans for reuse that is consistent with the nation-leading CLCPA, DEC applauds this investment and looks forward to working with our partners to revitalize Environmental Justice communities to create bright futures for all."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Governor Cuomo remains committed to ensuring equality for all communities as we move forward in our journey toward a bold, climate-friendly future. In order to successfully usher in this clean energy era, supports must be in place to ensure that no community is left behind. These resources will be essential to communities as they develop environmentally-friendly economic opportunities for New Yorkers."

New York State Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, "The path to a just and equitable clean energy economy must be paved with the type of effective community-based planning, outreach and technical assistance that NYSERDA is offering through this innovative program. The way we use and re-use the built environment will have a tremendous impact on our ability to curtail climate change. Through our Brownfield Opportunity Area program, which has a proven track record of re-purposing contaminated and underutilized industrial facilities, the Department of State looks forward to working with NYSERDA to support the Just Transition initiatives."

Empire State Development Chief Operating Officer and Executive Deputy Commissioner Kevin Younis said, "Ensuring that local governments across the state have the needed resources to plan for their own green energy future will ultimately help to grow the local economy and further Governor Cuomo's nation-leading clean energy goals, while building vibrant and sustainable communities across New York State."

Senator Kevin Parker, Chair, Senate Energy Committee said, "I applaud Governor Cuomo and NYSERDA for investing in the Just Transition Site Reuse Planning Technical Assistance Program. The investment will propel our state to reach our goal of a 100 percent zero-emissions grid by 2040, while providing resources for disadvantaged communities."

Assembly Member Michael Cusick, Chair, Assembly Energy Committee said, "This announcement highlights the importance of ensuring that our communities are adequately equipped to embrace our transition to a clean energy grid. The closure of fossil fuel plants is a necessary step in building the energy grid of the future and it is crucial that we provide resources for the communities directly impacted by these closures. This program will guide these communities through this process and assist in ensuring that our energy grid works for all New Yorkers."

Senator Todd Kaminsky, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said, "The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act calls for a carbon-free electrical grid by 2040 but getting there requires exchanging our aging power plants for a green, sustainable future. This funding will help communities plan for the transformation of its power plants and make bold plans for the future."

Stephen J. Acquario, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties said, "As New York State moves toward a clean energy economy, it is important that we not leave behind communities that will face power plant closures and the loss of economic opportunities. A just transition will not happen by itself; it requires strategic planning and investments in creating new jobs, industries, and skills in counties across the state. We applaud the Governor and NYSERDA for launching this program to prepare New Yorkers for a clean energy future and build our climate resilience."

Ryan M. Silva, Executive Director, New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC), said, "Transitioning from fossil fuel energy generation to clean energy solutions provides a tremendous opportunity for innovation and economic growth at decommissioned sites throughout New York State. NYSERDA's funding to help communities study how to best adapt these facilities will help modernize economic development efforts and engage local communities on how to best use these sites moving forward. We thank NYSERDA for launching this important program and encourage NYSEDC members to work closely with NYSERDA and local municipalities to effectively and efficiently bring these facilities back on-line."

New York's transition to a clean power grid is well underway, combining a strong existing baseline of renewable facilities and a robust pipeline of new renewables already under contract. Together these efforts will power 50 percent of New York's electricity once operational. The services provided to communities under this program will also look to help communities position themselves to seek other support resources including any that may become available under the Biden Administration's newly established Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization.

New York State continues to invest in resources to ensure the impact of the closure of power plants on local communities will be mitigated to the fullest extent possible. Additional financial assistance is available for eligible jurisdictions facing power plant closures through the State's Electric Generation Facility Cessation Mitigation Program administered by Empire State Development. The program offers seven years of funding to aid in transition, and earlier this year, the state Public Service Commission adopted a stable mechanism that provides a longer-term funding source for the program should local communities continue to need that support.

Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $21 billion in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2019, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

Last Updated: 08/03/2021

Go here to see the original:

Governor Cuomo Announces $5 Million for the Just Transition Site Reuse Planning Program - NYSERDA - NYSERDA

The Canadian province of Quebec has granted Monarch Mining (TSXV: GBAR; US-OTC: GBARF) a $13.5 million senior secured term loan agreementto help the companyrestart the Beaufor gold mine and Beacon mill,20 km east of Val-dOr.

The three-year term loan agreement withInvestissement Quebecbears interest at a rate of 6%a year until the restart of the mine and mill, 5% during the first year of production and 4% for the subsequent years.

Currently on care and maintenance, Beaufor has produced over 1.1 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 7.5 grams gold pertonnesince first production in the 1930s.

Before suspending operations in June 2019,itemployed 150 people at the mine and 30 at the 750 tonne-per-day mill.

Monarch, which acquired the operation in 2017, estimates that it will be creating more than 100 new jobs when its facilities become fully operational next year.

The revival of the Beaufor mine and Beacon mill is an initiative that will support the economic recovery in Abitibi-Tmiscamingue while continuing to develop our expertise in the gold sector, Eric Girard, the provinces finance minister and minister of the economy and innovation, said in a media statement.

Beaufor has measured and indicated resources of 431,100 tonnes grading 6.68 grams gold per tonne for 92,700 ounces of gold. An updated resource, based on an ongoing 42,500-metre drill program, is slated to be released in the third quarter.

Monarch Mining is a spinout of assets from Monarch Gold, whichYamana Gold (TSX: YRI; NYSE, LON: AUY) acquired in a $152 million cash and shares deallast November.The transaction gave YamanatheWasamacproperty, which is about 100 km from its50%-owned Canadian Malartic mine, as well asCamflomill, also in Quebec.

Monarch Minings other assets include the McKenzie Break project and the Croinor past-producing mine, both in Quebecs Val-dOr area.

Read more:

Quebec injects $13.5 million into Monarch Mining to help it reopen Beaufor - The Northern Miner

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --National job growth in July was up notably across all industry sectors and regions over the previous month, according to aggregated payroll data of approximately 350,000 clients provided by Paychex. The data released in the latest report of the Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch shows the Small Business Jobs Index jumped 0.85 percent in July, the second strongest one-month increase since 2010, the period of recovery following the Great Recession. At 99.36, the small business jobs index is up more than one percent over last quarter and five percent from last year, suggesting a significant recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Hourly earnings growth improved to 3.11 percent in July, up from June's increase of 2.84 percent.

"Hiring at small businesses across the U.S. grew significantly in July," said James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit. "The national index jumped to 99.36, the highest level since the summer of 2018."

"The rate of hiring continues to increase steadily across all sectors," said Martin Mucci, Paychex president and CEO. "July's small business job and wage growth numbers indicate a continued rebound of the economy as employment increases."

In further detail, the July report showed:

Paychex business solutionsreach 1 in 12 American private-sector employees, making the Small Business Jobs Index report an industry benchmark. The national jobs index uses a 12-month same-store methodology to gauge small business employment trends on a national, regional, state, metro, and industry basis.

The complete results for July, including interactive charts detailing all data, are available at http://www.paychex.com/watch. Highlights are available below.

National Jobs Index

National Wage Report

Regional Jobs Index

Note: Percentages displayed in the regional heat map reflect 12-month changes.

Regional Wage Report

Note: Percentages displayed in the regional heat map reflect 12-month changes.

State Jobs Index

Note: Analysis is provided for the 20 largest states based on U.S. population.

State Wage Report

Note: Analysis is provided for the 20 largest states based on U.S. population.

Metropolitan Jobs Index

Note: Analysis is provided for the 20 largest metro areas based on U.S. population.

Metropolitan Wage Report

Note: Analysis is provided for the 20 largest metro areas based on U.S. population.

Industry Jobs Index

Note: Analysis is provided for seven major industry sectors. Definitions of each industry sector can be found here. The other services (except public administration) industry category includes religious, civic, and social organizations, as well as personal services, including automotive and household repair, salons, drycleaners, and other businesses. The chart's dark blue bars reflect the index level and the light blue diamonds reflect the 12-month change.

Industry Wage Report

Note: Analysis is provided for seven major industry sectors. Definitions of each industry sector can be found here. The other services (except public administration) industry category includes religious, civic, and social organizations, as well as personal services, including automotive and household repair, salons, drycleaners, and other businesses.

For more information about the Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch, visit http://www.paychex.com/watch and sign up to receive monthly Employment Watch alerts.

*Information regarding the professions included in the industry data can be found at the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

About the Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment WatchThe Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch is released each month by Paychex, Inc., a leading provider of payroll, human resource, insurance, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small-to medium-sized businesses, and IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics, and expertise. Focused exclusively on small business, the monthly report offers analysis of national employment and wage trends, as well as examines regional, state, metro, and industry sector activity. Drawing from the payroll data of approximately 350,000 Paychex clients, this powerful tool delivers real-time insights into the small business trends driving the U.S. economy.

About PaychexPaychex, Inc. (Nasdaq:PAYX) is a leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, benefits, human resources, and insurance services. By combining its innovative software-as-a-service technology and mobility platform with dedicated, personal service, Paychex empowers small- and medium-sized business owners to focus on the growth and management of their business. Backed by 50 years of industry expertise, Paychex served more than 710,000 payroll clients as of May 31, 2021 across more than 100 locations in the U.S. and Europe, and pays one out of every 12 American private sector employees. Learn more about Paychex by visiting paychex.com and stay connected on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About IHS Markit (www.ihsmarkit.com)IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world's leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.

IHS Markit is a registered trademark of IHS Markit Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners 2021 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights reserved.

Media ContactsLisa FlemingPaychex, Inc. +1 585-387-6402[emailprotected]@Paychex

Kate SmithIHS Markit+1 781-301-9311[emailprotected]

Melissa Mazurek Mower +1 585-389-1809[emailprotected]

SOURCE Paychex, Inc.

http://www.paychex.com

Read the original post:

Small Business Job Growth Advances in July Amid Signs of Strong Economic Rebound - PRNewswire

Why 2031? The next decade is likely to become seen as a milestone era during which the world accelerated into a period of development and prosperity having successfully turned the page of one of the worst chapters in modern history after Covid-19 shook the global community to its core.

Driven by the unprecedented pace of technological change, the world has already changed dramatically since the early 2000s when currently emerging sectors which harness our nascent grasp of artificial intelligence robotics, smart homes and factories, autonomous vehicles, and personal assistants were still the stuff of science fiction movies and idle fantasy.

Now, as we enter the middle period of the 21st century, it seems almost inconceivable that these, and many more, technological advancements won't soon become part of everyday life.

Despite, or maybe inspired by, the upheaval of the recent pandemic, many are predicting a sharp recovery accompanied by a reshaping of the geopolitical landscape.

And breakthroughs in science and medicine will only further reinforce the prevailing sense of change that will come to define this technological revolution. Transformation will be rapid and widespread, and the onus will be on every nation, Thailand included, to keep up or risk falling back in terms of development, as people's lives and livelihoods become increasingly inseparable from this new dawn.

To mark its 75th anniversary, which falls on Sunday, the Bangkok Post has invited several visionary leaders to tell us how they imagine the Thailand of 2031 in all its potential guises, from the economic and political to the technological, environmental and social.

As the paper celebrates a past laden with its own unforgettable moments, we hope readers will enjoy this glimpse into the future as part of this special publication.

Sustainability and technology will be driving forces during the next decade, but to reap the benefits adjustments need to be made

BySomruedi Banchongduang

Looking ahead to the next decade, the world will be defined by two major trends: sustainability and technology, according to Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, governor of the Bank of Thailand.

"The wave of changes is coming fast, and it's up to us to prepare ourselves for it. We will either be submerged in it and get left behind, or ride the wave towards a better future" -- Sethaput Suthiwartharueput, Governor, Bank of Thailand

The mounting evidence of climate change and people's greater awareness through improved access to information has led to waves of environmental standards and regulations.

"Digital technology will be the other transformative force going forward. More efficient computers have allowed us to collect and make use of a quantity of data that was previously unimaginable," he said.

Companies and governments around the world are finding ways to integrate technology into their products, not only to increase efficiency, but also to improve the experiences and lives of the public.

Given these trends, where will we stand 10 years from now?

The sustainability trend together with a decreasing workforce means Thailand will shift away from quantity towards quality, according to Mr Sethaput.

Mass tourism will give way to small groups of eco-conscious travellers, he said. National park regulations will be updated with sustainability in mind.

As demand for healthcare and wellness professionals increases, so will the demand for upskilling and recertifying service workers, said Mr Sethaput.

New types of services could emerge. Given the pervasiveness of remote work, vacation destinations could be transformed into dream workplaces for office workers, he said.

Along with the service sector, agriculture and manufacturing will experience a major shift as well. Consumers' growing concerns about sustainability and health has led to green product categories that are able to command higher prices, said Mr Sethaput.

On the flipside, products that are deemed non-sustainable might be banned from some markets. A reliance on processing unique products, rather than producing commodities, will be key to delivering higher value-added exports, he said.

Digital technology will play an integral role in all of this, from mechanising manufacturing processes to enabling more efficient production and services through data.

Precision farming in controlled environments will reduce variability in crop yields for farmers, said Mr Sethaput. Automated government processes will enable small farmers to easily provide relevant sustainability certifications.

Those who fail to incorporate technology into their businesses will struggle to compete, while those who succeed will enjoy many more opportunities from that technology, he said.

Mr Sethaput said to prepare for the impending changes, three upgrades need to be applied immediately.

Capital:Thailand is severely underinvesting. Private investment growth has plummeted from more than 8% prior to the global financial crisis to only 1.6% pre-pandemic. Industry transformation cannot happen on a piecemeal basis, and clear government policies and support will be required.

People:The workforce will need a push, through policies supporting upskilling/reskilling to stay relevant for the industries of the next decade.

System:The system should facilitate the transformations, not hinder them. Regulations should take advantage of technological progress. More importantly, investment in infrastructure both physical and digital will allow people to build their future on a solid foundation.

Having recognised the financial sector's role in this process, the central bank seeks to prepare the financial system for the next decade. Digital initiatives such as the central bank's digital currency, licences for information-based lending, and the adoption of a new payment standard that would allow for easier processing of payment data will support the country's digital transformation, he said.

On the sustainability front, the central bank's Sustainable Finance Initiatives for Thailand initiates discussions on sustainable banking and the financial sector's role in steering Thailand towards sustainable growth.

"Thais have deep roots in agriculture, cuisine, hospitality and creativity. We can never really change our roots, but we can change the way we do things. In fact, it is necessary we change the way we do things starting today. The wave of change is coming fast, and it's up to us to prepare ourselves for it. We will either be submerged in it and get left behind, or ride the wave towards a better future," said Mr Sethaput.

The NESDC believes high-tech industry will be the key engine driving economic growth over the next decade

ByChatrudee Theparat

Thailand's economic structure will differ greatly in 10 years as high technology and innovation are likely to become the key engines to drive the country's economic growth instead of exports and tourism, says the state planning unit chief.

"Thailand needs to transform the manufacturing sector to higher value-added industries such as the bio-, circular and green economic model, which can increase the value of farm products" -- Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-general, National Economic and Social Development Council

Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), said the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak poses a key challenge for Thailand's economic development, notably over the next five years, in addition to factors such as an ageing society and climate change.

"We expect from 2020-2022, the country's poverty problem will worsen because of the Covid-19 outbreaks," he said.

"The pandemic also triggered a big gap in income disparity because poor people are less able to cope with the crisis due to low education levels and lack of access to digital technology."

The country should focus more on restructuring to upgrade Thai industries to high technology and innovations from conventional industries, which are no longer in a position to compete in the global market, said Mr Danucha.

He said the first goal is to transition the country from natural resource-based industries towards a knowledge-based or high value-added economy that is environmentally friendly.

A high value-added economy focuses on activities that generate a large margin between the final price of a good or service and the cost of the inputs used to produce it, thus creating higher profits for businesses and higher wages for workers.

"Thailand needs to transform the manufacturing sector to higher value-added industries such as the bio-, circular and green economic model, which can increase the value of farm products," said Mr Danucha. "An electric vehicle ecosystem creates supporting industries including smart electrical parts and a smart grid, while we should also emphasise the medical industry, tourism, logistics and digital services."

He said private investment will play a key role to help the economy recover from the pandemic over the next 5-7 years, while the government is expected to pursue the Southern Economic Corridor and Northeastern Economic Corridor developments, which are similar in form to the existing flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

Those two special economic zones should be sped up over next the 1-2 years because the EEC scheme alone is unlikely to be sufficient to drive investment over the next 5-10 years, said Mr Danucha.

Another nationwide goal should be to create more opportunities and equality for Thais so the poor can better enjoy the benefits of prosperity, both in terms of income and wealth, he said.

The government needs to promote sustainable growth among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and community businesses; develop well-being and smart cities; reduce the number of people living in poverty; and introduce more appropriate social protection measures, according to the NESDC.

To reduce the income gap, the state needs to ramp up income distribution, economic development and legislative reforms to give low-income groups access to more and better education, economic opportunities and justice, said Mr Danucha.

Production and consumption that affect the environment also need to be considered in order to shift to an environmentally friendly way of life and safety, he said.

The workforce needs to develop skills in high technology and innovation to drive the economy forward, said Mr Danucha.

The government should digitalise state services while upgrading government management to facilitate investors and public services, he said.

"We expect Thailand's development over the next 10 years to be in line with the country's 20-year national strategy [2018-37] and 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan [2023-27] that aims to transform Thailand in four areas: narrowing income disparity and reducing poverty through innovation; creating a knowledge-based economy and value-added development; human resources development; and digital government," said Mr Danucha.

A concern for the environment will help guide industry decisions for the next decade

ByYuthana Praiwan

Environmental concerns will increasingly take precedence in the energy business, playing a part in growth decisions that were previously dominated by profit motive.

In the energy and transport sectors, these concerns are leading to a shift towards clean energy as the country aims to make it the main source of electricity in the future, said Somphote Ahunai, chief executive of renewable energy developer Energy Absolute Plc (EA).

"Expansion of renewable energy capacity across the globe will eventually decrease costs due to economy of scale" -- Somphote Ahunai, Chief executive, Energry Absolute Plc

He expects energy and transport businesses will be hit by a "great disruption" in the same way as other businesses encountered a digital disruption that changed consumer lifestyles and markets.

Failure to adapt to this global trend of renewable power generation may land Thailand in an unpleasant economic situation post-pandemic, said Mr Somphote.

He said technical terms such as carbon border adjustment mechanism will become more familiar among businesses as many countries, led by the EU, discuss a proposal to enforce the mechanism as a tool to urge exporters worldwide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector or face a new non-tariff barrier.

The EU is spearheading a carbon neutrality campaign to achieve a net-zero goal that requires countries to strike a balance between emissions and absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Stronger actions against climate change caused by global warming will prompt the electricity and auto industries to use more clean energy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, said Mr Somphote.

New international trade rules and cheaper renewable energy will drive the business direction, he said.

Renewable energy is energy from sources that can be replenished. Solar and wind power release no carbon dioxide during the electricity-generating process, unlike fossil fuels such as coal.

Thailand needs to prepare electricity generation from cleaner sources of energy to meet growing demand, said Mr Somphote.

"Producers and exporters across industries will require clean energy to run their businesses," he said.

"They will base their decision to set up factories on energy issues and look for Asean countries that can satisfy their needs. Thailand needs to be prepared to compete on this front."

EA has projected future demand and made a large investment in renewable energy development projects. The company operates solar and wind farms, with power generation capacity of 664 megawatts.

EA also invested in energy storage system (ESS) technology by building a 6-billion-baht battery production facility in Chachoengsao with a capacity of 50 gigawatt-hours.

ESS is needed to store electricity produced by intermittent power sources such as solar and wind. Batteries are also crucial to run electric vehicles (EVs).

Mr Somphote admitted the costs of renewable energy development remain high, but they should decrease in the future, allowing competition with fossil-based electricity generation.

Expansion of renewable energy capacity across the globe will eventually decrease costs due to economy of scale, he said. This will allow electricity businesses to depend less on fossil fuel-fired power generation.

Clean energy is expected to play a more important role in the transport sector given the emphasis in state planning, said Mr Somphote.

The theory is the fewer vehicles running on internal combustion engines, the lower the level of carbon dioxide in the air.

He compared the coming age of EVs with the birth of smartphones.

"When phones changed from analogue to digital systems and were equipped with chips, people's lifestyles changed across the board," said Mr Somphote.

The National EV Policy Committee announced in March a goal to have 50% of vehicles made locally be EVs by 2030, part of an ambitious government plan to make Thailand a regional EV production hub.

He admires the government for its efforts to promote the EV industry, but whether the goal will be achieved depends largely on EV infrastructure, including adding many more charging outlets at publicly available stations, said Mr Somphote.

EA is building an EV assembly plant in Chachoengsao, focusing on manufacturing mass transport vehicles such as buses and trucks.

Earlier this year, the company also launched a commercial electric boat service on the Chao Phraya River.

Knowing large EVs require a huge amount of electricity, EA also invented "Parallel Charge", an ultra-fast charging system that takes only 15 minutes to recharge batteries by up to 80%.

Ageing society, health crisis will pose spending challenges, says TDRI president

ByMongkol Bangprapa

The private sector will continue to play a vital role in propelling growth and development in the next decade, but the country's stumbling block remains the bureaucracy, says Somkiat Tangkitvanich, president of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).

"To stay ahead of the curve, the country needs a strong and smart government because all the key challenges facing the country are complex and cannot be addressed in just four years, or one administration's tenure" -- Somkiat Tangkitvanich, TDRI president

A "smart and strong" government is needed to help it rise to challenges and get where it wants to be, he says.

Peering into the future, Mr Somkiat highlights four major issues that will have significant implications in shaping the country's landscape as he discusses key challenges and opportunities in the coming years.

Amid many critical transitions the country faces, Mr Somkiat says economic factors, technology disruption, geopolitics and global climate change are likely to pose the biggest challenges.

Among economic factors, the biggest one is demographic change. Thailand is becoming an ageing society and this will have impacts on two fronts: a shrinking labour force and a higher fiscal burden due to massive spending on elderly welfare.

Labour-intensive sectors will face a shrinking work force, and labour shortages will affect productivity and business growth, he said.

Demographic change will also increase the state's fiscal burden as the government sets aside a larger budget to cover welfare for the older population.

Technology transforms livelihoods, but Thailand is poorly prepared to respond adequately to disruptive technology changes especially in the areas of information technology and deep tech, be it in energy, healthcare, biotech or quantum computing, he said.

Thailand is trailing far behind other countries due to inadequate skill development and insufficient research funding, he added.

Spending on research and development has reached 1% of GDP in recent years, but it faces cutbacks due to the financial crunch brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the geopolitics front, trade tensions between the US and China have caused a shift in supply chains in the region, raising the awkward challenge of balancing the influence of these two giant economies.

Meanwhile, the impacts of natural disasters linked to climate change such as severe droughts and heavy floods in Thailand will be devastating as the country depends heavily on agriculture, tourism and the services sectors.

In the long run, unless underlying causes of climate change are mitigated, the threat of rising sea levels will put many coastal areas at risk.

'Whether Thailand can ensure growth and sustainability in the years to come depends critically on how the country addresses these key challenges,'' the TDRI president told the Bangkok Post.

The country's growth, which nosedived following the 1997 financial crisis, is forecast to be no more than 3% annually.

The economic devastation from the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with a higher fiscal burden associated with the ageing population is likely to make the debt-to-GDP ratio exceed the ceiling of 60%, he said.

Income inequality, which was in decline over the past two decades, is now reversing in the face of the public health crisis while environmental issues such as air pollution from PM2.5 ultra-fine dust still pose a threat to long-term prosperity, he said.

Go here to read the rest:

Thailand 2031: A Glimpse into the Future - Bangkok Post - Bangkok Post - Bangkok Post

(Bloomberg) -- The Swiss franc climbed to its strongest level against the euro this year while the yen rallied to its highest since May, underscoring persistent demand for havens as the spread of the Covid-19 delta variant threatens global growth.

The Swiss currency gained to 1.0729 per euro, the strongest level since November, and is now up more than 3% from its February low. It also rallied for a seventh session against the dollar, its longest streak since April. The yen, meanwhile, advanced 0.3% to 108.91, its strongest rate since May 26.

Demand for the havens -- which are the two best-performing major currencies over the last month -- is the latest evidence that risk sentiment and growth expectations remain fragile, which could delay central banks exits from ultra-accommodative policies. Recent signs of caution have emerged across markets. U.S. Treasuries 10-year yields dropped last month by the most since March 2020. Meanwhile, traders in China are boosting wagers on another round of policy easing.

The rising cases of the delta variant has tempered somewhat the optimism that was building regarding the strength of recovery of the major economies, said Stuart Cole, head macro economist at Equiti Capital. This rise in risk aversion is benefiting the likes of the franc and yen.

Concerns about declining commodity demand pushed resource-based currencies lower with the Canadian dollar slumping the most in two weeks.

Global bouts of risk aversion typically drive investors into the Swiss franc, and the SNB has battled a too-strong currency for more than a decade. Its monetary policy -- consisting of negative interest rates plus a pledge to wage currency market interventions if needed -- is designed to stem the francs appreciation.

Still, speculators remain bullish on the franc. That could test the Swiss National Banks tolerance for a stronger currency, which has also been partly buoyed by a domestic economy thats gathering momentum and improving vaccine rates.

The euro-franc pair has tracked the move lower in European real yields very closely, as the SNB has not intervened in FX markets to counter the CHF appreciation trend, Morgan Stanley strategists including John Kalamaras said. Overall, the market seems under-positioned for a move lower in the franc if U.S. and global yields start moving higher again.

The drop in yields globally are supporting low yielders like the yen and the franc, according to Manuel Oliveri, a currency strategist at Credit Agricole. They simply lose rate disadvantage.

(Adds markets context throughout.)

2021 Bloomberg L.P.

See the article here:

Swiss Franc and Yen Climb to Multi-Month Highs Amid Haven Bets - BNN

"Hannah is an inspiration for any individual interested in pursuing a career in tech- especially young women."

Lloyd started her career as a sales representative one month before graduating from Queen Mary University of London at the age of 21. Seven years later, while being based in the UK, she is leading channel sales ata Los Angeles-based global cybersecurity company delivering an AI-driven Open-XDR SOC-as-a-service solution to MSPs and MSSPs globally. Lloydalso servesas thevicechair of the CompTIA UK Business Technology Community and actively contributesto the CompTIA Advancing Tech Talent and Diversity Community, the CompTIA Benelux Business Technology Community,and the CompTIA Cybersecurity Community.

"Hannah is an inspiration for any individual interested in pursuing a career in tech- especially young women," said Nancy Hammervik, executive vice president of industry relations at CompTIA and CEO of the CompTIA Tech Career Academy. "Twice, Hannahhas beenrecognized with a CompTIA Spotlight Award and it's been fantastic to watch her grow her career as she grew her engagement with CompTIA.Her passion and dedication are remarkable and greatly appreciated."

In addition to her work on the different communities, Lloyd is currentlyleading across-continentteam of volunteersto enhance and build a resource library for solution providers. Theend gameis to provide tangible documents to help MSPs grow their businesses in efficient ways while providing guidance.Theinitiative will continue to bolster CompTIA as a go-to resource for industry education and thought-leadership.

"I am extremely honoured and humbled to be awarded this accolade from CompTIA," said Lloyd. "I thoroughly enjoy contributing to the industry and giving back to the community both within the UK and within the global forum. I attribute a lot of my success, growth and continuing professional maturity to the support I have received from the CompTIA team, and the opportunities I have received through my involvement with the organisation. I cannot wait to continue my work with CompTIA and all that the future has to bring."

The industry is honoring Lloyd this week during ChannelCon Online, CompTIA's annual industry gathering of technology business thought leaders, decision makers, entrepreneurs and visionaries.

Lloyd is the sixth technology industry leader to receive the CompTIA Member of the Year award. Past honorees include Nellie Scott, Angel L. Pieiro Jr., Victor Johnston, Tracy Pound and John Tippett.

To read a profile of Lloyd, check out the latest edition of CompTIA World, the association's magazine.

About CompTIAThe Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world's economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit https://connect.comptia.org/.

Media Contact Roger HughlettCompTIA[emailprotected]+1 630-678-8644

SOURCE CompTIA

http://www.comptia.org

More here:

Hannah Lloyd Honored as CompTIA Member of the Year - PRNewswire

In 2022, NAPAfrica will celebrate a decade of playing a pivotal role in transforming Africas internet access and interconnectedness. Established in 2012, with the aim to stimulate the development of an internet exchange (IXP) within a truly vendor-neutral environment, NAPAfrica has grown into the continents biggest IXP and the seventh largest globally by number of member connections. Most recently, NAPAfrica announced it had reached a peering throughput milestone of more than 2Tbps, with over 500 organisations now actively peering.

The growth of NAPAfrica is a great African success story, says Jan Hnizdo, CEO of Teraco, where the internet exchanges infrastructure resides within vendor-neutral co-location data centres located in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. What started as an idea to attract global content to African shores while also improving latency has emerged as a leading interconnection hub that is shaping the growth and access of the internet across the African continent. It took eight years for traffic throughput on the internet exchange to reach 1Tbps, and only a little over 15 months to double that.

NAPAfrica has made it possible for peering members to access global content within African borders and keep local traffic local where previously, much of our traffic was routed via Europe. More recently, we have seen many new enterprises join the NAPAfrica peering community to improve resilience, lower costs and reduce the latency of accessing content and applications such as Microsoft O365, AWS Cloudfront, Akamai and Cloudflare. NAPAfrica has become a cornerstone for organisations in supporting their internet and communication needs with work-from-home strategies.

The continued investment into critical telecommunications infrastructure in Africa, especially in the local cloud regions like Microsoft Azure and AWS, subsea cables and broadband fibre, have also contributed enormously to the growth of NAPAfrica, as the continents demand for content and cloud services grows apace.

African enterprises are leveraging the benefits of peering by connecting with cloud deployments, networks, security providers and content providers within the NAPAfrica ecosystem as part of their move to a digital economy.

The number of IXPs in Africa has also grown exponentially since the launch of NAPAfrica, increasing from 19 in 2012 to 46 in 2020: A 140% increase in the number of African exchanges is good news for the continent and its interconnectedness. We are proud of the innovative role NAPAfrica has played in shaping Africas internet access and usage.

Deloittes Value of Connectivity report says internet connectivity has already hugely benefited developed economies, providing far-reaching economic and social advantages. Extending these opportunities to developing economies in Africa is critical in making the transition from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.

It is in the creation of a knowledge-based economy where Africa, and NAPAfrica, has seen the immense growth of cloud providers that are launching their services across the continent as the need for cloud-based technology increases. Coupled with this has been the extensive investment and uptake in fibre and subsea cable infrastructure, allowing users access to higher capacities than ever before.

Michele McCann, Head of Interconnection & Peering, Teraco, says people have now discovered the real power of the internet, be it working from home or for pure entertainment: We are seeing NAPAfrica traffic grow daily as enterprises start investing in larger bandwidth options as they address work-from-home needs. From a content perspective, the UEFA EURO 2020 added over 400Gbps of additional traffic to the exchange.

Increased demand on networks, to service remote users, has driven the adoption of key cloud and security applications such as Microsoft O365 services, AWS, Cloudflare and Zscaler.

As NAPAfrica continues to play a significant role by servicing not only South Africa but also the southern African region, McCann says similar traffic growth numbers are occurring elsewhere on the continent within countries such as Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Runion, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

See the article here:

NAPAfrica internet exchange leads the way for internet growth and accessibility in Africa - ITWeb