On September 9, 2024 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sergei Terentiev, met with the Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sherif El-Sherbiny. 

The parties discussed the progress in implementing the agreements, reached during the visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Roman Golovchenko to Egypt in April, 2024 regarding cooperation in the fields of water supply, production of municipal equipment, construction. 

Possible connection of Belarus to socio-economic and infrastructural development projects, implemented in Egypt, were considered. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

The organisations signed below, which jointly advocate for the right to social security, commend the Government of Mauritius for its decision to extend the universal child benefit, called the Contribution Sociale Généralisée (CSG) Child Allowance, for another year, from July 2024 to June 2025. The extension of this scheme, first introduced in 2023, highlights Mauritius’ efforts to strengthen its universal social security system.

Mauritius has long invested in universal social security. In 1958, it expanded its means-tested old age pension to a universal right for all residents over 60 years of age, and it currently spends 7.0 per cent of its GDP on the tax-financed component of universal pensions.[1] In the same year, it expanded its means-tested disability benefit to a universal programme, with current investment levels at 0.67 per cent of GDP.[2] The launch of the universal child benefit (UCB) in 2023, providing MUR2,000 (US$43) per month to all children aged 0-3 years (an investment of less than 0.15 per cent of GDP[3]), marked another significant step towards building a rights-aligned social security system.

In the 2024/2025 budget, the Government of Mauritius announced the continuation of the UCB for at least another year, still supporting the same age group of children, with an increased monthly benefit of MUR2,500 (US$52). This 25 per cent increase is an important step to fulfil children’s right to social security.

UCBs are a critical component of a rights-aligned social security system. They were first introduced in the aftermath of World War II in countries such as Ireland, the UK, Finland and Sweden – then relatively poor countries – as part of a broader commitment to protect children and invest in their economies. Today, 12 low- and middle-income countries, including the Cook Islands, Libya, Mongolia, and Montenegro, have established UCB schemes.[4] These programmes are an important investment in child well-being and development, complementing other essential public services, such as education and health care.[5] For example, in the Cook Islands, the UCB has significantly improved children’s access to education, slightly reduced poverty rates, and increased household consumption by 3.5 per cent.[6] In Nepal, the UCB has led to increased birth registration, improved access to food, and a reduced likelihood of child labour among beneficiaries and their siblings.

Over time, other countries that have started with a lower age of eligibility have extended the benefit to older children. The Cook Islands, for example, first introduced its UCB in 1979 for children aged 0-6 years, but today this benefit extends to all children aged 0-16.[7] If Mauritius were to follow suit and gradually extend the current CSG Child Allowance, starting from 2026, by not removing children until they reach the age of 18, it could reach all children by 2040. As shown in the graph below, the cost of implementing the UCB for children until 18 years old will cost a maximum of 0.52 per cent of GDP by 2040, when the oldest children reach 18, from 0.13 per cent in 2025. Through a phased approach, this additional contribution is manageable, including through additional government revenues from modest and sustainable economic growth.[8] It would also be a significantly lower cost than many UCBs currently implemented by other countries. We strongly encourage Mauritius to consider this projection, alongside international case studies, as evidence of the feasibility of progressively expanding the benefit to all children.

The level of investment required to build a UCB over time in Mauritius, commencing with the current CSG Child Allowance 0-3 children in 2025 with a transfer value of MUR2,500 (around US$52) per month.

We urge other countries to follow Mauritius’s example in expanding its universal social security system. This approach directly benefits children and families and contributes to broader societal and economic development. Mauritius demonstrates that, with proper planning and commitment, any country can, over time, build comprehensive social security systems that leave no one behind.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Angola’s upstream oil and gas sector is expected to grow 1.5% between 2022 and 2027, driven by the country’s project pipeline and six-year licensing round. While large-scale oil and gas projects have historically been led by foreign players, a strong lineup of Angolan-based E&P firms are strengthening their presence across the market. Concurrently, proactive local content policies have paved the way for heightened participation by Angolan service providers, leading to greater opportunities for economic development.

Amid these opportunities, a panel discussion during the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) conference – taking place October 2-3 in Luanda – will examine how the country’s local content policies are not only equipping companies with the essential technical skills to participate in the market but are enabling them to drive projects forward. Titled Empowering Angolan Talent: Local Content Strategies to Unlock Angola’s Human Capital, the session features speakers from the Association of Service Providers of the Angolan Oil and Gas Industry and Associação de Empresas Autóctones para a Indústria Petrolífera de Angola – both partners of AOG 2024. Additionally, the session includes Kaeso Energy Services and AOG 2024 sponsor Angola Environmental Serviços.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

To maximize the benefits of oil and gas projects for the Angolan economy, the government has instituted various reforms in recent years to entice greater participation by local players. Through the Angolanization initiative – which aims to strengthen national entrepreneurship by granting local service producers’ preference regarding oil and gas contracts – the country is creating opportunities for companies. Market access is further support through policies such as the Angola Local Content Policy – amended in 2020 and outlining the utilization of Angolan service companies, registration requirements for domestic firms and local content clauses for oil and gas contracts.

As such, Angola’s local content policies have served as drivers of domestic market growth, with various companies seizing newfound contractual opportunities. Procurement company Brimont, for example, provides specialty chemicals for Angolan NOC Sonangol’s operated blocks while bunkering firm FAMAR is expanding its ship fleet to support projects. Additionally, Kaeso Energy Services represents the sole provider of Well Bore Clean Out Services in Angola while Brimont supports oil and gas projects through its operation of three logistics facilities in the country.

The AOG 2024 panel discussion aims to provide further insight into how these policies are shaping the country’s oil and gas industry. Speakers will delve into the impacts of increased participation by local companies in the exploration and production sector, how the oil and gas industry is empowering communities and fostering economic growth and the strategies being implemented to bolster human capital development.

For more information about the AOG 2024 program, visit https://apo-opa.co/47jkCKM.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

On 9 September 2024, Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, presided over and delivered the inaugural address of the 62nd Annual Session of Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Bangkok. 

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary highlighted the role of Asia and Africa in advancing the development of international law, especially on key topics such as climate change, law of the sea, and cyberspace, and emphasized the promotion of Asian and African leadership in strengthening international law. The Annual Session was attended by more than 300 distinguished individuals from more than 39 states, including ministers, attorney-generals, ambassadors and international legal experts.

AALCO composes of 48 Member States from Asia and Africa. It is the only forum that plays a crucial role in the exchange of views of both regions on various topics of international law. In 2021, Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, an eminent Thai legal academic and the former Secretary-General of the International Law Association of Thailand, was elected to serve as the 7th Secretary-General of AALCO. Previously, Thailand hosted the AALCO Annual Session twice in 1966 and 1987.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.