The minerals industry has been working with key stakeholders including the NSW Farmers Association,
the Irrigators Council of NSW and Regional Development Australia to ensure that there is more information about water for the community and the resources and agricultural sectors.

NSW Minerals Council CEO Dr Nikki Williams said it was important that decisions about land use are made scientifically.

“We’ve been committed to this study for some time now because we recognise the benefits of having more information about water in this region,” Dr Williams said.

“Members of the community in the Namoi catchment area have some very specific concerns about the water resource.

“Just like the community, we support the need for more data in the Namoi catchment to ensure that developments can be assessed against the facts on a case-by-case basis. That’s why resource companies with interests in the region have backed this study with $3 million in funding.

“The information generated by this Study will add to the community’s existing knowledge and the extensive mapping and monitoring of underground aquifers already undertaken by mineral explorers.

Source: http://www.nswmin.com.au/Media-Speeches-and-Info/Media-Releases/default.aspx

The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Chief Executive, Ms Belinda Robinson, said the new portal provides an open and transparent understanding of the industry’s water usage, monitoring, and analysis.

“The publishing of this data demonstrates the industry’s commitment to respond to landholder concerns and the industry expects the availability of this data will improve the community’s acceptance of our operations.

“Adverse impacts from CSG activities upon groundwater are very unlikely and manageable however extensive monitoring and analysis programs are being undertaken to establish baseline data and mitigate identified impacts.

Source: http://www.appea.com.au/images/stories/Media_Centre/100901_qld_groundwater_monitoring_portal.pdf

The accommodation, cafes & restaurants sub-sector was flat in August while retail trade contracted once again. The expansion in activity in communication services, wholesale trade and finance & insurance, largely due to employment growth, wasn’t enough to lift the sector’s overall performance. A slump in supplier deliveries and selling prices particularly impacted personal & recreational services and health & community services.

Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Heather Ridout, said: “The continuing sluggish performance of the services sector reinforces Ai Group’s view of the ongoing patchiness of the recovery in the broader economy. Although there are some promising signs among the services sub-sectors, the sector as a whole is yet to feel the full benefits of the gradual re-emergence of private sector demand.”

Commonwealth Bank Senior Economist, John Peters, said: “The latest Australian PSI® readings are consistent with the latest national accounts, which revealed retail spending by consumers (roughly 40% of total household spending) edged up by just 0.3% in the June quarter. In contrast, the non-retail areas of household spending expanded by 2.3% in the same period.

“We think that households, buoyed by ongoing labour market strength, a falling unemployment rate, and gifted with real wage increases, and likely rising asset prices in the year ahead, will become more confident and relaxed about the future. They will thus become increasingly less jittery about balance sheet repair, and will boost their spending levels and the breadth of their purchases,” Mr Peters said.

Source: http://www.aigroup.com.au/

“The plans outlined in the Connecting SEQ 2031: A South East Queensland Integrated Regional Transport Plan (IRTP), are important for the long-term interests of the $224 billion Queensland economy.

“Queensland businesses, whether they are in the construction sector or in the supply chain, stand to benefit significantly from this proposed pipeline of investment.

“We’ve seen rapid population growth in recent years and if this is to be sustained the implementation of a clear strategic plan is critical.

“The 207 kilometres of new railway line in SEQ, proposed in the rail part of the IRTP, will not only create jobs and opportunities for Queensland industry, the extra capacity from congestion-busting rail projects is vital to boosting productivity and keeping SEQ moving. We are also very encouraged by the proposed ‘ring road’ system which will also significantly improve the current transport network.

“While these proposed infrastructure projects are welcomed it’s absolutely critical that they are matched with real funding commitments.

“Funding such a visionary blueprint is only feasible if both the Government and the Opposition continue down the path of asset privatisation.

“If the current asset sales process falters then the State’s capacity to invest in these critical projects will also be severely constrained for years to come.

“In recent times SEQ has been home to the largest regional infrastructure program in Australia but with this comes challenges. Skills shortages are again looming and must be addressed, especially as the resources sector starts to kick-on again.

“QR National’s new trade mentoring program, announced earlier this week, is an important step in enhancing Queensland’s skill base and will go some way to ensuring we have the skilled labour necessary to deliver future infrastructure projects, ” Mr Martyn-Jones said.

Source: http://www.aigroup.com.au/

Strong mining, construction and infrastructure-related activity kept construction materials, basic metals and transport equipment in positive territory in the month. Clothing & footwear also enjoyed a lift in growth, supported by the strengthening of employment prospects over recent months. Food & beverages and paper, printing & publishing sub-sectors experienced the biggest falls.

Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Heather Ridout, said: “The Australian PMI® recorded its eighth consecutive month of expansion, in part due to manufacturers’ links with the construction and mining sectors. Nevertheless, election uncertainty, together with intense import competition and other ongoing impacts of a strong Australian dollar, is generating headwinds for manufacturers.

“Manufacturers have enjoyed a gradual expansion since the start of the year and, although August saw a decline in the pace of growth and new orders were flat, there are indications that the pace of recovery could strengthen in the months ahead. In particular, the stronger performance of the clothing & footwear and wood products & furniture sub sectors is encouraging and suggests that consumer demand may be picking up. This is being supported by the healthy performance of the labour market over the past year,” Mrs Ridout said.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Head of Industrial Manufacturing, Graeme Billings, said: “The recovery in manufacturing is proving to be somewhat slower than many have expected. In August political uncertainty detracted from overall performance adding to the range of challenges confronting both the sector and the broader economy. While manufacturing is still recovering, we are not yet seeing the sort of impetus from the private sector that is needed to underwrite aggregate growth at a time of receding public sector demand,” Mr Billings said.

Source: http://www.aigroup.com.au/

Delivering his keynote address at ASSOCHAM organized “6th National Conference on Pension, Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits” here today, Mr. Tiwari disclosed that Secretaries level discussions have commenced between Ministries of Finance and Rural Development in this regard because MNREGA falls under the direct jurisdiction of the latter.

The discussions have started on the subject following detailed proposal submitted to Ministry of Rural Development by PFRDA, said Mr. Tiwari adding that after secretary level talks becomes conclusive, relevant Ministers’ involvement would be sought and a cabinet note made for approval of the government. The process will take a little more time before a policy decision is taken in this regard, hinted Mr. Tiwari.

According to him each beneficiary of MNREGA will have to open an account in banks and deposit minimum of Rs. 1000-Rs. 1200 every year, clearly telling the banks concerned that this money should be transferred to National Security Depository Limited (NSDL) which will issue a number to beneficiary of MNREGA scheme so that he becomes entitled for pension benefits after the age of 60 or so.

The government will contribute equal amount in such accounts so that pension benefits are ensured for aam aadmi, said Mr.Tiwari, hinting further that current outgo of central government on MNREGA which works out to be Rs. 70,000 crores p.a. even may be hiked to ensure that NPS covers everybody in lower strata of society.

On the issue of parking surplus funds of pension fund managers in infrastructure and equities, Mr. Tiwari clarified that the regulator will not advice the pension fund managers to place a part of their funds in speculative channels to ensure that public money does not go waste.

In his inaugural speech Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Namo Narain Meena said that under NPS, pension is a shared responsibility of employer and employee to contribute equally. Presently, more than 10 lakh government employees are covered under NPS and this scheme has been adopted by state governments and few PSUs as well.

PFRDA has been taking several initiatives for expanding the reach of NPS among al sections of society and have launched customized models of NPS platform to suit needs of different sections of society. Recently, NPS-Lite, a low cost version of NPS with optimized features for economically disadvantaged persons has also been launched.

Government of India, with a view to promote retirement planning among al sections not statutorily covered by any other provident or pension schemes, have announced that an incentive of Rs. 1000/- per NPS account opened during fiscal 2009-10 and subsequent three years will be given under Swavalamban scheme. Swavalamban benefits will also be available to all subscribers from unorganized sector who have contributed between Rs. 1000-Rs. 12,000/- in a year to their NPS accounts.

Other speakers on the occasion were: Mr. Vinay Rai, Sr. Member, ASSOCHAM Managing Committee and President, Rai Foundation; Mr. Ben Facer, ASEAN and South Asia Business Leader, Retirement, Risk & Finance consulting, MERCER; Mr. D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.

Source: http://www.assocham.org/prels/shownews.php?id= 2560

Zhejiang Litian Group is a large company invloving in home textile, fabrics manufacturing, plastics, printing and trade. Under this agreement, this project will be located in Akesu Industry Zone, covering an area of 500 mu and investment with 300 million yuan in five years. It is divided into two stages. In first stage, it will invest 150 milion yuan to construct 50,000 spindles line and two weaving bag lines and is expected to put into production on March 2012. The second stage will accomplish in May 2015.

Source: http://english.ctei.gov.cn/News/Companies/252403.htm

A 9,000-word document will shortly go to the Government advocating an LEP comprising business leaders and the local authorities in Birmingham and Solihull.

Birmingham and Solihull Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI) has been a partner in preparing the proposal from the outset and its chief executive, Jerry Blackett, said: “The support we have received so far has been overwhelming but we now need to keep the momentum going until the September 6 deadline for submissions to the government.”

He is now widening the campaign by writing to nearly 200 key businesses in the region seeking their backing.

He added: “Our work in conjunction with Birmingham City Council and others has been received enthusiastically by a wide section of the business community in the region.

“We are now strengthening that position by seeking wider support. It is important that the government receives a strong message of support from everyone in the area.”

In the letter, Mr Blackett says: “The LEP will be created to improve the attention we give to developing the very best conditions for enterprise and business to flourish.

“The LEP is necessary because the new government has removed a number of quangos such as Advantage West Midlands, which have until now played leading roles in helping the economy.

“It is important that we demonstrate to government that the private sector is very much behind the objectives for our LEP so we’d like to see if we can enlist your support. LEPs will be competing for national funds and it is important to our region that Birmingham and Solihull is perceived by government to be a substantial and serious economic partnership.”

If the government supports the proposal in principle, the group proposes to establish a Shadow Board by November 1.

Source: http://www.birmingham-chamber.com/Influencing-Government/Latest-News/Press-Release/LEP-support-26-8-10.aspx

The increase in the numbers of students taking up science is particularly good for the high number of manufacturing and engineering companies in the city, says Birmingham Chamber Group’s policy adviser Kiran Virk.

“But we are a global economy and it is disappointing that there has been a decline in the study of modern languages.

“The East is fast becoming the world’s new economic centre, and employers will be looking for candidates who possess a working knowledge of other languages and cultures.

“Students have the opportunity of the remaining summer vacation to develop their employability through internships, volunteering or part-time employment.

“Businesses will also want to employ individuals who have strong skills in communication, team working and problem solving.”

Source: http://www.birmingham-chamber.com/Influencing-Government/Latest-News/Press-Release/GCSE-results.aspx

We are looking for 250 volunteers and the survey will take about 25 minutes to complete.

To complete the survey, you will need your last four electricity bills handy. You also must not be living in a metropolitan area.

The ATA has received funding through the National Electricity Market to conduct research comparing the expected costs of a stand alone power system (that is, owning your own power supply), to the costs of being connected to the distribution network.

The Market and Social Research Privacy Principles will apply to the survey, so you are assured that the data will be de-identified and no personal information will appear in the report.

The results will be published in ReNew magazine, and the data and information will be of significant use to the ATA in its ongoing advocacy work on behalf of rural and regional people in the National Electricity Market.

Source: http://www.ata.org.au/news/help-atas-research-into-energy-supply-options-for-rural-households/