Spain to exit from bank bailout in January

Spain to exit from bank bailout in January

 

Spain has announced it is to exit its EU/IMF bank bailout programme.

 

Madrid borrowed 41 billion euros last year to rescue many of its banks crippled by bad loans after the collapse of a property and construction bubble.

 

The country has now met the conditions of its aid programme and its banking sector has “significantly improved” according to euro zone finance ministers.

 

It follows an announcement by Ireland that it will also exit the bailout next month.

 

At a news conference in Brussels ministers welcomed Spain’s decision, hailing it a success for the Eurogroup.

 

Head of Eurogroup, Jeroen Disjsselboem, said: “These two countries are an example of how a programme can work, and should work. So I think that’s a good sign. Of course at the outstart of the whole crisis management of the euro zone this was all new, it was all ‘terra incognita’, it all had to be worked out, and we’ve now had two good experiences, successful experiences, and I think that’s very important.”

 

Copyright © 2014 euronews

 

(euronews, 16 Saturday November 2013 The Roman)

 

Animal feed business to grow 12 % in 2014

Animal feed business to grow 12 % in 2014

 

The animal feed business is expected to grow by 10-12 percent this year on the back of increasing demand for chicken, according to a national association.

 

They said large election-related gatherings this year would contribute to heightened demand for chicken dishes — one of the most common sources of protein for Indonesians.

 

Desianto Budi Utomo, secretary general for the Indonesia Animal Feed Producers Association (GPMTI), said the group projected the animal feed business to grow 10-12 percent this year, compared to 9 percent last year.

 

“There will be more food orders to caterers, and chances are there will be meat on the menu. This will surely boost poultry demand, and positively impact animal feed enterprises as well,” Desianto said over the weekend.

 

He added that the continued growth of the nation’s economy and middle class would also contribute to the growth of animal feed industry.

 

“The country is estimated to maintain growth above 5 percent this year, and that is actually quite good because it ensures that Indonesians’ purchasing power will remain strong and keep them consuming meat products,” he said.

 

According to him, the country would see its animal feed production rising to 15.5 million tons this year.

 

Last year, the country produced about 14.8 million tons of animal feed.

 

Desianto, who is also the deputy director of the country’s biggest animal feed producer, PT Charoen Pokphand, said his company was set to see its revenue grow by about 12 to 15 percent this year.

 

He added that his company was looking to build 8 new processing facilities in 2014 and 2015.

 

The publicly listed Thailand-based firm now operates seven feed mills.

 

The company has yet to publish its 2013 annual results, but previous reports said that it was upbeat it had reached its 15 percent growth target for 2013, equal to Rp 24.51 trillion (US$2 billion) in revenue.

 

A recent report published by investment consultant Investa Sarana Mandiri advises investors to keep an eye on stocks of publicly listed animal feed companies.

 

Historically, meat consumption — especially chicken — increases significantly during an election year.

 

Usually, 70 percent of the country’s gross domestic product [GDP] goes toward consumption during a political year, with 50 percent of that being for food,” said Kiswoyo Adi Joe, an analyst with the firm.

 

“Here is where we almost always find chicken in the main course.”

 

(JP/Anggi M. Lubis)

 

(The Jakarta Post, 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Gates shifts role at Microsoft, new CEO named

Gates shifts role at Microsoft, new CEO named

 

Washington (AFP)

 

Microsoft moved Tuesday to reboot for a mobile future, naming Indian-born Satya Nadella chief executive as founder Bill Gates shed his title of chairman for a more hands-on role.

 

Gates "will devote more time to the company" in his new role on the board as "founder and technology advisor," a company statement said.

 

Nadella, 46, who becomes the third CEO at Microsoft, has been executive vice president of its Cloud and Enterprise group.

 

The moves come with Microsoft losing ground to rivals like Apple and Google amid a shift away from the traditional personal computer to mobile devices and cloud services.

 

"As the industry changes we have to innovate and move forward," Gates said in a video released on the Microsoft website.

 

"I'm thrilled that Satya has asked me to step up. I'll have over a third of my time available to meet with product groups."

 

The 58-year-old Gates said that "during this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella."

 

He called Nadella "a proven leader with hard-core engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together."

 

Gates stepped down as CEO in 2000 and left day-to-day operations in 2008 to devote more time to his multibillion-dollar Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

Microsoft said John Thompson, lead independent director, will assume the job of chairman at the tech giant.

 

Nadella, who takes over from the retiring Steve Ballmer, said, "Microsoft is one of those rare companies to have truly revolutionized the world through technology, and I couldn't be more honored to have been chosen to lead the company."

 

He added, "The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move faster and continue to transform. A big part of my job is to accelerate our ability to bring innovative products to our customers more quickly."

 

The shake-up at Microsoft drew positive responses from analysts.

 

"I think this is a terrific development for the company," said Greg Sterling at Opus Research.

 

"Nadella also seems to have encouraged the new Gates role, which will be good for the company too. Personally, Nadella is a more humble and understated figure than Ballmer, which will be good for the company's image. I also think Nadella brings a strong mix of business and technology expertise to the role."

 

Frank Gillett at Forrester Research said Nadella has shown "a willingness to shake things up, so that seems positive to us."

 

Gillett added that by using Gates as a key advisor, "he's reaching for Gates's experience in running the company but also in the successes in that era. But by having him in an informal role, it also says we are in a new era. All in all, it seems quite positive."

 

Roger Kay at Endpoint Technologies Associates said Nadella will need to articulate a vision for Microsoft, which under Ballmer was undergoing a transformation from software to "devices and services."

 

"Nadella has to come up with the vision," Kay said. "Gates's vision was appropriate for the 1970s and 1980s."

 

Kay said Nadella "admits that he is green in asking support from Gates but that's OK. I think people can come into a job green and grow into it."

 

Nadella "has been the enterprise guy, so I would expect him to go in that direction. They may even spin off the consumer business."

 

Deutsche Bank analyst Karl Keirstead said Nadella was a "good choice."

 

"Although Microsoft is a big ship to turn, in our view Nadella will push to make Microsoft more innovative and agile, more like Apple and less like IBM," Keirstead said in a research note.

 

Matthew Hedberg at RBC Capital Markets called Nadella "a safe choice" and said his background "could mean a bigger emphasis on cloud and enterprise than Microsoft has had in the past."

 

Hedberg added that the shift in roles for Gates would be a "bigger positive for investor sentiment."

 

In late morning trading, Microsoft shares were up 0.33 percent at $36.60.

 

Nadella heads the team that runs the public, private and service provider clouds for Microsoft.

 

Previously, Nadella was president of Microsoft's $19 billion server and tools business.

 

He is a native of Hyderabad, India and earned degrees from Mangalore University, the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and the University of Chicago.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

Bruxelles, Letta a Confindustria: "Io non sfascio i conti" Brussels, of Confindustria Letta: "I do not reckon shambles"

Bruxelles, Letta a Confindustria: "Io non sfascio i conti"

 

 

Lo ha detto il presidente del Consiglio Enrico Letta da Bruxelles.

"Gli imprenditori e la Confindustria dovrebbero essere i primi a sapere che tenere i conti a posto - ha aggiunto il premier - vuol dire far calare gli spread".

"Per la crescita è essenziale che i conti siano a posto", ha concluso.

(VISTA Agenzia Televisiva Parlamentare/Alexander Jakhnagiev)
GOVERNO LETTA, CONFINDUSTRIA

(Il Piccolo, 19 Giovedi Dicembre 2013 Il Romano)

 

 

Brussels, of Confindustria Letta: "I do not reckon shambles"

He said the Prime Minister Enrico Letta from Brussels.

"Entrepreneurs and the Confederation should be the first to know who keep their accounts in place - added the Prime Minister - means bring down the spreads."

"For the growth is essential that the accounts are in place," he concluded.

(VIEW Parliamentary Television Agency / Alexander Jakhnagiev)
GOVERNMENT LETTA, Confindustria

(Il Piccolo, 19 Thursday December 2013 The Roman)
(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 20 Friday December 2013 The Roman)

Grigol Vashadze: After that, the greatest threat is not against Ukraine, but against Georgia.

Grigol Vashadze: After that, the greatest threat is not against Ukraine, but against Georgia.

 

Tbilisi 20:46 - 22.11.13 «GHN»

 

GHN had the interview with the former minister of foreign affairs of Georgia_ Mr.Grigol Vashadze on the situation in Ukraine about signing the Association Agreement with EU and the possible threats for Georgia.

 

[caption id="attachment_10648" align="alignnone" width="320"] (Photo Georgia News Agency)[/caption]

 

-Mr. Grigol, it is clear, that the political leadership of Ukraine is under the heaviest pressure. After German Chancellor, Angela Merkel declared and addressed Russia to refrain from pressuring against Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova the situation became more complicated. How do you see the existing situation and can we consider Ukraine's refusal as Putin's victory and the failure of EU neighborhood policy?

 

-I can say clearly, that the decision of Ukraine about the termination or suspension of the signing process of the Agreement, I do not know what kind of formulation it has, is the defeat of EU neighborhood policy. This decision made by Ukraine government would threat the future of future generation and country's future development in general. Of course, it can be considered as the victory of Russia, because it is absolutely unacceptable for Russia not only NATO, but the enlargement of European Union as well. I do not like this word, but, enlargement of EU towards the post-Soviet direction. Russia has reached its aim.

 

I would also like to say, that in this situation both sides - Ukraine and the European Union have revealed extremely rigid and politically unprepared positions.

 

-If everything goes OK - I mean, initial and following procedures, it's very much probable that we would find ourselves in the position Ukraine is today It's obvious that the next year Russia will make pressure on Georgia...

 

Russia has successfully resolved its foreign policy objectives with respect to Ukraine. Let's recall that the current administration of Ukraine from the very beginning declared the decision that Ukraine would never join any military or political blocs and organizations.

 

Thus, Russia removed the threat of NATO expansion to Ukraine. And now, by refusal of Ukraine Russia has removed another its "danger" - expansion of EU - I mean, expansion of the European family based on democratic values towards Ukraine, the family, to whom Ukraine belongs by its history, culture and genetically.

 

After that, the greatest threat is not against Ukraine any more, but against Georgia. For Russia which successfully solved the most urgent task regarding Ukraine - suspension the expansion of NATO and the European Union, the next task will be Georgia, of course. From the Vilnius Summit, to the moment when Georgia and EU should sign extremely important documents - Association Agreement and very deep and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement - there is very realistic danger for us to become the victims of a series of political intrigues and provocations from Russia.

 

And I have to say- as unpleasant may be this inflexibility- the European Union, warned us by the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė that selective justice for European Union is unacceptable. Our political government, the political elite, should understand that, these are not just the words. As in Ukraine the fate of one person had put under the question mark the region's most important expansion of the two organizations, the same could take place in Georgia as well - to put under the question mark the signing of this document.

 

- Whether there is likelihood, that EU, taking into consideration this situation, can take an extraordinary step and sign the Association Agreement with Georgia and Moldova in Vilnius Summit and by that, in fact, prevents Russia's future behavior towards these countries?

 

- No. Let's explain once again- European Union and Brussels have declared their position. They say, for all these to happen you need more to do and achieve, than we have now. You need more international legal documents, you need more democracy, human rights, the balanced government, unprejudiced court and economic perspective - rather than the European Union. That's all we bring, but we bring these with condition, that you share our values. And if Yanukovych has not done something, why should we give more to Georgia? -So, it is absolutely impossible for that to happen.

 

- What would you suggest in this situation to Georgian government?

 

- As an ordinary citizen of this country, I urge the government to take into account the fact that we are now in critical condition. No matter how much they say we are perfect and so on, we are in an extremely serious and dangerous condition. Next year, starting from the Vilnius summit to NATO summit and to the deadline of theoretical signing up,- is going to be very difficult in terms of foreign policy for Georgia. Therefore, every statement, every trip, every decision made should be seriously reviewed, studied and analyzed in the framework of international law.

 

A person who enters in "Georgian Dream", should know, that he has no right to make comments and statements about foreign policy automatically, while it has not been agreed with professionals. Otherwise we will come over even more disastrous results.

 

GHN, Gocha Mirtskhulava

 

(Georgia News Agency, 22 Friday November 2013 The Roman)