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WHAT’S NEW AT CUTS # 15
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19 February 2004
For Previous Issues Please Click Here
Added Urgency Sought in Child Labour Struggle
(Letter to Editor) Financial Times, 10 February 2004
The international community should take note of the fact that the benefits of
eliminating child labour outweigh its costs by a huge margin. All credit to the
International Labour Organisation for bringing striking cost-benefit figures to
the attention of the global community, while arguing for the elimination of
child labour. However it should be noted that any programme for eliminating
child labour should be based on the principle of “saving” the child.
www.cuts-international/cutsinmedia2004.htm#CIM08_2004
“The international trade union movement recognises Mr. Pradeep S.
Mehta’s assertion that child labour and poverty are strongly connected.
However it is too simple to see the issue of child labour as solely being the
consequence of poverty – it is also a significant cause of poverty, often locking
families into a cycle of penury”, says Guy Ryder, General Secretary,
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Belgium. www.cutsinternational/cutsinmedia2004.htm#CIM09_2004
FORTHCOMING EVENT
Afro-Asian Civil Society Seminar
From Cancun to Sao Paulo: The Role of Civil Society in the International Trading
System
13-15 April 2004, New Delhi, India
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Assuring developmental gains from the international trading system and
trade negotiations
Does the international trading system promote the interests of the poor?
Building and strengthening capacity in trade policy
The role of UNCTAD in assisting national trade and development strategies
Over 150 participants from Africa and Asia (including the Pacific region)
representing the civil society, inter-governmental agencies, government
institutions, academia, media, and donor agencies will discuss and debate these
issues and more at the seminar. More details will follow.
EVENTS
Public Lecture on WTO
16 February 2004, Jaipur, India
The British High Commissioner to India, Sir Michael Arthur, has said that the
WTO negotiations should seek to protect the interest of developing countries and
promote foreign direct investments in accordance with their needs.
He also felt that though the political consensus in the talks remained
elusive, the flexibility in approach and transparency of policies could lead to a
better understanding between economic powers and developing countries.
www.cuts-international/news-cuts1.htm#press2004-02
Seminars on Investment and Competition
28-30 January 2004, Geneva, Switzerland
CUTS Centre for Competition Investment and Economic Regulation (CUTSCCIER) recently organised a panel discussion on “Civil Society Perceptions of
Foreign Investment” and a day-long “International Seminar on FDI Policies and
Regulation: How to Foster Economic Development”.
A Conference of International Network of Civil Society Organisations on
Competition (INCSOC): “Engaging Civil Society in Promoting a Healthy
Competition Culture” was also organised during this period. www.cutsinternational/news-cuts1.htm#press2004-01
Workshops on Power Sector Reforms in Rajasthan
January-February 2004, Rajasthan, India
A series of workshops were organised in various cities across Rajasthan aimed at
addressing problems faced in the power sector and identifying solutions to them.
They were aimed at sharing some successful experiences of programmes and
their reliability; identifying the roadblocks to successful people’s participation in
reform process and creating awareness and building capacities of grassroots
consumer groups across the state. www.cuts-international/psr-04.htm
Dissemination Workshop: Farmers’ Rights and Livelihood of Garhwal
Himalayan Farmers
20-21 December 2003, Nainbagh, Tehri Garhwal, India
The main objective of the project on Farmer’s Rights is to make strategic
interventions, which will contribute to securing farmers' rights to livelihood in
the Himalayan region in the context of liberalisation, globalisation and the WTO
(World Trade Organisation) agreements. It aims to address poverty issues of the
mountain communities and conservation of Biodiversity in the region. The
workshop witnessed active participation of farmers coming from different
regions. www.cuts-international/nainbagh-rep.doc
National Seminar: Role of the Civil Society in Economic Governance
19-21 December 2003, Jaipur, India
“The biggest challenge before liberalisation is to set up independent regulatory
institutions, which can withstand pressures from political and business lobbies.
NGOs can raise awareness and build pressure to enhance accountability of the
regulators,” observed D.R. Mehta, former chairman of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India. This and other views were expressed at the three-day
seminar.
Attended by representatives of several civil society groups from different
parts of the country, the seminar had a number of experts speaking on regulatory
issues of governance in the areas of healthcare, education, water and,
infrastructure (electricity & road transport). Participants were unanimous in
recognising the importance of efficient and independent regulators. www.cutsinternational/news-cuts1.htm#Bigger
Road Safety Awareness Programme
10 November - 25 December 2003, Jaipur, India
CUTS undertook a road safety campaign in the city of Jaipur and utilised the tools of
research, advocacy and networking to generate awareness on road safety to bring about
policy changes to address some of the burning issues of road safety.
The project involved active participation of school and college children, state
administration, which includes State Road Transport Department, Traffic Police
Department, public representatives, Traffic Warden team, Volunteers and Street Play
Artists. www.cuts-international/road-safety04.htm
PUBLICATIONS
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RESEARCH REPORTS
Investment Policy—Performance and Perceptions
These are a series of country reports that highlight the important issues in policy
reform, investment trends and civil society view on the contribution of foreign
investment to the economies of 7 developing countries namely: Bangladesh,
Brazil, Hungary, India, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia.
The report addresses these questions through review of the respective
countries’ investment policies and their performance and aims to create
awareness about the investment policymaking process by a study of data and
perceptions of stakeholders.
Incentives-Based Policy Competition for FDI
This case study seeks to address the incentive-based policy competition for FDI
among sub-national jurisdictions in three developing countries —Brazil, China
and India. In essence, the study calls for better design, implementation,
administration and evaluation of incentives-based policy for attracting FDI. It
also calls for better coordination between governments to collectively overcome
the "prisoner’s dilemma" nature of the competition.
Investment Policies in Select Large Emerging Markets
Does FDI raise the productivity of capital in host countries by introducing
efficient methods of production than that introduced by local firms? Does it
promote growth by introducing new forms of productive activities and
stimulating its exports? This report attempts to compare and contrast the
national regulatory regimes and policy issues relevant to FDI in three large
emerging economies, Brazil, India and South Africa, with a view to build
capacity and awareness in investment issues and draw out the lacunae of the
present system.
Strategising Investment for Development
This paper highlights the global and regional trends and policies in the project
countries and in FDI, and the effectiveness of national policies. The paper also
contains the summarised results of a survey on civil society perceptions of FDI.
The paper puts forward recommendations and action points for policy changes
to governments, civil society and inter-governmental organisations.
Investment Policy in Select Least Developed Countries
It is important to strengthen investment policy regimes of LDCs to facilitate
higher FDI since it can play an important role in promoting economic
development. It is also important to devote more resources to study the
experiences of LDCs with FDI, to develop strategies on FDI to promote economic
growth in these countries. This report studies the investment regimes of three
LDCs: Bangladesh, Tanzania and Zambia.
Synergising Investment With Development
Part of a seven-country two-year project “Investment for Development”, this
report brings out common and country-specific findings on sectors that are or
could be important for facilitating and maximising benefits from FDI.
Competitiveness of Service Sectors in South Asia: Role and Implications of
GATS
This research report attempts to emphasise on the relevance of GATS for
developing economies, particularly in South Asia. It also examines the potential
gains from trade liberalisation in services, with a specific focus on hospital
services, and raises legitimate concerns about increases in exports affecting
adversely the domestic availability of such services. It highlights how the
ongoing GATS negotiations can be used to generate a stronger liberalising
momentum in the health sector.
Intellectual Property Rights and Access to Seed: A Case Study of Himalayan
Region in India
This report is the outcome of an extensive survey carried out in seven districts of
Garhwal under the Farmers’ Rights project to study the impact of WTO
agreement on farmers’ livelihood in the Hindukush Himalayan region of India.
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MONOGRAPHS
Investment Policy—An Agenda for Action
This is an attempt to analyse FDI trends and policies in 7 developing countries
namely: Bangladesh, Brazil, Hungary, India, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia,
and suggest action points for governments, civil society and inter-governmental
organisations. It also summarises discussions of national seminars and results of
a survey of civil society perceptions of FDI in the respective countries conducted
under the IFD project. It recommends policy measures to attract higher FDI and
maximise benefits from it.
ARTICLES
Are The Big Two Serious On Moving Doha Round Forward?
14 February 2004, The Financial Express
The levels of confidence and trust in the trading system continue to be eroded.
That will certainly have an adverse effect on moving on the Doha Round. This is
other than the fact that at Geneva, negotiators are often too immersed in the nitty
gritty of negotiations, i.e. looking at even the commas, semi-colons and full stops
very carefully. Given this scenario, the parties will need greater resolve to move
the agenda forward. www.cuts-international/articles2004.htm#art02_2004
Everyone Wishes To Break The Logjam At WTO, But...
26 January 2004, The Financial Express
For Pascal Lamy, the outgoing European trade supremo, the recent whistlestop
tour of Asia was part of a personal ambition to turn round Cancun September
2003. But, considering the position adopted by the G-20 on agriculture and the G90 on Singapore issues, unless the US and EU see some sense and climb down
sincerely, the Doha Round of WTO will continue to remain on an artificial life
support system. www.cuts-international/articles2004.htm#art01_2004
Right To Protest: At What Cost?
29 December 2003, The Hindu Business Line
TWO recent court judgments relating to the right to protest have resulted in a
raging public debate in the country. While the average Indian has welcomed the
judgements, political parties, by and large, are not comfortable with them. So is
Democracy being strangled, or have we as a nation forgotten that rights are not
an abrogation of duties? Is the issue simply legal or one of public interest?
www.cuts-international/articlesnew.htm#Cost
CUTS AS A CATALYST
Roadmap from the Partnership Conclave
In 2003, CUTS completed 20 years and shared this experience at “Partnership
Conclave”, an international forum held in New Delhi in March 2003. The
theme was “Governance and Its Relationship with Poverty Reduction”.
The objective was to help the larger civil society community understand the
processes of governance, imbibe praxis into their own work philosophy, and
thus, advocate for making lives better for people in their own spheres through
similar evidence-based, dispassionate and reasoned approaches. The event
was a forum for civil society, media, academia, policy makers and other
stakeholders across the globe.
This document highlights the outcomes of the Conclave in the light of a future
work programme of CUTS and other like-minded organisations, with the idea
that CUTS will be an implementer as well as a catalyst in taking forward the
agenda. www.cuts-international/CUTS-Catalyst.pdf
CUTS IN MEDIA
http://cuts-international.org/cutsinmedia2004.htm
 ‘WTO Talks Should Protect Interest of Poor’
17 February 2004, The Hindu
 Britain Is Not Against Outsourcing: Envoy
17 February 2004, Times of India
 Quality Investment Can Ensure Economic Growth: CUTS Study
2 February 2 2004, The Financial Express
 Reforms Gainful In Competition Regime Only, Says UNCTAD
2 February 2004, The Financial Express
 UNCTAD-CUTS Reports Calls For Restructuring of FDI Strategies
30 January 2004, PTI
 Consumer Body Submits Demands On CAS
19 January 2004, The Hindu
 CAS: Stakeholders Readying Responses To TRAI Note
17 January 2004, The Hindu Business Line
 Doha Round Must Be Pushed Forward
30 December 2003, The Financial Times
 Liberalisation Does Not Mean No Regulation
25 December 2003, Times of India
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