CEE Jan-Mar 2012

... industrial parks for companies to start ventures in TN. While in Chennai , the representatives of Japan Inc made a strong pitch for getting adequate- infrastructure facilities for Japanese companies. Headed by Japanese economy and trade minister Yukio Edana, the delegation met the CM to facilitate a MoU between the Japan External Trade Or– ganisation (JETRO) and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance the Export Promotion Bureau, for setting up a business support centre in Chennai to help the Japanese companies planning to invest in TN. The state government and Japanese institutions have a strong relationship-endorsed by the slew of MoUs signed by the Guidance Bureau with Mizuho Bank, JETRO, the government of Hiroshima and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for investment and trade promotion. The TN government has also set up a joint working committee to address a broad range of issues ranging from cultural and educational exchanges to infrastructure development in a com- prehensive manner. For example, the Japanese want the facilities in and around the Ennore port to be scaled up and they have offered to help the state government in improving the Chennai Bangalore industrial corridor. Jayalalithaa told the delegation that her government would shortly announce a new industrial policy that will be investor-friendly, and will also be aimed at balanced and sustainable growth. She promised that the problems relating to the Ennore port would be looked into on a war footing. The Japanese companies located in TN depend on this port for their export needs but its facilities need to be upgraded and its approach road needs to be decongested. Jayalalithaa said that the state highways department was undertaking a study to form a separate road called the Northern Port Access Road . "My government is committed to providing high class infrastructure in the state as it is the basis of all growth and development. Particular emphasis will be laid on improving the quality of roads and bridges. Recently, I have sanctioned Rs.1,900 crore under the comprehensive road development programme of state highways department", Jayalalithaa told the Japanese delegation. Besides, the TN government is working on im- proving connectivity with Bangalore, for which an integrated master plan will be drawn up soon. Pointing out that research shows that many Tamil and Japanese words bear phonetic resemblances, Jayalalithaa said that the long-standing cultural exchanges between India and Japan have helped in economic bonding too. Courtesy: The Financial Express, January 17, 2012, Chennai International Country Profile STRATEGIES FOR A STABLE POPULATION Iran: When the clerical regime took over the country in 1979, it abolished the country's family planning programme. Fertility rose to seven in 1984. Yet by 2006 the average fertility had fallen to 1.9, and just 1.5 in Tehran. The government achieved this difficult demographical shift majorly by gtvtng mandatory contraceptive counseling to couples and roping in religious leaders. All modern contraceptive methods were made available at public clinics. Bangladesh: This impoverished and populous country halved its fertility rate within 20 years and achieved population stabilization. The government launched a population information service in 1980 and initiated aggressive awareness campaigns. It trained paramedic staff to carry out sterilizations, and enrolled literate and married women as community workers who would provide contraceptive pills and condoms in their communities and refer women for permanent contraception . The use of various measures injectible being the after pills. contraceptive is high, with contraceptives second choice South Korea: In the early 1950s, the country's fertility rate was six children per woman. In 1962, the country began it national family planning campaign through awareness, adequate supply of contraceptive measures and strengthening of public healthcare services. This reduced unwanted births. People responded well to the government's idea of "small family, prosperous family". The two-child target was met by 1984. The country's fertility is 1.74. France: The country has stable population growth. Though it prohibits contraceptive advertising and bans sterilization, it legalized use of contraceptives 30 years ago. Till then, traditional methods were popular. 71