17 MARCH 2019

10 BUSINESS
Sunday, 17 March 2019
Daily Tribune
60% Filipinos worry of Nokor nukes
ISSUES AND VIEWS
Kumar Balani
COMMENTARY
“The issue of
the growing
arsenal of
nuclear
weapons by
North Korea
has worried
people all over
the world.
NEW YORK, NY — Talks between US President
Donald Trump and North Korean “Supreme
Leader” Kim Jong Un abruptly ended during
their second summit on 28 February in Hanoi,
Vietnam without any sort of agreement between
the two leaders. Kim Jong Un surprisingly
thought, without any concession on his part,
that President Trump would simply lift all US
economic sanctions — that are hurting North
Korea — just by asking.
But the US, as expected and knowing Trump’s
negotiating style, would not meet Kim Jong Un’s
request to lift all sanctions on North Korea
without first securing its meaningful commitment
to denuclearization. President Trump remarked
in his solo news conference before heading back
to Washington that was unprepared to do that,
adding “sometimes you have to walk.”
We thought Kim Jong Un may have already
learned something from the first summit on
12 June 2018 in Singapore, not to ask for any
concession without offering something in return,
especially with a tough negotiator like Trump.
Remember that Trump also just walked away from
a second White House meeting with House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Charles Schumer when they
simply said “No” to his request to fund a border
wall between the US and Mexico?
Trump always ensures there are alternative
means of obtaining what he wants. What that is
going to be in this case may unfold in the near
future.
If Kim wants to stop US sanctions, change world
perception of his country into a positive one and
discontinue economic stagnation, he must come
up with some offer. According to 2017 UN data,
North Korea is one of the poorest economies in
the world, with a gross domestic product (GDP)
of just above $17 billion where the average person
ekes out a living with $685 of income in an entire
year, ranking 178 among 193 countries, or in
the bottom eight percent.
In contrast, South Korea
“The most
worried have
been people in
neighboring
Japan where
nearly three
of four
respondents are
apprehensive,
as there have
already been six
missile firings
over Japan.
had $1,578 billion in GDP
where its average resident
earned 44 times as much with
$30,025 a year and ranked at
the top eight percent in the
world.
This no-deal outcome does
not mean the two leaders may
not meet again in the future
or that their negotiating
teams may not communicate
through other means. On
the possibility of opening a
liaison office in North Korea,
Trump remarked to reporters
that it was “not a bad idea” and Kim called such
a next step “welcomable.”
The issue of the growing arsenal of nuclear
weapons by North Korea — the US military
estimates it has 60 nuclear weapons — and its
increasing capability to fire them by already
having test-fired them repeatedly (numbering 117
such tests since 30 November 2017, according to a
Wikipedia article) has worried people all over the
world, including four among every six Filipinos,
based on a three-month (14 May to 18 August 2018)
survey by the Pew Research Center of people in 26
countries spanning six continents.
The most worried have been people in neighboring
Japan where nearly three of four respondents are
apprehensive, as there have already been six missile
firings over Japan. The second most recent one
was on 29 August 2017, when a Hwasong-12 ballistic
missile was fired over Hokkaido, Japan’s second
largest island, by North Korea from Pyongyang Sunan
International Airport, presumably using a mobile
launcher. It traveled around 1,675 miles before
crashing into the Pacific Ocean.
Just a few days later on 3 September 2017,
North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a
thermonuclear bomb, also known as a hydrogen
bomb. Corresponding seismic activity similar to an
earthquake of magnitude 6.3 was reported by the US
Geological Survey making the blast around 10 times
more powerful than previous detonations by the
country. Later the bomb yield was estimated to be 250
kilotons, based on further study of the seismic data.
Another firing of the same type of missile
followed on 15 September 2017 traveling about
2,300 miles before falling into the Pacific Ocean.
The rogue regime also possesses the Hwasong-15
missile with a range of over 8,000 miles, capable
of reaching any continent of the world, except
Antarctica and South America.
The least worried are the people of Russia, but
even there 30 percent expressed concern. Among
other interesting findings are that older people (50+
in age) are more worried — 66 percent — than younger
ones (18 to 29 in age) — 42 percent. Among women,
more than two-thirds (68 percent) said North Korea’s
nuclear program is a major threat while less than half
(49 percent) of men said that also.
DTI’s food expo bolsters MSME
We should buy Filipino-made
products. It’s our own and we
should patronize it. It’s time that
we end importing products from
other countries
By Gene Beatrice A. Micaller
“It’s not just an ordinary trade of products.
It’s for the cuisines of the Philippines,” said
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez
during the 2019 National Food Fair.
Serving as an empowerment to micro,
small and medium enterprises (MSME), the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in
partnership with Department of Tourism and
La Germania, organized a food fair event that
will not only showcase the best of the best of
Filipino cuisines but also give chance to MSME
owners to boost their network.
“This food fair gives us one, exposure
and second is [for] networking,” said Roger
Monsale, owner of Koibito’s World of Gelato,
one of the participants in the food fair.
Showcasing cuisines from Luzon, Visayas and
all the way from Mindanao, the DTI’s National
Food Fair is an instrument for the agency to
share opportunities to small entrepreneurs of the
country to gain more exposure for higher profits.
“We should buy Filipino-made products. It’s
our own and we should patronize it. It’s time
that we end importing products from other
countries,” Lopez added.
The expo will last for four days that will
feature Island Kitchens (Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao), Food Pavilions, Design Center of
the Philippines Special (DCP) setting, OTOP
hub and KAPEtirya/Coffee Pavilion.
Island Kitchens will highlight renowned
culinary professionals who will showcase
Kapampangan delicacies. These respected
cooking gurus are Cherry Tan, Don Edward
Quito, Vince Garcia, Raymun Yabut, Boy Logro,
Gabby Pratts and Anton Abad.
Meanwhile, food pavilions will gather
and exhibit a variety of Halal food spices
and seasonings, fruit wines and other cacao
products already displayed at the pavilion.
Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman
said that Halal, even though refers to food and
beverages that are only permissible for Islamic
tradition to eat, is not explicitly consumed
by Islam believers. He added that the Halal
industry is one of the fastest growing sectors
in the world.
Lopez also reiterated that Halal should not
only be incorporated into religion.
With a partnership with the DCP, the DTI
was able to guide MSME owners on how to
efficiently and creatively package their items.
DCP is one of the leading agencies in
the country driven to cultivate a culture
that prospers creativity, value creation, and
innovation.
Lopez also reiterated that Halal
should not only be incorporated into
religion.
One Town, One Product (OTOP) the
Philippines is an integral part of the Food
Fair that will give a spotlight to offering that
can be found in pasalubong centers, airport
terminals and tourist spots, supermarkets,
weekend bazaars, public markets, Go Lokal!
Outlets, Negosyo Centers and other locations
frequently visited by consumers.
“As we are already a participant for the
past years, we find this food fair effective
because it gives businesses like us enough
exposure for us to gain more customers,” said
Josie Mabuti, sales representative of Rejanos
Bakery of Marinduque.
As one of the few countries that produce
the four main viable coffee varieties namely
Arabica, Liberica (Barako), Excelsa and
Robusta, the DTI sees KAPEtirya as an avenue
to accentuate premium Philippine coffee
blends and brands.
With 16 regions participating in the annual
food fair, the DTI is hopeful that the four-day
event will be a fruitful instrument for MSME
owners in boosting their businesses.
China eases foreign
investment rules
China’s National People’s Congress (NPC)
has passed the Foreign Investment Law, further
easing rules to attract foreign investments to
the country. The law was during the second
session of the 13th NPC.
More than opening up the market to foreign
players, he added that the Chinese government
is committed to protect the growing interest of
foreign companies in investing in China.
The government will further shorten
its foreign negative list.
“As China takes its own initiative
to open up, we adopt the principle of
competitive neutrality and treat both
domestic and foreign enterprises as
equal. Likewise, we also need to treat
all businesses in the various types of
ownership as equal,” he said.
He said the government will further shorten
its foreign negative list to allow more foreign
investors to invest in various industries in the
Chinese market.
The Chinese government will also
strengthen the protection of intellectual
property rights, particularly for technology
firms that will invest in China.
Li said the government will push for the
creation of conducive business environment
for micro and small enterprises.
The Chinese Premier admitted that
financing cost has been a challenge for micro
and small businesses in China so there is
the need to take “multi-pronged approach”
to significantly ease these constraints for
enterprises.
“Our goal, is to further cut financing cost
for micro and small companies by another one
percentage point this year,” Li said.
“We will encourage financial institutions
to enhance their internal management system
and provide more services to private companies
and micro and small companies,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lianghui or the Two Sessions
concluded here Friday.
Lianghui is the annual plenary sessions
of the NPC and China’s top consultative body,
the Chinese People’s Political Consultative
Conference.
Xinhua
THE country's food sector takes centerstage in the ongoing Food Fair organized by the Department of Trade and Industry.
SUNDAY GOSPEL
First reading
Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18
And he brought him forth abroad, and
said to him: Look up to heaven and number
the stars, if thou canst. And he said to him: So
shall thy seed be.
Abram believed God and it was reputed to
him unto justice.
And he said to him: I am the Lord who
brought thee out from Ur of the Chaldees, to give
thee this land and that thou mightest possess it.
But he said: Lord God, whereby may I
know that I shall possess it?
And the Lord answered and said: Take me
a cow of three years old and a she goat of three
years and a ram of three years, a turtle also
and a pigeon.
And he took all these, and divided them in
the midst and laid the two pieces of each one
against the other; but the birds he divided not.
And the fowls came down upon the
carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep
fell upon Abram and a great and darksome
horror seized upon him.
And when the sun was set, there arose a dark
mist and there appeared a smoking furnace and
a lamp of fire passing between those divisions.
That day God made a covenant with
Abram, saying: To thy seed will I give this
land, from the river of Egypt even to the great
river Euphrates.
Second reading
Philippians 3: 17 — 4: 1
Be ye followers of me, brethren, and observe
them who walk so as you have our model.
For many walk, of whom I have told you often
(and now tell you weeping), that they are enemies
of the cross of Christ;
Whose end is destruction; whose God is their
belly; and whose glory is in their shame; who
mind earthly things.
But our conversation is in heaven; from whence
also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who will reform the body of our lowness, made
like to the body of his glory, according to the operation
whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.
Therefore, my dearly beloved brethren and most
desired, my joy and my crown; so stand fast in the
Lord, my dearly beloved.
GOSPEL
Second Sunday of Lent
Luke 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face
changed in appearance and his
clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing
with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke
of his exodus that he was going
to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been
overcome by sleep, but becoming
fully awake, they saw his glory and
the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from
him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it
is good that we are here; let us make
three tents, one for you, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he
did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking, a
cloud came and cast a shadow over
them, and they became frightened
when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came
a voice that said, “This is my
chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus
was found alone. They fell silent
and did not at that time tell
anyone what they had seen.