Siam Commercial Bank, the bank with the largest market capitalization in Thailand, resolved at its Board Meeting no. 6/2559 to name Associate Professor Dr. Kulpatra Sirodom to serve as an Independent Director and member of the Audit Committee pursuant to Mr. Tiraphot Vajrabhaya's resignation.
Dr. Kulpatra presently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Finance, Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University. With her outstanding background and recognition in finance, she serves as a member of the Risk Management Sub-committee for State Enterprises and the Performance Agreement Sub-committee for State Enterprises on Energy Sector of the Ministry of Finance. She also serves in key positions in many organizations and as a Board member for a number of leading private organizations, including Director of the Managerial Accounting Sub-committee of the Federation of Accounting Professions; Advisor to the Founding Committee of Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) of the Stock Exchange of Thailand; and Independent Director and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of Thai President Foods PCL.
With her distinctive roles and wide recognition in academic circles, Dr. Kulpatra Sirodom has also served in key positions in several government offices as well, including a founding member of the BBA International Program of Thammasat University; Advisor to the Risk Management Committee, Government Housing Bank; and Advisor of the Investment Banking Department, Thanachart Securities Co., Ltd., and more.
Dr. Kulpatra Sirodom earned a Ph. D. (Finance) from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, an M.B.A. (Finance) from West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA and a B.B.A. (First Class Honors) (Finance) from Thammasat University, Thailand under the King Bhumiphol's Scholarship Award. With her additional training courses, such as the Director of the Certification Program (DCP) of the Thai Institute of Directors (IOD), the Bank strongly believes that she will bring new perspectives to contribute to the Bank's operations.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
World Bank Provides More Support to Improve Health Care in Sri Lanka
The World Bank today approved a US$24 million IDA credit providing further support to the Government of Sri Lanka’s health service delivery program, with particular emphasis on the special health needs in the north and east arising out of the recent conflict.
With the end of the military conflict, Sri Lanka is now facing the challenges of resettlement and reconstruction within the context of reconciliation. An immediate challenge is to provide basic health services to the conflict-affected populations in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, including around 280,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently residing in temporary camps.
“Half the project’s amount, namely US$12 million, will go to the Northern and Eastern Provinces to help them meet their special health needs arising from the conflict. This reflects the Bank's commitment to addressing consequences of the conflict whenever we can,” said Naoko Ishii, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka. “An upcoming health needs assessment for the north and east will determine the specific activities the project will finance, but it could include mobile clinics at IDP camps, rehabilitation of disabled, treatment of traumatized persons, and other immediate priorities.”
The US$24 million is additional financing to Health Sector Development Project (HSDP), currently financed by an IDA grant of US$60 million which was approved by the Bank on June 15, 2004.
The project will continue to support decentralization of health service delivery, including strengthening of district and provincial capacity for planning and implementation of health programs. It will also support efforts to improve service delivery and renovate health facilities, provide training for health workers, and provision of medical supplies and equipment.
“The project has been helping the Provincial and District level authorities in taking greater responsibility for the primary and secondary level health care,” said Sundararajan Srinivasa Gopalan, World Bank team leader for the project. “This results in programs that are more responsive to the needs of the local communities."
The project will also help the Central Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition become more effective in its use of evidence base and information systems for policy, planning, monitoring and management.
The credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessionary lending arm, has 20 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period.
With the end of the military conflict, Sri Lanka is now facing the challenges of resettlement and reconstruction within the context of reconciliation. An immediate challenge is to provide basic health services to the conflict-affected populations in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, including around 280,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently residing in temporary camps.
“Half the project’s amount, namely US$12 million, will go to the Northern and Eastern Provinces to help them meet their special health needs arising from the conflict. This reflects the Bank's commitment to addressing consequences of the conflict whenever we can,” said Naoko Ishii, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka. “An upcoming health needs assessment for the north and east will determine the specific activities the project will finance, but it could include mobile clinics at IDP camps, rehabilitation of disabled, treatment of traumatized persons, and other immediate priorities.”
The US$24 million is additional financing to Health Sector Development Project (HSDP), currently financed by an IDA grant of US$60 million which was approved by the Bank on June 15, 2004.
The project will continue to support decentralization of health service delivery, including strengthening of district and provincial capacity for planning and implementation of health programs. It will also support efforts to improve service delivery and renovate health facilities, provide training for health workers, and provision of medical supplies and equipment.
“The project has been helping the Provincial and District level authorities in taking greater responsibility for the primary and secondary level health care,” said Sundararajan Srinivasa Gopalan, World Bank team leader for the project. “This results in programs that are more responsive to the needs of the local communities."
The project will also help the Central Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition become more effective in its use of evidence base and information systems for policy, planning, monitoring and management.
The credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessionary lending arm, has 20 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period.
Republic of Congo: World Bank Approves Additional financing of US$5 Million Grant to Build Capacity for the HIV/AIDS and Health Project (PLVSS II)
The World Bank’s Board of Directors today approved additional financing in the amount of US$5 million for the extension of the HIV/AIDS and Health Project (PLVSS II) for the Republic of Congo. The initial grant of US$19 million (SDR 12.8 million) allocated to the HIV/AIDS and Health Project (PLVSS) was approved on April 20, 2004 and is expected to close on June 30, 2009. With this new financing, the project’s closing date will be extended by three years.
The development objectives of the original project were to (i) contain the spread of AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs); (ii) mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of AIDS and STIs on persons infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and STIs; and (iii) build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the AIDS epidemic.
The development objectives of the revised project remain unchanged, which entail contributing to the recipient’s efforts in order to (i) contain the spread of AIDS and STIs; (ii) mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of AIDS and STIs on persons infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and STIs; and (iii) build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the AIDS epidemic.
The Project has four components that remain unchanged:
- Public sector response: the response from the Ministry of Health and other ministries;
- Civil society response: community initiatives and support for a small number of private sector initiatives;
- Investments in orphans and other vulnerable children; and
- Management and coordination, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation, including support with data collection at the national level.
Implementation of the project with the initial grant always received a satisfactory rating, and good progress with respect to several indicators was observed.
This additional financing will assist the State to:
(i) Refocus the project on priority areas for action in order to address discoveries regarding factors associated with the epidemic;
(ii) Upgrade the activities targeting high-risk and vulnerable groups (OVC, sex workers, widows, young people, indigenous peoples, sexual minorities, armed forces, and prisoners);
(iii) Build sustainability capacity and draw lessons from the experience; and
(iv) Scale up the level of additional financing by the Government and the donors, and apply the World Bank’s knowledge and experience.
Specifically, this IDA financing will meet the following needs:
- Refocus the project on priority areas for action;
- Increase the number of activities targeting high-risk and vulnerable groups; and
- Build national sustainability capacity and retain the lessons drawn from the experience.
It bears noting that this additional financing will cover the same previously selected six départements in the country, namely Pointe-Noire, Kouilou, Niari, Lékoumou, Brazzaville, and Sangha, in which 80 percent of the Congolese population lives.
The development objectives of the original project were to (i) contain the spread of AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs); (ii) mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of AIDS and STIs on persons infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and STIs; and (iii) build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the AIDS epidemic.
The development objectives of the revised project remain unchanged, which entail contributing to the recipient’s efforts in order to (i) contain the spread of AIDS and STIs; (ii) mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of AIDS and STIs on persons infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and STIs; and (iii) build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the AIDS epidemic.
The Project has four components that remain unchanged:
- Public sector response: the response from the Ministry of Health and other ministries;
- Civil society response: community initiatives and support for a small number of private sector initiatives;
- Investments in orphans and other vulnerable children; and
- Management and coordination, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation, including support with data collection at the national level.
Implementation of the project with the initial grant always received a satisfactory rating, and good progress with respect to several indicators was observed.
This additional financing will assist the State to:
(i) Refocus the project on priority areas for action in order to address discoveries regarding factors associated with the epidemic;
(ii) Upgrade the activities targeting high-risk and vulnerable groups (OVC, sex workers, widows, young people, indigenous peoples, sexual minorities, armed forces, and prisoners);
(iii) Build sustainability capacity and draw lessons from the experience; and
(iv) Scale up the level of additional financing by the Government and the donors, and apply the World Bank’s knowledge and experience.
Specifically, this IDA financing will meet the following needs:
- Refocus the project on priority areas for action;
- Increase the number of activities targeting high-risk and vulnerable groups; and
- Build national sustainability capacity and retain the lessons drawn from the experience.
It bears noting that this additional financing will cover the same previously selected six départements in the country, namely Pointe-Noire, Kouilou, Niari, Lékoumou, Brazzaville, and Sangha, in which 80 percent of the Congolese population lives.
U.S. markets flat Tuesday
U.S. markets were mixed Tuesday, following a sharp sell off in the previous session that pushed the Dow Jones industrial average down 2.35 percent.
By early afternoon, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 15.72 points, or 0.19 percent, to 8,323.29. The Standard & Poor's (NYSE:MHP) 500 rose 0.13 percent, 1.17 points, to 894.21. The Nasdaq composite index lost 0.94 points, 0.05 percent, to 1,765.25.
The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose 5/32 to yield 3.666 percent.
The euro rose to $1.4088, compared to Monday's $1.3866. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar fell to 95.15 yen, compared to Monday's 95.92 yen.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei average lost 276.66 points to 9,549.61, down 2.82 percent.
In London, the FTSE index lost 4.03 points, 0.1 percent, to 4,230.02.
By early afternoon, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 15.72 points, or 0.19 percent, to 8,323.29. The Standard & Poor's (NYSE:MHP) 500 rose 0.13 percent, 1.17 points, to 894.21. The Nasdaq composite index lost 0.94 points, 0.05 percent, to 1,765.25.
The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose 5/32 to yield 3.666 percent.
The euro rose to $1.4088, compared to Monday's $1.3866. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar fell to 95.15 yen, compared to Monday's 95.92 yen.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei average lost 276.66 points to 9,549.61, down 2.82 percent.
In London, the FTSE index lost 4.03 points, 0.1 percent, to 4,230.02.
U.S. home sales rose in May
Existing home sales rose for the second consecutive month for the first time since September 2005, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday.
Sales of single-family homes, town homes, condominiums and co-ops rose 2.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.77 million units in the month of May, the association said.
From a year ago, sales were down 3.6 percent. Prices were also down substantially with the median price for all types of homes down 16.8 percent to $173,000 compared to a year ago.
Along with low prices, 'historically low mortgage interest rates clearly drew buyers into the market, and housing remains very affordable even with a recent uptick in rates,' NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement.
'First-time buyers also are being drawn off the sidelines by the $8,000 tax credit, which is helping to absorb inventory,' Yun said.
Existing home sales rose sharpest in the Midwest, up 9 percent in the month with a median price of $145,800. In the South, sales were unchanged with the median price at $157,400. In the West, sales fell 0.9 percent with a median price of $197,700. Homes sales in the Northeast, where the median price was $243,600 in May, climbed 3.9 percent.
Sales of single-family homes, town homes, condominiums and co-ops rose 2.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.77 million units in the month of May, the association said.
From a year ago, sales were down 3.6 percent. Prices were also down substantially with the median price for all types of homes down 16.8 percent to $173,000 compared to a year ago.
Along with low prices, 'historically low mortgage interest rates clearly drew buyers into the market, and housing remains very affordable even with a recent uptick in rates,' NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement.
'First-time buyers also are being drawn off the sidelines by the $8,000 tax credit, which is helping to absorb inventory,' Yun said.
Existing home sales rose sharpest in the Midwest, up 9 percent in the month with a median price of $145,800. In the South, sales were unchanged with the median price at $157,400. In the West, sales fell 0.9 percent with a median price of $197,700. Homes sales in the Northeast, where the median price was $243,600 in May, climbed 3.9 percent.
U.S. markets flat Tuesday
U.S. markets were mixed Tuesday, following a sharp sell off in the previous session that pushed the Dow Jones industrial average down 2.35 percent.
At the close, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 16.10 points or 0.19 percent to 8,322.91. The Standard & Poor's (NYSE:MHP) 500 rose 0.23 percent, 2.06 points, to 895.10. The Nasdaq composite index lost 1.27 points, 0.07 percent, to 1,764.92.
On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,418 stocks advanced and 1,577 declined on a volume of 5.8 billion shares traded.
The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose 12/32 to yield 3.64 percent.
The euro rose to $1.4075, compared to Monday's $1.3866. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar fell to 95.23 yen, compared to Monday's 95.92 yen.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei average lost 276.66 points to 9,549.61, down 2.82 percent.
In London, the FTSE index lost 4.03 points, 0.1 percent, to 4,230.02.
At the close, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 16.10 points or 0.19 percent to 8,322.91. The Standard & Poor's (NYSE:MHP) 500 rose 0.23 percent, 2.06 points, to 895.10. The Nasdaq composite index lost 1.27 points, 0.07 percent, to 1,764.92.
On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,418 stocks advanced and 1,577 declined on a volume of 5.8 billion shares traded.
The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose 12/32 to yield 3.64 percent.
The euro rose to $1.4075, compared to Monday's $1.3866. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar fell to 95.23 yen, compared to Monday's 95.92 yen.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei average lost 276.66 points to 9,549.61, down 2.82 percent.
In London, the FTSE index lost 4.03 points, 0.1 percent, to 4,230.02.
Grain futures mostly higher Tuesday
Grains futures closed mostly higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday, rebounding from a sharp sell off in the previous session.
Corn was up 3 1/2 to up 3 3/4, soybeans were up 23 1/2 to up 27 1/2, wheat was off 1 to up 3/4 and oats were up 4 1/2.
Corn futures closed slightly higher as the dollar lost ground against the euro and the yen. Wheat closed mixed after Statistics Canada said wheat planted was down 0.3 percent from a year ago. Soybean futures rose sharply with Statistics Canada reporting a 2.1 percent drop in acreage planted compared to a year ago.
The prices:
Corn: Jul 3.89, up 3 3/4; Sep 3.97 1/4, up 3 3/4; Dec 4.09, up 3 1/2; Sep 4.20 1/2, up 3 1/2.
Soybeans:Jul 11.79, up 27 1/2; Aug 11.14, up 24; Sep 10.48, up 25; Nov 10.04 1/2, up 23 1/2.
Wheat: Jul 5.46 3/4, up 3/4; Sep 5.75 3/4, up 3/4; Dec 6.00 1/2, off 1; Mar 6.17 1/2, off 1.
Oats:Jul 2.08, up 4 1/2; Sep 2.17 1/2, up 4 1/2; Dec 2.31, up 4 1/2; Mar 2.44, up 4 1/2.
Corn was up 3 1/2 to up 3 3/4, soybeans were up 23 1/2 to up 27 1/2, wheat was off 1 to up 3/4 and oats were up 4 1/2.
Corn futures closed slightly higher as the dollar lost ground against the euro and the yen. Wheat closed mixed after Statistics Canada said wheat planted was down 0.3 percent from a year ago. Soybean futures rose sharply with Statistics Canada reporting a 2.1 percent drop in acreage planted compared to a year ago.
The prices:
Corn: Jul 3.89, up 3 3/4; Sep 3.97 1/4, up 3 3/4; Dec 4.09, up 3 1/2; Sep 4.20 1/2, up 3 1/2.
Soybeans:Jul 11.79, up 27 1/2; Aug 11.14, up 24; Sep 10.48, up 25; Nov 10.04 1/2, up 23 1/2.
Wheat: Jul 5.46 3/4, up 3/4; Sep 5.75 3/4, up 3/4; Dec 6.00 1/2, off 1; Mar 6.17 1/2, off 1.
Oats:Jul 2.08, up 4 1/2; Sep 2.17 1/2, up 4 1/2; Dec 2.31, up 4 1/2; Mar 2.44, up 4 1/2.
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