NEW AT THE ASIA INSTITUTE

Director Pastreich visit to Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam as part of nuclear power project

Febuary 1-5, 2010

Director Pastreich travelled to Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam in February, 2010 to learn more about the prospects for nuclear power in the region and their implications. In Jakarta, he met with representatives of BATAN & BAPUTAN, the regulatory bodies for nuclear safety and nuclear energy, to discuss Indonesia’s current energy policies. In Singapore, he was a guest at Nanyang Technical University, conferring with Asia Institute senior associate Professor Foo Check Teck. He also met with Dr. Kim Hock KOH, Director Centre for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science of the Ministry of the Environment to discuss Singapore’s recent announcement of the intention to pursue nuclear energy. Pastreich met with representatives of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety in Hanoi and spoke with Vice Minister Tien of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The project is funded by the Korea Institute for Nuclear Safety.

Pastreich calls for the establishment of a G 20 Permanent Office in the New Sejong City

January 25, 2010

Director Pastreich wrote an editorial in the Maeil Gyeongjae Sinmun (MK Newspaper) advocating that Korea should play a leading role in the G 20 era. One of his suggestions was that a permanent headquarters for the G 20 be established in the new Sejong City. Pastreich argued that Sejong could serve in part the role of an international city of diplomacy similar to the role played by Geneva, but with a focus on Asia.

Asia Institute Participates in India-Korea Forum Hosted by Indian Embassy, Daedeok Innopolis and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy

January 18, 2010

The Asia Institute helped to organize an international forum to explore the economic and technological implications of the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA ) between the Republic of Korea and India. Director Pastreich hosted the half-day event featuring policy makers, technical experts and businessmen and gave an address at the banquet dinner. The Forum was held just days before Korean President Lee Myung-Bak visited India as a state guest to sign a wide range of agreements for cooperation in business, research and government. The forum was organized in cooperation with Daedeok Innopolis and the Indo-Korea Business and Policy Forum, of which the chairman, Dr. Lakvinder Singh, is an Asia Institute Associate.

The Asia Institute engaged to help draft the Daedeok Initiative for the International Association of Science Parks International Convention

January, 2010

Daedeok Innopolis has engaged the Asia Institute to participate in the drafting of the Daedeok Initiative, a far-ranging proposal for cooperation between science and technology parks (STP) around the world for cooperation in environmental policy and the commercialization of environmental technologies. The Daedeok Initiative will be the centerpiece of the International Association of Science Parks Convention to be held in Daedeok Innopolis in May, 2010. The declaration will call for a new level of international collaboration in the commercialization of environmental technologies as part of the “Global Green Growth,” or G³, movement advocated by Daedeok Innopolis.

Second Biotechnology Report Submitted to KRIBB

January 10, 2010

Director Pastreich, Dr. Ian Simon, the Director of the Asia Institute Biotechnology Initiative, and Dr. Alp Malazgirt of SolBridge International School of Business submitted the second report to the Korea Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). This report focuses on successful international efforts in biotechnology involving Korea and makes concrete suggestions for future efforts.

Asia Institute Launches study of nuclear power in Southeast Asia

December, 2009

The Asia Institute has joined forces with the Korea Institute for Nuclear Safety (KINS) to conduct a study of the future of nuclear energy in Southeast Asia with an emphasis on the particular safety concerns of the region. The project is part of Asia Institute's larger Non-proliferation Initiative which considers the overall impact on the world of the increasing use of nuclear power in the current age.

Director Pastreich tours Cambodia and Thailand to investigate energy issues

December, 2009

Director Pastreich toured Cambodia to assess energy challenges in that country and the future of the country’s energy development. He also met with experts in Thailand working on nuclear energy issues to learn more of the social, economic and political issues that inform the debate on nuclear power in that country. Pastreich conferred with Professor Nares Chankow of Chulalongkorn University, a leading figure in nuclear engineering, and met Professor Chaivat Toshkulkao, Secretary General of the Office of Atoms for Peace (a division of the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology).

Publications

Maeil Gyeongjae Newspaper