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Vietnam expands chip packaging footprint as investors reduce China links

Newswire / /

Foreign companies are expanding their chip testing and packaging capabilities in Vietnam. According to Reuters, due to strained relations between the West and China, chip-related industrial activity is gathering pace to move away from China. 

The semiconductor manufacturing sector is currently dominated by China and Taiwan, although Vietnam is among the fastest-growing countries. 

Hana Micron’s vice president in Vietnam, Cho Hyung Rae, told Reuters the company was expanded to the country to meet demand from customers looking to outsource some of their production from China. 

The South Korean company plans to invest $903.49 million in its memory chip packaging operations in Vietnam. Last year, US-based Amkor Technology unveiled a $1.6 billion plan to build a state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing facility. 

The Biden administration has encouraged the growth of Vietnam’s capacity in the “back-end” segment of chip manufacturing amid strained trade relations between Washington and Beijing. In July 2023, Biden’s Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen visited Hanoi to meet with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh and discuss deepening US-Vietnam trade and economic relations; She made a direct reference to Vietnam’s critical role in the semiconductor industry and named American semiconductor manufacturing companies that have branches in Vietnam. Arizona-based Amkor Technology was among the companies mentioned. 

According to the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association and the Boston Consulting Group, Vietnam’s share of the global chip assembly, testing, and packaging industry will be 8-9% by 2032 due to large investments by foreign companies. This figure was 1% in 2022.

Source: Reuters

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How is the potential Chinese investor in Anaklia linked to the tragic incident in Serbia that left 14 people dead?

Newswire, Research / /

The incident in Serbia, which led to the tragic loss of 14 lives, occurred at a railway station renovated by the same company now considered a potential Chinese investor in the Anaklia port project.

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Articles Featuring Civic Idea’s Insights on Georgian Elections

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The articles written on the Georgian elections, in which Tinatin Khidasheli, the chairman of Civic Idea, participated on behalf of the organization.

DE GROENE AMSTERDAMMER

“It is not hard to guess why Civic Idea is the target of Georgian Dream. The NGO investigates, among other things, the role of oligarchs and Russian and Chinese money in Georgian politics. They recently published another report, the bottom line of which is: the major donors to Georgian Dream are all friends and brothers and cousins of Ivanishvili, and all have deepening business interests in Russia and China. In short: Civic Idea is an annoying busybody.”  LINK

la sentienella

DCNews

“We are at a unique moment where the government is transforming the geopolitical orientation and DNA of the nation,” said Tina Khidasheli, president of the NGO Civic Idea and former defense minister. “Georgia’s pro-Western course has always been an exception in the region. Of course, this will be a victory for Russia, but also for all the other authoritarian states that surround us.”

LINK

Dagospia

“Georgia, caught between the authoritarian regimes of Iran, Russia and Turkey, was until now the only “buffer” country, both politically and economically, and the only alternative route to Russia for Central Asian and Azeri trade with the West. “Georgia’s pro-Western course has always been an exception in the region,” Tina Khidasheli, president of the NGO Civic Idea and former Minister of Defense, said yesterday. “Of course, this will be a victory for Russia, but also for all the other authoritarian states that border us.” LINK

Lapsi

“We are at a unique moment when the government is transforming the geopolitical orientation and the DNA of the nation,” said Tina Khidasheli, chair of the NGO Civic Idea and a former defense minister. “Georgia’s pro-Western course has always been an exception in the region. Of course, this will be a victory for Russia, but also for all other authoritarian states that limit us”.

LINK

The guardian

“The government is openly pledging to transform Georgia into a one-party state – a move unprecedented in modern Georgian history,” said Tina Khidasheli, chair of the non-governmental organisation Civic Idea and a former defence minister.

LINK

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“The Wall Street Journal” mentioned the civic idea in its article

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“The Wall Street Journal” mentioned the civic idea in its article, which refers to Russia’s obstructive policy in the democratic processes of Georgia and Moldova:

“This month the pro-Western Georgian nonprofit Civic IDEA issued a pair of reports documenting the extensive Russian financial ties of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s top donors.”- mentions the article

Full article: The wall street Journal

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China’s Nuctech launches new appeal against EU inspection of company

Newswire / /

Chinese security company Nuctech has filed a new lawsuit against the European Union, challenging the European Court of Justice’s decision to dismiss its previous case regarding company inspections. Nuctech had initially sought to suspend the EU’s inspection of its operations. 

“We believe the court “decision lacked sound legal reasoning and failed to provide a convincing justification for the refusal,” Nuctech stated. The company has now appealed the ruling at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. 

In a statement, a Nuctech Europe representative affirmed that the company would defend its rights and expressed readiness to cooperate with the European Commission. “We believe the appeal process will result in a more fair and reasonable outcome,” the representative added. 

Nuctech had initially filed a lawsuit against the European Commission following raids on its Dutch and Polish offices, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to justify the inspections. 

In its ruling, the court upheld the European Commission’s authority to investigate and request information from any business operating within the EU, regardless of ownership—whether by member states or non-member countries—to ensure compliance with EU regulations and prevent potential violations of the law. 

Nuctech manufactures body and baggage scanners for airports and ports in over 170 countries. It is one of several Chinese companies blacklisted by the U.S. government as a threat to national security.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/chinas-nuctech-launches-new-appeal-against-eu-inspection-company-2024-10-23/

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“Russian Businesses of Georgian Dream Donors” Part II

Research / /

 On October 16 th 2024, Civic IDEA presented evidence regarding the financial ties and connections of the ruling Georgian Dream party to Russian interests. Our report demonstrates that most of the party’s major donors are backed by the Russian market and funds, with their interests closely aligned with Moscow. As a result, they actively support policies deepening Georgia’s economic dependence on Russia in exchange for personal financial gain. We revealed that Georgia’s wine exports heavily rely on the Russian market, that is about 73,5% of the total export volume, a dangerously high level that poses significant risks to the Georgian economy.

This dependency leaves Georgia vulnerable to political manipulation, as Russia could leverage market access to exert pressure at any moment. Instead of diversifying export markets, the Georgian Dream leadership, mainly through actions of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s family members—Alexandre Ivanishvili, Ucha Mamatsashvili, and other business partner donors—has allowed this dependency to grow, heightening economic risks for the country.

Today, we present the second part of our study, revealing even more alarming findings. Based on concrete evidence, we will show that some donors of the Georgian Dream are not only engaged in trade or economic-political ties with Russia but are also listed as ‘international sponsors of war’.

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China has confirmed an agreement to settle the border dispute with India

Newswire / /

China has officially confirmed reaching an agreement with India regarding their long- standing border dispute. However, the specific details of the agreement have not been disclosed to the media, leaving it unclear whether the deal addresses the entire border or focuses on specific areas contested since 2020. 

Tensions between China and India have been high since a deadly clash in the Ladakh region of the western Himalayas four years ago, where 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers were killed along the undemarcated border. 

On Monday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced that the two nations had agreed on border patrol arrangements, marking progress toward resolving the military standoff. However, China did not immediately confirm this statement. 

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated, “China and India have recently managed to address border-related issues through diplomatic and military channels.”He added that both sides have settled these matters, which China views positively, and that further cooperation will follow to fully implement the agreement.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-implement-solutions-with-india-resolving-border-conflict-2024-10-22/

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Information campaign around the Azerbaijani-speaking villages of Kakheti

New / /

The Civic Idea team visited the Azerbaijani-speaking villages of Kakheti as a part of  “My vote for EU” information campaign.

The campaign served to inform the population and strengthen electoral activism as well as to lead a dialogue with the villagers, to listen to their local problems and to raise awareness about the European future of Georgia.

Within the campaign, together with volunteers, we visited the following Azerbaijani-speaking villages: Karajala, Kabali, Ganjala, Yormughanlo.

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China’s youth unemployment rate has been declining.

Newswire / /

In September, the unemployment rate among young people aged 16 to 24 (excluding students) fell to 17.6%, down from 18.8% in August. Earlier this year, in June, the unemployment rate among young people and recent college graduates was 13.2%, but it surged to 17.1% in July.

This sharp increase was driven by the entry of approximately 12 million students into the labor market. The upward trend continued through August, peaking at 18.8%, marking the highest rate in 2024. In response, the National Bureau of Statistics decided to revise its methodology. 

Previously, the National Bureau of Statistics did not factor students into the calculation of the unemployment rate. However, after the rate hit a record 21.3% in June last year, the bureau chose to include the student population in its assessment. Despite these fluctuations, officials remain optimistic that China’s economy, the world’s second-largest, “will maintain a trend of stabilization and recovery” 

However, a separate official survey conducted in September on factory owners' confidence showed that many remain hesitant to hire new workers.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-sept-youth-jobless-rate-176-compared-with-188-august-2024-10-22/

China’s youth unemployment rate has been declining. Read More »

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