The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, New York

Oil prices rose back above 95 dollars yesterday (Monday) amid predictions that OPEC will not discuss raising output at its weekend summit and fresh tensions over Iran.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for December delivery, jumped 1.67 dollars to close at 95.10 dollars per barrel. The December contract expired Friday.

In London, Brent North Sea crude for January delivery climbed 1.39 dollars to settle at 91.62 dollars per barrel.

"Geopolitics, strained and threatened supplies and economic vitality continue to be the motivators for higher prices," said John Kilduff, an analyst at MF Global.

OPEC ministers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hammered out the agenda for a rare summit of the cartel this weekend, with record oil prices high on the agenda.

The gathering comes with the cartel under pressure to increase its output to help calm record crude prices that threatened to breach 100 dollars a barrel for the first time last week.

Ministers have ruled out any production increase, at least until another meeting next month, and leaders are expected to focus instead on climate change, development and ensuring long- term stability of prices. Heads of state of the 12-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are to gather on Saturday and Sunday for a summit that is only the third since the cartel's formation 47 years ago and which will formalize the return of former member Ecuador.

Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil said on Friday that prices would remain at current levels until the end of the 2008 first quarter and would not break the 100-dollar barrier.

A daylong workshop on ' Lease Financing" was held Pubali Bank Head Office organised by Pubali Bank Training Institute recently. Managing Director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury was present a chief guest in the workshop.

In his speech, Helal Ahmed Chowdhury said that the clients could take advantages of Lease Financing where the lease can be benefited of tax relief against lease installments. Mr. Chowdhury also said that Pubali Bank fixed the lowest rate of interest in this sector. He said that an officer should have clear concept in the lease-financing sector for becoming a successful banker. He urged upon all the officers to keep close vigilence so that disbursed loans may not become overdue or classified. Intensive supervision and close monitoring of the loan be made. He further advised all officials to be meticulous in compliance of instructions of Head Office, Bangladesh Bank and other regulatory bodies.

Principal of the Training Institute Badruddin Ahmed and faculty member DGM Sushil Kumar Paul were also present in the workshop.

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), the national trade association of software and IT services companies of Bangladesh is going to organise its annual mega exposition -- BASIS SOFTEXPO 2008 at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre from February 14-18, 2008. With the theme "'GET, GAIN, GROW.This year Denmark is the theme country of the event and ITB The IT Industry Association of Denmark is a partner association of the upcoming BASIS SoftExpo 2008. Paris chamber, UK trade and investment and Japan external trade organisation JETRO will be strategic partners of the exposition. Fifteen Danish IT companies will participate in the IT fair. The companies are coming to search for Bangladeshi partner. This time in matchmaking in ICT will be held between Bangladesh and Denmark. Paris chamber is also promoting BASIS SoftExpo-2008 among 300 foreign IT companies advocating to join and explore the potentials of Bangladesh in the field. JETRO and UK trade and investment are also taking the same efforts. Dutch specialist Paul Tija will also join the exposition with some Dutch delegates. IT companies from USA, Germany and Sweden are also expected to join the fair.

To explore Bangladesh ICT market potentials to the local and international players in the field, more than 200 exhibitors are taking part at the largest ICT exposition of the country. Exhibitors include BASIS members, multinational software vendors and ICT companies, international ICT associations, local software development houses, successful ICT projects initiated by multinational and local companies, Govt. departments and agencies implementing e-Governance projects, ICT training institutes and universities.

Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Shahin Ahmed have been elected President, Senior Vice President and Vice President of Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers Association (BEMMA) respectively for the session 2007-2008.

The election was held on December 30 at BEMMA office in the city amid festivity. Seven executive members have also been elected against the seven blank posts of the organisation for three years (2007-2010) term.

A Technical Briefing and Product Launching Ceremony of LKE (Lauritz Knudsen Electric) Products was held recently at Ballroom, Dhaka Sheraton. The programme was organised by LKE's local partner JRC Powertech. Mir Nasir Hossain, former President FBCCI was present as the chief guest of the ceremony. Soh Kim Wat, CEO, LKE was the chief speaker on the techinical briefing session. Md. Mahfuj Al Rashid, CEO, JRC Powertech was the President of the ceremony.

LKE, the sister company of LKE Europe, Denmark was 114 years of manufacturing experience in low to high voltage electrical circuit breakers and switchgears. LKE is well known for advance technology and high quality products.

Together LKE and JRC are committed to providing the Bangladeshi customers with high quality products and services at a reasonable rice. JRC is committed to focus on complete electrical solutions rather than product only.

JRC Powertech a leading provider of engineering products and services, also deals with generators, teclecommunication shelters, switch sockets, MDBs, SPDs sub-stations, integrated alarm panels, motor control panels, and other related products and services.