Authorities have come up with new legislation to fend off suspected efforts from Chinese and other foreign entities to acquire sensitive technologies. When South Korea's Ministry of Trade and Industry submitted revisions to laws covering industrial espionage to the country's legislature in November, it was widely accepted that the new provisions were designed to fend off alleged attempts by Chinese companies and the government in Beijing to access secret technologies.   But reports that authorities are investigating one of the 15 Indonesian engineers working at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) on the joint development of the KF-21 fighter jet, on suspicion he stole critical technologies, indicate that South Korea has a similar problem with nations that it considers allies and business partners. Revisions to the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology are presently being considered in the National Assembly and are due to go into effect six months after they are approved. The new laws significantly increase the penalties for leaking intellectual property to foreign companies and organizations, hiking the maximum penalty from 1.5 billion Korean won (€1.05 million, $1.12 million) at present to 6.5 billion won (€4.5 million) and to 3 billion won (€2.1 million) for less critical technology. Industrial spying cases rise The new punishments were overdue, say experts, as the rising number of industrial espionage cases shows that not enough is being done to protect home-grown technology, thereby compromising national security. According to the government, 14 cases of industrial espionage were detected in 2019, but that increased to 23 cases in 2023. The majority of the incidents involved cutting-edge semiconductor technologies, an area in which South Korean firms are among the world leaders. The Korea Times newspaper reported that four employees of a display equipment manufacturer affiliated with Samsung Electronics were arrested in January for passing on technology to China-based PNC Process System. The theft caused "irreparable damage to the country's semiconductor industry," prosecutors were quoted as saying, as well as financial damages worth 210 billion won. "These events keep happening, and are a strong indicator of the problems that Korean companies and the government are having in dealing with critical questions over the security of our technology," said Park Jung-won, a professor of international law at Dankook University. "I worry that many people look at the Indonesian case and are dismissing it as a relatively trivial matter," he told DW. "We need to look at this in light of all the other similar scandals that are impacting national security and even our democracy," Park said.  "We need to be better at protecting technology that is designed to ensure our security and our democracy," he added.  Data theft on new fighter jet He admitted, however, to being taken aback that an Indonesian engineer is suspected of attempting to steal Korean technology on an aircraft that the two nations are developing together. According to media reports after the leak was announced on February 2, investigators are deciphering more than 6,000 encrypted files on a number of storage devices that were taken by the engineer. The man was detained as he attempted to pass through a security checkpoint at the development facility for the aircraft on January 17 and is undergoing questioning. The engineer is understood to have been working on the project since 2017 and there is concern that he has been stealing key technological data for some time. Dan Pinkston, a professor of international relations at the Seoul campus of Troy University, is far less surprised that purported partners — either private companies or governments — would attempt to take advantage out of every economic opportunity. "It is not much of a shock that states do this and try to acquire secret or sensitive technology, whether that is at the state level of a private company," he said. However, he added that the greatest threat to South Korea's technological secrets still comes from China. 'Whole of society' approach "Beijing uses a 'whole of society' approach to acquiring technology," he told DW. "Under Chinese law, any Chinese citizen who is asked to cooperate with the collection of information or technology, either legally or illegally, is obliged to do so." In addition to that, Chinese companies or state-run cyber infiltration units are adept at accessing the computer systems of foreign companies or governments and gathering useful information, he said. And that means it is up to all foreign firms and governments to implement defensive measures that are able to keep intruders at bay. The theft of data and the loss that causes to a company or the threat posed by a foreign power having inside information on any government's policies, particularly defense, "are a huge incentive to those secrets being protected," said Pinkston. "The growth of cyber espionage has changed the landscape and there is now a greater need for collaboration between private companies and their governments to protect their knowledge and secrets."  

In a significant development, a Chinese researcher at Japan's National Institute of Industrial Technology was arrested on Thursday for allegedly leaking data to a Chinese company, Kyodo News Agency reported. The Chinese researcher Quan Hengdao is suspected of sharing research data on fluorine compounds with the Chinese firm through emails on April 13, 2018, and has violated the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. Quan Hengdao, a 59-year-old researcher, is suspected of emailing research data on fluorine compounds to the Chinese firm on April 13, 2018, in violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, the source said. Fluorine compounds are used as insulating gas and employed as an insulator in electrical equipment such as transformers. According to Kyodo News Agency, he worked on the data at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Ibaraki Prefecture. Kyodo News is a non-profit cooperative news agency based in Minato, Tokyo. The suspect, Quan Hengdao, had a dual role as a researcher and a teacher at the Beijing Institute of Technology. This institute is believed to have links to China's military, raising concerns about the nature of the leaked data and its potential implications. The investigation is expected to delve deeper into any possible connections between the Chinese company involved and the military. As soon as the institute reported the breach, police probed his home and seized materials on Thursday. Fluorine compounds are used as insulating gas and employed as an insulator in electrical equipment like transformers, as per Kyodo News Agency. "It is very regrettable that our staff member was arrested. We'll fully cooperate with the investigation and deal with the matter strictly," the institute said. 

Profits at industrial firms in China declined in the first 11 months of the year, as production slowed and factory-gate prices fell amid Covid disruptions. Industrial profits in the January-November period fell 3.6% from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday. That compared with a decline of 3% in the first 10 months of the year. “Industrial production slowed down and business operation pressure increased in November due to factors such as a resurgence in Covid cases and insufficient demand,” NBS senior statistician Zhu Hong said in an accompanying statement. The oil, coal and other fuel processing industry saw profits plummet 74.9% on year in January-November, while the ferrous metals smelting and pressing sector suffered a 94.5% slump, according to NBS data. China’s weakening demand for steel amid Covid outbreaks and a persisting property crisis has forced mills to cut output, Bloomberg reported previously. The NBS did not release single-month data for November. Bloomberg calculations based on NBS data show industrial profits dropped 8.9% last month from a year ago. The figures provided yet another sign of the weakness in China’s economy last month when strict movement restrictions were still in place to contain Covid outbreaks. Growth in industrial output slowed to the weakest since May in November, while factory-gate prices continued to contract. The economy is bracing for increasing strain after the government abruptly dropped its Covid Zero policy. Soaring infections across the country are keeping people home, causing a slump in travel and economic activity. Looking ahead, Covid case spikes will curb the recovery of industrial profits in the short term and the sector remains to be pressured by contracting demand, supply chain shocks and weakening expectations, Zhu said. “We must better coordinate Covid controls and economic and social development, ensure industrial and supply chain smoothness and take effort to expand domestic demand,” Zhu said. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg project expansion of the world’s second-largest economy will moderate to just 3% this year, the slowest rate since the 1970s barring 2020’s pandemic plunge, before picking up to 4.9% in 2023. Profits at foreign firms declined 7.8% in the first 11 months of the year, worsening from a 7.6% decrease in the first 10 months of 2022. Private firms, meanwhile, saw their profits sink 7.9%, while those of state-owned enterprises were up 0.5%

India is guiding the "fourth industrial revolution" as government programs make technology accessible, improve services and encourage startups, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “India wants to become a chipmaker from a chip taker. Investment is rapidly increasing in India to increase production of semiconductors,” he said at the Digital India Week 2022 where programs to promote technology and digitization were launched. The Digital India program, started eight years ago, showed how technology can be used for progress. A country that does not adopt modern technology is left behind, as had happened to India in the Third Industrial Revolution. “But today we can proudly say that India is guiding the world in the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0,” said Modi. The government of India is planning to provide skill development training at least 14 lakh people in the next five years, and it will support 30 institutions under the Chips-to-Startup Program. Space, mapping, drones, gaming, and animation are among those that are going to expand. Services like life certificates, reservations and banking have become accessible and affordable. Under Direct Benefit Transfer, more than Rs 23 lakh crore rupees have been directly transferred to the accounts of the beneficiaries, in the last 8 years. “Due to this technology, Rs 2.23 lakh crore of the country has been saved from falling into the wrong hands,” he said. Digital India has brought the government to the doorsteps and phones of the citizens. Similarly, documents for rural properties are provided using technology. The government is working on digital mapping of rural properties using drones. Modi said that Digital India had assisted in fighting Covid-19. “We have run the world's largest and most efficient Covid vaccination and Covid relief program.” The government transfers thousands of crores of rupees to the bank accounts of crores of women, farmers, and laborers with a single click. With the help of the One Nation One Ration Card, it has ensured free ration to more than 80 crore countrymen. India’s financial technology (fintech) sector is truly a solution "by the people, of the people, for the people". At least 40 per cent of digital transactions take place in India, he said. ‘Digital India Bhashini’, a new initiative, will enable easy access to the internet and digital services in Indian languages, including voice-based access, and help the creation of content in Indian languages. Another program is Digital India Genesis’ (Gen-next Support for Innovative Startups) is a platform, to discover, support, grow and make successful startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities of India. A total outlay of Rs 750 crore has been envisaged for the scheme. 'MyScheme’, a service discovery platform, facilitates access to government schemes. The C2S Program aims to train specialized manpower in semiconductor chip design. Source: Business Standard

Country’s businessmen today (Apr 16) stressed highly the need for ensuring export diversification to face the challenges of the post LDC graduation. In order to ensure export diversification and enhancing capacity, they demanded of the government to give equal treatment to all the export-oriented sectors instead of concentrating on some few sectors. The businessmen came up with the opinion at a seminar titled “Bangladesh’s export challenges in post LDC graduation: the role of the private sector” organized by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) held at its office in city’s Motijheel area. Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus joined the Programme as the chief guest while BIDA executive chairman Md Sirazul Islam, Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana and Planning Commission member Sharifa Khan spoke as special guests. FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin gave the welcome address while former member of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission Mostafa Abid Khan made the key-note presentation. Former president of MCCI Syed Nasim Monzur, PWC Bangladesh managing partner Mamun Rashid, FBCCI adviser Monzur Ahmed, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission former chairman Dr Mojibur Rahman and CPD research director Dr Khandaker Golam Moazzem spoke as panel discussants. Listing a set of export supporting proposals, the FBCCI President said that following the LDC graduation, the export oriented sectors would face most of the challenges. “For this, all export sectors should get equal opportunities to boost country’s exports,” he said urging the government for allowing establishment of industries through only permanent registration without the necessity for renewal, land, environment, fire safety and tax related certificates. He also called upon the government for taking necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted supply of energy alongside building necessary Human Resources. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ahmad Kaikaus said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself makes branding of country’s businesses as she usually takes businessmen as her entourage members while touring abroad. Mentioning that Bangladesh has still four years more to make LDC graduation which is also not a short time, he said that in the pace Bangladesh is moving ahead, it would change the projections of various organizations. Kaikaus also said that there was no corruption in the mega projects and in procurement of vaccines. BIDA Executive Chairman Md Sirazul Islam said that although the World Bank has stopped publishing the ease of doing business index, but the BIDA has been working relentlessly to improve such improvement. He informed that since launching of the once stop service in 2019, BIDA has so far delivered more than 50,000 services. Tapan Kanti Ghosh said that there is no alternative to striking free trade agreements for gaining export and trade competitiveness in the long run for which the government has been giving its relentless efforts. The speakers at the seminar underscored the need for building skilled Human Resources, maintaining the supply chain, reaching 5G and broadband services in every nook and corner, ensuring industry-academia linkage and signing more FTAs. Source: BSS AH

The cabinet division has informed that all the export oriented industrial units including garments will remain open from August 1 (Sunday) after abiding by the health protocol. The information was delivered through a press release signed by cabinet division Deputy Secretary Md. Rezaul Islam on Friday afternoon. The press release said, during the ongoing period of maintaining restrictions to curb the transmission of coronavirus, all the export oriented industrial mills and factories will remain open from August 1. Earlier on Thursday the business leaders of FBCCI met Cabinet Secretary Khandakar Anwarul Islam and demanded for reopening of export oriented industrial sector. Mentionable that the government has imposed 14-day strict restrictions to prevent spread of coronavirus from July 23 to August 5. In this period direction was given to restrict people’s movement, besides directions were given to remain all types of transport, shops, shopping malls, garments and other export oriented mill-factories such as garments closed. But the owners of the mills and factories also demanded to reopen their units. Based on their demand the cabinet division took the decision to reopen the export oriented mill and factories. AH     

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has expressed his optimism that Bangladesh will be the key leader of the 4th Industrial Revolution. “We belief Bangladesh is going to be one of the leaders in the upcoming 4th Industrial Revolution. We don’t just hope rather we plan and we intend on Bangladesh being one of the key leaders of the 4th industrial revelation,” he told a webinar on Thursday night joining it from the USA. As part of Digital World 2020, the webinar titled ‘Embracing Digital Technologies in New Normal’ was arranged by the ICT Division. Joy said: “I believe this is completely possible. It is not it’s not just a dream, it’s possible. We don’t know what next big technologies going to be. But I can promise that some of those technologies will be from Bangladesh”. “We have the ability. We have proved that we can do it. We are now looking forward to next chapter of future technologies and the future,” he added. The prime minister’s adviser said Bangladesh wants to develop next-generation technologies now instead of hiring technology from other countries. “We are developing centre of excellence on 4th Industrial Revolution. We are focusing on research, not just focusing on technologies adapted by others. We want to become one of the leaders in the next generation of technologies,” he added. The government has set some goals for the development of the ICT sector to lead the revolution, he added. The focus is on artificial intelligence or AI, blockchain, Internet of Things, nano technology, biotechnology, robotics, and microprocessor and software designing, he said. Mentioning that the cyber security will play a curial role, he said “We have new cyber security law. We are setting up cyber security cells and national monitoring cells. All these initiatives will ensure online security in our country.” Referring to development in ICT sector, he said because of digitization, time and distance is no longer a factor as he joined the webinar from Washington, DC and some other joined it from different countries. Joy said the ICT sector played an important role in keeping going the wheels of economy during the Covid-19 pandemic. State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the webinar while ministers for ICT affairs from Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries joined it. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina today said the government has been implementing the “Zero Discharge Policy” in the industrial sector to check industrial pollution and protect the country’s environment. “Installation of Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) or Air Treatment Plant (ATP) and taking environmental clearance have been made mandatory for mills and factories which require it ,” she told parliament while responding to a starred question placed by ruling party lawmaker Mohammad Shahiduzzaman (Meherpur-2). The Prime Minister informed the House that a total of 1,920 industries out of 2,400 have set up ETPs across the country till December 2019. She said the government has been implementing the “Zero Discharge Policy” in the industries releasing liquid wastes with a view to stopping industrial pollution. “The government has given approval of the Zero Discharge Plan to 526 industries till December 2019,” Sheikh Hasina said. About the measures taken by the government to check air pollution, she said the government executed the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) Project. Under the project, 16 Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Stations were established in 12 towns of the country, the premier said, adding that the authorities concerned are now monitoring the level of air pollution. Noting that the government is working sincerely in controlling air pollution caused by brick kilns and motor vehicles, she said the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) (Amendment) Act 2018 has been enacted to this end. Sheikh Hasina said a project is being implemented to introduce environment-friendly improved stoves to prevent indoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emission and reduce health risk. Under the project, she said, 9.73 lakh improved stoves were installed across the country. Sheikh Hasina said the drives of mobile courts are continuing across the country to stop the use of banned polythene shopping bags. “We’ve been implementing the Sound Pollution (Control) Rules 2006 through the Department of Environment (DoE) aiming to control sound pollution,” she said. Following the rules, the streets surrounding the Bangladesh Secretariat was declared as a “silent zone” on December 17, 2019, the Prime Minister said, adding that punitive measures have been taken by conducting mobile court drives against the vehicles that are causing sound pollution in the area. She said the government declared the country’s 13 important spots as the ecologically critical areas (ECAs) to protect biodiversity and environment. Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken different plans to create 52,000 hectares block garden in degraded forests and introduce mangroves in 63 hectares of land in the country’s coastal region under a project. “We’ve also planned to distribute one crore saplings in current fiscal, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said. Source: BSS AH

Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, we will make Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty by the year 2021. The main target of our government is to reduce discrimination in development. We are working with the aim so that people in the villages get facilities of towns. About 1.25 crore people will be appointed in the 100 industrial zones that we are constructing. As a result nobody will be left jobless. She said these at her introductory speech in the Awami League central working committee meeting on Friday. The meeting began at 5 pm at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Ganabhaban. The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina where central working committee members were present. The Prime Minister also said, at present our economy is strong enough. This year the growth will be more than 8 percent. We have emphasized on villages for development. We have taken initiatives to reduce discrimination between villages and towns. Nobody will be left homeless or extreme poor. Even there will be no beggar. BSS adds:  The Prime Minister said, when a fire incident takes place, huge number of people usually gather at the place of occurrence creating obstruction to the fire fighters to extinguish the blaze. Most of them go to see the fire and they take selfie … I cannot understand that what happened to prompt them to take selfie. “Not taking photo, they should bring some buckets of water and join the drive to extinguish fire … they will have to change their mindset and think about how to help douse the blaze,” she added. The Prime Minister said those construct and use buildings have responsibilities for checking incidents of fire. “It’s the responsibility of the fire service to extinguish the fire. But those who construct and use buildings have responsibilities so that incidents of blaze do not occur,” she said. “I will say that they have also a responsibility, but they don’t perform it. If any incident of fire happens, the government is blamed for that,” she continued. Sheikh Hasina said there must have an arrangement for extinguishing the fire while constructing any building and the users of the buildings must have knowledge about what they will have to do during any fire incident. “Most of the buildings are constructed in such a way that there is no fire exit and the fire exit is closed while making interior decoration. And in the case of the market, the fire exit is used as stores of goods of the shops,” she said. The Prime Minister advised the people not to bring any destruction for themselves while going to use every inch of buildings for profit. “Don’t bring destruction for yourselves and become penniless while going to use every inch of the buildings for profit,” she said. AH    

Dhaka Industrial Police Super Sana Shaminur Rahman Shamim said, the miscreants who provoked the workers movement regarding wage structure in the factories of Savar, Ashulia have been identified. Legal steps are being taken against them. He said these to the newsmen while responding to a question over the situation of factories in Savar, Ashulia on Tuesday. The Police Super said, the atmosphere for work has returned in the industrial area and hundred percent activities are going on. To avert any untoward situation water cannons and armored vehicles are prepared beside all the roads. He said, all the workers have joined their workplaces in the factories of Savar and Ashulia after welcoming the new wage structure. Besides, during the movement for security reasons some factories were declared closed by the owners and at present processes are going on to open those. According to the police and local sources, the readymade garments workers have joined their workplaces following the urge made by the Prime Minister. The factory authorities have said that production is normal at present. Besides, additional police forces were deployed in different points to avert any untoward incident. After visiting different garment factories in the industrial area on Tuesday it was seen that workers were entering the factories in groups. They were working as usual like the other days in every factory. Meanwhile, law enforcers have restricted the automobiles plying from Bypile to Ashulia Bazar area on Dhaka-Ashulia-EPZ road. Earlier in the morning Dhaka district Police Super Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman visited Jamgara area of Ashulia and said, the worker have joined their workstations and at present there is no problem. AH