2.3 Million Green Jobs Plan Revealed

06 Jul 2013

A multimillion-dollar energy efficiency project poised to begin in the Illawarra will create no direct jobs but is intended to have flow-on benefits for the region's green economy, according to Regional Development Australia.

Funding for the $2.3 million Energy Efficiency in the 3rd Age (EE3A) project represents the first sizeable federal government contribution in the field since the Green Jobs Illawarra strategy was announced in November 2009.

The strategy was designed to transform the region's manufacturing sector and create thousands of "green jobs".

Green Jobs Illawarra, part of Regional Development Australia, created the consortium that secured the EE3A funding this week.

An RDA spokesman pointed to the flow-on employment possibilities.

The project was a trial that would "reposition our community thinking about engaging and working with local supply chain and industry on low carbon solutions".

"It is not intended to directly create 'green jobs' but to ensure that we provide opportunities for local suppliers to be involved in the project to build and strengthen capability as energy efficiency and associated service specialists," the spokesman said.

"We will be working with Dux [GWA] Group as the only Australian and local manufacturer of solar hot water heaters ... we will be procuring other retrofitting measures and services from local business."

Other consortium partners include the University of Wollongong, Illawarra Retirement Trust, Warrigal Care, Royal Freemasons' Benevolent Institution, Southern Councils Group, Illawarra Forum and WEA Illawarra.

Source: http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1619840/23-million-green-jobs-plan-revealed/?cs=12

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p|?p?? he said the new visa measures have been taken at the Embassy level and is applicable to only Indian students.

Last year, almost 2,600 Indian students opted for higher education in France, a jump of 50 per cent over the past five years.

"In 1998, there were only 100 Indian students in France. We have had a steady progress and that trend growing," the ambassador said.

While earlier language was a barrier, over 700 courses are now taught in English.

He said the French Embassy in India has simplified visa procedures for Indian students wishing to study in France.

In parallel, visa applications by Indian faculties and officials will be examined as a matter of priority.

Campus France (governmental agency promoting French higher education) will establish partnerships with various Indian higher education institutions in order to accelerate the procedures for exchanges with French institutions and for their alumni.

The French Embassy is currently organising a "France-India job opportunities" network that will bring together the HR heads of the major French companies in India and major Indian ones working in partnership with French companies, as well as international relations heads of the French and Indian higher education institutions.

The "France-India job opportunities" network aims to promote all the opportunities offered to Indian students who have pursued higher education in France.

Over 350 French companies are present in India with a total investment stock of almost 18 billion dollars. They alone account for the generation of 2,40,000 skilled jobs spread all over India, Richier said.

This year, the French Embassy, along with its corporate partners, will award scholarships totalling Rs. 7.1 crore to 235 meritorious Indian students who wish to pursue their higher education in France.

Source: http://profit.ndtv.com/news/careers/article-france-eases-visa-norms-for-indian-students-324085?pfrom=home-otherstories