KTEC
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Kesh-Tethys Economic Cooperation
| |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Emblem
| |
|
Member states Observer states Member states Observer states | |
| Administrative centres | |
| Working languages | |
| Official languages of contracting states | |
| Member states | |
| Leaders | |
• Chairperson |
 Ishida Satoru |
• Commission Chairperson |
 Albert Tanzer-Lilienthal |
• Executive Director |
 Saikam Kwung |
| Establishment | |
• Kesh-Tethys Relations Conference | 12 December 1960 |
• Dakai Nong Conference | 24 May 1979 |
• First Hochberg Trade Summit | 8 July 1986 |
• Quang Chau Declaration | 16 March 1993 |
• Treaty of Songhari | 1 January 1994 |
| Area | |
• Total | 6,805,906 km2 (2,627,775 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2019 estimate |
 1,281,744,254 |
• Density | 188.3/km2 (487.7/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
• Total |
$21.51 trillion |
• Per capita | $16,782 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
• Total |
$14.75 trillion |
• Per capita | $11,507 |
| HDI (2019) |
0.797 high |
| Currency |
8 currencies
|
|
Website KTEC.org | |
The Kesh-Tethys Economic Cooperation (KTEC) is an inter-governmental forum for nine member economies in the Kesh-Tethys region that promotes free trade throughout the Kesh-Tethys region. Following the Yindong Crises and success of the 1986 Hochberg Trade Summits and series of post-ministerial conferences launched in the mid-1980s and early 90s, KTEC started in 1994, in response to the growing interdependence of Kesh economies and the advent of regional trade blocs in other parts of the world; it aimed to establish new markets for agricultural products and raw materials beyond Kesh. KTEC is recognized as one of the highest-level multilateral blocs despite being a relatively young forum in the region, and exerts a significant global influence.
History
The idea of co-operation among Kesh Countries was discussed in a number of conferences and trade summits: the Kesh-Tethys Relations Conference held in Qingcheng in 1960; the Dakai Nong Conference in Raocuengh in 1979; and the Hochberg Trade Summit held in Alva in 1986. Topics discussed between Alvak, Bakanese, and Kodeshi diplomats included the importing and exporting of Alvak oil for Bakanese and Kodeshi goods, which was a major topic in all six trade summits. Initially, the talks went cold, as there was still the issue of unresolved tension between the two parties. However, once both sides agreed that disputes would not play a role in the disruption of the talks, they began to warm up. The 1st Hochberg Trade Summit ended up having a large impact in Alva, as the recession disappeared only months after the 6th and last summit.
The 2nd and 3rd summits in 1987 ended up having made more progress, continually breaking the thaw between the three parties. The 4th and 5th summits in 1988 took advantage of the thaw and built on top of it to completely shatter it with talks of free trade and joint projects between the three. The 6th and last summit in 1990 would hammer home the last nail in the coffin of the anti-Sinitic mindset what few people still had. In the early 1990s, when the foreign ministers of five countries: Akiteiwa, Alva, Bakfong, Kodeshia, Qingcheng and Hwangchu agreed upon the creation of a trade bloc and to provide a platform for the people of Kesh to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust, and understanding. The aims and purposes of KTEC are to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region, to promote regional peace, collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest, to provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities, to collaborate for better utilisation of agriculture and industry to raise the living standards of the people, to promote Kesh-Tethys cultural studies and to maintain close, beneficial co-operation with existing international organisations with similar aims and purposes.
The creation of KTEC was motivated both by the common fear of conflict following the Great Kesh War and the economic shock of the Yindong Crises of 1980s that hit Alva, Bakfong, and Kodeshia the most severely. The region's dynamic economic growth during the 1990s strengthened the organization, enabling KTEC to adopt a unified response to Selengeria's aggression with the ongoing border dispute between Kodeshia and Selengeria. KTEC's first summit meeting, held in Songhari, Kodeshia on 10–12 December 1994, resulted in an agreement on several industrial projects and the signing of a KTEC Charter. The summit also agreed to establish a number of official bodies and adopted an official KTEC flag and emblem. KTEC achieved greater cohesion in the mid-2010s following a change in the balance of power after the Alva's withdrawal from the North-South Concordant. KTEC has emerged as a leading voice on regional trade and security issues.
Expansion
Since it's inception the idea of expanding the organisation had come up in discussions but weren't seen as core aspect of the economically focused nations at the time. Kodeshia had long argued in favour of expanding the organisation to allow further Kesh and Tethys members to help foster regional stablity and pan-national unity and anti-colonial ideals. These goals were not shared by all members of the organisation which saw the organisation as purely an economic forum. Both Prabhat and the Yeosan Islands had shown interest in the organisation since it began but both had decided to wait until the organisation materialised into a functioning body before joining. Talks for memebership began in the late 1990s. The issue of Prabhat's and the Yeosan Islands' potential memberships came after considerable debate within the organisation over how it should process in regard to the expansion and selection of members. While there was some hesitation over the potential for the organisation to lose focus however Prabhat being a leading nation within the Southern Kesh was seen as vital partner in the blocs focus for on peace and stability in the region. Ultimately, this decision was unanimous at the voting and on 1 March 1997, Prabhat became KTEC's seventh member.
Members and observers
Members
| Country | Land Area (km2) | Population 2019 | GDP (nominal) [$ billions, 2019] | GDP (PPP) [$ billions, 2019] | GDP per capita (nominal) |
GDP per capita (PPP) |
GDP growth rate (2019) |
Defence budget ($ billions, 2019) | Life expectancy | Human Development Index | Unaligned Nations Consortium | North-South Concordant | Nuclear weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akiteiwa |
799,675 | 76,599,942 |
$3,550 | $3,089 | $46,356 | $40,327 | 1.66% |
$124 | 81.6 | 0.916 | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Alva |
705,150 | 41,103,882 |
$778 | $1,362 | $18,934 | $33,135 | 1.49% |
$29 | 79.7 | 0.927 | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Bakfong |
713,350 | 116,560,000 |
$4,699 | $4,965 | $39,713 | $42,591 | 2.7% |
$69 | 83.1 | 0.909 | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
 Hwangchu |
281,400 | 48,247,812 |
$1,956 | $2,253 | $40,540 | $46,696 | (percent)% |
$98.9 | (number3) | (number4) | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
 HCCK |
949,228 | 258,434,342 |
$850 | $1,276 | $3,291 | $4,937 | 8.48% |
$23 | 68.0 | 0.620 | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
 Kodeshia |
2,001,775 | 500,012,074 |
$1,761 | $4,343 | $3,523 | $8,687 | 5.79% |
$61 | 70.0 | 0.698 | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ |
 Prabhat |
488,575 | 83,958,145 |
$1,763 | $1,964 | $21,600 | $23,400 | 4.84% |
$43 | 80.14 | 0.811 | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
 Qingcheng |
847,275 | 154,210,563 |
$1,224 | $2,136 | $10,707 | $13,529 | 3,76% |
$42 | 75.4 | 0.708 | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
 Yeosan Islands |
19,478 | 2,617,494 |
$120.2 | $125.4 | $45,950 | $47,850 | 1.01% |
$2 | 82.3 | 0.916 | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
The member states are Akiteiwa, Alva, Bakfong, Kodeshia, Prabhat, Qingcheng, Hwangchu the HCCK, and the Yeosan Islands.
Observers
States with observer status include Chezzetcook and Modrovia.
Potential future members
Some other Keshian nations have expressed interest in joining KTEC as full member. Selengeria has applied for observer status membership of KTEC, but was vetoed by 6-out-of-8 members in a 2016 vote. Modrovia and Chezzetcook have participated in meetings.
Structure
The Charter states that the Kesh-Tethys Economic Cooperation is to be composed of representatives, as necessary heads of state, heads of government and foreign ministers, from member states, each of which shall have a single vote irrespective of the number of representatives. The Kesh-Tethys Economic Cooperation has held annual meetings with representatives from all member economies. The first annual meetings were attended by ministerial-level officials.
The KTEC has a number of official bodies:
- KTEC Assembly (KA)
- Composed of heads of state and heads of government of KTEC states, the Assembly is currently the supreme governing body of the organisation. It meets once a year and makes its decisions by consensus or by a two-thirds majority. It is headquartered in Seulgwang, Hwangchu.
- KTEC Commission (KC)
- The secretariat of KTEC, composed of ten commissioners and supporting staff and headquartered in Songhari, Kodeshia. It is responsible for the administration and coordination of the KTEC's activities and meetings.
- KTEC Executive Council (KEC)
- Composed of ministers designated by the governments of member states. It decides on matters such as foreign trade, social security, food, agriculture and communications, is accountable to the Assembly, and prepares material for the Assembly to discuss and approve. It is headquartered in Alvastadt, Alva.
Specialized Bodies
The KTEC Member States have created the following Specialized Bodies of the KTEC in the Member States which have special mandates and structures different from the Regional Centres. These bodies are managed by their respective Governing Boards composed of representatives from all the Member States, the representative of Chairperson of the KTEC and the Ministry of Foreign/External Affairs of the Host Government. The heads of these Bodies act as Member Secretary to the Governing Board which reports to the Programming Committee of the KTEC.
| Specialized Body | Location | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTEC Arbitration Council (KARCO) | Kikyo | Akiteiwa
|
www.karco.org |
| KTEC Development Fund (KDF) | Alvastadt | Alva
|
www.kdfsec.org |
| Kesh-Tethys University (KAU) | Taywu | Bakfong
|
www.kau.org |
| Kesh-Tethys Regional Standards Organization (KARSO) | Songhari | Kodeshia
|
www.karso.org |
Regional Centres
The KTEC Secretariat is supported by following Regional Centres established in the Member States to promote regional co-operation. These Centres are managed by Governing Boards comprising representatives from all the Member States, KTEC Chairperson and the Ministry of Foreign/External Affairs of the Host Government. The Director of the Centre acts as Member Secretary to the Governing Board which reports to the Programming Committee.
| Regional Centre | Location | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTEC Agricultural Centre (KAC) | Songhari | Kodeshia |
www.kac.org |
| KTEC Meteorological Research Centre (KMRC) | Bhāgya | Prabhat |
www.kmrc.org |
| KTEC Forestry and Natural Resources Centre (KFNRC) | Alvastadt | Alva |
www.kfnrc.org |
| KTEC Regional Community (KRC) | Bhāgya | Prabhat |
www.kdfsec.org |
| KTEC Documentation Centre (KDC) | Taywu | Bakfong |
www.kdc.org |
| KTEC Disaster Management Centre (KDMC) | Taywu | Bakfong |
www.kdmc.org |
| KTEC Information Centre (KIC) | Chenghua | Qingcheng |
www.kic.org |
| KTEC Disease Control and Prevention (KDCP) | Chenghua | Qingcheng |
www.kdcp.org |
| KTEC Human Resources Development Centre (KHRDC) | Kikyo | Akiteiwa |
www.khrdc.org |
| KTEC Energy Centre (KEC) | Kikyo | Akiteiwa |
www.ktecenergy.org |
| KTEC Coastal Zone Management Centre (KCZMC) | Seulgwang | Hwangchu |
www.kczmc.org |
| KTEC Cultural and Tourism Centre (KCTC) | Arelexiang | HCCK |
www.kctc.org |
List of Chairpersons
The Chairperson is appointed for a two-year term by election by a council of Ministers from member states. The Chairperson is assisted by eight deputies, one from each nation, who also resides in Seulgwang, Hwangchu. The KTEC Assembly was established in Seulgwang, Hwangchu on 7 July 1994 by Bakanese diplomat Lang Sai Hong, who was its first Chairperson and was inaugurated by the (important figure). Since its creation, its member nations have contributed to a total of fourteen Chairpersons. Former Akitei Minister of Economy Ishida Satoru is the current Chairperson, having assumed charge on 1 January 2021.
| Chairperson | Member State | Beginning of term | End of term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lang Sai Hong | Bakfong |
7 July 1994 | 4 September 1996 |
| 2nd | (name) | Hwangchu |
5 September 1996 | 3 October 1998 |
| 3rd | Bakar el-Rashid | Alva |
4 October 1998 | 5 November 2000 |
| 4th | Mao Lingxin | Qingcheng |
6 November 2000 | 31 December 2002 |
| 5th | Aadhith Acharya | Prabhat |
1 January 2003 | 31 December 2004 |
| 6th | Hirata Takashi | Akiteiwa |
1 January 2005 | 31 December 2006 |
| 7th | Ivaan Laghari | Prabhat |
1 January 2007 | 31 December 2008 |
| 8th | Reyhan Samedi | HCCK |
1 January 2009 | 31 December 2010 |
| 9th | Siu Hong Poon | Bakfong |
1 January 2011 | 31 December 2012 |
| 10th | Zhou Juezai | Kodeshia |
1 January 2013 | 31 December 2014 |
| 11th | Ozawa Kei | Akiteiwa |
1 January 2015 | 31 December 2016 |
| 12th | Tian Yating | Qingcheng |
1 January 2017 | 31 December 2018 |
| 13th | Cathrin von Kammberg | Alva |
1 January 2019 | 31 December 2020 |
| 14th | Ishida Satoru | Akiteiwa |
1 January 2021 | Incumbent |
List of Commission Chairpersons
The Commission Chairperson is appointed for a four-year term by election by a council of Ministers from member states. The Commission Chairperson oversees the as the executive and administrative branch of KTEC. It consists of a number of Commissioners dealing with different areas of policy. Composed of ten commissioners and supporting staff and headquartered in Songhari, Kodeshia.
| Chairperson | Member State | Beginning of term | End of term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Shinsato Ryo | Akiteiwa |
8 July 1994 | 10 September 1998 |
| 2nd | Kabil Balakrishnan | Prabhat |
11 September 1998 | 31 December 2002 |
| 3rd | Shao Lingxin | Qingcheng |
1 January 2002 | 31 December 2006 |
| 4th | Tong Shenzhi | Kodeshia |
1 January 2007 | 31 December 2011 |
| 5th | (name) | Hwangchu |
1 January 2012 | 31 December 2016 |
| 6th | Juk Lungsi | Bakfong |
1 January 2017 | 31 December 2020 |
| 7th | Albert Tanzer-Lilienthal | Alva |
1 January 2021 | Incumbent |
List of Executive Directors
The Executive Directors is appointed for a four-year term by the Chairperson and is open to professional candidates from any of KTEC's member economies. The Executive Council is staffed by a small team of program directors, seconded from KTEC Member Economies. In addition, professional staff fulfil specialist and support functions at the Executive Council. Composed of ministers designated by the governments of member states. It decides on matters such as foreign trade, social security, food, agriculture and communications, is accountable to the Assembly, and prepares material for the Assembly to discuss and approve. It is headquartered in Alvastadt, Alva.
| Chairperson | Member State | Beginning of term | End of term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Zhuan Xinyi | Qingcheng |
11 July 1994 | 14 September 1998 |
| 2nd | Shaurya Varna | Prabhat |
15 September 1998 | 31 December 2002 |
| 3rd | Raaida el-Siddique | Alva |
1 January 2002 | 31 December 2006 |
| 4th | Sawa Hiroshi | Akiteiwa |
1 January 2007 | 31 December 2011 |
| 5th | (name) | Hwangchu |
1 January 2012 | 31 December 2016 |
| 6th | Tao Qin | Kodeshia |
1 January 2017 | 31 December 2020 |
| 7th | Saikam Kwung | Bakfong |
1 January 2021 | Incumbent |
KTEC summits
| No | Date | Country | Host | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10–12 December 1994 | Kodeshia |
Songhari | First Summit agreed to establish a number of official bodies and adopted an official KTEC flag and emblem |
| 2nd | 4-8 November 1995 | Bakfong |
Taywu | Discussed granting Yeosan Islands KTEC membership |
| 3rd | 7-8 November 1996 | Akiteiwa |
Kikyo | Discussed granting Prabhat KTEC membership First summit with Yeosan Islands in attendance as full member |
| 4th | 16-17 December 1997 | Qingcheng |
Chenghua | First summit with Prabhat in attendance as full member |
| 5th | 24-25 November 1998 | Alva |
Avarino | Discussed granting Modrovia observer status (granted, 7-0) |
| 6th | 2-4 December 1999 | Prabhat |
Bhāgya | First summit with Modrovia in attendance as observer |
| 7th | 10-11 April 2000 | Yeosan Islands |
Saekung | Discussed granting Chezzetcook observer status (granted, 7-0) |
| 8th | 12-14 May 2001 | Akiteiwa |
Kikyo | KTEC Visa Exemption Scheme was launched First summit with Chezzetcook in attendance as observer |
| 9th | 6-8 May 2002 | Qingcheng |
Chenghua | |
| 10th | 14-18 July 2003 | Prabhat |
Firakēndra | |
| 11th | 5-8 January 2004 | Akiteiwa |
Kikyo | |
| 12th | 10-12 January 2005 | Yeosan Islands |
Hangeum | |
| 13th | 27-29 November 2006 | Qingcheng |
Chenghua | |
| 14th | 19–27 April 2007 | Bakfong |
Lei Hou | |
| 15th | 27–28 August 2008 | Alva |
Alexandria | |
| 16th | 23–25 April 2009 | Kodeshia |
Shangyu | Discussed granting HCCK KTEC membership |
| 17th | 9–16 November 2010 | Alva |
Alvastadt | First summit with HCCK in attendance as full member |
| 18th | 23–30 November 2011 | Qingcheng |
Wenzhou | |
| 19th | 20–25 November 2012 | Akiteiwa |
Kikyo | |
| 20th | 11-14 December 2013 | Yeosan Islands |
Saekung | |
| 21st | 19–27 February 2014 | Prabhat |
Bhāgya | |
| 22nd | 20–27 July 2015 | Kodeshia |
Jianghua | |
| 23rd | 28–29 March 2016 | Qingcheng |
Chenghua | Discussed granting Selengeria observer status (denied, 2-6) |
| 24th | 24–31 January 2017 | Bakfong |
Taywu | |
| 25th | 6–8 October 2018 | Yeosan Islands |
Saekung | |
| 26th | 2–12 November 2019 | Akiteiwa |
Kikyo | |
| 27th | 10-11 December 2020 | HCCK |
Arelexiang | |
| 28th | February 2021 | Hwangchu |
Seulgwang | |
| 29th | August 2022 | Alva |
Alvastadt | |
| 30th | 2023 | TBA | TBA |
Current leaders of KTEC
- Kawakami Hideaki.jpg
- Hera Cosmiade.jpg
- Song Kwan Tong.jpg
- Queen of Hwachung 2.png
- Sun Zenmin.png
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Current leaders
| Flag | Country | Emblem | Capital | Currency | National Anthem | Type of Government | Official languages | Head of state | Head of government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Akiteiwa | Kikyo | Iroko (IRO) |
"帝国の木から" ("From the Imperial Tree") |
Federal Constitutional Monarchy | Akitei | Emperor – Hikaru II | Prime Minister - Kawakami Hideaki | |
|
Alva | File:ALV-Shield-Black.png | Alvastadt | Alvak Mark (AVM) |
"Rufst du, mein Vaterland?" ("Call'st thou, my fatherland?") |
Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy | Goetic, Thalassian, Arabic | Kaiserin – Irene I Präsident - Otto Maier |
Reichskanzlerin - Hera Cosmiade |
|
Bakfong | File:Beifang Seal.png | Taywu | Yindong (BFY; YD) |
"ㄈㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄨㄟˊ ㄦˊ ㄗˇ ㄎㄨ ㄑㄧˋ" ("The Father Weeps for His Son") |
Parliamentary Yingist Monarchy | Bakanese, Yuenese | Emperor – Lek Chew | Imperial Premier - T’sun Kwun Tong |
|
Hwangchu | 
|
Seulgwang | Hwangchu Seongchal (HSL) |
"이걸 번역하다니 믿을 수가 없다" ("For the freedom of our country, for the glory of our forefathers") |
Unitary parliamentary system constitutional monarchy | Hwangji | Queen – Gyeon Mee-Yon | Prime Minister – Seok Myung-Dae |
|
HCCK | Arelexiang | Huiz (KHZ; Hz) |
"هیچ خدایی جز الله وجود ندارد!" ("There is No God but Allah!") |
Confederation | Kodeshi Farsi Turkic Bengai Assamese |
Grand Vizer – Mihir Armin | ||
|
Kodeshia | 
|
Songhari | Huiz (KHZ; Hz) |
"頌皇国旗!" ("Praise the Imperial Flag!") |
Unitary dominant-party parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy | Guoyu | Emperor – Mengqi | Grand Chancellor - Zhao Changfu |
|
Prabhat | File:Symbol of Prabhat.png | Bhāgya | Prabhati Rupee (PBR) |
"सत्य हा आपला मार्गदर्शक आहे, शहाणपणा हा आपला मार्ग आहे" ("Truth is our guide, wisdom our way") |
Federal Constitutional Monarchy | Prabhati | King of Prabhat - Shivaji II | President - Anusha Chaudhari |
|
Qingcheng | 
|
Chenghua | HuangQian (QCH) |
"钢铁洪流进行曲！" ("The March of Steel Torrent") |
Federal Authoritarian Republic | Wenhua | Tutor of the nation - Xiong Enlai | Prime minister - Sun Zemin |
|
Yeosan Islands | File:Yeosan Islands emblem.png | Saekung | Yeosani Kkot (YIK) |
"조상의 노래" ("Song of the Ancestors") |
Unitary parliamentary republic | Yeosani | President – Jeon Hyun-woo | Prime minister – Park Eun-hye |
Economy
| Country | HDI (2018) | |
|---|---|---|
| Alva
|
0.927 (highest) | very high |
| Akiteiwa
|
0.916 | very high |
| Yeosan Islands
|
0.916 | very high |
| Beifang
|
0.909 | very high |
| Prabhat
|
0.811 | very high |
| KTEC
|
0.751 (average) | high |
| Qingcheng
|
0.708 | high |
| Kodeshia
|
0.698 | medium |
| Hwangchu
|
(number) (lowest) | medium |
| HCCK
|
(0.628) (lowest) | medium |
The combined states of the Kesh-Tethys Economic Cooperation (KTEC) constitute the world's largest economy with a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $14.75 trillion, consists of the trade, industry, agriculture, and human resources of the continent. As of 2018, approximately over 1 billion people were living in six countries in Eastern Kesh. Kesh is a resource-rich continent. Recent growth has been due to growth in sales in commodities, services, and manufacturing. By measuring GDP by purchasing power parity (PPP), KTEC's economy totals $21.51 trillion, ranking it the second largest economy by measure of intergovernmental organizations behind the North-South Concordant the largest with $29.49 trillion.
Internal market
One of the initiatives of KTEC is the creation of a common market, starting with the elimination of tariffs for products and with the goal of ensuring free flow of goods, services, skilled labour, and capital. Allowing Member nations to easily trade with each other, because the internal market, will allow for a standardised system of trading between KTEC member states. The members will be able to exchange goods and investment at a fixed price, including taxation, regardless of which countries are involved. The standardised trade that of the internal market can make possible will ensure the free flow of goods, investment, services and skilled labour as well as capital between every participating nation. Businessmen from each nation will no longer have to choose between each of the member nations because the overhead or capital needed to do business in each country will, remain the same.
However, the creation of a common market is not yet fully implemented, because there is a significant list of exclusions to the external tariff and tariff-free movement of goods and services. Each country imposes tariffs or duties on imports that enter its markets. These tariffs are the prime reason why foreign investment becomes expensive, and constitute a major block against free trade. Technical work is also needed to harmonise and modernise the customs procedures in the KTEC's major ports of entry. Unlike the some other regional intergovernmental organizations, the KTEC has not come up with a single governing currency that will theoretically drive trade prices across member nations. Also each member-nation in the KTEC has different legislation that govern the taxation, as well as the exemptions included, imposed on foreign investment. KTEC members still need to agree on standardising legislation that governs foreign investment in each of the countries. This way, trade between each member can be encouraged because there will not be heavy competition that compels traders to pick which country is a better environment for their investment.
One of the goals of KTEC is to promote development and progress in the Kesh-Tethys region in general. When the organisation has successfully finalised the framework for the theoretical “internal market” between its member nations, it will definitely be a positive step forward towards that goal.
Tourism
The KTEC Visa Exemption Scheme was launched in 2001. This has allowed visa-free travel between KTEC member states, intra-KTEC travel has boomed. The leaders at the Sixth Summit, realising the importance of people-to-people contact among KTEC countries, decided that certain categories of dignitaries should be entitled to a Special Travel document. The document would exempt them from visas within the region. As directed by the Summit, the Assembly established and the Commission and Executive Council regularly kept under review the list of entitled categories. Currently, the list included 24 categories of entitled persons, which include dignitaries, judges of higher courts, parliamentarians, senior officials, entrepreneurs, journalists, and athletes. The Visa Stickers are issued by the respective Member States to the entitled categories of that particular country. The validity of the Visa Sticker is generally for one year. The implementation is reviewed regularly by the Immigration Authorities of KTEC Member States.
Following the formation of the KTEC Cultural and Tourist Centre (KCTC). Tourism has been one of the key growth sectors in KTEC and has proven resilient amid global economic challenges. The wide array of tourist attractions across the region drew a million tourists to KTEC in 2018. In addition, the sector accounted large percentage of capital investment in the region.
Free trade
KTEC, the Kesh-Tethys Economic Cooperation, is gaining considerably in importance as a trade bloc and is now the third largest in the world after the North-South Concordant. Comprising of Akiteiwa, Alva, Bakfong, Kodeshia, Prabhat, Qingcheng, the Yeosan Islands, and the HCCK, KTEC is home to some 1 billion people.
The KTEC bloc have largely cancelled all import and export duty taxes on items traded between them, with the exception of Kodeshia, who continue to impose nominal duties on certain items. However, these too will be completely lifted as of December 31st, 2024, meaning that the entire region will be duty free from this date. KTEC has entered into a number of free trade agreements with other nations that are now radically altering the global sourcing and manufacturing landscape.=
Energy
KTEC is one of the largest, if not the largest energy consumer in all of Anterra. Thus KTEC bloc has worked to secure energy independence by investing in local energy capacity. Since 2006 the bloc has supported the construction of four SanqingStream pipelines despite environmental opposition. The bloc has invested heavily in natural gas extraction capacities, nuclear power, wind, and solar energy within the member states. Furthermore the bloc has taken an active role in controlling global energy prices and energy supplies, punishing countries that conspire to raise energy prices and barring much of the world from buying Selengerian energy if they wish to access KTEC markets.
KTEC has taken an active role supporting clean energy by supporting clean energy research and offering grants to institutions engaged in such research. Furthermore KTEC has allowed member-states to coordinate industrial policy around the "harmonious development of the clean energy sector". KTEC states have taken a leading edge in the production of photovoltaic solar and lithium ion batteries in the last few years.
Culture
The organisation hosts cultural activities in an attempt to further integrate the region. These include sports and educational activities as well as writing awards. In addition, the KTEC region has been recognised as one of the world's most diverse region ethnically, religiously and linguistically.
Media
Member states have promoted co-operation in information to help build an KTEC identity. One of the main bodies in KTEC co-operation in information is the KTEC Cultural and Tourist Centre (KCTC). Established in 2001, its mission is to promote effective co-operation in the fields of information, as well as culture, through its various projects and activities. It includes representatives from national institutions like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Culture and Information, national radio and television networks, museums, archives and libraries, among others. Together, they meet once a year to formulate and agree on projects to fulfil their mission.
Music and Celebrations
Music and Celebrations play a significant role in KTEC affairs, as evidenced by the new music composed for, and to be performed for the origination. In addition the celebrations
Since KTEC's founding, a number of songs and celebrations have been created for the regional alliance:
- "KTEC Kicked In, Yo!" Music by rap artist Meng Xuehong.
- KTEC Freedom Day, is an annual commemoration regarding the founding of the Kesh-Tethys Economic Cooperation
- KTEC Festival of World Sacred Music: a week long celebration for harmony between cultures with dancing, music, art exhibitions and films from across the region.
- Kodeshi Zhēngyuè Festival: held in Kodeshia and celebrates the first month of the year in the Kodeshi calendar. harmony of the difference ethnic groups with their culture, singing, dancing and traditional costumes.
- Kodeshi Yuanxiao Festival: held in Kodeshia and celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Kodeshi calendar. Children go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns, the lanterns can symbolise the people letting go of their past selves and getting new ones, which they will let go of the next year. The lanterns are almost always red to symbolise good fortune.
Sports
The main sporting event of KTEC is the Kesh-Tethys Games, a biennial meet of athletes from the six member-states. A non-member state X and Y is now participating in the Kesh-Tethys Games.
- Kesh-Tethys Games (KTG)
- Kesh-Tethys University Games (KTUG)
- Kesh-Tethys School Games (KTSG)
- Kesh-Tethys Para Games (KTPG)
- Kesh-Tethys Football Championship (KTFC)
- Kesh-Tethys Championship (KTC)
- Kesh-Tethys Rally (KTR)
Foreign affairs
KTEC has been credited by many as among the world's most influential organisations and a potential global powerhouse. The organisation plays a prominent role in regional and international diplomacy, politics, security, economy and trade. The KTEC Free Trade Area also stands as one of the largest and most important free trade areas in the world, and together with its network of dialogue partners. Being one of the world's forefront political, economic and security meetings, the KTEC Summit serves as a prominent regional (Kesh-Tethys) and international (worldwide) conference, with world leaders attending its related summits and meetings to discuss about various problems and global issues, strengthening cooperation, and making decisions.
International response
There have been many discussions and commentaries about the geopolitical nature of KTEC. Chezzetcook, Osorra, Modrovia, and South Kesh are among the countries that expressed a desire to boost trade and cooperation with KTEC. Many countries have signed trade deals with KTEC, such as Osorra in 2007.
Current issues
KTEC faces many challenges, including health issues such as combating tropical diseases; political issues such as confronting undemocratic regimes and mediating in the many civil wars and lingering border disputes and conflicts; economic issues such as improving the standard of living of millions of impoverished, uneducated Kesh population; ecological issues such as dealing with recurring famines, floods, earthquakes, and lack of ecological sustainability; as well as issues of corruption and fraud.
Economic integration
Despite an KTEC goals of significant economic integration as laid out since its founding, KTEC continues to face challenges towards integration. A report in 2018 identified multiple sectors that face challenges towards integration with many unresolved issues relating to aviation, agriculture, and human resources. In addition non-tariff barriers that still exist in the region.
Corruption
Corruption remains a widespread issue, an important requirement to grease business transactions and to receive public services. Transparency International on 27 January, its Kesh Tethys regional director, Martin Johnson, noted that: "if there was one common challenge to unite the Kesh-Tethys region, it would be corruption", noting that: "from campaign pledges to media coverage to civil society forums, corruption dominates the discussion. Yet despite all this talk, there's little sign of action."
In a story published on 6 May 2017, KTEC staff alleged that Commission chairperson Tong Shenzhi was guilty of corruption and cronyism, as well as running of "a "mafia-style" cartel" that operates with impunity. The allegations were contained in a memo leaked to the Songhari Gazette & Jianghua Times. Jiang Lijun, an anti-corruption advisory board member of KTEC, resigned after stating that the organisation had "multiple irregularities" and that "issues have come up over and over again" regarding corruption, stating it . KTEC quickly accepted his resignation, with Jiang saying that it was a sign that mismanagement towards corruption will "continue with business as usual". Jiang Lijun was who was initially reported to have died of a heart attack while aiding a Jianghua Times investigation into corruption in KTEC actually died of two gun shots to the back of the head at his apartment. The suspicious death was later ruled a suicide by police.
Territorial disputes
Several territorial disputes has affected the unity of KTEC such as the Alvak–Kodeshi border dispute between Alva and Kodeshia. While lingering issues from the Great Kesh War and border disputes between Kodeshia and Selengeria continue to be an area of real concern for members and development in the region.
Criticism
KTEC has been criticised for promoting free trade agreements that would impose restrictions on national and local laws, which regulate and ensure labour rights, environmental protection and safe and affordable access to medicine. According to the organisation, it is "the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Kesh-Tethys region" established to "further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Kesh-Tethys community". The effectiveness and fairness of its role has been questioned, especially from the viewpoints of Artemian countries that cannot take part in KTEC and Tethys Island nations that cannot participate but stand to be affected by its decisions. North-South Concordant Kesh members have also raised issues over the organisation. Particularly Selengeria who has decried the organisation as an anti-Selengeria hate group and continues to politically oppose further expansion, seeing it as an attempt to surround and isolate economically Selengeria.
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