LIRNEasia congratulates Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh,  Senior Economist, on his appointment as Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization.  We look forward to continued association with Dr Singh.  He will complete the Asian backbone study that he is in the midst of researching before he takes up his new appointment.  Understandably, he will not be able to be part of the team delivering the telecom reform course that LIRNEasia is offering in Singapore Septemeber 25-30, 2005.  However, we expect we will be able to draw on his broad expertise in the future in research and educational projects.  Dr Singh is an outstanding intellectual, committed not only to ideas but to their application in ways that benefit people.  We wish him well in this prestigious appointment and are confident he will continue to serve the people of Asia with his expertise.