Dismantling of an encrypted network sends shockwaves through organised crime groups across Europe

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Dismantling of an encrypted network sends shockwaves through organised crime groups across Europe

French and Dutch law enforcement and judicial authorities, Europol and Eurojust presented the impressive results of a joint investigation team to dismantle EncroChat, an encrypted phone network widely used by criminal networks. 

Over the last months, the joint investigation made it possible to intercept, share and analyse millions of messages that were exchanged between criminals to plan serious crimes. For an important part, these messages were read by law enforcement in real time, over the shoulder of the unsuspecting senders. 

The information has already been relevant in a large number of ongoing criminal investigations, resulting in the disruption of criminal activities including violent attacks, corruption, attempted murders and large-scale drug transports. Certain messages indicated plans to commit imminent violent crimes and triggered immediate action. The information will be further analysed as a source of unique insight, giving access to unprecedented volumes of new evidence to profoundly tackle organised criminal networks. 

In recent years, European countries have been increasingly affected by organised crime groups who are pervasive and highly adaptive, posing one of the most pressing security challenges faced by law enforcement and judicial authorities. In this regard, the abuse of the encrypted communication technologies is a key facilitator of their criminal activities.

Since 2017, the French Gendarmerie and judicial authorities have been investigating phones that used the secured communication tool EncroChat, after discovering that the phones were regularly found in operations against organised crime groups and that the company was operating from servers in France. Eventually, it was possible to put a technical device in place to go beyond the encryption technique and have access to the users’ correspondence.

In early 2020, EncroChat was one of the largest providers of encrypted digital communication with a very high share of users presumably engaged in criminal activity.

User hotspots were particularly present in source and destination countries for cocaine and cannabis trade, as well as in money laundering centres.

Given the widespread use of the encrypted telephone solution by EncroChat among international criminal networks around the world, French authorities decided to open a case at Eurojust, the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, towards the Netherlands in 2019. Further developments in the investigations led to organising the processing of the data, which was captured on the basis of the provisions of French law and with judicial authorisation, through the frameworks for international judicial and law enforcement cooperation.

The data was in first instance shared with the Netherlands. Eurojust facilitated the creation of a joint investigation team (JIT) between the two countries and with the participation of Europol, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, in April 2020. 

Europol has been actively involved in the investigations led by France and the Netherlands since 2018, relating to the provision and use of encrypted communication services by organised crime groups. Through its role as an information hub and its extensive analytical and technical support system, Europol was able to create and provide a unique and global insight on the scale and functioning of organised crime, as a result of this investigation.

This will help law enforcement to combat organised crime in the future more successfully. Europol’s support from the early stages of this JIT included: promoting and arranging international cooperation, providing extensive analytical and financial support, technical expertise and a secured platform for the exchange of information between the countries involved.

A large dedicated team at Europol investigated in real time millions of messages and data that it received from the JIT partners during the investigation, cross-checked and analysed the data, and provided and coordinated with the JIT partners the information exchange to concerned countries. 

A large number of suspects have also been arrested in several countries which were not participating in the JIT but particularly affected by the illegal use of these phones by individuals active in organised crime, including in the UK, Sweden and Norway. Many of these investigations were connected with international drug trafficking and violent criminal activities.

At the same time, numerous operational meetings for the daily coordination between the law enforcement entities of the JIT partners and other countries took place at Europol, partly during COVID-19.

Eurojust intensively facilitated the judicial cooperation, during the extensive use of European judicial cooperation instruments such as European Investigation Orders. Throughout the investigation, the JIT members organised five coordination meetings at Eurojust to bring all involved parties together in a secure environment, identify parallel or linked investigations, decide on the most suitable framework for cooperation and solve potential conflicts of jurisdiction. 

In France, where the operation takes place under the code name “Emma 95”, the Gendarmerie has set-up a Taskforce since March 2020. With more than 60 officers, the Gendarmerie leads the investigations targeting the EncroChat encrypted telephone solution under the supervision of the magistrates of the JIRS of Lille. The Taskforce has been monitoring the communications of thousands of criminals, leading to the opening of a wide range of incidental proceedings. France does not wish to communicate further on these on-going investigations nor on the results obtained. The considerable resources deployed demonstrate the importance of these investigations and the importance attached to their success in France. 

In the Netherlands, where the operation went under the code name “Lemont”, hundreds of investigators have, with authorisation of the examining magistrate, followed the communications of thousands of criminals day and night since the operation began to unravel and act on the intercepted data stream.

The criminal investigation has been led by prosecutors from the Dutch National Public Prosecution Service and the information has been made available to about a hundred ongoing criminal investigations. The investigation has so far led to the arrest of 60 suspects, the seizure of drugs (more than 10 000 kilo cocaine, 70 kilo heroin, 12 000 kilo cannabis, 1 500 kilo crystal meth and 160 000 liter of a substance used to produce synthetic drugs), the dismantling of 19 synthetic drugs labs, the seizure of dozens of (automatic) fire weapons, expensive watches and 25 cars, including vehicles with hidden compartments, and almost EUR 20 million in cash. The expectation is that information will be made available in more than 300 investigations. In a number of cases, more arrests are very likely to follow in the coming period. 

The interception of EncroChat messages came to an end on 13 June 2020, when the company realised that a public authority had penetrated the platform. EncroChat then sent a warning to all its users with the advice to immediately throw away the phones.

While the activities on EncroChat have been stopped, this complex operation shows the global scope of serious and organised crime and the connectivity of criminal networks who use advanced technologies to cooperate on a national and international level.

The effects of the operation will continue to echo in criminal circles for many years to come, as the information has been provided to hundreds of ongoing investigations and, at the same time, is triggering a very large number of new criminal investigations of organised crime across the European continent and beyond. 

What is EncroChat?

EncroChat phones were presented to customers as guaranteeing perfect anonymity (no device or SIM card association on the customer’s account, acquisition under conditions guaranteeing the absence of traceability) and perfect discretion both of the encrypted interface (dual operating system, the encrypted interface being hidden so as not to be detectable) and the terminal itself (removal of the camera, microphone, GPS and USB port).

It also had functions intended to ensure the ‘impunity’ of users (automatic deletion of messages on the terminals of their recipients, specific PIN code intended for the immediate deletion of all data on the device, deletion of all data in the event of consecutive entries of a wrong password), functions that apparently were specially developed to make it possible to quickly erase compromising messages, for example at the time of arrest by the police. In addition, the device could be erased from a distance by the reseller/helpdesk.

EncroChat sold the cryptotelephones (at a cost of around EUR 1 000 each) at international scale and offered subscriptions with a worldwide coverage, at a cost of 1 500 EUR for a six-month period, with 24/7 support.

Tie & Dior collection

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Tie & Dior collection

25 July 2020, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China: At a special dinner hosted by the Maison Dior the novel jewerelly collection Tie & DIOR was unveiled by designer Victoire de Castellane. 

Tie-dye – the artisanal textile dyeing technique notably used to embellish the maison’s couture silhouettes – is reinterpreted on jewellery, paying tribute, more than ever, to the inventiveness of Dior Haute Joaillerie. 

On that night, mannequins dressed in silhouettes by Maria Grazia Chiuri wore these virtuoso pieces offering surprising movement, combining, for the first time, a range of exceptional stones and pearls in a variety of sizes and shades. A true exercise in style and a journey to the heart of colour and abstraction.

Picture by Dior.

For further information: 
Tie & Dior collection: https://www.facebook.com/Dior/videos/625409168402476/

Global seed companies are addressing climate change and nutrition needs but reach only 10% of the world’s small farmers

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Global seed companies are addressing climate change and nutrition needs but reach only 10% of the world’s small farmers
  • Access to Seeds Index shows seed industry making slow progress in key regions, including Africa
  • Thailand’s East-West Seed leads the way, followed by Syngenta and Bayer
  •  Lack of crop diversity a major constraint; hybrid seed dominates while legumes largely ignored

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Global seed companies are adapting their products to combat the impact of climate change and address nutrition needs. But limited access to quality seed in many emerging economies persists, with the global seed industry reaching just 10% of the world’s smallholder farmers, according to a study.

The Access to Seeds Index 2019 – Global Seed Companies, published by the Amsterdam-based Access to Seeds Foundation, evaluates the activities of the 13 leading global seed companies to shine a light on where the industry can do more to raise smallholder farmer productivity, improve nutrition and mitigate the effects of climate change through the development and dissemination of quality seed. 

The research shows that sales by the 13 global seed companies only reached around 47 million of the world’s 500 million smallholder farmers in 2017, and most investment went to a small number of countries, mostly in South and Southeast Asia. In these regions, global companies invest heavily in local seed business activities: 12 of them in breeding and 12 in production. In contrast, such activites are rare in Western and Central Africa, with only two companies investing in local breeding and one in production.

“Although the industry is making advances in developing more nutritious and climate-resilient varieties, it’s clear that more needs to be done,” said Ido Verhagen, executive director of the Access to Seeds Index. “Material changes won’t be possible without reaching a greater percentage of smallholder farmers, who account for the lion’s share – 80% – of global food production.”

Shaping business models around the needs of smallholder farmers can be profitable, as shown by East-West Seed, a Thailand-based company that tops the index thanks to a strong performance across all areas assessed. It has a unique smallholder-centric approach and a customer base made up almost entirely of smallholders (98%). Switzerland’s Syngenta and Germany’s Bayer are virtually tied in second and third place.

Reaching more smallholder farmers and directing investment to other geographies are critical to tackle rising malnourishment.[1] The number of people suffering from hunger rose from 784 million in 2014 to nearly 821 million in 2017, in part because of a lack of access to nutritious food. However, only six of the 13 global seed companies state that nutritional value is a priority for their breeding programs. Although this is higher than the four companies identified in 2016, when the first Access to Seeds Index was published, progress is slow.

The importance of developing improved varieties of seed, offering better nutritional value and supporting crop diversity is echoed in a recent report by the EAT–Lancet Commission.[2] The global seed industry can do more to address this need for diversification by supplying a larger number of crops and varieties, including legumes and local crops, which are currently neglected.

The index also reveals a sharper focus on climate change. Of the 13 companies evaluated, 12 emphasize that increased yields and higher tolerance to climate and weather risks are essential when breeding. This is reflected in increased breeding for climate-resilient field crops and vegetable varieties since 2016.

By broadening their offering, including the provision of farmer training and other services such as weather-based crop insurance, seed companies have found new ways to help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions. Eight companies are now integrating sustainability strategies at the corporate level, compared to three in 2016.

The Access to Seeds Index 2019 – Global Seed Companies is one of the first Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) benchmarks published by the World Benchmarking Alliance. The alliance was launched in September 2018 during the UN General Assembly in New York. The Access to Seeds Index was established with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of the Netherlands. The global index is complemented by regional indexes that provide in-depth analysis of South and Southeast Asia, Eastern and Southern Africa, and Western and Central Africa.

“The private sector is essential for achieving food and nutrition security, one of the major challenges outlined by the SDGs. With the world’s population rising – and hunger with it – amid growing concerns around the environmental impact of crop production, the role of the global seed industry remains crucial if Zero Hunger (SDG 2) is to be achieved by 2030,” said Verhagen.

PM Rutte and Diplomat Magazine

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PM Rutte and Diplomat Magazine

Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte showing Dr. Dilruba Nastrin’s article in Diplomat Magazine to her husband the former Ambassador of Bangladesh to The Netherlands H.E. Sheik Mohammed Belal now Managing Director of the Common Funds for Commodities. Also in the picture the Ambassador of Korea, H.E. Mr. Yun Young Lee.

Humanitarian Assistance To Lebanon

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Humanitarian Assistance To Lebanon

On August 4, 2020, two strong explosions at the Port of Beirut devastated central parts of the city. The blast resulted in more than 150 fatalities and 6000 injuries. Extensive infrastructural damage has left an estimated 300,000 people homeless and many health facilities, including hospitals, inoperable. Several humanitarian organizations have mobilized quickly to respond to the needs of those most affected.

This catastrophe comes on the heels of several multi-faceted crises facing the country, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which had already put Lebanon’s health system, social services, and economy under severe strain. Today, more than 50% of the population is unemployed, a third of businesses have shuttered and many people are food insecure.

At the time of the outbreak, the country was managing civil unrest, major economic and financial crises, and hosting over a million refugees displaced by conflicts in the region. All of these crises have had a detrimental effect on Lebanon and have made access to food, education, health care, jobs and housing almost impossible.

Don’t be fooled: let’s save CETA together

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Don’t be fooled: let’s save CETA together

To the Cypriot entrepreneurs

By Sergio Passariello.

We witnessed with amazement and bitterness the outcome of the vote that the Cyprus Parliament has reserved for CETA, the EU-Canada Free Trade Agreement, which has failed the ratification process in your country.

While respecting the choices made by the majority of your deputies, and keeping intact the esteem and friendship that binds us to your country, we feel we must invite all of you to reflect more deeply on the reasons that led to this outcome, and on its consequences for all businesses, both Cypriot and European.

According to the data recovered by our Italian Think Tank Imprese del Sud, there are 40 companies currently trading with Canada in Cyprus: the value of Cypriot exports to Canada is 41 million euros and 12 million euros is the value of Cyprus imports from Canada. A very favorable trade balance for Cyprus, which without CETA could risk to jump.

We would also like to highlight the paradox that has led some political forces not to ratify CETA after it was approved in Europe, based on fake news that unfortunately is also widespread in Italy, and which involves the protection of the agricultural products of our countries. We remind you that without this agreement even the prestigious Cypriot cheese “halloumi” will not be protected: without the obligations imposed by CETA, Canadians will be able to produce this cheese using the Cypriot symbols and flags in the packaging. And the same would happen for Italian and European products.

Another fundamental aspect to highlight is that CETA wasn’t just meant to agri-food sector, but for a wide range of interests: public procurement, protection of trademarks and patents, the liberal professions, just to give a few examples.

With this open letter, therefore, we are now calling on the Cypriot business and political forces that have understood the opportunities of CETA, but also the whole of Europe, to activate to save the trade agreement signed with Canada. This agreement, approved in 2017, has already produced great results in terms of exports for European countries, strengthening the interests of producers.

From our point of view, in order to save this treaty, if necessary, the possibility of excluding from the agreement the part relating to the agri-food sector, or at least the aspects of it considered most critical by opponents of CETA, could be considered.

Especially in a complicated period like this, where companies are “hungry for a revival”, we cannot afford to blow up such a deep and articulated free trade agreement because of the ostracism spread by one side of the economy. We are sorry for the many farmers who have understood the advantages of CETA, but if they are unable to influence their colleagues and the policy of prejudice, we might as well consider suspending the agreement in the agri-foodstuffs part and safeguarding all the opportunities created for manufacturing and numerous other sectors that boast excellence of Made in Italy to be valued in North America and throughout the world.

A greeting and a hug to all of you, in the hope of finding you at our side to continue to grow together and take advantage of the best opportunities that the world offers us.

About the author

Sergio Passariello – Ceo di Euromed International Trade e fondatore del Think Tank “Imprese del Sud”. 

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Main picture: Sergio Passariello. “foto tratta dall’Agenzia stampa Adnkronos”

United Kingdom Contributes £100,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

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United Kingdom Contributes £100,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

H.E. Mr. Peter Wilson UK Ambassador..

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – 8 July 2020 – The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has contributed a further £100,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store. This project will result in the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).

The contribution was formalised during a ceremony between OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Peter Wilson, which was held at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.

Ambassador Wilson remarked: “I am delighted that the UK is supporting this flagship project of the OPCW for the second year running with a contribution to help fund the project management team. The team’s work is vital to ensuring that the new ChemTech Centre enhances the OPCW’s ability to rid the world of chemical weapons.”

The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of the United Kingdom for this second contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology that will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons. The continued commitment of OPCW Member States to this important project during these unprecedented times is especially meaningful.”

Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW Member States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasised the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.

So far, forty Member States and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.

Le Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Défense de la Belgique est reçu à la Cour pénale internationale

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Le Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Défense de la Belgique est reçu à la Cour pénale internationale

Le Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Défense de la Belgique, S.E. Philippe Goffin, et le Président de la Cour, le juge Chile Eboe-Osuji à la CPI ©ICC-CPI.

Le 9 juillet 2020, le Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Défense du Royaume de Belgique, S.E. Philippe Goffin, s’est rendu à la Cour pénale internationale (« CPI » ou « la Cour ») pour rencontrer le Président de la Cour, le juge Chile Eboe-Osuji et le Procureur Fatou Bensouda.

« La Belgique réitère son soutien indéfectible à la Cour pénale internationale », a déclaré le Ministre Philippe Goffin. « En tant qu’institution indépendante et impartiale, la Cour joue un rôle indispensable dans la lutte contre l’impunité. En période de mesures prises contre la Cour, nous souhaitons souligner notre ferme engagement à préserver l’intégrité et l’indépendance de la Cour et de ses représentants », a-t-il ajouté.

Le Président de la CPI, le juge Chile Eboe-Osuji a remercié le Ministre Goffin pour le soutien continu de la Belgique à la CPI. « La Cour apprécie profondément le soutien solide et de longue date de la Belgique resté indéfectible à la Cour pénale internationale, qui est un pilier essentiel de l’ordre international permanent visant à garantir la responsabilité pour les crimes les plus graves, à contribuer à leur prévention et à rendre justice aux victimes, »a dit le Président de la CPI juge Eboe-Osuji. « Cet appui est plus critique que jamais alors que la Cour est confrontée à des attaques sans précédent pour avoir exercé son mandat de justice, au nom des 123 États parties au Statut de Rome. »

Le Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Défense de la Belgique, S.E. Philippe Goffin, et le Procureur de la CPI, Fatou Bensouda ©ICC-CPI

Le Procureur de la CPI, Fatou Bensouda, a exprimé sa sincère appréciation pour le soutien solide et de principe de la Belgique au travail indépendant et au mandat de son Bureau, y compris dans le cadre de l’Assemblée des États parties et de ses déclarations devant le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies. « Depuis sa ratification du Statut de Rome il y a plus de deux décennies, la Belgique a toujours soutenu la CPI en paroles et en actes, et nous sommes reconnaissants de cet engagement sincère en faveur de la justice pénale internationale », a déclaré le Procureur lors de la réunion.

« La CPI, en tant que pilier central d’un ordre international fondé sur des règles, doit disposer de l’espace nécessaire pour s’acquitter de son mandat crucial. Il y a une responsabilité partagée de veiller à ce que nous ne décevions pas les victimes de crimes d’atrocité qui considèrent la CPI comme un phare d’espoir où la justice est autrement restée silencieuse – un espoir que le calcul froid de la politique internationale ne les abandonne pas, ou pire, sape les valeurs partagées de l’humanité et son aspiration commune à la paix, à la stabilité et à l’étreinte protectrice du droit contre les crimes les plus graves du monde. »  Le Procureur Bensouda a promis de poursuivre une coopération étroite avec le Royaume de Belgique au service du Statut de Rome.

La Belgique a signé le Statut de Rome – le traité fondateur de la Cour – le 10 septembre 1998 et a déposé son instrument de ratification du Statut le 28 juin 2000. Cette visite du Ministre Goffin à la CPI témoigne du soutien que la Belgique apporte à la Cour et des efforts communs déployés pour lutter contre l’impunité des responsables des crimes les plus graves qui touchent l’ensemble de la communauté internationale. 

Premier Laschet received Hellenic PM

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Premier Laschet received Hellenic PM

Premier Laschet and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis – Picture by NRW, Ralph Sondermann.

Monday, 3 August 2020, Athens, Hellenic Republic: North Rhine-Westphalia’s Premier Armin Laschet and the Minister for Children, Family, Refugees and Integration, Dr. Joachim Stamp, held political talks in Greece with, among others, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

The intensive bilateral exchange with the Greek government is a focal point of the Prime Minister’s several-day trip to Greece. In addition, Premier Laschet was there for a personal impression of the situation on the ground in the refugee camps on the Greek island of Lesbos. 

After an exchange with the Deputy Minister for Migration, Giorgos Koumoutsakos, Premier Laschet met the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for a four-eye discussion at the Prime Minister’s Office. Both had last met in Berlin back on 9 March 2020 and agreed to continue the exchange. Both continued the bilateral talks during a subsequent discussion in a larger circle with the delegation and a joint luncheon at the invitation of the Prime Minister. 

The topics of the exchange were bilateral relations, challenges posed by the Corona pandemic, energy system transformation in Greece and Germany, the refugee situation on the Greek islands, European migration policy, the protection of Europe’s external borders and possible support from North Rhine-Westphalia.

Afterwards, Premier Laschet and Minister Dr. Stamp met with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in the context of a further bilateral meeting. 

For further information Government of NRW: https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-armin-laschet-trifft-den-griechischen-premierminister-giorgios

President of the Hellenic Government: https://primeminister.gr

Finland Contributes €200,000 to Support OPCW Activities and Centre for Chemistry and Technology

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Finland Contributes €200,000 to Support OPCW Activities and Centre for Chemistry and Technology

H.E. Ms. Päivi Kaukoranta, Ambassador of Finland and the Permanent Representative of Finland to the OPCW.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – 13 July 2020 – The Government of Finland has made two contributions totalling €200,000  to support a number of major projects and activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

A contribution of approximately €100,000 will support the activities of the Trust Fund for Syria Missions at the OPCW. The Trust Fund for Syria Missions supports the Organisation’s missions and contingency operations related to the Syrian Arab Republic including the work of the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), and the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT). Another contribution of €100,000 will be made to the OPCW Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store through the construction of a new Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).

The contribution was formalised during a ceremony between OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of Finland, H.E. Ambassador Päivi Marjaana Kaukoranta, which was held at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.

Ambassador Kaukoranta remarked: “Finland’s contribution to the OPCW Trust Fund for Syria Missions indicates our steadfast support for the professional work of the Technical Secretariat and the Investigation and Identification Team in particular. In order to achieve the aims of the Chemical Weapons Convention, it is essential to maintain and develop the capabilities of the OPCW and the national capacities of the States Parties. For that purpose, we are proud to also contribute to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology.”

The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Finland for these major contributions to the new OPCW ChemTech Centre and to the Trust Fund for Syria Missions. Both will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.”

Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW Member States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasised the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.

So far, forty-three Member States and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.

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