Description: The international presence of SOA-designated actuaries is on the increase, and the International Section will be aligning many of its activities to complement those of the SOA’s International Committee while continuing current successful activities and initiatives.

Description: It is, without doubt, the poorest people in the world who are most in need of the security that insurance brings. Renata De Leers and Queenie Chow discuss why the micro-insurance market has low penetration, and why actuaries are so well placed to assist insurers in understanding their clients' needs.

Description: Keynote Address from the Caribbean Actuarial Association Conference.

Description: Announcement of the winner of the International Section’s annual country feature article competition, highlights of articles in the issue, and reminder about upcoming professional development opportunities.

Description: Focuses on these key China market questions: • How quickly is the market developing? • What is the market potential? • How are the existing foreign companies performing? • What are the main implications of China’s accession to the WTO? • How do different market entry options compare? • Which are the key issues to consider in establishing a joint venture? • What is the future outlook for new entrants?

Description: The International Section Council in conjunction with the Actuaries without Borders section of the IAA and the Azerbaijan Actuarial Association recently sponsored a three-day seminar focused on retirement benefits in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Description: The pension and longevity risk transfer market is growing rapidly, with British-pioneered pension and longevity de-risking emerging outside of the UK and US, with over $270bn in transactions completed globally since 2007. Emerging markets include the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France and Australia. This article describes the solutions available to plan sponsors who are looking to secure member benefits and achieve a lower risk future, and provides real-world examples of companies who have used innovative solutions to meet their unique needs.

Description: Question and answers about microinsurance with the editors of Actuaries in Microinsurance.

Description: The editor discusses editorial board changes, welcomes new section council members, and mentions highlighted articles in this issue.

Description: Microinsurance mechanisms provide coverage to low income earners, but a growing middle class is often lacking adequate access to insurance services. The author explores ways in which insurance may be more accessible.