Japan Relocation- New Immigration System

As many are aware, July 9th 2012 will see the introduction of a new Immigration System in Japan.

There are two main changes;

1. The Alien Registration System is changing to a "Resident Card" system (the responsibility of the Immigration Bureau of the Justice Ministry)

2. Foreigners will now be registered on the "Residence Record" or "juminhyo" (the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)

In typical bureaucratic fashion, because 2 ministries are involved in the change, foreigners in Japan are not getting all the information at once. They are getting it in part from the Justice Ministry and in part from the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The following are some links to information on the new system. Best you read these directly.

Change to Residence Card
www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/ (Japanese)
www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html (English)

Change to Residence Record (juminhyo)
www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/c-gyousei/pdf/jpn_poster.pdf (Japanese)
www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/c-gyousei/pdf/eng_poster.pdf (English)

Here are some frequently asked questions for your reference;

I am in Japan now and I have an alien registration card. By when do I have to change my card?
You have 3 years from July 9th to change your card. If you wish to change immediately, you can do so at the Immigration Bureau. Otherwise, there is no need to rush. Your alien registration card will "act" as the new residence card until you change over. Most people will need to have their visa renewed within those 3 years, and at that time your new residence card would be issued (you can't renew your visa and hold onto your alien registration card)

I am coming to Japan after the change. Where will I get my card and what is the process?
If you are coming to Japan on a visa with a status of residence that is longer than 3 months, you will receive your residence card at the airport in Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Nagoya (Centrair) or Osaka (Kansai Airport). The card will apparently take 2-3 minutes to prepare in addition to the other finger printing, photographs and other administration you undergo on arrival. The card that is issued will NOT have your address printed on it. Within 14 days you need to go to your local government office and register your address. At this time the address will be written on the back of the card, and then you will be asked to complete the "Residence Record (juminhyo)" details also. This puts you on the local register of people, and has links to your health insurances, pension, etc.

What happens if I don't come to Japan through Narita, Haneda, Nagoya or Kansai Airports?
You will NOT be issued with a card at the airport, but will still need to report to your local authority within 14 days. At this time you will lodge your address, and then also complete your "Residence Record (juminhyo)" details. The local authority will then send your details to the Immigration Bureau who will issue your card and send it to the address you have lodged. This process might take 2-3 weeks.

Do I need to submit photos for my card?
If you are coming to Japan for the first time on a mid-long term visa (ie. not a 90-day one), you will have sent in photos on your visa applications. These photos will be scanned and used on your residence card. Therefore, there is no need to supply a photo at the airport, as it will already be in the Immigration Bureau system. If you are renewing your visa, your renewal application will require you to provide a photograph (this will change, as photographs aren't required currently). This photo will be scanned and used on your card.

Can I change my alien registration card to my residence card at one of the 4 main airports?
No, you can't. This may change in the future, but as of now, the only people who will receive their residence card at the airport are people that are newly coming to Japan on a new mid-long term visa.

Can I make changes to my alien registration card without getting a new residence card?
From July 9th, the only change that your local goverment office can make on your alien registration card or your residence card is your "address". If anything else changes, you need to report to the Immigration Bureau to make the change, and automatically your alien registration card will be changed to the new residence card.

Do I have to report in person about changes in my employer?
No, you don't need to report in person for this, as your employer will no longer be listed on your residence card. However, if you don't report in person, you do need to submit a form to the immigration bureau by post, to notify the change.

The new Residence Card does not show my passport number. Do I need to report changes in this?
To the immigration bureau, no, your passport number will not be needed. However, it is likely that your passport number will be taken by the local authorities when you are making your "Residence Record". In fact, under this new system, except for the first time when you arrive in Japan, status of residence will no longer be issued by way of a stamp in your passport. Under the new system, your Residence Card will be everything, and your visa status will not appear in your passport (apart from the very first time you arrive). So, everytime you renew your "visa (status of residence)" you will be issued with a new Residence Card.
* It is going to be quite important, therefore, that you always have your residence card with you when you are travelling back to Japan. At the airline check in, they will no longer be able to verify your visa status in your passport!

The new Residence Card contains an IC Chip. What information will be on the IC Chip?
Under Japanese Law, they are only allowed to record on the IC Chip the information that is written on the card. There will be not other private information listed on the card.

What is the point of the IC Chip on the card?
The IC Chip will enable authorities and 3rd parties to verify that the information written on the card is actually correct. ie. This is to protect residence cards from being forged.

Who will be able to read the information on the IC Chip?
Anyone who has a "reader" will be able to view the information. Obviously, readers will be provided by the Immigration Bureau to all their offices, to all airports and to the police. The "readers" will also be sold to anyone who wishes to have one. One can imagine that banks and perhaps mobile phone providers will initially be the type of places who will buy the "readers". I guess you can say the "readers" will be similar machines to those that we are used to at train stations now, where station staff can see the records of where your train pass has been (eg pasmo or suica in Tokyo).

What is the biggest time saver of this new system?
The biggest time saver for new arrivals to Japan is that you won't need to get a re-entry permit. As long as you are going to be coming back to Japan within 12 months, you will be exempt from needing a re-entry permit. This means you won't need to travel to the Immigration Bureau for re-ntry permit procedures like you do now. All you need to do is report to your local ward office.

Should you have any further questions about the new system, please don't hesitate to send me an email; steve_burson@morethanrelo.com.

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Global Relocation Trends and Japan

Steve Brink of AIRINC shares 2 big trends that are being seen in the global mobility market today.

It is interesting to consider what this will mean for Relocation in Japan.

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Japan Relocation Change- New Residence Card / New Juminhyo Entry

The following article in italics is a very good outline from my colleagues at GaijinPot on the new immigration system in Japan to be implemented in July 2012 (see below under my commentary).

However, it does interest me how the Immigration Bureau is neglecting to make an official comment about what is going to be required at your local ward office or city / town hall.

For those of you who are unaware, the new residence card system is not going to reduce any of the burden in terms of applications at your local authorities. In actual fact the burden is going to increase;
1. You need to register for your residence card (with the Immigration Bureau)
2. You will need to register at your local ward office or city / town hall

Now, while part of the residence card application is going to be undertaken by your local authority, unlike before, you are also going to be placed in the Japanese "Juminhyo System" (Citizen Registration System), like any other Japanese person. This was never done before! So, while the new residence card has many improvements, please don't forget that you have one other system to apply into, which is another application form at your local authority (and more likely than not, this will differ between authorities).

If you are currently resident in Japan, you may have already received a letter from your local authority checking your details. This is why.

What are the benefits of this?
You are going to be treated more like the rest of the population, on the same system. I don't know of any further advantages at this stage.

What are the disadvantages?
1. Another application you are going to need to make.
2. Each authority is likely to do things a little differently- the lack of uniformity here could cause some issues, as some local authorities don't have many foreign residents, so sometimes just "don't get it".
3. Whenever you move, you have to make an application at the local authority to leave, and then an application at the new local authority to enter their system (under the alien registration card, you only needed to go to the new local authority).
4. The "kisaijikoshomeisho" (Certificate of Details on your Alient Card) will not be issued anymore- so what will take its place?

I am following this closely, and it has been disappointing that the Immigration Bureau has been good about informing everyone about their new system, but has totally neglected to inform everyone of the other requirements that will come about because of this change. Watch this space for further information as I receive it!

GAIJIN POT ARTICLE
On July 9, a new system of residence management will be implemented that combines the information collected via the Immigration Control Act and the Alien Registration Law respectively. Foreign nationals residing legally in Japan for a medium to long term are subject to this new system.

The government started accepting applications for new residence registration cards on Jan 13, which will then be issued after July 9. To apply for the new card, you are required to appear in person at the nearest regional immigration bureau.

The Ministry of Justice says the new system ensures further convenience for such persons by extending the maximum period of stay from 3 years to 5 years. In addition, a system of “presumed permit of re-entry,” which essentially exempts the need to file an application for permission for re-entry when re-entering Japan within one year of departure, will be implemented.

Upon introduction of the new system of residence management, the current alien registration system shall become defunct. Medium- to long-term residents will get a new residence card which they will be required to always carry with them. Children under the age of 16 are exempt from the obligation to always carry the residence card.

Foreign nationals residing legally for a medium to long term with a status of residence under the Immigration Control Act, EXCLUDING the persons described below, shall be subject to the new system of residence management:
- Persons granted permission to stay for not more than 3 months
- Persons granted the status of residence of “Temporary Visitor”
- Persons granted the status of residence of “Diplomat” or “Official”
- Persons whom a Ministry of Justice ordinance recognizes as equivalent to the aforementioned foreign nationals
- Special permanent residents (for example, of Korean descent)
- Persons with no status of residence

Permanent residents, meanwhile, will have to apply for a new residence card within three years from July 2012.

What is the residence card?
The residence card will be issued to applicable persons in addition to landing permission, permission for change of status of residence, and permission for extension of the residence period, etc. The card is equipped with an IC chip to prevent forgery and alteration, and the chip records all or part of the information included on the card. Fingerprint information will not be recorded in the chip. The card will contain a portrait photo of the individual and the following information:
1. Legal items given
2. Name in full, date of birth, sex, nationality
3. Place of residence in Japan
4. Status of residence, period of stay, date of expiration
5. Type of permission, date of permission
6. Number of the residence card, date of issue, date of expiration
7. Existence or absence of working permit
8. Existence of permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted

New visa and re-entry system
(1) Extension of the maximum period of stay
The status of residence with a period of stay of 3 years under the present system, will be extended to 5 years. As for the status of residence of “College Student,” the maximum period of stay will be extended to “4 years and 3 months” from the current “2 years and 3 months” starting from July 1, 2009.

(2) Revision of the Re-entry System
A foreign national with a valid passport and a residence card will be basically exempt from applying for a re-entry permit in cases where he/she re-enters Japan within one year from his/her departure. In cases where a foreign resident already possesses a re-entry permit, the maximum term of validity for the re-entry permit shall be extended from 3 years to 5 years.

Conditions of Revocation of Status of Residence
Implementation of the new system of residence management includes establishment of the following provisions concerning the conditions of revocation of status of residence and deportation, and penal provisions:
- The foreign national has received, by deceit or other wrongful means, special permission to stay
- Failing to continue to engage in activities as a spouse while residing in Japan for more than 6 months (except for cases where the foreign national has justifiable reason for not engaging in the activities while residing in Japan)
- Failing to register the place of residence within 90 days after newly entering or leaving a former place of residence in Japan (except for cases with justifiable reason for not registering the place of residence), or registering a false place of residence
- Forgery or alteration of a residence card
- Being sentenced to imprisonment or a heavier punishment for submitting a false notification required of medium to long term residents, or violating the rules concerning receipt or mandatory presentation of the residence card

For further information, visit http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html or call the Immigration Information Center at 0570-013904 (weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.)

Top Relocation Providers in the World

HRO Today has identified the top relocation and training providers based on customer survey data. Each respondent was asked about services provided, scope and scale of services, and the quality and satisfaction with the services.

Breadth of Service Winner: Mobility Services International (MSI)
Size of Deals Winner: Paragon Relocations
Quality of Service Winner: NEI Global Relocation

OVERALL WINNER: GRAEBEL

Overall Rankings;
1. Graebel
2. Weichert
3. NEI Global Relocation
4. Cartus
5. Brookfield
6. Prudential (Pricoa)
7. Sirva
8. AIReS
9. The MIGroup
10. The Lexicon Group
11. Paragon
12. ACS Relocation & Assignment Services (Xerox)
13. Mobility Services International

Congratulations to Graebel, Weichert and NEI Global Relocation! The best of the best!!

You can see further details here; http://www.hrotoday.com/content/4838/2011-bakers-dozen-customer-satisfaction-ratings-relocation-providers

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Washington's Assault on American Expats

You do have to feel sorry for all our American clients and colleagues who are over taxed by their home country, when relocating overseas. This is for them;

The U.S. is the only developed nation in the world that taxes its citizens on income they earn abroad.
By WILLIAM MCGURN

This new year, spare a thought for that most underappreciated class of citizen: American expatriates.

In a world where 95% of consumers live outside our borders, Americans working abroad serve as the sales and marketing force for Brand USA. All things being equal, people go with what they know: An American engineer will turn to American technology, an American businessman will hire fellow Americans, and an American contractor will likewise prefer American goods and services. In a nation trying to reach President Obama's goal of doubling exports by 2014, that makes the expat a pretty valuable resource.

Alas, the U.S. tax code—the ugliest of ugly Americans—doesn't work that way. To the contrary, new changes in tax law regard foreign financial institutions (banks, pension funds, etc.) as colonial subjects who must be dragooned into enforcing ill-thought-out U.S. regulations, or face huge fines. Indeed our tax code appears to rest on the assumption that the American expat is a criminal and must be treated that way.

This assumption is embodied in the IRS's new Form 8938, which requires Americans who live abroad to report any foreign financial assets from stocks to partnerships to derivatives above a designated threshold. It comes on top of another form (the FBAR, or Foreign Bank Account Report) already required if a citizen has any foreign accounts that add up to more than $10,000. In some cases, you can be fined for failing to file even if you don't owe the IRS any money.

As bad as this is, the burden will fall more heavily on foreign financial institutions. Within the next two years, these companies will be required to register with the IRS and to report information about their U.S. customers to the IRS—or face a 30% withholding tax on securities transactions that originate in the U.S. It's all part of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca), which Mr. Obama signed into law in March 2010 as part of one of his larger "jobs bills."
Now most Americans have never heard of Fatca. Overseas, by contrast, it has become notorious.
Financial associations on several continents are screaming foul, and some foreign banks have responded the way you would expect them to respond to something that makes dealing with American customers more costly and burdensome: They're dropping their American customers.
One reason attention in the U.S. has been so muted is because of the nature of those affected. Though the State Department reckons 6.3 million Americans (not including military) are now living overseas, these people come from all over America and thus have no single voice in Congress. In addition, they are easily demagogued by our political class as fat cats living the glamorous life overseas.

The idea behind Fatca is that by cracking down on Americans abroad, the IRS would bring in $8.7 billion in tax revenue over the next 10 years. Even assuming it works—a big "if"—that's about $1 billion a year. By any measure it's a puny amount, not to mention the damage it does to the U.S. economy by making Americans more costly and difficult to hire.

Last month IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman acknowledged that foreign financial institutions have "major concerns," but he continues to push with the determination of Inspector Javert. That's probably to be expected in an IRS official. Yet surely there's a larger perspective missing here, one that might begin by asking why we are the only developed nation in the world that taxes its overseas citizens, forcing them to pay taxes in America as well as in the country where they are residing.

Yes, collecting tax revenue is important. Far more important in our century, however, is creating an economy capable of attracting the world's most precious resource—capital. That capital is human as well as financial. Frank Lavin, a former U.S. ambassador to Singapore who now serves as chairman of public affairs at the global PR firm Edelman Asia Pacific, suggests that Americans overseas provide a vital component.

"The future," Mr. Lavin says in an email, "belongs to the networkers—those who can bring together ideas, people, products and financing from around the world. The expat community is the human counterpart to the social sites—and they help ensure that the best America has to offer is connected with individuals and businesses around the world."

At the end of the day, after all, the global economy is really about human beings interacting with one another, bettering themselves and enriching their societies as they do. From the Ohio contractor working in Baghdad to feed his family back home, to the American professor teaching in Hong Kong, to the Boston-bred banker working in London, these individuals are overwhelmingly productive and law-abiding. In an ever more competitive global marketplace, their presence provides a critical boost to American fortunes in key parts of the world.
So here's a New Year's resolution for the IRS and its allies inside the Beltway: Maybe it's time we treated these Americans as economic assets instead of criminal liabilities.

Write to MainStreet@wsj.com

Relocation- What's happening in Japan and Asia

Today, Brookfield announced that they have acquired Prudential / Pricoa's real estate and relocation business in a bold move that puts Brookfield at number 2 behind Cartus. Cartus itself last year acquired "Primacy", and in a bold move from regional to global relocation we have also seen Santa Fe acquire Wridgways in Australia and Interdean in Europe.

So, we are definately seeing some movement in the relocation space, but how do I see things from a relocation perspective in Japan and Asia?

I am feeling 3 strong areas of change.

1. The Big Are Getting Bigger
Cartus, Brookfield and Santa Fe are great examples of the big getting bigger. You can add into their space SIRVA, and you have the big guys in relocation. Large multi-national companies generally will choose one of these big panthers to handle relocation management, especially if you have 1,000 or more people in terms of your mobility population. The big weren't so big, 2-3 years ago, back when we had Primacy, GMAC and Interdean as seperate entities, and weren't so well defined. Other players such as Weichert, MIGroup, Paragon were also in the mix, and although it was known that some were bigger than others, there wasn't a great deal of space between all of these companies back then. Now, there is, and my gut feeling is that the smaller relocation management companies will begin to struggle, unless they have a very focussed area of specialty. I would describe our friends at "Weichert" as doing an excellent job with this- they know exactly who they want to be in relocation, and they are not trying to be Cartus or Brookfield. This is not the case with many of the RMCs I see. In Japan, we are seeing more and more business coming through the big panthers, and less and less business from the smaller global relocation companies.

2. Regional Relocation Increases
In Japan, over the last 12- 18 months, we have felt a definate increase in business from regional relocation providers. Before becoming "global" Santa Fe was a good example of this, but we are now seeing an increase in business from our Asia Relocation Networks, from our European Relocation Networks, and indeed from our US Relocation Networks. Being able to provide a "regional solution" is becoming an important relocation tool. This means belonging to meaningful regional networks; in our case NCompass / Orientations and TIRA in Asia, and maintaining good relationships within the region, and with other regional providers outside Asia.

3. Moving Back to Direct Providers
We knew that the values of a good "direct relationship" would be discovered eventually, and after bad outsourcing experiences that complicated and added little value to the process, we are seeing certain types of clients interested in going back to the good old direct way of doing things; faster, more transparent, more flexible...... good old "relationship" business.

We are gearing up for more and more of 1, 2 and 3 in 2012.

All the very best for the festive season!

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Mercer Quality of Living Survey- Best Places to Relocate!

The below details were announced by Mercer today;

MERCER SURVEY SUMMARY
• European cities dominate worldwide quality of living rankings
• Vienna ranks highest for quality of living; Baghdad ranks lowest
• Honolulu and San Francisco are the top-ranked US cities for overall quality of living, but Canadian cities dominate the new personal safety ranking
• Luxembourg ranks highest for personal safety; Baghdad ranks lowest

Vienna has the best living standard in the world, according to the Mercer 2011 Quality of Living Survey. Zurich and Auckland follow in second and third place, respectively, and Munich is in fourth with Düsseldorf and Vancouver sharing fifth place. Frankfurt is in seventh followed by Geneva in eighth, while Copenhagen and Bern share ninth place. In the US, Honolulu (29) and San Francisco (30) are the highest-ranking cities, followed byBoston (36). Chicago and Washington, DC, are both ranked 43rd. Detroit (71) is the lowest rankingof the US cities that Mercer surveys.

Globally, the cities with the lowest quality of living are Khartoum, Sudan (217); Port-au-Prince, Haiti (218); N’Djamena, Chad (219); and Bangui, Central African Republic (220). Baghdad, Iraq(221) ranks last.

Mercer’s Quality of Living index list covers 221 cities, ranked against NewYork as the base city. This year, the survey separately identifies those cities with the highest personal safety ranking based on internal stability, crime levels, law enforcement effectiveness and the host country’sinternational relations.

Luxembourg tops this personal safety ranking, followed by Bern, Helsinkiand Zurich – all ranked at number two. Vienna ranks fifth while Geneva and Stockholm both ranksixth. Baghdad (221) is the world’s least safe city, followed by N’Djamena, Chad (220); Abidjan,Côte d'Ivoire (219); Bangui, Central African Republic (218); and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (217).

The highest-ranking US cities on the personal safety list are Chicago, Honolulu, Houston and SanFrancisco, all of which ranked 53.

The top-ranking cities for personal safety and security are in politically stable countries with good international relations and relatively sustainable economic growth. Most of the low-scoring cities are in countries with civil unrest, high crime levels and little law enforcement. AmericasCanadian cities dominate the top of the ranking for this region. Vancouver (5) has the best qualityof living and is followed by Ottawa (14), Toronto (15) and Montreal (22). Honolulu (29) and SanFrancisco (30) are the highest-ranking US cities. In Central and South America, Pointe-à-Pitre,Guadeloupe (63) ranks highest, followed by San Juan, Puerto Rico (72) and Montevideo,Uruguay (77). Port-au-Prince, Haiti (218) ranks lowest in the region.

Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe (40) is again the highest-ranking city in Central and South America followed by Nassau, Bahamas (66); San Juan,Puerto Rico (79); and Panama City, Panama (92). At the other end of the personal safety scale, Caracas, Venezuela (205); Port-au-Prince, Haiti (202); Bogotá, Colombia (196); and Kingston, Jamaica (192) rank lowest in the region.

EUROPE
Vienna is the European city with the highest quality of living. German and Swiss cities dominate the top of the ranking, with three cities each in the top 10. Zurich (2) is followed by Munich (4), Düsseldorf (5), Frankfurt (7) and Geneva (8), while Bern shares ninth place with Copenhagen. In the next tier are Amsterdam (12), Hamburg (16), Berlin (17), Luxembourg (19), Stockholm (20), Brussels (22), Nurnberg (24) and Dublin (26). Paris ranks 30 and is followed by Oslo (33), Helsinki (35) and London (38). Lisbon is number 41, Madrid is at 43 and Rome ranks 52. Prague, Czech Republic (69) is the highest-ranking Eastern European city, followed by Budapest, Hungary(73); Ljubljana, Slovenia (75); Vilnius, Lithuania (79) and Warsaw, Poland (84). The lowest ranking European city is Tbilisi, Georgia (214).

With seven cities in the top 10, European cities also fare well in the personal safety ranking. Luxembourg ranks highest followed by Bern, Helsinki and Zurich, which all rank second. Vienna(5) is ahead of Geneva and Stockholm (both rank 6). In Eastern Europe, Ljubljana (30) and Prague (47) rank highest for personal safety, whereas Moscow (199) and Tbilisi (215) rank lowest.

ASIA PACIFIC
Auckland (3) is the highest-ranking city for quality of living in the Asia-Pacific region and isfollowed by Sydney (11), Wellington (13), Melbourne (18) and Perth (21). The highest-rankingAsian cities are Singapore (25) and Tokyo (46). Hong Kong (70), Kuala Lumpur (76), Seoul (80)and Taipei (85) are other major Asian cities ranked in the top 100. Meanwhile, Dhaka, Bangladesh (204); Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (206); and Dushanbe, Tajikistan (208) rank lowest in the region.

In eighth place, Singapore ranks highest for personal safety, followed by Auckland and Wellington– both ranked 9. Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney all rank 25, and all the Japanese cities on the list (Tokyo, Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka and Yokohama) rank 31. The region’s lowest-ranking city for personal safety is Karachi, Pakistan (216).

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Dubai, UAE (74), ranks highest for quality of living across the Middle East and Africa and is followed by Abu Dhabi, UAE (78); Port Louis, Mauritius (82) and Cape Town, South Africa (88). Johannesburg ranks 94 and is followed by Victoria, Seychelles (95); Tel Aviv (99); Muscat, Oman(101) and Doha, Qatar (106). Africa has 18 cities in the bottom 25, including Bangui, CentralAfrican Republic (220); N’Djamena, Chad (219); Khartoum, Sudan (217) and Brazzaville, Congo(214).
Baghdad (221) is the lowest-ranking city both regionally and globally.

At 23, Abu Dhabi has the highest personal safety ranking in the Middle East and is followed by Muscat (29), Dubai (39) and Doha (67). Port Louis (59) and Victoria (79) are the only African cities in the top 100. Elsewhere in the region, Tunis, Tunisia ranks 140; Casablanca, Morocco is at 147 and Cairo, Egypt ranks 176. At 185, Algiers, Algeria is followed by Tehran, Iran (188) and towards the bottom of the list is Tripoli, Libya (204). In terms of personal safety, Baghdad (221) is the lowest-ranking city regionally and globally along with N’Djamena, Chad (220); Abidjan, Côted’Ivoire (219); Bangui, Central African Republic (218) and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of theCongo (217).