Cost, it adds, has been the biggest obstacle to development, noting that it is much more expensive to purify seawater than it is to treat fresh water.

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However, protectionist restrictions are not the only obstacle to the development of pan-Asian fund-management houses.

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"Export controls remain the most powerful obstacle to the development and free flow of encryption, but they are steadily being relaxed because of the Internet and demands for secure electronic commerce, " the report said.

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This is an obstacle to poverty reduction efforts and weakens the capacity of African countries to lead development and institute reforms.

UNESCO: EDUCATION

Recent reports from the Asian Development Bank and the IMF argue that poor infrastructure is a significant obstacle to Indonesia's growth.

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