Bangkok--28 Apr--UNISBKK
Thai Prime Minister Opened Meeting Today in Bangkok
Bangkok (UN Information Services) — In order for Asia Pacific to recover from the current economic crisis, food-fuel volatility, as well as climate change, region-wide development polices must be embraced that are inclusive, create social protection and have long-term sustainability..
This was the key message to come out of the annual session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s (ESCAP), the ministerial segment of which was opened this morning in Bangkok by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva.
“We have come together at a time of great challenges,” said Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP. “The region faces some of the largest development threats of our time — all of which could roll back our development gains.”
ESCAP’s member states have chosen food security and sustainable agriculture as the theme of their annual meeting, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated, in his message to the meeting, has taken on even more urgency due to the current economic turmoil. “We must confront these problems, and protect the world’s poorest people above all,” said Mr. Ban.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Abhisit said regional cooperation is key for the Asia-Pacific countries to address the challenges, and ESCAP has an important role to play. “The concerted efforts of the regional states and beyond are needed to cushion our people — especially the poor — against the impact of this crisis. ESCAP has performed an invaluable role in addressing and responding to the real needs of people across the region.”
Dr. Heyzer proposed three regional policy actions.
Firstly, the region needs to increase economic growth through increased regional trade and integration. “Intraregional trade accounts for only 37 per cent of exports in our region in comparison with NAFTA at 51 per cent and the E.U at 68 per cent,” Dr. Heyzer noted. “There are enormous opportunities for growth in South-South trade and investment, but existing trade barriers need to be removed. Accelerated implementation of the numerous regional economic partnership agreements will also promote further trade and investment.”
Secondly, the region must strengthen the foundation for social protection in the region to buffer people against uncertainties. Dr. Heyzer pointed out that, currently, only 20 per cent of the region’s population have access to health care in a region where people are living longer, the fact that only 30 per cent of the elderly receive pensions should be a source of concern.
Thirdly, Asia and the Pacific must address sustainability by taking steps to mitigate climate change, and to embrace new economic opportunities presented by green technology.
A high-level round table on food security and sustainable agriculture was held on Monday. Anton Apriyantono, Indonesia’s Minister of Agriculture, reiterated his country’s call for a second “Green Revolution” — based upon environmental-friendly technologies and intensified efforts to promote clean water, nutrition and health.
The Minister for Agriculture of Myanmar, Maj. General Htay Oo, pointed out the vulnerability of developing countries. “Although Myanmar is a country with a food surplus, it is certainly not immune to the effects of the global economic crisis, climate change and natural disasters,” the minister said, citing Cyclone Nargis which struck his country last year as an example.
Mr. Mashiur Rahman, an advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, echoed his fellow panelists, calling for more investment in agriculture. “Cooperation in agricultural research and technology development needs to be strengthened,” said Mr. Rahman, “specifically in developing new varieties, hybrids and breeds, natural resources management techniques, as well as cooperation in new sciences such as remote sensing for weather and flood forecasting.”
Speaking of how the region could work together to improve food security by improving policy coordination, Mr.Liu Jieyi, China’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, called for efforts to be made “to set up an Asian-Pacific food security guarantee system that integrates early warning, surveillance and monitoring, macro regulation and emergency relief.”
Panellists also agreed that agriculture could serve as an engine of growth for many developing countries as the economic livelihood for billions of people around the world, it should be put back at the top of the political agenda.
This year’s Commission session, which continues until Wednesday, 30 April, also marks the 60 th anniversary of ESCAP’s presence in Thailand. A high-level panel on the economic crisis will be held in the morning of Tuesday, 28 April.
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UN Information Services (UNIS), ESCAP:
Bentley Jenson
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