CIRDAP Policy Body Meetings Concluded in Manila

Dhaka, 6 June 2007: CIRDAP’s highest policy body meeting of Ministerial level concluded in Manila on 1 June 2007.  The two-day meeting of the Governing Council (GC-16) of the Centre was inaugurated on 31 May 2007 by H.E. M. Eduardo R. Ermita, Executive Secretary (Senior Minister) of the Government of Philippines. The meetings sought to identify areas for collaborative efforts that could benefit the on-going rural development programme and projects of the Asia-Pacific Region.

The GC-16 was held following a Regional Policy Dialogue on ‘Agrarian Reform and Rural Development: The Case of Philippines’ on 30 May 2007 and the Twenty-sixth Meeting of the CIRDAP Executive Committee (EC-26) on 28-29 May 2007.

During the inaugural function for GC-16, H.E. M. Eduardo R. Ermita mentioned that continued development of agriculture and the institutions and effective rural development programmes such as agrarian reforms, are the means to reduce poverty. The development agenda for agriculture means empowering its stakeholders, useful participation and becoming the movers of economic growth. He complimented CIRDAP for its enduring capacity to uphold its mandate to promote regional cooperation, provide technical support and strengthening the institutions for rural development and agrarian reforms. H.E. Mr. Nasser C. Pangandaman, Secretary (Minister) of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of the Government of Philippines mentioned that to meet global aspirations in achieving desired results, a higher degree of involvement within and beyond the borders , substantial level of political decisiveness and results-oriented dialogue are useful.   H.E. Mr. Md. Anwarul Iqbal, Advisor, Ministry of LGRD&C of Bangladesh stated that his Government is considering utilizing the expertise of CIRDAP in the implementation of poverty reduction strategy of the country, particularly in the rural development sector.  Accordingly, the Centre has been included as a high powered working committee formed by the Ministry to perform various tasks relating to rural development. 

Earlier, H.E. Mr. Nasser C. Pangandaman, Secretary (Minister), of Philippines who is also the Vice Chairperson of the previous GC (GC-15), inaugurated the EC-26 meeting on 28 May 2007.

The two meetings and the regional policy dialogue, organized by the Centre in collaboration with the Government of Philippines were held at the Traders Hotel in Manila.

The meetings were attended by Ministers and Secretaries of Rural Development and relevant ministries from the CIRDAP Member Countries (CMCs) and their representatives. Representatives of International Organizations like IFAD (Rome), FAO (Bangkok), the Commonwealth Secretariat (UK) and ADB (Manila) attended the meetings as observers. Senior Government officials of the Host Country, Philippines, Diplomatic Personnel from Member Countries and CIRDAP IRD expert (Japan) also attended the meetings.

H.E. Mr. Md. Anwarul Iqbal, Advisor, Ministry of LGRD&C of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the previous GC (GC-15), and Mr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary of Ministry of LGRD&C and Chairperson of previous EC (EC-25) attended the meetings representing Bangladesh.

Dr. Durga Paudyal, Director General of CIRDAP briefed the meeting about the Centres activities and efforts throughout the past two years. He mentioned the MOU signed with SAARC Secretariat, and the preparation for an MOU signing with ASEAN sometime this year. CIRDAP has already signed similar MOUs with organizations like ICIMOD, NAM CSSTC for technical collaboration in the areas of rural development and poverty alleviation. He also mentioned CIRDAP’s participation in international conferences like ICARRD of FAO and MfDR.

The GC-16 and EC26 meetings discussed at length the activities and suggested directions and strategies for implementation by the Centre, which include holding a ministerial meeting on rural development in 2009 in Dhaka with funding from the government of Japan. The preparation for the meeting will include an assessment of rural development policies and approaches in the changing context and redefining the role of CIRDAP and other organizational issues like carrying out an evaluation of the Centres performance etc.

Other discussed issues include Afghanistan’s request for support in establishing an Institute for Rural development, Malaysia and India’s interest in holding regional policy dialogues on rural development related issues, Government of India’s interest in possible support in the field of  ICT in the member countries, Strengthening infrastructure at CIRDAP HQ and construction of an International Conference Centre at the HQ’s premises by the government of Bangladesh etc.

At the end of the meetings the delegates were taken to a field visit to the Batac agrarian reform community in Calatagan, Batangas to showcase Philippines’ progress in developing rural communities and engaging farmers’ cooperatives into business opportunities other than farming. 

        CIRDAP’s Second Regional Policy Dialogue Focus on Agrarian Reform in Asia