(R-L) Mr. Hossein Shahbaz, Director, Pilot Project Division, CIRDAP; Dr. Durga Paudyal, Director General, CIRDAP; Mr. Bhupendra Singh, Secretary General, IJSG; Dr. Anwara Begum, Director, Research Division, CIRDAP.

DU.1/108-1258                                                                                                                                                                                                    27 July 2011


PRESS RELEASE

MoU Signed Between IJSG and CIRDAP

Dhaka. 27 July 2011: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cooperation was signed between the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) at the IJSG Headquarters in Dhaka today. Dr. Durga P. Paudyal, Director General, CIRDAP and Mr. Bhupendra Singh, Secretary General, IJSG signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.

As regional and inter-governmental bodies, both CIRDAP and IJSG realise that joint and complementary efforts through research and action research work related to poverty alleviation and rural development can make more effective contributions to rural development and basic needs assistance to poor people in the region. Therefore, it is beneficial for the two organisations, to enter into an MoU as partners in development actions as and where feasible to combine their strength towards synergic effect in implementing projects of mutual interest.

The areas identified for fruitful joint cooperation between the two organisations are, but not limited to, joint study and action research/pilot projects activities, capacity building, exposure study visit and also information sharing and exchange of ideas, initiating innovative action research/pilot projects, project monitoring and evaluation, identifying mutually beneficial project activities, submission of joint proposal for projects in different areas of development, poverty alleviation, disaster management, etc.

Both the organisations recognise that promoting and generating rural business, entrepreneurship and employment would help in developing the rural areas of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly through promoting production and use of Jute and other natural fibres.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both organisations. 

Dr. Vasanthi Rajendran
Director, Information and
Communication Division, CIRDAP