Dhaka confce of Asia-Pacific LDCs to discuss five broad areas

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Nazmul Ahsan
Issues concerning trade, aid, food security, environment and poverty are expected to be discussed at the high-level Asia-Pacific least developed countries (LDCs) conference in Dhaka, slated for January 12 to 14, according to a communication made from the United Nations to Dhaka.
The communication has been made recently to Finance Minister AMA Muhith by the UN headquarters, sources said.
The LDC conference will also evaluate the progress towards implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action, which was adopted during the third UN sponsored LDC conference in 2001, sources in the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said.
According to the communication, five broad areas have been identified for discussion at the high-level Dhaka conference.
The areas are-reducing poverty and hunger through the promotion of sustainable and inclusive development in the LDCs, promoting food security through sustainable agriculture, enhancing the share of LDCs in trade, aid and financial flows, protecting the environment and reducing the vulnerability in LDCs and developing human and institutional capacities to support inclusive and sustainable development of the LDCs.
Meanwhile, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) has undertaken a study on implementation of commitments made by developed countries towards enhanced trade and official development assistance to LDCs during the third LDC conference about 10 years back, sources said.
"The findings of the study will be placed at the Dhaka meeting, where both Asia-Pacific LDC leaders, UN top bosses, representatives from developed countries and most of the major multilateral agencies will attend," a high official in the ERD told the FE.
"Hopefully, the meeting will come out with a number of specific findings and recommendations to help bolster the ailing economies of marginalised countries," he hoped.
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) of the United Nations and the Bangladesh government will jointly organise the meeting. A consensus among 13 Asia Pacific LDCs on major issues is considered important ahead of the 4th UN- sponsored LDC conference to be held in Turkey in May 2011.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recently approved the date proposed by the ESCAP. Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under Secretary General of the UN and Executive Secretary, ESCAP, will moderate the two-day conference from January 14 to 15 at Hotel Sonargaon.
The upcoming Asia-Pacific LDC conference will also evaluate the progress in the implementation of the commitments made by the UN in favour of 49 LDCs during the 3rd UN-LDC conference held in Brussels in 2001, officials in the Ministry of Finance said.
The high level conference will analyze the state of food security and discuss ways to make the agriculture economies of the LDC countries resilient, sources said.
The Economic Relations Division under the MoF is now busy coordinating the Dhaka LDC conference.
The 13 countries falling under the Asia-Pacific LDCs are-Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, the Maldives and Vanuatu.
The finance minister of Kiribiti, planning minister of Nepal, planning and aid coordination minister of Solomon Islands and vice-minister of planning and international cooperation of Yemen have so far confirmed their participation in the forthcoming Asia-Pacific meeting in Dhaka, sources said.
Other ministers and top government officials of remaining member countries are expected to confirm their participation soon, an official in the ERD said.
''The leaders from LDC countries will consider new priorities for action ahead of the next 4th UN-LDC conference given the current global economic crises. Their marginalisation in world trade is expected to be figure prominently at the Asia-Pacific LDC conference,' a top official in the ERD told the FE.
''Presentation will be made on the entire progress of action in line with the Brussels Declaration of 3rd LDC conference," he added.
Experts said the LDCs, particularly the Asian ones, have long been hit hard by climate change and hollow assurance from rich nations towards granting duty free market access for their products.