Bangladesh proposes to host Asian Poverty Alleviation Institute
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
Bangladesh, at the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial, taking place in Seoul, has offered to be the host in setting up an Asian Institute for Poverty Alleviation.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who is leading a Bangladesh delegation to the event, placed the proposal before the Asian ministers, said a Foreign Ministry press release in the city Tuesday, reports UNB.
Chowdhury said Bangla-desh has a good story to tell about her successes in poverty alleviation. "These have flowed from innovative home-grown ideas like government-non-government organisation (NGO) partnership, micro-credit and non-formal education.
He said the Poverty Alleviation Institute could gather such best practices for wider circulation and greater benefits.
Iftekhar Ahmed also suggested that since Asia is rich in ideas, "We (Asia) should devise a model to connect the prosperity of many Asian nations with safety net for the poor in our societies." He called it "...walking on two legs", and said the Asian nations must ensure that "no Asian is left behind in present times."
South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, also the chairman of the session, said the proposal for setting up Poverty Alleviation Institute in Bangladesh is an excellent idea that deserves consideration.
The sixth session of the ACD adopted the Seoul Declaration on Information Technology. It also set up a High Level Study Group to provide guidelines for future actions. ACD, comprising foreign ministers of 30 Asian countries, agreed to reconvene in Kazakhstan next year.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who is leading a Bangladesh delegation to the event, placed the proposal before the Asian ministers, said a Foreign Ministry press release in the city Tuesday, reports UNB.
Chowdhury said Bangla-desh has a good story to tell about her successes in poverty alleviation. "These have flowed from innovative home-grown ideas like government-non-government organisation (NGO) partnership, micro-credit and non-formal education.
He said the Poverty Alleviation Institute could gather such best practices for wider circulation and greater benefits.
Iftekhar Ahmed also suggested that since Asia is rich in ideas, "We (Asia) should devise a model to connect the prosperity of many Asian nations with safety net for the poor in our societies." He called it "...walking on two legs", and said the Asian nations must ensure that "no Asian is left behind in present times."
South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, also the chairman of the session, said the proposal for setting up Poverty Alleviation Institute in Bangladesh is an excellent idea that deserves consideration.
The sixth session of the ACD adopted the Seoul Declaration on Information Technology. It also set up a High Level Study Group to provide guidelines for future actions. ACD, comprising foreign ministers of 30 Asian countries, agreed to reconvene in Kazakhstan next year.