PM for better ties between LDCs and dev partners*****

ISTANBUL, May 9: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called for reinforcing partnership between the LDCs and the development partners to ensure production of more goods and services in the least developed countries, reports BSS. "To uplift LDCs from their precarious situation, I urge the Istanbul Program of Action to include a structure of genuine commitment for a reinforced partnership between the LDCs and the development partners to ensure production of more goods and services in the LDCs," she said. The Bangladesh Premier said this while speaking as the keynote speaker in the high-level interactive thematic debate at Lutfi Kirdar Convention and Exhibition Centre. The thematic debate was co-chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister of Senegal Madicke Niang and Under Secretary of State of Development Policy and Cooperation Ritva Koukku-Ronde. President of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly Joseph Deiss (Switzerland), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Secretary General Supachai Panitchpakdi, Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Noeleen Heyzer, Director General of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Kandeh K Yumkella, Director General of World Intellectual Property Organisation Francis Gurry, Executive Director of International Labour Organisation Juan Somavia, and Deputy Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union Houlin Zhao also spoke at the thematic debate session. The Prime Minister said improvement of the economies of LDCs means improvement of their purchasing power, and becoming stronger and more viable markets for the developed countries. "Let us discard our past myopic strategies and opt for a win win arrangement benefiting us all," she told the LDC leaders and development partners. The Prime Minister said there are two core issues -- enhancement of the productive capacities and improvement of the human resources in the LDC enabling them to benefit from globalization -- which concern the development of the LDCs. She said the first Action Plan of the eighties recognized that LDCs must produce more goods and services to escape from poverty and deprivation.