Regional Cooperation and Inclusive Development in South and South-West Asia

Summary report on the
High-level Policy Dialogue on
Regional Cooperation and Inclusive Development in
South and South-West Asia
18-19 October 2012, New Delhi
Introduction
South and South-West Asia remains one of the most dynamic subregions in the world, especially
in light of multiple crises and continued uncertainty in much of the world economy. Although
growth is slowing in the subregion, it is still faster than in many other parts of the world. Helping
South and South-West Asia sustain this dynamism, to meet its pressing development challenges,
is a crucial endeavour and a key priority for ESCAP.
The Policy Dialogue on Regional Cooperation and Inclusive Development in South and SouthWest Asia, held on 18-19 October 2012, and the report launched during the Dialogue, focused on
regional economic cooperation and the importance of inclusive and sustainable development, in
line with ongoing discussions about sustainable development and the development agenda for
2015 and beyond.
The Policy Dialogue brought together over 120 participants from across South and South-West
Asia, representing senior policy- and decision-makers from all 10 countries in the subregion, in
addition to representation from the SAARC Secretariat, other development partners, United
Nations agencies, national think tanks and civil society organizations.
Summary of proceedings
Inaugural session
One of the highlights of the inaugural session was the release and presentation of the South and
South-West Asia Development Report 2012-13 published by the United Nations Publications and
Routledge for ESCAP. The inaugural session was addressed by Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director,
ESCAP-SSWA who delivered welcome remarks and presented the key highlights of the Report.
Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of
ESCAP, delivered the opening keynote address. Dr. Heyzer underscored that cooperation can
help spur more inclusive growth and drive the elimination of poverty in South and South-West
Asia. Greater regional integration, not only increases intraregional trade, but also promotes
investment in the subregion’s supply chain and production networks. This creates more and
better jobs, and builds productive capacity, particularly in least developed countries, Dr. Heyzer
noted. Greater intraregional integration can also improve food and energy security, as well as
help mitigate the impact of natural disasters. She stressed that collective regional responses and
solutions are more effective in addressing these challenges than individual country approaches.
Mr. Rajeev Kher, Additional Secretary, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of
India, delivered the inaugural address on behalf of the Minister of Commerce. He stated that
India remained fully committed to the idea of regional cooperation and had been playing an
active role in promoting this approach. In light of the current slowdown in the industrialized
world, regional economic integration is relevant within the subregion more than ever, as the
potential for South and South-West Asia to integrate with itself remained untapped, and the
consumption opportunities were huge.
Following a brief Q&A session, Ms. Lise Grande, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India
proposed the vote of thanks.
Session 1: High-level Panel on Regional Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable
Development
The plenary session under this agenda was moderated by H.E. Prof. Abhijit Sen, Member,
Planning Commission, Government of India. The panelists were:
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H.E. Mr. Deependra Bahadur Kshetry, Vice-Chairman, National Planning
Commission, Nepal
Dr. Hafiz Pasha, former Finance Minister of Pakistan
Prof. Guven Sak, Managing Director, Economic Policy Foundation (TEPAV)
Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
The panelists noted the importance of inclusive and sustainable development, observing that
industry, rather than mining better serves these goals. It was noted that industrialization requires
collaboration, not just at the local level, but at regional level as well. Value chains need to be
created across borders.
Panelists pointed out that for industrial development, connectivity were key factors. They noted
that railways provide fast and competitive mode of transport linking coastal areas with the
hinterland. Connectivity needs to be improved to save time and financial resources, in the wake
of the post-crisis growth, since connectivity defines market-orientation and competitiveness of
regional supplies.
The panelists also observed that increasing connectivity fosters integration. Different integration
projects were considered, and although the modes of regional integration between the EU
(integration by design) and ASEAN (integration by interaction) differed greatly, the lack or
weakness of integration in South Asia appeared striking. Efforts so far have been fragmented, but
the panelists suggested that the post-financial crisis may create an opportunity for renewed
efforts.
The panelists considered the idea of the Modern Silk Road, which has two missing links: one in
Afghanistan and one in the Caucasus. Therefore efforts need to address these two shortcomings.
One remedy would be the construction of further railway lines in the Caucasus and connecting
the Istanbul-Islamabad train with Afghanistan and extend it to Dhaka via Delhi and Kolkata, as
proposed by the ESCAP report.
Panelists stressed that customs coordination and standardization were a must for connectivity.
This would include integrating check points and developing single windows. Public-private
partnerships could undertake border modernization and management.
Session 2: Regional Economic Cooperation and Connectivity in the Subregion: Potential
and Challenges
The plenary session under this agenda was chaired by Prof. Guven Sak, Managing Director,
Economic Policy Foundation (TEPAV). Presentations were made by:
 Mr. Amrit Lugun, Director, Economic, Trade and Finance, SAARC Secretariat
 Dr. Esmaeil Tekyeh Sadat, Director, Transport and Communications, ECO Secretariat
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Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
Dr. M. Rahmatullah, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka and Former
Director, Transport Division, UN-ESCAP
The presenters focused on the central role of connectivity in enhancing trade and economic
growth. The presentations provided an overview of connectivity initiative in progress in the
SAARC and the ECO subregion, the role played by trade agreements and the challenges faced in
achieving connectivity goals.
Mr. Amrit Lugun presented activities undertaken by the SAARC Secretariat in the area of
connectivity, and gave a brief overview of SAARC, its objectives and functions. He noted that
while the regional trade between member States had exceeded 2 billion, there was much
untapped potential for further growth. He emphasized that connectivity between the SAARC
member States was essential. A ministerial-level mechanism of transport Ministers had been
formed to facilitate connectivity, trade and economic cooperation. This intergovernmental group,
at its 2010 meeting, recommended the creation of an expert group to draft regional agreements
on motor vehicle and railways, which is now under consideration. Mr. Lugun also referred to
ongoing projects, such as the railway agreement, a new proposal for establishing cargo ferry
services between India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka and a container train between Bangladesh,
India and Nepal.
Dr. Esmaeil Tekyehsadat presented initiatives, proposals and barriers to connectivity within the
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) subregion. He noted that South and South-West
Asia had an advantage over other subregions, in terms of number of suppliers and vast customer
population base. There is a huge potential for economic growth in the subregion through mutual
cooperation. To enhance regional cooperation, reduce trade barriers and establish seamless
physical connectivity, appropriate common legal, organizational and financial systems were
essential. Dr. Tekyehsadat highlighted that ECO member countries had already signed the
Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) and established four committees to facilitate
the connectivity initiative. He also referred to various ECO initiatives, including the negotiations
for unified ECO visa (similar to Schengen visa) and the road-rail master plan for connectivity to
be implemented by 2030. He also highlighted the importance of the East-West Corridor
(Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad) and the North-South Corridor (Iran (Islamic Republic of)Afghanistan-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan).
Dr. Saman Kelegama focused his presentation on the importance of regional cooperation in
trade and highlighted the importance of regional trade agreements in enhancing trade and thereby
economic development. He noted that the huge potential to increase intraregional trade in South
Asia, based on salient features of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement and the
SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS), and highlighted related technical, political
and institutional impediments. He observed that the current progress of SATIS was not
satisfactory. He underscored the asymmetric responsibility and commended the positive attitude
of India, which resulted in the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ILFTA) and Sri Lanka’s
ability to increase its exports to India. Reference was also made to the Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) and BIMSTEC. Dr.
Kelegama concluded that less rewarding RTAs should be put aside and focus should be placed
on the ones where positive results are already visible and potential gains remain unexploited.
Dr. M. Rahmatullah stressed the importance of regional connectivity to enhance trade and
thereby the economy of member States. He observed that in South Asia, connectivity remained
fragmented owing to a lack of adequate cooperation between member countries. He suggested a
Regional Transit Transport Framework Agreement, similar to those adopted by member
countries of ASEAN, GMS and ECO to facilitate movement between Benapole (BD)/Petorpole
(India) and Attari (India)/Wagha (Pakistan). Dr. Rahmatullah encouraged ESCAP to play an
instrumental and active role in operationalizing the Asian Highway and Trans Asian Rail routes
within the subregion.
Session 3: Food security and Sustainable Agriculture: Policy Options for South and SouthWest Asia
The session was moderated by Dr. G.K. Chadha, President, South Asian University, New
Delhi. Presentations were made by:
 Dr. Ramesh Chand, Director, National Centre for Agriculture Policy, Indian Council for
Agricultural Research, New Delhi
 Dr. Quazi Shahabuddin, Professorial Fellow and former Director-General, Bangladesh
Institute of Development Studies, Dhaka
 Dr. Nandini Azad, Chairperson, Independent Commission for People’s Rights and
Development, New Delhi and former Head, Outcome Monitoring Division, Planning
Commission, India
Dr. Ramesh Chand presented salient features of South Asian economies and outlined
sustainability challenges facing the subregion, in light of shrinking natural resources, decline in
quality and thereby capacity, competing demand, climate change and rising environmental
stresses, and rising sensitivity of output to weather fluctuations. Dr. Chand brought forward a
range of policy options to address food insecurity, including to invest in technological changes
for input saving and if needed to expand subsidies and safety net; to distinguish more clearly
causal factors (both on the supply and demand side) from aggravating factors, such as trade
restrictions, speculative investments in food market that contribute to volatility; and to devise
different strategies to address shocks, as well as scarcity. Dr. Chand summarized options as
being related to several fronts; technological, institutional, policies and traditional knowledge.
Dr. Quazi Shahabuddin outlined major issues pertaining to attaining food security through
sustainable agriculture in the subregion, which faces severe problems on this front with on
average over 42 per cent of children being underweight. He underscored key policy options for
food security and sustainable agriculture, including short-term policy options (such as improving
access to food, addressing the multiple food insecurities and economic and social access,
physical access and the utilization of food), medium-term options with promoting sustainable
agriculture (for example through biodiversity protection, dissemination of good practices for
food security, and phasing out of subsidies for soil-depleting agrochemicals and inorganic
fertilizer, and promotion of polyculture), and long-term policy options to adapt to climate
change. At the international level, harnessing trade, strengthening regional cooperation, mapping
food insecurity hotspots, establishing food security coalition and building a knowledge hub were
among the policy measures recommended.
Dr. Nandini Azad underscored that one of overarching objectives was to attain development
security to strengthen overall governance and stability in the subregion. She outlined key
challenges, risks and vulnerabilities (including widening rural-urban disparities and inequality,
increased food prices, crop failures, youth unemployment, water shortage, animal diseases and
other trans-boundary issues), enabling assumptions and priority strategies, including the right to
food movement. Among operational strategic objectives, she stressed the importance of
integrated rural development and the need to energize rural markets and promote synergy among
stakeholders. She called for a multipronged strategy that would increase agricultural and allied
productivity (such as through an improvement of public distribution systems) and integrated
participatory rural development, based on illustrative examples from the Government (as the
right to food movement and the Food Security Bill) and civil society. She drew lessons,
emphasizing the centrality of empowering the underprivileged groups and women. With regards
the regional perspective and regional strategies, Dr. Azad emphasized the importance of social
mobilization, people-centred decentralized planning, upscaling and innovation (for example of
new women cooperatives), multi-stakeholders platform building, knowledge management and
engagement of the private sector.
Session 4: Regional Cooperation for energy security and disaster risk reduction in South
and South-West Asia: potential and challenges
Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director, SRO-SSWA, welcomed all delegates and underscored that the
panel would be focused on regional energy security and disaster risk reduction. He highlighted
the importance of these topics for the subregion and for the purpose of enhancing cooperation.
He introduced the Chair to lead the discussions; H.E. Deependra Bahadur Kshetry, ViceChairman, National Planning Commission of Nepal.
Mr. Kshetry underscored the richness of the subregion, in particular with regards to its potential
for generating hydroelectricity and henceforth the criticality of this issue. He introduced the first
speaker for the panel, H.E. Dr. Davood Manzoor, Deputy Vice President of Strategic Planning
and Supervision, Islamic Republic of Iran. Dr. Manzoor thanked ESCAP for successfully
convening the meeting and outlined energy security and sustainable development as priorities of
the global agenda. He underscored that ESCAP could play a leading role in harnessing intra- and
interrregional cooperation.
Dr. Ligia Noronha, Executive Director, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi pointed
out six domains for enhanced regional cooperation: (a) Harnessing complementarities; (b)
Scaling up of usable renewable energy; (c) Joint actions on energy and resource efficiency; (d)
Creation of efficient subregional markets; (e) Efficient and inclusive institutions; and (f) Joint
infrastructure development. Dr. Noronha emphasized that there was a need for the region to draw
on subregional, regional and global financial and knowledge-based resources in the area of
renewable energy.
Professor Santosh Kumar, National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi outlined three
key areas of concern: (a) Severe impact of disasters being due to a lack of development; (b)
Impact of disasters on development; (c) Increased vulnerability to disasters as a result of
development.
One possibility would be to assist with these processes by setting up a regional financial
institution to support the subregion deal with natural disasters.
Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Government
of Maldives noted that current mitigation measures included both short-term and long-term
strategies. Short-term shore protection comes at a high cost and therefore long-term population
relocation to higher islands is necessary. The latter comes with resistance from locals and since
the 1990s, the population of six island only has been relocated.
Session 5: MDGs and inclusive and sustainable development: development agenda for 2015
and beyond – a South Asian perspective
Dr. Nagesh Kumar welcomed delegates and distinguished panelists to the session. He invited
Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of
ESCAP to chair the session.
Dr. Noeleen Heyzer stated that due to significant changes taking place globally, such the global
financial crisis (GFC) and climate change, there was a need to rethink the global development
paradigm and establish a new framework relevant for all but flexible enough to take into account
the diverse needs of specific regions and subregions. She stated that the subregion was where the
‘drama’ was unfolding and where history was being made. She urged countries in the subregion
to think big for the final push towards the MDGs and underscored that new drivers of growth had
to be found to address entrenched inequality and extreme poverty, while preserving the
environment.
Delivering a keynote address, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute, Colombia
University and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General emphasized that one of the benefits of
the MDGs was that it had kept Governments’ attention focused. He stated that through
cooperation, shared goals for the future were being developed and that the set of goals were to be
universal and aspirational, holding all Governments accountable. We have only one planet and it
is in a dire state. We are wrecking it and causing unbelievable damage at an unprecedented pace,
he stated. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the three pillars of economic
development, social inclusion and sustainability converge and said the subregion could only
succeed as ‘one’.
H.E. Dr. Syeda Hameed, Member of the Planning Commission, Government of India stated that
the Planning Commission had launched a five-year development plan focused on tapping into the
huge human resources available in the country. Dr. Hameed said that first and foremost, a focus
on women and child nutrition, health, minorities and the most neglected groups of society was
required, including to give voice to the voiceless. She noted that while the development agenda
was mostly set elsewhere, most of the critical issues were glaringly exposed in the subregion.
Dr. Hafiz Pasha, former Finance Minister of Paksitan and former Assistant Secretary-General of
the United Nations, urged South Asia to become more self-reliant and to restore high levels of
economic growth. In a transformed development landscape, with developed countries falling
short in their aid contribution target, the time has come to focus on regional economic
integration, he stated.
Professor Jayati Ghosh, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi emphasized that regardless of
the development approach, five major concerns were common to South Asia countries: (a) Food
security – South Asia being home to the largest concentration of people living in hunger,
including owing to issues related to supply and most importantly distribution; (b) Employment
security, as million people are to join the labour force but risk remaining unemployed; (c)
Inequality, this being as a major issue globally; (d) Environment as overexploitation and
degradation of land were serious concerns; (e) Absence of basic amenities.
H.E. Dr. Karma Tshiteem, Secretary, Gross National Happiness Commission, Bhutan drew
participants’ attention to other dimensions of well-being including the importance of leading a
purposeful life, and balancing mind-body- and soul, based on a holistic approach to development
so as to ensure the necessary steps are taken to fulfill what is needed and people’s aspirations.
Session 6: Roundtable on Global Partnership for LDCs and LLDCs: Implementing the
Istanbul and Almaty Programmes of Action in South Asia
The plenary session under this agenda was moderated by Mr. Karma, Chief Executive Officer,
SAARC Development Fund. Panelists were:
 Amb. Madhu Raman Acharya, Executive Director, South Asia Centre for Policy
Studies, Kathmandu
 Mr. M.A.M. Kazemi, Senior Adviser to the Governor of the Bangladesh Bank
 Dr. Arjun Karki, International Coordinator, LDC Watch, Kathmandu
 Prof. Mehmet Arda, LDC IV Monitor and Galatasaray University, Istanbul
 Ms. Somali Cerise, OECD Development Centre, Paris
Panelists discussed elements and targets of the Istanbul and Almaty Programmes of Action in
South Asia, noting that in the subregion, only the Maldives had graduated so far and that
other South Asian LDCs were unlikely to graduate by 2020 at the current growth rate. They
stressed that there was a lack of strategy for accelerated graduation.
The panelists observed that the progress of implementation was insufficient, the
quantification of goals absent and the monitoring mechanism, weak. The Istanbul
Programme of Action was described as very-if not excessively- ambitious, while also not
addressing structural causes of LDCs and being weak on structural transformation issues.
Regarding the Almaty Programme, panelists noted that it had an overarching goal, creating a
win-win situation for both transit countries and LLDCs, but the quantification of most goals
was absent in this case as well, leading to weak monitoring and implementation.
The panelists pointed out that the Istanbul Programme was especially meaningful for South
Asia and South Asian LDCs, given the new emphasis on supply. Compared to LDCs in
Africa, the potential for structural transformation is higher in the subregion, owing to lower
economic vulnerability, higher proportion of manufacturing and better physical connectivity
infrastructure. However, South Asian LDCs are disadvantaged in terms of “ODA
attractiveness” as compared with LDCs in Africa.
The panelists discussed ways to improve the subregion’s attractiveness for ODA. Regional
international organizations and NGOs could play a leading role in this regard, promoting
deeper intraregional cooperation and FDI.
They discussed the priorities of a potential new programme for LLDCs, which should
include, but are not limited to: harmonization of transit policies, robust trade facilitation, and
better regional integration, investment in infrastructure and implementation and monitoring.
They also pointed out the importance of gender equality for LDCs, which is also emphasized
in Part 6 of the Istanbul Programme of Action, as well as a breakthrough strategy for the
MDGs. Persistent gender gaps on key social and economic indicators were underscored
across the subregion, including based on the Social Institutions and Gender Index 2012. The
example of Nepal was discussed, where significant steps have been taken towards improving
gender equality, for instance, with full legal equality for parental authority and inheritance
and the existence of a strong legal framework on violence against women. It was concluded
that underlying discrimination against women matters for development and that effective
implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action would require better national and subnational data on discriminatory social institutions.
Concluding session
At the concluding session Dr. Nagesh Kumar recapitulated some highlights of the rich
discussions over the past two days and thanked all the speakers and participants for their
valuable contributions, as well as the entire ESCAP team for their support and contribution to the
success of the meeting.
Annex 1. Agenda
High-Level Policy Dialogue on
Regional Cooperation and Inclusive Development in
South and South-West Asia
18-19 October 2012, Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi
TENTATIVE PROGRAMME
Thursday, 18 October 2012
0930-1000
1000-1100
Keynote Address:
Arrival of Guests and Registration at Inspire, Le Meridien
Inaugural Session
Welcome remarks: Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director, ESCAP-SSWA
Opening Address: Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary General of
United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
Presentation of SSWA Development Report 2012-13
Inaugural Address: H.E. Mr Anand Sharma, Commerce and Industry
Minister, Government of India (delivered by Mr Rajiv Kher,
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
Q&A with media
Vote of Thanks: Ms Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator, India
1100-1130
Tea Break
1130-1300
Session 1: High-Level Panel on Regional Cooperation for Inclusive
and Sustainable Development
Moderator: H.E. Prof. Abhijit Sen, Member, Planning Commission,
Government of India
Panelists:
H.E. Mr. Deependra Bahadur Kshetry, Vice-Chairman, National
Planning Commission of Nepal
Dr. Hafiz Pasha, former Finance Minister of Pakistan
Prof. Guven Sak, Managing Director, Economic Policy Foundation
(TEPAV), Turkey
Dr Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Studies of
Sri Lanka, Colombo
Open discussion
1300-1400
Lunch
1400-1530
Session 2: Regional economic cooperation and connectivity in the
Sub-region: Potential and challenges
Chair: Prof. Guven Sak, Managing Director, Economic Policy
Foundation (TEPAV), Turkey
Presentations:
Mr. Amrit Lugun, Director, Economic, Trade and Finance, SAARC
Secretariat, Kathmandu
Dr. Esmaeil Tekyeh Sadat, Director, Transport and Communications,
ECO Secretariat, Teheran
Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Studies of
Sri Lanka, Colombo
Dr. M. Rahmatullah, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka
and Former Director, Transport Division, UN-ESCAP
Open discussion
1530-1545
Tea break
1545-1700
Session 3: Food security and Sustainable Agriculture: Policy options
for South and South-West Asian Countries
Moderator: Dr. G.K. Chadha, President, South Asian University, New
Delhi
Lead Presentations:
Dr. Ramesh Chand, Director, National Centre for Agriculture Policy,
Indian Council for Agricultural Research, New Delhi
Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy
Institute, Islamabad
Dr. Quazi Shahabuddin, Professorial Fellow and former DirectorGeneral, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, Dhaka
Dr. Nandini Azad, Chairperson, The Independent Commission for
People’s Rights and Development, New Delhi & ex-Head,
Outcome Monitoring Division, Planning Commission, India
Open discussion
1930
Reception-Dinner hosted by ESCAP-SSWA at Le Meridien at Allure
Friday, 19 October 2012
0930-1030
Session 4: Regional cooperation for energy security and disaster risk
reduction in South and South-West Asia: Potential and challenges
Chair: H.E. Mr. Deependra Bahadur Kshetry, Vice-Chairman,
National Planning Commission of Nepal
Presentations:
H.E. Dr. Davood Manzoor, Deputy Vice President of Strategic Planning
and Supervision, Islamic Republic of Iran
Dr. Ligia Noronha, Executive Director, The Energy and Resources
Institute, New Delhi
Dr. Satendra Singh, Director, SAARC Disaster Management Centre,
New Delhi and Prof. Santosh Kumar, National Institute of
Disaster Management, New Delhi
Mr. Mohamed Hunaif, Under Secretary, Office of the President,
Government of Maldives
Open discussion
1030-11.00
Tea break
11.00-1300
Session 5: MDGs and inclusive and sustainable development:
Development Agenda for 2015 and beyond- A South Asian
Perspective
Moderator: Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary General of the United
Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
Keynote address: Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute, Columbia
University, New York and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General
South Asian Perspective
Special Remarks: H.E. Dr Syeda Hameed, Member of Planning
Commission, Government of India
Panellists
Dr. Hafiz Pasha, former Finance Minister and Assistant Secretary
General, UN
Prof. Jayati Ghosh, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Dr. Karma Tshiteem, Secretary, Gross National Happiness Commission,
Bhutan
Open discussion
1300-1400
Lunch
1400-1515
Session 6: Roundtable on Global Partnership for LDCs and LLDCs:
Implementing the Istanbul and Almaty Programmes of Action in
South Asia
Moderator: Mr Karma, Chief Executive Officer, SAARC Development
Fund, Thimphu
Panelists:
Amb. Madhu Raman Acharya, Executive Director, South Asia Centre
for Policy Studies (SACEPS), Kathmandu
Mr M.A.M. Kazemi, Senior Adviser to the Governor of the Bangladesh
Bank, Dhaka
Mr. Aziz Omer, Acting Director, Economic Division, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Government of Afghanistan
Dr. Arjun Karki, International Coordinator, LDC Watch, Kathmandu
Prof. Mehmet Arda, LDC IV Monitor and Galatasaray University,
Istanbul, Turkey
Ms. Somali Cerise, OECD Development Centre, Paris
Open discussion
1515-1530
Concluding session
1530
Refreshments
Annex 2. List of participants
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
AFGHANISTAN
Mr. M. Ashraf Haidari, Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Afghanistan, 5/50F, Shantipath,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021. Tel: +91-11-24870486; E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Aziz Omer, Acting Director, Economic Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government
of Afghanistan
BANGLADESH
Mr. Muhammad A. Malik Kazemi, Senior Consultant and Adviser to Governor, Bangladesh
Bank, Bangladesh Bank Head Office, Motijheel Commercial Area, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Tel:
+88-02-7120686; Fax: +88-02-7164233; E-mail: [email protected]
Dr M Rahmatullah, Senior Visiting Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka and Former
Director, UN-ESCAP, Bangkok. Tel: +88-02-8818322; E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Quazi Shahabuddin, Professorial Fellow and Former Director General of Bangladesh
Institute of Development Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Mr. Mahbub Hassan Saleh, Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission for the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh, New Delhi
BHUTAN
Mr. Karma Tshiteem, Secretary, Gross National Happiness Commission, Royal Government of
Bhutan, P.O. Box 127, Tashichhodzong, Thimphu, Bhutan. Tel: +975-2-325192; Fax: +975-2322928; E-mail: email: [email protected]
INDIA
H.E. Ms. Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India,
Yojana Bhavan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110 001. Tel: Tel. No.: (Off.) 2309 6570, 2309 6571,
2309 6666/ 96 Extn. 2120; Email: [email protected]
H.E. Prof. Abhijit Sen, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India, Yojana Bhavan,
Sansad Marg, New Delhi -110001. Tel: +91-11-23096564, 23096565; Fax: +91-11-23096565;
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr Rajiv Kher, Additional Secretary (TPD), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government
of India
Dr. Satendra, IFS, Director, SAARC Disaster Management Centre, NIDM Building, IIPA
Campus, 5-B, I.P. Estate, M.G. Road, New Delhi 110 002. Tel: +91-11-23702445; Fax: +91-1123702446; E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. J.K. Dadoo , Joint Secretary , Ministry of Commerce & Industry Department of
Commerce, Udyog Bhawan, [email protected]
Prof. Santosh Kumar, Professor & Head, National Institute of Disaster Management
(Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India) [email protected]
Ms. Shubhra, Director (Foreign Trade), Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce ,
Udyog Bhawan New Delhi
Prof. Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi – 110 067.
E-mail: [email protected]
Prof. Ramesh Chand, Director, National Centre for Agricultural Ecconomics and Policy
Research (NCAP), ICAR, D.P.S. Marg, Pusa, New Delhi - 110 012, India. Tel: +91-1125843036; Fax: +91-11-25842684 Res: 011-27552342; E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. G.K. Chadha, President, South Asian University and former Chairman of Commission on
Agricultural Costs and Prices, New Delhi. E-mail: [email protected];
[email protected]
Dr. Ligia Noronha, Executive Director (Research Coordination), Director, Resources, Regulation
and Global Security Division, The Energy and Resources Institute, Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003. E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Nandani Azad, [email protected], India
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
Mr. Davood Manzoor, Deputy Vice President for Planning, Vice-Presidency for Strategic
Planning and Supervision, Safi Alishah Ave., Baharestan Sq., Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Tel: +98-21-33114242; Fax: +98-21-33274076; E-mail: [email protected], Davood Manzoor
<[email protected]>,
MALDIVES
Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Government of
Maldives.
Mr. Mohamed Hunaif, Under Secretary, Office of the President, Government of Maldives
Ms. Khadeeja Ibrahim, Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission of the Republic of
Maldives, B-2, Anand Niketan, New Delhi – 110021. Tel: +91-11-41435701-08; Fax: +91-1141435709, 24112829; E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
NEPAL
H.E. Mr. Deependra B. Kshetry, Vice Chairman, National Planning Commission, Singh Durbar,
G.P.O. Box 1284, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Dr. Arjun Karki, International Coordinator, LDC Watch, P.O. Box 8130, 288 Gairidhara Marg,
Gairidhara, Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel: +977-1-4004813; Fax: +977-1-4004508; E-mail:
[email protected]
Amb Madhu Raman Acharya, Executive Director, South Asia Centre for Policy Studies
(SACEPS), 105/3 Majur Margh, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel; +977-1-4433906, 4373427
(Res); E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
PAKISTAN
Dr. Hafiz Ahmed Pasha, Former Finance Minister of Pakistan, Dean, School of Social Sciences,
Beaconhouse National University, Institute of Public Policy, Lahore, Pakistan
Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, 38
Embassy Road, G-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Ms. Ayesha A. Ahsan, Counsellor, High Commission for Pakistan, 2/50-G, Shantipath,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110 021. Tel: +91-11-26110601, 26110602, 26110605; Fax: +9111-26872339, 26888330; E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
SRI LANKA
Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), 100/20,
Independence Avenue, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94-11-21431000; Fax: +94-11-2665065; Email: [email protected]
Ms. Geetha Karandawala, Former Secretary of the Commission, United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Bangkok 10200 Thailand.
TURKEY
Dr. Güven Sak, Managing Director, Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV),
Söğütözü Cad. No:43 TOBB-ETÜ Yerleşkesi 2. Kısım 06560 Söğütözü, Ankara, Turkey. Tel:
+90-312-292-5500; Fax: +90-312-292-5555; E-mail: [email protected] / www.tepav.org.tr;
[email protected]
Dr. Mehmet Arda, Professor of International Relations and Economics, Glatasaray University,
Ortakoy, 34357, Istanbul, Turkey. E‐mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
SAARC Secretariat and SAARC Development Fund
Mr. Amrit Lugun, Director (SGO & ETF), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC), SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel: +977-1-4221793; Fax: +977-14227033
Mr. Karma,Chief Executive Officer, SAARC Development Fund Secretariat, 3rdFloor, BDBL
Building, Norzin Lam, Post Box 928, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan. Tel: +975-2-339909, 321153;
Fax: +975-2-321203; E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Sunil Motiwal, Director, SAARC Development Fund Secretariat, 3rdFloor, BDBL Building,
Norzin Lam, Post Box 928, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan. Tel: +975-2-339910, Fax: +975-2-321150;
E-mail: [email protected]
Economic Cooperation Organization Secretariat
Dr. Esmaeil Tekyehsadat, Director of Transport and Communication, Economic Cooperation
Organization (ECO), No. No.1 Golobu Alley, Kamranieh, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
"Zukhra Abisheva" <[email protected]>
SECRETARIAT
ESCAP
Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary General of United Nations and Executive Secretary,
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), The United
Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200 Thailand.
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York and Special
Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General
Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Chief Economist of ESCAP and Director, ESCAP Subregional Office for
South and South-West Asia, C-2, Qutab Institutional Area, Post Box No. 4575,
New Delhi 110 016. E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Dayaratna Silva, Deputy Director, ESCAP Subregional Office for South and South-West
Asia,
C-2,
Qutab
Institutional
Area,
Post
Box
No.
4575,
New Delhi 110 016. E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Matthew Hammill, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP Subregional Office for South and
South-West
Asia,
C-2,
Qutab
Institutional
Area,
Post
Box
No.
4575,
New Delhi 110 016. E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Wanphen Sreshthaputri Korotki, Social Affairs Officer, ESCAP Subregional Office for
South and South-West Asia, C-2, Qutab Institutional Area, Post Box No. 4575,
New Delhi 110 016. E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Christopher Garroway, Associate Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP Subregional Office for
South and South-West Asia, C-2, Qutab Institutional Area, Post Box No. 4575,
New Delhi 110 016. E-mail: [email protected]
SELECT OTHER LOCAL PARTICIPANTS
Mr. Saurabh Agarwal, Vice-Chairman, Indian Institute of Finance, New Delhi. [email protected]
Mr. Himanshu Rath, Agewell Foundation, M-8A, Lajpat Nagar-II, New Delhi-110024, India
Ph.: 011-29836486, 29840484 Fax:011-29840484,e-mail : [email protected]
Mr. Edgard Rodriguez, Programme specialist IDRC, New Delhi, [email protected]
Mr. Suresh Aggarwal, Prof. Dept of Business Economics, University of Delhi, New Delhi ,
[email protected]
Dr. Arbind Prasad DG, FICCI, Sansad Marg, New Delhi, [email protected]
Sushma Kapoor, Deputy Regional Programme Director, South Asia Sub Regional Office
19A Rajdoot Marg, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110021, Tel: 26119127, 26119129,
unwomensouthasia.org
Mr. Gopi Menon, Country Manager, AusAid, Australian High Commission, New Delhi, Tel:
(with city code), 011 – 41494460, 9810507048, [email protected]
Dr. Sumit Mazumdar, Fellow and Program Coordinator, Institute of Human Development,
New Delhi, [email protected]
Dr. Khan Masood, Professor, Department of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi110025(India). Phone: 91-11-26985607, 91-11-26981717, [email protected]
Ms. Nalin Bharti, Asst. Prof. of Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute
of Technology Patna, [email protected]
Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Deputy Regional Director, WHO-SEARO, New Delhi, Tel Off
+91 1123379456, [email protected]
Dr. Saha Partha. Senior research officer, Institute of applied Manpower Reasearch (Planning
Commission Govt. of India) Aector A-7, Narela Institutional Area, Delhi, [email protected]
[email protected]
Dr. Anup Kumar Das, Research Officer, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Room No. 226, CSSP,
SSS-1 Building, JNU, New Delhi – 110067, 011-26704400, [email protected]
Dr. Nitya Nanda, Fellow, Centre for Global Agreements, Legislation and Trade (GALT),
Resources, Regulation and Global Security Division, The Energy and Resources Institute
(TERI), India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 110 003, Ph: +91 11 2468 2100 Ext 2317,
[email protected]
Prof. Sajal Mathur, Centre for WTO Studies, IIFT, B-21, Qutab Institutional Area, New
Delhi – 110016, Tel: 011-26512151, 08860071243, [email protected]
Ms. Deepti Mahajan, Associate Fellow and Area Convenor, Centre for Research on Energy
Security, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI, Darbari Seth Block, Habitat Place,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003, Ph: +91 11 24682100 (Extn: 2242), [email protected]
Ms. Ayumi Fujino, Representative and Director Regional Office, UNIDO, P.O. Box 3059, 55
Lodi Estate, New Delhi, 110003, Tel: +91-11-46532277, [email protected]
Mr. Tales Carvalho Resende, Intern, UNIDO, P.O. Box 3059, 55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi,
110003, Tel: +91-11-46532277, [email protected]
Dr Prabhat Pankaj, Professor. Jaipuria Institute of Management, A-32A, Sector-62, Noida201309, Tel: +91-120-4638300, [email protected]
Dr Ashok Jain, Vice President, EMPI Business School, CSKM Campus, Satbari, Chhatarpur,
New Delhi, Mobile: 9810189116, [email protected]
Mr. V K Gupta, [email protected], Department of Commerce,
Mr. Santosh Mehrotra , Phd (Econ.) Cambridge, Director-General, Institute of Applied
Manpower Research, Planning Commission, (in the rank of Secretary, Government of India)
[email protected]
Lt Gen Dr BS Malik(Redt Army officer), India,[email protected],
Dr Satinder Bhatia, Prof. chairperson IIFT, [email protected]
Bimal Kishore Sahoo, Senior Research Officer, Institute of Applied Manpower Research,
Sector A-7, Narela, Delhi-40, 7838186507, [email protected]
Mr. Arjun Asrani, 12 SFS , Apartment Hauz Khas. New Delhi , [email protected]
Dr. P.K. Chaubey, Professor of Economics, Indian Institute of Public Administration,
I.P.Estate, Ring Road, New Delhi-110 002, Phone: 011-23468357/23766923,
[email protected]
Prof. Dr. Arun P. Kulshreshtha, Director and Executive Head, (NAM S&T Centre), Core 6A,
2nd Floor, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, Phone: (+91)(11)
24645134/24644974, [email protected], [email protected]
Mr. K. L. Thapar, Chairman, E-5, Qutab , Hotel. Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg. New Delhi Asian
Institute of Transport Development, [email protected]>
Dr. Pawan Chopra, Director, Dua Consulting, New Delhi, [email protected]
Mr. Vinay D. Lall, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Society for Development
Studies, New Delhi , [email protected]
Mr. Rakesh Adlakha, Deputy Chief of Protocol (P), Ministry of External Affairs,
Government of India, New Delhi, [email protected]
Dr. Prabir De, Fellow, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS),
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, Tel: 011 2468 2177,
[email protected]
Dr. M.L. Pandit, Professor of Economics, Birla Institute of Management Technology,
Greater Noida, U.P, [email protected]
Mr. Anjan Roy, Consulting Editor, IPA-India Press Agency, New Delhi,
[email protected]
Dr. Anupam Khanna, Principal Advisor, Ntional Transport Development Policy Committee,
Government of India, New Delhi, [email protected]
Dr. Sunitha Raju, Professor and Chairperson (Research), IIFT, New Delhi, [email protected]
Dr Arvind Kumar, President, India Water Foundation, 201, South Ex. Plaza-I South Extn.
Part II, New Delhi-110049, Tel: 91-11-26349533, [email protected]
Dr. George Mavrotas, Chief Economist, Global Development Network, New Delhi | Cairo |
Washington DC, T: +91 11 4323 9494, [email protected]
Ms. Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman, Director of UN Information Centre, New Delhi,
[email protected]
Mr. Vijay P Ojha,Prof. Economic Environment and Strategy, Institute of Management
technology,Ghaziabad , [email protected], [email protected]
Dr. Ashok Sahu, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission,India, [email protected]
Ms. Leena De Chakravarty, Associate Programme Development, National Skill Development
Corporation, [email protected]
Ms. Vyoma Jha ,Junior Research Associate Council on Energy, Environment and Water,
New Delhi 110001 [email protected]
Dr. Vijay Mathur, CMD, Inapex Ltd. [email protected]
Mrs. Leena Rath, Associate, Agewell Foundation, M-8A, Lajpat Nagar-II, New Delhi-01129836486/ 29840484, [email protected]
Mr. Mahbub Hassan Saleh, Deputy High Commissioner, Bangladesh High Commission
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
Prof. S.P. Jakhanwal, Director General, Amity School of Urban, Management,
[email protected]
Mr. Ali Mehdi, Additional Director, FICCI, [email protected]
Dr. Vyuptakesh Sharan, Professor Emeritus, Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna,
Hindi Bhawan, Chhajjubagh, Patna, [email protected], 0612-2200453, 09386875066
[email protected]
Mr. Suhas Borker, Editor and Executive, CFTV News Director, South Ex-II, New Delhi,
9868182845, [email protected]
Dr. Ameeta Motwani, Associate Professor, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi,
[email protected]
Ms. Raniya Sobir, Vice President/Senior Consultant, Total Synery Consulting
Private Limited, New Delhi 110001, [email protected]
Ms. Sara Ahmed, Senior Program Specialist ,PhD, International Development Research
Centre (IDRC) [email protected]
Dr. Dev Nathan, Visiting Professor, Institute for Human Development, New Delhi,
India,[email protected]
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Keshari, Head, Regional Training Centre, North, IDBI Bank Ltd.
[email protected]
Dr. Sudhir Devare, Former Director General, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi,
[email protected]
Mr. Pravin Sinha, Sr, Advisor, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, K-70B, Huaz Khas Enclave, New
Delhi, 26561361
Mr. Sher Verick, Senior Employment Specialist, ILO, Lodhi Road, 011 4750 9253,
[email protected]
Dr. Yogesh Suri, Adviser - Development Policy, Government of India, Planning
Commission, Yojana Bhawan, Sansad Marg, [email protected]
Dr. Ashok Sahu, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission, Yojana Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
Mr. Laveesh Bhandari, Director, Indicus Analytics, New Delhi 110002, India,
[email protected]
Mr. Akhilesh Sati, Programme Manager, Observer Research Foundation 20, Rouse Avenue,
N. Delhi, [email protected]
Mr. Alberto Damiano, LT.Col, UNMOGIP, 1AB Purana Quila Road, New Delhi [email protected]
Dr. I.N. Mukherjee, Senior Consultant, Research and Information System for Developing
Countries (RIS), New Delhi, [email protected]
Mr. Dinoj Kumar Upadhyay, Research Fellow, ICWA, [email protected], India
Mr. Sudip Mozumder, Senior Executive Assistant, Office of the Country Director The World
Bank, 70 Lodi Estate, New Delhi, [email protected]
Dr. Ramgopal Agarwala, Distinguished Fellow RIS, New Delhi
Dr. Sunil Motiwal, Director, SAARC Development Fund, Bhutan,[email protected]
Ms. Frederika MEIJER, UNFPA Representative, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003
[email protected]
Mr. Kinzang Dorji,Deputy chief of Mission Bhutan Embassy. [email protected],
Mr. Manish Mohan, Director, South Asia, Confederation of Indian Industry, Lodi Road, New
Delhi, [email protected]
Mr. Rajiv Chandran, National Information Officer, UNIC, [email protected]
Mr. Vinod Pal, Director, FIEO, New Delhi
Shammi Manik, Taylor & Francis Books India Pvt. Ltd.
912, Tolstoy House,
Mr. Amar Sinha, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce &
Industry, [email protected]
Mr. Satyabrata Pati, Chartered Accountant, Elbeejay Financial Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
[email protected]
Ms. Kavita Iyengar, ADB