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..Press
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UNESCAP News Services
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Date 5
April 2005
Press Release No: G/07/2005
CAPSA GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETS
TO ENHANCE LIVING CONDITIONS OF RURAL POOR
Promotes agro-related research and development
to alleviate poverty in Asia-Pacific
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services)
--The newly-constituted Governing Council of UNESCAP's Centre
for Alleviation of Poverty through Secondary Crops' Development
in Asia and the Pacific (CAPSA) met for the first time in Bogor,
Indonesia today. At the top of the Council's agenda was an ambitious
three-year plan to revitalize CAPSA as the leading institute
in the region for poverty alleviation through agriculture, particularly
secondary crops.
The refocusing of CAPSA as a major player in UNESCAP's
work to achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goals, specifically
poverty reduction, in the region was highlighted by UNESCAP's
Executive Secretary, Mr. Kim Hak-Su, who opened the meeting.
"Asia and the Pacific today is home to two-thirds
of the world's poor and a majority of the region's poor lives
and works in rural areas," he said. "The realignment
of the Centre aims precisely at strengthening its capability
to examine the multiple dimensions of rural poverty. CAPSA and
its partners are in a unique position to examine linkages between
agriculture and all the other factors affecting the living conditions
of the rural poor and to develop innovative solutions."
In a speech delivered on his behalf, Indonesian
Agriculture Minister, H.E. Dr. Anton Apriantono, reiterated
his country's support of CAPSA and its mandate. He noted the
importance that agriculture plays in many Asian countries, with
more than half of Indonesia's population earning a living from
agriculture. He called UNESCAP's membership to vigorously fund
the Centre.
The Chairman of Governing Council, Mr. Natigor
Siagian, called on CAPSA to work on a programme of reconstruction
and rehabilitation following the recent earthquakes and tsunami.
"We believe that the Centre is well placed to assist,"
he said, "combining strengths in a very wide range of ecosystems."
He cited CAPSA's expertise in island and atoll agriculture as
well as local diversified agriculture, and its strong network
of strategic partners from the region and Europe.
The current membership of the CAPSA Governing
Council includes Bangladesh, France, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Thailand.
CAPSA is a subsidiary body of the Bangkok-based
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (UNESCAP). The Governing Council will meet from
5-6 April 2005 at CAPSA headquarters located in Bogor.
For further information please contact:
Mr. Taco Bottema
Director, CAPSA
Tel: +(62-251) 356813, 343277
Fax: +(62-251) 336290
E-mail: capsa@uncapsa.org
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-66
Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org
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