The Symposium on the Best Practices in Poverty Alleviation opened in Kathmandu today.

Organized by the SAARC Secretariat in collaboration with the United Nations Development Proramme (UNDP) under the SAARC-UNDP Partnership Programme, the Symposium brings together the government representatives and community beneficiaries from all the Member States and the representatives of SAARC’s development partners, among others, to discuss the core issues related to poverty alleviation in the region.

A large number of high ranking officials of the Government of Nepal, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and regional and international organizations in Kathmandu, representatives of civil society and business community and media personnel attended the Inaugural Session organized at Hotel Radisson this morning.

Delivering the Welcome Address at the Inaugural Session of the Symposium, H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC recapitulated the initiatives taken by SAARC in reducing poverty in the region. In his address, he made particular references to the directives of the successive SAARC Summits in the area of poverty alleviation. Highlighting the objectives of the Symposium, the Secretary-General stated, “The primary purpose of the Symposium is to facilitate the sharing of the best practices in poverty alleviation and to develop strategies to upscale these practices individually or collectively to eradicate poverty from our region.” He further said, “Following the deliberations at the Symposium, the Compendium on the best practices in poverty alleviation will be published by the SAARC Secretariat.”

Rt. Hon. Khil Raj Regmi, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Nepal, inaugurated the Symposium. In his Address, he brought to the fore the ongoing efforts of Nepal in alleviating poverty at the national level.  

On the occasion, the Rt. Hon. Chairman of the Council of Ministers also launched the SAARC Regional Poverty Profile, 2009-10.  The Profile is aimed at sharing of the best practices and experiences towards poverty alleviation in the region.

Hon. Dr. Rabindra Kumar Shakya, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission of Nepal chaired the Inaugural Session.  In his address, the Vice Chairman highlighted the vision of the Planning Commission towards poverty alleviation in Nepal.

Hon. Mr. Saumitra Chaudhuri, Member of the Planning Commission of India also addressed the Inaugural Session. In his Address, the Member apprised the participants about the success stories of India in poverty alleviation.

Other speakers at the Inaugural Session included Dr. Ponna Wignaraja, Chairman of the South Asian Perspective Network Association of Sri Lanka and the Vice Chairman of the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation; and Ms. Caitilin Wiesen, Manager, UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre, Bangkok.

In January 2004, the Twelfth SAARC Summit declared poverty alleviation as the “overarching goal” of SAARC. Since then, the Association has undertaken several measures to free South Asia from poverty. 

SAARC currently observes the decade, 2006-2015, as the SAARC Decade of Poverty Alleviation.

H.E.Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of SAARC, has undertaken an introductory visit to the Maldives from 19 to 21August 2014.

During the visit, H.E. Mr. Thapacalled on H.E. Mr. Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, President of Maldives and briefed the president on the status of preparations for the 18th SAARC Summit, scheduled to be held in Nepal in the latter half of November. Discussions were held on reinvigorating SAARC and making SAARC more relevant and effective, through deeper and more meaningful regional integration. In this regard, President Yameen expressed his keenness to work with the Secretariat and the Member States of SAARC to produce favorable results from existing mechanisms such as SAFTA, as per the expectations of the peoples of the region.                                                                                                                                                    

H.E. Mr. Thapa also held discussions with H.E. Ms. DunyaMaumoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, Foreign Secretary. The meetings focused on a way forward for SAARC under the Chairmanship of the Maldives, in the activities leading to the 18th Summit. Foreign Minister and the Foreign Secretary briefed the Secretary General on Maldives’ preparations on hosting an Informal Meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers, on the Sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

H. E. the Foreign Secretary of Maldives hosted a lunch in honour of H. E. the Secretary-General of SAARC and his spouse on 20 August.

During the visit, H.E. Mr. Thapa also met with Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Former Secretary General of SAARC.

H. E. the Secretary-General was accompanied his spouse, Mrs. PabitraThapa and Ms. Fathimath Najwa, Director at the SAARC.

SAARC Secretary General today briefed President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the present status of the organisation with special reference to the preparations being made for the November Summit in Nepal. 

SAARC Secretary General Arjun B. Thapa, who is on his first visit to Sri Lanka since taking office, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s House in Kandy this morning.

President Rajapaksa informed the Secretary General that Sri Lanka was looking forward to participating in the 18th SAARC Summit, to be held in Kathmandu in November this year.

President Rajapaksa proposed two specific initiatives for consideration by SAARC member countries.

The President stressed the importance of SAARC organising a youth forum to bring together young people in the region in order to address issues that impact youth in this part of the world.

President Rajapaksa also proposed a programme to develop a circuit that would promote connectivity with regard to religious and cultural places of interest in the SAARC region.

The discussion between the President and the Secretary General also focused on the renewed interest among members in further strengthening SAARC within the region while also establishing itself as a contributor to the economic prosperity not only in South Asia but also in the international arena.

Dr. Amitava Bandopadhyay, Chief Scientist and Head, International Science & Technology Affairs Directorate, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi paid a courtesy call on H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of SAARC, at the SAARC Secretariat today.

During the meeting, Dr. Bandopadhyay presented a brief overview to H.E. Secretary-General about the activities undertaken by CSIR through its 37 research laboratories in India.  He also discussed the concept of developing regional SAARC projects by using the expertise available with the CSIR in the areas like (i) Arsenic free drinking water for rural masses (ii) developing marketable products from medicinal and aromatic plants through regional value chains and (iii) development of traditional knowledge digital library for the SAARC Region.  The Secretary-General mentioned that CSIR may develop Concept Notes on projects which are of common concern for the region and beneficial for the upliftment of the masses within the SAARC Region, for taking it to the Member States for their consideration.

Mr. Dhan Bahadur Oli, Director, was present at the meeting.