Seeking models in poverty allevation efforts<\/p>\n
The United Nation body focusing on development, the UNDP, and
\nthat on social and economic issues, UNESCAP, released a report
\nrecently assessing how the poorest nations in the Asia Pacific
\nhave fared in achieving shared goals to reduce poverty and
\nimprove human rights. The following are excerpts from an
\ninterview conducted with the Under Secretary-General of the UN
\nand Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission
\nfor Asia and the Pacific, Kim Hak Su,at the time of the recent
\nregional meeting on attaining the Millennium Development Goals.
\nHe spoke with The Jakarta Post's Ati Nurbaiti.<\/p>\n
Question: The report (Voices of the least developed coutnries
\nof Asia and the Pacific) highlights seemingly minor but
\nsignificant progress in the poorest countries, such as the
\nnutrition programs that are said to have been effective in Bhutan
\nand Bangladesh. What are the main lessons to be gained?
\nAnswer: Without special attention and assistance, it would be
\nimpossible for the least developed countries like landlocked
\nBhutan, Mongolia and the Lao PDR, to reach the Millennium
\nDeveloping Goals by 2015. But other countries can still learn
\nfrom their experiences.<\/p>\n
Other countries (including Indonesia) are already learning
\nfrom the provision of micro credits for women in Bangladesh; and
\nBhutan is very conscious of forestation. It ranks the highest in
\nAsian countries with 72 percent of land forested -- their first
\npriority is to maintain the environment.<\/p>\n
Among developing countries, Sri Lanka has a high rate of
\nliteracy and also very cheap health services with affordable
\ndrugs. Primary education is compulsory but free. Sri Lanka has
\ntraditionally had very good social indicators. People there want
\nbetter skills and better opportunities.<\/p>\n
This ministerial meeting, held at Indonesia's initiative, is
\nthe first of its kind in which officials explained what they're
\ndoing in their countries to achieve the goals, and learn from
\neach other's experiences.<\/p>\n
During the MDG conference Jeffrey Sachs (renowned economist
\nand UN advisor) mentioned Asia's miracles. for instance the
\nrural-based green revolution in India, before which they had
\nprojected a shortage of grain. The issue is how to maintain this
\ndynamic development. Many ideas came up. For example, we could
\nhave a grain security system. Asia may produce enough grain but
\nit is not distributed properly ...<\/p>\n
Fears have been raised of the probable failure of the next
\nround of trade talks, while trade is seen as critical to reducing
\npoverty and developing countries are said to lack strategies.
\nYour comments?<\/p>\n
There are two (views) from experienced negotiators: one is
\nthat as we are facing a deadline, people will come up under
\npressure and have a sense of urgency, so we can hope that the
\nnext round will come up with something, as all countries are
\nwaiting.<\/p>\n
The more pessimistic view sees the sticking issues of whether
\n(among others) the U.S. and European Union countries will phase
\nout agricultural subsidies ...<\/p>\n
But compared to previous years, now the developing countries
\nare more prepared (for trade negotiations), because UNESCAP has
\nassisted them through training sessions and seminars, about the
\nissues and how to negotiate.<\/p>\n
The next round (preliminary talks are scheduled for Hong Kong
\nin December) pretty much depends on the U.S. and EU, and this MDG
\nconference is a good avenue to push the developed countries.<\/p>\n
As trade is the engine (to eventually reduce poverty) all
\ncountries (participating in the conference) pretty much agree,
\ntrade is better than aid.<\/p>\n
In this conference it was reiterated that aid for the poorest
\ncountries should come with less conditions, and the issue of \"aid
\nfor trade\" was also raised in your report. Could you elaborate?<\/p>\n
Overseas development aid should be linked to capacity-building
\nor institution-building in countries so that they are able to
\nreach their MDG goals; whether this aid is to build a clinic, a
\nschool, or strengthen gender equality, or the environment area.<\/p>\n
Aid, as Sachs said, should not be a welfare package but a very
\ncomprehensive development package.<\/p>\n
There's a common understanding of how to help each other in
\nthe framework of regional cooperation, and UNESCAP and UNCTAD
\n(the UN Conference for Trade and Development) is looking at all
\nthe options).<\/p>\n
For instance, the trade tariffs among ourselves should be less
\ndiscriminatory, some countries are charging higher tariffs among
\nthemselves; we must seek how to reduce barriers among ourselves.<\/p>\n
On the regulation side, simple approval procedures like one-
\nstop services are needed for foreign direct investment.<\/p>\n
Then the poorest countries are without entrepreneurs; the
\nissue here is how to enhance them; your trade minister said even
\nsmall-size businesses in Indonesia are getting micro credits.<\/p>\n
Is there enough commitment to achieving the Millennium
\nDevelopment Goals?<\/p>\n
Countries (participating in the talks) now have an MDG-based
\ndevelopment strategy; developing countries have also opened their
\neyes, not only to economic growth but one that is multifaceted.<\/p>\n
If we look at the next 10 years, 2015, some countries will
\nachieve the goals and some will achieve even more ... but we're
\nconcerned about countries with about 2 percent to 3 percent
\ngrowth, and some countries are even regressing with minor growth.<\/p>\n
So in 10 or 20 years, we would have a mixture of disparity in
\nAsia, with worse off countries becoming much worse ...<\/p>\n
From this disparity perspective we're looking at more about
\nhow to grow together, the idea of the \"regional compact\"
\n(agreement to work together) came from us, where better off
\ncountries can help the others.<\/p>\n
This symptom has already started in Asia; there has been more
\nthan US$5 billion in ODA, foreign direct investment among Asian
\ncountries is much higher now. Intra-regional trade volume is
\ngrowing fast with China, for instance, importing raw material
\nfrom neighboring countries. Asia should be in a position to grow
\ntogether to help regressing countries. As in Asian philosophies,
\nwe should help each other.<\/p>",
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