Asia Africa Forum needs tripartite funding
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
BANDUNG (JP): The executive assistant of the Non-Aligned Movement Nana Sutresna yesterday underlined the importance of a tripartite financing mechanism involving the developed nations in implementing South-South cooperation programs.
During the second day of the Asia Africa Forum meetings, Nana told The Jakarta Post that despite the initiative taken by Asian and African countries, the partnership and funding of developed countries remains an important element.
"The tripartite financing mechanism between South-South countries and the North is something that can and should be realized," he said.
He further pointed to the participation of developed countries like France, the United States and the Netherlands -- who are observers at the forum -- as an example of their concern and participate in this process.
The Asia Africa Forum was opened by President Soeharto at the State Palace on Monday. Some 100 high ranking officials from 43 African and 10 Asian countries are participating in the meetings being held at the historic Merdeka Building.
Nana explained that one of the examples where the tripartite financing would be needed is in helping to support the sending of African farmers to Indonesia to learn from our agricultural experience.
He said that Indonesia would gladly sponsor the program here but traveling expenditures should be attained from other sources.
Agriculture and rice production was a central topic in yesterday's discussion with presentations from both Indonesia and other international organizations.
G. L. Denning, from the Manila-based International Rice Research Institute, said a technology transfer approach has not fully succeeded in achieving food security in Africa.
"A South-South approach offers promise as a vehicle for sharing knowledge and experience in a cost-effective and sustainable way," he contended.
Nana also revealed that the failure of undertaking concentrated policies to remedy this problem was also lacking in many African states.
"It has been argued that despite the importance of the agricultural sector, some African countries have not reflected this fact in their state policies," he stated.
In the context of the agricultural South-South cooperation as mentioned by Denning, Nana cited the apprenticeship program by African farmers in Indonesia as a positive and concrete example.
"This program has shown that differences in language and culture is not an obstacle," he said.
Speaking to the Post, Kenya's assistant minister for planning and development, A.M. Noor, expressed confidence that much of the Asia experience in development discussed in the Forum could be applied to Africa.
"I would say 50 to 60 percent are applicable today," he said while urging for further cooperation among Asia and Africa.
When asked to surmise on the reasons why African nations fell behind Asia development, Noor pointed to Europe's lack of support in technological transfer as one reason.
He said that Asia's trading environment allowed for a climate where there would be a healthy transfer of technology, unlike Africa who's main trading partner was Europe.
"Our trading partners in Europe did not play a big role as Japan did to uplift the standard of technological expansion to neighboring countries," he said.