Data bank needed for Asia Pacific business
Data bank needed for Asia Pacific business
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A senior Malaysian minister yesterday
called on the United Nations to set up an economic data bank for
the Asia Pacific to create greater awareness of business
opportunities in the region.
"Some countries of the Asia Pacific cannot avail themselves of
the potential of South-South cooperation and even of North-South
cooperation due to the lack of information and knowledge on
access into regional resources," Minister of International Trade
and Industry Rafidah Aziz said.
Addressing a preliminary session ahead of a meeting of the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) here, Rafidah proposed
an analysis of the whole Asia-Pacific by sub-regions that have
similar economic conditions.
The data bank should include information on natural resources
to facilitate investments between countries in the region, she
said at the session that preceded UNDP's two-day meeting for
Regional Development and Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific.
"This can generate private sector regional joint-ventures to
obtain high value-added to these resources," said Rafidah.
Data on human resource availability and existing technology in
the region could also aid in mobilizing workers between countries
and in the sourcing of technology apart from promoting
collaboration in research and development.
Rafidah called on the UNDP and respective governments to help
fund the setting up of the data bank while the private sector
could help absorb operating costs through levies.
The two-day meeting will be attended by 189 participants from
more than 40 countries, including India, Japan, the Philippines
and Papua New Guinea.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is scheduled to give
a keynote speech on Tuesday.
"We will pursue the findings and views expressed and give
detailed consideration. Resources permitting, they will give us
some pretty good directions," said A. Selvanathan, principal
advisor to the New York-based regional bureau for Asia Pacific.