Sustainable Development Strategy South Asia : Priorities & Agenda for Regional Cooperation

1. Sustainable Development StrategySouth Asia : Priorities & Agenda for Regional Cooperation Presented by George C Varughese Development Alternatives, New Delhi at the Regional Media Workshop on Sustainable Development: A viable Goal Bangkok, 27th October 2008

2. South Asia – Profile • Population – approximately 1.5 billion (25% of world population) • Land mass – 4.8% of the world (five times more density) • Population Growth Rate – 1.8% / annum • Current urban population • nearly 30%; will be 50% by 2030 • Economic growth rate – 7.5% / annum since 2003 • but 30% (430 million) poor • half of the world’s poor

3. South Asian Priorities for Action • Eliminating Poverty and Creating Human Security • Conserving the Natural Resource Endowments • Securing the Economic Base

4. South AsiaAgenda for Regional Cooperation • Addressing Poverty Eradication • South Asian Food Bank • South Asian Disaster Preparedness and Management System • South Asian Health Alliance • Sharing and Managing Natural Resources • South Asian Biodiversity Conservation Agreement • South Asian Energy Alliance • Strengthening Trade and Economic Policies • South Asian Free Trade Area • South Asian Technology Bank • South Asian Development Bank

5. Priorities for South Asian CooperationAddressing Poverty Eradication South Asian Food Bank • Purpose • Ensure food security through accessibility, affordability and well-planned sustainable food production, storage and distribution strategies (hunger elimination – 2015 + nutritional enhancement) • Salient Functions • Play a preventive role – hunger mapping and early warning for food insecurity • Ensure availability, accessibility and affordability of food grains through the extensive network both during emergencies and normal periods – minimal external dependence • Strengthen research, information, infrastructure and incentives especially for small farmers • Disseminate environmentally friendly farming practices and technologies through the media and extension activities • Maintain database on best practices for poverty reduction & integrated development • Create a favourable and stable macro-economic environment for farmers • Assist farmers to sell in international markets through regional cooperatives • Monitor global and domestic prices and take timely and appropriate action to avoid shocks

6. Priorities for South Asian CooperationAddressing Poverty Eradication • Progress / Key Milestones • 1987 – 3rd Summit – Agreement for SAARC Food Security Reserve (SFSR) • 1998 – SAARC Food Security Board (SFSB) established • 2007 – 14th Summit – Agreement for SAARC Food Bank • Address food shortages at normal times and emergencies • Commence with reserve of ~ 250,000 tonnes • SFS Board – policy making; designated Nodal Points – national transactions • Resource Mobilisation – from within and outside region (SAARC Development Fund (SDF) ($300m) – starting point) South Asian Food Bank

7. Priorities for South Asian CooperationSharing and Managing Natural Resources South Asian Energy Alliance • Purpose • Ensure energy security (universal access) through sharing of regional energy resources and improved efficiencies in generation, transmission, distribution and use of energy • Salient Features • Creation of a regional energy market and power trading mechanism • Regional power grid and gas pipelines (public and private sectors) • SAARC Power Trading Corporation • Cooperation and investments for development of energy resources • Conventional sources including hydro-power • Renewable resources including wind, solar, tidal, biomass, etc. • Promote energy efficiency and conservation • Harmonisation of standards • Promoting energy efficient technologies in industry, agriculture and households through research and technology support and public awareness

8. Priorities for South Asian CooperationSharing and Managing Natural Resources South Asian Energy Alliance • Progress / Key Milestones • 2004 – 12thSummit – Agreed on Study by Working Group on Energy for creating South Asian Energy Cooperation • 2005 – 13th Summit – Established SAARC Energy Centre at Islamabad • Promote development of energy resources including hydro-power • Foster energy trade in the region • Develop renewable and alternate energy sources • Promote energy efficiency and conservation • 2005 – 13th Summit – Proposed South Asian Energy Dialogue • Involving officials, experts, academics, environmentalists, and NGOs • Recommend measures for regional cooperation to Working Group • 2007 – South Asian Energy Dialogue – identified dialogue themes • Energy sector reforms in the region • Promotion of non-conventional sources • Approach and principle to facilitate grid connectivity and gas pipelines • Universal access to commercial energy • Development of hydro potential in the region • Energy efficiency measures and harmonisation of standards

9. Priorities for South Asian CooperationStrengthening Trade and Economic Policies South Asian Technology Bank • Background • Developing countries look towards industrialised nations for state-of-the-art technologies • Experience – only second grade and often obsolete technologies passed on • Purpose • Development of indigenous technologies (products and processes) • Mechanism for sharing of technologies within the region • Build bargaining power to negotiate with the industrialised world for critical technologies

10. Priorities for South Asian CooperationStrengthening Trade and Economic Policies South Asian Technology Bank • Critical Steps • Identify the value addition and technology needs of the region • Initiate research and development through mutual support • Forge partnerships for technology cooperation (UN agencies eg. APCTT, countries and private sector) • Establish the South Asian Technology Bank • Formulate agreements for technology sharing • Example – common interest • Textiles and leather – Bangladesh, India, Pakistan

11. Thanks