Chairperson,

Honourable Ministers,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalamu Alaikum and Warm Good Morning to you all.

May I begin by extending you a very warm welcome to this historic city of Dhaka as well as to this important meeting. As you just heard, the first BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok in July 2004 had proposed a number of new areas of cooperation among the member-countries and Poverty reduction as one such area. The leaders agreed to hold a Ministerial Meeting on the subject and this meeting that meeting in Dhaka, focused on this key subject of poverty alleviation.

BIMSTEC started its journey in 1997 with only four member-countries for regional cooperation. The list has now expanded to seven. It brings together around 1.4 billion people or more than 20 percent of the world population and represents a combined GDP of US dollars 750 billion. It has potential for a trade volume to the tune of 50 to 60 billion US dollars. The forum provides a unique link between South Asia and Southeast Asia. From the very beginning, it has been considered as a powerful mechanism to promote opportunities for trade, investment and tourism between these two regions. Societies within BIMSTEC are pluralistic; our languages are rich and diverse and we have a shared cultural heritage. All these provide plentiful opportunity for multi-dimensional cooperation within this region.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We may recall that BIMSTEC’s objectives extend from the creation of economic and social prosperity based on equality, to enhancement of mutual benefits in economic, social and technological aspects. These also involve intra-regional support in the form of training, research and development as well as beneficial cooperation in the areas of agriculture, industry, expansion of trade and investment, improvement in communication and transport, and cooperation with other international organizations for the purpose of improving the living standards of our people.

I have the honour to declare Bangladesh’s unflinching commitment to the founding objectives and principles of BIMSTEC. We must assess the challenges and opportunities for economic cooperation in this region. We reaffirm our resolve for collaboration to strenghten BIMSTEC’s ability to find ways and means for addressing this challenges and opportunities efficiently and effectively.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the post-war history of development, regional cooperation has become and important phenomenon. Many regions of the world have achieved fruitful results in trade, industry, tourism, monetary cooperation, technology transfer, and ultimately better lives for the people through regional coooperatios. It is possible to have a far-reaching impact on poverty reduction and development through such cooperation.

It is well-known that BIMSTEC countries have varied degrees of experience in reducing poverty. However, we have a long way to go in achieving our common goals of removing poverty entirely from our member countries. During the First Summit, poverty reduction was the topic to which our leaders devoted considerable time. Each shared his or her practical experience in the area. They underscored the importance of empowerment, through among others, education and self-employment, rural development, access to credit enhancing the role of women and making the poor bankable. They recognized the need to improve healthcare and the involvement of the private sector in reducing poverty.

If we take advantage of the experiences of member-countries in a concerted way, I think it is possible to have a far-reaching impact on poverty reduction and development. In this connection, the institutional framework of BIMSTEC member-countries may be devised for intensive and extensive research investigation, and ultimately development of programmes incorporating events such as global warming and climate change. I also would ask that the ministers consider the impact of the recent increases in energy and food prices on poverty and suggest measures to address the same by member countries and also measures that the developed countries can and must take.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I believe that to have a penetrative impact on poverty reduction, more focused programmes may be considered for cooperation among the member-countries. I understand there was meaningful and detailed discussion at the level of senior officials yesterday. Today, the Honourable Ministers are likely to reach a consensus on the issues raised at the senior officials’ meeting and on other issues.

I wish this Ministerial event every success. I am confident that the outcome of this meeting will kindle the imagination of about one and a half billion people – over one fifth of world population – living in the member-countries of BIMSTEC.

With these words, I declare open the ‘First BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation’.

Thank you all.