BUILDING A BETTER ASIA RETREAT INAUGURATED AT INTERNATIONAL CENTRE GOA
The Information and Resources Center, Singapore and the International Centre
Goa in association with the Nippon Group of Foundations, Japan is organizing
a week long dialogue and interactions programme, first ever of its kind in
India, titled as "Building A Better Asia - a Young Asian Leaders Retreat".
The retreat is attended by over 30 participants from over 15 countries of
Asia.
The retreat was inaugurated on Sunday, 17 February 2008, with the Keynote
Address by H. E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Pratapsingh Rane, President, International
Centre Goa; Speaker, Goa Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minster of
Goa; Dr. Shuichi Ohno, Executive Director, Nippon Foundation, Japan; M
Rajaretnam, Director/ Chief Executive, International Centre Goa and Progamme
Convener of "Building A Better Asia Retreat" (BABA) also addressed the
gathering.
While welcoming the guests, M Rajaretnam said, "the programme is aimed at
promoting and strengthening peace, stability, freedom, independence and
sustainable development in Asia and the world through dialogue and
interactions". He further added that Building A Better Asia - a Young Asian
Leaders Retreat, an initiative to transmit the ideas, activities that will
contribute to build a resurgent, progressive and better Asia and a secure
globe, is organized for the first time in India. He asserted that the
common goal of building a better Asia embodies the idea of 'Global Asia'
promoting the values of Freedom, Free Press, Regional Integration, Greater
Political Participation, Education of Minorities, Intellectual Cooperation
and Human Development in general.
The retreat brought together the intellectuals from all different parts of
Asia to interact and dialogue on issues of resolution of conflicts and
maintenance of peace and security in Asia and the world as whole.
While delivering the Keynote Address titled "ASEAN, India and building a
better Asia" Secretary-General ASEAN H. E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan said, "Indeed,
East Asian countries have reduced the number of people living in absolute
poverty (i.e., less than a dollar a day) from 420 millions in 1987 to 280
millions in 1998. Despite the advent of the Asian financial crisis then,
there has been no deleterious impact on this achievement over the last
decade. This is truly a great accomplishment that other developing regions
could not emulate".
He added that for the last few decades, the growth which marked Asia has
often been spurred by what Richard Samuels at MIT called "economic
nationalism". This is what Japan did after World War II to which other Asian
countries tried to emulate; producing what Japanese economist Akamatsu
called a V shaped flying geese formation. Economic nationalism is also an
adjunct to economic decolonization. It is an attempt to rid oneself of the
trappings of colonialism.
"Therefore for all we know, the growth with which we witnessed in Asia over
the past few decades, may actually lead to a proverbial silo mentality;
since every country is basically tending to its own economic needs first,"
said Dr. Pitsuwan.
He further said that the relation between India and Southeast Asia is
improving over past couple of years. The trade relations over the past
decade have grown by a quantum of some 330 %, making it one of the most
rapid areas of growth in the world. With the current two way trade being
less than US $ 20 billion, there is also room for growth. This is because
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India and ASEAN combined verges on US $
1.5 trillion. Thus, an annualized trade of US$ 20 billion is but a drop in
the bucket.
The retreat will have resource persons from different parts of Asia. The
retreat will be concluded with the Keynote Address by H. E. Shri S C Jamir,
Governor of Goa on Saturday, 23 February 2008.
SOURCE: Arjun Halarnkar
Programme Manager
The International Centre, Goa
