D-8/COMM.41WP-1

14/06/1997

COMMISSION OF THE (PROSPECTIVE) D-8

Fourth Preparatory Meeting

12-13 June 199 7 Istanbul

Progress Reports of the ad hoc Working Croups

Introduction

1.      The Senior Officials (Commission) of the D-8, at its Second Meeting in Antalya, decided to establish ten ad hoc Working Groups to examine the possibility of co-operation in ten identified sectors.

2.      Countries hosting the meetings of the Ad hoc Working Groups and the ten sectors   ssigned to them are as follows:

Bangladesh                 Rural Development

Egypt                          Trade

Indonesia                    Poverty Alleviation and Human Resources Development

Iran                              Science & Technology Telecommunications & Information

Malaysia                      Finance, Banking & Privatization

Nigeria                        Energy

Pakistan                       Agriculture

Turkey                         Industry Health

3.      The ad hoc Working Groups, conducting their business under the guidelines and criteria adopted by the Commission, met in different D-8 capitals before the 4th Meeting of the Commission.

4.      All the Ad hoc Working Groups, except the two on “Energy” and “Rural Development”, concluded their meetings and submitted their initial reports to the Chairman of the Commission.

5.      The Commission noted with satisfaction that the meetings of the Working Groups were held in a professional manner and in a cordial atmosphere. Certain areas/projects were identified for co-operation and various recommendations were made.

Summary of the Progress Reports

6.      The ad hoc Working Group on Trade, chaired by Egypt, recommended establishment of a private sector driven international marketing and trading company after the evaluation of a pre-feasibility study in a joint conference of private sector and relevant bodies and institutions’ representatives. This pre-feasibility study will be prepared by national professional firms of each interested country and will be consolidated by a designated focal point company.

The Working Group further recommended that D-8 countries may consider having a general Framework. Agreement for the establishment of General Trading Companies to promote trade and economic linkages. The Framework Agreement will, in alia, define the types of privileges and facilities to be provided by respective participating D-8 countries, as well as criteria and modus operandi required to enjoy the privileges and facilities  contained in the framework.

7.      The ad hoc Working Group on Human Resources Development, under the chairmanship of Indonesia met in Jakarta and selected certain priority projects. These are:

• Training in various strategic sectors, including “livestock and fisheries”, “poverty alleviation” and “water resources management”;
• Enhancement of the role of women in development;
• Education programs, including “graduate and Post-graduate studies in technology, business and finance”, “Scholarship Exchange Program” and “Courses for Diplomats”.

The Working Group also cited in its reports several projects ready for immediate  implementation. These are:

• Training on animal production, laboratory technology and veterinary management;
• Training course on livestock artificial insemination;
• Refresher course on veterinary laboratory and disease investigation techniques;
• Women Technical Training Programme;
• Scholarship Exchange Programme;
• Courses for Diplomats

8.      The ad hoc & Working Group on Science & Technology, chaired by Iran, advised the Commission that establishment of a “D-8 Council on Science & Technology” is a priority project in their agenda.

9.      The ad hoc Working Group on Telecommunications & Information, also chaired by Iran, recommended that the following projects could be selected for cooperation among D-8 countries:

• Information Technologies and Telecommunications.
• Establishment of an Industrial and Technological Data Bank Network.
• Software Development.

10.  The ad hoc Working Group on Finance, Banking and Privatization, chaired by Malaysia, studied various proposals as possible areas of co-operation. Technical co-operation and information exchange among member countries to study the possibility of establishing Takaful schemes (insurance), including joint ventures between companies of member countries, are recommended. Secondly, member countries are advised to take effective measures to strengthen their capital markets. Furthermore, member countries are encouraged to initiate measures to promote savings depending on the stage of development of their capital markets through various funds. Then, establishment of a mechanism for co-operation amongst member countries in the areas of investment and finance is recommended. Finally, establishment of a technical co-operation program to enable the sharing of experiences in privatization is also suggested. A study on the possibility of co-operation in the areas of banking, monetary/payment systems and central banks, in a separate session, is among the subjects that were discussed.

11.  The Ad hoc Working Group on Agriculture, under the chairmanship of  Pakistan, agreed to select the following projects for future cooperation in this field.

• Sugar Crops
• Joint ventures in the Establishment of Integrated Feed-Lot-Units and Poult ry Complexes.
• Promotion of Pressurized Irrigation Systems for Efficient Water Use and Management.
• Collection, Evaluation and Conse rv ation of Plant Bio-diversity.
• Soil and Water Conservation.
• Joint Venture in the Field of Agricultural Machinery.
• Technical Cooperation among D-8 countries for Improvement and Development of Integrated Pest Management (1PM).
• Control and Eradication of Animal Diseases.
• Technical Cooperation for the Development of Inland and Coastal Aquaculture.
• Role of Women in Agriculture.

12.  The ad hoc Working Group on Industry, under the chairmanship of Turkey, recommended co-operation for the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of products in the areas of “Aerospace”, “Automotive” and “Electronics”. The group enumerated detailed sub-categories and elaborated on them.The Group also ecommended to hold conferences on these three areas with the participation of public and private sector organizations of  interested D-8 countries. Iran and Turkey offered to host a conference for automotive industry after the Summit.

13.  The ad hoc Working Group on Heath, chaired by Turkey, met in Ankara and recommended cooperation in the following areas:

• Promotion of Public Health
• Exchange of Information
• Establishment of an Institute for’Environment and Public Health Training
• Establishment of Cooperative Development Strategies on Family Medicine among D-8 countries
• AIDS Prevention and Control Programme in D-8 countries
• Population and Family Research
• Health Investment and Research Programmes
• Food Safety and Nutrition
• Environmental Health Impact Assessment in Development Programmes
• Cancer Prevention and Control Programmes

14.  The Commission expresses its appreciation to the Chairmen of the ad hoc Working Groups who have submitted their progress reports for its consideration. The Commission further urges the Ad hoc Working Groups on “Energy” and “Rural Development” to meet as soon as possible and produce their initial reports.

15.  The Commission, a ft er having reviewed the possible areas of co-operation, decided to recommend one project from six different sectors, as “D-8 priority project”. The countries which assume the chairmanship of the relevant sectors will coordinate the overall implementation of these projects.

Recommendation

16.  These projects and the sectors they belong to are as follows:

a)      Establishment of an International Marketing and Trading Company (TRADE)

b)      Workshop on poverty alleviation (HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT)

c)      Establishment of an Industrial and Technological Data Bank Network among D-8. (TELECOMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION)

d)     Establishment of Takaful Schemes (Insurance) including joint ventures between the companies of the D-8 (FINANCE, BANKING & PRIVATISATION)

e)      Co-operation for the development of inland and coastal aquaculture (AGRICULTURE)

f)       Design, development, production and marketing of agricultural aircraft (INDUSTRY)

17.  Notwithstanding the six projects identified under the various sectors, D-8 members are encouraged to extend, where appropriate, participation in existing programmes related to ten sectors to the other D-8 members.

18.  A mechanism for co-operation in microcredit, suggested by Bangladesh, deserves to be considered as another priority project. However, as in the case of “Energy”, the Working Group on Rural Development should also hold its first meeting as soon as possible and submit its report to the Commission.

19.   The Commission noted with satisfaction other projects recommended by the Working Groups and asked their Chairmen to continue their work and act asCo-ordinators in pursuant of all their projects.