PRESS RELEASES

The 3rd Meeting of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Council

12 May 2015

    On 22-23 April 2015, the 3rd meeting of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Council was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Mr. Akira Karasawa, Director-General of Crop Production Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, headed the Delegation of Japan, and the representatives of Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam and Mission of Japan to ASEAN in Jakarta also participated in the meeting.

    The APTERR Agreement took effect in July 2012, and the 1st Council meeting was held in March 2013. In this 3rd meeting, the Council discussed and/or endorsed the management issues of the APTERR Secretariat such as the management of the Endowment Fund, the implementation report of 2014, and the work plan and the budget plan for the fiscal year 2015 proposed by the APTERR Secretariat. The representative from the Philippines reported to the Council on the implementation of TIER 3 Programme in the Philippines for typhoon Haiyan. He expressed his deep appreciation for the Japan’s support through TIER 3 Programme.

    Japan expressed its intent to enhance cooperation with APTERR through assessed contributions and voluntary contributions for both stockpiled rice and cash, and dispatch of Japanese expert. Japan will continue its cooperation with ASEAN in the area of food security, based on the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation which was adopted in 2013.