PRESS RELEASES

The 2nd Meeting of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Council

12 June 2014

    On 29-30 May, the 2nd meeting of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Council was held in Hanoi, Vietnam. From Japan, Mr. Masamichi Saigo, Councillor of Agricultural Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, headed the Delegation, and the representatives of Embassy of Japan in Thailand and Mission of Japan to ASEAN also participated in the meeting.

    The APTERR Agreement took effect in July 2012, and the 1st meeting based on the Agreement was held in March 2013. In this 2nd meeting, the Council endorsed the result of the recruitment of the general manager (GM) of the APTERR Secretariat, Mr. Wiroj Saengbangka from Thailand. The Council also discussed the draft of Administrative Regulations, and Rules and Procedures of Financial Management of the APTERR Secretariat, and the Council endorsed the work plan and the budget plan for fiscal year 2014 proposed by the APTERR Secretariat.

    The Secretariat reported to the Council the realisation of work plan and budget plan for fiscal year 2013. The council members also shared knowledge and experiences derived from the report of implementation of TIER 3 Programme in Lao PDR and the Philippines by the representatives from these two countries.

    Japan expressed its support for the recruitment of the new GM, and made a positive contribution to the discussions on the regulations and rules of the APTERR Secretariat in order to make the management of the Secretariat more appropriate and effective.

    Japan has made a substantial contribution to disaster recovery and poverty alleviation by utilizing financial assistance to APTERR. Japan will continue its cooperation with ASEAN in the area of food security, based on the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, announced at the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit on December 2013.