Jakarta, 10 October 2011

As ASEAN moves toward the realisation of the ASEAN Community in 2015, and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, efforts are also underway to ensure corresponding commitment and support in advancing measures outlined in the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community, said officials at the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Agriculture and Forestry (33rd AMAF).

The meeting discussed cross-cutting issues in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries—involving the enhancement of food security, responding to the impact of climate change, cooperation on sectoral and priority issues, and strengthening partnerships with dialogue partners, international organisations, and private sectors.

Mr Sundram Pushpanathan, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, highlighted several achievements of the meeting.

“One is the signing of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Agreement. This agreement is very important in our work to respond to disaster and provide humanitarian assistance, particularly among ASEAN plus China, Japan, and Korea,” he said.

The Ministers also held a Special Ministerial Event to commemorate ASEAN and International Year of Forrest 2011, as well as the First AMAF-Private Sector Dialogue on Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

“The side event on forestry was an opportunity for ASEAN to profile its 40 years of forestry cooperation. It also recognised the support to ASEAN by various partners in achieving ASEAN key initiatives,” Mr. Pushpanathan added.

On the private sector dialogue with the ministers, DSG S. Pushpanathan said “this is the first such dialogue in ASEAN and the Ministers agreed that this dialogue was very important in bridging the needs and expectations of both public and private sectors”.

Click here for the Joint Statement of the Thirty Third Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (33rd AMAF).