India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum Trilateral Commission
Meeting, New Delhi Agenda for Cooperation and Plan of Action
05/03/2004
India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum New Delhi Agenda for
Co-operation
The Minister of External Affairs of India, H.E. Mr. Yashwant Sinha, Foreign
Minister of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Celso Amorim, and of South Africa, H. E. Dr.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma met in New Delhi on 4th and 5th March 2004 for the first
Meeting of the Trilateral Commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum.
2. The Foreign Ministers reviewed developments in the trilateral initiative
that began with their meeting in Brasilia in June 2003 and the meeting of the
three Heads of State and Government in New York in September 2003. They
appreciated the progress achieved so far and stressed the importance of
carrying forward the multi-faceted dialogue and of registering tangible results
in the operational areas already agreed upon. The Ministers noted the
significant steps already envisaged at the trilateral meeting of the Defence
Ministers of the three countries (held in Pretoria on 1 February 2004) for
stepping up cooperation.
3. The Ministers held a wide-ranging discussion in a friendly and cordial
atmosphere and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual
interest as well as on promotion of trilateral cooperation in accordance with
the objectives set forth in the Brasilia Declaration. They attached immense
value to the beneficial spin-offs from their enhanced trilateral cooperation to
South-South cooperation. IBSA aspires to make a significant contribution to the
framework of South-South cooperation and be a positive factor to advance human
development by promoting potential synergies among the members.
4. The Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their determination to play a
constructive role in international affairs and to maintain friendly relations
with all countries. Their approach to IBSA dialogue aims at imparting a new
synergy to these interactions.
Multilateralism – reforms of UN
5. The Ministers agreed to work together to strengthen the multilateral system.
They expressed support for early reform of the United Nations to make it more
democratic and responsive to the priorities of its member states, particularly
those of the developing countries that constitute the vast majority of its
membership. They agreed that their respective delegations to the UN and its
specialised agencies as well as other multilateral bodies would remain in close
touch with each other and would consult on all issues of significance.
6. The Ministers expressed the view that the UN Security Council, as configured
today is not representative of present-day realities. They highlighted the need
for reform which would impart greater balance and representativeness to the
Council and reflect contemporary reality and emphasised the need for expansion
in both permanent and non-permanent categories. They reaffirmed that the
decisions of the Security Council should be seen as serving the interests of
the global community. They agreed to jointly explore innovative solutions to
the issues relating to the reform of the Security Council in order to
accelerate the decision making process.
Peace and Security
7. The Ministers noted that primary focus on human development, the fight
against poverty, and measures to promote a better quality of life, should
underpin and provide for greater guarantees for international peace and
stability. The three Ministers took stock of the global security situation
-concerning disarmament and non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
(WMD). They took note of avowed commitments of Governments regarding the
transfer of technology related to the manufacture of WMDs and expressed hope
for observance of these commitments unequivocally. They also underlined that
implementation of and compliance with non-proliferation and disarmament
commitments suffered from serious inadequacies, which should be redressed
through appropriate forward looking multilateral actions. They agreed to
intensify their cooperation at the IAEA and other forums with a view to
ensuring unimpeded growth and development of peaceful use of atomic energy
through supply of technology, equipment and material under appropriate
safeguards.
8. On the Israeli-Palestinian situation, the three countries urged an immediate
resumption of dialogue on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council
resolutions, the Arab League Peace Initiative and the Quartet roadmap so as to
achieve a peaceful and lasting solution thereby ending the current cycle of
violence. They specially affirmed their full support to the vision of the
settlement postulated in the UN Security Council Resolution 1397 of two
sovereign states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secured and
recognised borders. The three countries expressed their willingness to play a
constructive role to bring about just, durable and comprehensive peace in the
region.
9. The three countries noted the convergence of their views on Iraq.
They stressed the maintenance of unity and integrity of Iraq as well as the
restoration of security and stability in the country and called for transfer of
full sovereignty to the Iraqi people as soon as possible. In this context, they
agreed that the UN must play a vital role. They also emphasised the urgency of
reconstruction in Iraq under a democratically elected sovereign government.
Terrorism
10. The Ministers agreed that international terrorism was one of the most
significant threats faced by the world today and that it can only be tackled
collectively. They further agreed that terrorism should only be considered with
reference to the terrorist act and its consequences. There can be no
justification for terrorism- political, religious or any other. The Ministers
emphasised that it was imperative today for the international community to come
together to combat terrorism, in a sustained and comprehensive manner, with the
ultimate objective of eradication of terrorism in all regions.
11. The Ministers reaffirmed their full support to implementing all the
measures to combat terrorism outlined in the UN Security Council Resolution
1373. They called on the international community to work together in a spirit
of cooperation and accommodation with the objective of an early conclusion of
negotiations and the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International
Terrorism.
Globalisation
12. Recalling their commitment to pursuing policies, programmes and initiatives
in different international forums, to make the diverse processes of globalisation
inclusive, integrative, humane, and equitable, the Ministers noted with concern
that the current global economic structures and mechanisms continued to be
marked by inequities. The Ministers felt that an important challenge before the
international community was to maximise the benefits of globalisation and to
ensure that it becomes a positive force for sustained economic growth in all
developing countries. They emphasised that developing countries need to have
their own agenda which would set out their goals in the context of globalising
world. They must carry this agenda into multilateral processes with a view to
influencing negotiations and arriving at results which are beneficial to the
South. In this context, the Ministers took note with appreciation the
conclusions and recommendations of the World Commission on the Social Dimension
of Globalisation which called for steps to achieve a fairer form of
globalisation that created opportunities for all.
13. The Ministers agreed to intensify cooperation in areas of mutual interest
in the current round of multi-lateral trade negotiations as exemplified by the
G-20 to realise the Doha Development Agenda and enhance trade opportunities
commensurate with the development needs of developing countries under a fair,
equitable and transparent rules-based multilateral trading system.
Sustainable Development
14. India, Brazil and South Africa have similar concerns with regard to the
protection of environment while they march ahead on the path of socio-economic
development in their respective countries. In this context the three sides
agreed to work together to promote practical cooperation in ensuring
sustainable development. The Ministers also agreed to coordinate positions on
climate change, bio-diversity, and other related issues at the concerned
multilateral fora.
15. The Ministers reaffirmed the validity of the principles contained in the
Rio Declaration, particularly on common but differentiated responsibilities,
the Programme of Action contained in Agenda 21, and the Plan of Implementation
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, and called
for the implementation of these outcomes through the mobilization of new and
additional financial resources and transfer of environmentally sound
technologies within an agreed time-frame. They stressed that an international
environment supportive of development would be critical to this process. They
called for a specific focus on capacity building and on transfer of financial
resources and technology to developing countries.
16. They underscored the importance of the decision taken at the WSSD to
negotiate within the framework of Convention on Bio-diversity, an international
regime to promote and safeguard the fair and equitable sharing of benefits
arising out of utilization of genetic resource. The Ministers agreed on the
need for ensuring that the benefits arising out of the commercial use of
genetic resources accrue to the countries of origin. They reiterated in this
context their commitment for effective implementation of the Convention on
Biological Diversity. They also called for the establishment of a legally
binding instrument for protecting intellectual property rights to traditional
knowledge and folklore. India, Brazil and South Africa who are also the
founding members of the Group of Like-minded Mega diverse Countries, agreed to
strengthen cooperation and coordination with emphasis on multilateral
negotiations and in fostering activities related to South-South Cooperation.
Social Development
17. The Ministers in the context of the approaching 10th anniversary of the
World Summit for Social Development, recalled that the Summit had sought to put
people at the centre of development. They emphasised the need to have the well
being of people as the focus of efforts to assess and address the gaps in the
commitments made and results achieved.
18. The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of strengthening of cultural
ties of the three countries. With that aim in mind, they discussed the
possibility of organising a trilateral cultural fair of music, dance and cinema
in Brazil as soon as possible and agreed to take the necessary steps.
19. The Ministers reiterated their earlier commitments as contained in the
Brasilia Declaration to address issues related to elimination of all kinds of
racial discrimination and to promote gender equality and mainstreaming a gender
perspective in public policies.
20. Recalling that the Brasilia Declaration had identified trilateral
cooperation among the three countries as an important tool for achieving the
promotion of social and economic development, the Ministers agreed that the
three countries, with rich untapped natural resources and emerging
infra-structural requirements, could in a spirit of South-South cooperation,
share expertise in several areas. With this view, working level discussions for
enhancing trilateral cooperation in the spheres of S&T, Information
Technology, Health, Civil Aviation and Shipping, Tourism, Trade and Investment,
Defence, Energy and education took place during the Meeting. Specific
programmes of action for trilateral cooperation in each of these sectors were
identified based on these discussions and endorsed by the Ministers. These are
annexed in the Plan of Action.
21. The Ministers reaffirmed the determination of their Governments to
contribute actively and concretely to the implementation of internationally
agreed development goals, particularly that of combating hunger and poverty.
Following the Heads of State/Governments announcement in September 2003, they
reviewed and approved the Guidelines for Operationalisation of the IBSA
Facility for Hunger and Poverty Alleviation contained in the Plan of Action.
The Ministers decided that a meeting be held before the end of March 2004, to
consult with UNDP on certain operational issues. The meeting would also
finalise operational guidelines for the Board of Directors and commence
discussions on projects for implementation under the Facility.
22. The Ministers also reiterated the invitation for the participation of
interested parties in the South-South initiative, including the private sector
and civil society. To stress their political commitment, Brazil, South Africa
and India announced that they have made fiduciary contributions to the
Facility.
23. The Ministers also endorsed the proposal by Brazil to host a seminar on
“Economic Growth with Social Equity” with the aim to promote better knowledge
among IBSA members of their national policies and strategies to promote
economic and social development and exchange views on international development
challenges. The organisation of the seminar would be jointly coordinated by the
three countries.
24. The Foreign Ministers of Brazil and South Africa thanked the Minister for
External Affairs of India for convening the first Meeting of the Trilateral
Commission. The three Ministers agreed that the next meeting would be held in
South Africa in the first quarter of 2005.
India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum New Delhi Plan of Action
Transportation (Civil Aviation and Shipping) 1. Recognizing the need for air
connectivity between the three nations, so as to facilitate and enhance the
movement of passengers and goods and achieve the objectives of the Brasilia
declaration, the Ministers emphasized the importance for concrete trilateral
co-operation in the Civil Aviation sector.
2. The three countries agreed to the following action plan in respect of Air
Transport:
a) The Air Services Agreement between Brazil and India would be finalized in
April 2004.
b) A trilateral co-operation Agreement on Air Services would be considered and
finalized before the end of 2004, particularly in the areas of broadening fifth
freedom rights, identification of routes for increased frequency of air links
and possibilities for commercial agreements between airline companies (Code
sharing etc.) In the meantime exchange of information and ideas on the nature
and content of the Trilateral Co-operation Agreement would take place.
c) The three countries would consider common approaches on matters of mutual
interest on Civil Aviation issues in multilateral forums.
Efforts through mutual consultation would be made to facilitate efficient cargo
transportation, encourage tourism through charter flights and foster exchanges
on best practices in areas of Training, Safety, Security, Airport Management,
Air Navigation and Communication systems between the three countries taking
into account the different national legislations.
3. With regard to cooperation in Maritime Sector, the Ministers agreed
that there would be exchange of information and meetings among the officers of
Ministry of Shipping and Transport of the three countries with a view to
develop a Trilateral Maritime Transport Corridor between India, South Africa
and Brazil. The three countries also agreed to cooperate in the fields of
maritime training, capacity building and port logistics, inland water
transportation; to coordinate stands on issues concerning maritime affairs in
multilateral fora.
4. India and South Africa will conclude their bilateral cooperation agreement
by the end of 2004.
5. It was agreed to explore in the near future a structure for trilateral
cooperation on maritime transportation matters, possibly in the form of a
Framework Agreement.
Tourism
6. The Ministers agreed that the product offering of the three countries viz.
India –Culture and Heritage, South Africa - Eco Tourism and Nature Conservation
and Brazil – Festivals and Sun and Sea, provided opportunities for convergence
and integration into unique tourism packages. This necessitated familiarization
tours for the leading tour operators, travel agents and travel writers. As a
first step, India will take the initiative to structure a meeting of the
leading players of the private sector of the travel, tourism and hospitality
industry of the three countries.
7. The Ministers agreed to a programme of action in the following areas:
Capacity building in Culture/Heritage; Joint Marketing initiatives; Eco-tourism
and Nature Conservation and Management of Cultural Festivals and any other
areas mutually agreed upon. There will be exchange of information on statistics
on tourism related aspects as well as promotion of mutual investment in three
countries.
8. The three countries agreed to pursue common approach with regard the
activities of World Tourism Organization(WTO) and other relevant multi-lateral
fora.
9. Considering that India has bilateral tourism agreements with Brazil and
South Africa, the later two will endeavour to conclude an agreement by the end
of 2004. The three countries will explore the possibility of a tri-lateral
cooperation agreement in tourism.
10. It was agreed that the meeting of the IBSA Tourism Ministers would be held
by the end of June 2004 to further strengthen cooperation in Tourism.
Trade and investment
11. The ministers agreed that the IBSA countries can reinforce the economic
strength of each other by synergising their complementarities in areas of
industry, services, business and technologies and create a market of 1.2
billion people, 1.2 trillion dollars of GDP and foreign trade of 300 billion
dollars. They further agreed to consider signing of a trilateral cooperation
agreement to promote and facilitate trade among the three countries.
12. The Ministers agreed:
· To seek convergence between the preferential trade negotiations between the
three countries and their regions (Mercosur-SACU, Mercosur-India, SACU-India)
· To increase trade flows between the three countries from US$4.6 billion
presently to US$ 10 billion by 2007
· Strengthening business to business links among the three countries
· Holding of IBSA Business Summits on rotation in each country.
· Each country to conduct studies to examine the potential for economic and commercial
partnership and suggest ways and means for increasing trade and investment
flows among the three countries. The studies should be completed by September
2004.
13. The Ministers welcomed the Brazilian proposal to promote the establishment
of a trilateral business council.
Infrastructure
14. The Ministers recognized that there are opportunities for IBSA members to
implement projects through, inter alia, State owned enterprises and
public/private partnerships in each other’s country as well as jointly in other
countries. Areas of cooperation could include:
- Civil engineering, project management;
- Construction, roads, highways, airports, ports, and energy sector;
- Telecommunications and Internet.
Job creation and small, medium and micro enterprises
15. The Ministers underlined the importance of job creation, youth
entrepreneurship and development of small, medium and micro enterprises. It was
agreed:
- To exchange best practices, technology and tools, with an emphasis on youth
entrepreneurship and employment.
- To share experiences to better assist the rural and youth populations.
- To create links between entities, federations, etc. responsible for job
creations.
- To create links between SMME and promotion institutions.
- To allow for broad participation of government, labour, business, civil
society and NGOs.
- To develop joint training programmes for human resources development,
including the exchange of students and youth entrepreneurs.
Science and Technology
16. The Ministers noted the existence of functional science and
technology bilateral agreements among the three countries. They also outlined a
process to shape the relationship among the IBSA countries towards a mutually
agreed outcome, which includes:
· the finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) detailing concrete
modes and areas for engagement;
· the establishment of a trilateral working group to formulate a detailed
programme of action and meet regularly to review progress on its
implementation.
17. The first meeting of the working group will take place in South Africa, in
May 2004, to prioritise projects for the programme of action.
18. The Ministers agreed to establish IBSA Technology Days, which will be
organized annually, on rotational basis, for the purposes of showcasing the
IBSA science and technology capabilities and progress.
19. South Africa also offered to host a science and technology implementation
meeting, to be held in conjunction with the South African Science and
Technology Fair, in Johannesburg during November 2004.
20. The modes of science and technology cooperation will include:
· short-term exchange of young scientists;
· trilateral workshops on mutually agreed themes;
· exchange of science and technology information;
· specialized training in areas of national strength;
· development of lecture series; and
· research and development collaboration and cooperation.
21. The mutually agreed areas for cooperation and collaboration in the
short to medium term include:
· biotechnology, including agricultural biotechnology, and bioinformatics;
· alternative and renewable energies;
· astronomy and astrophysics;
· meteorology and climate change;
· oceanography, fisheries science and Antarctic research;
· indigenous knowledge; and
· information technologies.
22. In addition, the three countries agreed to share information on best
practices in technology transfer and to engage on intellectual property rights
issues related to the protection of biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
23. Further, the three countries agreed to network their research and
development institutions in order to strengthen and further develop the
trilateral science and technology relationship.
24. Brazil’s offer to host a meeting of Ministers of Science and Technology in
the third quarter of 2004 was welcomed, as well as South Africa’s offer to host
the First IBSA Technology Day and a Technology Fair.
Information Society
25. The Ministers highlighted the strategic role of information and
communication technologies in the promotion of social and economic development.
India, Brazil and South Africa, as three large developing countries, regard
information technologies as essential tools to job-creation, economic growth,
and poverty eradication.
26. The strengthening of national information technology industries is
essential to promote competitiveness of the three national economies and to
boost national capabilities in exportation.
27. The Ministers emphasized the need for joint action and urgency in combating
the fast growing Digital Divide not only between developed and developing, but
also within, countries. The Digital Divide widens other social divides, such as
the income, educational, scientific and cultural.
28. Taking into account the outcomes of the Brasilia Meeting of 12 and 13
February 2004, the Ministers agreed to synergise the capacities of the three
countries in the following project areas:
29. Projects On E-Governance
· Develop Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and applications
aimed at improving public administration at different levels of government,
taxation management, public financing and delivery of public services.
30. Projects On Capacity Building
· Using ICTs to impart literacy skills
· Harnessing Human Computer Interaction Technologies to address
development challenges, especially those related to illiteracy and disability.
· Increase research on using wireless technologies to extend access to
computers and provide affordable connectivity, especially to poor people and
those located in rural and remote areas.
· To develop innovative solutions aimed at extending public access to computers
and ICT skills to under-privileged people.
· Extend Cyber infrastructure by harnessing technologies such as grid and
cluster (blade or middle range) computing, High Performance Computing and
broadband communication networks for advancing research, development and
competitiveness and thereby developing solutions to larger and more complex problems.
31. Projects On Local Content Development
· Developing a universal networking language so that people in one part of a
country or the world, speaking different languages, can communicate without the
need to know each other’s language.
32. Projects On E-Health
· Increasing tele-medicine infrastructure to enable patients to receive health
services such as medical diagnosis and advice to which they would not
ordinarily have access due to distance and/or limitation in the availability of
specialists.
33. Modes of cooperation: · Coordination of initiatives in the area
· Sharing of experience and expertise through inter alia exchange of technical
missions and information in areas of national strength
· Joint piloting of projects, development of testbeds and possible planning of
full scale implementation
· Human resource development in the identified areas of cooperation
· Joint evaluation of projects.
Trilateral Memorandum on cooperation on the Information society
34. Brazil, India and South Africa, as founders of the World Summit on the
Information Society Like-Minded Group of countries, decide to continue their
coordination of positions in order to contribute effectively towards the
development of an inclusive Information Society.
35. They also re-iterated their commitment to contributing to the success of
the Tunis Phase of the Summit.
36. Accordingly, the Ministers agreed on the establishment of a tri-lateral
Consultative Group to coordinate this work, and in particular, ensure effective
contribution to the Working Group on the Digital Solidarity Fund and the
Working Group on Internet Governance to be established by the UN Secretary
General.
37. The IBSA Working Group on the Information Society shall meet to work on a
Trilateral Memorandum of cooperation on Information Society during the First
IBSA Technology Day Workshop due to take place in South Africa in May 2004.
38. India and South Africa welcomed the Brazilian initiative to hold an IBSA
Workshop on Information Society, which is to be organised by SERPRO (Federal
Data Processing Services Enterprise), during the next Congress on Public
Informatics. The Congress is the main Brazilian event on modernising public
administration at different government levels and enhancing public participation
in decision-making using ICTs.
39. This Congress, within which SERPRO- the Federal Data Processing
Services Enterprise- intends to organise an IBSA workshop, is due to take place
in Sao Paolo from 22-24 June 2004.
40. The Ministers decided to recommend an IBSA Ministerial on the Information
Society as soon as possible.
Health
41. In the area of the health related issues, in its meeting held in Brasilia
on Feb.12-13, 2004, the working group on health, discussed the following six
areas of common interest: -
1. Intellectual property rights and their impact on access to medicine;
2. Traditional medicine;
3. Integration among laboratories / sanitary regulation; 4. Epidemiological
survey;
5. Vaccines;
6. Research and development of products of the pharmaceutical sector.
42. In the meeting at Brasilia, it was agreed that: -
(a) Each country would present a paper on the impact of Intellectual Property
Rights (IPR) on Public Health and access to medicines in their own country in a
workshop to be held in New Delhi in the first week of March so that common
strategies could be developed to ensure universal access of medicines and
innovation.
(b) India would prepare a paper on organization and management of Traditional
Medicines to be discussed at a conference so that a common Plan of Action for
their greater use could be developed.
43. In addition it was also agreed that at a mutually convenient date
after the New Delhi meeting, each country would present their own assessments
of the strengths and weaknesses in disease surveillance, which would facilitate
the development of strategies for effective disease surveillance with emphasis
on the strengthening of national laboratory network.
44. The representatives of the three countries met in New Delhi on March
3-5,2004 and presented a paper each on the impact of Intellectual Property
Rights (IPR) on Public Health and access to medicines with a view to evolving
common strategies to ensure universal access of medicines and innovations.
45. In the course of discussions, which followed the presentations, the
following points of agreement emerged-
(i) The national statutory frameworks of the three countries should reflect all
the flexibilities allowed for by the WTO TRIPS Agreement, Doha Ministerial
Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, as well as the further
decisions on Para 6 of the said declaration. Further, IBSA agrees to make
efforts to urge other countries, particularly developing and least developed
countries, to consider taking similar steps to reflect all the above mentioned
flexibilities in their national legislations.
(ii)The bilateral / multilateral trade agreements, which are “TRIPS Plus”
should be opposed. The three countries should also take lead in sensitising other
developing countries in this regard.
(iii)To take all steps, including exchange of technical experts and
collaborative efforts, to strengthen the indigenous manufacturing capacities
and to make available low cost, low priced, effective, safe and quality
pharmaceutical products.
(iv) To leverage the opportunity provided by the setting up of WHO
Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (WHA
56.27) to put across the commonly agreed point of view of the three countries. For
this purpose, the Health Sub group of IBSA identified focal points to prepare a
draft document to be submitted to the Commission by mid July 2004. A meeting in
this regard would be convened on the sidelines of the 57th WHA at Geneva.
46. A status paper on organization and management of Traditional Medicine was
presented on behalf of India. Keeping in view the wide scope for cooperation in
this area, it was agreed that the three countries would identify focal points
to pursue the matter further.
47. It was agreed that Brazil would circulate a paper on their disease
surveillance programme and the status of national laboratories network and make
a presentation on the sidelines of the 57th WHA at Geneva.
Energy
48. The Ministers proposed the institution of a programme of reciprocal visits
with the purpose of exchanging ideas, experience and practices in the energy
area. These exchanges may include: research and development, storage and
distribution, technology transfer, practical application of technological
knowledge, and organization and regulation.
49. The following areas were identified for initial cooperation: (i) access to
affordable energy in rural areas with emphasis on non-conventional energy; (ii)
exploring bio-diesel as a commercially viable energy source by exchanging
knowledge and experience; and (iii) research and development in the areas of
hydrogen energy and fuel cells.
50. The Brazilian side has proposed to host the first meeting of the Energy
Working Group in the third quarter of 2004.
Defence
51. The Ministers recalled the meeting of the Defence Ministers of South
Africa, Mr. M.G.P. Lekota, Mr. George Fernandes of India and Mr. Jose Viegas
Filho of Brazil in Pretoria on February 1, 2004 at the invitation of the South
African Minister of Defence to discuss areas of common concern and potential
trilateral cooperation in areas of defence and mutual security.
52. In their first meeting, IBSA Defence Ministers, in accordance with the
objectives set out in the Brasilia Declaration, exchanged views on common
security concerns with specific reference to the security situation in their
separate regions. They also discussed themes related to security on the
international agenda and underlined the importance and necessity of a process of
dialogue amongst developing nations and countries of the south on
security-related issues of mutual interest.
53. The Ministers recognized the primacy of the role of the United Nations in
maintaining international peace. They also recognized and appreciated the
efforts of the African Union in regional peacekeeping. The Ministers agreed to
initiate steps for joint peacekeeping training/exercises.
54. They agreed that in the interests of promoting international security, the
three countries would cooperate towards promoting maritime and air safety,
including combating illegal weapons and narcotics traffic and maritime transit
of toxic chemicals and radioactive waste across Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
55. The Ministers agreed that it would be mutually beneficial to foster
interaction amongst them, noting that their defence industries had developed
excellence in diverse areas, which could offer a broad range of potential
opportunities - capitalizing on each others’ respective strengths - for
cooperation in defence production, co-development, trade and joint marketing.
56. The Ministers agreed to explore coordination among the defence
research institutions in the three countries and of their respective defence
industries to provide inputs for the identification of concrete cooperation
projects.
57. Training was identified as another area with a significant potential for
mutually beneficial cooperation and the Ministers agreed to institutionalise
exchanges among the respective defence institutions.
58. The Ministers agreed to continue a regular trilateral dialogue on an annual
basis. Next meeting shall take place in Brazil in 2005.
Education
59. The three Governments of India, Brazil and South Africa assigned priority,
in the Brasilia Declaration, to the promotion of social equity and inclusion
and have agreed that education is a powerful instrument for achieving those
goals. The three Governments have a rich experience and expertise on a variety
of areas and aspects of education. Each country stands to benefit from sharing
of such expertise, and from collaboration. The three countries also share areas
of common concern over access to and quality of education at all levels. These
concerns have greater significance in the context of globalisation.
60. The Ministers decided that major areas of collaboration will be open and
distance education, higher and professional education and universal mass
education with special emphasis on quality and gender equity. The detailed
mechanism and framework for collaboration will be worked out in round table
conferences in each area, preferably before the next IBSA Dialogue Forum. Each
country may host one round table conference on one of the selected themes.
IBSA Facility for Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger
Background
1. Following announcements made at the United Nations General Assembly in
September 2003, the Governments of India, Brazil and South Africa decided to
establish a trust fund, within UNDP, aimed at contributing, in a concrete
manner, to poverty and hunger alleviation, in a framework of improved
international cooperation, including towards the implementation of the
millennium development goals.
2. The trust fund will be used to implement identified replicable and scaleable
projects to be disseminated in interested developing countries as examples of
best practices in the fight against poverty and hunger, including actions in
the areas of improved access to health, education, sanitation and food
security.
3. The IBSA facility for poverty and hunger alleviation will be a dedicated
trust fund within UNDP.
Governance
4. UNDP will provide the facility with adequate administrative support free of
charge.
5. A Board of Directors will be appointed to govern the facility. The Board of
Directors will be composed of the designated representatives of the governments
of India, Brazil and South Africa as originators of facility. The administrator
of UNDP or his designated representative will serve ex-officio on the board.
6. The Board of Directors will set the strategic direction of the
facility. It will also identify projects within the focus areas, review project
submissions and decide on resource allocation. On an annual basis, UNDP will
present to the Board of Directors a report on the operations of the facility.
The Board of Directors will be responsible for fund raising for the facility,
including with the assistance of UNDP.
7. The Board of Directors or their designated representatives will engage donor
and interested parties on a project by project basis on the implementation of
projects.
Funding Sources
8. The facility will benefit from initial contributions from India, Brazil and
South Africa to facilitate the start-up phase. The UNDP contribution will
consist of in-kind office space and administrative support and oversight for
the operations of the facility.
9. It is expected that the facility will be financed through contributions from
donor countries, additional to ODA, as well as through non-traditional sources,
such as contributions from individuals, civil society organisations, including
businesses and NGOs, and philanthropic foundations.
Operations
10. The facility will be dedicated to the development and replication of best
practices, as pioneered in India, Brazil and South Africa, to be identified by
the Board of Directors.
1. The Board of Directors will transmit project and programme concepts
which are examples of best practices in their countries to the UNDP. UNDP will
disseminate this information and will communicate to the Board of Directors
expressions of interest from governments.
2. On the basis of such a matching exercise, the UNDP will seek additional
funding as necessary for each individual project from Governmental and
non-Governmental sources.
3. UNDP country offices will disburse funds and manage the project cycle,
reporting to the Board of Directors on an annual basis on the use of these
funds.
Eligibility for funding
4. All developing countries are eligible for receipt of funding from the
facility.
Awareness raising
5. UNDP undertakes to support awareness raising activities for the Facility,
including through meetings at Headquarters, and inclusion in its annual report
and on its website as part of its administrative support.