Dhaka, Bangladesh (BNN)- A three-day Asia-Pacific policy dialogue begins in the capital Dhaka on Monday to review progress toward implementation of the Brussels Program of Action (BPoA) for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the conference, which is being attended by high-profile government and United Nations figures from different parts of the world, organizers said.
The conference is being organized jointly by the Bangladesh government and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as preparation to a regional review during the commission session this year.
"The high-level dialogue will be an effective forum for exchanging views, information, opinions and suggestions on the progress towards implementation of the BPoA as well as building the strategy for promoting the interests of the LDCs," a finance ministry announcement said in Dhaka on Sunday.
It will also lead to mobilization of a sense of direction for the 4th U.N. high-level LDC Summit to be held in Istanbul next year, the announcement added.
The BPoA for the 2001-2010 decade was adopted by the 3rd U.N. conference on the LDCs in May 2001 to address specific needs of the LDCs and help them eradicate poverty and hunger, and improve the standard of living of their peoples.
"The main goal of the BPoA is to promote sustained economic growth and development of the LDCs and ensure their beneficial integration into the world economy," the ministry noted.
Over 70 representatives are expected to participate in the meeting. They include ministers, deputy ministers and vice-ministers from Afghanistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Burma, officially known as Myanmar, Thailand, Benin, Haiti, Solomon, Islands, Kiribati, Vanuatu, the Maldives, Tuvalu, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Bhutan, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, the Republic of Yemen and Sudan, and several permanent representatives to the U.N.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-18Juanary10-9:20 am (BST)