Keynote Message: Dr. Filemon Uriarte, Jr., Executive Director, ASEAN Foundation

After communicating how happy he was to be back in Hanoi, Dr. Uriarte began with an introduction of ASEAN and the ASEAN Foundation. Asia as a region and ASEAN as an association is very diverse and currently composed of 10 member countries. ASEAN is targeting to have its own constitution by November 2008 and establish an ASEAN community among members by 2015. Established by the ASEAN in 1997, the ASEAN Foundation is pursuing two objectives: 1) to promote greater awareness of ASEAN, thus creating an ASEAN identity (e.g. Filipinos, Singaporeans, etc will think of themselves as Asians) and 2) to contribute to the evolution of a development cooperation strategy (academic, cultural, economic, social and other relevant government institutions and bona fide NGOs of ASEAN member countries can all avail of ASEAN Foundation funding)

The ASEAN Foundation has partnered with AsiaDHRRA because it believes that in order for the region to attain its vision of a caring ASEAN community, farmers need to be given a means to participate in the shaping of the future of the region (this should not be left to industrialists). The agricultural sector is important for success of economy; in fact, it is the first thing that needs to be addressed in order for a country to attain development. This is also important to alleviate rural poverty in the ASEAN region. Thus, farmer organizations and farmer workers will remain important for ASEAN to achieve its two objectives.

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