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Minutes
of the 1st Meeting of the Bureau of Asia Pacific Ministers Conference on
Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD)
Venue
: Patterson Suite, Hotel Sarova
Stanley, Nairobi
Time and Date
: 2000 hrs on 15th April, 2007
Participants:
H.E Kumari Selja, Chairperson, Bureau of APMCHUD
In Chair
and Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation, Republic of India
H.E. Mohammad Saeidi Kia
Minister of Housing & Urban Development,
Islamic Republic of Iran
H.E. Ms. Fu Wenjuan
Vice Minister, Ministry of Construction.
Peoples Republic of China
H.E Eng. Shehadah Abdallah Abu Hdaib
Director General
Housing and Urban Development Corporation,
Amman
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Other Participants:
Peoples Republic of China
Mr He Xinghua
Director General of Department of Informal
Relations
Mr. Li Zhe
Director of Commercial Division
Mr. Gao Yanwei
Deputy Representative of Chinese Mission to
UN-Habitat at Nairobi
Islamic Republic of Iran:
H.E. Manouchehr Khajeh dalui
Deputy Minister of Housing & Urban Development
H.E. Ra’eesi
Ambassador of Iran to Kenya at Nairobi
Mr Sadegh Sadeghpur
Ministry of Housing.
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Mr. C. Choudhury
Honorary Council of the Republic of Jordan
Nairobi, Kenya
Eng. Suleiman Salem AL HASANAT
Housing & Urban Development Corporation
Senior Director of Housing Policy
Republic of India
H.E. Mr P S Randhawa
High Commissioner of India to Kenya and
Permanent Mission of India to the UN-HABITAT
Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh
Joint Secretary ( Housing ) and
Chief Coordinator of Interim Secretariat of
the
Bureau of APMCHUD
Dr. Ketan Shukla
Deputy High Commissioner of India to Kenya
and
Deputy Permanent Representative of India to
the UN-HABITAT
Mr. Manoj Aggarwal
PS to Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation
Mr. Ravinder Kumar CELLY
Executive Director
Building Materials & Technology Promotion
Council (BMTPC)
Mr. T. PRABAKARAN
Director (Finance), Housing & Urban Development
Corporation Ltd (HUDCO)
Dr P.Jayapal
Executive Director (Urban and Regional Planning)
Housing & Urban Development Corporation
Ltd (HUDCO) and
Coordinator of Interim Secretariat of the
Bureau of APMCHUD
Mr Rajesh Goel
Deputy Chief (Corporate Planning)
Housing & Urban Development Corporation
Ltd (HUDCO) and
Coordinator of Interim Secretariat of the
Bureau of APMCHUD
Welcoming the Members of the Bureau, Mr Sunil Kumar Singh, Chief Coordinator of the Bureau Secretariat and Joint Secretary (Housing), Government of India indicated that the Delhi Declaration adopted at New Delhi after the 1st Asia Pacific Conference of the Ministerial meeting on Housing and Human Settlements held during 13-16th December, 2006 had decided that the Bureau would hold its first meeting with in 4 months. Accordingly, the 1st meeting of the Bureau was initially scheduled for 19-20th March, 2007 at New Delhi. However, on the request of some of the Members, the meeting was rescheduled to be held at Nairobi on 15th April, 2007 preceding the Governing Council meeting of the UN-Habitat at Nairobi from 16-20th April, 2007.
Extending a warm welcome to the Members and other participants to the 1st Meeting of the Bureau of APMCHUD, Kumari Selja, Chairperson of the Bureau indicated that some of the Member countries could not participate possibly in view them not being Members of the Governing Council of the UN-Habitat.
The agenda items were taken up item wise.
Agenda Item 1: Setting up of an Interim Secretariat of the Bureau of APMCHUD
The Chairperson, indicated that as part of the Enhanced Framework of Implementation of Sustainable Urbanisation in Asia-Pacific and the Delhi Declaration, the APMCHUD had envisioned establishment of an Interim Secretariat in India as soon as possible. The Chairperson further indicated that in accordance with the same, an Interim Secretariat of the Bureau has been set up at the premises of Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The Interim Secretariat was formally inaugurated on 6th April, 2007 with the participation of the Mission representatives of the Bureau Member Countries in New Delhi. The Joint Secretary (Housing), Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India has been designated as the Chief Co-ordinator of the Interim Secretariat by the Chairperson of the Bureau. The activities of the Interim Secretariat are currently being looked after by two senior executives of the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd (HUDCO) at New Delhi.
The Bureau noted the action taken on the subject. It was decided that the details of the Interim Secretariat be conveyed to all the Members of the APMCHUD.
Agenda Item 2: Identification of modalities of establishing the Secretariat and other organs
Briefing the members on the Item, the Chairperson indicated that the Delhi Declaration had desired the Bureau should finalize the modalities of establishment of the Secretariat and other organs, which may become an Appendix to the Delhi Declaration. The Chairperson indicated the basic issues to be decided relate to the location of the Permanent Secretariat of the APMCHUD, identification of Activities – Action Plan of the Secretariat, staffing of the Secretariat, logistic Support for the Secretariat, and the time frame for operationalisation of the Secretariat.
In this regard, the Member from Iran stressed the need for setting up of a permanent Secretariat first, so that the other related activities are taken up in an organised manner. In this regard, the Member proposed that the Permanent Secretariat be set up at New Delhi, India. Agreeing with the proposal made by Iran, the Member from Jordon indicated that the related aspects could be taken in detail in the forthcoming meetings. The Member from China indicated that they would like to provide their views shortly, and however, they would definitely like to go along with the views of the Other Bureau Members in this regard.
It was accordingly decided that the related aspects as outlined above on the activities of Permanent Secretariat etc would be considered in the forthcoming meeting.
Agenda Item 3: Soliciting the Asia Pacific Countries and the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT to assist the Bureau in its efforts to establish the Secretariat
The Chairperson briefed the members that the Delhi Declaration of the APMHUD, as part of the Enhanced Framework of Implementation of Sustainable Urbanisation in Asia-Pacific, vide clause 18 envisaged requesting the Asia-Pacific Countries and the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT to assist the Bureau in its efforts to establish the Secretariat. Accordingly, the Chairperson further indicated that such support sought would primarily cover the technical, organisational and financial contributions as may become necessary, for effective functioning of the Secretariat.
The Chairperson also observed that the actual and specific assistance required from Member countries and the UN-HABITAT would become available from the outcome of deliberations/decisions of the Bureau on aspects relating to identification of Activities – Action Plan of the Secretariat, staffing of the Secretariat, logistic Support for the Secretariat, and the time frame for operationalisation of the Secretariat, etc at this stage sought authorisation from the Bureau to make/table a statement in the Governing Council meeting of UN-HABITAT on establishment of APMCHUD and soliciting active participation and assistance from UN-HABITAT. The proposed Statement from the Chairperson was also placed for consideration of the Bureau Members.
The Bureau Members suggested that as the Statement has been placed on the table, they would take a day-or-two to peruse and give their views/comments if any. It was agreed that comments if any would be given to the Chief Coordinator and would be suitably incorporated and circulated there after.
Agenda Item 4: Soliciting the co-operating partners to support APMCHUD efforts in the implementation of the measures outlined in the Delhi Declaration of APMCHUD.
The Chairperson while introducing the item pointed out that the Delhi Declaration of the APMHUD, as part of the Enhanced Framework of Implementation of Sustainable Urbanisation in Asia-Pacific, vide clause 19 requested the Bureau to call upon the co-operating partners, including ASEAN, SAARC, Pacific Islands Forum, ECO, other relevant UN agencies, the Asian Development Bank, and donors, to support APMCHUD efforts in the implementation of the measures outlined in the Delhi Declaration of APMCHUD.
During the discussions it was noted by the members that the specific support to be sought would depend on the finalisation of the action plan, which is to be taken up in the subsequent meetings of the Bureau. And accordingly it was decided by the Bureau that the Chairperson may address an appropriate communication to keep the referred Institutions/agencies and other related organisations informed in regard to the formation of the APMCHUD, its Bureau and Secretariat enclosing therewith a copy of the Delhi Declaration.
Agenda Item 5: Establishment of Coordinating Committees for the housing and urban development issues in Asia-Pacific Countries to mainstream the issues of the sector and giving a high prominence to the challenges of sustainable urbanization
The Chairperson requested the Members to recall the decision of APMCHUD as outlined in the Delhi Declaration, to request the Asia-Pacific countries to mainstream issues of housing and urban development in respective countries by establishing Co-ordinating Committees for the sector, and giving a high prominence to the challenges of sustainable urbanisation.
The Chairperson further indicated that the establishment of the Coordinating Committees is very necessary in view of the current global shelter challenge. In this regard, the Member from China indicated that they already have a Habitat Committee to look into similar issues in focus, and as such they propose to use the same mechanism for this purpose. After deliberations on the issue it was decided by the Bureau that while each member country may decide on the appropriate mechanism and composition of the Co-ordination Committee, it may be advisable to constitute the same with the Minister concerned as the Chair. The Bureau further authorised the Chairperson to address an appropriate communication to all the Member Countries of APMCHUD in this regard.
Agenda Item 6: Any other Item which members may like to take up.
The Bureau unanimously decided that the next meeting of the Bureau be held at New Delhi and the subsequent meetings could be in other countries as may be agreed.
While concluding the meeting, the Chairperson thanked the Members and other participants for their participation and contribution in the meeting.
The Chief Coordinator proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairperson on behalf of the Members.
The meeting was followed by dinner.