FM Pun stresses on inclusive policy

KATHMANDU, MAR 19: 

The global development policy should benefit all countries equally in the changed context, according to finance minister Barshaman Pun.

Addressing a high level meet in Copenhagen organised by Danish International Development Agency (Danida) to celebrate its 50th anniversary, he stressed on the need to form a common action plan that could create an equal ground for all countries to participate in and take opportunities.

“Globalisation and free markets should be encouraged,” he said, adding that the current policy has failed the third world countries as they have not been able to benefit from it. “There are more challenges than opportunities at present.”

“Similar to bridging the gap between urban and rural economy, the gap between developed and developing countries should also be bridged and cooperation among them should be encouraged to bring about changes,” said Pun.

Cooperation between developed and developing countries should be productive and inclusive, the finance minister added.

“The global development policy should be inclusive and ensure participation from all sectors,” he said, adding that deprived communities and women should get equal opportunities to participate in the development process.

UN Human Rights Council executives, European Union representatives, director of World Bank, Finland’s development minister, and chief of ActionAid also took part in the meeting, where participants stressed on the need to bring a common policy for overall development.

They said that globalisation has not been able to distribute equal returns to all as it has failed to bring the desired changes. “The lack of commercialisation in agriculture and rural infrastructure, and higher poverty and unemployment levels have made developing countries unable to benefit from globalisation, they said, adding that the developed nations should focus on changing the challenges faced by developing countries into opportunities.

Source: THT