Effective channeling of Global Value Chains and
Regional Cooperation are vital for accelerated,
inclusive and equitable growth and sustainable
development.
Said speakers at the conference
Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP is addressing in the
inaugural session of the dialogue while (from left)
Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Dr Preet Rustagi, Dr
Nagesh Kumar, Professor Rehman Sobhan, Professor
Wahiduddin Mahmud, Dr Dilliraj Khanal, Ms Jamie
Terzi, Dr Saman Kelegama, and Dr
Debapriya Bhattacharya are paying attention.
Amid the
rapid changes occurring in the global trade,
production and work channelised through Global and
Regional Value Chains, experts stressed on effective
channeling of Global Value Chains (GVCs) and
regional cooperation for accelerated, inclusive and
equitable growth and sustainable development in a
two-day international conference titled “Value
Chains for Inclusive Development: Lessons and
Policies for South Asia”. The Centre for Policy
Dialogue (CPD) organised this event in collaboration
with the Institute for Human Development (IHD); CARE
Bangladesh; UN-ESCAP, South and South-West Asia
Sub-regional Office, New Delhi; Manchester University; and
Centre on Globalization, Governance &
Competitiveness, Duke University on 24 and 25
November 2012 at the BRAC Centre Inn. The program
was supported by NASSCOM, CRB/GIZ, and Impactt,
London. The
Inaugural Session included Launching of UN-ESCAP’s
Regional Cooperation for Inclusive and
Sustainable Development: South and South-West Asia
Development Report 2012-2013. Professor Rehman
Sobhan, Chairman, CPD Chaired this session while Dr.
Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP, and Hon’ble Minister
for Food, Government of Bangladesh attended as Chief
Guest.
The international conference took place with an
objective to discuss the roles, recent trends and
associated mechanisms of Global Value Chains (GVCs)
for the inclusive developments particularly in the
South and South East Asian countries. While the
majority of the countries across Asia are enjoying
the benefits of entry into and upgradation in GVCs
in the form of higher employment and poverty
reduction, there are still countries such as Nepal,
Lao PDR and Mongolia which are not included in this
process. Meanwhile, even within the participating
countries there are marked differences between the
countries of South and East Asia in terms of their
share of the benefits. Moreover, particular groups
such as workers and small producers, and women could
capture very little gain from the process of GVCs.
Given this context, the conference also aimed at
strategising, through key research messages, on how
the economic upgrading (of producers) and social
upgrading (of workers and smallholders) can be
promoted, and how sustainable value chains can
provide more effective routes for inclusive
development.
The
conference consisted of two plenary sessions and six
parallel sessions. The plenary sessions focused on
Global Value Chains and Inclusive Development,
and Women and Value Chains in the New Asia.
The six parallel sessions were clustered under two
broad areas namely ‘product specific’ and
‘cross-cutting’. The product specific discussions
covered Asian experiences in value chain in the
areas such as clothing and sports goods; electronic
hardware and manufacturing; agro-foods; and offshore
services. Whereas, discussions on the cross-cutting
issues stressed on lead firms’ initiative and
responsibilities; and moving up value chains:
learning, innovation and building. Each of the
sessions were chaired by various distinguished
personalities from home and abroad, and included
presentations, discussions, questions and queries by
the panelists and participants.
The
closing session of the seminar concentrated on the
policy implications of the conference, and was
chaired by Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive
Director, CPD, while Dr. A. B. Mirza Azizul Islam,
former Advisor to the Caretaker Government was
present as the Special Guest. Various policy
recommendations drawn from the conference were
presented by Professor Dev Nathan, Institute of
Human Development, New Delhi and Visiting Research
Fellow, Duke University, USA.
The
discussants in the seminar placed emphasis on
effective channeling of GVCs; economic and social
upgrading of workers, producers and smallholders to
increase the inclusive development; and undertaking
measures for accelerated, sustained, inclusive and
equitable growth and sustainable development. The
inclusion of women in the value chains and value
addition was particularly emphasized as measures to
allow women to be part of the value chains instead
of being mere workers and producers. The discussants
also highlighted the issues related to workers’
rights and safety in which various social and
workplace safety measures had been proposed.
Suggestions to increase national capabilities which
included national innovation system, frugal
engineering, strengthening the trade unions and
extension of national and regional cooperation were
also put forward by the experts in the discussion.
A total of 71 participants including distinguished
economists, academics, media representatives,
members of civil society, development partners,
business leaders and leading lawmakers attended the
conference. Countries represented in this event were
(alphabetically) Australia, Bangladesh, China,
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, The Philippines,
Sri Lanka and UK.
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