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Summary Record of Discussions
1st Task Force Meeting on Matrix of BIMSTEC Project Proposals
11 November 2002, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1. The 1st Task Force Meeting on Matrix of BIMSTEC Project Proposals, chaired by Mr. Sapote Isarankura na Ayudhaya, Director of the Economic Relations and Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met on 11 November 2002 to discuss the priority of BIMSTEC project proposals and the latest status of BIMSTEC Sectoral cooperations. The list of participants appears as Annex 1.
2. The Task Force had fruitful discussions and made the following recommendations.
2.1 Since several Expert Groups’ Meetings have been postponed this year, the future Expert Groups’ Meetings should be convened if at least three countries confirm their participation.
2.2 At least three month notice should be given prior to the holding of any Expert Group’s meeting.
2.3 Focal points of BIMSTEC countries, who are coordinating detailed arrangements for the holding of any Expert Group’s Meeting, should also send a copy of such information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of respective countries.
2.4 A maximum of two priority projects should be highlighted for each year and each member country should agree to allocate certain amount of their fiscal budgets for implementation of high priority projects.
2.5 Standardization of financial arrangement regarding the Expert Group’s Meeting should be agreed upon. The following two options are recommended:
- the host country to provide local hospitality while the sending country to bear air travel expenditure; or
- the sending country to provide both local hospitality and bear air travel expenditure.
3. The Task Force identified priority projects of each sector and representatives of BIMSTEC Embassies undertook to forward the matrix of BIMSTEC project proposals and the progress table of the BIMSTEC Sectoral cooperation (appears as Annex II) to their concerned authorities for consideration.
4. Thailand agrees to submit Project Profile with detailed information of financial requirements for the Establishment of BIMSTEC Tourism Cooperation Centre in the 2nd Task Force Meeting.
5. The Task Force agreed to submit its Summary of Record Discussions for the consideration of the Working Group in Bangkok in which its recommendations could be adopted and further forwarded to the forthcoming SOM and MM in 18 – 20 December 2002.
6. The Task Force agreed to have the 2nd meeting on 2 December 2002 by which time feedback from respective governments would be received.
Division of Economic Relations and Cooperation
Department of International Economic Affairs
12 November 2002.
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