USAID-SEAFDEC join forces in promoting regional food security

BANGKOK, June 17 (TNA) - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on designing and implementing activities to promote sustainable food security and biodiversity conservation in Asia and the Pacific. The MOU was inked in Bangkok on June 16 by SEAFDEC Secretary-General Chumnarn Pongsri and USAID Regional Development Mission Director for Asia Michael Yates, witnessed by US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney. Under the MOU, USAID and SEAFADEC will hold regular meetings to discuss plans on most effective natural resources management, regional operations and continual cooperation with member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the agreed areas, as well as on setting up an adhoc advisory committee to move forward regional agenda on promoting sustainable fisheries with social responsibility and accountability. USAID and SEAFDEC will also cooperate with other US government agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Interior, to seek support from their technical experts in implementing agreed activities, funded by USAID. According to SEAFDEC, 70 per cent of the world’s total fishery produce came from Asia in 2011, when 18.8 per cent of the world's total fishery products even came from ASEAN alone.(TNA)