Keynote address delivered by General Harn Leenanond, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Royal Thai Government, at the Opening Ceremony of the Second Provisional Governing Council Meeting, 12 January 1988, FAO Regional Office, Bangkok.
The FAO Regional Representative, Mr. Puri,
The UNDP Regional Representative, Mr. Kim,
Your Excellencies and Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, I have the pleasure of welcoming you to Thailand, and to the second Provisional Governing Council meeting of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia. I know all of you are here for a very definite and useful purpose. I also know that the people and the institutions who have made this important meeting possible will spare no effort to make your stay here productive and comfortable.
I understood that the 1982 meeting was held in Bangkok. It was then called the Advisory Committee Meeting. Now it is reconstituted into the Provisional Governing Council, a clear sign of the growing stature from a project to an institution. We should all feel proud to be a part of this institution which is undergoing an exciting transitional change.
Aquaculture itself is undergoing an exciting transitional phase. We have witnessed over the years the progress and growth of the aquaculture industry in our region. We have seen it evolve from a very traditional or extensive farming system to an increasingly intensive production system, moving rapidly into the era of scientific-based aquaculture. Thus, as aquaculture shifts from a largely resource-based practice to a more technology-based industry, as in agriculture and animal husbandry, it is necessary for us to keep ahead of industry patterns and trends. Timely anticipation as well as analysis of development trends are crucial if we are to meet head-on the numerous challenges offered by the next decade and the 21st century aquaculture.
Therefore, it may be necessary to start another series of bold and innovative steps towards strengthening and expanding the present NACA into an umbrella network. In order to raise the level of aquaculture to the level of animal husbandry in which most factors can be largely controlled, it is essential to set up, under the NACA umbrella, several networks or sub-networks of disciplinary programmes like fish nutrition, fish genetics, fish diseases, social sciences, and other essential areas requiring studies.
We must build a strong and resilient aquaculture if we are to meet the challenges ahead. A strong and resilient aquaculture can only be built on a solid foundation of knowledge accumulated through scientific research and experimentation, and regional exchange of information and technical know-how. In this respect, I am pleased to learn that NACA, under the framework of Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries, is using cost-effective methods to establish this solid foundation through its modus operandi, that is, to share the responsibilities of research, training and information exchange among its aquaculture centres. I am glad that Thailand, by hosting one of the regional centres, is contributing to this joint effort by expanding aquaculture development in the Asia-Pacific region. Our annual cash contribution of US$ 10,000 to the NACA core activities is also a token expression, in practical terms, of our belief and support for the TCDC principle.
NACA is now undergoing the third phase of metamorphosis into an independent and regional organization. As it was well-conceived and nurtured through the generous support of UNDP and FAO, as well as other bilateral and multilateral agencies and organizations, I am confident that the metamorposed NACA will rise to the challenges ahead. As NACA matures and assumes greater independence and self-reliance, the role of the member governments will become even more critical. The recently concluded Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the adoption of the NACA Agreement and your presence here for the Governing Council Meeting are adequate testimony of our support for NACA and the high priority placed on fostering greater regional cooperation and self-help in aquaculture development.
All these augur well for the region and I have no coubt that with the track record and excellent network mechanism of NACA, the foundation already laid down for the new NACA will live up to your expectations.
In closing, let me recall a very apt example referred to you during the 1982 meeting in which the symbol of the Ministry was cited. I cannot agree more with the reference to the mythological multi-headed dragon named Naca as being the excellent analogy to our Network, NACA. The multi-headed Naca with a common body is symbolic of what all of us gathered in this conference hall are trying to achieve: working towards a common goal of improved standards of living for our peoples through an expanded and accelerated aquaculture development thrust.
NACA presently has eleven member governments representing eleven heads of our mythological creature. We need more governments from both developing and developed countries to join our effort in not only strengthening the existing Network, but to pool our collective resources together for economy of scale.
Finally let me say that I am very pleased to be with you. I am also grateful for this excellent opportunity to share with you some of my thoughts on regional cooperation under the TCDC concept and the direction that aquaculture development and management should take in the coming years. As policy makers and planners concerned with the future of the industry, there are a number of decisions and actions we can take or influence, either to accelerate or inhibit its growth. We can exercise that option well, and now.
I now declare the Second Provisional Governing Council Meeting open.
