This week will mark the end of two continuous months of an activity which is both unique and special in the functions of a career staff member of UNDP like myself. It is special, and different, because all too rarely do those of us who administer technical assistance get the opportunity to turn our attention full time, in a comprehensive and thorough way, to one single project. It has been my privilege to do just that, as the Leader of the team which has just completed its evaluation of the UNDP/FAO-assisted Network of Aquaculture Centre in Asia. I am very pleased that we have been able to complete our work in time to include our report in the documentation which you have before you for this meeting of the Advisory Committee, and I look forward to hearing your comments, offering you any clarifications which you might seek, and, more importantly, helping you, if I can, to use the report as a tool in your forward-looking deliberations about the future of the Network.
Let me say now, before we get into the details of our discussion, that I personally look back over the work of this evaluation with gratitude and pride, as it has given me the opportunity to meet so many competent and dedicated scientists, and it has allowed me to observe, appreciate and absorb the manifestations of a highly successful, very dynamic and extremely worthwhile endeavour. I can happily say that there is not the slightest doubt in my mind, nor in the minds of my colleagues in New York with whom I have just discussed the evaluation report, that this project is already producing tangible benefits in all of the participating countries and that it is doing so through the persistent, capable effort of all of you.
Although there is no doubt that the major contribution to the success of this network comes from you yourselves and from the resources in money, material and manpower of your governments, UNDP, through FAO as its implementing partner, has been able to lend support. I am pleased to inform you, at this time, that this support will continue over at least the next two years, and will be approved at the same budget levels as at present, with the door open for some modest increase, depending on our deliberations and proposals during this week. In summary this means that UNDP's contribution to the Network in Asia will amount to no less than $ 4.6 million by the end of 1986.
Financial contributions, by UNDP and by other external donors, are just one kind of input into the creation and existence of such a successful and farsighted venture. Certainly, I, for one, am well aware that an even more significant contribution, an even more precious resource is manpower. That manpower supply, from the most ordinary administrative backstopping to the highly qualified scientist, is of course the true nucleus of this project, and the real embryo of its future. Beyond even this level of indipensible human resource, there are, as in any great endeavour, the true leaders. Many of you are here today and one great leader, Dr. Pillay, deserves our particular admiration and special praise at this time. Ramu Pillay's energy and foresight are an example, an inspiration, and a gift to each and every one of us.
In these brief remarks there is really only one conclusion from the review and evaluation of NACA which I feel I should share with you, because I think it is the most important conclusion of all. In the 1970's, the need for a cooperative effort within Asia in the field of aquaculture development began to be actively discussed. From that time forward, plans were made and the foundations began to be laid for collaboration and mutual progress in research, training and information exchange in aquaculture. The summation of my own review, over the past two months, is quite simple and obvious. It is that today you, and the governments behind you, have, indeed, an inter-governmental network devoted to aquaculture development. You yourselves, representing the eleven governments who participate in this programme, now operate, manage and can decide the future policies and actions of a closely-linked and mutually beneficial regional activity. The administrations and institutions, the scientists and leaders, represented here today can function as an integrated scientific body engaged in development work in the best spirit and sense of Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries. I am happy that UNDP is present to hear from you what your plans and policies for the future are, and then we can try, guided by you, to translate some part of our resources into support for those plans and policies. To accomplish this, I sincerely hope that our discussions and decisions at the Advisory Committee Meeting and at the Tripartite Review on Thursday morning will be productive and forward-looking.
In closing, I want to use this forum to thank once more all of our hosts who so generously facilitated the work of the Evaluation team. Thus, and most important on this occasion, I want to recognize the exhuberant presence of our immediate host, Dr. Sinha, and his staff. I can only believe that their generosity, friendliness and assured competence are the true spirit and presence of that same generous support which the Government of India offers to our mutual endeavour.
Thank you very much.
