The 13th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Council hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan on 19 – 20 February 2025 at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting aimed to strengthen food security in the region through the APTERR mechanisms.
The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Junichiro Yamakuchi, the Director-General for Crop Production Policy Department, Crop Production Bureau, MAFF of Japan, together with Mr. Abuzar Bin Haji Mohd Tahir, the Acting Director for the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei Darussalam. The meeting was participated by the delegates from the APTERR member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) Secretariat, and the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Secretariat. Moreover, the representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) also attended the meeting to present on their agenda.
After the opening remarks by the outgoing and ongoing co-chairs, the meeting has discussed and unanimously agreed to extend the contract of Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn as General Manager (GM) of the APTERR Secretariat for another 3-year term considering his outstanding leadership and capability to direct the APTERR Secretariat and initiate collaborations with related organisation.
The meeting took note on the update on the status of the Endowment Fund (EF) and the contribution for the Operational Cost (OC) as well as the implementation of work plan and budget plan for fiscal year 2024. The meeting also endorsed the workplan and annual operational budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 proposed by the APTERR Secretariat. The representatives from Lao PDR, Myanmar, and the Philippines presented their report on the successful implementation of Tier 3 programme and the update on the ongoing Tier 3 programme implementations.
The MAFF of Japan has introduced Mr. Kasakawa Aro to the meeting as the next Japanese Expert. He will be dispatched in April 2025 as a successor of Mr. Akinori Ando, the current Japanese Expert at the APTERR Secretariat.
In the afternoon on Feb 20th, the MAFF of Japan organised a spectacular excursion to the Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, a shopping mall that recreates old town Tokyo and Sona Area Tokyo, a disaster prevention experience-learning facility.
Thanks to all the delegates from APTERR member countries and related organisations, the 13th APTERR Council Meeting concluded successfully with productive outcomes and proactive discussions to enhance APTERR’s efficiency and effectiveness in achieving food security in the region.
The 14th Meeting of APTERR Council will be conducted in Cambodia in 2025.
Photo credit: MAFF of Japan and APTERR Secretariat
