Bangkok - The Investment Forum, organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), FAO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) around the theme “Food for all”, will gather key stakeholders in the Asia and Pacific region to share best practices, foster greater collaboration, and promote country-driven partnership frameworks for investments in food security.

The Forum will be held at the headquarters of ADB in Manila, Philippines from 7 until 9 July 2010.

The Asia and Pacific region is home to the largest number of the world’s poor, and is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and economic shocks. The region is also the largest supplier and consumer of food. It is the base of a dynamic food and agriculture industry that is providing an increasing range of affordable food products. Thus, what the region does for its own food security will resonate around the world.

Participation at the Forum is by invitation only. Up to present some 300 delegates are registered, among which ministers from selected Asia-Pacific countries, high-level public sector officials from countries and regional bodies, and broad private sector (multinational, regional and national), producer associations, and civil society organizations (CSO).

On 7 July, FAO's director-general Jacques Diouf will deliver opening remarks through a video recording, while the Organization's delegation will be headed by Hiroyuki Konuma, assistant director-general and FAO regional representative for Asia and the Pacific.

A CSO pre-forum side event will be held on 5 and 6 July under the theme “Investment for whom and for what? Bringing in Asia Pacific people’s voices in the Investment Forum for food security”, organized by AsiaDHRRA and the CSO Ad Hoc Committee for the APRC.

The programme and concept note for the Investment Forum are available from the ADB web site.

More information at:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2010/Investment-Forum/default.asp