Russia contributes USD 3 million to APEC security, innovation initiatives

Russia has donated USD 3 million to APEC activities to support human security and development of science and technology in the Asia-Pacific region.

Half of the money will be spent on APEC projects in 2011-2012 that enhance human security, which is essential to economic stability, growth and prosperity.

APEC has long been working in the region to enable economies, businesses and individuals better prepare for, respond to, and quickly recover from trans-boundary threats and devastation caused by terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters and contamination of food supplies.

Ambassador Gennady Ovechko, Russia’s Senior Official for APEC (left) and Ambassador Muhamad Noor, APEC Secretariat Executive Director

The remaining USD 1.5 million will be used to support capacity building projects in developing member economies to enhance science and technology. APEC is helping economies increase their access to, and knowledge and application of industrial science and technology, recognizing that it is a key to further building a dynamic and prosperous region.

Enhancing human security and developing science and technology complement APEC’s new Growth Strategy. APEC Leaders set forth the strategy at their 2010 meeting in Yokohama in Japan in November and count secure and innovative economic growth as key components.

Russia and the APEC Secretariat this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the contribution on the sidelines of the first APEC Senior Officials’ meeting for 2011 being held in Washington, D.C. Officials are discussing the priorities for the year ahead and agenda for achieving practical results.

Ambassador-at-Large Gennady Ovechko said that various APEC capacity building projects, in which the Russian Federation has been actively involved, assisted member economies to improve management and counter evolving threats and emergencies.

“We note with satisfaction that significant progress has been achieved in enhancing APEC economies’ resilience to human security threats,” said Ambassador Ovechko, Russia’s APEC Senior Official. “However, much more has yet to be done and we need to intensify our joint efforts to increase the region’s preparedness for natural disasters and other risks of devastating human and economic costs.

“We believe that Russia’s contribution to ASF will help give new impetus to APEC’s collective efforts towards achieving concrete and practical results in the way of implementing capacity-building projects.”

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Muhamad Noor, expressed appreciation for the contribution.

"I thank Russia for the generous contribution to the APEC Support Fund. APEC will use the donation to carry out its growing work program, which is assisting economies in this very important area of human security,” said Ambassador Noor.

Russia takes the mantle from the United States as host of APEC in 2012.

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For more information, contact:
Michael Chapnick +1 (202) 664 6245 at [email protected] or
Trudy Harris + 65 6891 9671 or + 65 98983710 at [email protected]