CTI-CFF Holds Dialogue with Partners

 The Chairman of the CTI-CFF Council of Ministers, Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, who is also the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) in Malaysia, met with representatives of various development and non-profit organizations supporting the CTI-CFF on September 7, 2012, in Sabah, Malaysia.

The dialogue, attended by representatives from the Interim CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and partner organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, the US Agency for International Development, the Australian Government, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), discussed progress in establishing the permanent CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat in Indonesia. It also sought continued support to ensure the implementation of the CTI-CFF Regional and National Plans of Action. The dialogue further aimed to consolidate efforts toward developing a regional financial architecture and sustainable financing mechanism for CTI-CFF priority projects at the regional, national, and local levels.

During the meeting, Dr. Ongkili announced that Malaysia had disbursed about RM1.17 million for six research projects supporting Malaysia’s National Plan of Action, while eight additional projects amounting to RM2.39 million (USD 780,000) were approved for implementation over the next four years. In addition, the Sabah State Government established a State Coordination Committee to coordinate and implement activities under the CTI NPOA. The committee recommended seven community projects worth RM990,000 (USD 320,000), which were endorsed by the Malaysian CTI National Coordination Committee during its second meeting in August 2012.

Dr. Ongkili also formally announced that Malaysia would host the upcoming 8th CTI-CFF Senior Officials Meeting and 4th Ministerial Meeting from November 19–22, 2012, and lead the planning process for these two high-level events.

Photo: Dr. Ongkili (center, seated) with CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and partner representatives after the meeting.