Cabinet approves IBSA MoU on Human Settlements Development

New Delhi, Feb 5 (ANI): The Union Cabinet has accorded ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) on Cooperation in the field of Human Settlements Development which has been signed between the IBSA countries on the October 15, 2008 during the 3rd IBSA summit.

The IBSA dialogue has its genesis in the discussions between the Heads of State and Government of the IBSA countries at the G-8 meeting that took place in Evian, France in 2003, and following ongoing trilateral consultations, where the Foreign Ministers of the respective countries met in Brasilia on June 6, 2003 and the launching of the IBSA Dialogue Forum was formalized through the adoption of the "Brasilia Declaration".

The IBSA Dialogue Forum has regular consultations at Senior Officials level called Focal Point meetings; Ministerial meeting known as Trilateral Joint Commission; and Heads of State or Summit Meeting. It also facilitates interaction amongst academics, business and other members of civil society.

The fourth meeting of the Trilateral Commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum held in New Delhi on July 4, 2007 recognized the importance of cooperation in the sector of human settlement development and called upon the focal points to consult and provide a concrete proposal for co-operation in the field of human settlement development.

Both the 1st and 2nd Working Group meetings were held in South Africa. In the 2nd Working Group meeting held at Somerset West, South Africa in May, 2008 in conjunction with the 5th IBSA Trilateral Commission Meeting and the 12th Focal Point Meeting, India had circulated a draft trilateral MOU. The draft was considered by the Working Group and it was decided that Brazil and South Africa will communicate their comments or suggestions to India in due course.

The 3rd meeting of the IBSA Working Group of Human Settlement Development ( WGHS) was hosted by Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in New Delhi, India on September 8 to 9, 2008. Delegations from India, Brazil and South Africa participated in the deliberations.

The MoU is reflective of the common desire of IBSA countries to work in tandem towards the objective of providing housing and basic services to the urban poor. As the key actors in their respective regions, all three countries have an active and important role in achieving this goal.

Closer co-operation under IBSA would lead to greater articulation of developing housing and human settlement strategies relevant to developing countries. This would also assist in engaging with International role players to garner support both financial and political towards achieving the MDG identified goal for human settlement development by the three countries. (ANI)