Highlights from the 61st IAEA General Conference: The Department of Technical Cooperation
The IAEA held its 61st General Conference in September, with over 2000 participants from 157 Member States. Delegates met to consider and approve the IAEA’s programme and budget, and also participated in side events and informal discussions.
Various IAEA Departments took the opportunity to share details of their work and activities at the GC exhibition. The Department of Technical Cooperation (TC) presented information on the areas where the TC programme provides support to Member States. Staff at the TC stand were ready to answer any questions.
The Department of Technical Cooperation organized two side events on the margins of GC61.
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At a joint side event with the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, ‘Climate-Proofing Rice Production Systems’, experts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Viet Nam showed how farmers have boosted rice production in harsh climate conditions in the past five years with the help of the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
A further side event presented the InTouch+ platform and answered questions from users.
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InTouch+ supports online applications for all IAEA events, including training courses, fellowships, scientific visits and meetings. It is the successor to the Department of Technical Cooperation’s InTouch platform. The side event was very well attended, and IAEA experts were able to answer many questions and explain the platform.
State Parties of the regional cooperative agreements in Africa (AFRA), Asia and the Pacific (RCA), and Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL), and the cooperative agreement for Arab States in Asia (ARASIA), each met during the Conference to discuss regional technical cooperation. European Member States also met to discuss regional activities.
Many Member States highlighted activities and research in their national exhibitions. Delegates were able to learn more about how Member States are using nuclear techniques to enhance human well-being and improve socioeconomic development.
Six Country Programme Frameworks (CPFs) were signed on the margins of the General Conference. A CPF is the frame of reference for medium-term planning of technical cooperation between a Member State and the IAEA. It identifies the priority areas where nuclear technology can be used to address priority national development goals.
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Here, Mr Zeev Snir, Head, Israel Atomic Energy Commission, and Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, sign Israel’s CPF for the period of 2018–2023.
Mr Tun Lean, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Mines and Energy of Cambodia and Head of the Delegation of Cambodia to the 61st IAEA General Conference, and Mr Yang met on 19 September 2017 to finalize the signing of Cambodia’s CPF for the period of 2017-2023.
Mr. Gyula Fichtinger, Director General, Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, and Mr Yang signed Hungary’s CPF for the period of 2017–2022 on 20 September 2017.
Mr Taonga Mushayavanhu, Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, and Mr Yang signed Zimbabwe’s CPF for the period of 2017–2021 on 20 September 2017
Ms Faouzia Mebarki, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Algeria to the IAEA, and Mr Yang signed Algeria’s CPF for the period of 2018–2023 on 21 September 2017.
Ms Atchara Wongsaengchan, Secretary General, Office of Atoms for Peace, Thailand, and Mr Yang signed Thailand’s CPF for the period of 2017–2022 on 21 September 2017.
The IAEA and RCA Regional Office (RCARO) formalized their cooperation to enhance cooperation in the performance of secretariat duties under the 2017 Regional Cooperative Agreement for research, development and training related to nuclear science and technology for Asia and the Pacific (RCA). Practical Arrangements outlining the terms of collaboration were signed by Mr. Hai Joo Moon, Director of RCARO, and Mr Yang on 14 September 2017 at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
A Practical Arrangement was also signed between the National Centre for Nuclear Energy, Sciences and Technology (CNESTEN), Morocco and the IAEA. Mr Khalid El Mediouri, Director General, CNESTEN and Mr Yang signed the agreement on 20 September 2017, which sets out a framework for cooperation between the two organizations.
Photos: William Foster and Hazel Pattison, IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation
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? 2017 IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation
