New Delhi: The SAARC Secretariat participated in the Asia Pacific Sub-Regional Dialogue, which was held in Bangkok between 10 and 13 September. The sub-regional dialogue, moderated by Professor Kazuhiro Yoshida of Hiroshima University, brought together key representatives to discuss goals, strategies, and challenges in implementing existing commitments across East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and South Asia, a SAARC press release stated.
The SAARC Secretariat highlighted the significance of South Asia, which hosts nearly 350 million adolescents, the highest number of any region globally. With nearly half of its population under the age of 24 and led by India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, South Asia is poised to have the world’s largest youth labor force until 2040. This demographic advantage presents a unique opportunity for the region to drive dynamic and productive economies, said Director of the SAARC Secretariat.
He also emphasised the need to address both conventional and emerging challenges faced by the region, including ongoing gaps and lapses in achieving educational equity and ensuring access to high-quality education at all levels.
The sub-regional dialogue developed recommendations and a strategic plan to forward. The recommendations will be included in the Outcome Document of APMED6, which will contribute valuable inputs to the upcoming Global Education Meeting (GEM) in Brazil.