Government ministers and officials from around 40 Asia-Pacific countries on Friday pledged to fight corruption saying it was the key to reducing poverty in the world's fastest growing region. Two thirds of the world's poor live in the Asia-Pacific, which also is home to some of the world's fastest growing economies. The international conference on development called for bold action and strong political will to raise incomes.
"We reiterate our commitment to enhancing good governance, the rule of law and combating corruption, at all levels, and underline these as essential for sustained economic growth, sustainable development and eradication of poverty and hunger," said a statement, called the Jakarta Declaration.
The three-day conference, which wrapped up on Friday was part of efforts to meet UN Millennium Development Goals launched five years ago. One of those is to halve world poverty by 2015.
Indonesian chief social welfare minister Alwi Shihab told reporters that graft was one of the biggest enemies of the poor.
"It is very important for us to eliminate corruption. There is so much aid that never reaches down. Aid needs to be funnelled according to the programmes and planning of those who help," said Shihab, who oversaw early relief efforts in the Indonesian province of Aceh after the December 26 tsunami.
The tsunami left some 170,000 dead or missing in Aceh and ruined the livelihood of hundreds of thousands more. A study by international aid group Oxfam showed the poor suffered most.
Shihab also said rich donor countries should consider granting debt waivers for a few years.
"Allow us to not pay our debts for a few years, but to use the earmarked funds for specific programmes that can reduce the poverty rate," said Shihab.
He said he was optimistic Indonesia's poverty rate could be halved from around the current level of 17 percent over the next four years.
"This is a humanitarian cause, not a profit-making effort. It's about how to save our brothers and sisters."
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