Addressing Growth and Poverty in Asia and Latin America

How can Asia and Latin America accelerate economic growth and reduce hunger and poverty? This was the question that policy makers, researchers and development practitioners from both regions sought to answer at a conference "Fostering Growth and Reducing Poverty and Hunger in Asia and Latin America: Opportunities for Mutual Learning and Cooperation," organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Universidad del Pacífico in Lima, Peru.

 "This conference comes at a crucial time," said Shenggen Fan, director general of IFPRI. "The current financial crisis is forcing governments to come up with new strategies to sustain growth and reduce poverty and inequality in a much less favorable environment. This is the time when lessons from other regions and countries will be most valuable."

The following how-to concerns were discussed:

• Handle economic crises and stimulate growth in the midst of global downturns. 
• Govern exchange rates, trade, and financial transactions. 
• Protect society's most vulnerable members against hunger and poverty.
• Design and implement agricultural development strategies to boost food production and enhance the incomes of poor people.

Read IFPRI's media release at http://www.ifpri.org/pressrelease/fostering-growth-reducing-poverty-and-hunger