"This has raised the question whether globalisation is inclusive enough," UN Assistant Secretary General Hafiz Pasha said.

He called for improving the quality of governance in the region and capacity building in key sectors of the economy to achieve development goals, especially of halving poverty by 2015.

Pasha, who is also assistant administrator and regional director in UNDP's Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific, was speaking at the inaugural session of a three-day "Regional Forum on Revitalising Government in South Asia: Public Sector Capacity and Globalisation".
   
He stressed the need to strengthen public institutions and make them more effective to ensure that "globalisation ultimately becomes a servant of the poor". 
 
Jointly organised by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Undesa), United Nations Development Programme and the Administrative Staff College of India (ACSI), the forum is being attended by representatives from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The participants will discuss good practices and innovative approaches in revitalising government and strengthening public sector capacity.
 
Pasha said despite opening up, South Asia had a poor record in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). "South Asia receives only 15 percent FDI while East Asia gets 85 percent FDI," he said.
   
The government should provide a conducive atmosphere for public sector activity and increase the quality of human resources, which is important in an increasingly competitive environment.
 
Pasha called for improving physical infrastructure and tax administration. "More investment should be made in human resource development to have a labour force which is internationally competitive," he said.
 
--Indo-Asian News Service