IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda Item 3: Strengthening of the Agency’s technical cooperation activities: Technical Cooperation Report for 2023
3 June 2024
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Thank you, Chair.
Australia recognises the critical role technical cooperation plays in social and economic development - especially in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States - and commends the efforts of the agency to promote the role of nuclear science and technology in addressing global challenges. We note the high rate of attainment of payments to the Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF) in 2023, at 97.5 per cent, and commend all Member States who paid their target share in full and on time. This ensures sufficient, assured and predictable funding for the Technical Cooperation (TC) Programme.
Chair
The Technical Cooperation Report for 2023 highlights the decisive steps being undertaken to increase nuclear science and technology capabilities, especially in the Asia and Pacific region.
We commend IAEA initiatives such as Rays of Hope, Atoms4Food, NUTEC Plastics, and inter-regional projects such as Women for Nuclear Science Education and Communications (W4NSEC) which are providing more access to cancer care; tackling growing hunger; ensuring a safer environment; and, encouraging more women to embark on careers in nuclear.
Chair
Australia was pleased that the TC Programme within the Asia Pacific region saw participation from 40 member states and territories, including seven least developed countries – with 317 national and 70 regional projects in operation.
We recognize that ‘Food and Agriculture’ and ‘Health and Nutrition’ remain the most significant themes addressed by the TC Programme in our region – and we appreciate that the budget allocations reflected this.
Chair
We commend the efforts of the Sub-Regional Approach to the Pacific Islands (SAPI) programme in providing tailored support for Small Island Developing States in the Pacific, to ensure they can harness the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology to achieve their sustainable development objectives.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) recently hosted an IAEA SAPI National Liaison Officers Meeting in Australia, where Pacific Island participants came together to discuss how technical cooperation can be implemented within their countries, while also visiting ANSTO’s facilities to see, and hear about, the positive impacts nuclear science and technology can deliver.
Australia is grateful to the IAEA for the support given to our Pacific neighbor, Vanuatu, after two cyclones damaged vital infrastructure, through the provision of a portable X-ray machine and a portable ultrasound machine.
Chair
Throughout 2023, Australia was honored to Chair the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific, the RCA. Through working together with all Government Parties, we emphasized gender equality, strengthened governance, and trained over 700 professionals. For the very first time, the RCA received project proposals from a Least Developing Country (Nepal) and a Small Island Developing State (Fiji), which is a sign that the benefits of nuclear science and technology are being realised by more and more countries.
Chair
We commend the IAEA Secretariat for its extraordinary efforts to raise the visibility of its work across many international forums.
Australia remains dedicated to, and strongly supportive of, the TC Programme and values the Agency's ongoing efforts in facilitating capability development and providing essential infrastructure.
With these remarks, we take note of the Technical Cooperation Report for 2023.
Thank you, Chair.