By Ramesh MathewStaff ReporterPanellists at a session on ‘Addressing emerging development challenges and inter-related issues’ at the Unctad XIII yesterday said that developing nations need to accelerate their industrial growth in order to reduce unemployment and poverty. Deliberating on the challenges that their countries faced despite recording good growth, most participants said GDP growth alone should not be the lone indicator of development.Botswana’s Economic Affairs Minister Makcetu Malesu said unless core issues like unemployment and poverty at the grassroots are answered effectively, no country could claim substantial economic development. The minister felt negative growth in the agricultural sector in many African countries contributed to their poor economic performance even though some of them claimed to have successfully implemented poverty alleviation programmes. Minister from Peru Jose Urquizo Maggia said despite being identified as part of the developing world, it was a matter of immense satisfaction for him that his country had averaged a consistent 6% economic growth in the last one decade. The opening up of the Peruvian economy has helped the tiny South American country grow its international capital reserves and in terms of economic competence the nation ranked 67th.Peru’s numbers for people below the poverty line fell to 31% last year. Attributing this to diversification in the economy, the minister said his country’s increased focus on developing science and technology, and small and medium enterprises in the last few years has seen Peru record substantial economic gains. The rationalisation of the mining sector and effective use of its limited hydro-carbon resources have helped the economy record good growth. Maggia said as a representative of the developing world, he felt each country should focus on science and technology, entrepreneurship, industrial production, infrastructure, retail and preservation of environment for development.The minister said more should be heard about the Peruvian economic success in the forthcoming Latin American-Arab summit in Doha later this year. Vice Minister of Transportation from Indonesia B Susantonio said his country has been through an economic recovery over the last 12 years.“Being one of the world’s largest archipelagos, with more than one thousand islands, our administrators are giving priority these days to connectivity corridors to ensure development throughout the country. Connectivity corridors will go a long way in ensuring economic development in the long run,” he said.The minister said Indonesia realised the necessity of building a good mass transit system long ago and rapid bus transits are being built across the country in 12 major cities.“The effects of increasing urbanisation are being felt across the country and hence more priority is being accorded to strengthening public transport connectivity. This is our lesson to developing countries aspiring to initiate a host of economic activities in the coming years,” said Susantiano.The minister also said that economic transformation has led to massive growth in automobiles and an average of 3,000 cars and about 25,000 two-wheelers are sold daily in the country. “Last year a total of 1mn cars and 8mn motor cycles were sold in Indonesia,” he recalled.Mexican commerce minister Gomez Robledo, said: “Like many developing nations, Mexico too has seen large scale economic development and growth in GDP. Along with ensuring infrastructural development, innovation, technology, scientific research and employment for youth, Mexico has all along accorded top priority to food security as part of its sustainable development policies.” The minister said his country was highlighting this aspect at international forums just as the world has been hit by natural calamities.Senior African Development Bank adviser A Shimeles and secretary general of African NGO Third World Network Tete Horneku –Ajer also spoke.