One of the major challenges for Asian countries is the development of integrated and coherent policies for bio-innovations at the national level. Also, there is lack of a critical mass of skills and financial resources to acquire and adapt these technologies to local contexts. Against this background, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Rockefeller Foundation (Southeast Asia Regional Office), organized a workshop in Bangkok, from 13-14 November, 2006. The workshop  brought together researchers, NGOs, and policy-makers from countries in South, Southeast and East Asia,  to critically examine existing policies on bio-innovations in the region, identify existing research gaps and recommend a strategy for information sharing, learning across borders and partnering in the region.

 Speaking on the subject of ‘Effective Public Engagement In Policy Development And Practice’, Dr. Suman Sahai (Gene Campaign) indicated that since transformative technologies can change the way people live, people have a right to full disclosure about such technologies. However, authorities / technology providers are often reluctant to provide information, e.g. in risk assessment. The concept of Confidential Business Information (CBI) is ill-defined, and often used as an arbitrary reason for withholding public interest information. The public suspicion that this creates can result in the rejection of potentially useful technologies..

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