President John Agyekum Kufuor has been elected a member of the Council of Patrons and Advisers of the Sixth Langkawi International Dialogue, which opened in Langkawi, Malaysia on Thursday.

Other members are President Festus G. Mogae of Botswana; President Bakili Muluzi of Malawi, President Cassam Uteem of Mauritius, President Joaquim Alberto Chissano of Mozambique, President Dr Sam Nujoma of Namibia, President France Albert Rene Of Seychelles and Mr Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili, Prime Minister of Lesotho.

The Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad is the host Patron and Adviser for the Global 2002 Dialogue. A release issued at the on-going Dialogue in Langkawi said the Council is made up of very distinguished people, who represent the host country and other countries closely associated with a particular Dialogue.

It said the Council lends support and provides overall guidance to the Dialogue organising team and is supported by the International Advisory Council (IAC). The IAC consists of Joint Chairmen supported by the Joint Dialogue Convenors and a Council of eminent people representing governments and the private sector that are all relevant to the issues and outcomes of Global 2002.

The Joint Chairmen representing the host countries and the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM) provides input and guidance to the Dialogue process both before and during the Dialogue. The Joint Dialogue Convenors (JDC) is responsible for identifying the Dialogue theme and co-ordinating all aspects of the Dialogue process. The JDC also provides support and guidance to the Council of Patrons and Advisers and together with the IAC, interface with the Joint Executive Group (JEG).

The CPTM is a unique international co-operative organisation among Commonwealth Governments, the Private Sector and Professionals, Labour, Academia dedicated to promoting Technology Management as part of the overall process of wealth creation in a knowledge driven economy.

The International Dialogues have proved highly effective in Asia under the initiative of Malaysia at Langkawi, in Southern Africa under the initiatives of Botswana, Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe and in the Caribbean under the initiative of Barbados, they form the regional webs of the Dialogue.