APDIM’s Governing Council Concludes its Ninth Session in Tehran

The Governing Council of the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) concluded its Ninth Session on Wednesday, 22 January 2025 in Tehran, with participants joining both in person and virtually. Hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the session brought together member countries, observers, and regional organizations to review the Centre’s progress and set strategic priorities for the coming year.

The session opened with remarks by Jamshed Kamolzoda, Head of the Main Department for the Protection of the Population and Territories of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan, who presided over the session. Mr. Mohammad Ghasemi, Deputy Head of the Plan and Budget Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), also delivered opening remarks.

Delegates representing APDIM’s Governing Council member countries- Bangladesh; Cambodia; India; Islamic Republic of Iran; Macao, China; Mongolia; Tajikistan; and Türkiye—were present in the session. Other ESCAP member states joined as observers, including Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan. Representatives from regional organizations such as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), were also in attendance.

The Council reviewed APDIM’s activities and achievements since its last session. Discussions focused on advancement in disaster information management, capacity building and regional cooperation. An independent evaluation of the Centre’s performance was also presented, providing valuable insights into future planning.

During the session, the Islamic Republic of Iran was elected as the new Chair of the Governing Council, succeeding Tajikistan. India was elected Vice-Chair for the upcoming term.

Key outcomes of the session included the adoption of APDIM’s programme of work for 2025, taking note of the report on the activities of the Centre, the briefing on the process and key findings of the evaluation of the Centre, as well as APDIM’s report on its administrative and financial status. 

The Ninth Session of the Governing Council reaffirmed APDIM’s readiness to further contribute to strengthening disaster information management across the Asia-Pacific region, and supporting resilience-building efforts aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.