Representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) (inset) met recently to flesh out various strategies to remove obstacles to the development of investment sector and the expansion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as fostering efficient, responsive, transparent and accountable governance at all levels. The 8th NEDA-CIDA Bilateral Consultations was also held to renew commitments and strengthen partnership between CIDA and NEDA in realizing the country’s goals and priorities by ensuring the alignment of CIDA’s cooperation program with these emerging needs and priorities, particularly those in the 2004-2010 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP). Photo shows (from left) Hazel Iris Baliatan, Public Investment Staff-NEDA; Rebecca Abesamis, Trade and Industry Utilities Staff-NEDA; Pamela Quizon, PIS-NEDA; Rolando Tungpalan, NEDA Assistant Director-General for Programming; Jose Montero, Assistant Director, Project Monitoring Staff-NEDA; and John Callanta, PMS-NEDA; and (inset, from left) Joseph Goodings, CIDA Second Secretary; Robert Patzer, Asst. Director-Planning, CIDA SPE/G Asia Branch; Pauline Kehoe, DG for CIDA BSE/G Asia Branch; and Gerard Belanger, Head of Aid, CIDA.