OECD Secretary-General congratulates Kiyotaka Akasaka on UN post

12/02/2007 - OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría congratulated Kiyotaka Akasaka, Deputy Secretary-General at the OECD, on his new appointment as United Nations Undersecretary-General for Communications and Public Information.

Emphasising the valuable role that Mr. Akasaka, a senior Japanese diplomat, has played in expanding the OECD’s public communications, Mr. Gurría said he is confident that the U.N. community will benefit from his extensive experience in a range of key sectors.

“Kiyo is an excellent communicator and he has contributed greatly to our drive to raise awareness and understanding of the work of the OECD,” Mr. Gurría said. “We hope that his presence in New York will assist us in our drive to develop closer co-operation between the UN and the OECD in a number of areas.”

Mr. Akasaka, who was Japan’s Ambassador to the U.N. between 2000 and 2001, came to the OECD as Deputy Secretary-General in August 2003. He is currently responsible for the OECD’s work on development, the environment, sustainable development and for partnerships with other international organisations. Among his achievements, Mr. Akasaka helped to bring to fruition the March 2005 Paris Declaration, under which representatives of donor and recipient countries pledged to improve their development aid operations by setting verifiable targets for effectiveness.  

Both OECD members and other partner countries have valued the commitment of Mr. Akasaka in fostering intergovernmental co-operation, Mr. Gurría observed, noting also his own personal appreciation of Mr. Akasaka’s assistance during the transition period leading up to and following Mr. Gurría’s taking up office as Secretary-General in June 2006.