The 3 day workshop in June 2002 brought together an outstanding group of policy makers and experts in the land policy field and saw presentations by representatives from most Asian countries, international agencies and academic institutions from around the world. The workshop, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia was to discuss land policy issues in Asia with a key note presentation by Professor Michael Lipton of Sussex University. Michael set the tone for the workshop with a paper which advocated increased support for rural areas and agrarian land reform. Most presentations that followed also had a rural focus (despite the fact that Asia has some of worlds largest urban conurbations and increasing levels of urbanisation). Geoffrey Payne responded to the only major paper on urban land issues, which was presented by Michael Kirk of the University of Marburg, Germany. The conference organisers are proposing to set up a network of professionals interested in the subject of land policy in Asia. Watch this space! 

You can check out the programme, topics and case studies of the World Bank Workshop on Land Issues here.

The book, ‘Land Rights and Innovation’ was also launched in Phnom Penh. Yet again all free copies went very quickly. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, and reading the back page blurb, see the GPA book section.