Pacific High-level Policy Dialogue
on
“The Role of Macroeconomic Policy and Energy Security in supporting Sustainable Development in the Pacific”

The ongoing global economic crisis, coupled with high energy prices, is making it more challenging for the small and remote countries in the Pacific to pursue sustainable development as envisioned by the Pacific Plan and the Mauritius Strategy. While the direct impact of the euro zone crisis has been limited, indirect impacts through tourism and remittance channels could be sizeable, and greater if Asian economies with close trade and investment linkages are severely affected. At the same time, global commodity prices remain high and volatile, raising a particular concern for the Pacific island countries which rely heavily on imported fuel for their energy requirements.

Such challenges call for stronger policy coordination at national and regional levels, as already being pursued in the Pacific. In particular, a better understanding on the inter-linkages between macroeconomic policies and energy security issues could be instrumental in creating more fiscal and monetary policy space and in promoting the sustainable use of energy. In light of this, and the renewed momentum provided by Rio+20, the ESCAP Pacific policy dialogue will seek to identify strategic macroeconomic and energy policy options to build resilience to shocks and promote sustainable development. By engaging diverse stakeholders, the high-level event will contribute to developing a shared vision and coordinated actions among relevant authorities, especially the finance ministries and central banks and the energy ministries and departments.

	LINK TO DOCUMENTS
	Concept note
	Tentative Programme
	Papers and Presentations

	Past High-Level Regional Workshop
	High-level Regional Policy Dialogue on Asia-Pacific economies after the global financial crisis: Lessons learnt, challenges for building resilience, and issues for global reform, 6-8 September 2011, Manila, Philippines
	The Regional High-level Workshop on Strengthening the Response to the Global Financial Crisis in Asia-Pacific: the Role of Monetary, Fiscal and External Debt Policies, 27-30 July 2009, Dhaka, Bangladesh

	Outcome Documents of Past Meetings
	Outcome Document from the High-level Regional Policy Dialogue on Asia-Pacific economies after the global financial crisis: Lessons learnt, challenges for building resilience, and issues for global reform, 6-8 September 2011, Manila, Philippines
	Outcome Document from the Regional High-level Workshop on Strengthening the Response to the Global Financial Crisis in Asia-Pacific: the Role of Monetary, Fiscal and External Debt Policies, 27-30 July 2009, Dhaka, Bangladesh
	Outcome Document from the High-level National Workshop on Strengthening the Response to the Global Financial Crisis in Asia-Pacific: The Role of Monetary, Fiscal, and External Debt Policies, Thimpu, Bhutan, 9-11 December 2009
	Outcome Document from the High-level Workshop on Strengthening the Responses to the Global Financial Crisis in Asia-Pacific: The Role of Macroeconomic Policies, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 22-24 June 2010
	Outcome Document from the the High-level Consultation on Perspectives from Asia and the Pacific on the G20 Seoul Summit, 26 October 2010

Contact person:

Mr. Aynul Hasan
Chief, Development Policy Section
Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division
ESCAP
Tel: (662) 288-1636
Fax: (662) 288-3007
Email: hasan.unescap@un.org