ESCAP News/Press Releases

United Nations to honour disability rights champions on eve of new regional decade

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:38:00 GMT

UN ESCAP and the Government of the Republic of Korea will confer the ?Asia-Pacific Disability Rights Champions Award? on ten outstanding individuals on 1 November during a high-level intergovernmental meeting in Incheon, Republic of Korea, to launch a new decade-long regional initiative for a more disability-inclusive society.

Regional cooperation key to closing development and infrastructure gaps in South and South-West Asia, says United Nations

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:58:00 GMT

Enhanced subregional cooperation can reduce the wide development and infrastructure gaps in South and South-West Asia, stimulating growth that is more inclusive, sustainable and resilient to economic shocks and natural disasters, UN told a high-level policymakers? forum.

Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2012 ? Need for a new business paradigm for inclusive and sustainable development

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:08:00 GMT

As the world continues to face economic turmoil, especially in the developed countries, regional economic integration, supported by robust South-South cooperation, has become even more important to reduce dependencies and diversify economies, according to Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP in her opening address to the Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF) 2012, which opened in Kuala Lumpur today.

Asia-Pacific business forum to harness regional integration for equitable and sustainable growth

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 04:10:00 GMT

Asia-Pacific business leaders and government policymakers, international aid and development agencies as well as civil society representatives will meet in the Malaysian capital next week to discuss how they can harness regional economic integration to promote economic growth that is equitable and sustainable.

Asia-Pacific countries discuss ways to make transport a key pillar of post-2015 development agenda

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:25:00 GMT

Representatives of over 23 Asia-Pacific governments began a three-day meeting here today to discuss cooperation in building an efficient and sustainable regional transport and logistics network to drive growth while improving access for all to economic opportunities and social services.

Pacific island nations seek enabling policies to reach sustainable energy goals

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 04:54:00 GMT

Fourteen Pacific island countries ended two days of consultations this week acknowledging that it is crucial to promote synergy between their macroeconomic and energy security policies to achieve sustainable development and insulate themselves from external economic shocks. Over 50 participants, including finance, central bank, planning, and energy officials and development partners took part in the 8-9 October ?High-level Policy Dialogue on the Role of Macroeconomic Policy and Energy Security in supporting Sustainable Development in the Pacific?, organized by ESCAP

Pacific needs sound policies to promote inclusive and sustainable growth amidst economic and environmental threats, Fiji Prime Minister tells United Nations forum

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:46:00 GMT

Pacific island countries need sound policies to protect themselves from external economic shocks and environmental threats, and to promote growth that is inclusive and sustainable, the Prime Minister of Fiji, H.E. Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama told a United Nations forum here today.

Observance of the International Day of Non-Violence, Monday, 8 October 2012

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:58:00 GMT

ESCAP and the Embassy of India in Thailand will jointly commemorate the International Day of Non-Violence on Monday, 8 October 2012 at UN Conference Centre in Bangkok. The programme for the observance will include the delivering of addresses by UN ESCAP Executive Secretary and the Ambassador of India and the screening of film on Mahatma Gandhi?s work as well as the offering of floral tribute at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Asia-Pacific region launches five-year initiative to strengthen space technology use to reduce disaster risks and promote sustainable growth

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:28:00 GMT

Asia-Pacific countries launched a five-year campaign here today aimed at promoting greater use of space technology and the Geographic Information System (GIS) for improved disaster risk reduction and management as well as to minimize the environmental costs of economic growth in the region.

United Nations shares Asia-Pacific concerns with G20 Presidency

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:27:00 GMT

Rising international food prices, continuing economic uncertainty in the United States and euro zone as well as volatile capital flows to the region were among Asia-Pacific concerns shared with a high-level representative from the Mexican presidency of the G20 at a United Nations forum here today.

Central Asian countries call for international cooperation to promote access to clean and efficient energy

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:14:00 GMT

High-level officials from Central Asian and neighbouring countries meeting this week at a sustainable energy forum organized here by the United Nations, have affirmed the critical role of international cooperation in improving access to clean and efficient power vital for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Asia-Pacific nations agree on way forward to build a society for all ages

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:47:00 GMT

Asia-Pacific governments have concluded three days of talks by endorsing the Bangkok Statement on the Asia-Pacific Review of the Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).

Government of India reaffirms support for ESCAP subregional office with signing of administrative and financial agreement

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 03:46:00 GMT

The United Nations ESCAP and the Government of India have signed an agreement completing the process of establishing the ESCAP Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia which was inaugurated here last December.

ESCAP and International Trade Centre partner to enhance capacity and policy dialogue on Afghanistan?s accession to WTO

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:01:00 GMT

The newly established ESCAP South and South-West Asia Office (ESCAP-SSWA) based in New Delhi, which serves 10 countries in the subregion including Afghanistan, joined hands with the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva to organize a unique programme for public and private sector representatives involved in Afghanistan?s WTO membership accession.

Rebalancing Growth in Asia & the Pacific: The Post Rio+20 Development Agenda

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 09:04:00 GMT

?Cambodia provides a good example of the innovation and leadership that will be required by Asia-Pacific countries in the next phase of rebalancing growth and economic development,? said Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, meeting today with the Ministry for Environment of Cambodia.

UN: Investing in Women Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders is Smart Economics

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:31:00 GMT

?Investing in women?s entrepreneurial leadership, and the empowerment of women, is smart economics - which is why women?s empowerment is one of the most important development priorities for the countries of Asia and the Pacific,? said Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, addressing senior Cambodian policy-makers and women business leaders today, as part of an official visit to the country.

Asian Launch of WTO Report 2012

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 07:19:00 GMT

Non-tariff measures, such as regulatory standards for m anufactured and agricultural goods, can have a significant impact on trade -- possibly even more than tariffs -- according to the latest edition of the WTO's flagship publication.

ESCAP Regional Institute, Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology turns 35 on 16 July

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 04:04:00 GMT

The Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), a Regional Institute of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific based in New Delhi, will be celebrating its 35th anniversary on 16 July 2012.

Launch of World Economic and Social Survey 2012 “In Search of New Development Finance”

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 06:18:00 GMT

The World Economic and Social Survey 2012 “In Search of New Development Finance” will be launched on 6 July 2012 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

Rebalancing pillars key to sustainable development

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:59:00 GMT

?The message from the countries of Asia and the Pacific is that getting it right means that Rio+20 must rebalance the pillars of sustainable development ? ensuring that people are placed more firmly at the centre of the post-Rio+20 agenda,? Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) told an audience that included heads of State and Government and senior Ministers at a Rio+20 side event focused on regional approaches to sustainable development.