UNESCAP Backgrounders

• Asia-Pacific leads world in growth performance
  Asia-Pacific developing economies reported impressive growth in 2006 reflecting "on-going integration and growth of the global economy," the UN's regional arm, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), reported in its latest Survey.
• Bilateral regional trade pacts falling short on delivering expanded trade
  Politics and foreign policy goals, and not expanded trade, are too often the goals of Asia-Pacific bilateral and regional trade agreements, most of them signed since 2000, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) says in its 2007 Survey.
• Asia-Pacific's economic dynamism on track but softer growth in 2007
  China, India and Japan are set to be the main driving forces for Asia Pacific's growth in 2007 against signs of a slowing in the United States and European economies, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) reported in its annual economic Survey.
• Monitoring currency vulnerability: more turbulence on financial market in 2007 "not ruled out" says UNESCAP
  A sharp fall in the United States dollar due to imbalances in the United States economy, fresh oil price hikes could lead to sharply slower growth in Asia-Pacific economies, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) reported in its 2007 economic Survey.
• Asia-Pacific's demographic dividend - A once in a lifetime opportunity
  Asia-Pacific economies are facing a "once in a life time opportunity" to gain from high levels of working age populations – "the demographic dividend" – or risk high unemployment and waste of human resources, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) says in its latest Survey.
• UNESCAP says green growth strategies needed to sustain development
  Asia-Pacific's economic growth will suffer unless national policies are adopted to address growing regional environmental pressures, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) says in its latest Survey.
• Sluggish domestic demand adds warning to outlook for Asia-Pacific region
  Overcoming sluggish domestic demand in East Asian economies is needed to reduce their reliance on exports as a main driver of economic growth, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), says in its latest Survey.
• Private corporate bond market reform vital to promote investment in Asia
  The private corporate bond market's development in Asia should have priority but backed by clear monetary and foreign exchange policies to reduce risk and encourage investment, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), says in its latest Survey.
• Gender inequality continues – at great cost
  Inequality and discrimination against women costs Asia Pacific economies almost US$80 billion a year due to restrictions in access to employment and education alone, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), said in its latest Survey.
• China's rise represents competitive challenge, opportunity for Asia-Pacific
  China represents a challenge for all countries in Asia-Pacific as China's top export products are recording large gains in market share, the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific reported in its latest Survey.