Central Asia's location at the crossroads of Asia and Europe and its increasing integration in the global economy create both opportunities and challenges for sustainable economic growth.

The Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2007 discussed how to grasp the opportunities and meet the challenges of globalization. Issues for discussion included diversification of exports, trade competitiveness, regional cooperation, the contribution of business to development, business and the health sector, and strategies to improve the business climate.

Major speakers included H.E. Mr. Galym Orazbakov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General, UNCTAD; Mr. Tariq M. Rangoonwala, Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce, Pakistan; and Mr. Wang Jinzhen, Vice Chairman, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, China.

The Forum was organized back-to-back with the sixty-third annual UNESCAP Commission Session to ensure the presence of ministers and senior government officials from the Asia-Pacific region. The Forum served as the first part of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Economic Forum 2007.

About 250 key business leaders, senior government officials, academics and civil society representatives from Central Asia and across the Asia-Pacific participated in the forum.

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