Under the overall guidance and leadership of the ESCAP Business Advisory Council, the Asia Pacific Business Forum 2012 will be organized in collaboration with the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at
the Sunway Resort & SPA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
on 15 and 16 October 2012. The theme of this
year's Forum is “Advancing Regional Economic Integration: Connecting Business, Strengthening Partnerships.

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) of the Government of Malaysia are strategic partners. The SIRIM Berhad, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), the SME CORP, the Greater Mekong Subregion Business Forum (GMS-BF), the Mekong Institute (MI), the ASEAN CSR Network and the SS-GATE also provide support to the Forum.

Two of ESCAP’s regional institutions — the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT-ESCAP) and the United Nations Asian and Pacific Centre for Agricultural Engineering and Machinery (UNAPCAEM) — will organize side events related to SME development. The first edition of the ESCAP's Policy Guidebook on SME Development in Asia and the Pacific will be launched during the Forum

Started in 2004, the APBF provides platform for region-wide public-private sector dialogue, and facilitates opportunities for cooperation and partnerships among stakeholders. The Forum brings together governments, business leaders, academia, civil society and other stakeholders to share good practices in the areas of economic integration, the key to stability and prosperity with a particular focus on realizing the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

Moreover, the 2-day Forum is structured to address business aspects of sustainable socioeconomic development including responsible business practices and corporate sustainability, green economy, renewable energy; and to promote trade and investment in least developed countries and landlocked countries, including Myanmar through modalities like entrepreneurship development, technology transfer, education and training and trade facilitation.

Over 300 participants are expected to attend the APBF 2012, including CEOs and business leaders, ministers and senior policy makers, industrial experts and representatives from international aid and development agencies. His Excellency the Primte Minister of Malaysia, The Rt. Hon. Dato Seri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak is expected to deliver the inagurual address.

Click here for more details of APBF and here to register.