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What’s
Ahead @ ESCAP |
| www.unescap.org |
May
2007 |
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60th
Anniversary Commission Session of UNESCAP
The
63rd Session of the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 17 to 23 May 2007. It will
be the first time UNESCAP’s highest decision-making body meets
in Central Asia. More than 400 delegates, including Heads of Government
and ministers from governments of UNESCAP’s 62 members, are
expected to attend the meeting. President Nursultan Nazarbayev of
Kazakhstan will address the opening of the Ministerial Meeting on
21 May, which will be preceded by two days of Senior Officials’
Meeting. Following established practice, the Foreign Minister of the
host Government, H.E. Mr. Marat Tazhin, is expected to be elected
as Chairperson of the Commission Session. |
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 Asia-Pacific
Business Forum to highlight Central Asian opportunities
The
Asia-Pacific Business
Forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 18 and 19 May will bring together
business leaders from the Asian and Pacific region and from Kazakhstan
and the rest of Central Asia. The Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2007
will provide participants with a unique region-wide platform to discuss
how to grasp the opportunities and meet the challenges of globalization.
Issues for discussion include 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. Over 250 key business leaders, senior government officials,
academics and civil society representatives from Central Asia and
across the Asia-Pacific are expected to participate. The event will
be held in conjunction with the Economic Forum of the Special Programme
for the Economies of Central Asia and concurrently to the 63rd UNESCAP
Commission session. |
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 UNESCAP
commission session to focus on health and the MDGs
There is a major focus this year on the health related Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), including a Ministerial
Roundtable on "Development of health systems in the context of
enhancing economic growth towards achieving the MDGs in Asia &
the Pacific." There will also be a special ministerial discussion
on “Achieving the MDGs in the Asian and Pacific Region”.
2007 marks the mid-point review of the progress towards achieving
the MDGs, which were adopted by world leaders at the Millennium Summit
in 2000, with 2015 as the target year for achieving the various goals.
The panel discussion shall discuss a regional road map on achieving
the MDGs. |
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 Winners
of the Asia-Pacific MDGs Media Awards TBA
The first Asia-Pacific
MDGs Media Awards will be presented during the Commission Session.
The MDG Media Awards encourage journalists to put a human face to
the MDGs in the region, demonstrating how stories about extreme poverty
link to the MDGs. The Awards carry a prize of US$7,000 for first prize
winners in each prize category of radiom print, TV and online, and
a US$2,000 prize for runner-ups. The Awards are jointly sponsored
by UNESCAP, the UN Development Programme and the Asian Development
Bank. The competition closed in April and judging took place in Kuala
Lumpur, organised by the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development. |
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 Asia-Pacific’s
Least Developed Countries explore energy, migration
UNESCAP’s
Special
Body on Least Developed and Landlocked Developing Countries will
hold its eighth session from 15 to 16 May in Almaty, just ahead of
the Commission Session. The Special Body brings together the less
developed member states of the region to discuss topics of particular
relevance to these countries. The focus for 2007 is on energy and
migration. Policy makers will explore regional energy cooperation
to gain better access to more reliable energy sources. The issue of
international migration will be explored in terms of challenges and
opportunities for least developed countries. |
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 UNESCAP
forum hopes to spur investment in forest services
A
two day forum organized by ESCAP’s Environment
Division on 28-29 May at the UN Conference Centre, Bangkok, aims
to highlight and reduce the uncounted cost of unsustainable use of
forest resources. Short term gains are undermining the long term and
possibly more profitable economic opportunities presented by forests
in the Asia-Pacific region. The “Economic
policy and financial innovation for investment in forest environmental
services” forum will bring together policymakers from around
the region to share ideas and experiences. Target groups include governments,
business and economic and social development councils. The forum also
aims to present key decision-makers clear evidence to justify environmentally
and socially sustainable use of forest resources, as well as a range
of investment options, institutional innovations and partnerships
that can maximize investment returns for all stakeholders.
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Special
Observances and Meetings |
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| The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the United Nations. The information contained herein may be freely reproduced. What’s Ahead @ ESCAP is published monthly by the United Nations Information Services Bangkok. Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-66 • Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052 • E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org | |||