What’s Ahead @ ESCAP

UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

www.unescap.org
November 2009
ESCAP Organizes First Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Week
ESCAP’s Trade and Investment Division will organize the First Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Week from 2 to 6 November at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The Week will feature various events which focus on “Trade-led Recovery and Beyond”. The first two days of the week will include two major events concurrently. The first event entitled Trade Economists Conference (2 to 3 November) will celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT). With a focus on “Trade-led Growth in Times of Crisis,” the objective of the conference will be to utilize the synergy of regional and global experts to determine the broad contours of a framework for a new trade-led development paradigm.
The second event entitled OECD-ESCAP Regional Conference on Corporate Responsibility: “Why Responsible Business Conduct Matters” ( 2 to 3 November) will discuss the benefits of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for governments and business and present the key international corporate responsibility instruments such as the UN Global Compact and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
Overlapping with these conferences will be the Introduction to Asia-Pacific Global Compact Community of Practice (2 November). This stakeholder consultation meeting will discuss on building an online community of practice which would allow seamless exchange of information among CSR practitioners in Asia and the Pacific.
Other events during the week include a Workshop for Global Compact Local Networks in Asia and the Pacific (4 to 6 November) and a Demonstration cum Training on Online Tools for Analysis of Trade and Trade Facilitation (4 to 6 November).
The main highlight of the Week is the First Session of the Committee on Trade and Investment, which will be held from 4 to 6 November 2009. One year after the financial crisis in North America became an economic crisis spanning the entire globe, and only weeks after the first signs of recovery are being reported, the Governments of the Asia-Pacific economies will meet to assess the regional reaction to the crisis in the areas of trade and investment and to examine options for future based on the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report prepared by the ESCAP Secretariat. With the help of academia and business representatives, the Governments of the region will focus on the formulation of pro-poor and environmentally sustainable and business enhancing trade and investment policies with an aim to stimulate intraregional trade and investment and deepen regional cooperation. The Committee will also provide guidance to the ESCAP Secretariat on its programme of work which aims to enhance the capacity of ESCAP members and associate members to integrate effectively into the world economy through sustained trade and investment.
ESCAP and Partners Organize South Asia MDG Workshop
The Sub-regional Workshop on Aligning Policies and Strategies to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals in South Asia will be held from 4 to 6 November in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Workshop is being organized by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), ESCAP and UNDP, in cooperation with the Government of Nepal, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretariat, WHO, UNICEF, FAO, UNIFEM, UNFPA and UNAIDS. The Workshop is set to consider progress and constraints in achieving the MDGs in South Asia, as well as regional and international lessons and cross cutting issues such as aligning national health, environment and food/nutrition policies in the context of MDG attainment. Other issues to be considered are specific requisite capacity building activities, sectoral policy priorities and action plans to accelerate progress in achieving the MDGs, the role of donor agencies and SAARC in a subregional MDG monitoring framework and how an MDG road-map for South Asia can be effectively implemented.

APCTT Organizes Workshop on the Importance of Hi-Tech Clusters
The Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), a regional institution of ESCAP, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Viet Nam and the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy and Strategy (NISTPASS), Viet Nam, is organizing a two-day workshop on Fostering Innovation Through Strengthening of Hi-Tech Clusters, from 9 to 10 November in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The objective of the workshop is to enable key actors involved in the structuring and management of the National Innovation System (NIS) of Viet Nam to understand the role and importance of Hi-Tech clusters (HTCs) in nurturing innovations and formulate strategies, policies, and management practices to strengthen Hi-Tech clusters and promote the industrial application of innovations generated. Senior officials from key ministries, R&D institutions, universities, and technology transfer intermediaries from Viet Nam have been invited to attend the workshop. Experts from APCTT and the project consultant would deal with contemporary issues and challenges with regard to open innovation, structuring national innovations systems, HTC cluster analysis, and factors influencing the development and growth of HTCs. Experts from China, the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, and Thailand will act as resource persons to share national experiences in the promotion of HTCs to enable the participants to gain insights into best practices associated with HTC development.
APCICT Focuses on ICT for Economic Recovery and ICT Human Capacity Building for Sustainable Development and Green Growth
The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT), a regional institute of ESCAP , will be organizing four back-to-back events during 9 to 14 November in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The events include: 1) a Regional Workshop on Funding Options for ICT for Development to provide guidelines for identifying and securing funds for ICT interventions in the face of the triple crises of finance, food-fuel and climate change; 2) a Breakout Session at the Asia Economic Community Forum on “ICTs as a Transformative Enabler of Economic Growth” to make recommendations on ICTs’ role in economic recovery that is sustainable and 'green'; 3) the Fourth Session of the Governing Council of APCICT to review the Centre’s work programme and achievements, as well as discuss the way forward in 2010 and 4)the APCICT Partners Meeting of the “Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders” to share experiences in the national roll outs of a comprehensive ICT for development training curriculum developed by APCICT-ESCAP. For more information visit http://www.unapcict.org.

The Role of Subregional Cooperation will be the Focus of SPECA Economic Forum
ESCAP, UNECE and the Government of Kyrgyzstan are jointly organizing the Fourth Session of the Governing Council of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) back-to-back with the 2009 SPECA Economic Forum from 12 to 13 November in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The SPECA Governing Council and Economic Forum will be preceded by the second session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development (PWG on KBD) and a regional capacity-building seminar in the area of financing innovative enterprises, commercialization of intellectual property and public-private partnerships from 9 to 11 November. The 2009 SPECA Economic Forum will focus on the impact of the current economic and financial crises on the economies of the SPECA member countries. It will also discuss individual, bilateral and collective measures and policy initiatives taken by the member Governments to mitigate the consequences of the crises and their impact on vulnerable groups with a special focus on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Forum will also examine how regional cooperation can speed up the economic recovery and accelerate development in Central Asia. The SPECA Governing Council will provide strategic guidance to the SPECA Programme, evaluate the work of its six Project Working Groups and approve the biennial SPECA Work Plan for 2010-2011. In addition to the participation of high-level representatives from Central Asia Governments, the SPECA Economic Forum will be attended by international and regional organizations, financial institutions and development agencies.

girlsESCAP to Hold High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Review Regional Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action
ESCAP will hold a High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Review Regional Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, adopted at the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, from 16 to 18 November at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The theme of the three-day meeting is “Accountability and Implementation: Making Change Happen through the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action” The High-level Meeting will be held in partnership with UNIFEM and the Regional Coordination Mechanism’s Thematic Working Group on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. The meeting will bring together high-level representatives from governments in the region, inter-governmental, non-governmental and civil society organizations and the United Nations system, to take stock of progress made in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, identify gaps and challenges, and to recommend steps for future action in the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting will produce a communique which will serve as the regional input to the global review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action which will take place at the fifty-fourth session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2010 in New York. The High-level Meeting will also include panel discussions on selected topics, side events and exhibitions. Panel discussions include the following topics: Accountability for gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Asia-Pacific region: Gender-responsive planning and public spending; Highlights of progress and challenges in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action: good practices, obstacles and new challenges; Responses to the economic crisis – women’s economic security and rights; Closing gender gaps in achieving the Millennium Development Goals; Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in Asia and the Pacific: successes and challenges, and Regional campaign to end violence against women. More information on the meeting can be accessed at website: http://unescap.org/ESID/GAD/Events/HLM-2009/index.asp.
ESCAP Meeting Focuses on Economic and Social Issues of the Region
ESCAP’s Macroeconomic and Development Division will organize an Expert Group Meeting on Economic and Social Performance and Issues in Bangkok, from 23 to 24 November. The main objective of the meeting is to review working drafts of chapters of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2010. Chapter I will consider impacts, outlook and vulnerability, policy responses and gaps of the economic crisis and its aftermath for Asia and Pacific region. Chapter II will describe the differentiated impacts of crisis and sub-regional patterns of recovery, strengths and vulnerability for each subregion of ESCAP. Chapter III will identify key long-term policy challenges for Asia-Pacific in the aftermath of the crisis and advocate policy reforms that will see the region reorient collectively towards a shared paradigm of inclusive and sustainable development. The national exports from 11 regional economies are expected to participate in the meeting and provide verbal and written comments and suggestions for improving draft chapters of the flagship publication of ESCAP. The representatives of ADB, World Bank, UNDP, ILO, UNFPA, and FAO have been also invited to attend the EGM and contribute to the discussion.

tradeESCAP Organizes its First Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Development
ESCAP will convene the inaugural session of the Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Development, from 24 to 26 November at the United Nations Conference in Bangkok. The Committee will focus, inter alia, on the impact of global economic crisis on countries in Asia and the Pacific. The crisis has not only compromised economic growth momentum of the countries but its human costs are enormous also. Unemployment has increased and many millions in the region are expected to remain trapped in poverty. The Committee is expected to come up with a set of recommendations on how to expedite economic recovery and promote inclusive development. The intergovernmental meeting will be inaugurated by Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of ESCAP and attended by high-level government officials from countries in Asia and the Pacific. Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank and Ambassador K. Kesavapany, Director, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore will deliver keynote addresses. A side event on Distinguished Persons Lecture on “UN Ideas that Changed the World” by Sir Richard Jolly, Senior Research Fellow at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and Co-director of the UN Intellectual History Project and Professor Louis Emmerij, former President, European Association of Development Research and Training Institute will take place in the afternoon of 24 November.

ESCAP to Hold Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum 2009
ESCAP and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are jointly organizing the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum 2009: Setting the Regional Agenda, from 25 to 26 November at the United nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The Forum aims to promote trade facilitation as an important component of a comprehensive strategy for national and regional development and to provide an open regional platform to exchange information, experiences and practices for trade facilitation in Asia-Pacific. A key objective of this year’s Forum will be to identify recurring or emerging implementation challenges in key areas of trade facilitation, and develop a regional agenda for action. Particular focus will be placed on three important issues for the region: transit trade; computerization and automation of trade procedures and documents; and supply-chain security and risk management. A Multimedia Exhibition on Trade Facilitation will be held in conjunction with the Forum. More details are available at: www.unescap.org/tid/projects/tfforum.asp.

tradeESCAP to Initiate more Effective Regional Cooperation on Water
ESCAP is organizing the Preparatory Meeting to Study Possibilities for the Establishment of the Council of Ministers on Water Security of Asia-Pacific from 11 to 13 November at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. Following the general acceptance of the Ministers on Water Security Initiative, which was organized by the Asia-Pacific Water Forum in cooperation with ADB and ESCAP as a regional session of the Fifth World Water Forum, held in Istanbul in March 2009, proposed that ESCAP convene a regional meeting of senior experts to study the possibilities to move the Ministers on Water Security Initiative to a higher level of action. This preparatory meeting was conceived to promote ownership of related regional initiatives by the member countries and to further strengthen also the partnership among the three core regional organizations: Japan Water Forum, Asian Development Bank and ESCAP as well as to engage other regional key partners, such as FAO, MRC, ICWC, SOPAC, GWP, SOPAC, etc. The preparatory meeting will examine relevant global and regional lessons on the promotion of cooperation in water resources management, including experiences related to achievements in attracting the participation of other key Ministers responsible for socio-economic development and support of financing institutions and donor communities.

Measuring the Informal Sector and Informal Employment to be Discussed at ESCAP Meeting
The Statistics Division of ESCAP is organizing a Regional Workshop on Measuring the Informal Sector and Informal Employment under the Development Account Project “Interregional Cooperation on the Measurement of Informal Sector and Informal Employment”, from 30 November to 2 December at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The project is being implemented by ESCAP (lead agency), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in close collaboration with UN Statistics Division, ILO, the Delhi Group, ADB and WIEGO. The workshop aims to enhance the technical capacity of participants in measuring the informal sector, including its contribution to GDP, and informal employment. The Project piloted the application of a ‘two-phased’ or ‘1-2’ survey approach to measure the informal sector in five countries representing three regions: Mongolia, Philippines and Sri Lanka in Asia; Palestine in Western Asia and St Lucia in the Caribbean. The same methodology is also being implemented in Armenia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia with technical assistance from ADB and in Vietnam with assistance from DIAL-IRD. The workshop will share with a broader group of countries the body of knowledge created and lessons learned from designing, processing of and generating estimates from these sample surveys. About 80 participants, including representatives from national statistical offices and international agencies are expected to attend the regional workshop.
Special Observances and Meetings
Commemorating 60 years in Thailand1949 - 2009
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