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Press
Release..............................
UNESCAP News Services
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2 April
2003
Press Release: G/02/2003
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC CONFERENCE ON TAJIKISTAN
RESOURCE-RICH CENTRAL ASIA NEW ECONOMIC
GROWTH AREA
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services)
-- In order to stimulate investment, growth and sustainable
development in Central Asia, the United Nations and the Government
of Tajikistan are jointly organizing the International Economic
Conference and Regional Round Table on Foreign Direct Investment
for Central Asia 2nd to 4th April at Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE), United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) are organizing this timely conference
with Tajikistan.
Experts will discuss the implications of the current
global economy for Central Asia and neighboring sub regions
from the perspective of United Nations Special Programme for
the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA). The program was formally
started in March 1998 by the Govt. of Tajikistan with the close
co-operation of UNESCAP and UNECE, an initiative taken by UN
Secretary General, Mr.Kofi Annan.
"The international Economic Conference would
play vital role in providing an effective international forum
for achieving the goals for mobilizing widespread international
support for economic development in Central Asia," said
UNESCAP's Executive Secretary Mr. Kim Hak-Su in a statement
read out for him by Mr. Raj Kumar , Chief, Policy and Development
Division, UNESCAP.
"The Agenda of the Conference is not an agenda
for today. As a matter of fact, it is the agenda for the future.
The conference is expected to advocate a practical and result-oriented
approach to make sub regional economic co-operation in Central
Asia more effective, visible and sustainable with mutual tangible
benefits for longer-term strategic objectives, added Mr. Kim.
" The sub region's strategic importance is
already well evident as the international community seeks to
bring about economic and social transformation in neighbouring
Afghanistan," said Mr. Kim.
UNESCAP has been systematically supporting sub-regional
economic co-operation in Central Asia since 1992, and has built
strong partnerships focused on macroeconomic management, trade
and investment, transport, tourism, environment, energy and
water resources.
UNESCAP activities are aimed at reducing the sub
region's economic isolation, promoting the rational use of natural
resources, and enhancing market integration. .
The Central Asian region is considered as a new
growth area. Covering about 4 million kilometers (18 per cent
of the CIS total territory) and consisting of 56.2 million people,
the Central Asian countries---Kazakhstan, Krgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan-- have a good foundation for sub
regional cooperation, states an UNESCAP report.
ends
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