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Press
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UNESCAP News Services
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10 April 2003
Press Release: N/05/2003
ECONOMIES IN THE REGION REACT TO NEW SHOCKS
UNESCAP ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SURVEY OF ASIA
AND THE PACIFIC 2003
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services)
-- Although the global economy lost momentum in 2002 in the
face of weak investment activity in the private sector compounded
by mounting geopolitical uncertainties, the UNESCAP region remained
largely unaffected.
However, in the face of continued global uncertainty
such as war and health concerns, the picture is none too optimistic
for 2003.
"Asia-Pacific Economies: Resilience in Challenging
Times', the theme of this year's Economic and Social Survey
of Asia and the Pacific will be launched to the media by UNESCAP's
Executive Secretary Mr. Kim Hak-Su at a press conference on
Thursday, 17 April 2003 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Nations
Conference Centre, Bangkok.
"We must stress the importance of long-term
social issues such as education and health. The last two decades
or more underline the positive impact of education and health
on the economic development of countries and the well-being
of societies and individuals," UNESCAP's Survey 2003 states.
Some of the Survey's highlights:
---Developing economies of the region exceeded
2001 GDP growth by nearly 2 percentage points in 2002. Developed
economies of the region also improved upon their 2001 performance
in 2002, although Japan remained in recession.
---Over the region as a whole, inflation declined further in
2002 from an already low level in 2001. Higher GDP growth in
the region was achieved partly through easier domestic monetary
and fiscal policies and partly through higher intraregional
trade flows.
Along with the economic and social challenges
facing the region, Governments also have to deal with environmental
problems and the environment-poverty nexus.
"While rapid economic growth is seen as a
central element in achieving poverty reduction, experience shows
that growth is often accompanied by environmental deterioration
that hurts the poor," states the report.
You or your representatives are cordially invited
to attend the Press Conference to launch the Economic and Social
Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2003 from 10.30 - 11:30 a.m.
on Thursday, 17 April 2003, Conference Room 4, First Floor,
United Nation Conference Center (UNCC), Rajdamnern Nok Avenue,
Bangkok. Refreshment will be served before the Press Conference.
Click
here to see the highlights for the media
For further information, please contact:
Mr. David Lazarus, Chief, United Nations Information
Services, UNESCAP, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok
Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: (+66) 02 288 1864-9; Fax: (66+2) 2881052, E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org
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