PROFESSOR JEFFREY SACHS TO GIVE UN LECTURE IN BANGKOK

Among 100 most influential leaders in the world

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) – Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General Professor Jeffrey Sachs will give a public lecture on 24th June at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok between 4 to 6.00 p.m. as part of the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Poverty and Economic Development which will meet from 24-26 June 2004.

Professor Sachs is the Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York City and Director of the Millennium Project. He is also a Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on a group of poverty reduction initiatives known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh of Thailand will open the Public Lecture.

Other participants of note include Ms Erna Witoelar, UN Special Ambassador for MDGs in Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Kim Hak-Su, UNESCAP Executive Secretary, Mr. J.K. Robert England, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative.

The Task Force on Poverty and Economic Development is one of ten such groups conducting research for the Millennium Project, an independent advisory body commissioned by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to advise the UN on strategies for achieving the MDGs.

The Task Force meeting is being hosted by UNESCAP, UNDP and the National Economic and Social Development Board of Thailand.

Prof. Sachs is internationally renowned for advising governments in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia and Africa on economic reforms and for his work with international agencies to promote poverty reduction, disease control, and debt reduction of poor countries. He was recently named among the 100 most influential leaders in the world by Time Magazine. He is a frequent columnist for prestigious publications such as The Economist, Financial Times, Newsweek, etc.
Note to Editors: You or your representatives are invited to the public lecture from 16:00-18:00 hrs, to be followed by a reception. The Lecture for the public is by invitation only.