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Press
Release..............................
UNESCAP News Services
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Date 24
March 2004
Press Release No: N/07/2004
UN organizes Seminar on Implications of
the
"Bangkok Agreement" for prospective member countries
Bangkok (UN Information Services) -- The United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific
(UNESCAP) is organizing a two-day Seminar on Implications of
the Bangkok Agreement for Prospective Member Countries from
25 to 26 March 2004 at the United Nations Conference Centre
in Bangkok. Senior government officials from several countries
in the Asia-Pacific region, including Thailand, Cambodia, Mongolia,
Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan, expressed their intentions of participating
in the Seminar.
The Bangkok Agreement is a preferential trade
agreement designed to liberalize and expand trade progressively
in the Asia-Pacific region through the relaxation of tariff
and non-tariff barriers. Current member countries are Bangladesh,
China, India, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, and Lao PDR. With
two most populous and fastest growing economies - China and
India - participating in the Agreement, it is said to have a
potential to become a major preferential trade agreement in
Asia and the Pacific.
This seminar is intended to provide overall information
on the Bangkok Agreement to countries interested in the membership.
With the expansion of its membership, the Bangkok Agreement
will not only strengthen trade linkages between East and South
Asia, but also serve as a bridge linking these sub-regions with
other sub-regions. Currently the Bangkok Agreement's preferential
tariff arrangement provides member countries with business opportunities
in the machinery and mechanical appliances and the textiles
sectors. With increased membership, the Bangkok Agreement is
expected to provide more and broader business opportunities
in the region.
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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