..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 18 November 2004
Press Release No: G/31/2004

ASIA PACIFIC GOVERNMENT FORUM TACKLES NEW KNOWLEDGE ORDER

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- The Microsoft Government Leaders Forum – Asia heard today that economic disparities in the region would persist unless governments embraced the new knowledge order.

“A new economic order is emerging that places a premium on knowledge,” Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP Mr. Kim Hak-Su said in his keynote speech.

The Forum (17 to 19 November 2004) is focusing on how governments in the region can work together to foster information and communication technology development.

The region has some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, many with strong information and communication technology policies such as Singapore, Republic of Korea, China, India and Malaysia. It is also home to 700 million people living on less than a dollar a day, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the world’s poor.

Mr. Kim Hak-Su said governments must not impede the private sector.

“We need leadership by the private sector with strong support by the government. In a knowledge economy, the leadership must be lodged in the private sector. The government’s role must be catalytic and supportive,” he said.

He said there is a possibility of cooperation between UNESCAP and the private sector to use information and communication technology to help build capacity, facilitate e-government initiatives, promote e-commerce and e-trade, and improve the delivery of basic services in the least developed and developing countries of the region.

For further information please contact:
United Nations Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-67, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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