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

Date 25 October 2004
Press Release No: N/28/2004

IMPROVING INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT HIGH ON AGENDA

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) -- The inaugural session of the Subcommittee on International Trade and Investment will be organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) from 27-29 October 2004 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

High level officials from all over the Asia and Pacific region are expected to attend the high-level meeting. Delegates will discuss trade and investment issues of topical interest. They include (a) multilateralism and new age regionalism: an ongoing interplay; (b) financing for development through trade and investment; and (c) addressing supply-side constraints and capacity-building. Some of the region’s top business leaders will also be present to promote a regional public-private sector dialogue.

The Meeting of the Subcommittee on International Trade and Investment will be opened by Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP and the Keynote Address will be delivered by H.E. Dr. Kantathi Suphamongkhon, Thai Trade Representative, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Thailand.

At the Meeting , a new regional network of trade research institutions called ARTNET will be launched. “This network will strengthen institutional research capacities and make an important and tangible contribution to more effective trade and investment policy formulation in the UNESCAP region. Moreover, international experts will report on the regional implementation of the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development,” said a UNESCAP spokesperson.

Another side event of the Meeting will be the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council to be held on Friday, 29 October 2004 from 9:00 to 12:30 am.

* *** *