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

Date 23 January 2006
Press Release No: N/02/2006

UNESCAP TO HOST REGIONAL LAUNCH ON 26 JANUARY OF WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION AND PROSPECTS 2006

Analysis, forecast of how world economic trends affect East and South Asian economies, economic growth, global finance imbalances

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) –The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will host the regional launch of the UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects 2006 – a joint effort of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UNCTAD, and the five UN regional commissions – at 10:30 hrs on Thursday, 26 January at the UN Conference Centre, Bangkok.

A senior UNESCAP economist, Ms. Shamika Sirimanne, Chief, Socio-economic Analysis Section, Poverty and Development Division, will present an analysis and forecast of the economies of East Asia and South Asia, as well as discuss global economic growth and efforts required to safely unwind global finance imbalances.

The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) is the United Nations' annual analysis of current developments in the world economy and emerging policy issues. It contains the Secretariat's forecast of short-term global and regional economic trends. It reviews major developments in international trade and it discusses the net transfer of financial resources of developing countries.

The report is embargoed until 12 noon New York time, 24 January (0:00 hrs Bangkok time, 25 January). An embargoed copy of the report may be found at www.unctad.org/en/docs/wesp2005.pdf

Note to Editors: Your or your representatives are invited to attend the regional launch of the UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects 2006, to be held at 10:30 hrs on Thursday, 26 January, at the UN conference Centre, Bangkok.

For media inquiries please contact:
Mr. David Lazarus, Chief
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: (66-2) 288-1861-66; Fax: (66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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