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

Date 17 March 2006
Press Release No: G/CS62/2006/2

UNESCAP 62nd Commission Session
12-16 April 2006, Jakarta, Indonesia

STATUS QUO FUNDING NOT ENOUGH FOR ASIA-PACIFIC REGION’S INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

Pacific leaders to articulate concerns, engage with other UNESCAP members on strengthening Pacific island developing countries and territories through regional cooperation

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) – A new UNESCAP study concludes that the status quo might not suffice to generate the funding for meeting the region’s key infrastructure needs.

Adequate infrastructure in the four key sectors of transport, water, energy, and telecommunications are a prerequisite for opening up access to global trade and investment flows, increasing the competitiveness of production and services, and thus for sustaining the region’s economic growth.

A minimum gap of US$180 billion per year between requirement and availability is within the realm of possibility, the study finds. To bridge that gap, Asia-Pacific countries need to pay urgent attention to innovative ways of mobilizing finances for infrastructure investment. Fresh ideas on financing infrastructure development programmes in the region, as important planks for MDG achievement, will occupy the participants of UNESCAP’s 62nd Session.

Hosted by the Government of Indonesia, the 62nd Session is scheduled to be held during 6-12 April 2006 at the Jakarta Convention Centre.

This year’s theme topic is “Enhancing Regional Cooperation in Infrastructure Development, including that related to Disaster Management.” Heads of Government and State, Ministers and senior officials from 62 member and associate member countries and territories of UNESCAP are expected to participate.

“The region is not likely to meet all the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. This is a make-or-break year for Asia-Pacific MDG efforts,” noted UN Under-Secretary-General and UNESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su ahead of the meeting. “If Asia-Pacific is to meet the MDGs, Governments must reaffirm their commitment to fulfill their obligations, as promised at the Millennium Summit.”

The Commission Session is structured in two segments: the Senior Officials' Meeting (6-8 April) and the Ministerial Meeting (10-12 April).

A special feature of this year’s Session is the Pacific Leaders’ United Nations ESCAP Special Session (PLUS). A first in UNESCAP history, PLUS will provide a unique Asian and Pacific intergovernmental platform for Pacific leaders to articulate their concerns and engage in interactive dialogue with other delegations from UNESCAP members on strengthening Pacific island developing countries and territories through regional cooperation.

The Pacific leaders and their delegations will also have the opportunity to interact with Asian business leaders, including those in tourism and ICT, in the Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF) 2006, to be held during 7-8 April, in conjunction with the 62nd session. The Forum will focus on how the public and private sectors can work together to ensure sustainable economic and social development. Among the high-profile participants in this year’s Forum are Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

On policy issues, delegates are also expected to discuss the implications of recent economic and social developments. Other topics on the agenda include the implementation of the Jakarta Declaration on Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific: the Way Forward 2015. Regional-level developments and activities on poverty reduction, managing globalization, and emerging social issues, and issues related to least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States will also be covered.

The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2006 will serve as the main background document for general debate at the Commission Session. This year there is a special emphasis on unemployment issues in the Asia-Pacific region, and policy measures to address the challenges posed. The Survey reviews recent macroeconomic and other developments in the region. It analyses the recent economic performance of UNESCAP members, their medium-term prospects, and the nature and intensity of policy reforms and their impact on regional economies.

The 62nd Commission Session will be preceded by the 9th Session of the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries, scheduled to be held from 4 to 5 April 2006. The Special Body will discuss regional and sub-regional follow-up to the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. It will also discuss the generation of creative income employment opportunities for vulnerable groups in the Pacific.

Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is the largest of the UN's five Regional Commissions, in terms of population served and area covered. The only inter-governmental forum covering the entire Asia-Pacific region, it aims to promote economic activity and social progress in the developing countries of the Asian and Pacific region.

More information on CS62 and media accreditation is available at http://www.unescap.org/62/index.asp

For media inquiries, please contact:
Mr. David Lazarus, Chief, UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861/62/66 • Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

United Nations Information Services Bangkok • Rajadamnern Nok Avenue • Bangkok 10200 Thailand • Tel: (66-2) 288-1861/69 • Fax: (66-2) 288-1052 • E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org • www.unescap.org

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