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

Date 27 October 2006
Press Release No. N/40/2006

ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCHERS TO BOOST REGIONAL KNOWLEDGE ON TRADE REFORMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

UNESCAP workshop initiates Macao Regional Knowledge Hub project

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) – UNESCAP and the World Trade Organization (WTO) will jointly organize a two-day workshop in Macao, China aimed at boosting regional knowledge on trade reforms in developing countries. At the workshop UNESCAP will launch the Macao Regional Knowledge Hub project, which seeks to promote Macao as a regional knowledge hub on trade policy.

The Post-Doha Research Agenda for Developing Countries Workshop will be held from 30-31 October at the Macau University of Science and Technology. Funding for the meeting is provided by the Government of Macao, China, and the World Trade Organization.

“This workshop will identify topics that can both benefit from and contribute to local research efforts,” noted UNESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su ahead of the meeting. “It will contribute new ideas and fresh thinking on how trade could be of use to societies,” Mr. Kim added.

Approximately 30 senior researchers/ academics are expected to attend. The participants are members of ARTNeT or Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade, an initiative of UNESCAP supported by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Participants from within and outside the region are expected to discuss the state of trade research in the region and identify emerging trade research issues of importance to developing and least developed countries.

According to UNESCAP, Macao has the attributes necessary to become a vibrant hub. In a physical sense, it is relatively easy to reach, and in a policy context, it is open to the outside world and epitomizes successfully trade and investment-led growth.

The Workshop will precede the Third ARTNeT Consultative Meeting of Policy Makers and Research Institutions scheduled for 1-2 November in Macao, China.

The Bangkok-based United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is the UN’s regional arm in Asia and the Pacific.

More information on the meeting is available at http://www.unescap.org/tid/projects/postdoha.asp.
More information on ARTNeT is available at: http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/index.asp.

For further information please contact:
Ms. Mia Mikic / Mr. Yann Duval
Trade Policy Section, UNESCAP
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1410 / 2252
Fax: +(66-2) 288-1027
E-mail: mikic@un.org / duvaly@un.

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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