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

Date 12 October 2007
Press Release No. N/54/2007

World Investment Report 2007 of UNCTAD to be launched in Bangkok

16 October 2007 at UN Conference Centre

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) – The World Investment Report 2007 (WIR2007) of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will be launched in Bangkok on 16 October at the United Nations Conference Centre. The launch is jointly organized by the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

The theme of this year’s report is “Transnational Corporations, Extractive Industries and Development”. The report analyses the latest trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) and puts a special focus on the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in the extraction of oil, gas, and metal minerals.

The WIR 2007 will be presented to the media by Kee Hwee Wee, Economic Affairs Officer of UNCTAD who will also deliver a statement of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD. Xuan Zengpei, Director of Trade and Investment Division of ESCAP and Sorajak Kasensuvan, Executive Director of ITD will speak.

Providing commentaries will be Masato Abe, Economic Affairs Officer of ESCAP, Suthiphand Chirathivat, Faculty of Economics of Chulalongkorn University, and Thanavath Phonvichai, Dean of School of Economics and Director of the Center for Academic and Business Forecasting, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Note to Editors

You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the launch of UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2007 on Tuesday, 16 October 2006 at 2.30 p.m. in Conference Room 4, United Nations Conference Centre, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok.

For further information, please contact:

Thawadi Pachariyangkun
UN Information Services, Bangkok
Tel: (662) 288-1861
Fax: (662) 288 1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org