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

Date: 12 December 2011
Media Advisory No: N/32/2011

UN ESCAP to launch Delhi Subregional Office
for South and South-West Asia (SRO-SSWA)

Bangkok (UN ESCAP Strategic Communication and Advocacy Section) – South and South-West Asia is one of the fastest growing subregions in the world led by countries such as India and Turkey. Yet it has one of world’s highest concentrations of hunger and poverty, with vast social and physical infrastructure development gaps within and among countries. Four countries in the subregion – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal – are least developed countries (LDCs) while Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal also face additional constraints as landlocked countries.

As part of the United Nations endeavour to support member countries in formulating and implementing inclusive and sustainable development policies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in the region, the Bangkok-based United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will open a subregional office for South and South-West Asia (SRO-SSWA) in Delhi covering the 10 countries in the subregion: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

The Delhi office joins ESCAP subregional offices in Suva, Incheon and Almaty, covering, respectively, the Pacific, East and North-East Asia, and North and Central Asia. The South-East Asian subregion is covered by ESCAP headquarters.

What: Opening Ceremony of ESCAP Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia

Who:
Welcome remarks: Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director, ESCAP-SSWA
Opening Address: Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
Keynote Address: Prof. Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate, T.W. Lamont University Professor, Harvard University
Chairperson’s remarks: H.E. Dr Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation, Sri Lanka
Inaugural Address: H.E. Mr Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India

When: Thursday, 15 December 2011 at 9.45 A.M.

Where: Taj Mahal Hotel, Man Singh Road, New Delhi, INDIA

For further information about the event, please contact:

Ms. Francyne Harrigan
Chief, Strategic Communications and Advocacy Section, ESCAP
T: (66) 2 288 1864, M: (66) 81 835 8677, E: harriganf@un.org