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

Date: 16 July 2012
Press Release No: G/36/2012

ESCAP Regional Institute, Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology turns 35 on 16 July

The Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), a Regional Institute of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific based in New Delhi, will be celebrating its 35th anniversary on 16 July 2012.

Strengthened by 35 years of experience as a technology gateway for Asia and the Pacific, APCTT is striving to leverage the growth momentum of the technologically and economically dynamic member countries to the rest of the region - through normative and analytical work and the sharing of experiences in the area of technology capacity building.

“On its 35th anniversary, APCTT renews its commitment to member countries and stakeholders to promote inclusive and sustainable socio-economic advancement in the Asia-Pacific region through the effective deployment of technology,” said Dr. Krishnamurthy Ramanathan, Head of APCTT.

Initially set up in Bangalore, the Centre was established through Resolutions 159 and 164 of the thirty-first and thirty-second sessions of ESCAP (adopted in 1975 and 1976 respectively), with host facilities being offered by the Government of India.

The Centre was officially launched on 16 July 1977 as the Regional Centre for Technology Transfer (RCTT), and subsequently renamed the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (pursuant to ESCAP resolution 243 (XLI) adopted in 1985).

On 1 July 1993, APCTT was relocated from Bangalore to New Delhi to sprawling premises built specifically for the Centre by the Government of India.

Currently, APCTT’s activities are directed towards technology transfer capacity building, promoting and managing innovation, and facilitating subregional and regional networking to enable countries across Asia and the Pacific to respond to the challenges posed by the new global economy and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

For further information, contact:

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

Ms. Wanphen L. Sreshthaputra, ESCAP Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia, C-2 Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi, T: + (91) 11 309 73 705, M: + (91) 96 505 10 663, E: sreshthaputra-korotki@un.org