Press Release No. G/27/99
13 September 1999

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) --The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) commissioned by the Government of the Republic of Korea are jointly organizing ASPAT'99 SEOUL from 13-17 October 1999 at KOTRA Exhibition Center in Seoul.

With the theme "New Vision for the 21st Century", ASPAT'99 SEOUL will focus on three categories of product groups, namely electronic goods including information technology products, automotive parts and accessories; and general consumer goods such as textile products, sporting and recreational goods. During the Fair, some special events will also be organized such as technical seminars, seminar on Promotion of Women Entrepreneurs in Asia and the Pacific as well as cultural programmes.

The objectives of ASPAT are to promote trade expansion and economic cooperation among members and associate members of ESCAP.

In line with this, the objectives of ASPAT'99 SEOUL are to:

• promote trade and investment opportunities in the region consequent to the industrial and technology developments and the restructuring of the economies in the ESCAP region;
• enhance the trade and investment prospects through effective participation in international trade fairs, particularly of disadvantaged economies in transition, least developed countries (LDCs), and Pacific island developing countries (PICs);
• provide a vision to the Asia Pacific region for 21st Century and
• strengthen regional economic cooperation.

The Fair provides an opportunity for countries at different levels of development to participate and to encourage business contacts particularly between North-East Asia and the other member countries of ESCAP.

The first ASPAT Fair was held in Bangkok in 1966, and subsequently by seven other countries in the region; the Islamic Republic of Iran (Tehran, 1969), India (New Delhi, 1972), China (Beijing, 1985 and 1994), Philippines (Manila, 1996), Kazakhstan (Almaty, 1998) and the Republic of Korea (Seoul, 1999).

It is expected that more than 20 countries from the Asia-Pacific region will participate in ASPAT'99 SEOUL including Armenia; Bangladesh; Bhutan; Cambodia; China; Fiji; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; People Democratic Republic of Lao; Malaysia; Mongolia; Nepal; Philippines; Thailand; Uzbekistan; and Viet Nam. Some other countries from outside the region, namely Poland will also participate.

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