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Working together for the region – ESCAP and ASEAN

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, ASEAN has shown to be an exemplary role model for regional cooperation guiding the 10-country bloc on the path toward shared prosperity and sustainable development. ESCAP has been a strategic partner of ASEAN during its journey. As ASEAN gains from the multi-sectoral policy advice and capacity programmes facilitated by ESCAP for the more vulnerable of countries within the sub region, ESCAP is able to draw from development lessons of ASEAN, wrote United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Dr. Shamshad Akhtar in her latest op-ed.

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Highlights

Asia-Pacific region must develop new forms of partnerships with business to achieve 2030 Agenda

“Such partnerships must go deeper and should focus on key areas of inclusive and sustainable development that are of mutual interest, including science, technology and innovation, human resource development, infrastructure development and multi-dimensional South-South cooperation,” said Dr. Shamshad Akhtar in her opening remarks at the 13th Asia-Pacific Business Forum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. More than 500 high-level professionals from the public and private sector attended the Forum, including H.E. Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid, President of Bangladesh; Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; and Dr. Victor K. Fung, Former Global Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce.

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ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee: Improved early warning saves lives

Although tropical cyclones remain a serious threat in the Asia-Pacific region, the accuracy and lead time of warnings have improved greatly. Improvements in forecasting tropical cyclones in the Western North Pacific Ocean and South China Sea – the world’s most active tropical cyclone basin – was discussed at the annual meeting of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee in Yokohoma, Japan. The Typhoon Committee has played a unique role in reducing the loss of life and properties and minimizing social, economic, and environmental impacts by typhoon-related disasters.

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ESCAP and the British Council collaborate to promote social enterprise and social impact investment

On 27 February, the British Council and ESCAP signed a collaborative agreement to promote the growth of social enterprise and social impact investment across the Asia-Pacific region as a means of supporting progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Both will cooperate to provide support to policymakers and other stakeholders in formulating and implementing policies and strategies that foster social enterprise and create enabling environments for social impact investment.

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New report - The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement: Promoting South-South Regional Integration and Sustainable Development

International trade and investment have enabled many countries in the Asia-Pacific region to boost economic growth and have lifted millions out of poverty. Trade policy is gradually becoming a useful measure to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. Our new report looks at how the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement, the oldest preferential trade agreement in the region, can further promote South-South integration and sustainable development.

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In Remembrance

Rembering H.E. Mr. Vitaly Churkin

Executive Secretary Dr. Shamshad Akhtar expressed condolences on behalf of ESCAP on the passing of H.E. Mr. Vitaly Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations. Mr. Churkin spent more than 40 years in the Russian Diplomatic Service and headed the Russian Mission to the UN for more than a decade.

Coming up at ESCAP

Regional Meeting on Sustainable Urban Transport Index
2 - 3 March 2017
Jakarta, Indonesia
NEASPEC 21st Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
16 - 17 March 2017
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2017
29 - 31 March 2017
Bangkok, Thailand