Press Release

Digital trade and investment are driving forces of the modern economy, and growth in the Asia-Pacific region has exceeded the global average, with the region now accounting for a quarter of the US$ 4 trillion trade in digitally deliverable products.

However, digital trade and investment remain highly uneven, according to the new Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2023/2024: Unleashing Digital Trade and Investment for Sustainable Development, produced by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). While six economies in the Asia-Pacific region are responsible for 85 per cent of the region’s digitally deliverable exports, least developed countries (LDCs) account for less than 1 per cent.

“This disparity underscores an urgent need for action,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP. “It is imperative that we work together to ensure that digital trade and investment are not just growth engines but also catalysts for inclusive and sustainable development.”

ESCAP research suggests that a 1 per cent increase in digital trade value is associated with a 0.8 percentage point rise in the growth rate of an economy's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. As these benefits are closely tied to Internet penetration rates, unlocking the full potential of digital trade urgently calls for bridging the “digital divide”.

“To achieve inclusive and sustainable outcomes from digitalization in the Asia-Pacific region, we need to work with countries at low levels of digital readiness to scale up their capacity to benefit from digital trade” said Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD. “Digital trade is not just about technology; it’s about people. It's about creating opportunities for everyone, regardless of their location or background.”

LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region have seen rapid growth in digital trade, but only 0.1 per cent of the region's digital FDI inflows reached them in 2021. In addition to risks of underinvestment in crucial infrastructure, these countries face a shortfall of skilled workers and regulatory complexities, which drive up operational costs. As a result, in spite of the growth, these countries accounted for less than 1 per cent of the region’s exports of digitally deliverable services in 2022.

“Addressing the social and environmental challenges arising from digital trade and investment is a complex matter, with diverse impacts that no single ministry or agency can manage in isolation,” according to UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller. “The Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report highlights how trade and investment policies can mitigate these challenges and enable the resulting benefits.”

In addition to levelling the playing field on Internet penetration, harnessing the potential of digital trade and investment as effective means for achieving sustainable development will also require proactive trade and investment policies and coordinated efforts, globally as well as regionally.

Read the full report: www.unescap.org/kp/APTIR2023  

Top executives from around Asia and the Pacific meeting at a United Nations forum today called for the private sector to lead the way towards greener, more sustainable business practices.

The Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF), held 22 and 23 November in Hong Kong, opened discussions on how businesses are decarbonizing their operations and scaling up sustainability initiatives in the region. Participants are also expected to be introduced to the Asia-Pacific Green Deal for Business digital platform, and will hear and meet key decision makers, business leaders and emerging entrepreneurs committed to sustainable development across the region.

“The responsibility is now on the [business] community to not only set in place genuine and ambitious actions to meet their commitments but to multiply their efforts by bringing new businesses into the sustainability sphere,” Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), told the Forum, which is jointly organized by ESCAP and the ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN) with support from the Hong Kong Environment and Ecology Bureau.

ESBN Chair George Lam said in his welcome statement that with Asia and the Pacific being “the world's largest and fastest-growing economic region and largest source of greenhouse gas emissions…the region is also where the private sector should and can take the leading role in closely collaborating with governments and communities towards achieving the green transformation of the region.”

“Decarbonization and green transition involve a huge amount of investment. Estimates have indicated that Asia alone will need $66 trillion in the coming three decades. It is clear that governments cannot fund them on their own. The private sector’s resources must be effectively mobilized,” said Hong Kong Finance Secretary Paul Chan.  

“The HKSAR Government is committed to working with the business sector to realize green transformation in Hong Kong, and contribute to the regional decarbonization progress,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tse Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology of Hong Kong, is scheduled to speak tomorrow regarding Hong Kong's quest for carbon neutrality before 2050.

The Forum, meeting under the theme “An Asia Pacific Green Deal for Business: Driving the Green Transformation,” is the only public-private sector regional dialogue and networking event that effectively and proactively engages businesses committed to sustainable development across the region, bringing together government officials, entrepreneurs, investors, private sector enterprises and academia from across the region. Additional participants from chambers of commerce, industry, associations and business networks are expected to raise greater awareness about ESBN and the Green Deal as well as in expanding the Network’s membership.

The annual Forum also allows participants to showcase pilot projects and innovation solutions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and climate goals through private sector initiatives and public-private partnerships.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/asia-pacific-business-forum-2023

Watch the proceedings: www.youtube.com/unescap

Delegates from across Asia and the Pacific underscored the significance of population and development in a region home to more than 60 per cent of the world’s inhabitants, noting that decisions made by countries in this region shape the future of its 4.7 billion individuals as well as future generations across the globe.

This important message was reiterated during the Seventh Asian and Pacific Population Conference, which reviewed the implementation of the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development (2013) and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (1994). The three-day conference was jointly organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and brought together more than 400 government officials and representatives of civil society and youth groups.

“Beyond sheer numbers, this gathering reflects our shared commitment to addressing the population dynamics in our region. The collective resolve, constructive dialogues, and solution-oriented approach evident throughout the conference underscore our potential to make substantial contributions to ICPD30 and position ourselves for the post-2030 population and development agenda,” said Lin Yang, ESCAP Deputy Executive Secretary, during the closing of the conference today.

The regional conference provided an opportunity to celebrate successes. Since the previous conference, convened ten years ago, Asia and the Pacific has seen increased life expectancy, along with a decline in maternal mortality, enhanced access to contraceptives and more girls going to school. These changes have occurred due to increased socioeconomic development, advancements in gender equality and people gaining greater agency to make decisions, including about their sexual and reproductive health.

Delegates acknowledged that the following megatrends are affecting economic, social and environmental outcomes: shifting population dynamics, the intensifying climate crisis, increasing migration, growing urbanization and rapid digital advancement. Moreover, they noted that inequality and social injustice persist. The message was clear: Forward-looking policies that capitalize on the demographic transition and place individual rights and choices at the centre are key to building sustainable and thriving societies and economies.

Additionally, partnerships across the region to exchange experiences, increase investments and accelerate progress and disaggregated data were noted as critical to achieving shared goals.

“Strengthened regional collaboration is required now more than ever. And that is exactly what we have seen over the last week. The energy, spirit and genuine interest that each of you have shown to work together to advance the quality of life of every individual that calls this region home is promising,” said UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme) Diene Keita, bringing the conference to a close.

Facts and figures

• Maternal mortality has declined by over 60 per cent in Asia and the Pacific since 2000.
• While fewer women are dying giving birth, over 60,000 women still died in 2020.
• In some countries, fewer than 25 per cent of women have access to and use modern contraception.
• Since 1950, life expectancy at birth has increased by almost 30 years, from 43 years then to 75 years now.
• The proportion of people aged 65 years or over is projected to almost double by 2050.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/seventh-asian-and-pacific-population-conference

Watch the proceedings: https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For multimedia assets: https://trello.com/b/cvdW1RQk/appc7

The Seventh North and Central Asia Multistakeholder Forum on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals opened today with high-level officials and representatives from various stakeholder groups reaffirming their continued resolve and shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Delegates further underscored the need to accelerate efforts to tackle the multiple crises faced in North and Central Asia. Recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be hampered by global geopolitical conflict and its impact on inflation, food security and energy. In addition, the effects of tighter monetary policy in developed countries in response to higher inflation are posing significant challenges to many developing economies, raising the likelihood of financial distress and exposing pre-existing vulnerabilities.

“We need to accelerate actions for eradicating poverty in all forms and dimensions, and to continue expanding and improving employment opportunities, social protection, and provision of essential services,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) opening the forum. She further underscored the need to align sectoral, local, national and international plans and policies with targets to accelerate decarbonization as well as advance climate justice and fairness.

North and Central Asia is currently not on track to achieve any of the 17 SDGs by 2030. While there has been positive progress on Goal 1 (No Poverty) and (Goal 16) Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (Goal 16) in the subregion, regressing trends have also been observed for several Goals related to Goal 13 (Climate Action).

“Global crises, including food and energy, COVID-19, climate change and geopolitical uncertainty, have seriously affected the socio-economic development of countries, and this has a significant impact on the implementation of the SDGs. It is encouraging that through common efforts we are gradually making up for lost economic growth rates. And the common goal is to jointly move forward in achieving the SDGs and consolidate the achieved results,” said H. E. Daniyar Amangeldiev, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic.

“It is critically important for us to intensify regional cooperation based on the principles of good neighbourliness, partnership and mutual benefit. Absolutely all participants – public, private, civil and international – have a role to play in ensuring that the necessary measures are taken to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, regional partnership between countries is an integral element of cooperation, including in the implementation of the sustainable development agenda,” said H. E. Abzal Abdikarimov, Vice-Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan.

Gwi Yeop Son, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, United Nations Development Coordination Office shared, “Emphasizing the importance of holistic partnerships, we must ensure that our synergies foster innovative solutions, from addressing poverty and hunger to championing climate advocacy and promoting social equity. By channeling the strengths of every stakeholder, we aim to foster a region that is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.”

More than 100 delegates from nine countries in North and Central Asia representing governments and the public sector, civil society, the private sector, academic institutions and international organizations are taking part in the Forum to share their views and provide recommendations on how to accelerate the progress towards Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and Goal 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

During the thematic sessions over the next two days, participants are expected to develop concrete recommendations on, among others, emerging challenges on food security in North and Central Asia, with focus on the ongoing energy-food-finance crisis, measures to accelerate in-country and regional actions for climate mitigation and adaption and promoting stakeholder engagement through participatory decision-making with focus on vulnerable groups.

The meeting is part of a series of five subregional forums which aim to inform, empower and support Asia-Pacific countries in their efforts to achieve the 17 SDGs and their targets by identifying subregional trends, as well as sharing best practices and lessons learned to take forward. Inputs from the subregional forums will also feed into the 11th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) and global UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2024.

Governments meeting this week at a United Nations forum are considering new ways of assessing public debt sustainability and scaling up sustainable finance against a backdrop of the need to increase investments in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and stronger climate action, and at a time when public coffers remain hemmed in by recent multiple crises.

Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, fallout from the war in Ukraine and other global turbulences over the last several years have left many governments in Asia and the Pacific short on public funds to meet their commitments on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is at its midway point this year.

Therefore, identifying long-term financing solutions to get the Goals back on track and incorporating SDG investment requirements while assessing debt risks will be the main discussion point at the fourth session of the Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development.

“The imperative for the significant needed additional investments in SDGs is colored by an increasing number of countries experiencing rising debt distress. In this environment, a key policy challenge is how to accelerate investments in SDGs while maintaining public debt sustainability in the long term,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

“In our new financing for development report, Sustainable Finance: Bridging the Gap in Asia and the Pacific, we lay out ten principles for action to close the gap in sustainable finance, and discuss in detail what governments, regulators and private finance entities can do to scale-up sustainable finance and how to increase its affordability and accessibility,” she added.

In his opening remarks, the State Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka, Shehan Semasinghe said: “As fiscal deficits have become common in both developed and developing countries, borrowing for budget finance needs to be looked at in a new light. Indeed, a new approach is necessary in particular to circumvent the present approach’s undue favoritism of short-term public debt sustainability at the expense of long-term economic and social development.”

According to the latest estimates of the G20 Independent Expert Group, the global annual incremental investments needed by developing countries (excluding China) for SDGs and climate action are around

$3 trillion, with about two-thirds expected to come from domestic resource mobilization and local finance. External financing commitments are expected to contribute the remaining $1 trillion, split evenly between both official development financing and private capital.

In response, the United Nations Secretary-General has launched the ‘SDG Stimulus to deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, which aims to tackle the high cost of debt, scale up long-term financing for development and expand contingency financing to countries in need.

Competing pressures, however, have resulted in ballooning debt for many regional economies, with the public debt-to-GDP ratio reaching an 18-year high by 2021 and exposing an increasing number of countries to the risk of debt distress. ESCAP contends that a high level of public debt is not necessarily bad; what matters is how it is used. Its analysis recommends adopting a long-term approach to assess the risk of debt distress and shows that debt levels can indeed go down if the socio-economic and environmental gains of investments in SDGs are taken into account.

The Committee is scheduled to deliberate on debt sustainability and sustainable finance issues and hear from the experience of participants to increase understanding of the need for, and the policy implications of, a long-term public debt sustainability analysis that takes into consideration investments in the SDGs and climate action.

The Committee will also review the ten broad principles underpinning the actions to be undertaken by governments, regulators and private finance entities to scale up sustainable finance in Asia and the Pacific. These ten principles are guiding ideas that are in line with the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda to support financing for the SDGs and climate action, rather than binding commitments by member States.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/committee-mpfd-fourth-session

Watch the proceedings: www.youtube.com/unescap

Asian and Pacific countries agreed today on measures to shape the future of energy use and generation, and to address climate change in a region that consumes more than 40 per cent of the world's power and generates more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions.

These critical issues were the focus of the third Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (APEF), which closed today at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. This event brought together more than 265 participants from 42 countries, including ministers, senior officials, experts and representatives of international organizations.

“Recent crises have tested us all, resulting in economic shocks, energy supply price rises and supply chain disruptions, all of which have threatened progress on the energy transition and, more broadly, sustainable development,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in her opening remarks.

She added, “These events remind us of the need for energy resilience and security to be considered alongside sustainability. For the energy sector, pursuing better energy efficiency, universal access to modern energy and increasing the share of renewable energy are strategies that can improve our collective ability to weather these shocks and recover better.”

Asia and the Pacific undergoing rapid development is standing at a pivotal moment in the global energy transition. It plays a critical role in securing policies, strategies and initiatives that address energy resilience and security, and progress on Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Across the region, there is a crucial need to close the final gaps in universal electricity access, clean cooking, energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption. Countries also have agreed on a Regional Road Map on Power System Connectivity for creating secure, sustainable and affordable power systems. The Road Map also underscores the importance of multilateral power trading to unlock the flexibility needed to enable the integration of high shares of renewable energy.

“At the heart of this challenge is affordability. Energy must be more accessible and affordable to marginalized and underserved communities,” underscored H.E. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Thailand.

The Forum culminated in the adoption of a ministerial declaration on “Building a Secure, Sustainable and Interconnected Energy Future for Asia and the Pacific” that will guide the partnership between ESCAP and its member States in addressing these pressing energy challenges towards a sustainable energy future in the region.

For further information: https://bit.ly/APEF-3

Read the flagship report Closing the gap for SDG 7 in the Asia-Pacific Region: https://bit.ly/RTR-SDG7-2023

Watch the Forum proceedings: https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For multimedia assets: https://bit.ly/APEF3-Trello

The Seventh South and South-West Asia Multistakeholder Forum on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals opened today in Kathmandu, Nepal with high-level officials and representatives from various stakeholder groups reaffirming their continued resolve and shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event was co-hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and National Planning Commission of the Government of Nepal, in partnership with UN Nepal and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Delegates further underscored the need to accelerate efforts to tackle the polycrisis faced in South and South-West Asia. Recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be hampered by global geopolitical conflict and its impact on inflation, food security and energy. In addition, the effects of tighter monetary policy in developed countries in response to higher inflation are posing significant challenges to many developing economies, raising the likelihood of financial distress and exposing pre-existing vulnerabilities.

“The need to secure sources of financing and accelerated progress towards the SDGs remains of utmost importance. Here, the SDG stimulus will help countries by putting forward three areas for immediate action: tackling the high cost of debt and rising risk of debt distress, scaling up affordable long-term financing for development, and expanding contingency financing to countries in need,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP opening the forum.

South and South-West Asia is currently not on track to achieve any of the 17 SDGs by 2030. While there has been positive progress on most Goals in the subregion, regressing trends have also been observed for Goals 13 and 14 related to climate action and life below water.

“We must intensify our efforts to achieve the lost ground on the SDGs. We need to focus on a new global blueprint with renewed measures,” said Hon. Dr. Ram Kumar Phuyal, National Planning Commission, Nepal.

Approximately 100 delegates from nine countries representing governments, civil society, the private sector and academic institutions are taking part in the Forum to share their views and provide recommendations on how to accelerate the progress towards Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and Goal 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

Daya Sagar Shrestha, Executive Director, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal and Focal Point for Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism shared, “A human rights-based approach and development justice are instrumental to addressing the unprecedented crises.”

Chandra Dhakal, President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, further added, “To achieve the SDGs, we must create business-friendly policies that strike a balance between incentives and regulations ensuring transparency and accountability.”

During the thematic sessions over the next three days, the ILO, FAO, World Bank, UNDP and ESCAP will present key trends and challenges related to the Goals in focus for South and South-West Asia to stimulate stakeholder discussions. Participants are expected to identify priorities and develop recommendations on, among others, alleviating poverty and hunger for all, taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, building peace, justice and strong institutions, and promoting regional and subregional cooperation towards implementation of the SDGs.

The meeting is part of a series of five subregional forums which aim to inform, empower and support Asia-Pacific countries in their efforts to achieve the 17 SDGs and their targets by identifying subregional trends, as well as sharing best practices and lessons learned to take forward. Inputs from the subregional forums will also feed into the 11th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) and global UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2024.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/seventh-south-and-south-west-asia-forum-sustainable-development-goals

For multimedia assets: https://trello.com/b/G3u0Fajj/apfsd11

Amidst the challenging macroeconomic environment in many countries and concerns around public debt sustainability, progress in financing climate action in Asia and the Pacific has only fallen further behind, even as global emissions and energy needs continue to rise.

A new report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) highlights the urgent issue of sustainable finance in the region as well as discusses the challenges and opportunities for policymakers, regulators and private finance in bridging this gap.

“Inaction is no longer an option. All stakeholders must commit to accelerate change by transforming their financing priorities, processes and programs, in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action ambitions,” said Hamza Ali Malik, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, ESCAP.

Only 17 of the 51 Asia-Pacific countries party to the UNFCCC have assessed and reported their financial needs to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and only seven have broken down financial needs between adaptation and mitigation. Moreover, average economic losses resulting from disaster-related and other natural hazards in the region are forecast to increase to $1.1 trillion in a moderate climate-change scenario and $1.4 trillion in a worst-case scenario.

The Sustainable Finance: Bridging the Gap in Asia and the Pacific report puts forward ten principles for action for policymakers, regulators and private finance. This includes activities for all stakeholders to cooperatively and efficiently shift and scale up capital to finance climate action, focusing on reducing obstacles, addressing the underpricing of climate-related risks, and reducing sectoral and regional mismatches between capital and investment needs. These insights further incorporate unique national contexts, as well as those for least developed countries and small island developing States.

“At a time where multiple challenges are pushing against the critical but already lagging sustainability agenda, we need to cast off any paralysis we have and galvanise action. Finance is a key enabler for action and this report provides practical and effective ideas that we can immediately act on. I urge all stakeholders to urgently identify the areas where they can play a role and come together to deliver solutions,” said Eugene Wong, CEO, Sustainable Finance Institute Asia.

The report also recognizes that there is sufficient capital and liquidity to close the global financing gap in sustainable finance. However, various challenges remain, as discussed in the report, to effectively deploy capital for climate action.

“The Asia-Pacific region presents a huge opportunity for private capital to be mobilised at scale to fund the climate transition, especially in the hard-to-abate sectors. While voluntary market standards continue to harmonise transparency expectations and ensure investor confidence, both the public and private sectors should work together to enable policy and regulatory frameworks, and correspondingly leverage important financing options such as local currency and blended finance facilities,” said Ricco Zhang, Senior Director for Asia Pacific, International Capital Market Association.

“I believe every stakeholder group will discover valuable insights and actionable ideas within this report on how to channel capital towards climate-related investments and socially just transition, ultimately bolstering the sustainable finance market and ensuring funding for the Sustainable Development Goals,” shared Aigul Kussaliyeva, Director of Sustainable Development, Astana International Financial Centre.

The publication is part of the biennial Financing for Development Report Series produced by ESCAP and was officially launched at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand on 2 October. Speaking at the launch, Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, commended the leadership of ESCAP in promoting sustainable finance and stressed the importance of the Report, which “offered not only a comprehensive and in-depth analysis on sustainable financing, but also a practical way forward for tangible actions that countries could collectively and individually undertake.” He further reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness to support international collaboration on sustainable finance and to contribute to policy conversations on this issue going forward.

Air pollution, a pressing global concern impacting human health and the environment, had led to the establishment of the North-East Asia Clean Air Partnership (NEACAP) within the framework of the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC).

In line with its programme on air pollution, the ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office (as NEASPEC Secretariat), in collaboration with the National Air Emission Inventory and Research Center (under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea), organized a symposium on air pollution on 7 September 2023 in Seoul.

Commemorating the 4th International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, the symposium brought together high-level government officials, globally renowned research experts, and sector specialists from international organizations to share information and analyses on air pollutant emissions, air quality management, and impacts of air improvement policies.

Ganbold Baasanjav, Director of ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office, expressed in his opening remarks that “our collective efforts have the potential to expedite substantial progress in addressing air pollution across the North-East Asia region.”

The event also served as a platform for experts from North-East Asia and beyond to introduce air quality management policies and prevailing international cooperation trends. Discussions encompassed methodologies for managing air pollutant emission inventories adopted by international organizations and countries. Deliberations also extended to policy effect analysis methodologies employing scientific approaches like air quality modeling. In addition, the symposium evaluated the status of managing air pollutant emission data and gauging effectiveness of policies aimed at mitigating fine dust.

The symposium deliberations will feed into the discussions at the 5th Meeting of NEACAP’s Science and Policy Committee to be held on 8 September 2023. The Committee, reporting to NEASPEC’s Senior Officials Meeting, is the steering body tasked to plan, monitor and review NEACAP activities and to promote science-policy linkages through guiding technical assessments and dialogues.

About NEASPEC: The North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environment Cooperation (NEASPEC) is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and cooperation among countries in North-East Asia. Through initiatives like the North-East Asian Clean Air Partnership (NEACAP), NEASPEC addresses critical issues such as air pollution to ensure the well-being of both communities and ecosystems.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/symposium-air-pollutant-emissions-inventory-and-air-quality-management

For media enquiries or spokesperson interview requests, please contact

Mr. Tae Min Park

ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office

E: [email protected] / [email protected]

The Sixth ASEAN Inclusive Business Summit, hosted by Indonesia, emphasised the importance of establishing a conducive environment for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and for large businesses to adopt inclusive business (IB) models that contribute to inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

With the theme "Incentivising Businesses for Inclusive Growth," the summit focused on the significance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in building an IB ecosystem in ASEAN through enabling policies, from accreditation, coaching, to innovative financing schemes.

Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs of the Republic of Indonesia Teten Masduki appreciated ASEAN’s efforts in strengthening regional commitment to inclusive business through the convening of  the first High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Inclusive Business. He stated, "The High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Inclusive Business is a historic event for ASEAN as it brings together ministers dealing with MSMEs to exchange views and reaffirm our commitment to driving inclusive and sustainable business practices in ASEAN."

During the summit, ASEAN scaled up its commitment to IB by hosting the inaugural High-Level Ministerial Meeting for Ministers responsible for MSME development in ASEAN Member States (AMS). At this meeting, AMS exchanged good practices to promote the adoption of IB models and adopted the “Declaration on Promoting Inclusive Business Models : Empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for Equitable Growth”.

Through the statement, AMS recognised the important role MSMEs play in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, generating employment, and reducing poverty as well as the contribution of large businesses in driving productivity and stimulating income-generation activities. They also acknowledged the potential of the IB model in achieving economic, commercial, and social objectives.

Guiding this high-level commitment is the Plan of Action for the Promotion of Inclusive Business in ASEAN (2023-2027), which was endorsed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers during the 55th  ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting on 17 August in Semarang, Indonesia.

The Plan of Action will focus on four priority areas, namely, strengthening policy advisory support for AMS to develop and adopt policies and strategies to promote IB; supporting businesses in developing and integrating inclusive and sustainable business models through coaching services to develop IB models and linking MSMEs to larger companies; establishment of financial vehicles to pilot innovative financing instruments to provide access to finance for inclusive businesses; and establishing an ASEAN IB knowledge hub to generate awareness and share information and resources on IB.

Dr Le Quang Lan, Director of Market Integration of the ASEAN Secretariat, on behalf of the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn, welcomed the timely endorsement of the Plan of Action as ASEAN prepares for the transformative forces that are reshaping the global economic landscape. He further offered recommendations vis-à-vis the implementation of the Plan of Action, to promote inclusivity in ASEAN’s approach in addressing its key priorities, namely, digitalisation, green economy and supply chain resiliency.

In collaboration with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, ASEAN presented the ASEAN Inclusive Business Awards to ten businesses to showcase exemplary inclusive business models from businesses across all the AMS.

 “Inclusive businesses are different from business-as-usual as they put people and planet alongside profit, and are therefore, a critical accelerator if we are to get back on track on the SDGs. ESCAP is committed to move inclusive businesses from the margins to the mainstream,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

“The ASEAN Region – with its ambitious development agenda, integration in global value chains, and strong economic fundamentals – will benefit from inclusive business models,” said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. “The OECD continues to provide policy analysis and advice on best practices to support inclusive businesses and policymakers in ASEAN in putting these tools into practice. Looking ahead, the OECD stands ready to build further on our strong cooperation and support the development of an ASEAN Knowledge Hub to advance the Plan of Action.”

On the importance of businesses and sustainable development, Dio Herdiawan Tobing, Head of Public Policy for Asia at the World Benchmarking Alliance, appreciated ASEAN for prioritising businesses as drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth. He stated, "ASEAN has established a compelling demonstration of how corporate accountability measures can effectively contribute to transformative changes for sustainable development."

Indonesia, as the ASEAN Chair for 2023, hosted the summit, which was co-organised by the Ministry of Cooperatives of SMEs in Indonesia, ESCAP, OECD, and ASEAN Secretariat, and supported by the World Benchmarking Alliance and Oxfam.

The summit welcomed government and private sector representatives from ASEAN and beyond, as well as investors and development organisations. The summit is an annual activity of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, the sectoral body under the ASEAN Economic Community pillar responsible for coordinating MSME development in the region, contributing to the implementation of the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025. Incoming ASEAN chair Lao PDR announced that the Seventh ASEAN IB Summit will be organised in 2024.