Media Advisory

Top executives, investors, tech entrepreneurs, business leaders and representatives from governments from around the region are gathering next week at the Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2023 (APBF 2023) in Hong Kong, China, to amplify the call on the private sector to accelerate transformation to greener business practices.

Co-organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN) and the Hong Kong Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Forum will rally support for green actions across business sectors, including finance, digital platforms, logistics and infrastructure, innovation and tech entrepreneurships.

Under the theme “An Asia-Pacific Green Deal for Business: Driving the Green Transformation,” the regional public-private forum will highlight the role of the private sector in scaling up climate action and the contribution from micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to accelerate the race to achieve net zero before 2030.

The Green Deal for Business was launched by the ESBN in 2022, aiming to harness transformational opportunities of a new green economy through a zero carbon, public-private finance approach to business practices.  

NOTE TO EDITOR: Members of the media are invited to attend in-person or via the online webcast.

What: Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2023

When: Date 22 – 23 November 2023

Where: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China  

In-person accreditation: Registration

Watch online: www.youtube.com/unescap

For the full programme: https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/asia-pacific-business-forum-2023

Key speakers:

• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
• Paul Chan Mo-po, Finance Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
• George Lam, Chair of ESBN and President of Hong Kong-ASEAN Economic Cooperation Foundation
• Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, Vice Chair of ESBN and Chief Executive Officer of Sintesa Group, Indonesia
• Marjorie Yang, Chair of ESBN Taskforce on Circular Economy and Chairman of Esquel Group, Hong Kong, China
• Patrick Healy, Chair of ESBN Task Force on Energy and Executive Director of Swire Pacific Limited, Hong Kong, China
• Jacob Kam, Chair of ESBN Task Force on Infrastructure and Logistics and Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation Limited, Hong Kong, China
• Adrian Cheng, Chair of ESBN Task Force on Innovation and Chief Executive Officer of New World Development Company Limited, Hong Kong, China
• Poman Lo, Co-Chair of ESBN Task Force on Finance and Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Regal Hotels International Holdings Limited, Hong Kong, China

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will convene the Seventh Asian and Pacific Population Conference (APPC) from 15 to 17 November 2023.       

With 60 per cent of the world’s population living in Asia and the Pacific, the conference will serve as a crucial platform to delve into the intersection of population dynamics and sustainable development, discussing key demographic trends in the region and the required policy interventions to capitalize on these opportunities.

In the wake of significant strides and progress over the past decades - including with regard to health, poverty eradication, sanitation, nutrition and education - the region now stands at a crossroads. Emerging demographic trends, such as population ageing, low fertility and increased migration, coupled with the challenges of socio-economic inequalities and vulnerabilities, and the impact of climate change, disasters, conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic and digital transformation increase the need for countries to take urgent action.

The conference will also provide an opportunity to review the implementation of the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development in the region.

NOTE TO EDITOR: Members of the media are invited to attend in-person or via the online webcast. A media engagement session with ESCAP and UNFPA principals will be held on 15 November at 1100 – 1130hrs.

What: The Seventh Asian and Pacific Population Conference

When: 15 – 17 November 2023

Where: United Nations Conference Centre, Ratchadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok

Register for in-person accreditation: https://indico.un.org/event/1005445/

Multimedia Assets: https://trello.com/b/cvdW1RQk/appc7 

Watch online: www.youtube.com/unescap

Key speakers

• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
• H.E. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security Thailand
• Diene Keita, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director (Programme), UNFPA
• Gita Sen, Senior Advisor and Distinguished Professor Ramalingaswami Centre on Equity and Social Determinants of Health, Public Health Foundation of India
• Naohiro Ogawa, Visiting Fellow,  Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Japan
• Stuart Gietel-Basten, Professor of Social Science, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, United Arab Emirates
• Laisa Bulatale, Team Leader – Gender and Transitional Justice Programme, Fiji Women's Rights Movement
• Sadikshya Aryal, Co-founder, Himalayan Innovations Nepal
• Fingani A. Mphande-Nyasulu, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Thailand
• Shireen Jejeebhoy, Visiting Distinguished Faculty, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), India
• Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director General of Health Services Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
• Paul Ong, Chief Strategy Officer, Tsao Foundation, Singapore
• Sivananthi Thanenthiran, Executive Director, Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women Malaysia
• Balqais Yusoff, Head of Strategy Management, Employees Provident Fund Malaysia
• Rey Asis, Programme Coordinator, Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants, Hong Kong, China
• Hon. Michael Kirby, Former Judge of the High Court, Australia
• Bandana Rana, Member of the United Nations Committee on the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Nepal
• H.E. Noemí Ruth Espinoza Madrid, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Honduras to the United Nations and Chair, 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development
• Mengjun Tang, Senior Research Fellow, China Population and Development Research Center
• Paata Shavishvili, Deputy Executive Director, National Statistics Office of Georgia, Georgia
• Dorodi Sharma, Senior Advisor - Advocacy and Engagement, International Development Association
• John Wilmoth, Director, Population Division, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
• Pio Smith, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific UNFPA
• Alia El-Yassir, Regional Director, UN Women, Asia-Pacific Regional Office

Amidst weak economic growth prospects, high inflation and elevated interest rates, a UN regional gathering is bringing ministers, policymakers and experts to assess the effects of investments in the Sustainable Development Goals and reiterate the need to scale up the effort for climate action to meet the global commitments on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is at its midway point this year.

Convening from 1 to 3 November 2023 in Bangkok, the Fourth Session of the Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development is slated to explore a new approach to assessing the effects of investment in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on public debt sustainability. The Committee is also expected to hear feedback on 10 proposed principles for action in sustainable finance, which encourages Governments, regulators and financial institutions to leverage their financial resources for net zero transition.  

Keynote speakers are scheduled to address additional topics such as the role of multilateral development banks as catalysts for net zero transition by strengthening climate finance partnerships and investment in energy transition projects and green technologies.

NOTE TO EDITOR: Members of the media are invited to attend in-person or via the online webcast

What: The Fourth Session of the Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development

When: 1 – 3 November 2023

In-person accreditation: https://indico.un.org/event/1005886/ 

Watch online: https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For the full programme:  https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/committee-mpfd-fourth-session

Keynote remarks:

• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
• H.E. Mr. Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Finance, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies of Sri Lanka
• H.E. Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, Minister of Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, and Privatization, Pakistan
• H.E. Ms. Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia
• Mr. Pekka Moren, Special Representative for Climate Action of the Ministry of Finance of Finland
• Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD
• Mr. Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, DESA
• Mr. Avinash Persaud, Special Envoy to the Prime Minister of Barbados on Investment and Financial Services

The path to a sustainable future for Asia and the Pacific runs through its cities -- economic, social and cultural centres for nearly 2.5 billion people and home to the world's largest urban population and number of people living in informal settlements.

But the megatrend of urbanization across the Asia-Pacific region has not come without difficulties. Many of the multiple crises the world faces intersect in cities, creating new challenges and further exposing longstanding issues, such as inequality, urban poverty, affordable housing and an expanding infrastructure gap. Cities are where these interlinked crises are most visible, often affecting the most vulnerable communities.

Against this backdrop, the Eighth Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-8) will be held from 23 to 25 October 2023 in Suwon City, Republic of Korea. As the region's premier multi-stakeholder forum, APUF-8 brings together the experiences of urban thought leaders, government officials and major stakeholder groups to reflect on the colliding crises faced by cities in Asia and the Pacific, synthesize innovative approaches and actions to support sustainable urban development in the context of the New Urban Agenda and the decade for action for the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Forum is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Suwon City, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea, and in cooperation with UN-Habitat, Habitat for Humanity International and CityNet as well as a range of supporting partner organizations.

NOTE TO EDITOR: Members of the media are invited to attend in-person or via the online webcast.

What: 8th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum

When: 23 - 25 October 2023

Where: Suwon City Convention Centre, Republic of Korea

In-person accreditation: https://indico.un.org/event/1005558/

Watch online: https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For the full programme: https://www.apuf8.org/

Key speakers:

• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
• Lee Jae-joon, Mayor of Suwon City, Republic of Korea
• H.E. Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Republic of Korea
• H.E. David Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Local Government Development, Malaysia
• H.E. Sevenitini Toumoua, Minister for Infrastructure, Tonga
• H.E. Ngy Chanphal, Secretary of State for Interior, Cambodia
• H.E. Maciu Nalumisa, Minister for Housing and Local Government, Fiji
• H.E. Ishmael Mali Avui, Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey, Solomon Islands
• H.E. Boutu Bateriki, Minister of Internal Affairs, Kiribati
• H.E. Hyoeun Jenny Kim, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Republic of Korea
• Solomon Greene, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Department of Housing and Urban Development, United States of America
• H.E. Ester A. Aldana, CESO II, Assistant Secretary for Administration, Finance and Comptrollership, Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippines
• H.E. Vilaykham Phosalath, Vice Minister, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Lao PDR
• H.E. Bambang Susantono, Chairman of Nusantara Capital City Authority, Indonesia
• H.E. Jean Todt, United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety
• Vijay Jagannathan, Secretary-General, CityNet
• Patrick Canagasinghamm, Chief Operating Officer, Habitat for Humanity International
• Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General, United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific
• Dr. Jung Sook Park, Secretary-General, WeGo
• Dr. Emil Dardak, President, EAROPH International

The Asia-Pacific region is responsible for more than 40 per cent of the energy consumed and over 50 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions produced globally. Its rapid growth in demand for energy is poised to continue in the coming years. This creates challenges for countries trying to maintain the security and affordability of energy supplies while continuing to make efforts to mitigate climate change and the associated environmental impacts.

Co-hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Ministry of Energy of the Royal Thai Government, the third Asian and Pacific Energy Forum is set to bring together prominent energy sector leaders, policymakers and experts to address these critical energy challenges and foster sustainable solutions to promote a cleaner, more resilient and interconnected energy future.

Forum participants will have a chance to review the progress made in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and implementing the Regional Road Map on Power System Connectivity. They will also explore policies, initiatives and strategies for enhancing energy security, promoting cross-border electric connectivity as well as emerging areas of the energy transition.  

Various side events, exhibitions and the inaugural ISETS International Conference will be held at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, as part of the Asia-Pacific Energy Week from 16 to 20 October 2023.

NOTE TO EDITOR: Members of the media are invited to attend in-person or via the online webcast.

What: The Third Asian and Pacific Energy Forum

When: 19 – 20 October 2023

Key Speakers

• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP     
• H.E. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Royal Thai Government         
• H.E. Nasrul Hamid, Minister of State, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh
• H.E. Victor Jona, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Cambodia
• H.E. He Yang, Vice Administrator, National Energy Administration, China
• H.E. Sinava Souphanouvong, Vice Minister of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR
• H.E. Myagmarsuren Bayarmagnai, Vice Minister of Energy, Mongolia
• Hon. Indika Anuruddha Herath, State Minister of Power and Energy, Sri Lanka
• H.E. Manuchehr Safarzoda, Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Tajikistan
• Hon. Elina P. Akinaga, Secretary for Department of Resources and Development, Federated States of Micronesia
• Liu Zehong, Executive Vice Chairman, Global Energy Interconnection and Development Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO)
• Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Energy
• Dr. Suwit Khunkitti, Co-Chair, ISETS Advisory Committee; Vice Chairperson of AIT, and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand     

In-person accreditation: https://indico.un.org/event/1005775/          

Watch online: https://www.youtube.com/unescap      

For the full programme: https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/APEF3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), is hosting a high-level meeting to review the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries (VPoA) in Asia and Europe. 

The two-day event will feature interactive thematic sessions that will discuss best practices and lessons learned in tackling the unique challenges of landlocked countries in the region and propose action-oriented recommendations for the sustainable development of LLDCs in the next decade. The meeting’s deliberations will cumulate into an outcome document that will feed into the preparations for the Third United Nations Conference on LLDCs scheduled for 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The meeting will be attended by Ministers and senior government officials from LLDCs, representatives of transit countries, international financial institutions, development and United Nations system partners and private sector partners.

NOTE TO EDITOR

Members of the media are invited to attend in-person or via the online webcast.

What: High-Level Euro-Asia Regional Review Meeting of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries LLDCs

When: 22 – 23 August 2023

Where: United Nations Conference Centre, Ratchadamnern Nok Avenue, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand

Key Speakers

• Rabab Fatima, UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States and Executive Secretary of the Third United Nations Conference on LLDCs
• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

In-person accreditation: https://indico.un.org/event/1007192/ 

Watch online: https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For the full programme: https://www.un.org/ohrlls/events/high-level-euro-asia-regional-review-meeting-vienna-programme-action-landlocked-developing

Some 70 per cent of women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) globally lack adequate access to financial services, perpetuating gender inequality with significant consequences for individuals, communities, and sustainable economic growth.

Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Feminist Finance Forum next week will drive action to move the needle on gender lens investing and financial inclusion for entrepreneurs across the region. The in-person event will convene around 200 key stakeholders, including policy makers from across the region, women entrepreneurs, investors and financial service providers, to strategize on how to tackle these challenges through innovative solutions.

During the Forum, ESCAP will launch its report: Policy Approaches for Financial Inclusion: An Examination of Approaches across Asia and the Pacific and Latin America, and a Community of Practice on Women’s Financial Inclusion will be initiated. On the sidelines of the event, regional thought leaders and practitioners of Feminist Finance will launch and introduce innovative new tools and initiatives to close the gender-finance gap:

• Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) will launch its Orange Bond, set to unlock US$ 10 billion to empower 100 million women.
• Women-led South-East Asia-based impact investment firm, SWEEF Capital will introduce participants to its recently launched Gender ROI™ tool, demonstrating the positive impact of adopting a gendered approach within organizations.
• She Loves Tech, the world’s largest acceleration platform for women and technology, will host a competition for women led start-ups from the Mekong region to pitch in front of the region’s top investors and funding institutions.

Note to Editor: Members of the media are invited to cover the event.

What:     Feminist Finance Forum

When:    16 - 17 August 2023

Where:   United Nations Conference Centre Bangkok, Thailand

Register your in-person attendance here: https://indico.un.org/event/1006198/registrations/11658/

Key Speakers:

• Rupa Chanda, Director of the Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, ESCAP
• Cam Do, Director General of the Innovative and Climate Finance Bureau, Global Affairs Canada
• Susan Snider, Vice President, Strategy, Innovation and Impact, Equality Fund
• Joy Anderson, Founder and President, Criterion Institute
• Natasha Garcha, Senior Director, Impact Investment Exchange
• Rowena Reyes, Investment Director, Sweef Capital
• Aparajita Agrawal, Director, Value for Women
• Natalie Au, Programme Manager, 2X Global
• Deborah Foo, Gender Platform Manager, AVPN
• Rashim Bedi, Senior Coordinator, Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)
• Shreya KC, Youth Climate Justice Advocate
• Leanne Robers & Rhea See, Co-Founders, She Loves Tech 

For more information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/feminist-finance-forum

Nowhere is the escalating threat of climate change-induced disasters greater than in Asia and the Pacific. The impact and magnitude of disasters, over the past decade, indicate that climate change is making natural hazards even more frequent and intense, with floods, tropical cyclones, heatwaves, droughts and earthquakes resulting in tragic losses of life, displaced communities, damaged people’s health and  millions pushed into poverty.

Against this backdrop, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will convene senior government officials, top experts and key stakeholders to explore transformative adaptation policies and actions needed as well as to develop a regional strategy on Early Warnings for All, aligned with global and country-level initiatives.   

The fourth ESCAP Disaster Resilience Week will take place from 24 to 27 July at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok. The various workshops, expert meetings and events held throughout the week will enrich the deliberations of the Eighth Session of the ESCAP Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction – the key platform for regional dialogue and intergovernmental collaboration on disaster risk reduction – which convenes from 25 to 27 July. 

The Week will also feature the launch of the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2023 and the launch of the second generation of the ESCAP Risk and Resilience Portal, an online interactive knowledge portal to support disaster and climate risk-informed policymaking. 

Note to Editor: Members of the media are invited to attend in-person or via the online webcast.

What:                   ESCAP Disaster Resilience Week

When:                  24 to 27 July 2023

Key speakers:

• H.E. Pol. Lt. Gen. Nadhapit Snidvongs, Vice Minister of Interior, Royal Thai Government
• Undersecretary Ms. Marilou G. Erni, Chief of Staff and Supervising Undersecretary for Strategic Communications, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines
• H.E. Dr. Ali Javidaneh, Head of the National Cartographic Centre / Vice Minister of the Planning and Budget Organization, Islamic Republic of Iran
• Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan
• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

In-person accreditation:
https://indico.un.org/event/1006534/ (Disaster Resilience Week)
https://indico.un.org/event/1004738/ (Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction)

Watch online:

https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For the full programme:

https://www.unescap.org/events/2023/escap-disaster-resilience-week#programme

For multimedia assets: https://trello.com/b/5fM9RULi/disaster-resilience-week-2023

The convergence of multiple global crises has dialed back much hard-earned progress and sounded the alarm for urgent accelerated action to get the Asia-Pacific region back on track to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. There is still much to be done to turn SDG commitments and ambition into reality within the next seven years.

The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) this July brings countries together to ensure that COVID-19 recovery strategies are inclusive, sustainable and leave no one behind despite the mounting challenges and crises ahead.

The Forum will further hold in-depth reviews of Sustainable Development Goals 6 (clean water and sanitation), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 17 (partnerships for the Goals).

At this year’s HLPF, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will showcase regional initiatives and more in its engagements. ESCAP will also highlight the need for sustained and scaled up financing for sustainable development; investments to build the resilience of people, cities and economies; comprehensive and authoritative data in driving actionable SDG policies; and bolstering collaboration and partnerships at all levels to advance the SDGs.

Eleven countries from the Asia-Pacific region will be presenting their second voluntary national review (VNR): Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Fiji, the Maldives, Mongolia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam. Second-generation VNRs play a critical part in the follow-up and review process, as they can facilitate the integration of SDGs into policymaking and planning processes and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

For more information on ESCAP engagements at the HLPF: https://www.unescap.org/hlpf2023

For the full HLPF programme: https://hlpf.un.org/2023

For multimedia assets: https://trello.com/b/FVYmcQi5/hlpf-2023-regional-commissions

Heads of State and government, ministers as well as representatives from business, academia, civil society and youth will convene next week at the 79th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to explore policy options and foster ambitious climate action towards net-zero pathways.

With dedicated discussions on catalyzing climate finance and investments, complemented by a climate solutions fair, the week-long session from 15 to 19 May serves as a platform for over 62 countries to share solutions and facilitate engagement with a broad set of partners and stakeholders, to both reduce the risks and impacts of climate change and limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Note to Editor: Members of the media are invited to cover the 79th session in-person/online.  

79th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

When:                 15 to 19 May 2023

Where:                United Nations Conference Centre, Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Bangkok and webcast online via YouTube

Register for media accreditation: https://indico.un.org/event/1003482/

Watch online: https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For more information and full timetable of events: https://www.unescap.org/events/commission79

Key speakers: