Over the last two decades, trade and investment have been the driving forces of rapid economic growth, economic development and poverty reduction in a number of Asian countries, making the Asia-Pacific the most dynamic region in the world. This dynamism is continuing to accelerate creating enormous business opportunities for both trade and investment. In order to benefit from these opportunities, business sector should play a leading role as an engine of economic growth and prosperity. A regional dialogue should emerge on trade and investment policies, both those under the WTO framework, and those under regional processes of integration, so that the business sector is better able to respond to the benefits and adjustment costs being brought about by a liberalizing global environment. Business sector cooperation within the region needs to be accorded high priority. Such cooperation should include the exchange of information and experience, business networking and development of partnerships among the business community. While, subregional economic cooperation organizations including ASEAN, BIMST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand - Economic Cooperation), ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization), GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion) and SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), have launched business forums to assist networking in their particular areas, an Asia-Pacific forum is needed to foster region-wide business networking, partnerships and dialogues among the business community. UNESCAP proposes, therefore, to inaugurate the Asia-Pacific Business Forum during the 60th session of the Commission in April 2004 at Shanghai, China in close cooperation with the Government of China.

• Facilitate an effective dialogue among business community on emerging global and regional economic issues in order to provide business perspectives to policy making at national, regional and global levels.
• Provide a forum to analyze the business implications of trade and investment agreements, both those under the WTO framework and regional processes so that business sector is better able to respond to the benefits and adjustment costs associated with such agreements.
• Promote business integration, partnerships, closer ties and networking of business community including business associations in the Asia and the Pacific region.
• Provide an opportunity to both public and private sectors to exchange views and opinions on how to work together to achieve sustained economic growth in the Asia and the Pacific region.

• 20 representatives from relevant ministries
• 160 participants from the private sector
• Ten scholars and experts

• 30 officials from relevant ministries/representatives from public sector undertakings
• 100 representatives from the private sector and multinational corporations
• At least five representatives from international organizations