|
|
UNESCAP
eNews Bulletin United
Nations Economic And Social Commission For Asia And The
Pacific |
|||
April
2003
International economic conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan sees resource-rich Central Asia as new economic growth area
To stimulate investment, growth and sustainable development in
Central Asia, three UN agencies - UNESCAP, its sister regional commission the
UN Economic Commission for Europe, and UNCTAD – have joined forces with the
government of Tajikistan to organize an International
Economic Conference and Regional Round Table on Foreign Direct
Investment for Central Asia, from 2 – 4 April in
Dushanbe. According to UNESCAP, the central Asian region, which covers about
4 million kilometres and has a population of 56.2 million people, is a
new growth area. Since 1992 UNESCAP has been systematically supporting
sub-regional economic co-operation in Central Asia. During this time it has
built strong partnerships focused on macroeconomic management, trade and
investment, transport, tourism, environment, energy and water resources. The aim
is to reduce the sub region's economic isolation, promote rational use of
natural resources, and enhance market integration. The Central Asian countries
consist of Kazakhstan, Krgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
v
UNESCAP to launch Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the
Pacific 2003 on 17 April - focus on economic resilience in region
The
Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific, UNESCAP’s flagship
publication, will be launched at a press conference at the UN Conference Centre in
Bangkok on Thursday, 17 April 2003. The theme of the 2003 edition is
the resilience of Asia-Pacific economics in challenging times. The 300-page
Survey will be simultaneously launched at United Nations Headquarters in
New York and in six capital cities in the region including Delhi, Dhaka,
Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Tokyo. An annual publication with a track
record of over 50 years in increasing the understanding of the economic and
social development situation in the region, the Economic and Social Survey of
Asia and the Pacific is produced by UNESCAP’s Poverty Reduction Division.
v
UNESCAP
to assist Timor-Leste with 
environment needs
At the
invitation of the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, a delegation of senior UNESCAP
officials visited the fledgling country to discuss technical cooperation in the
environment, water and energy sectors. Upon arrival in the capital city, Dili on
3 March, UNESCAP’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Kim Hak-Su, accompanied by
the Director of UNESCAP’s Environment and Sustainable
Development Division, Mr. Ravi Sawhney, met with Kamalesh Sharma, Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for East Timor and other officials from the UN’s
peacekeeping mission, UNMISET. On
the following day they met with the Secretaries of State for Electricity and
Water, and Tourism, Investment and Environment, the Vice-Minister of Health, and
representatives of the UN family located in Dili, among others. On 5 March
Mr. Kim gave the keynote address at an International Conference on Opportunities
and Challenges in Petroleum and Minerals Sectors in Timor-Leste. v
Satellite operators, UN agencies explore
cooperation
Bridging the digital divide was the focus on a
meeting on satellite broadband services held on 19 March in the UN Conference
Centre, Bangkok. Participants explored cooperation opportunities on the
application of satellite-based broadband services to meet the requirements of UN
agencies and international organizations. A small exhibition of major satellite
operators on broadband services was also organized. The Information, Communication and
Space Technology Division of UNESCAP, the
Regional Interagency Working Group on ICT, and the Asia-Pacific Satellite
Communications Council jointly organized the seminar.
v
New information materials on UNESCAP in pipeline
The United Nations Information
Services Bangkok is in the process of updating UNESCAP’s information
materials to reflect the organization’s restructuring and revised programme of
work. A one-page brochure on the organization has already been released and a
new edition of the UNESCAP Profile is expected during the 59th
Commission Session. Both information materials highlight UNESCAP’s new work
structure which focuses on three thematic work areas: Reducing Poverty, Managing Globalization, and Addressing Emerging
Social Issues. The publications are available from UNIS Bangkok. v
|
UNESCAP Calendar: April 2003 Ø Eighth Meeting of the APETIT Executive Committee (Kuala Lumpur, 9-10 April) Ø Ad hoc Expert Group on Policies for Promotion and Integration of Space Applications for Poverty Alleviation (Bangkok, 15-17 April) Ø Expert Group Meeting on Nature Conservation in North-East Asia (Bangkok, 17 April) Ø Special Body on Least Developed and Landlocked Developing Countries Sixth Session (Bangkok, 22-23 April) For further event details, please visit UNESCAP at:
http://www.unescap.org/ |
UN News Centre For the latest news from the UN, please visit the News Center – www.un.org/news
|
|
UN Works Learn more about the UN and how it affects the lives of people everywhere: www.un.org/works
| |
|
| |
|
UNESCAP eNews Bulletin is edited and published by the United Nations Information Services Bangkok. Telephone: (+662) 288 1234 j Fax: (+662) 288 1052 jE-mail: unisbbk.unescap@un.org The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the United Nations. The information contained herein may be freely reproduced. | |
