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Press
Release..............................
UNESCAP News Services
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Date 20
April 2004
Press Release No: G/04/2004
UNESCAP ORGANIZES FIRST ASIA-PACIFIC BUSINESS
FORUM
Approximately 300 businesspeople expected
in Shanghai
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services)
-- The first ever Asia-Pacific Business Forum will be held from
24-26 April 2004 at the Shanghai International Conference Centre.
Organized by the Bangkok-based United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), in collaboration
with the Government of China, the event is part of UNESCAP's
60th Commission Session to be held in Shanghai from 22-28 April
2004.
Approximately 300 business executives and 50 representatives
from ministries in China and a number of other countries in
the region are expected to attend.
Guest speakers include the Rt. Hon. Jenny Shipley,
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Mr. Park Yong Sung, President-elect
of the International Chamber of Commerce; Hon. Clive Brown,
Minister for State Development, Government of Western Australia;
Mr. Tim Chen, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft; Mr. Henry
Chow, Chairman and CEO of IBM Greater China Group; and Mr. Steven
Schneider, Chairman and CEO of General Electric Company in China.
The Forum seeks to promote an exchange of views
between public and private sector participants on regional trade
and investment opportunities. Participants are expected to deliberate
on current global and regional economic policy issues and their
implications for the business sector. It also aims to provide
a platform for networking and forming partnerships on an Asia-Pacific
wide basis.
The program hosts three panel discussion sessions
covering topics ranging from financial development and cooperation
in the region, the impact of multilateral trade agreements on
emerging regional trade opportunities, the role of foreign direct
investment in stimulating business opportunities, as well as
new business opportunities in China after its entry into the
WTO.
Business leaders will also have the opportunity
to participate in the discussion of the high-level Visionary
Meeting for Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the role of Asia
and the Pacific towards the year 2020, one of the highlights
of the Commission Session.
The Asia-Pacific Business Forum is part of UNESCAP's
ongoing efforts to promote trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific
region through regional cooperation. Organized by UNESCAP's
Trade and Investment Division, the Asia-Pacific Business Forum
forms part of its work to promote investment and enterprise
development in the region.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division,
UNESCAP,
Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
Tel: ( 2) 288 1902, Fax: (2) 288 1026
Email: ratnayaker@un.org
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