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..Press
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UNESCAP News Services
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Date 5 May 2005
Press Release No: G/CS61/01/2005
UNESCAP 61st Commission Session
12-18 May 2005
REGION’S BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT
LEADERS TO FIND WAYS
TO RAISE DEVELOPMENT CASH
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services)--Developing
countries in the region rank as the fastest growing regional
economic bloc in the world but they need more cash and resources
to maintain this performance for the future.
Fresh ideas on how to mobilize the international
community to raise crucial heavy investment in social and economic
infrastructure will occupy the participants of UNESCAP’s
Sixty-first Session.
Hosted by the Royal Thai Government , the Sixty-first
Session is scheduled to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 12
to 18 May 2005 at the United Nations Conference Centre
This year’s theme topic is “Implementing
the Monterrey Consensus in the Asian and Pacific region: Achieving
coherence and consistency.” Ministers and senior officials
from 62 member and associate member countries and territories
of UNESCAP are expected to participate.
“In spite of the shocks the region has
faced this past year it is strong and we are sure this Commission
Session will lead to fresh opportunities to set developing countries
on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,”
said Mr Kim Hak-Su, UNESCAP Executive Secretary.
The Session is structured in two segments: the
Senior officials' segment (l2-14 May) and Ministerial segment
(16-18 May).
In view of the recent tsunami disaster, a special
High-level Panel on Tsunami Recovery Development will be convened
to discuss re-construction and recovery efforts in the affected
regions at the highest levels of Government on 16 May 2005.
They will look at ways to integrate post—tsunami recovery
plans into national development programmes.
Another special feature of this year’s session
is the Ministerial Roundtable on Financing for Development to
be convened on 17 May 2005. Here member governments will scrutinize
a proposal for an Asian Investment Bank to help bridge the shortfall
for investment needs. A two-track approach to foster capacity
building and coordination will also be on the agenda. Promoting
South-South cooperation in trade, investment and financing will
be discussed.
On policy issues, delegates are also expected
to discuss (a) implications of recent economic ad social developments
in the region and recommend policy responses; (b) Implementing
Monterrey Consensus in the Asia Pacific region and (c) Emerging
issues in response to tsunami and other natural disasters. Other
topics of the agenda include poverty reduction, emerging social
issues, and management of globalization.
The region’s influential businessmen will
also be meeting May 13—15th at the UNESCAP Business Advisory
Council, and the Asia-Pacific Business Forum (13-15 May) which
will focus on how public and private sectors can work together
through improving the climate for business and through corporate
social responsibility.
The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2005
will serve as the main background document for general debate
at the Commission Session. The Survey analyses economic and
social trends in the region such as aging and details policy
issues and challenges. This year there is a special emphasis
on microfinance in poverty reduction to commemorate the International
Year of Microcredit.
The Commission Session will be preceded by the Special Body
on Least Developed and Landlocked Developing Countries, Seventh
session scheduled to be held from 10-11 May 2005. The Special
Body will discuss trade, debt relief and aid for the achievement
of Millennium Development Goals.
The International Conference on Financing for
Development held in 2002 in Mexico resulted in a new global
approach known as the Monterrey Consensus to address the resource
needs of developing countries.
Photo Opportunity: Exhibitions on “Financing
for Development/Microcredit”, based on a model village
showcasing Thai NGOs and Government enterprises will be one
of the highlights. A special exhibit on the Tsunami recovery
efforts will be organized.
For further information please contact:
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org
http://www.unescap.org/
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