..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 18 May 2007
Press Release No. L/20/2007/CS63/13

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia
Government of Kazakhstan

Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2007
“At the Crossroads between Asia and Europe: Harnessing the Possibilities
of Central Asia"

18-19 May 2007
Almaty, Kazakhstan

WELCOMING STATEMENT OF MR. KIM HAK-SU,
UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, UNESCAP

Your Excellency, Mr. Galym Orazbakov, Minister of Industry and Trade, Republic of Kazakhstan;
Mr. Azat Peruashev, Chairman of the National Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers of Kazakhstan;
Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General, UNCTAD;
Distinguished Members of the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council;
Distinguished Speakers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the concurrent session of the Asia-Pacific Business Forum and the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Economic Forum. Since it was first launched in Shanghai in 2004, the Asia-Pacific Business Forum has provided an important platform for regional dialogue among all relevant stakeholders. With the support of our partners in Kazakhstan, we now have the opportunity to exchange experiences and views on issues of importance to the business environment in Asia and the Pacific, with a special focus on Central Asia.

At the outset, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Excellency Mr. Karim Massimov, for sparing some time from his pressing duties of state to be with us today.  My gratitude also goes to the National Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers of Kazakhstan; Kazyna; and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kazakhstan for their excellent support in the organization of this Forum. I would also like to thank the members of the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council as well as all the speakers for their substantive contributions to the Forum. Last but not least, I would like to thank the City of Almaty for so graciously hosting the Gala dinner tonight.

Excellencies
Distinguished
Participants
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Central Asia is one of the world’s fastest growing regions, registering a 12.4% growth rate in 2006, and is projected to grow at 10.3% in 2007.  As you all know, the region contains a significant part of the world’s natural resources, including oil, natural gas, gold and other metals. The increases in price and demand for many of these commodities have been a strong driver of growth in the region.

Central Asia is also strategically positioned at the crossroads between Asia and Europe. While this strategic location is potentially an advantage for trade, its landlocked position poses serious challenges, with sea shipment at present being the most cost-effective mode of transportation.  Efficient trade and transport procedures are of overarching importance for the region to ensure that enterprises from the region can be competitive in the world market. 

In addition, many economies of the region have to face the challenge of having a relatively small market size, and a strong reliance on a few commodities for exports. However, globalization and regional cooperation offer opportunities to counter these challenges. With increasing dismantling of barriers to trade, both globally and regionally, and with new breakthroughs in telecommunication and information technology, markets have become much larger, more complex, and more closely linked than ever before. The issue for the region is how to make the most of the opportunities that globalization has to offer, and to ensure that development is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

Cross-border economic linkages, trade, investment, and the human and physical infrastructure that facilitate them are keys for the creation of a competitive regional market. Only through opening up or greater liberalization can economic diversification be achieved, thereby limiting the risk of reliance on a few commodities. Attractive foreign investment policies and the promotion of what we at UNESCAP call “Green Growth” are key to ensuring sustainable economic growth and international competitiveness. The region was once a crossroads of global trade. With the right policies in place, it can once again be an important part of that trade.

The discussion during these two days will focus on how to harness the possibilities of Central Asia, taking into account what can be learned from other countries and regional groupings in Asia. We could call this “Central Asia looking east”. The aim is to distill concrete suggestions for areas where regional collaboration is needed.

In this connection, I am very pleased that Dr. Supachai is with us here today. His experience, vision and knowledge of trade and economic issues will benefit us enormously. I am also happy that many of the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council Members and other eminent speakers are present here too. Many of them will speak to you during these two days.  

As one concrete follow-up, recommendations from this Forum will be brought to the attention of the policy makers and investors participating in the second part of the SPECA Economic Forum, which will be organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the German Government on 13 November this year in Berlin. The title of that meeting is “Central Asia and Europe: a New Economic Partnership for the 21st Century”. We might also label this as “Central Asia looking west”. As the title suggests, that Forum will focus on the links between Central Asia and Europe, thus providing the complementary view to the discussion in this Forum. 

Excellencies,
Distinguished
Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,                                       

I strongly urge all of you to use this opportunity to share your views on various economic issues to be deliberated at this Forum. Your active participation and inputs are vital in ensuring that the Forum produces concrete proposals for action to improve the chances of Central Asian enterprises to participate in world trade, and for people of Central Asia to benefit from this development.

I look forward to the discussions, and wish the Asia-Pacific Business Forum all success.

Thank you.

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Headquartered in Bangkok, UNESCAP is the largest of the UN's five Regional Commissions in terms of its membership, population served and area covered. The only inter-governmental forum covering the entire Asia-Pacific region, UNESCAP aims to promote economic and social progress. More information on UNESCAP is available from www.unescap.org