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Submitted by Suwat Chancharoensuk on Wed, 28/08/2024 - 11:49
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General

The sixth session of the Committee on Transport is scheduled to be held from 12 to 13 November 2020.

The secretariat is monitoring the rapidly evolving situation with regard to the COVID-19 outbreak and is putting into place measures to mitigate public health risks associated with mass gatherings. The secretariat continues to receive guidance from the World Health Organization, the authorities of the host country of ESCAP and the United Nations Secretariat.

Decisions on the schedule and modality of the Committee session to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants will be communicated as soon as practicable.

Credentials

Delegations are kindly requested to submit letters of credentials to Mr. Weimin Ren, Director, Transport Division, ESCAP, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand, Fax: (66-2) 288-1067, 288-3050, at their earliest convenience prior to 1 October 2018.. Letters of credential should be addressed to the Executive Secretary of the ESCAP and emailed to [email protected].

Members of delegations are kindly reminded to bring official identification with them, duly signed by the appropriate authorities of their respective Governments/Agencies/Organizations, and provide them to the Secretariat staff at the registration counter located on the ground floor of the UNCC along with a copy of the letter of credentials indicating their appointment to the delegation.

Registration and identification badges

Participants are requested to register and obtain a visitor’s badge with ID picture on the first day of the meeting, i.e. Monday, 19 November 2018 between 08.00 hours and 09.00 hours. This is done at the Registration Counter located on the ground floor of the UNCC. Participants who are not able to register during the time indicated above are requested to do so immediately upon their arrival at UNCC and before going to the conference room. This procedure is important for security reason and will also ensure that all participants’ names appear on the list of participants.

Online registration

In conformity with standard United Nations security procedures, all participants must complete a mandatory online registration at https://meetings.unescap.org/. Participants are encouraged to complete this procedure well in advance of the meeting and no later than 1 October 2018. To facilitate the process, participants are encouraged to submit their photo in advance.

For identification and security reasons, all participants are requested to wear their meeting badges at all times when on the United Nations compound, and also during the meeting and at social functions. The loss of a meeting badge should be communicated to the Conference Management Unit, located on the ground floor of the UNCC behind the registration counter, so that a new one can be issued immediately.

Communications

Mail intended for participants during the session should be addressed as follows:
(Name of delegate)
c/o Mr. Weimin Ren
Director
Transport Division
ESCAP, United Nations Building
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200
Thailand
Fax: +66.2.2883022, +66.2.2881000
E-mail address: [email protected]

Meeting documents

The secretariat has adopted a paperless approach to meetings. As a result, participants are expected to get acquainted with all the meeting documents prior to the meeting. Should participants wish hard copies of the documents, they are expected to bring them to the meeting. These documents will be made available prior to the session at www.unescap.org/events/committee-transport-fifth-session

Participants wishing to circulate any papers or literature at the meeting are requested to consult staff from the secretariat servicing the meeting for the necessary arrangements.

Daily subsistence allowance

ESCAP does not provide financial assistance for participation in the 5th session of the Committee on Transport. However, it does cover the travel expenses of officials participating in the workshop on cross-border co-deployment of fibre optic infrastructure along road and rail networks. In that regard, the following shall apply:

Depending on which of the above applies, participants whose travel is sponsored (or partly sponsored) by ESCAP will receive a DSA to cover all costs associated with their participation in the meeting, including accommodation, meals and local transport while in Bangkok. A voucher to be cashed at the bank located on the ESCAP premises will be given to participants. Participants will receive their vouchers against submittal of a copy of their passports, copy of their air-tickets and the original boarding pass(es) for the flight(s) to Bangkok. To facilitate the issuance of vouchers, eligible participants are kindly requested to come with read-made copies of their passports. To date, the DSA for Bangkok is Thai Baht 7,150 (about US$ 216). Please note that this amount is subject to change without prior notice.

Participants who are unable to stay for the entire duration of the meeting are requested to inform the secretariat as soon as possible after their arrival so that the DSA can be adjusted accordingly.

In those cases where the participation costs are borne by ESCAP, the secretariat will provide only travel and DSA as expressed and will not assume responsibility for any other expenditures, including the following:

  1. You are representing your Government only at the 5th session of the Committee on Transport: ESCAP does not provide any financial support and participation is on a self-financing basis.
  2. You are representing your Government only at the workshop on co-deployment: ESCAP provides air-ticket and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) for two nights (i.e. 21 and 22 November 2018 depending on flight schedule.
  3. You are representing your Government at both the 5th session of the Committee on Transport and the workshop on co-deployment: ESCAP provides air-ticket and DSA for two nights (i.e. 21 and 22 November 2018 depending on flight schedule and participants have to cover three nights on a self-financing basis (i.e. 18 to 20 November 2018).
    1. all expenses in the home country incidental to travel abroad, including expenditure for visa, medical examination, inoculations and other such miscellaneous items and internal travel to and from the airport of arrival and departure in the home country;
    2. salary and related allowances for the participants during the period of the meeting;
    3. cost incurred by participants in respect of travel insurance, accident insurance, medical bills or hospitalization fees in connection with attending the meeting;
    4. compensation in the event of death or disability of participants in connection with attending the meeting;
    5. any loss of or damage to personal property of participants while attending the meeting or losses or damages claimed by third parties as a result of any negligence on the part of the participants;
    6. any other expenses of a personal nature, not directly related to the purpose of the meeting.
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Colombian Government and ESCAP partner to promote climate smart and gender responsive economies

Submitted by Kavita Sukanandan on Fri, 14/06/2024 - 13:46
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G/18/2024
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Bangkok
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ESCAP News
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The Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia (APC Colombia) renewed its partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) today, affirming the shared priorities and increasingly strong ties between the Asia-Pacific and Latin-American regions.

During a bilateral meeting in Bangkok, Eleonora Betancur González, Director-General of APC Colombia and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, exchanged expectations for the upcoming collaboration. The initiative will focus on supporting policymakers from the Mesoamerica and Asia-Pacific regions in building gender-responsive and climate-smart economies.

Through the partnership, in-depth knowledge exchange will be facilitated between policy makers from countries in both regions on the promotion of climate-smart and gender-responsive finance, investment and value chains, and the development of policies to foster inclusive, climate-resilient, and nature-based livelihoods and MSMEs for the green transition.

“The private sector has a critical role to play if we are to meet the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To do so, we need a private sector that puts people and planet alongside profit. This partnership will strive to build momentum on this agenda by supporting policy makers from the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions to put women at the heart of economies, and promote the integration of environmental objectives in investment and business practices,” shared Ms. Alisjahbana. She added, “Issues such as climate change and social inequality transcend country boundaries. Through South-South Cooperation, our hope is that this partnership will build a global movement towards the ambition of more inclusive, sustainable and resilient economies.”

This new collaboration phase builds on two years of prior collaboration between APC Colombia and ESCAP, drawing on pre-existing networks of policy makers and key stakeholders from the two regions. Previous phases of the partnership focused on supporting policy makers to promote business innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, and policy making for inclusive and sustainable economies, with a focus on financial inclusion, green transition of business and enterprise formalization.

 "The road we have traveled together with ESCAP has been extremely rewarding, and we celebrate with enthusiasm the signing of this third contribution agreement between us. This reflects the close cooperative relationship between us and of the successful process of implementing this already consolidated alliance," said Ms. Betancur.

The new two-year initiative, funded by the Government of Colombia and implemented by ESCAP, is anticipated to spur the development and implementation of effective policies that promote sustainable climate-resilient, and nature-based economies, while ensuring that women, indigenous populations and other groups that are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis are placed at the heart of these solutions.

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UN urges regional cooperation to accelerate digitalization of cross-border trade procedures

Submitted by SSUPHUTT on Fri, 07/06/2024 - 12:40
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G/19/2024
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Bangkok
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ESCAP News
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The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) recently hosted the first Paperless Trade Week to foster deeper cooperation among public and private sector stakeholders from the region to implement cross-border trade digitalization.

The Week concluded with the third sessions of both the Standing Committee and Paperless Trade Council of the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA), bringing together over 30 member States and 10 international development partners to engage in enriching discussions and share their learnings on pertinent issues and solutions for digitalizing international trade processes. This engagement served to inform the potential actions and decisions taken during the week’s intergovernmental sessions.

The central element of the Week was the CPTA, a UN treaty aimed at accelerating the implementation of digital trade measures for trade and development. It is designed to support countries in moving to less paper and then to paperless trade by providing a dedicated, inclusive and capacity-building intergovernmental platform. However, the task is mammoth.

The latest United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation underscored that cross-border paperless trade measures remain among the least implemented initiatives on the global and regional levels. The persistence of this challenge may be attributed to the inability to unilaterally implement such measures effectively.

The implementation of digital trade facilitation measures could yield a reduction of 11 per cent in trade costs across the region according to a joint Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2024 issued by ADB and ESCAP earlier this year. But countries in the region continue to face challenges in cross-border paperless trade, as shown by the average implementation rate of only 42 per cent, suggesting that much remains to be done.

In order to facilitate the successful implementation of cross-border paperless trade, ESCAP underscored the importance of consistent and sustained collaboration in developing necessary solutions. The Framework Agreement serves as a neutral and dedicated regional institutional framework for developing and testing cross-border paperless trade solutions, which further builds upon national, bilateral, and subregional initiatives aimed at achieving the goal of trade digitalization.

"From just five initial parties to the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific, we now boast 13 participating countries — a testament to the growing momentum behind its implementation," said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP in her opening remarks at the third session of the Paperless Trade Council.

Anticipating further expansion of participation, she highlighted three pivotal considerations: sustained commitment from government leadership to build the necessary foundations for both national and cross-border paperless trade, the crucial nature of partnership in implementing the Framework Agreement, as well as active promotion of the benefits of the Agreement within the members’ respective spheres of influence.

The 2024 Paperless Trade Week was held from 3 to 7 June 2024. In addition to sessions of the Standing Committee and Paperless Trade Council, ESCAP hosted a series of capacity-building workshops and interactive side events. These workshops, via discussions and interactions, supported public-private partnerships in advancing the digitalization of trade procedures. Throughout many sessions, critical and emerging topics were highlighted, including the importance of harmonized rules and collaborative forums to support cross-border paperless trade, the utilization of emerging technologies for efficient and seamless electronic exchange of trade data and documents, establishing and enhancing conducive environments for digital trade and strategies to enhance sustainable trade facilitation by enhancing accessibility for women, SMEs, and special groups.

The Week was held in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat, Eurasian Economic Commission, International Chamber of Commerce Digital Standards Initiative, Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, Islamic Development Bank, World Bank Group, World Economic Forum, and World Trade Organization, who actively support cross-border paperless trade.

For further information: https://unescap.org/events/2024/paperless-trade-week-2024

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Speakers on rostrum in paperless trade week 2024

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UN forum catalyzes collective action to make feminist finance a reality for Asia and the Pacific

Submitted by SSUPHUTT on Wed, 08/05/2024 - 15:46
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G/18/2024
Origin Location
Bangkok
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ESCAP News
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The second edition of the groundbreaking Feminist Finance Forum, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), closed today in Bangkok with participants spotlighting the action needed to bridge the region’s gender finance gap. 

Throughout the two-day Forum, the resounding message was clear: Investing in women is key to fostering sustainable, inclusive and prosperous economies. Advancing economic equality for women could add as much as $4.5 trillion - a 12 per cent increase - to the region’s GDP annually by 2025.

“While challenges still remain, the opportunity of investing in women is crystal clear,” Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, said in her closing remarks. “I have stressed the critical need to work with all stakeholders and for ESCAP to act as a platform to bring people and organizations together to create the systemic shifts needed to unlock the potential of investing in women.”

There is still a long way to go in ensuring that financial systems in Asia and the Pacific serve the needs of women. According to the recently published ESCAP report Financial Resilience, Inclusion and Entrepreneurship: Is Asia and the Pacific close to Gender Parity?, while there has been progress towards this goal, findings indicate a clear disparity from country to country, and the persistence of discriminatory norms and practices, which continue to constrain uptake and usage of financial services and access to finance among women.

This disparity has far-reaching consequences, not only impeding women’s ability to attain economic stability and financial resilience and independence, but also limiting opportunities for women to pursue entrepreneurial aspirations, innovate and grow their businesses.

“It is upon us to dismantle the structural and social barriers that hinder their success, especially amidst today’s economic and climate challenges. We must act collectively and decisively,” said Lynda Tabuya, Minister of Women, Children and Social Protection of Fiji.

The Forum facilitated a space for stakeholders to come together to strategize on how to create the required long-term solutions for feminist finance to become a reality. Participants explored the untapped potential to align gender and climate finance in the region; catalyzed action to finance the care economy; explored opportunities to promote gender-driven foreign direct investment; and exchanged actionable insights on gender lens investing and the development of gender-responsive financial products.

The Forum convened more than 350 key players in the regional financial ecosystem, bringing together governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, development partners, international organizations and – most importantly – women entrepreneurs, women-led businesses and women business leaders.

During the event, 10 women-founded climate tech start-ups took part in a pitching competition, presenting their solution to potential investors. The winning start-up was BillionCarbon, an innovative solution which works to decarbonize the food supply chain through nutrient mining from food waste to convert to micro-nutrient rich liquid bio-fertilizer concentrate and insect protein. During the closing session, the founder was awarded a seed grant of $5,000 from ESCAP through a partnership with Accelerating Asia and funded by Global Affairs Canada.

In another key moment during the closing session, investment promotion agencies (IPAs) from around the world came together to sign a landmark gender equity pledge promoted by ESCAP and FDI Center to harness the potential of gender-responsive foreign direct investment as a catalyst for women’s empowerment. Invest in Canada, Invest Bhutan, Investment Fiji, Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation, Board of Investments Sri Lanka, Board of Investments Thailand and Board of Investment Philippines form the initial group of signatories leading the way in utilizing foreign direct investments to further gender equality. IPAs are well placed to drive these efforts forward by setting gender targets, promoting women's entrepreneurship, and reshaping internal practices.

With contributions from the International Development Research Centre, the Asian Development Bank, the Australian Government Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Investing in Women and UN Women, the Forum was organized by ESCAP in the context of the Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada.

Since 2018, the CWE programme has built momentum for the movement to close the gap in access to finance and create an enabling ecosystem for women entrepreneurs. To date, it has unlocked over $90.3 million in capital and directly supported more than 178,080 women entrepreneurs through access to finance and enhanced skills to grow their businesses.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2024/feminist-finance-forum-2024

Watch the proceedings: https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For multimedia assets: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unitednationsescap/albums/72177720316770762

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Group photo of participants of Feminist Finance Forum 2024 in Conference Room 3 of UN Conference Centre

ESCAP Photo/Mailee Osten-Tan

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Climate-related disclosure guidelines for Mongolian banks

Submitted by SSUPHUTT on Wed, 01/05/2024 - 08:12
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G/17/2024
Origin Location
Ulaanbatar
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ESCAP News
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The increasing importance of sustainability and climate disclosure, and its implications for Mongolia was the focus of a workshop co-hosted today by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Mongolian Sustainable Finance Association (MSFA).

Mongolia faces unique physical and transition climate risks that directly impact its financial sector. Adopting robust disclosure and reporting standards can enable banks to identify and manage climate-related risks more effectively. Appropriate risk management can safeguard against potential financial losses and contribute to Mongolia's broader climate resilience efforts, aligned with the nation's commitment to the Paris Agreement.

ESCAP has been supporting the government of Mongolia since 2023, through a collaboration with the Bank of Mongolia and contributions from the NDC Partnership, to green Mongolia’s banking system.  During the workshop, details of upcoming guidelines on disclosing climate-related risks for Mongolian banks, jointly developed by MSFA and ESCAP at the request of the Bank of Mongolia, were also shared. The guidance is designed to equip Mongolian financial institutions and policymakers to better identify, manage and report climate change-related risks and sets out best practices and recommendations for Mongolia’s financial sector to align its disclosure reporting with international standards.

National and international partners including the Financial Regulatory Commission, Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia, the Green Climate Fund, UNDP, the Canadian Trade and Investment Facility (CTIF), and the Global Reporting Initiative also supported the workshop.

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Countries resolve to leverage innovation, promote digital inclusion for those furthest behind

Submitted by SSUPHUTT on Fri, 26/04/2024 - 14:56
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G/16/2024
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Bangkok
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Governments from across Asia and the Pacific agreed today to harness technological advancements and digital innovation for sustainable development, with special attention to the region’s most vulnerable countries and population groups.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) wrapped up its 80th session by adopting a resolution encouraging countries to work together closely to promote research, dialogue, technical cooperation and development of digital technologies and digital economy initiatives in an efficient, affordable, inclusive, secure and accessible manner, particularly for the most vulnerable.

It stressed the need to close the vast remaining digital divide in the region and affirmed the different approaches and tools available to each country for augmenting the positive impact and scale of digital innovations so that development outcomes can benefit all people.

“Solutions lie within the diversity in Asia and the Pacific,” underscored Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP at the closing. She added, “Countries have been able to leverage digital innovation for sustainable development and address various sectoral challenges, such as access to finance, resource management and delivery of public services. Some of their experiences and solutions, if tailored to meet the specific circumstances, could likewise address similar challenges faced by others.”

Asia and the Pacific are at the forefront of digital innovations. However, the region also currently exhibits the highest level of digital divide globally. Within countries, significant accessibility gaps remain, especially between women and men, youth and older persons, persons with and without disabilities, people living in urban and rural areas, and people with different income levels and educational backgrounds. Many who are covered do not have the necessary skills to make use of digital innovations, while 37 per cent of the population with access to broadband do not use the Internet.

The resolution further recognized the major impediments developing countries face in engaging with and accessing new technologies such as an appropriate enabling environment, sufficient resources, infrastructure, education and literacy, capacity, investment and connectivity.

“There must be adequate policy support at global and regional levels to integrate digital technologies and tools for sustained improvements in productivity and the creation of decent job opportunities in these countries,” said Rabab Fatima, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. She further highlighted the need for strong support from development partners, the UN and other stakeholders, including from the private sector, to facilitate technology transfer and financing.

According to the Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs Development Report 2024 recently published by ESCAP, least developed countries have received only 0.10 per cent of the digital foreign direct investment inflows and account for less than 1 per cent of the region’s exports of digitally deliverable services. The study calls for a balanced strategy that prioritizes high-impact service areas, such as e-commerce and digital marketing, while also nurturing foundational sectors such as manufacturing.

More than 800 delegates from 61 member States, associate members and observer countries as well as various stakeholder groups and international organizations attended the session held from 22 to 26 April in Bangkok. Three other resolutions were also adopted, covering sustainable energy connectivity, strengthened support for countries in special situations to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and meet other global commitments, as well as on improving procedures for intergovernmental meetings.  

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/commission80

Watch the proceedings: https://webtv.un.org/en | https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For multimedia assets and press kit: https://bit.ly/ESCAP-CS80

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ESCAP executive with VIP guests on stage in the event.

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UN policy forum opens with call for region to embrace digital opportunities and innovate for sustainable development

Submitted by SSUPHUTT on Mon, 22/04/2024 - 13:44
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G/15/2024
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Bangkok
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ESCAP News
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Global and regional leaders called for a decisive plan to encourage further ingenuity and to tap into emerging technologies and digital innovation to bolster the huge effort required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 as the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) opened its 80th session in Bangkok today.  

“Intelligently deployed and properly governed digital solutions, based on a common understanding, shared approaches and collaborative governance, form the foundations for the collective push necessary for the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

Asia and the Pacific is at the forefront of a global digital transformation. Innovations in cognitive digital technologies, digital finance, government technology and the Internet of Things are reshaping the way we do business, deliver public services and protect people and the planet. In the finance sector alone, the value of digital transactions is projected to reach $6.7 trillion by 2026.  

“We need transformative change. Digital innovation has become a vital tool for us all to achieve that change. At the same time, we must ensure that digital innovations benefit all and truly contribute toward sustainable development,” said Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of Thailand.

Dennis Francis, President of the United Nations General Assembly underscored the importance of digital inclusivity and closing the digital divide: “In today's world, access to smartphones and digital connectivity can no longer remain luxuries for a few – but necessities, in fact, tools for all.”

Heads of State and Government from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Philippines also made remarks at the session. They underscored several priorities for governments to focus on when it comes to leveraging digital innovation such as inclusive policies to bridge the digital divide and persistent inequalities, more effective resource mobilization and financing, and strengthening regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing.

Through illustrative case studies, the theme study of the 80th session further explores how current and emerging digital innovations can address pressing issues like climate change, poverty eradication and gender equality. It also examines how governments can create enabling environments and proposes a framework to understand the interlinkages between digital innovations and sustainable development.

“We must be mindful of the challenges that lie ahead. Issues such as the digital divide, data privacy and cybersecurity must be addressed to ensure that the benefits of technology are accessible to all and that our digital infrastructure is resilient and secure. This is why the deliberations of the eightieth session of the Commission are so critical for the region,” said Mongolian Foreign Affairs Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh, who was elected Chair of the session.

More than 800 participants from 61 member States, associate members and permanent observers as well as representatives from academia, international organizations, youth, business and civil society are attending the session this week.

It is expected to culminate on Friday with the endorsement of four resolutions covering, among others, digital innovation and sustainable development in countries in special situations.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/

Watch the proceedings: https://webtv.un.org/en | https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For multimedia assets and press kit: https://bit.ly/ESCAP-CS80

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ESCAP Hall during the opening of CS80

ESCAP/Suwat Chancharoensuk

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Governments convene at UN to deliberate digital pathways to accelerate region’s sustainable development

Submitted by SSUPHUTT on Wed, 17/04/2024 - 16:15
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G/14/2024
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Bangkok
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ESCAP News
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Heads of State, ministers, senior policymakers and other key stakeholders are set to explore how digital innovation can more inclusively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across multiple disciplines when they convene in Bangkok from 22 to 26 April at the 80th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (CS80).

Asia and the Pacific is uniquely placed to leverage digital technologies to overcome sustainable development challenges. Already, the region is recognized as a dynamic hub for digitally driven innovation fuelled by pioneering technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Finance, GovTech and the Internet of Things. Yet to encourage further ingenuity and tap digital innovation to bolster the huge collective effort required to achieve the SDGs, the region needs a plan.

During the session, government and sectoral leaders will also participate in a series of high-level roundtables delving into the region’s socioeconomic outlook, technological advancements and digital inclusion as well as identifying opportunities to fully unleash the transformative potential of digital innovations. A Digital Innovations Fair at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok will further provide space to engage with a broad range of stakeholders showcasing inspiring innovations that are contributing to the region’s sustainable development.

For the first time, the Commission session will also be broadcast live globally via the UN Web TV channel, the official video platform of the United Nations.

NOTE TO EDITOR

Members of the media are invited to attend the CS80 in-person or via online webcast

What: The 80th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

When: 22 – 26 April 2024

Where: UN Conference Centre, Ratchadamnern Nok Avenue, 10200 Bangkok and live-streamed via https://webtv.un.org/  
Register for media accreditation (in-person attendees): https://indico.un.org/event/1007591/

For more information and full timetable of CS80 events: https://www.unescap.org/events/commission80

For multimedia assets: https://bit.ly/ESCAP-CS80

Key Speakers

  • Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
  • H.E. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly 
  • H.E. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
  • H.E. Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia
  • H.E. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia
  • H.E. Sonexay Siphandon, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
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Costs on the rise and volatile, but trade facilitation could mitigate challenges ahead

Submitted by SSUPHUTT on Fri, 05/04/2024 - 11:23
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G/13/2024
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Samarkand
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Despite high implementation rates in various trade facilitation reforms in the region, progress in paperless trade has been slow and uneven, while growing geopolitical tensions and heightened inflation have further made business between countries more difficult and unpredictable, said the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a new report.

Countries continue to face challenges in cross-border paperless trade, as shown by the average implementation rate of only 42 per cent, according to the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2024. However, the implementation of digital trade facilitation measures could yield a reduction of 11 per cent in trade costs.

The report was launched at the 11th Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum which took place in Samarkand this week. More than 250 participants from 30 countries participated in the five-day meet organized by ESCAP, ADB and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan. This year, the Forum focused on leveraging digitalization to enable sustainable supply chains in the region, including deep-dives on topics such as cross-border paperless trade, transport and greening the trade process.

“There is ample evidence that streamlining and digitalizing trade procedures is key to making trade not only more inclusive but also reducing its potential negative impact on the environment,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP in her opening remarks. She underscored the importance of collaboration, including through the dedicated UN treaty on cross-border paperless trade facilitation in Asia and the Pacific, which saw a doubling of ratifications since its entry into force in 2021.

The new report further draws attention to the increasingly important role of trade facilitation in ensuring more resilient and green supply chains. This includes improved customs procedures, enhanced cross-border data sharing and increased transparency which can help address bottlenecks, reduce border wait times and support sustainable sourcing.

Well-targeted trade facilitation can promote trade expansion and make supply chains more resilient and environmentally friendly. Leveraging digital innovations in particular can enhance the resilience and sustainability of supply chains, making them more adaptable to changing global trade dynamics and less vulnerable to potential disruptions,” said Yingming Yang, Vice President (South, Central and West Asia), Asian Development Bank.

The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum is the leading regional platform for the exchange of good practices and knowledge on trade facilitation since its establishment in 2009. Held for the first time in Central Asia, this year’s Forum also featured dedicated sessions on the vital interconnection between trade and transport facilitation for landlocked developing countries.

“In recent years, we have made significant progress in liberalizing the economy and confidently entering world markets. We also aim to accelerate trade flows between countries and simplify licensing procedures by ensuring the integration of national licensing information systems with countries in the region and phasing out paper documents by recognizing their electronic versions,” said Teshabaev Khurram Fatihovich, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2024/asia-pacific-trade-facilitation-forum-2024

Read the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2024: https://www.unescap.org/kp/2024/asia-pacific-trade-facilitation-report-2024-promoting-sustainability-and-resilience-global

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New perspectives and approaches needed to boost affordable and long-term financing for public investments in Asia and the Pacific – UN report

Submitted by SSUPHUTT on Wed, 03/04/2024 - 11:19
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G/12/2024
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Bangkok
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Governments of developing Asia-Pacific countries are in urgent need of affordable and long-term financing as many of them are being forced to choose between servicing debt in a high interest rate environment or investing in education, health and social protection for their people, according to the 2024 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific released today by the United Nations regional commission.

New perspectives and approaches can solve this long-standing challenge. Donors should prioritize the development financing needs of recipient countries over political interests. Multilateral development banks need to improve their lending capacities, including through fresh capital injections. Credit rating agencies should adopt a long-term perspective and appreciate that public investments to realize shared development ambitions raises fiscal credibility over time. 

On the domestic front, the Survey recommends that stronger public revenue collection not only helps close the “tax gap” but also reduces fiscal risks and borrowing costs. Apart from digitalizing tax administration, policies to increase society’s willingness to pay taxes offer untapped potential. Similarly, more developed capital markets are needed to unleash sizeable domestic savings in the region and to increase the supply of long-term capital for investments in the Sustainable Development Goals. 

“Governments of developing countries across Asia and the Pacific are victims of an unjust, outdated and dysfunctional global financial architecture. They face fiscal constraints, rising borrowing rates with shorter loan maturity and heavy debt burdens,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Income inequality is also likely to widen in the region, as the value of national minimum wages, adjusted for inflation, has declined in several countries in recent years, further weakening the ability of lower-income groups to cope with weak job opportunities and high food prices.

“It is crucial to dispel the misconception that higher public debt levels inevitably lead to higher debt distress. In fact, strategic deployment of public debt to invest in the SDGs not only benefits people and the environment but also contributes to lowering public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product over the long term,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Average economic growth in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region picked up from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 4.8 per cent in 2023, although the rebound was concentrated in a few large countries. GDP growth in the region is projected to remain relatively steady, but below the pre-pandemic trend, at 4.4 per cent in both 2024 and 2025. Uncertain inflation and interest rate trends, and escalation of geopolitical tensions and trade fragmentation are examples of economic headwinds faced by economies of the region.

Published annually by ESCAP since 1947, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific is one of the longest, continuously running reports in the United Nations system, providing policymakers with valuable analyses on the current and emerging socio-economic issues and policy challenges to support inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

For the full report: https://unescap.org/kp/2024/survey2024

For multimedia assets: https://bit.ly/APSurvey2024Assets

 

 

For media enquiries or UN expert interview requests, please contact:

Kavita Sukanandan

Public Information Officer

Communications and Knowledge Management Section, ESCAP

E: [email protected]

 

 

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