Activities of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Arab business community and WTO
The Second Forum on “Arab Business Community and World Trade Organization Agreements,” took place in Beirut in April 2004. It was organized jointly by ESCWA and the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture for Arab Countries. The Forum aimed at providing the Arab business community with an overview of the latest developments in the world trading system in light of the increased significance of the WTO multiple agreements and their impact, which affect the world's economic and trade relations in the fields of industry, agriculture, services and intellectual property.
During its discussions, the Forum focused on several major topics already included in the current multilateral trade negotiations under the “Doha Development Agenda” and identified the needs and requirements of the private sector so that it may play its role in achieving comprehensive economic and social development and Arab integration.
Economic development and ICT
The Roundtable on “ICT as an Enabler for Economic Development” held on 29-30 April 2004 was the first in a series of roundtables planned by ESCWA during the first half of 2004. These roundtables are focused on building the information society in Western Asia, and they are also a regional preparatory activity towards the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS-2) to be held in Tunis during 16-18 November 2005. Its outcome will constitute important material for the Second Western Asia Preparatory Conference, planned for 28-30 September 2004.
The April Roundtable increased the participants' understanding of the relationship between ICT and economic development through concrete case studies, identified key opportunities, and outlined initiatives involving partnerships among stakeholders to harness ICT for economic development in the region.
In future, the Roundtables will be showcasing examples where ICT is increasingly used as an enabler for economic development stemming from countries of the South, not only those of the North, and will attempt to draw useful and applicable analogies for ESCWA member countries' governments and private sectors.
Improving the Climate for Foreign Investment
ESCWA released a study entitled “Policies Aimed at Attracting Foreign Direct and Intraregional Investment in the ESCWA Region: Improving the Climate for Foreign Investment and Mobilizing Domestic Savings; Case Studies of Bahrain, Jordan and Yemen”.
This study provides an analysis of policies relating to foreign direct investment (FDI) in ESCWA Member States and a review of the institutional frameworks that regulate FDI inflows and activities in those countries. It also includes a study of the mobilization policies employed by Bahrain, Jordan and Yemen with a view to supporting FDI and increasing their share of global flows of such investment. Those countries were selected because of the extreme im-portance of FDI to their economies, given that they are not major exporters of oil. Bahrain is an example of a Gulf Cooperation Council State. Jordan is a member state of the ESCWA member countries with a more diversified economy, while Yemen is one of the least developed countries in the ESCWA region.
Growth and Productivity
ESCWA released a study entitled “Analysis of Performances and Assessment of Growth and Productivity in the ESCWA Region”. Labour productivity in the ESCWA region has been in decline for the past two decades. The policy message of this report is that at a time when territorial risks undermine the impetus for investment, extra-territorial privileges and guarantees should be provided to regional capital and labour in order to reverse the decline.
The present employment situation in the ESCWA region forms a stark contrast to the right to work enshrined in the Declaration of Human Rights and the goals of poverty reduction proclaimed at the Millennium Summit. This report examines the reasons for poor performance in terms of productivity per worker, which is the core of economic growth, using analytical and empirical techniques in order to identify issues that could reestablish the path of productivity in the region. This report demonstrates clearly that, through a process of re-allocation of local resources, existent institutions can handle change calculated with a long-term view of development—without compromising their interests or existence. The study also includes a comparative approach to productivity assessment as well as tables that provide a perspective on productivity trends in the region.
Workshop for Saudi women
ESCWA held a training workshop on “How to Start Your Own Business” in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 6-18 March. The workshop was organized with the support of the Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and it comes in the framework of activating the work of women's welfare associations in the kingdom. The workshop brought together 24 women from around the country, and at its conclusion, each participant presented a project of her own that is executable in her business dealings.
World Water Day Observance
The annual observance of World Water Day (WWD) on 22 March helps to create awareness and focus on a particular theme relating to the conservation of water resources. This year, the theme for WWD is “Water and Disaster.” ESCWA took the opportunity of the WWD to convey a message to the region on the depleting water resources in terms of both quantity and quality, and drew everyone's attention to the fact that the already stressed water situation in the region will be further affected not only by wasting and polluting this valuable resource, but also by potential extreme events such as floods and droughts. Disaster preparedness should be enhanced and strengthened through increasing awareness of the potential risks.
ESCWA is working in collaboration with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) of Germany and the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) to raise awareness about the importance of adopting integrated management practices and ensuring sustainable use of water resources in the ESCWA region. Activities focus on the need to consider the depletion and deterioration of both renewable and non-renewable water resources so as to avoid socio-economic and environmental disasters from arising. Particular attention is being paid to minimizing stress on freshwater sources shared by two or more of the ESCWA member States and, hence, reducing water-related disasters in such countries.
Booklets published on disabilities
As a response to the emerging interest and need for technical material on accessible urban environment in ESCWA member countries, the Commission published a “Toolkit on planning and design of an accessible urban environment in developing countries”, consisting of nine booklets. The publication, implemented in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) presents the latest scientific research at the international level in the field of planning and design of barrier free urban environments to architectural engineers, urban planners, designers, decision makers and those involved in disability issues in the Arab region.
ESCWA selected meetings
2004
6-7 July
Expert Group Meeting: Ten-Year Review of Beijing + 10
September
27-30
International Conference on Energy for Sustainable Development, Cairo, Egypt
28-30
Regional Training Seminar on national Youth Policies
28-30
Second Western Asia Preparatory Conference for the World Summit on the Information Society
October
1-2
Fifth Session of the Committee on Energy
12-14
Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable Arab Cities, Security of Tenure and Good Urban Governance
18-19 November
Financing for Development in the Arab World
ESCWA selected publications
Analysis of Performances and Assessment of Growth and Productivity in the ESCWA region (E/ESCWA/ EAD/2004/2)
Report on the Follow up on the Implementation of the International Conference on Financing for Development in the ESCWA Region (E/ESCWA/GRID/2003/38)
Towards Integrated Social Development Policies: A conceptual Analysis (E/ESCWA/SDD/2003/16)
A Guide to Efficient Energy Management in the Tourism Sector (E/ESCWA/SDPD/2003/20)
Information Society Profiles for Western Asia 2003 (E/ESCWA/ICTD/ 2003/11/Add.1-13)
