Activties of the Commissions

Activities of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Several prominent leaders from the Asia-Pacific region participated in the Third Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF 2006) which was held from 7 to 8 April in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event was organized by ESCAP in partnership with the Government of Indonesia, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the International Chamber of Commerce, Indonesia. The APBF is the only ESCAP region-wide forum for dialogue between Governments, the private sector, and civil society. APBF 2006 was organized in tandem with the 62nd ESCAP commission session on the theme of “Public-Private Partnerships for Development in Asia and the Pacific.”

The President of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former Malaysian Prime Minister, Hon. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, and UNCTAD Secretary-General Mr. Supachai Panitchpakdi were among a host of high-profile speakers who presented their ideas on how the public and private sectors could collaborate to enable sustainable economic and social development in the region. More than 400 corporate executives and representatives of Government and civil society attended the forum. Plenary sessions discussed the role of public-private partnerships in overcoming impediments to development, such as Pacific island connectivity through group negotiations and concerted partnerships.

In follow-up to the decision of the 62nd session of the commission, held in April 2006, regarding regional infrastructure development, the Government of India offered to fund a study on financing instruments and institutions for infrastructure development in the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, and H.E. Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Commerce, Government of India, agreed that the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries would jointly carry out a study on alternative models for infrastructure financing for Asia and the Pacific, and the two think-tanks may collaborate with institutions in other countries.

ESCAP estimates that in four major infrastructure sectors: transport, ICT, energy, and water, the resource requirement is between US$ 220 billion (estimate based on infrastructure demand model studies of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Japan Bank for International Cooperation) and over US$ 500 billion per year (estimate based on sectoral projects). ESCAP estimates further that under a business-as-usual scenario, the total resources available for infrastructure investment could be US$ 48 billion per year from Government budgets and private investors, including US$ 7.4 billion per year for infrastructure investment provided by the ADB, World Bank, and Japan Bank for International Cooperation. This leaves a resource gap of US$ 180 billion per year at a minimum.

First ICT Training Centre to Be First United Nations Office Based in Republic of Korea

On 16 June 2006 ESCAP inaugurated its first ICT Training Centre in Incheon, Republic of Korea. ESCAP also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft pledging support for the Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT), which is the first UN institution to be based in the Republic of Korea.

The APCICT will play a leading role in ICT work, and contribute towards the achievement of the MDGs by making available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technologies, in cooperation with the private sector. The Government of the Republic of Korea will provide financial and in-kind contributions of US$ 10 million to cover the operations of APCICT for the initial five years, including the premises for the new Centre.

On 30 November 2005, countries in the Asia-Pacific region finalized a draft Intergovernmental Agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network. The Agreement was finalized at the conclusion of an intergovernmental meeting that was organized by ESCAP from 28 to 30 November 2005. The Trans-Asian Railway Network is an important step for the identification of an integrated, international, intermodal network in the region. ESCAP will provide a strong basis for a regional approach to transport development, which will result in a partnership for regional integration.

The Trans-Asian Railway Network, which was initiated in the 1960s, is comprised of more than 80,000 km of rail routes of international importance and links 27 ESCAP member countries. The network aims to offer efficient transport services for the movement of goods within the region and between Asia and Europe, and provide improved access for land-locked countries to major ports.

Pacific Vital to Asia's Interests

While the developing countries of Asia-Pacific as a whole achieved average growth rates of over 6 percent in 2005, with China and India generating over 8 percent, most Pacific island developing countries on average managed just 3 percent. The differences in the pace of growth are widening between fast-growing Asian countries and the Pacific developing countries. One way of benefiting from Asian dynamism is for Pacific island countries to expand their partnerships with Asia, just as Caribbean islands have benefited through their links with not only the United States and Canada, but also Brazil, Mexico, and other Latin American countries. The strengthening of Pacific-Asia partnership is not an alternative path of development for Pacific island developing countries, but an addition to existing modes of cooperation.

The dynamic growth of Asian countries provides Pacific island developing countries with an opportunity to diversify, branching out from historical trading partners (European Union, Australia and New Zealand). The agreement reached by all Pacific Islands Forum member countries in 1999 to develop a Regional Free Trade Area was a significant step forward towards creating a single market. It would also effectively generate more growth and strengthen regional cooperation, as well as encourage the inflow of foreign direct investment from Asia and other regions of the world. There is potential for increased investment in such areas as tourism development, fisheries, and ICT. At the same time, it is also critical that there is mutual agreement on measures to protect the sustainable use of non-renewable natural resources. Asian countries could help the Pacific island developing countries integrate into their trade and investment flows by providing them with additional market access preferences. Furthermore, Asian countries could encourage the larger Pacific island developing countries to join the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement by entering into bilateral economic partnership agreements with them. Infrastructure is an area where Asian finance and expertise could be tapped. There could be initiatives to expand “sea links” between Asia and the Pacific.

ESCAP provides a unique forum for promoting partnerships between Asia and the Pacific island countries. At the 62nd commission session in Jakarta, the host country Indonesia and ESCAP cooperated to organize a special high-level session for the Heads of States and Governments of Pacific island developing countries in order to strengthen the Pacific-Asia partnership for development. The theme topic for this session was “Strengthening Pacific-Asia Partnership in the Development of Pacific Island Developing Countries and Territories.” This was the highest level interaction between the commission members and the Pacific leaders, which included several Heads of State. The Pacific leaders also met with top business leaders of the region.

Second Regional Meeting on Trade and Transport Facilitation for Landlocked and Transit Countries

Seminar-cum-Study Tour on Facilitation of International Road Transport in Central and East Asia

Enhancing Regional Cooperation in Infrastructure Development Including that Related to Disaster Management (Sales No. E.06.II.F.13; ISBN: 92-1-120466-6)

Toolkit for implementing and monitoring the East Asia and Pacific Regional Commitment and Action Plan against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Sales No. E.06.II.F.17; ISBN: 92-1-1204704)

E-Procurement (ESCAP/ADB Institute/Public Procurement Service of the Republic of Korea) (Sales No. E.06.II.F.15; ISBN: 92-1-120468-2)

Asia-Pacific Development Journal, Vol.12, No.2, December 2005 (Sales No. E.05.II.F.36; ISBN: 92-1-120451-8)

Improving the Lives of the Urban Poor: Case studies on the provision of basic services through partnerships (E/ESCAP/2404, 2005)