Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana and Zhaslan Madiyev The development paradigm has shifted to ‘digital by default’ as a norm, reshaping societies and economies. As a hub for digitally driven innovations, Asia and the Pacific is well positioned to leverage the transformative potential of digital technologies to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Emerging technologies are […]
UN and Kazakhstan set to host regional conference on digital transformation
Asia and the Pacific has emerged as a hub of digital innovations, which presents unparalleled opportunity to accelerate digital inclusion and transformation for sustainable development and shared prosperity. Government leaders, Ministers, senior officials, digital experts and tech companies will gather in Astana from 3 to 5 September for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and […]
Turkmenistan and UN ESCAP engaged in sustainable transport, energy mobility, and implementing the resolution on the UN Special Programme for the Aral Sea basin
On July 12, 2023, Ambassador Aksoltan Ataeva, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN, met with Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The productive exchange of views focused on cooperation in transport, energy, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and within the […]
International Conference on Financial and Investment Support of Water Resources Rational Use Measures Concludes Successfully in Turkmenistan
Photo: © UN RCO in Turkmenistan Ashgabat, 20 June 2023 – The Government of Turkmenistan, in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), hosted a highly successful international conference on “Financial and Investment Support of Water Resources Rational Use Measures.” The event, co-moderated by Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, brought together high-level representatives […]
Full text of the UNESCAP resolution on establishment of the United Nations special programme for the Aral Sea basin (UNSPAS) initiated by Turkmenistan
United Nations E/ESCAP/RES/79/8 Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Seventy-ninth session Agenda item 4 (d) Resolution adopted by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on 19 May 2023 79/8. Consideration of the modalities for the establishment of the United Nations special programme for the Aral Sea basin The […]
Turkmenistan highlighted the Aral problem at the ESCAP session and contributed to the creation of a special UN mechanism
The 79th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand, has adopted the Resolution titled “Consideration of the conditions for the creation of a special United Nations program for the Aral Sea basin” at the initiative of Turkmenistan, the foreign ministry of Turkmenistan reports. The document was […]
Driving sustainable and inclusive growth for everyone
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Rapid development in Asia and the Pacific has propelled the region to become a key engine of growth for the global economy, yet this prosperity has not reached everyone. And with the region […]
UNESCAP: Surged commodity prices supported economies of Central Asia
Compared to other regions of the world, Central Asia, in the most basic terms, can be differentiated among the countries by its dependence on the commodity exports. However, the non-exporters face the same economic challenges as the rest of the world. The statement came during the UN Regional Briefing on World Economic Situation & Prospects […]
UN forum looks to support Central Asian economies buffeted by continued pandemic and geopolitical crisis
Representatives of Central Asian countries are in Kazakhstan this week to discuss how to work closely together to grow their economies, which have been buffeted by the continued COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical crisis, in a sustained, greener manner while also taking advantage of advances in technology. The 2022 SPECA Economic Forum is meeting from 16 […]
Persons with disabilities integral players in determining innovative solutions to fully inclusive societies
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Ten years ago, the Asia-Pacific region came together and designed the world’s first set of disability-specific development goals: the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities. This week, we meet again to assess how the governments have delivered on their commitments, to secure those gains and develop the […]
UN forum draws attention to ongoing crises further hindering SDG progress in North and Central Asia
The Sixth North and Central Asia Multistakeholder Forum on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals opened today (6 Oct) with delegates underscoring the need to work on formulating policies across the environment, social and economic sectors to safeguard the delivery of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Recent developments show that the period of crises […]
ESCAP will help to develop a feasibility study for the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-India corridor
On 20 September 2022, the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting with a delegation of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The sides discussed the development of the transport corridor Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – India through the port of Chabahar, the ministry’s […]
The right policies can protect the workers of Asia and the Pacific
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Most of the 2.1 billion strong workforce in Asia and the Pacific are denied access to decent jobs, health care and social protection but there is an array polices and tools that governments can use to remedy these deficiencies and ensure that the rights and aspirations of these workers and their families […]
Shaping our digital future
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Asia and the Pacific is the most digitally divided region of the world, and South-East Asia is the most divided subregion. The Covid-19 pandemic detonated a “digital big bang” that spurred people, governments and businesses to become “digital by default;” a sea change that generated vast digital dividends. These benefits that have […]
Business leaders pledge support for new Asia-Pacific Green Deal
Recognizing the role that the private sector can play in scaling up climate action, government and business leaders from across the region have declared their support for an Asia-Pacific Green Deal for Business. The declaration was adopted at the Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2022 today (26 Aug), co-hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission […]
Asia-Pacific countries endorse action plan to strengthen social protection
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have today endorsed an action plan pledging to collectively step up regional cooperation for social protection – a timely move as governments are striving to protect people from unprecedented economic and social development setbacks wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The action plan was endorsed at the Sixth Session of the […]
Economic integration: a driving force for sustainable development
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Leading thinkers from the world over gather at the Astana Economic Forum this week. Their focus is on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and how it should shape long-term economic growth and social development strategies in Kazakhstan and central Asia. As international best practice and practical solutions are considered, […]
More dry years ahead for South-East Asia
New UN-ASEAN study reveals slow but devastating impacts of drought in the region Mandalay (ESCAP news) – Future scenarios of drought in many parts of South-East Asia may become even more frequent and intense if actions are not taken now to build resilience, according to the latest joint study by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission […]
Asia-Pacific takes stock of ambitious development targets
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana and Natalia Kanem Ministers and senior policymakers across Asia and the Pacific are gathered in Bangkok this week to focus on population dynamics at a crucial time for the region. Their goal: to keep people and rights at the heart of the region’s push for sustainable development. They will be considering how […]
Entrepreneurial about gender equality
Hong Joo Hahm, Deputy Executive Secretary and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Asia and the Pacific needs more women entrepreneurs. Women’s economic empowerment and gender equality depend on it, as does the inclusive economic growth needed to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This drives […]
Positive signs as Asia-Pacific moves toward global development goals
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar With just over a year since the adoption of a historic blueprint to end poverty and protect the planet, positive signs have already started to emerge among countries in the Asia-Pacific region as they push ahead with the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is encouraging to note that […]
Transport – a pivotal sector in Asia and the Pacific’s journey to sustainability
Dr Shamshad Akhtar Transport is a key contributor to economic growth, prosperity and to societal well-being. Physical links across Asia and the Pacific have increasingly improved through years of steady investments in the Asian Highway, a project endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) commission at […]