ESCAP News | As the international community embarks on implementation of the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Asia-Pacific region will play a critical leadership role, not least because of its size, diversity and dynamism, the head of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said today in New York, in the lead-up to the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development being held here next week.

Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP led two briefings for Permanent Representatives of United Nations Member States, on the outcomes of key ESCAP meetings held over the past month, namely the first High-level Follow-up Dialogue on Financing for Development in Asia and the Pacific, and the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. Dr. Akhtar also briefed the Permanent Representatives on ESCAP’s efforts to advance Asia-Pacific regional economic cooperation and integration.

“At the start of this first year of implementation of the 2030 Agenda, ESCAP has focused on taking stock of how our region is positioning itself; assessing national strategies for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); as well as how to more effectively harness and mobilize the necessary resources to support member States in mainstreaming the economic, social and environmental Goals into national development strategies and policies,” Dr. Akhtar explained during the briefing hosted by Mr. Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan.

“ESCAP is tackling these challenges by strengthening our normative and analytical work, reinvigorating the Asia-Pacific intergovernmental process and scaling up technical assistance, especially for least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing States,” she added. “Although the SDGs will be implemented at national and local level, the United Nations regional commissions will be critical bridges to ensure policy consistency and coherence, as well as supporting regional follow-up and review in the context of the wider global processes.”

Among the outcomes of the two high-level regional deliberations has been consensus on the need for an Asia-Pacific Tax Forum to support revenue enhancement in the region’s developing countries; the importance of harmonizing legal and regulatory frameworks of regional capital markets; strategies to deploy private investment and savings to support sustainability; the value of establishing a new regional infrastructure financing forum; and the foundational elements of a regional road map for implementation of the SDGs – especially in developing countries and countries with special needs.

Ambassador Abdrakhmanov said, “Regional action is critical to strengthen the link between global commitments and national efforts. We need to close the gap between the global process and negotiations and the action led activities at the national level. We are firmly convinced that ESCAP, thanks to its unique role, niche and mandate, can play this key connecting bridging role.”

In a briefing hosted by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan, Dr. Akhtar explained that ESCAP member States have identified four strategic pillars through which a more integrated Asia-Pacific region should be pursued. These include moving towards the formation of an integrated market, the development of seamless connectivity in the region, enhancing financial cooperation and increasing economic cooperation to address shared vulnerabilities, risks and challenges.

“Closer economic cooperation and integration offers solutions to many of our long-standing challenges, such as poverty, inequality and political instability,” said Dr. Akhtar, adding that: “ESCAP is therefore promoting region-wide connectivity, addressing barriers to trade and investment, enhancing financial cooperation and helping member States to address disaster risk.”

Ambassador Dr. Lodhi, highlighted that, “Greater connectivity and economic integration undoubtedly enhances prospects of growth and shared prosperity in our region. ESCAP’s regional economic cooperation and integration agenda can therefore significantly impact meaningful and comprehensive implementation of the 2030 Agenda.” 

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by Martin Dessart

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