Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) held its third business advisory council meeting in Thailand on Monday.
The meeting discussed a number of issues such as regional economic integration and business perspectives on achieving energy security, including modalities for private sector involvement, a press statement said on Thursday.
A number of business leaders from Asia and the Pacific attended the meeting. Noeleen Heyzer, under-secretary general of the United Nations and executive secretary of ESCAP, co-chaired the session.
Heyzer said the Business Advisory Council has three principle objectives: first, it aims to build partnerships between key business leaders and ESCAP to achieve inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.
Its second aim is to advance regional economic cooperation and integration, especially in the commitment of ASEAN to establish the ASEAN economic community by 2015.
Thirdly, it thinks that there is a need to forge and mobilize an Asia-Pacific regional voice in multilateral forums, said Heyzer.
Mahbubur Rahman, president of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh, attended the meeting as an ESCAP-BAC member.
Rahman proposed two joint seminars: the first sub-regional seminar on SME development in the South Asian region and their effective penetration into regional and global markets will be held on 13 May 2012, and while the second one on the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement to be organized in Dhaka in June this year.
Mohamed Iqbal Rawther, chair of the ESCAP-BAC, was also present.
BBN/SSR/AD-22Mar12-11:55 pm (BST)
