Alatas to open ESCAP meeting<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas will open
\na steering group meeting of the Economic and Social Commission
\nfor Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on Monday.<\/p>\n
The meeting will discuss infrastructure development and the
\neconomic condition of the region.<\/p>\n
The four-day meeting of the Steering Group of the Commission's
\nCommittee for Regional Economic Cooperation will be held at the
\nforeign ministry office and attended by senior officials and
\nexperts from the Commission's 48 member-countries.<\/p>\n
The United Nations established the Commission in 1947 under
\nthe name of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East
\n(ECAFE). In 1974 its name was changed to its current form.<\/p>\n
A further focus of discussion during the meeting will be
\nidentifying particular economic sectors capable of luring direct
\nforeign investment to the region. It is expected that the meeting
\nwill also seek to formulate an overall analysis of the current
\neconomic condition of the region.<\/p>\n
Among ESCAP's 48-members there are five non-regional members
\n-- Britain, France, the Netherlands, Russia and the United
\nStates.<\/p>\n
The Commission also has 10 associate members, including non-
\nself governing territories in the region such as Guam and
\nAmerican Samoa.<\/p>\n
Based in Bangkok, Thailand, much of ESCAP's work is in the
\nareas of environmentally-sustainable development, poverty
\nalleviation through economic growth and social development in the
\ncontext of regional cooperation.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's hosting of the steering group meeting comes at an
\nimportant juncture in light of the strong emphasis currently
\nbeing placed on infrastructure development to support nation's
\ngrowth.<\/p>\n
The findings of the meeting be forwarded to the ESCAP regional
\ncommittee meeting in Bangkok on Feb. 8-9, which is a prelude to
\nthe 51st ESCAP meeting on April 24.<\/p>\n
In a statement released yesterday the foreign ministry also
\nreferred to the possibility of using the cooperation within ESCAP
\nas a framework to be emulated in the North-South dialog.<\/p>\n
\"The ESCAP steering group meeting in Jakarta can be a
\nbarometer of commitment to economic cooperation among member
\ncountries, which have varying levels of economic growth,\" the
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
Following on the theme of infrastructure development,
\ndelegates will examine the facilities at North Jakarta's Tanjung
\nPriok harbor on Thursday.(mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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