UN Human Rights Treaties

E/1993/36
E/ESCAP/927
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
ANNUAL REPORT
24 April 1992-29 April 1993
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
OFFICIAL RECORDS, 1993
SUPPLEMENT No. 16
UNITED NATIONS
E/1993/36
E/ESCAP/927
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
ANNUAL REPORT
24 April 1992-29 April 1993
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
OFFICIAL RECORDS, 1993
SUPPLEMENT No. 16
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1993
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital
letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a
reference to a United Nations document.
E/1993/36
E/ESCAP/927
ISSN: 0252 - 2284
(i)
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
Abbreviations.............................................................................................................................................. (iii)
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 1
Chapter
I. ISSUES CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COUNCIL OR BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION.................................................................... 2-4 1
A. Issues calling for action by the Economic and Social Council......................................... 2-4 1
B. Resolutions brought to the attention of the Economic and Social Council ................... 2
II. WORK OF THE COMMISSION SINCE THE FORTY-EIGHTH SESSION............................... 5-106 3
A. Activities of subsidiary bodies ............................................................................................. 5-84 3
B. Other activities ......................................................................................................................... 85-88 12
C. Relations with other United Nations programmes.............................................................. 89-106 13
Annex. List of publications, meetings and advisory and other services ...................... 16
III. FORTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION................................................................. 107-534 29
A. Attendance and organization of work.................................................................................. 107-121 29
B. Agenda..................................................................................................................................... 122 30
C. Account of proceedings......................................................................................................... 123-534 31
Inaugural address by the Prime Minister of Thailand................................................... 124-129 31
Message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations ....................................... 130-138 32
Statement by the Executive Secretary of ESCAP........................................................... 139-140 33
Policies and perspectives for the economic and social development of the
ESCAP region, with particular reference to expansion of investment and
intraregional trade................................................................................................................... 141-167 33
Policy statement by the Executive Secretary.................................................................. 141-149 33
Recent economic and social developments.................................................................... 150-161 34
Expansion of investment and intraregional trade as a vehicle for enhancing
regional economic cooperation and development in Asia and the Pacific ................ 162-167 35
Restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic and
social fields.............................................................................................................................. 168-182 37
Implementation of Commission resolution 48/2 on restructuring the
conference structure of the Commission
Implementation of Commission resolution 48/12 on restructuring and
revitalization of the United Nations in the economic and social fields:
role and functions of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific
Reports on ministerial meetings and reports of subsidiary bodies.................................. 183-306 38
Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport and Communications, second
session ................................................................................................................................ 184-201 39
Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology...................................................... 202-224 40
Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference ......................................................... 225-246 43
Committee on Statistics, eighth session ......................................................................... 247-270 45
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, first and second sessions............. 271-281 48
Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing Countries ............ 282-294 50
Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries ................................................. 295-306 51
(ii)
CONTENTS (continued)
Paragraphs Page
Selected issues in fields of activity of the Commission and reports on its
regional institutions ................................................................................................................ 307-420 53
Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,
1993-2002............................................................................................................................. 310-321 53
Progress in the implementation of the Social Development Strategy for the
ESCAP Region Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond .................................................... 322-333 54
Problems faced by the transitional disadvantaged economies in the ESCAP
region................................................................................................................................... 334-341 56
Economic and technical cooperation among developing countries ........................... 342-353 57
Preparations for the Ministerial Conference on Urbanization ..................................... 354-369 58
Preparations for the Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on
Women in Development.................................................................................................... 370-386 60
Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology.................................................. 387-400 62
Regional Coordination Centre for Research and Development of Coarse
Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber Crops in the Humid Tropics of Asia and
the Pacific............................................................................................................................ 401-410 63
Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific ................................................................... 411-420 64
Reports of regional intergovernmental bodies.................................................................... 421-446 65
Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources
in Asian Offshore Areas.................................................................................................... 421-427 65
Interim Committee for Coordination of Investigations of the Lower
Mekong Basin ..................................................................................................................... 428-434 66
Typhoon Committee........................................................................................................... 435-438 67
Asian and Pacific Development Centre........................................................................... 439-446 67
Programme planning................................................................................................................ 447-468 68
Draft programme of work, 1994-1995................................................................................ 447-462 68
Review of the implementation of the programme of work, 1992-1993, and
proposed programme changes for 1993 .......................................................................... 463-468 70
Technical cooperation activities of ESCAP and announcement of intended
contributions........................................................................................................................... 469-519 71
Activities of the Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives and
Other Representatives Designated by Members of the Commission.............................. 520-527 77
Date, venue and any other subject pertaining to the fiftieth session of the
Commission .............................................................................................................................. 528-533 78
Adoption of the report of the Commission.......................................................................... 534 78
IV. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION AT ITS FORTY-NINTH
SESSION............................................................................................................................................ 79
Annexes
I. Programme of work and priorities, 1994-1995................................................................................ 91
II. Statement of programme budget implications of actions and proposals of the
Commission....................................................................................................................................... 115
III. Meetings of subsidiary bodies held during the period under review....................................... 116
IV. Publications and documents issued by the Commission ........................................................... 119
V. Terms of reference of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific .......... 122
VI. Rules of procedure of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.......... 124
(iii)
ABBREVIATIONS
ACPR Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives and Other Representatives Designated by
Members of the Commission
ACU Asian Clearing Union
ADB Asian Development Bank
APCC Asian and Pacific Coconut Community
APCTT Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology
APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
APENPLAN Asian and Pacific Energy Planning Network
APPU Asian Pacific Postal Union
APT Asia Pacific Telecommunity
ARSAP agricultural requisites scheme for Asia and the Pacific
ASEAN Association of South-East Asian Nations
CCOP Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas
CEC Commission of the European Communities
CGPRT Centre Regional Coordination Centre for Research and Development of Coarse Grains, Pulses, Roots
and Tuber Crops in the Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific
CITYNET Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements
COTAC ASEAN Committee on Transportation and Communications
ECCT Energy Conservation Center of Thailand
ECDC economic cooperation among developing countries
ECE Economic Commission for Europe
ECO Economic Cooperation Organization
ESCAP/POC ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre
ESCWA Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
EUROSTAT Statistical Office of the European Communities
FADINAP ESCAP/FAO/UNIDO Fertilizer Advisory, Development and Information Network for Asia and
the Pacific
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GIS geographic information systems
GSP generalized system of preferences
GTZ German Agency for Technical Cooperation
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
ICP International Comparison Programme
IFA International Fertilizer Industry Association
IJO International Jute Organization
ILO International Labour Organisation
IMF International Monetary Fund
IMO International Maritime Organization
INRO International Natural Rubber Organization
INSTRAW International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women
IOMAC Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation
IPC Integrated Programme for Commodities
ISA International Silk Association
ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization
ITU International Telecommunication Union
(iv)
ABBREVIATIONS (continued)
JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency
LEMIGAS Oil and Gas Technology Development Centre (of Indonesia)
MPPM maritime policy planning model
NAFTA North American free trade agreement
NFIS Network of Fertilizer Information Systems
NGOs non-governmental organizations
ODA official development assistance
OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
PEDP Pacific Energy Development Programme
POPIN Population Information Network
REDP Regional Energy Development Programme
RMSS regional maritime strategy study
RNAM Regional Network for Agricultural Machinery
RRSP Regional Remote Sensing Programme
SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SACEP South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme
SEATRADC Southeast Asia Tin Research and Development Centre
SIAP Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific
SNA United Nations System of National Accounts
SOPAC South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission
SPC South Pacific Commission
SPREP South Pacific Regional Environment Programme
TCDC technical cooperation among developing countries
TISNET Regional Trade Information Network
UNAFEI United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of
Offenders
UNCHS United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)
UNCRD United Nations Centre for Regional Development
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDCP United Nations International Drug Control Programme
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNDRO Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNIFEM United Nations Development Fund for Women
UPU Universal Postal Union
WASME World Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises
WHO World Health Organization
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO World Meteorological Organization
WTO World Tourism Organization
Introduction
1. The annual report of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, which covers
the period 24 April 1992 to 29 April 1993, was adopted unanimously by the Commission at its 750th
meeting on 29 April 1993.
Chapter I
ISSUES CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL OR
BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION
A. Issues calling for action by the
Economic and Social Council
Resource mobilization for the implementation of the
regional action programme for phase II (1992-1996) of
the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia
and the Pacific
2. At its 750th meeting, the Commission approved
the following draft resolution for submission to the
Economic and Social Council for action:
"The Economic and Social Council,
"Recommends to the General Assembly the adoption
of the following draft resolution:
"The General Assembly,
"Noting resolution 49/2 of 29 April 1993 of
the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific on resource mobilization for the
implementation of the regional action programme
for phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific,
"Recalling General Assembly resolution 39/227
of 18 December 1984, by which the Assemb ly
proclaimed a Transport and Communications Decade
for Asia and the Pacific during the period 1985-1994,
and Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/78
of 27 July 1984 on the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific,
1985-1994,
"Recalling also Economic and Social Council
resolution 1991/75 of 26 July 1991, in which the
Council urged all appropriate organizations,
particularly the United Nations Development
Programme, to contribute effectively to the
formulation and implementation of a regional action
programme for the second quinquennium of the
Decade, and General Assembly decision 46/453 of 20
December 1991, by which the Assembly endorsed
Council resolution 1991/75,
"Reaffirming the importance of phase II (1992-
1996) of the Transport and Communications Decade
for Asia and the Pacific,
"Concerned that the regional action programme
may not be able to be implemented effectively and
efficiently without adequate funds, particularly from
the United Nations Development Programme, and
noting the decision of the Governing Council of the
United Nations Development Programme in this
regard,
"1. Requests the United Nations Development
Programme, in the light of General Assembly
decision 46/453 of 20 December 1991 on phase II of
the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia
and the Pacific, 1985-1994, to reconsider its decision
regarding the level of funding to be provided for the
implementation of the regional action programme so
as to enable phase II (1992-1996) of the Decade to
have greater impact;
"2. Requests bilateral donors to take note of
General Assembly decision 46/453, so as to ensure
that the programme approved by the Meeting of
Ministers Responsible for Transport and
Communications, held at Bangkok in June 1992, will
be implemented effectively;
"3. Invites all Governments in a position to do
so to contribute to the implementation of the
programme approved by the Meeting of Ministers;
"4. Requests the Secretary-General to report on
the action taken to the General Assembly at its fortyeighth
session."
2
Venue of the fiftieth session of the Commission
3. At the 742nd meeting of the Commission on
22 April 1993, the Government of India offered to hold
the fiftieth session of the Commission at New Delhi in
1994. The Government of India agreed to bear all
responsibility for the additional administrative, logistical
and financial expenditure involved in holding
the session away from the headquarters of the
Commission.
4. At the same meeting, the Commission accepted
the invitation of the Government of India and decided to
hold the fiftieth session at New Delhi, subject to the
approval of the Economic and Social Council and the
General Assembly.
B. Resolutions brought to the attention of the Economic and Social Council
49/1. Implementation of the action programme for
regional economic cooperation in trade and
investment
49/2. Resource mobilization for the implementation of
the regional action programme for phase II
(1992-1996) of the Transport and Communications
Decade for Asia and the Pacific
49/3. Tehran Declaration on Strengthening Regional
Cooperation for Technology-led Industrialization
in Asia and the Pacific
49/4. Population and sustainable development: goals
and strategies into the twenty-first century
49/5. Regional programme on space applications for
development
49/6. Proclamation and Agenda for Action for the
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,
1993-2002
49/7. Implementation of decisions of the General
Assembly on the United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development, including
Agenda 21, in Asia and the Pacific
49/8. Strengthening assistance to least developed
countries
49/9. Eradication of preventable diseases in the
Asian and Pacific region as a component of
social and economic development
49/10. Strengthening the role of ESCAP in the
coordination of regional operational activities
3
Chapter II
WORK OF THE COMMISSION SINCE THE
FORTY-EIGHTH SESSION
A. Activities of subsidiary bodies
5. During the period under review, the following
subsidiary bodies convened meetings: Committee for
Regional Economic Cooperation, Committee on Statistics,
Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked
Developing Countries, Special Body on Pacific Island
Developing Countries, Meeting of Ministers Responsible
for Transport and Communications, Meeting of Ministers
of Industry and Technology, and the Fourth Asian and
Pacific Population Conference. The dates, bureaux and
document symbols of the reports of the meetings are
given in annex III. The activities of the subsidiary bodies
since the forty-eighth session of the Commission are
highlighted below. Lists of publications, meetings and
advisory and other services under each subprogramme
are provided in the annex to this chapter.
Committee for Regional Economic
Cooperation
Development issues and policies
6. The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the
Pacific 1992, part one, provided an overview of
development trends and issues in the region against the
backdrop of developments in the world economy, and a
review of the recent growth performance of the
developing countries of the region. Despite the
recessionary conditions in the world economy, the
economies of the developing Asian and Pacific countries
continued to be resilient owing to growing domestic
demand, the improved efficiency and competitiveness of
exports and the cumu lative effects of domestic economic
reforms. Nevertheless, after several decades of
development efforts, a large number of economies in the
region were still weak and fragile, especially the
disadvantaged economies, such as the least developed,
land-locked, and island developing economies, and the
economies in transition from central planning to a marketoriented
system. The Survey drew particular attention to
the problems of those economies and the measures that
could be taken to meet their special needs. It also
discussed health and nutrition in relation to social
development, focusing on issues of major concern in the
region.
7. The secretariat provided inputs on intersubregional
economic cooperation and issues pertaining
to the economies in transition for the first meeting of
the Steering Group of the Committee for Regional
Economic Cooperation. The secretariat also prepared a
survey of trade and investment trends for the theme
study of the forty-ninth session of the Commission,
which constituted part two of the Survey.
8. To follow up Commission resolution 48/8 of 23
April 1992 on problems faced by the transitional
disadvantaged economies in the ESCAP region, a joint
mission with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was
fielded to newly independent Asian republics. A paper
was prepared on their general economic conditions,
macroeconomic performance, and prospects for greater
interaction with Asian and Pacific economies. Having
secured the necessary funding, the secretariat was
preparing to hold national workshops on economic
reforms in the economies in transition.
9. The secretariat continued work on macroeconomic
modelling. It held a seminar on medium-term
development planning techniques and prepared a paper,
based on its research and projection work, on the
performance of and prospects for the economies in the
ESCAP region. As one of its activities relating to the
social consequences of economic restructuring, the
secretariat held a seminar in which country experience
and regional perspectives and issues were discussed.
International trade and development finance
(excluding tourism)
10. Although the thematic programme of work would
not be implemented formally until the biennium 1994-
1995, the secretariat's activities were already being
given a thematic orientation. The study on the theme
topic of the forty-ninth session of the Commission,
"Expansion of investment and intraregional trade as a
vehicle for enhancing regional economic cooperation
and development", was published as part two of the
Survey 1992. The Committee for Regional Economic
Cooperation held its first session at Bangkok in October
and November 1992, and its Steering Group held its
first meeting at New Delhi in November 1992. The
second meeting of the Steering Group and the second
session of the Committee were held at Bangkok in April
1993. The convening of those meetings reflected the
efforts to develop a framework for the integration of the
thematic approach into the ESCAP programme of work.
A major achievement at the meetings was the
finalization of an action programme for regional
economic cooperation in trade and investment. At its
forty-ninth session, the Commission endorsed the action
programme and passed a resolution in which it
4
recommended that implementation of the action
programme be accorded priority in the work of the
secretariat. Other important activities were an expert
group meeting on development issues and policies,
focusing on the theme study; an intergovernmental
meeting on policy issues and measures relating to the
effects of graduation from schemes under the generalized
system of preferences; intercountry consultation on
trade; and the sixth session of the Regional Consultative
Group on Silk. The policy-oriented and operational
activities of the subprogramme interacted effectively.
11. Operational activities included the following: a
joint ESCAP/ADB advisory mission to newly
independent Asian republics; technical assistance
relating to commodities, intraregional trade and
investment (including in the mineral sector); market and
product diversification; trade facilitation; trade expansion
in manufactures; and various export promotion activities,
including the Asian International Silk Fair '92, held at
Dusseldorf, Germany, in September 1992.
12. A few of the activities planned under the
subprogramme were postponed owing to the delayed
receipt of extrabudgetary funding and the difficulty in
obtaining the services of suitable consultants.
Industrial and technological development
13. In the field of industrial development, the
secretariat carried out activities relating to the
organization of and preparations for the Meeting of
Ministers of Industry and Technology, and the
Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials, which were held
at Tehran in June 1992. The Meeting of Ministers
deliberated on policy issues and strategies relating to the
competitiveness of manufactured products; the
appropriate climate for the enhancement of technological
capability; the enhancement of industrial and
technological development skills; investment promotion
and industrial financing; cooperative measures for
industrial and technological development in least
developed and island developing countries; and
environmentally sound and sustainable industrial
development. The Meeting of Ministers adopted the
Regional Strategy and Action Plan for Industrial and
Technological Development, and the Tehran Declaration
on Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Technologyled
Industrialization in Asia and the Pacific. In
conjunction with the Meeting of Ministers, a private
sector symposium was held on 26 June 1992, and an
industrial and technological exhibition was held from 23
to 29 June 1992.
14. The secretariat continued its activities in the
areas of human resources development and the
promotion of small and medium industries, and provided
assistance to least developed countries and the newly
independent Asian republics in strengthening national
capacity for industrial and technological development.
Training workshops were organized on industrial project
preparations and management.
15. The activities relating to the organization of a
forum for promoting sustainable industrial restructuring
in Asia and the Pacific were continued, as were the
studies on investment promotion, private sector
development, privatization, and improvement of the
efficiency of public sector industries. The activities
funded by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) on the promotion of international
competitiveness and efficient resource utilization in
manufacturing, and on diversified skill development for
women in industry were also continued.
16. Activities to strengthen the institutional
infrastructure for science and technology were pursued
vigorously. Expert group meetings and workshops were
held on patent laws and the legal aspects of technology
transfer; national standards systems; technology
management and the application and extension of the
Technology Atlas. The Meeting of Ministers of Industry
and Technology had expressed support for the
temporary establishment of a technical consultancy
development programme for Asia and the Pacific as an
interim measure preceding the selection of a body to
oversee and manage regional activities on the basis of
technical cooperation among developing countries
(TCDC). Further work was done by the secretariat on
evaluating the experience of countries in the region in
applying the Technology Atlas methodologies so that
technological considerations could be linked
systematically to the development planning process.
17. The transfer and diffusion of technology was
given high priority, especially with regard to energy
conservation and new and renewable sources of energy.
Advisory services were rendered to improve the
capability of the least developed countries to import
technology. In monitoring major breakthroughs in
science and technology, the secretariat continued to
accord high priority to, and implement activities relating
to, biotechnology and information technology. In the
field of biotechnology, special importance was placed on
greater regional cooperation, women's involvement in
development, transfer and adaptation of technology, and
the extension of biotechnology to small-scale farmers.
Transnational corporations
18. In the implementation of its programme of work
and priorities, the ESCAP/TCMD (United Nations
Transnational Corporations and Management Division)
Joint Unit on Transnational Corporations continued
efforts aimed at (a) facilitating mutually beneficial
linkages through a better understanding of transnational
corporations and their impact on host countries in the
Asian and Pacific region; and (b) providing policy
5
recommendations and assisting developing countries in
the ESCAP region in attracting and maintaining an
increasing flow of foreign direct investment.
19. Reports and studies providing policy
recommendations were being edited for publication and
wider distribution to member countries. The Joint Unit
and the Division initiated a project on the impact of
service regulations on foreign direct investment. A major
review of the Joint Unit's work programme was started in
cooperation with national agencies responsible for
foreign direct investment and relations with transnational
corporations.
20. The Joint Unit continued to collect data on
foreign direct investment in Asia and the Pacific for a
forthcoming World Investment Directory to be published
by the Division.
Committee on Environment and
Sustainable Development
Energy
21. In June 1992 the secretariat initiated
interdivisional discussions on formulating the future
programme of work along thematic lines, in conformity
with the decision taken by the Commission at its fortyeighth
session. The programme of work for the biennium
1994-1995 was prepared. Several issue papers on energy
policies, efficiency and environmental problems, such as
global warming, were being prepared for submission to
the Committee on Environment and Sustainable
Development at its first session, to be held in October
1993. Several publications were issued. Operational
activities were greatly curtailed as compared with the
previous biennium because UNDP had temporarily
suspended support for such activities. The activities
under the UNDP-funded Regional Energy Development
Programme (REDP) that had been carried over from 1991,
including several advisory missions, and the Regional
Workshop on Sectoral Energy Demand Studies and
Energy Scenarios were completed with co-funding from
the Government of France. The Asian Institute of
Technology was collaborating with ESCAP in
implementing the activity on sectoral energy demand
studies. Advisory missions were fielded to Cambodia on
training for power sector rehabilitation, and to Viet Nam
on the use of computers in power system management.
A workshop on co-generation was organized by ESCAP
in cooperation with the German Agency for Technical
Cooperation (GTZ) and the Energy Conservation Center
of Thailand (ECCT), with in-country consultants from
India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. TCDC
activities were conducted in the following areas: wind
energy technology, between China, and Sri Lanka and
Viet Nam; and acid rain and emissions, between Thailand
and India, Viet Nam, China and the Republic of Korea. A
project was implemented on environmentally sound coal
utilization, funded by the Government of Australia.
Missions were fielded in October 1992 to China, India
and Japan to gather information and hold discussions on
clean coal technology, and a regional workshop was held
in April 1993. The Global Energy Efficiency 21 project, a
concerted effort of the United Nations regional
commissions to promote the enhancement of energy
efficiency, was initiated to follow up the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, held at
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992.
Environment
22. The focus of secretariat activities with regard to
the environment was on the achievement of
environmentally sound and sustainable development in
the region. Activities were designed to address the
national priorities in the region while encouraging
regional cooperation. A major portion of the programme
of work was concerned with activities relating to the
United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development. In its attempts to integrate the objectives
and recommendations of Agenda 21 into its activities, the
secretariat was focusing on crucial issues identified in
the Regional Strategy on Environmentally Sound and
Sustainable Development, endorsed by the Commission
at its forty-seventh session, as well as issues identified
by the Ministerial-level Conference on Environment and
Development, held at Bangkok in October 1990. The
secretariat was also directing attention to the
applicability within the region of the provisions of the
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
23. Under the ESCAP/UNDP project on managing the
environmental dimensions of sound and sustainable
development in Asia and the Pacific, regional meetings
were held to study the linkages between major groups,
such as women and youth, and environmentally sound
and sustainable development; to establish, and set
priorities for, a regional network of environment and
economic policy research institutions to promote
activities relating to the integration of environment and
development; and to develop models for sustainable
development and the application of environmentally
sound and sustainable development principles. To
provide insight into the sustainability of current policies
and programmes, studies were conducted in selected
countries with different geographical and economic
settings.
24. Under the ESCAP/UNDP project on desertification
control, priority was given to national capacitybuilding
and the elaboration of desertification
assessment and mapping methodology in the region. A
tripartite review of the project was undertaken and an
6
action plan on desertification to the year 2000 was
proposed. A regional working group on the marine
environment and oceanographic studies was set up to
strengthen the monitoring of the coastal/marine
environment. Studies were undertaken to develop
guidelines for environmentally sound coastal tourism
development. Training on conservation and management
of protected areas and critical ecosystems was provided
to mid- and high-level officers at a workshop hosted by
Malaysia. Activities were undertaken to encourage the
development of environmentally sound technologies,
including the promotion of clean coal technology, and
their efficient planning and management. Public
awareness was promoted through publications and the
efforts of the Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental
Journalists (AFEJ).
Natural resources (including marine affairs)
25. In the area of mineral resources development and
management, activities focused on geological resource
assessment in selected countries of the region and the
future directions of mineral resources development in
Asian least developed countries; national mineral
development strategies, with special reference to mining
codes and related aspects of investment regimes;
integration of geoscientific knowledge in land-use
planning; and environmental geology applications to
sustainable development in urban centres and the new
economic zones of the Asian and Pacific region.
Regional mineral assessment programmes were continued
on important mineral commodities such as epithermal
gold mineralization, non-metallic and fertilizer minerals
and construction materials.
26. The above activities enabled key mineral sector
institutions to improve their capability to assess minerals
potential and formulate national policies, strategies and
programmes for the development of mineral resources
and land use, keeping in view the need to protect the
environment and to review mining codes and related
legislation and promote foreign investment. The
geological and mineral resource assessment publications
of ESCAP continued to be in strong demand by the world
geological and mining community. The role of ESCAP in
the formulation of national mineral policies, new mining
legislation and regulations, and negotiations with private
mining companies was recognized both regionally and
internationally.
27. In the field of marine affairs, attention was
directed to the problems of managing and developing
coastal zones. The secretariat continued to promote the
establishment of a new ocean regime within the
framework of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, by assisting member countries in
developing an integrated and multisectoral marine policy
with special emphasis on the protection of the marine
environment to achieve sustainable development.
28. With regard to water resources, a number of
activities were implemented that reflected the new interdisciplinary
approach of the Commission. The casestudy
on the assessment of water resources and water
demand by user sectors in Thailand, a country starting to
face serious seasonal water shortages, was much sought
after by government agencies and researchers in
Thailand engaged in formulating a comprehensive water
management policy for the country. The manual and
guidelines for comprehensive flood-loss prevention and
management were translated into Chinese and Korean
and widely distributed for application. The Workshop on
Training Modules for Women, Water Supply and
Sanitation, held at Bangkok in September 1992,
heightened interest in that subject and would be followed
by a series of roving seminars to introduce the modules
at the national level in eight countries. Owing to the
success of the Regional Workshop on Computer
Applications for Groundwater Assessment and
Management, held at Bangkok in January 1993, similar
workshops would be held for the benefit of other
countries. Roving seminars on flood-loss prevention and
management, which had proved to be very useful to
Typhoon Committee members, were being held in other
countries of the region susceptible to flooding.
Substantive support was provided to the Typhoon
Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones. However,
the project on the assessment of forecasting techniques
and preparedness measures could not yet be completed
owing to the non-availability of resources.
29. Advisory services continued to be provided in
the area of water resources development and
management and requests for such services were
increasing. ESCAP continued to coordinate the
Interagency Task Force on Water for Asia and the
Pacific. The TCDC programme in the field of water
resources continued. Interest in the programme was
growing and support from the member countries had
increased.
30. The second phase of the ESCAP Regional
Remote Sensing Programme (RRSP), funded by UNDP,
was completed on 30 June 1992. RRSP began to function
as an ESCAP regular budget programme activity and all
operational activities were continued, including
promotional efforts such as the organization of seminars
and meetings, short- and long-term training activities,
and information exchange. RRSP maintained three
regional networks: a national focal points network
covering 30 member countries, including 18 member
countries of the Intergovernmental Consultative
Committee (ICC) of the ESCAP/UNDP Regional
Remote Sensing Programme; the Regional Information
Service network in 17 countries; and an education and
training network in 17 countries. Technical advisory
assistance was strengthened through the appointment of
a regional adviser on remote sensing and geographic
information systems. The activities of RRSP had helped
in the updating, as well as the maintenance of a higher
standard in, the application of space remote sensing and
7
geographic information systems for the sustainable
development of environmental and natural resources in
the ESCAP region.
31. The national focal points network and ICC could
not hold an annual meeting in 1992 owing to
uncertainties in the funding position of RRSP. However,
with funding support provided by the Government of
France through the French National Space Agency, the
national focal points will meet in May 1993 in Islamabad.
The meeting will discuss, deliberate and make
recommendations on a theme and strategy, and on the
conceptual outlines for the discussions at a ministeriallevel
meeting to launch a regional space applications
programme.
Committee on Poverty Alleviation through
Economic Growth and Social Development
Agricultural and rural development
32. In its activities on agricultural and rural
development, the secretariat continued to place emphasis
on the alleviation of rural poverty through agricultural
development, integrated rural development and
interdivisional, inter-agency and multisectoral activities.
33. The project on the promotion of rural non-farm
employment had shown considerable promise for rural
poverty alleviation. Its methodology offered selfsustaining
employment opportunities to the rural poor
who identify viable non-farm activities.
34. The ESCAP/Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO) project on sustainable
agricultural development strategies for the least
developed countries was initiated early in 1993 to assist
the participating least developed countries in the
formulation of macroeconomic development strategies for
the sustainable development of agricultural sectors.
Phase II of the satellite crop monitoring project had
established Drought Early Warning Teams to analyse
rainfall data coupled with satellite images.
35. The ESCAP/FAO/UNIDO Fertilizer Advisory,
Development and Information Network for Asia and the
Pacific (FADINAP) continued to provide assistance to its
members through training activities, information
dissemination and advisory services. National and
regional training programmes were carried out in India,
Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic,
Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam under the regional
fertilizer distribution and marketing assistance
programme and the project on environmentally friendly
fertilizer use. The regular activities of information
collection and dissemination through the Network of
Fertilizer Information Systems (NFIS) were continued.
Country profiles were published on Bangladesh,
Indonesia and the Philippines. Advisory services were
provided in areas such as soil sampling in relation to the
environment. Two countries, Cambodia and Mongolia,
joined the Network and the secretariat continued interagency
collaboration with FAO and the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in the
implementation of activities under the regional fertilizer
distribution and marketing assistance programme,
advisory services on various aspects of the fertilizer
sector, and information promotion and dissemination
through NFIS.
36. The agricultural requisites scheme for Asia and
the Pacific (ARSAP) continued to collect pesticide index
information in the Pacific with assistance from the
Government of France. The project on a database on
pesticides and the environment, funded by the Economic
Commission for Europe (ECE), was begun in April 1992 to
provide information about the effects of pesticides on
human and animal health and the environment. ARSAP
also continued to implement its regional pesticides
publication programme, which was supported by the
Government of the Netherlands.
37. The Interagency Committee on Integrated Rural
Development for Asia and the Pacific continued to
implement the inter-agency programme within the
framework of the Interagency Coordinated Plan of Action
for Integrated Rural Development in the ESCAP Region.
Fieldwork carried out in Bangladesh, Nepal and Viet Nam
on employment strategies for the rural poor at the village
level, with specific focus on women, gave disadvantaged
rural people who had no assets the opportunity to obtain
institutional credit, thereby strengthening their ability to
generate employment and accumulate capital. In spite of
financial constraints, the Interagency Committee decided
to continue publication of its newsletter, Poverty
Alleviation Initiatives. To promote the exchange of
information and mutual cooperation among member
agencies and developing countries, a compendium of
United Nations programmes on rural poverty alleviation
was being issued. Close collaboration on activities
related to rural poverty alleviation was maintained with
member Governments through a network of national
liaison officers on integrated rural development.
Human resources development
38. The secretariat's activities had the following
objectives: (a) to strengthen national capabilities in
promoting a coordinated intersectoral approach to human
resources development; (b) to monitor the human
resources development situation in the region; (c) to
facilitate the exchange among countries of human
resources development experience and information; and
(d) to promote cooperation between Governments, nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) and the private
sector in human resources development.
8
39. Action was taken to follow up the regional
meeting of the ESCAP Network of National Focal Points
for Human Resources Development, held in March 1992.
To provide Governments with a conceptual basis for
integrated human resources development policy-making
and planning, the secretariat published studies on critical
human resources development issues. In addition, it
issued newsletters and information publications to
promote the exchange of national experience in and
approaches to human resources development.
40. As mandated by the Commission in its resolution
48/6 of 23 April 1992, the secretariat developed a set of
guidelines to assist in the systematic monitoring and
evaluation of the implementation at the national level of
the Jakarta Plan of Action on Human Resources
Development in the ESCAP Region. The guidelines were
used by Governments in their preparation of inputs to the
secretariat's regional survey on the status of the
implementation of the Jakarta Plan of Action.
41. The administration of the ESCAP Human
Resources Development Award continued. The theme
selected for this year's Award was "Human resources
development aspects of drug abuse prevention". The
jury met in March 1993 to select the winner of the Award.
42. The secretariat initiated a training project to
promote the role of the private sector in human resources
development. The project aimed at involving the
business sector in skills training programmes to enhance
the productivity of the rural poor. Recognizing the useful
role that NGOs played in promoting human resources
development, the secretariat was preparing a study on
fiscal incentives to support the growth and viability of
NGOs in the region. The Seminar on the Participation of
Women in Politics as an Aspect of Human Resources
Development, held at Seoul in November 1992, was
attended by over 100 ministers, members of parliament,
academics and representatives of women's organizations.
The Seminar adopted the Seoul Statement on
Empowering Women in Politics, which focused on action
required to eliminate discrimination against women and
promote their participation in all aspects of political life.
Human settlements
43. In pursuance of resolution 46/2 of 13 June 1990
on urbanization strategies in the ESCAP region _
towards environmentally sound and sustainable
development and management of urban areas, the
secretariat continued to prepare the documentation for
the Ministerial Conference on Urbanization to be held
late in 1993.
44. The ESCAP Task Force on Urbanization
Strategies in Asia and the Pacific reviewed the first
drafts of the four main chapters of the report on the
state of urbanization in the region. Three workshops,
on urban economy and productivity, urban environment
and urban poverty, were convened in July 1992 to
discuss the four chapters and to identify the specific
issues of major concern on which documents would be
prepared for the consideration of the ministers. The
secretariat finalized the drafts of the report on the state of
urbanization and the issue papers and organized the
Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on Urbanization
in Asia and the Pacific, held at Colombo in March 1993.
Recognizing the need to coordinate with other relevant
organizations in carrying out activities for the Ministerial
Conference, ESCAP organized the Consultative Meeting
on Establishing the Inter-organizational Task Force on
Urbanization for Asia and the Pacific, held at Bangkok in
September 1992.
45. ESCAP, with the support of UNDP, organized the
Regional Network of Local Authorities for the
Management of Human Settlements (CITYNET), which
was currently an independent network of local authorities
and NGOs with its secretariat at Yokohama, Japan.
CITYNET was dedicated to promoting cooperation and
the exchange of know-how in areas of urban
management. ESCAP had secured funding support for
CITYNET through the UNDP urban management
programme for Asia and the Pacific, which included a
component to be executed by ESCAP under the project
on interregional participatory urban management.
46. In cooperation with the Municipal Corporation of
Bandung, and with funds provided by UNDP, ESCAP
organized the ESCAP/UNDP/CITYNET Regional
Seminar-cum-Study Visit on Solid Waste Management,
held at Bandung, Indonesia in July 1992. The Seminar
addressed issues on solid waste collection, treatment and
disposal, privatization and innovative approaches to
solid waste management.
47. A draft report on regional planning practices in
six Asian countries was prepared and reviewed by a
policy-level seminar. Missions were undertaken to Ho
Chi Minh City, Viet Nam and Ahmedabad, India to
discuss the modalities and applied methodological
approach for action research in regional planning. A
database on research and training activities in human
settlements was developed after a questionnaire on
research and training in human settlements showed that
there was considerable interest in establishing a network
of research and training institutions. The information
contained in the replies to the questionnaire was
analysed and compiled for publication.
48. In the field of housing finance and credit systems,
an advisory services mission was fielded to Vientiane at
the invitation of the Department of Housing and Town
Planning, Ministry of Communications, Transport, Ports
and Construction of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic. To exchange experience in cost reduction in
the production of building materials and construction
technology, the Regional Training Course on Applicable
Construction Technology and Material was held at
Chengdu, China in April 1992.
9
49. Publications and studies were issued on rural
centre planning, housing finance and innovative credit
systems, and the promotion of community-managed
development projects.
Population
50. The long-term objectives of the subprogramme on
population were to promote an integrated approach to
population planning within the overall framework of the
social and economic development of the region; to assist
in the promotion of cooperation and exchange of
experience among ESCAP members and associate
members in policy and programme formulation and
implementation; and to strengthen the capability of
Governments to acquire, analyse, disseminate and utilize
population data and information in support of policy
formulation and programme implementation.
51. A comparative study on the consequences of
population change in Asia provided planners, policy
makers and researchers in countries of the region with
increased knowledge for identifying specific approaches
to integrated policy formulation on population and
development.
52. Governments of countries in the region were
provided with technical assistance in analysing
urbanization trends in their countries in relation to socioeconomic
development policies, the impact of
urbanization and the role of women; in increasing their
awareness of the implications of population ageing for
socio-economic development plans; and in exchanging
experience and strategies on issues relating to ageing, by
organizing jointly with the Japanese Organization for
International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) a
workshop on population ageing.
53. Substantial results were achieved in influencing
ESCAP members and associate members to formulate
population policies and implement family planning
programmes. Research on family planning programmes
covered the interaction between clients and grass-roots
family planning personnel, the knowledge and attitudes
of family planning workers about contraceptives, the
impact and efficiency of family planning programmes and
the accessibility of contraceptive methods, integrated
approaches to the promotion of community participation
in family planning programmes, and improvement of
methodologies for monitoring and evaluating family
planning/maternal and child health programmes through
improved management information systems.
54. Advisory services, technical support, training
courses and workshops, information services and grants
were among the information activities enabling national
information centres in the Asia-Pacific Population
Information Network (Asia-Pacific POPIN) to process and
disseminate data and information more efficiently in
support of population policy formulation and programme
implementation. An active publications programme
produced periodicals to help in meeting the population
information needs of target audiences in the region.
55. TCDC activities were expanded to include training
workshops and arrangements for personnel exchange
among national population information centres.
Social development
56. The secretariat contributed to national efforts to
promote policies and programmes to stimulate greater
participation of all sections of society in the development
process, with special emphasis on vulnerable groups
such as youth, disabled persons and the elderly.
57. With respect to youth, the secretariat contributed
to the strengthening of national capabilities to address
youth problems and concerns. Meetings were convened
on critical issues pertaining to youth in the region,
including a Pacific subregional workshop on the training
of trainers in rural and urban youth work, a seminar on
the effects of new technologies on the working life of
young people, and the training of trainers in South Asia
in the promotion of functional literacy among girls and
young women.
58. With regard to disabled persons, the secretariat
was fostering regional support for the implementation of
Commission resolution 48/3 of 28 April 1992 on the Asian
and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002. An
intergovernmental meeting was held to launch the
Decade. The preparation of case-studies and technical
guidelines on the promotion of non-handicapping
environments for disabled and elderly persons was
initiated to improve their access to the built environment.
To contribute to the strengthening of the self-help
movements of disabled persons in the ESCAP region, the
secretariat published a directory of self-help
organizations of disabled persons and reports on a series
of national training workshops.
59. Concerning elderly persons, the secretariat held
an expert group meeting and prepared case-studies, with
a view to developing policy guidelines on lifelong
preparation for old age and on social security in old age.
60. With regard to drug abuse, the secretariat
contributed to the development of integrated communitybased
approaches to drug abuse demand reduction
through the collection of baseline information and the
organization of pilot planning and training workshops.
The secretariat collaborated with the United Nations
International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) to
extend community-based activities to the border area of
two countries in the region. Activities were initiated to
strengthen a regional network of national focal points on
10
drug abuse demand reduction. Advisory services were
rendered to assist Governments and NGOs in
strengthening drug abuse demand reduction activities.
61. In respect of social development policies and
planning, the secretariat contributed to national efforts to
formulate and implement national policies, plans and
programmes aimed at achieving balanced socio-economic
development in line with the framework of the Social
Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region Towards
the Year 2000 and Beyond. The secretariat held an expert
group meeting to examine and advise on the modalities
for the implementation of the Strategy. To enhance
collaboration and coordination among concerned United
Nations bodies and agencies, an inter-agency task force
on the implementation of the Social Development
Strategy was established by the secretariat and held its
first session. In addition, advisory services were
provided in the planning and delivery of social services,
the implementation of the Social Development Strategy,
and crime prevention and criminal justice. Activities to
improve the information base on social development
issues in the region included the preparation and
dissemination of a publication and newsletters on
selected issues in social development.
62. The secretariat initiated preparations for the
United Nations Asia and Pacific Preparatory Meeting for
the International Year of the Family, to be held at Beijing
in May 1993.
Women in development
63. The secretariat contributed to national efforts to
implement the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women, with specific reference to the
effective mobilization and integration of women in the
development process.
64. The secretariat undertook several activities to
promote the integration of women's concerns into
development planning, including the publication of
background studies on women's concerns and policy
recommendations relating to household operations, the
market system and the government sector. National
capabilities for integrating women's concerns into
development planning were strengthened through the
provision of advisory services to Governments and
NGOs.
65. The secretariat promoted awareness of women's
de jure and de facto legal status, as well as the need for
equal rights legislation and its implementation. A series
of national workshops on legal literacy were held,
followed by campaigns to improve the legal status of
women.
66. As part of its efforts to strengthen national,
subregional and regional women's information systems,
the secretariat organized the Pacific Subregional
Workshop on the Technical Processing of Information
Concerning Women in Development, held at Suva in
May 1992. To promote information exchange on the
status of women and the implementation of international
conventions, strategies and instruments for the
advancement of women, the secretariat issued
newsletters and a directory. Advisory services were
provided to assist national women's information centres
in collecting, analysing, processing and disseminating
information on women in development.
67. In preparation for the Second Asian and Pacific
Ministerial Conference on Women in Development, to be
held in Indonesia in May 1994, the secretariat initiated a
number of activities, including a review of the
implementation in the ESCAP region of the Nairobi
Forward-looking Strategies.
68. To enhance the participation of women in the
development process in the region, the secretariat
continued efforts to integrate women's concerns into all
activities of the ESCAP secretariat.
Committee on Transport and Communications
Transport and communications
69. The major achievement of the subprogramme was
the formulation of the regional action programme for
phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, which
was endorsed by the Meeting of Ministers Responsible
for Transport and Communications, held at Bangkok in
June 1992. The regional action programme was developed
jointly by ESCAP and nine international and
intergovernmental organizations in response to the needs
of national Governments in the region. It will serve as the
basis for formulating programmes of work on transport
and communications for the next two bienniums.
70. The secretariat continued efforts to develop
computer models and manuals for strengthening national
capabilities in transport research and planning, with
particular focus on shipping and ports. The maritime
policy planning model (MPPM), an extension of the
regional maritime strategy study (RMSS), consisted of
software forecasting models covering the areas of trade,
port assignment, liner shipping and port capacity. The
secretariat rendered assistance to a number of national
ports in the region in the implementation and validation
of the port capacity models. At the regional level, the
models were used extensively by the secretariat in
research for the publication Prospects for Container
Shipping and Port Development (ASEAN Subregion).
71. To develop and strengthen intraregional and
interregional transport and communications linkages, in
11
particular with regard to land transport in Asia, the
secretariat intensified its efforts to implement the
integrated project on Asian land transport infrastructure
development, comprising the Asian Highway, the Trans-
Asian Railway and the facilitation of land transport
projects. It fielded a number of route survey missions to
selected countries in the region and fact-finding missions
to the newly independent Asian republics, and it
provided advisory services on transit transport
facilitation to some of the land-locked countries.
72. In support of environmental development, the
secretariat issued two publications relating to the
environmental impact of dredging and port development.
It successfully completed the implementation, in Karachi,
Pakistan, of a five-year demonstration project on
utilization of compressed natural gas in urban transport
through the conversion of diesel buses.
73. The secretariat continued its assistance in
national capacity-building for multimodal transport. It
introduced national trainers to updated training manuals
and teaching-aid materials and provided them with
training to enable them to organize future national
workshops.
74. Assistance continued to be provided in the
development and improvement of information and
statistical systems on inland water transport and the
upgrading of dredging capabilities.
International trade and development finance
Tourism
75. The secretariat continued to assist developing
countries by undertaking policy-oriented studies on
ways to derive greater socio-economic benefit from the
planned and systematic development of tourism. It made
special efforts to improve policies for tourism
development, taking into consideration the socioeconomic
and environmental impact of tourism. Several
studies were completed on the impact of tourism on the
national economy and the environment. A seminar
designed to address tourism development issues in the
least developed countries contributed to the
identification of major impediments to the sustainable
development of tourism. An expert group meeting on
environmental management of coastal tourism
development was expected to contribute to the
strengthening of the capability of Asian and Pacific
countries to formulate integrated tourism development
policies, with due regard to the environmental impact of
tourism. Other important activities included advisory
services on tourism promotion and the dissemination of
technical information and data on tourism development
through the ESCAP Tourism Review and the ESCAP
Tourism Newsletter.
Committee on Statistics
Statistics
76. In the statistics subprogramme the focus of
activities continued to be on (a) statistical development;
(b) the collection and dissemination of statistical
information relating to the countries of the region; and (c)
government computerization.
77. In the area of statistical development, the
secretariat initiated a project on the development of
environment statistics, and its activities in support of the
International Comparison Programme (ICP) gained
momentum. Technical assistance in strengthening
statistical capability was provided to developing
countries through advisory services and technical
meetings.
78. A total of 17 advisory missions were fielded to
developing countries of the region on various aspects of
national accounts, the development of specifications for
phase VI of ICP, surveys of business and services,
demographic surveys, utilization of statistical software
packages, and planning, processing and analysing
population censuses and surveys. However, the delivery
of advisory services declined sharply as compared with
past years. In the area of demographic statistics,
advisory services were affected by the establishment of
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country
Support Teams (CSTs) at the subregional level. As of
January 1993, the three advisory posts attached to the
subprogramme and funded by UNFPA were transferred
to CSTs. In addition the funding of the regional adviser
on energy statistics lapsed and the services of an adviser
on household surveys were unavailable.
79. Three technical meetings were held, covering the
regional specifications for phase VI of ICP, estimating
procedures and techniques as a means of improving the
timeliness of data, and environment statistics. The
secretariat's joint activities with the Statistical Institute
for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) were affected by
uncertainties with regard to the phase VI extension of the
Institute. A few joint training courses planned for 1992
did not take place. However, as the project document for
phase VI was agreed late in 1992, SIAP activities were
expected to resume in 1993.
80. The secretariat continued to gather demographic,
social, economic and other statistics in the countries of
the region and to issue regular statistical publications. It
was planning to expand its publications to include
coverage of the six Asian republics that had recently
become members of the Commission. It would also
improve the scope, content and presentation of its
publications. In addition, the secretariat continued to
develop computerized databases, although such work
was proceeding at a slower pace owing to personnel and
resource constraints.
12
81. The lack of extrabudgetary funds hindered in
particular the progress of the work on government
computerization and utilization of information technology
in the public sector. However, efforts continued to be
made to formulate project proposals on various aspects
of government information systems. The first issue of
the semi-annual Government Computerization
Newsletter was released.
82. Following the restructuring of the intergovernmental
subsidiary bodies, the Committee on
Statistics held its eighth session at Bangkok in November
1992. Statisticians of the region exchanged views and
provided guidance to the secretariat on its future
activities, especially on the role of the statistics
subprogramme in supporting the work of the secretariat's
thematic committees and special bodies.
Special Body on Least Developed and
Land-locked Developing Countries
Special programmes for the least developed, land-locked
and island developing countries
83. In support of the least developed countries, the
secretariat reviewed the progress in the implementation
of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed
Countries for the 1990s. In February 1993, the Special
Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing
Countries held its first session, at which it reviewed
development trends, issues and policies in respect of the
least developed countries, assessed international
cooperative efforts in support of their development, and
considered ESCAP activities and the proposed
programme of work to meet their special needs. The
Meeting expressed concern over the failure to achieve
the main targets of the Substantial New Programme of
Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries
and urged that greater effort be made to attain the aims of
the Programme of Action for the 1990s. It welcomed the
economic and political reforms undertaken in the least
developed countries and strongly endorsed the
initiatives taken towards economic and technical
cooperation among developing countries (ECDC/TCDC)
in the region to promote the development of least
developed countries. The proposed programme of work
for the biennium 1994-1995 was also endorsed.
Special Body on Pacific Island
Developing Countries
Special programme for the least developed, land-locked
and island developing countries
84. The secretariat analysed the economic
performance and prospects of the island developing
countries, and provided training in project preparation
and appraisal techniques. In February 1993 the Special
Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries held its
first session, at which it reviewed development trends
and policies, the Commission's activities and the
proposed programme of work in the Pacific. It also took
up the question of the substantive contribution from the
ESCAP region to the Global Conference on the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States to be held in April 1994. The Special Body noted
the wide range of development constraints faced by the
island economies and the relatively unfavourable
patterns of economic performance in a large number of
those economies. It emphasized the importance of
international trade and investment for the island
economies and recommended the strengthening of
finance, investment and trade links between them and the
more dynamic economies in the ESCAP region. The
Special Body expressed concern over the marked decline
in the Commission's activities in the Pacific. It, however,
expressed appreciation for the technical assistance
activities of the ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre
(ESCAP/POC). The Special Body endorsed the proposed
programme of work for the biennium 1994-1995.
B. Other activities
Economic and technical cooperation among
developing countries
85. The secretariat increased its efforts to promote
ECDC/TCDC, implementing over 80 activities. Emphasis
was on activities of particular benefit to the least
developed, land-locked and island developing countries.
With the generous support of the Governments of
China, the Netherlands, Norway and the Republic of
Korea to the ESCAP TCDC supplementary fund, the
secretariat supported the international cost component of
33 operational TCDC activities, 10 of which were
specifically for the benefit of the least developed, landlocked
and island developing countries, which facilitated
greater participation of those countries in the TCDC
activities supported by the secretariat, member
Governments and NGOs. Operational TCDC activity
comprised 12 study tours in specific areas of interest to
members and associate members, participation in 18
workshops and seminars and visits to and discussion of
three demonstration projects to promote further
cooperation, including possible joint ventures on specific
products, among the participating developing member
countries. The fields of interest were agriculture
(including fisheries, irrigation, agricultural extension and
rural industrialization), natural resources development,
industry and human settlements, the environment,
population, social development (youth, the disabled and
women in development), and science and technology.
Implementation of the operational TCDC activities
enhanced the awareness of the problems faced by the
members and associate members in the region, and the
sharing of knowledge and experience therefrom benefited
the participating countries.
13
Energy
86. Staff of the secretariat gave lectures or
presentations at a number of meetings organized by
agencies and institutions, including the East-West
Center, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
the Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for
Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas (CCOP), the
Oil and Gas Technology Development Centre of
Indonesia (LEMIGAS), the International Petroleum
Industry Environment and Conservation Association, the
Indonesian Institute of Energy Economics, and the Asian
and Pacific Energy Planning Network (APENPLAN).
Statistics
87. The transfer of statistical methodology and
technical information was facilitated through TCDC. The
secretariat organized bilateral visits by officials from
countries and areas participating in ICP, including
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Nepal,
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the
Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and
Viet Nam. Staff of the secretariat and the United Nations
Statistical Division participated in some of the bilateral
visits.
88. Study tours were organized for officials of the
State Statistical Bureau of China to visit the Department
of Energy Affairs of Thailand, and for officials from
Maldives to visit ESCAP.
C. Relations with other United
Nations programmes
89. The secretariat maintained close cooperation with
the United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Development, FAO and the World Health Organization
(WHO) in the preparation of the Economic and Social
Survey of Asia and the Pacific 1992. In cooperation with
the Department of Economic and Social Development, it
undertook macroeconomic modelling and projection
activities under the LINK project. It also continued
fruitful collaboration with the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in reviewing the
progress in the implementation of the Programme of
Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s
and planning joint activities to assist the least developed
countries of the ESCAP region. ESCAP/POC, the Forum
Secretariat and the South Pacific Commission (SPC)
participated actively in secretariat activities in support of
the Pacific island developing countries. The secretariat
also maintained close collaboration with UNDP in
extending assistance to least developed countries.
90. Working closely with the United Nations Centre
for Science and Technology for Development (later
subsumed under the Department of Economic and Social
Development), the secretariat contributed to a series of
seminars on clean coal technology and channelled the
recommendations of the last of those seminars, held at
Berlin in May 1992, to the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development. It participated in Global
Energy Efficiency 21, a project initiated by ECE. It was
collaborating with UNIDO in implementing regional
activities to promote mini/micro hydropower. It had
worked with the World Bank, ADB and the Forum
Secretariat to produce, under the UNDP-funded Pacific
Energy Development Programme (PEDP), a 13-volume
series on Pacific regional energy assessment, and was
currently collaborating in activities with the Pacific Power
Association, the self-financing successor to PEDP. In
addition, the secretariat cooperated with IAEA by giving
lectures at the Regional Training Course on Electric
Power System Expansion Planning, held at Lahore,
Pakistan, in May 1992, and with the Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and ECE by
providing input to the Interregional Symposium on Gas
Development and Market Prospects by the Year 2000,
held at Damascus in June 1992.
91. The secretariat strengthened coordination with
other bodies, programmes and specialized agencies of the
United Nations system by convening two sessions of the
Inter-agency Committee on Environment and
Development. At the first session, held at Bangkok in
September 1992, discussions centred on the regional
implications of the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development. The second, held at
Manila in March 1993, discussed the need for information
networking, the monitoring of environmentally sound
and sustainable development trends, human resources
development and the development of environmentally
sound and sustainable development indicators to assess
the progress in implementing Agenda 21. Through
project development, the secretariat maintained strong
ties with UNDP, the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), UNFPA, the International Labour
Organisation (ILO), FAO, WHO, the World Bank, UNIDO
and ADB, as well as subregional organizations
concerned with the environment.
92. In the mineral sector, coordination and liaison
activities were continued with the Department of
Economic and Social Development, the United Nations
Revolving Fund for Natural Resources Exploration,
UNDP, CCOP, the South Pacific Applied Geoscience
Commission (SOPAC), Indian Ocean Marine Affairs
Cooperation (IOMAC), and Southeast Asia Tin
Research and Development Centre (SEATRADC)
through the execution of relevant regional UNDP projects
in support of intergovernmental organizations,
attendance at annual meetings, presentation of keynote
papers at interregional seminars, assistance in the
formulation of work plans, programmes and regional
14
projects, regular consultations on the exploration of
mineral deposits in selected countries in the region and
the formulation of joint cooperative programmes.
93. In the field of water resources development,
coordination with other United Nations programmes was
carried out at the regional level through the Interagency
Task Force on Water for Asia and the Pacific. ESCAP
served as the secretariat of the Task Force and
maintained liaison on behalf of the Task Force with the
Administrative Committee on Coordination
Intersecretariat Group for Water Resources. As a result,
most of the activities in the field of water resources were
carried out in collaboration with other United Nations
bodies and specialized agencies. Thus ESCAP organized
an interregional workshop on the training modules on
women, water supply and sanitation in cooperation with
the Department of Economic and Social Development and
the International Research and Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) and with
participation of the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), the United Nations Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM), FAO and WHO. The regional
workshop on computer applications for groundwater
assessment and management was organized by ESCAP
with support from the Department of Economic and
Social Development. The secretariat maintained close
contact and cooperation with the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) and the Office of the United
Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO), in
providing substantive support to the work programmes
and annual sessions of the Typhoon Committee and the
Panel on Tropical Cyclones.
94. With regard to remote sensing and geographic
information systems (GIS), the secretariat worked closely
with the Department of Economic and Social
Development, the United Nations Outer Space Affairs
Division, the United Nations Centre for Regional
Development (UNCRD), UNDP, FAO and ADB. RRSP
was completed and a project on GIS/remote sensing
formulated for the fifth UNDP inter-country programme
cycle. The secretariat submitted information on ESCAP
activities in space applications for incorporation in the
Secretary-General's report on the coordination of outer
space activities within the United Nations system, which
was submitted to the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer
Space Activities, held in Paris in October 1992. The
secretariat worked closely with the Department of
Economic and Social Development and FAO, the
associate executing agencies for RRSP. UNCRD was a
joint sponsor with ESCAP of the International Space
Year: Regional Seminar on Remote Sensing Applications
to Tropical Ecosystem Management, held at Khao Yai,
Thailand, in June 1992. ESCAP and ADB were joint
sponsors of the Seminar on Remote Sensing and GIS
Applications to Development, held at Manila in
December 1992.
95. The secretariat, in association with ILO and
UNESCO, implemented a UNDP-funded project to
promote the implementation of the Jakarta Plan of Action
on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP
Region.
96. In the area of industrial development, the
secretariat maintained close cooperation with UNDP, ILO,
the World Bank, UNIDO and ADB. Those organizations
provided input for major studies undertaken by the
secretariat and participated actively in ESCAP-sponsored
expert group meetings, training and workshops. ESCAP
provided input to UNIDO-sponsored studies.
Consultations were held on the joint execution of
projects, especially on human resources development,
investment promotion and industrial revitalization,
diversification and restructuring. Joint activities were
organized with the World Assembly of Small and
Medium Enterprises (WASME). With regard to the
transfer of technology to least developed countries,
environmentally sound technology assessment,
biotechnology, technical consultancy services and
patent laws, the secretariat worked closely together with
the United Nations Centre on Transnational
Corporations, the United Nations Centre for Science and
Technology for Development, the International Trade
Centre UNCTAD/GATT, UNCTAD, the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and UNIDO.
97. In the international trade and tourism sector, the
secretariat collaborated with UNDP, UNCTAD and ITC
in the conceptualization of the regional programme on
trade under the UNDP fifth intercountry programme
cycle. In addition, the secretariat continued to cooperate
with UNCTAD and GATT in conducting training
programmes to promote trade expansion and trade
facilitation, and the International Trade Centre
UNCTAD/GATT in the implementation of activities for
trade promo tion, including training and trade information.
98. With regard to raw materials and commodities, the
secretariat maintained close working relations with the
International Trade Centre UNCTAD/GATT, FAO,
UNIDO, the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community
(APCC), the International Jute Organization (IJO), the
International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO), the
International Pepper Community (IPC), the International
Silk Association (ISA) and the International Tropical
Timber Organization (ITTO). In addition, the secretariat
cooperated with UNDP in the execution of a programme
on economic restructuring and international trade in the
area of mineral commodities, as well as intraregional trade
prospects and business opportunities in Asia and the
Pacific in the 1990s.
99. In the field of tourism, the secretariat maintained
close contact and cooperation with ILO, the World
Tourism Organization (WTO), ADB, the Pacific Asia
Travel Association (PATA), the Tourism Council of the
South Pacific and the South Pacific Regional
Environment Programme (SPREP).
15
100. Almost all activities of the population programme
were carried out with extrabudgetary support from
UNFPA. The secretariat also cooperated with the
Population Division of the Department of Economic and
Social Development. The secretariat coordinated Asia-
Pacific POPIN and collaborated closely with global
POPIN at United Nations Headquarters. It was also a
member of the Ad Hoc Inter-agency Working Group on
Demographic Estimates and Projections.
101. Inter-agency cooperation was maintained with the
population programmes of ILO, FAO, UNESCO and
WHO. The secretariat also cooperated with the regional
offices of United Nations specialized agencies located at
Bangkok.
102. In the field of social development, close contact
and cooperation were maintained with other United
Nations bodies and specialized agencies. In the areas of
social development planning, youth, disabled persons,
the elderly and drug abuse control, close cooperation
and coordination continued with the Department of
Economic and Social Development, the United Nations
Office at Vienna, the United Nations Asia and Far East
Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of
Offenders (UNAFEI), UNDCP, UNICEF, UNDP, UNEP,
the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
(UNCHS), ILO, FAO, UNESCO and WHO.
103. In the field of statistics, the secretariat maintained
close working relations with the United Nations
Statistical Division, UNICEF, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNFPA,
ILO, FAO, UNESCO, the World Bank, IMF, WTO and
ADB. The secretariat continued to participate in the
revision of the United Nations System of National
Accounts (SNA) jointly carried out by various United
Nations agencies, the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Statistical
Office of the European Communities (EUROSTAT).
Cooperation was also maintained with intergovernmental
organizations, such as SPC, various technical assistance
agencies outside the United Nations, such as the United
States Bureau of the Census and the Overseas
Development Administration of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and NGOs and
professional and academic institutions, such as the
International Statistical Institute, the East-West Center,
and the International Institute for Vital Registration and
Statistics. Secretariat staff served as resource persons
for various meetings and other group activities convened
by some of these organizations.
104. The Inter-agency Steering Committee on Phase II
(1992-1996) of the Transport and Communications
Decade for Asia and the Pacific was established by the
Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport and
Communications, held at Bangkok in June 1992. Under
the lead role of the secretariat, 14 international and
intergovernmental organizations concerned with the
development of transport and communications in the
region participated in the promotion of inter-agency
cooperation for the implementation of the regional action
programme for phase II of the Decade. In addition to
ESCAP, the members were UNCTAD, UNEP, ILO, the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the
World Bank, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the
International Maritime Organization (IMO), UNIDO, the
ASEAN Committee on Transportation and
Communications (COTAC), ADB, the Asia-Pacific
Telecommunity (APT), the Asian Pacific Postal Union
(APPU) and the Forum Secretariat. The secretariat,
together with UNCTAD, ILO, ICAO, the World Bank,
UPU, ITU, IMO and APT, developed a proposal for an
inter-agency transport and communications programme
for Asia and the Pacific, as a subset of the regional action
programme, for consideration for funding under the
UNDP fifth intercountry programme cycle. At the project
level, cooperation was maintained with UNCTAD in
promoting multimodal transport in the region. The
secretariat also collaborated with IMO in the
implementation of a project on the environmental impact
of port development. Close contacts were maintained
with ESCWA in relation to the Decade, and with ECE in
the implementation of the Asian land transport
infrastructure development.
105. Several other organizations had major urbanrelated
programmes in the region, such as the UNDPfunded
and UNCHS-executed urban management
programme, the UNDP-funded and World Bank-executed
metropolitan environment improvement programme, the
UNDP-funded Asia-Pacific 2000, and programmes
executed by other multilateral and bilateral organizations
and NGOs. To coordinate the activities to be undertaken
following the Ministerial Conference on Urbanization
with those that were ongoing, and to encourage joint
activities and identify areas in which the scarce available
resources could be utilized most effectively, the
secretariat organized the Consultative Meeting on
Establishing an Inter-organizational Task Force on
Urbanization for Asia and the Pacific, held at Bangkok in
September 1992. The Meeting decided to name the task
force the Inter-organizational Task Force on the
Ministerial Conference on Urbanization and its Follow-up
Activities. The role of the Task Force will be to advise
ESCAP on regional activities in urban development and
management. It will meet once every six months, or more
frequently if required.
106. With regard to women in development, close
contact and cooperation were maintained with other
United Nations bodies and specialized agencies. Two
inter-agency meetings were held to ensure effective
collaboration in the preparations for the Second Asian
and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in
Development, to be held in June 1994.
16
Annex
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS, MEETINGS AND
ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
A. List of publications
Agricultural and rural development
Agricultural Success Cases for Rural Poverty
Alleviation (ST/ESCAP/1135)
Agro-chemicals News in Brief, vol. XV, Nos. 2-4;
special issues, October and December 1992
Agro-pesticides: Properties and Functions in
Integrated Crop Protection (ST/ESCAP/975)
Calendar of Meetings on Agro-chemicals, vol. 11,
Nos. 3 and 4; vol. 12, Nos. 1 and 2
Compendium of United Nations Programmes on
Rural Poverty Alleviation (ST/ESCAP/1199)
FADINAP/ARSAP Publications and Paper 1990-
1991 (ST/ESCAP/1140)
FADINAP/ARSAP-NFIS Thesaurus of Fertilizerrelated
Terminology, 3rd ed. (ST/ESCAP/1147)
Fertilizer Trade Information Monthly Bulletin, April-
December 1992; January-March 1993
Poverty Alleviation Initiatives, vol. 2, No.1
RISS (Regional Information Support Service)
(monthly), vol. 16, Nos. 5-12; vol. 17, No. 1
Supply, Marketing, Distribution and Use of Fertilizer
in Indonesia (ST/ESCAP/1196)
Supply, Marketing, Distribution and Use of Fertilizer
in the Philippines (ST/ESCAP/1150)
Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategies in
the Pacific Island Least Developed Countries:
Issues and Policy Options (ST/ESCAP/1208)
Training Manual on Farm Broadcasting (Khmerlanguage
version) (AD/TMFB)
Development issues and policies
Development Papers, No. 12, Challenges and
Opportunities of Restructuring the Developing
ESCAP Economies in the 1990s, with Special
Reference to Regional Economic Cooperation
(ST/ESCAP/1099)
Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific
1992 (ST/ESCAP/1243/Part I)
Economic Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific, vol. LI,
No. 1/2, June/December 1990 (ST/ESCAP/1053); vol.
XLII, No. 1/2 (ST/ESCAP/1109)
Energy
A Framework for Building Long-term Economic
Scenarios (ST/ESCAP/1227)
Economic Load Dispatch and Load Management
Technology in the Asian Context (ST/ESCAP/1132)
ESCAP Energy News, vol. IX, No. 1
Sectoral Energy Demand in the Lao People's
Democratic Republic (ST/ESCAP/1204)
Sectoral Energy Demand in Myanmar (ST/ESCAP/
1205)
Sectoral Energy Demand in the Philippines
(ST/ESCAP/1206)
Sectoral Energy Demand in Sri Lanka (ST/ESCAP/
1193)
Sectoral Energy Demand in Viet Nam (ST/ESCAP/
1207)
Sectoral Energy Demand Studies in Asia: Synthesis
Report (ST/ESCAP/1235)
Environment
A Preliminary Study on Environmental Management
of Tourism Development in the ESCAP Region
(ST/ESCAP/1048)
Environmental Impact Assessment: Guidelines for
Mining Development (ST/ESCAP/1038)
Environmental News Briefing: A Selection from the
Region's Press (monthly), vol. 6, Nos. 3-12; vol. 7, Nos. 1
and 2
ESCAP Environment News (quarterly), vol. 9, Nos. 3
and 4; vol. 10, Nos. 1 and 2
Human resources development
ESCAP HRD Newsletter, No. 4
Human Resources Development: Intersectoral
Coordination and Other Issues (ST/ESCAP/1156)
Seoul Statement on Empowering Women in Politics
(ST/ESCAP/1230)
Socio-cultural Impact of Human Resources
Development (ST/ESCAP/1169)
Human settlements
Community-based Settlement Improvement and
Management: A Case-Study of the Urban Housing
Subprogramme of the Million Houses Programme of
Sri Lanka (ST/ESCAP/1112)
17
Directory of Research and Training Institutes in the
Field of Human Settlements (ST/ESCAP/1248)
Guidelines on Community-based Housing Finance
and Innovative Credit Systems for Low-income
Households (ST/ESCAP/1003)
Innovative Approaches to Municipal Environmental
Management (ST/ESCAP/1213)
Network of Research and Training Institutes in the
Field of Human Settlements (ST/ESCAP/1258)
Industrial and technological development
Energy Conservation in the Commercial and
Domestic Sub-sectors (ST/ESCAP/1148)
Legal Aspects of Transfer of New and Emerging
Technologies (Biotechnology) (ST/ESCAP/1111)
Proceedings of the Meeting of Ministers of Industry
and Technology, 23-29 June 1992 (ST/ESCAP/ 1209)
Promoting International Competitiveness and
Efficient Resource Utilization in Manufacturing: Sri
Lanka (ST/ESCAP/1136)
Seoul Plan of Action for Promoting Industrial
Restructuring in Asia and the Pacific
(ST/ESCAP/1182)
Strategies for the Technological Transformation of
Selected Asian and Pacific Economies through
Regional Cooperation (Report of the Consultative
Expert Group Meeting on the Application and
Extension of the Technology Atlas) (ST/ESCAP/
1149)
Training Manual on Solar Photovoltaic Project
Development (ST/ESCAP/1221)
International trade and development finance
(excluding tourism)
Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific
1992 (ST/ESCAP/1243/Part II)
Empirical Study of Trade and Investment within the
Asia-Pacific Region (ST/ESCAP/1184)
Expansion of Trade and Investment among ESCAP
Developing Countries within a Regional
Framework (ST/ESCAP/1185)
Fostering Regional Monetary Cooperation: the
Asian Reserve Bank (ST/ESCAP/1179)
GSP Graduation, International Trade, and
Investment in the Asia and Pacific Region
(ST/ESCAP/1146)
Mineral Industry Taxation Policies for Asia and the
Pacific (ST/ESCAP/1200)
Mineral Investment Conditions in Selected Countries
of the Asia-Pacific Region (ST/ESCAP/1197)
Mineral Resources Development and the
Environment (ST/ESCAP/1192)
Prices of Selected Asia/Pacific Products (monthly),
March-December 1992, January 1993
Promotion of International Competitiveness and
Export of Manufactured Goods in Asian Countries:
A Comparative Study (ST/ESCAP/1224)
The Contribution of Transnational Mining
Corporations to the Asia-Pacific Region
(ST/ESCAP/1188)
"TIS QUICK", 92-6 to 92-10
TISNET Trade Information Sheet (fortnightly), Nos.
225-247
Trade Information Sources Data Bank and Index, No.
121
Trade Information Sources Directory, No. 41
Traders' Manual for Asia and the Pacific: New
Zealand (ST/ESCAP/1216)
Traders' Manual for Asia and the Pacific: Papua
New Guinea (ST/ESCAP/1167)
United States Scheme under the GSP and its
Relevance for the Economies in the Asia and Pacific
Region (ST/ESCAP/1186)
International trade and development finance
(tourism only)
ESCAP Tourism Newsletter, No. 1
ESCAP Tourism Review, No. 8, Investment and
Economic Cooperation in the Tourism Sector in
Developing Asian Countries (ST/ESCAP/1145)
Natural resources (including marine affairs)
Assessment of Water Resources and Water Demand by
User Sector in Thailand (ST/ESCAP/1068)
Asian-Pacific Remote Sensing Journal, vol. 5, Nos. 1
and 2
Atlas of Mineral Resources of the ESCAP Region, vol.
8, Bhutan (ST/ESCAP/1056)
Epithermal Gold in Asia and the Pacific, Mineral
Concentrations and Hydrocarbon Accumulations in
the ESCAP Region, vol. 6 (ST/ESCAP/1023)
Forecasting Preparedness and Other Operational
Measures for Water-related Natural Disaster
Reduction in Asia and the Pacific, Water Resources
Series No. 69 (ST/ESCAP/SER.F/69)
Groundwater Quality and Monitoring in Asia and
the Pacific, Water Resources Series No. 70
(ST/ESCAP/SER.F/70)
18
Natural Disaster Reduction in Asia and the Pacific:
Launching the International Decade for Natural
Disaster Reduction (ST/ESCAP/1066)
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
for Development: Proceedings of the Seminar, 2-4
December 1992 (ST/ESCAP/1241)
Remote Sensing for Tropical Ecosystem Management:
Proceedings of the Regional Seminar, Khao Yai,
Thailand, 14-20 June 1992 (ST/ESCAP/1190)
Remote Sensing Newsletter, vol. 10, Nos. 1-3
Remote Sensing to Combat Natural Disasters: Report
of the United Nations/ESCAP/UNDRO Workshop on
the Application of Space Techniques to Combat
Natural Disasters (ST/ESCAP/1141)
Report of the Regional Seminar on the Application of
Remote Sensing Techniques to Land-use Planning
and Environmental Surveying (ST/ESCAP/1123)
Review of Mineral Exploration and Development in
Selected Countries of the Asia and Pacific Region,
1988-1990 (ST/ESCAP/1118)
Roster of Remote Sensing Scientists and Specialists in
the ESCAP Region, 2nd ed., Supplement (ST/
ESCAP/1130)
Study on Benefits to be Obtained from Rational
Coastal Resource Management: Geoscientific
Applications (ST/ESCAP/1137)
The Law of the Sea in the South Pacific: A Study on
the Integration of Marine Affairs Activities within
Government Concerns (ST/ESCAP/1097)
Towards an Environmentally Sound and Sustainable
Development of Water Resources in Asia and the
Pacific, Water Resources Series No. 71 (ST/
ESCAP/SER.F/71)
Water Resources Journal, June 1991
(ST/ESCAP/SER.C/169); September 1991
(ST/ESCAP/SER.C/ 170); December 1991
(ST/ESCAP/SER.C/171)
Wind-powered Water Pumping in Asia and the Pacific
(ST/ESCAP/1098)
Population
ESCAP Population Data Sheet (1992 and 1993)
Asia-Pacific POPIN Bulletin, vol. 4, Nos. 1-4
Asia-Pacific Population Journal, vol. 7, No. 1
(ST/ESCAP/1158); No. 2 (ST/ESCAP/1178); No. 3
(ST/ESCAP/1194); No. 4 (ST/ESCAP/1215); vol. 8,
No. 1 (ST/ESCAP/1261)
Asian Population Studies Series: No. 109, Population
Ageing: Review of National Policies and
Programmes in Asia and the Pacific (ST/ESCAP/
1143); No. 111, Migration and Urbanization in Asia
and the Pacific (ST/ESCAP/1153); No. 112, Report of
the Pre-conference Seminar on Planning and
Implementation of Effective Family Planning/
Family Health and Welfare Programmes: Some
Lessons from the Asia and Pacific Region (17-21
March 1992, Beijing) (ST/ESCAP/1166); No. 114,
Report of the Pre-conference Seminar on Migration
and Urbanization: Interrelationships with Socioeconomic
Development and Evolving Policy Issues
(ST/ESCAP/1133); Family Planning Programmes in
Asia and the Pacific: Implications for the 1990s
(ST/ESCAP/1189)
Bali Declaration on Population and Sustainable
Development (ST/ESCAP/1195)
Catalogue of ESCAP Population Publications, 1992
(ST/ESCAP/1203)
Population Headliners, Nos. 206-217
Population Research Leads, Nos. 40-42
Report of the Asia-Pacific POPIN TCDC
Workshop/Study Tour, Beijing, 8-16 July 1991
(ST/ESCAP/1160)
Report of the Fourth Asian and Pacific Population
Conference (ST/ESCAP/1198)
Social development
Self-help Organizations of Disabled Persons: Reports
of Three Pilot National Training Workshops
(ST/ESCAP/1159)
Social Development Newsletter, Nos. 26 and 28
Towards a Social Development Strategy for the
ESCAP Region (ST/ESCAP/1170)
Statistics
Foreign Trade Statistics for Asia and the Pacific,
1985-1989 (ST/ESCAP/1075)
Government Computerization Newsletter, Nos. 1 and
2
Statistical Indicators for Asia and the Pacific
(quarterly), vol. XXII, No. 1 (ST/ESCAP/1139); No. 2
(ST/ESCAP/1163); vol. XXII, No. 3 (ST/
ESCAP/1183); vol. XXII, No. 4 (ST/ESCAP/1222)
Statistical Newsletter, Nos. 84-87
Transport and communications
Decade News, Nos. 1 and 2
ESCAP/UNDP Maritime Policy Planning
Model:Prospects for Container Shipping and Port
Development (ASEAN subregion) (ST/ESCAP/ 1210)
19
ESCAP/UNDP Transport Financial/Economic
Planning Model, vol. 1, Container Terminal
Module, 2nd ed.; vol. 3, Inland Container Depots
Module with Transport Options Cost Comparisons
(ST/ESCAP/1240); vol. 4, Rail Line Rehabilitation,
Modernization and Construction Module (ST/
ESCAP/1129)
Guidelines for Maritime Industry Labour Legislation
(ST/ESCAP/1069)
Guidelines for the Determination of Standard High
and Low Water Levels (ST/ESCAP/1187)
Proceedings of the Regional Seminar on Dredging-
Related Hydrographic Surveying, 30 October-3
November 1989, Bangkok (ST/ESCAP/1219)
Proceedings of the Seminar on Rehabilitation and
Relocation of Ports, 16-20 September 1992 (ST/
ESCAP/1174)
Railway Statistics and Information for Asia and the
Pacific, 1987, vol. 2 (ST/ESCAP/919)
Report of the ESCAP/UNCTAD Workshops on
Multimodal Transport, Lahore, Pakistan, 5-9 May
1990; Calcutta, India, 14-18 May 1990 (ST/
ESCAP/1164)
Report of the Seminar-cum-Study Tour on
Maintenance of Locomotives and Rolling Stock,
Beijing, China, 8-17 October 1991 (ST/ESCAP/
1138)
Report of the Seminar on Energy Conservation and
Substitution in the Transport Sector (ST/ESCAP/
1142)
Report on Computerized Wagon Control System
(ST/ESCAP/1122)
Report on the Fourth Regional Seminar on Maritime
Legislation, Pattaya, Thailand, 16-19 December
1991: Rights and Responsibilities of Shippers and
Carriers in the Transport of Goods by Sea
(ST/ESCAP/1117)
Road Bridge Maintenance: Proceedings of the
Seminar-cum-Study Tour, Japan, 24 October-2
November 1990 (ST/ESCAP/1157)
Study on the Determination of Technical Standards
for Weights, Dimensions and Safety Devices for
Rural Road Transport (ST/ESCAP/1173)
The Environmental Impact of Dredging: Study of
Problems and Solutions, vol. I (ST/ESCAP/1151)
Transport and Communications Bulletin, No. 62
(ST/ESCAP/SER.E/62)
Women in development
Integration of Women's Concerns into Development
Planning in Asia and the Pacific (ST/ESCAP/1233)
WINAP Newsletter, Nos. 10 and 11
B. List of meetings
Agricultural and rural development
Expert Group Meeting on a Centre on Rural
Enterprises, Beijing, 13-15 May 1992
Ninth Meeting of the CIRDAP Technical Committee,
Dhaka, 1 and 2 July 1992
National Fertilizer Sector Development in the Lao
People's Democratic Republic, Lao People's
Democratic Republic, 20-24 July 1992
Meeting of the Interagency Task Force on Integrated
Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific,
Bangkok, 26 August 1992
FADINAP Regional Seminar on Fertilization and the
Environment, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 7-11 September
1992
FADINAP Regional Training Course on NPK
Production, Cha-am, Thailand, 1-6 November 1992
FADINAP/NFIS Regional Training Workshop on
Information Services of a National Participating
Centre, New Delhi, 9-13 November 1992
IFA/FADINAP Regional Fertilizer Conference for Asia
and the Pacific, Bali, Indonesia, 29 November-3
December 1992
Technical Advisory Committee of the Regional
Coordination Centre for Research and Development
of Coarse Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber Crops in
the Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific, tenth
session, Bogor, Indonesia, 2-4 December 1992
Governing Board of the Regional Coordination Centre
for Research and Development of Coarse Grains,
Pulses, Roots and Tuber Crops in the Humid Tropics
of Asia and the Pacific, eleventh session, Bogor,
Indonesia, 12-14 January 1993
Development issues and policies
Regional Seminar on Social Costs of Economic
Restructuring, Bangkok, 12-15 May 1992
Seminar on the Promotion of Domestic
ResourceMobilization through Postal Savings,
Nagoya, Japan, 2-5 June 1992
Seminar on Medium-term Development Planning
Techniques in Selected ESCAP Developing
Countries, Kathmandu, 9-12 June 1992
Steering Group of the Committee for Regional
Economic Cooperation, first meeting, New Delhi, 24-
27 November 1992
Expert Group Meeting on Development Issues and
Policies, Bangkok, 2-4 December 1992
20
Energy
Joint ESCAP/GTZ Workshop on the Legal Framework
for Co-generation of Electricity and Process Heat,
Bangkok, 30 June-2 July 1992
Regional Workshop on Environmentally Sound Coal
Technologies, Bangkok, 7-10 April 1993
Environment
ESCAP/UNDP/World Bank/UNEP/World Wildlife
Fund-US Second Regional Training Workshop for
Mid- and High-level Officials on Conservation and
Management of Protected Areas in Asia and the
Pacific, Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Malaysia, 20 May-2
June 1992
ESCAP/UNDP Consultative Policy Meeting on the
Regional Network of Environment and Economic
Policy Research Institutions on Environmentally
Sound and Sustainable Development, Bangkok, 13-
16 July 1992
Inter-agency Committee on Environment and
Development in Asia and the Pacific, third meeting,
Bangkok, 8 September 1992
Meeting on the Regional Working Group on Marine
Environment and Oceanographic Studies,
Guangzhou, China, 28 September-3 October 1992
ESCAP/UNDP Regional Meeting on Youth and the
Environment, Cha-am, Thailand, 14-17 October 1992
ESCAP/UNDP Regional Meeting on the Role of
Women in the Promotion of Environmentally Sound
and Sustainable Development in Asia and the
Pacific, Rayong, Thailand, 27-30 October 1992
ESCAP/UNEP/ACSAD (Arab Center for the Study of
Arid Zones and Dry Lands) Expert Group Meeting
on Elaboration of Desertification Assessment
Mapping Methodology, Tehran, 15-19 November
1992
Workshop to Consider Models for Sustainable
Development and Application of Environmental
Development Principles, Bangkok, 25-27 November
1992
Expert Group Meeting on Appropriate Methodologies
for Hazardous Waste Management in Asia and the
Pacific, Bangkok, 1-4 December 1992
ESCAP/UNDP Consultative Meeting on Models for
Environmentally Sound and Sustainable
Development, Bangkok, 8-10 December 1992
Meeting of the Working Group of the Inter-agency
Committee on Environment and Development in Asia
and the Pacific, Bangkok, 1-3 February 1993
Meeting of Senior Officials on Environmental
Cooperation in North-East Asia, Seoul, 8-11 February
1993
ESCAP/UNDP High-level Meeting on Environmentally
Sound and Sustainable Development in Asia and the
Pacific, Kuala Lumpur, 15-19 February 1993
Expert Group Meeting on Environmental Management
of Coastal Tourism Development, Bali, Indonesia, 8-
12 March 1993
Inter-agency Committee on Environment and
Development in Asia and the Pacific, fourth meeting,
Manila, 15 and 16 March 1993
Second Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change,
Bangkok, 29-31 March 1993
Regional Workshop on Environmentally Sound Coal
Technologies, Bangkok, 7-10 April 1993
Human settlements
Policy-level Seminar on Subnational Area Planning
through Action-oriented Research, Bangkok, 15-18
June 1992
Workshop on Urban Economy and Productivity,
Chiang Mai, Thailand, 6 and 7 July 1992
Workshop on Urban Environment, Chiang Mai,
Thailand, 8 and 9 July 1992
Workshop on Urban Poverty, Chiang Mai, Thailand,
10 and 11 July 1992
ESCAP/UNDP/CITYNET Regional Seminar-cum-Study
Visit on Solid Waste Management, Bandung,
Indonesia, 20-23 July 1992
International Seminar on Rural Centre and Settlements
Planning, Tehran, 28 July-4 August 1992
Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on
Urbanization, Colombo, 30 March-1 April 1993
Industrial and technological development
Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology:
Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials, Tehran, 23-
25 June 1992
Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology,
Tehran, 28 and 29 June 1992
Workshop on the Identification and Formulation of
Intercountry Projects in the Field of Biotechnology,
Taejon, Republic of Korea, 14-18 September 1992
Training Workshop on Industrial Projects Preparation
and Management for Least Developed and Island
Developing Countries of the ESCAP Region,
Bangkok, 14-26 September 1992
21
ESCAP/KRISS (Korea Research Institute of Standards
and Science) Workshop on the Role of the National
Standards System in Industrial Development, Taedok
Science Town, Taejon, Republic of Korea, 6-18
October 1992
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, first
session, Bangkok, 19 October 1992
ESCAP/UNIDO Regional Workshop on Agro- and
Food-Processing Industries in Asian and Pacific
Least Developed Countries, Bangkok, 24-27
November 1992
Steering Group of the Committee for Regional
Economic Cooperation, first meeting, New Delhi, 24-
27 November 1992
Expert Group Meeting on Patent Laws, Regulations
and Organizational Structure, Yousung, Taejon,
Republic of Korea, 25-27 November 1992
Governing Board of the Asian and Pacific Centre for
Transfer of Technology, seventh session, New
Delhi, 27 and 28 November 1992
Training Workshop on Industrial Projects Preparation
and Management for Private Sector Representatives
from Selected Least Developed, Island Developing
and Transitional Disadvantaged Economies of the
Asian and Pacific Region, Bangkok, 8-15 December
1992
Regional Training Workshop on the Application and
Extension of the Technology Atlas, Bangkok, 14-18
December 1992
National Seminar on Private Sector Growth,
Technology Choice and Investment in the Industrial
Development of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 23-25 January
1993
Regional Seminar on Investment Promotion and
Enhancement of the Role of the Private Sector in
Asia and the Pacific, Dhaka, 26-30 January 1993
Human resources development
Meeting of the Jury for the ESCAP Human Resources
Development Award, Bangkok, 10 and 11 March
1993
International trade and development finance
Workshop on Marketing, Export Promotion and
Industrial Cooperation in Leather and Leather
Products, Bad Bergzabern, Germany, 1-5 June 1992
Regional Symposium on Trade and International
Competitiveness in Manufactured Goods, Bombay,
India, 3-5 June 1992
Import Fair Berlin 1992 "Partners for Progress", Berlin,
10-13 June 1992
Buyers/Sellers Seminar on Leather Export Promotion,
Berlin, 11 June 1992
ESCAP/UNCTAD/UNDP Expert Group Meeting on a
Regional Investment Information and Promotion
Service for Asia and the Pacific, Seoul, 23-25 June
1992
Workshop on a Mineral Database Information System
for the ESCAP Region, Colombo, 27-30 June 1992
Expert Group Meeting on Silkworm Rearing and
Breeding Techniques, Bao Loc, Viet Nam, 13-17 July
1992
Workshop on International Trade Fairs and
Exhibitions, Qingdao, China, 13-17 July 1992
Regional Symposium on Trade and International
Competitiveness in Manufactured Goods, Bombay,
India, 29-31 July 1992
Seminar on Comparative Analysis Taxation Policies on
Minerals and Metal Industries within the ESCAP
Region, Guangzhou, China, 10-14 August 1992
Intercountry Consultation on Trade in the Asia-Pacific
Region, New Delhi, 11 and 12 August 1992
Regional Seminar-cum-Commencement Meeting (for
National Workshops) on the Expansion of Business
Opportunities in the Asian and Pacific Region,
Bangkok, 1-3 September 1992
Asian International Silk Fair'92, Dusseldorf, Germany,
6-9 September 1992
Seminar on Silk Promotion, Dusseldorf, Germany, 7
September 1992
Steering Committee for the Asian International Silk
Fair'92, second session, Dusseldorf, Germany, 8
September 1992
Training Course on Minerals and Metals Trading,
Kuala Lumpur, 22 September-2 October 1992
Regional Workshop on Market Development and
Export Expansion of Horticultural Products in the
ESCAP Region, Bangkok, 29 September-2 October
1992
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, first
session, Bangkok, 19 October 1992
Mobile Seminar on Trade Information, Investment and
International Market in Selected Provinces, Jianxi,
Hainan, China, 25 October-10 November 1992
Expert Group Meeting on Post-Cocoon Operations,
Manila, 26-29 October 1991
Seminar on the Promotion of Sustainable Tourism
Development in the Least Developed Countries of
the ESCAP Region, Pattaya, Thailand, 26-30 October
1992
22
Regional Consultative Group on Silk, sixth session,
Manila, 30 and 31 October 1992
Training Course on Negotiating Mineral Industry
Agreements and Contracts, Pattaya, Thailand, 2-13
November 1992
National Workshop on the Expansion of Trade and
the Promotion of Business Opportunities in the
Asian and Pacific Region, Seoul, 10 and 11
November 1992; New Delhi, 30 November 1992;
Bangkok, 21 December 1992; Dhaka, 23 December
1992
Steering Group of the Committee for Regional
Economic Cooperation, first meeting, New Delhi, 24-
27 November 1992
Expert Group Meeting on Development Issues and
Policies, Bangkok, 2-4 December 1992
Workshop on a Regional Network of Research
Institutions for the Promotion of Intraregional Trade
Research, Bangkok, 3 and 4 December 1992
Training Course on Export Promotion Techniques for
Officials of the Trade Promotion Organizations, Hong
Kong, 7-18 December 1992
National Seminar on the Generalized System of
Preferences of Japan for the Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Vientiane, 1-3 March 1993
Asia-Pacific Consultative Forum on Coffee, first
session, Bangkok, 17 and 18 March 1993
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation,
second session, Bangkok, 19 and 20 April 1993
Natural resources (including marine affairs)
Interagency Task Force on Water for Asia and the
Pacific, twenty-ninth session, Bangkok, 15 May 1992
ESCAP/CCOP/LEMIGAS Seminar on Removal and
Disposal of Obsolete Offshore Installations and
Structures in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on
the Continental Shelf, Jakarta, 25-28 May 1992
International Space Year: Regional Seminar on Remote
Sensing Applications to Tropical Ecosystem
Management (in cooperation with the Governments
of Japan and Thailand), Khao Yai, Thailand, 14-20
June 1992
Seminar on Future Directions in Mineral Resources
Development in Least Developed Countries,
Bangkok, 29 June-1 July 1992
Workshop on a Mineral Information Database System
for the ESCAP Region and Installation of Four
Country Databases, Colombo, 20-25 July 1992
Workshop-cum-Study Tour on Industrial Minerals
Development, Nagoya, Japan, 27 August-2
September 1992
Workshop on Testing the Training Modules on
Women, Water Supply and Sanitation, Bangkok, 21-
25 September 1992
Interagency Task Force on Water for Asia and the
Pacific, thirtieth session, Bangkok, 19 November 1992
ESCAP/ADB Seminar on Remote Sensing and GIS
Applications to Development, Manila, 2-4 December
1992
WMO/ESCAP Typhoon Committee, twenty-fifth
session, Zhuhai, China, 8-12 December 1992
Regional Workshop on Computer Applications for
Groundwater Assessment and Management,
Bangkok, 19-28 January 1993
WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, twentieth
session, Karachi, Pakistan, 16-22 February 1993
Regional Seminar on Water Management in Urban
Areas, Bangkok, 22-26 March 1993
Population
Training on Management, Analysis and Synthesis of
Population Data and Information, Bangkok, 4-15 May
1992
Expert Group Meeting on Population Change,
Women's Role and Status, and Development,
Bangkok, 12-15 May 1992
Study Programme on Technology and Management of
Population Data Processing Services, Hong Kong, 15
June-3 July 1992
Preparatory Committee for Fourth Asian and Pacific
Population Conference, third session, Bali,
Indonesia, 16-18 August 1992
Asia-Pacific POPIN Consultative Workshop, Bali,
Indonesia, 16-18 August 1992
Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference:
Meeting of Senior Officials, Bali, Indonesia, 19-24
August 1992
Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference:
Meeting of Ministers, Bali, Indonesia, 26 and 27
August 1992
Expert Group Meeting on Local-level Policy
Development for Dealing with the Consequences of
Population Ageing, Pune, India, 1-4 September 1992
ESCAP/UNFPA/JOICFP Regional Preparatory
Meeting on Promotion of Awareness and Policy
Formulation on Ageing, Bangkok, 1 and 2 October
1992
Expert Group Meeting on Trends, Patterns and
Implications of Rural-Urban Migration, Bangkok, 3-6
November 1992
23
Social development
Pacific Subregional Workshop on the Training of
Trainers in Rural and Urban Youth Work, Honiara, 5-
19 July 1992
Expert Group Meeting on a Survey of the Quality of
Life in the ESCAP Region, Seoul, 11-15 August 1992;
Bangkok, 26-30 October 1992
Sixth Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Inter-organizational
Task Force on Disability-related Concerns, Bangkok,
1 September 1992
Community-level Training Course on the Development
of Integrated Community-based Approaches to Drug
Abuse Demand Reduction, Manila, 2-6 September
1992; Kandhala, India, 18-24 September 1992;
Bangkok, 26-30 October 1992; Manila, 4-8 November
1992
Meeting to Design Country Studies on Policies and
Programmes Concerning the Integration of Elderly
Persons in Development, Bangkok, 29 September-2
October 1992
Seminar on the Effects of New Technologies on the
Working Life of Young People, Zhuhai, China, 20-24
October 1992
South Asian Training-of-Trainers Workshop for the
Promotion of Functional Literacy Among Girls and
Young Women, Islamabad, 1-19 November 1992
Meeting to Launch the Asian and Pacific Decade of
Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, Beijing, 1-5 December
1992
Expert Group Meeting on Implementation of the Social
Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region
Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond, Bangkok, 8-11
December 1992
Interagency Task Force Meeting on Implementation of
the Social Development Strategy for the ESCAP
Region Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond,
Bangkok, 14 December 1992
Senior Officials Meeting on Strengthening of the
Regional Network of National Focal Points on Drug
Abuse Demand Reduction, Bangkok, 1-4 February
1993
ESCAP/SHIA Conference of Deaf People in Asia,
Bangkok, 9-12 March 1993
Seventh Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Interorganizational
Task Force on Disability-related
Concerns, Bangkok, 29 March 1993
Special programmes for the least developed,
land-locked and island developing countries
Expert Group Meeting on Economic Performance and
Prospects of Pacific Island Economies in the 1990s
(Phase I), Port Vila, 14-17 September 1992
Second Training Course on Development Project
Preparation and Appraisal Techniques, Port Vila, 16-
27 November 1992
Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked
Developing Countries, first session, Bangkok, 22-24
February 1993
Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries,
first session, Bangkok, 25-27 February 1993
Statistics
Workshop on the Development and Improvement of
Environment Statistics, Kathmandu, 31 May-4 June
1992
Workshop on ESCAP Regional Specifications for
Phase VI of the International Comparison
Programme, Beijing, 21-25 September 1992
Seminar on the Development of Statistical Estimating
Procedures and Techniques as a Means of
Improving the Timeliness of Data, Bangkok, 26-30
October 1992
Committee on Statistics, eighth session, Bangkok, 16-
20 November 1992
Expert Group Meeting on Environment Statistics,
Bangkok, 9-12 March 1993
Transport and communications
Country-level Workshop on Development and
Improvement of Information and Statistical Systems
on Inland Water Transport, Sibu, Malaysia, 4-8 May
1992
ESCAP/UNDP Country-level Workshop on Electronic
Data Interchange, Kuala Lumpur, 5-8 May 1992;
Colombo, 11-13 May 1992; Bombay, India, 9 and 10
November 1992; Madras, India, 11 and 12 November
1992; New Delhi, 13 and 14 November 1992
Subregional Seminar on Performance Improvement of
Inter-island Shipping, Suva, 12-15 May 1992
Meeting of Senior Government Officials in Preparation
for the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for
Transport and Communications, Bangkok, 1 and 2
June 1992
Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport and
Communications, second session, Bangkok, 3-5 June
1992
Country-level Training of Trainers on PORTMIS,
Suva, 22-26 June 1992; Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 20-
24 July 1992; Sibu, Malaysia, 3-7 August 1992;
Karachi, Pakistan, 17-22 October 1992
Country-level Workshop on Imp lementation of the
Regional Maritime Strategy Study, Jakarta, 27 June-3
July 1992; Madras, India, 28-30 September 1992;
Bombay, India, 1-3 October 1992
24
Country-level Workshop on the Rail Line
Rehabilitation, Modernization and Construction
Module, Hanoi, 17-21 August 1992; Tianjin, China, 7-
11 September 1992; Ulaanbaatar, 14-19 September
1992
ESCAP/UNCTAD Country-level Workshop on Multimodal
Transport, Bangkok, 24-28 August 1992;
Manila, 23-25 November 1992; Dhaka, 7-12 December
1992; Hong Kong, 8-10 February 1993; Karachi,
Pakistan, 14-16 February 1993
IMO/ESCAP Seminar on Environmentally Sound Port
Development and Management, Yokohama, Japan,
31 August-4 September 1992
Country-level Workshop on Maritime Policy Planning
Model, Calcutta, India, 7-9 October 1992; Beijing, 26-
31 October 1992
Seminar-cum-Study Tour on Commercial Aspects of
Railway Modernization, Tokyo, Sendai and
Hokodate, Japan, 20-27 October 1992
Country-level Seminar on Strategic Port Pricing and
ESCAP/UNDP Model Port Tariff Structure, Calcutta,
India, 30 November-4 December 1992
Study Tour to Advanced CNG (compressed natural
gas) Facilities in New Zealand, Wellington, New
Zealand, 30 November-4 December 1992
Meeting of the Inter-agency Steering Committee on
Phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific,
Geneva, 2-4 December 1992
Regional Seminar on Strategic Port Pricing and the
ESCAP/UNDP Model Port Tariff Structure, Bangkok,
8-12 December 1992
Regional Seminar on the Inland Container Depot
Financial/Economic Planning Model, Bangkok, 14-18
December 1992
Regional Training Seminar on Utilization of
Compressed Natural Gas in Urban Transport through
the Conversion of Diesel Buses to CNG, Karachi,
Pakistan, 27-29 December 1992
Regional Expert Group Meeting on Utilization of
Compressed Natural Gas in Urban Transport,
Karachi, Pakistan, 30 and 31 December 1992
ESCAP/UNCTAD Review Seminar on Multimodal
Transport, Karachi, Pakistan, 18 February 1993
Country-level Workshop on the ESCAP/UNDP
Transport Financial/Economic Planning Model:
Container Terminal Module, Kota Kinabalu,
Malaysia, 22-26 February 1993
Women in development
Pacific Subregional Workshop on the Technical
Processing of Information Concerning Women in
Development, Suva, 4-15 May 1992
National Legal Literacy Workshop, Kuala Lumpur, 5
and 6 September 1992
Inter-agency Meeting on Preparations for the
Regional Ministerial Conference on Women in
Development, Bangkok, 10 September 1992
C. List of advisory and other services
Agricultural and rural development
(a) Brunei Darussalam, on the establishment of
the database on pesticides and the environment;
(b) Cambodia, to study the economic environment
of fertilizer aid-in-kind deliveries;
(c) Indonesia, on environmental issues in the
fertilizer sector;
(d) Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and
Singapore, on the establishment of the database on
pesticides and the environment;
(e) Myanmar, on the results of the soil-testing
subcomponent, particularly with regard to the low levels
of phosphorous in soil samples.
Development issues and policies
(a) Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, on an ESCAP/ADB factfinding
mission, with regard to (i) particular issues
requiring urgent attention, and (ii) macroeconomic
issues and plans;
(b) Kiribati, to act as liaison with the Government
on development issues and technical assistance needs;
(c) Tonga, to evaluate technical assistance
requirements and activities for strengthening the Central
Planning Department and instituting a strategic planning
approach;
(d) Viet Nam, (i) on macroeconomic reforms,
foreign investment, and development assistance, and (ii)
to conduct seminars on economic stabilization and
management of infrastructure.
Energy
(a) Federated States of Micronesia, on energy
strategy and energy supply;
(b) Islamic Republic of Iran, on energy
conservation strategy and energy supply;
(c) Mongolia, on the energy situation and energy
policy;
(d) Myanmar, on energy conservation and
environmental issues;
(e) Philippines, on global warming;
25
(f) Republic of Korea, on environmental issues of
energy technology;
(g) Tonga (twice), on energy legislation;
(h) Viet Nam, to assist in setting up a computer
management information system.
Human resources development
Republic of Korea, to assist in the organization of a
seminar on the participation of women in politics as an
aspect of human resources development.
Industrial and technological development
(a) Islamic Republic of Iran, to organize a
symposium on the transfer of technology for vocational
training;
(b) Nepal, on hydrogen technology;
(c) Republic of Korea, on regional cooperation in
standardization, metrology and quality control.
International trade and development finance
(excluding tourism)
(a) Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, on particular issues
requiring urgent attention;
(b) Bangladesh, (i) to lecture in a national
workshop on the promotion and financing of joint
ventures, on opportunities and constraints in regional
trade and investment, and on regional cooperation, (ii) to
review the export scenario and potential for selected
items of export interest to Bangladesh, and (iii) to
identify target markets and evaluate measures for
product development;
(c) Bangladesh and Republic of Korea, to
organize and participate in the National Workshop on
the Expansion of Business Opportunities in the Asian
and Pacific Region;
(d) Bhutan, (i) on framing trade policy after the
liberalization measures taken by India and the imposition
of a duty by Bangladesh on exports from Bhutan, and (ii)
on intellectual property rights, patents and trademarks;
(e) China, (i) on the Asian International Silk
Fair'92, and (ii) to provide advice to the China
International Trade Research and Training Centre for the
Asian and Pacific Region;
(f) Germany, on export promotion;
(g) India, (i) to service intercountry consultations
on trade, and (ii) to advise on export penetration into
Japan;
(h) Lao People's Democratic Republic, on the
scope and nature of the Multifibre Arrangement and the
generalized system of preferences;
(i) Mongolia, (i) on designing documents in line
with the United Nations Layout Key for Trade
Documents, and (ii) to participate in a national workshop
on export promotion and trade facilitation;
(j) Nepal, to participate in the discussions at the
20th Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Asian
Clearing Union;
(k) Samoa and Tonga, on the formulation of
appropriate foreign investment policies.
International trade and development finance
(tourism only)
(a) Nepal, on the marketing and promotion of
tourism to Nepal, with emphasis on the Japanese travel
market;
(b) Pakistan, on tourism development.
Natural resources (including marine affairs)
(a) Bangladesh and Nepal, to assist in identifying
follow-up actions to be taken on the assessment and
sustainable development of water resources;
(b) Bhutan, (i) on geological and mineralogical
aspects of the development of non-metallic industrial
mineral resources, and (ii) on the formulation of a project
on mineral resources development, the installation of
computer hardware, and the conduct of a national
training course on the use of a mineral information
database system;
(c) Cambodia, (i) to assist in the management of
sustainable exploration of natural resources, (ii) in
support of the Technical Committee on the Management
and Exploitation of Natural Resources, (iii) on flood
forecasting and damage reduction (basin-wide) for the
Interim Mekong Committee, and (iv) to prepare a field
research study, detailed mapping and sampling of ore
bodies, as well as long/medium-term mine plans of rock
phosphate deposits;
(d) China, to review mining legislation and
regulations relating to mineral resources development;
(e) Hong Kong, Malaysia and Republic of Korea,
on remote sensing and geographic information systems
(GIS);
(f) Islamic Republic of Iran, Myanmar and
Pakistan, to conduct a roving seminar on flood-loss
prevention and management;
(g) Malaysia, on a safety surveillance programme
for hydraulic structures;
26
(h) Mongolia, (i) on remote sensing and GIS, and
(ii) on the presentation of annual data on water
resources and uses;
(i) Philippines, (i) to provide advisory services in
connection with the fifth ASEAN Remote Sensing Expert
Group Meeting, and (ii) to advise government agencies
on preparatory matters relating to the ESCAP/ADB
Seminar on Remote Sensing;
(j) Sri Lanka, on the National Water Master Plan;
(k) Vanuatu, on Sarakata flood protection, land
erosion of the banks of the Sarakata River and sea-front
redevelopment;
(l) Viet Nam, on emergency preparedness and
disaster management.
Population
(a) Bangladesh, (i) on developing a management
information system (MIS) proposal and a review survey,
and (ii) to assist in analysing the data of the pilot
comprehensive health survey of morbidity and health
status;
(b) China, to assist in preparing a project
document on training courses for population information
professionals on information and population topics;
(c) Fiji, to review and finalize a UNFPA
cooperation programme on population and
development;
(d) Fiji and Vanuatu, (i) to review the population
programme of the University of the South Pacific, and (ii)
on the country review exercise on population and
planning;
(e) India, (i) to finalize the POPIN Network project,
(ii) to revise the IMSEAR database format to make it
compatible with the WHOBIS standard format, and (iii)
to participate in a workshop on CDS-ISIS and MeSH;
(f) Lao People's Democratic Republic, on the
preparation of and participation in a seminar on
population and its effects on socio-economic
development and the environment;
(g) Nepal, to analyse demographic and health
survey data;
(h) Solomon Islands, to assist in programme
formulation and project development.
Social development
(a) Brunei Darussalam, (i) on youth crime
prevention policies and programmes, (ii) to conduct a
workshop on the enhancement of community services
for community and social workers, (iii) to promote the
participation of elderly persons in development, and (iv)
to formulate a national programme for the aged and a
plan of action for the next 10 years;
(b) China, on the implementation of a communitylevel
training course for drug abuse prevention
personnel;
(c) Federated States of Micronesia, on the
feasibility of establishing, within the government
structure, a coordinating mechanism for women's
development programmes;
(d) India, to plan a workshop to train trainers of
community-level drug abuse prevention personnel;
(e) Kiribati and Marshall Islands, on a range of
social issues, including the strengthening of country
action programmes in support of the Regional Social
Development Strategy Towards the Year 2000 and
Beyond;
(f) Maldives, on social development issues for
the Ministry of Atolls Administration;
(g) Pakistan, to prepare a workshop on the
training of trainers in the promotion of functional literacy
among girls and young women;
(h) Solomon Islands, to assist in the convening of
a Pacific subregional workshop on the training of
trainers in urban and rural youth work;
(i) Sri Lanka, (i) to promote the participation of
elderly persons in development, and (ii) to devise a
policy framework and strategy in line with the Regional
Social Development Strategy Towards the Year 2000 and
Beyond;
(j) Thailand, (i) on the planning of a national
training course on an integrated community-based
approach to drug abuse demand reduction, (ii) to assist
in setting up a juvenile delinquents' rehabilitation centre,
(iii) on youth crime prevention policies and programmes,
(iv) to assist in revising the provisions for safety
measures in the Penal Code of Thailand, (v) on the
development of services for elderly persons, and (vi) on
human resources, community planning and self-help
training programmes for youth;
(k) Vanuatu, on the formulation of policies on
youth, women and community development.
Special programmes for the least developed,
land-locked and island developing countries
(a) Fiji, to follow up with the Suva Engineering
Department on car parking requirements;
(b) Guam, to observe and discuss issues relating
to infrastructure development, physical planning and
tourism, and preparation of landscape development
regulations for Agana;
(c) Niue, to discuss and identify needs relating to
physical planning and future development assistance;
27
(d) Samoa, to identify and assess needs and
future technical assistance;
(e) Tuvalu, to prepare for the Tuvalu National
Council the final designs and drawings of a women's
centre.
Statistics
(a) Azerbaijan, to assist the State Committee for
Statistics in the introduction of the System of National
Accounts;
(b) Bhutan, on various aspects of statistics and
government computerization;
(c) Brunei Darussalam, to advise and assist the
Economic Planning Unit in developing a suitable
methodology for estimation of gross domestic product
(GDP) in various sectors;
(d) China, (i) to discuss, with the Municipal
Statistical Bureau of Shanghai, ICP matters and the
bilateral comparison between Japan and Shanghai, (ii) to
participate in the Workshop on Regional Specifications,
and (iii) to assist the China Population Information and
Research Centre in the utilization of statistical software
packages;
(e) Hong Kong, to assist in the analysis of the
1991 population census;
(f) India, to advise on the selection of
representative specifications and their links to
expenditure on GDP, as well as on the comparability of
expenditure classifications;
(g) Maldives, (i) to assist in the second stage of
the survey of business undertakings, and (ii) to
scrutinize the completed budget analysis for 1989;
(h) Nepal, (i) to review the state of the national
accounts, and (ii) to assist the Central Bureau of
Statistics in strengthening the national accounts
system;
(i) Niue, to assist in the processing and analysis
of census data;
(j) Papua New Guinea, to assist in the evaluation
of the 1990 census and plans for analysis;
(k) Samoa, to assist in census editing, tabulation
and other aspects of processing;
(l) Tonga, to assist in the planning of a
demographic survey and the development of a strategy
for the 1995 census;
(m) Viet Nam, (i) to assist in the preparation of a
project for a multi-round survey and an intercensal
survey programme in demographic statistics, and (ii) to
prepare a project document for an intercensal
survey.
Transport and communications
(a) Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, on particular issues
requiring urgent attention, and on the identification of
specific areas in which assistance is required;
(b) Cambodia, (i) on port development
management, (ii) on the application of software programs
to inland container depots, and (iii) on dredging;
(c) China, on promotion of interregional and
intraregional transport linkages;
(d) Cook Islands and Tonga, to install the port
computer-aided management (PortCAM) software
program and provide demonstrations and training;
(e) India, on low-cost dredging techniques for
relevant ports and harbours;
(f) Indonesia, on the implementation of the
maritime policy planning model/regional maritime
strategy study;
(g) Lao People's Democratic Republic, to improve
the management, documentation and organization of
transport in support of the country's international trade;
(h) Malaysia, on PORTMIS, to review the
management information system of the Sabah Ports
Authority, and the Rajah Port Authority;
(i) Mongolia, (i) on promotion of interregional
and intraregional transport linkages, and (ii) on transport
transit agreements;
(j) Papua New Guinea, on PORTMIS, to review
the management information system;
(k) Samoa, to assess additional technical
assistance required for port computerization;
(l) Thailand, on dredging operations and contract
supervision;
(m) Tokelau, (i) on construction of seawalls, and
(ii) to review ongoing shore protection works and
provide advice on future works and their environmental
impact;
(n) Turkmenistan, on transport transit
agreements;
(o) Vanuatu, to collect data and assess
government resources required for the implementation of
port computerization;
(p) Viet Nam, on the promotion of interregional
and intraregional transport linkages.
28
Women in development
(a) Fiji, Islamic Republic of Iran, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa and Vanuatu, on
the integration of women's concerns into development
planning;
(b) Indonesia and Malaysia, on the maintenance
of a women-in-development (WID) thesaurus and the
development of WID databases;
(c) Islamic Republic of Iran, to review the
information system on women and develop a plan for the
establishment of a national women's information system;
(d) Papua New Guinea, on the promotion of legal
awareness among women.
29
Chapter III
FORTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION
A. Attendance and organization of work
107. The forty-ninth session of the Commission was
held at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok,
from 21 to 29 April 1993.
108. The session was attended by representatives of
the following members and associate members:
Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic
People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia,
Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati,
Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic,
Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia
(Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation,
Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka,
Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of
America, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Guam, Hong
Kong, Macau, New Caledonia and Republic of Palau.
109. By virtue of rule 3 of the Commission's rules of
procedure, representatives of Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Germany, Israel and Sweden attended. Representatives
of the Holy See also attended under Economic and
Social Council decision 244 (LXIII).
110. The session was also attended by officials of
the United Nations secretariat, representing the
Department of Economic and Social Development and
the Regional Commissions New York Office.
111. Representatives of the following United Nations
bodies attended: United Nations Children's Fund, United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United
Nations Development Programme, United Nations
Development Fund for Women, United Nations
Environment Programme, United Nations International
Drug Control Programme, United Nations Population
Fund, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
(Habitat), Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees and World Food Programme.
112. Representatives of the following specialized
agencies were present in a consultative capacity:
International Labour Organisation, Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
International Civil Aviation Organization, World Health
Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund,
Universal Postal Union, International
Telecommunication Union, World Meteorological
Organization, International Maritime Organization and
United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
113. The following intergovernmental organizations
attended as observers: Asian Clearing Union, Asian
Development Bank, Asian and Pacific Coconut
Community, Asian and Pacific Development Centre,
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Asian Productivity
Organization, Asian-Pacific Postal Union, Asia-Pacific
Telecommunity, Asian Reinsurance Corporation,
Commission of the European Communities, Committee
for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral
Resources in Asian Offshore Areas, Centre for
Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific,
Colombo Plan Bureau, Commonwealth Secretariat, Forum
Secretariat, International Jute Organization, Interim
Committee for Coordination of Investigations of the
Lower Mekong Basin, International Organization for
Migration, International Pepper Community, Pacific
Economic Cooperation Council, South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation, South Asia Cooperative
Environment Programme, South Pacific
Commission, and Typhoon Committee.
114. Observers were present from the following
non-governmental organizations in category I:
International Co-operative Alliance, International
Council of Women, International Council on Social
Welfare, International Organization for Standardization,
International Planned Parenthood Federation,
International Union of Local Authorities, World
Confederation of Labour, World Federation of
Democratic Youth, World Federation of Trade Unions,
World Federation of United Nations Associations,
World Muslim Congress, World Veterans Federation
and Zonta International; and from the following
organizations in category II: Afro-Asian People's
Solidarity Organization, Baha'i International Community,
Pan-Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association,
World Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises and
World Conference on Religion and Peace.
115. Representatives of Asia and Pacific Association
of Schools of Social Work, Regional Network of Local
Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements,
World Association of the Major Metropolises, Pioneer
Development Foundation for Asia and the Pacific, and
Participatory Research, Organization of Communities,
and Education towards Struggle for Self-reliance also
attended.
30
116. The list of participants is given in document
ESCAP(XLIX)/INF.2/Rev.1.
117. In accordance with rule 13 of the rules of
procedure, the Commission at its 740th meeting elected
HE Squadron Leader Prasong Soonsiri (Thailand)
Chairperson.
118. Following the past practice of the Commission
and after informal consultations, the Chairperson
proposed and the Commission decided to elect the
following heads of delegation Vice-Chairpersons: HE Dr
Mohayuddin Mehdi (Afghanistan), HE Mr Gordon
Bilney, MP (Australia), HE Mr A.M. Zahiruddin Khan
(Bangladesh), HE Dato Haji Ahmad Wally Skinner
(Brunei Darussalam), HE Mr Qian Qichen (China), HE Mr
Pranab Mukherjee (India), HE Mr Wisber Loeis
(Indonesia), HE Mr Mohammad Tabibian (Islamic
Republic of Iran), HE Mr Koji Kakizawa (Japan), HE Mr
Aimanov Adilbek (Kazakhstan), Hon Taomati T. Iuta
(Kiribati), HE Mr Soubanh Srithirath (Lao People's
Democratic Republic), HE Dato Syed Hamid Bin Syed
Jaafar Albar (Malaysia), HE Mr Hasan Sobir (Maldives),
Hon Dr Ram Sharan Mahat (Nepal), HE Ms Lina B. Laigo
(Philippines), HE Mr Han Sung-Joo (Republic of Korea),
HE Mr Serguei V. Lavrov (Russian Federation), HE Dr
Ker Sin Tze (Singapore), Hon Job Duddley Tausinga MP
(Solomon Islands), HE Mr Surin Pitsuwan (Thailand),
Hon Cecil J. Cocker (Tonga), Hon Ionatana Ionatana
(Tuvalu), Hon Serge Vohor (Vanuatu) and HE Mr Vu
Khoan (Viet Nam). The Commission also decided to
constitute an informal working group to consider draft
resolutions presented during the session. Dr Iftekhar A.
Chowdhury (Bangladesh) was elected Chairperson and
Mr Yang Guanqun (China) Vice-Chairperson of the
informal working group.
119. Mr Jenish Kadrakunov (Kyrgyzstan) was
elected Rapporteur of the plenary session.
120. The Chairperson proposed and the Commission
decided to appoint two committees of the whole to
consider agenda items 6, 7, 8 and 9. Committee of the
Whole I elected HE Mr Alan Oaisa (Papua New Guinea)
as Chairperson, and Mr Bayazid Mardoukhi (Islamic
Republic of Iran) and Mr Kenji Shimizu (Japan) Vice-
Chairpersons. Mr M.P.T. Cooray (Sri Lanka) was elected
Rapporteur. Committee of the Whole II elected HE Mr
A.N. Ram (India) as Chairperson, and Mr J.A.M. Giesen
(Netherlands), Dr Joan Mosley (New Zealand) and Mr S.
Mushtaq H. Razvi (Pakistan), as Vice-Chairpersons. Ms
Merewalesi Falemaka (Fiji) was elected Rapporteur.
121. The Chairperson announced at the
Commission's 744th meeting that, in accordance with
rule 12 of the rules of procedure, he and the
Vice-Chairpersons, constituting the Credentials
Committee, had examined the credentials of all the
representatives and had found them to be in order.
B. Agenda
122. At its 740th meeting, the Commission adopted
the following agenda:
1. Opening of the session.
2. Election of officers.
3. Adoption of the agenda (E/ESCAP/L.121
and E/ESCAP/L.122 and Corr.1).
4. Policies and perspectives for the economic
and social development of the ESCAP
region, with particular reference to expansion
of investment and intraregional trade
(ST/ESCAP/1243/Part I and ST/ESCAP/
1243/Part II, E/ESCAP/924, E/ESCAP/ 925
and Corr.1).
5. Restructuring and revitalization of the
United Nations in the economic and social
fields:
(a) Implementation of Commission
resolution 48/2 on restructuring the
conference structure of the Commission
(E/ESCAP/890);
(b) Implementation of Commission
resolution 48/12 on restructuring and
revitalization of the United Nations in
the economic and social fields: role
and functions of the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (E/ESCAP/891 and Corr.1).
6. Reports on ministerial meetings and reports
of subsidiary bodies:
(a) Meeting of Ministers Responsible for
Transport and Communications,
second session (E/ESCAP/892);
(b) Meeting of Ministers of Industry and
Technology (E/ESCAP/893);
(c) Fourth Asian and Pacific Population
Conference (E/ESCAP/894);
(d) Committee on Statistics, eighth
session (E/ESCAP/895, E/ESCAP/ 896
and Corr.1);
(e) Committee for Regional Economic
Cooperation, first and second
sessions (E/ESCAP/897 and Corr.1
and E/ESCAP/898 and Corr.1);
(f) Special Body on Least Developed and
Land-locked Developing Countries
(E/ESCAP/899);
(g) Special Body on Pacific Island
Developing Countries (E/ESCAP/900
and Corr.1).
31
7. Selected issues in fields of activity of the
Commission and reports on its regional
institutions:
(a) Agenda for action for the Asian and
Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,
1993-2002 (E/ESCAP/902);
(b) Progress in the implementation of the
Social Development Strategy for the
ESCAP Region Towards the Year 2000
and Beyond (E/ESCAP/901);
(c) Problems faced by the transitional
disadvantaged economies in the
ESCAP region (E/ESCAP/904 and
Corr.1);
(d) Economic and technical cooperation
among developing countries
(E/ESCAP/903 and Corr.1);
(e) Preparations for the Ministerial
Conference on Urbanization
(E/ESCAP/905);
(f) Preparations for the Second Asian and
Pacific Ministerial Conference on
Women in Development (E/ESCAP/
907, E/ESCAP/926);
(g) Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer
of Technology (E/ESCAP/906);
(h) Regional Coordination Centre for
Research and Development of Coarse
Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber Crops
in the Humid Tropics of Asia and the
Pacific (E/ESCAP/908 and Corr.1);
(i) Statistical Institute for Asia and the
Pacific (E/ESCAP/909).
8. Reports of regional intergovernmental
bodies (E/ESCAP/910, E/ESCAP/911,
E/ESCAP/912 and E/ESCAP/913).
9. Programme planning:
(a) Draft programme of work, 1994-1995
(E/ESCAP/914, E/ESCAP/915);
(b) Review of the implementation of the
programme of work, 1992-1993, and
proposed programme changes for 1993
(E/ESCAP/916, E/ESCAP/917 and
Corr.1, E/ESCAP/918/Rev.1,
E/ESCAP/919).
10. Technical cooperation activities of
ESCAP and announcement of intended
contributions (E/ESCAP/920 and Corr.1,
E/ESCAP/921 and Add.1).
11. Activities of the Advisory Committee of
Permanent Representatives and Other
Representatives Designated by Members
of the Commission (E/ESCAP/922 and
Add.1).
12. Date, venue and any other subject
pertaining to the fiftieth session of the
Commission (E/ESCAP/923).
13. Admission of new members.
14. Other matters.
15. Adoption of the report of the Commission
(E/ESCAP/L.123).
C. Account of proceedings
123. The session was declared open by HE Mr Qian
Qichen, Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
China, the outgoing Chairperson. HE Mr Chuan
Leekpai, Prime Minister of Thailand, delivered the
inaugural address. The Executive Secretary read out a
message from the Secretary-General of the United
Nations and delivered an address.
Inaugural address by the Prime Minister of Thailand
124. The Prime Minister of Thailand, speaking on
behalf of the Government and people of Thailand,
welcomed those attending the session.
125. He noted that since its establishment in 1947,
ESCAP had played a very active and constructive role in
the promotion of economic and social cooperation
among the countries of the Asian and Pacific region. A
wide range of activities had been undertaken to ensure
regional growth and prosperity. Thailand, as a
developing country of the region, had benefited from the
activities of ESCAP over the years. It was hoped that
ESCAP would play a greater role in the future.
126. Momentous developments had taken place
within and outside the region. The end of the cold war,
in particular, had brought new hopes and challenges for
closer cooperation among the international community.
It had provided an opportunity to realize regional peace,
harmony and prosperity. ESCAP, as a regional
organization of the United Nations, had a vital role to
play in addressing economic and social issues facing the
countries of the region. The reform and revitalization of
the structure of the Commission would help to meet the
needs of both present and future generations in the
economic, ecological, social or humanitarian fields.
127. He noted that the theme of the session,
"Expansion of investment and intraregional trade as a
vehicle for enhancing regional economic cooperation
and development in Asia and the Pacific", was very apt,
32
since the Asian and Pacific region was emerging as one
of the most dynamic regions in the world. In recent
years, a number of countries of the region, including
Thailand, had achieved significant economic growth
despite external and domestic difficulties. That was
highly encouraging, as it indicated that with the right
policies and determination, developing countries could
achieve rapid progress. It was to be noted, however,
that there was great diversity in the region in geography,
culture, ideologies, political and socio-economic
systems, and levels of development. That was one of
the challenges to be tackled at the current session of the
Commission. Collective effort would be needed to meet
that challenge to ensure that development and progress
would be spread more equitably throughout the region.
It was the task of the Commission to find ways and
means to strengthen cooperation among all the
countries of the region.
128. Thailand, as the seat of ESCAP, had always
given full support and cooperation to the activities of
the Commission. The Go vernment of Thailand would
continue to do so in the firm belief that ongoing
progress in the countries of Asia and the Pacific, based
on mutual benefit, would contribute to better
understanding among the peoples and nations of the
region. With that hope, all members and associate
members had gathered at the current session to chart a
path towards greater economic and social development.
He expressed certainty that the dignity of human beings
and the nobility of the human spirit would be upheld in
the process.
129. The vision of common prosperity for the whole
region might seem far-fetched. But with concerted
efforts and shared goals implemented by interlocking
networks of cooperation, and with support from ESCAP,
common prosperity should be within reach.
Message from the Secretary-General of the
United Nations
130. In his message, the Secretary-General noted that
the forty-ninth session was taking place at a critical
juncture in both global and regional affairs. The
relaxation of tensions in the post-cold war era and
progress in resolving some regional conflicts had
enhanced the prospects for peace, development and the
enjoyment of basic human rights. In that improved
atmosphere, new possibilities for international
cooperation were also opening up. Yet, pockets of
tension and civil strife in various parts of the world
threatened to tear apart societies, devastate local and
regional economies, and severely impede the attainment
of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.
131. He noted that political, economic and social
progress were inextricably intertwined. Progress
achieved in the political sphere would be difficult to
sustain if economic and social conditions remained
oppressive and unstable for the majority of the world's
population. Similarly, economic and social progress
could be achieved only in a climate of political tolerance,
openness and stability.
132. Those linkages needed to be reflected in the
work of the United Nations as well. It was futile, if not
counterproductive, to attempt to separate the political
mission of the United Nations from its economic and
social mission. The concept of an integrated approach
to cooperation in those areas was at the heart of the
Charter of the United Nations.
133. Strengthened regional cooperation was a key
element in enhancing mutual confidence and achieving
political, economic and social progress. The regional
commissions had played, and should continue to play,
an important role in that process. In the Secretary-
General's continuing efforts for reform and revitalization
of the United Nations Secretariat, he had sought to
reinvigorate the regional commissions and better equip
them to be of service to their developing membership.
134. In his address to the forty-eighth session of the
Commission, held in Beijing in 1992, he had noted that
with the enhanced prospects for constructive solutions
to outstanding regional conflicts and problems, the
United Nations and ESCAP were prepared to do even
more to promote cooperation and development
throughout the region. He had had an opportunity to
witness firsthand some of the efforts of the Organization
in that regard during his recent visit to South-East Asia.
He looked forward to the further strengthening of such
efforts to achieve greater progress and development in
various fields of endeavour.
135. While the slow-down in the world economy
during the past year had affected the pace of progress in
the region, it was heartening to note that many countries
in Asia had continued to display a capacity for
sustained economic growth. That had been a source of
encouragement to developing countries in other regions,
and was a tribute both to the sound economic policies of
the Governments concerned and to the vitality and
creativity of their peoples. The continued expansion of
intraregional trade, investment and technology, which
was the major theme of the current session of the
Commission, had contributed to the dynamism that had
come to characterize much of the region. It was hoped
that the Commission's deliberations on that issue would
further strengthen regional cooperation and provide a
policy framework for the accelerated development of the
entire region in the coming years.
136. A great deal remained to be done. Widespread
poverty, malnutrition, disease and illiteracy still afflicted
large numbers of people throughout the region. It was
somewhat disappointing that, despite the region's
overall progress, many countries, including in particular
the least developed and Pacific island countries as well
as the new members of the Commission from the
33
Commonwealth of Independent States, had failed to
register any significant economic progress. Special
support and assistance were needed to enable them to
accelerate their progress and development.
137. It was vitally important that ESCAP, as the main
regional arm in Asia and the Pacific for the United
Nations in the economic and social fields, be fully
supported. Only thus could it most effectively assist the
member countries in meeting the formidable challenges
ahead. The Secretary-General expressed confidence that
such support would be readily forthcoming from the
membership.
138. He extended his best wishes to the Commission
for a most productive and rewarding session.
Statement by the Executive Secretary of ESCAP
139. The Executive Secretary welcomed all the
delegations to the session and thanked the Prime
Minister of Thailand for his address, which had
reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to the purposes and
principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations
and, in particular, to the objectives of the Commission.
He expressed appreciation to the Foreign Minister of
Thailand for his support for ESCAP activities. He also
expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson, the
Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China,
for the encouragement and support he had provided to
ESCAP during his tenure as Chairperson.
140. He noted that the tasks before the Commission
were daunting. According to its terms of reference, the
Commission was vested with the responsibility for
raising the level of economic activity in Asia and the
Pacific and for maintaining and strengthening the
economic relations of countries and territories in the
region, both among themselves and with other countries
of the world. In the current improved political
atmosphere, there were many areas, such as trade,
investment, and transfer of technology, which offered
opportunities for intensifying cooperation among the
members and associate members. The secretariat hoped
for a positive outcome of the Commission's deliberations
on those and other important issues.
Policies and perspectives for the economic
and
social development of the ESCAP region,
with particular reference to expansion of
investment and intraregional trade
Policy statement by the Executive Secretary
141. The Executive Secretary referred to the
prevailing uncertainty in the external economic
environment confronting the developing economies of
the ESCAP region and arising from the dismally low
rates of economic growth in the major industrial
countries, the poor prospects of recovery of those
economies in the immediate future, the inability to
conclude the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade
negotiations, the scarcity of financial resources and the
instability of exchange rates. Despite the unfavourable
international climate, the ESCAP region continued to
achieve a high average rate of economic growth and to
retain its reputation as the most dynamic region in the
world. Expansion of domestic markets, increased
intraregional trade, enhancement of competitiveness of
exports in the global market, and maintenance of stability
in domestic wages and prices had been key factors in
achieving that remarkable success.
142. He observed that the average growth
performance for the region as a whole masked
tremendous variations within the region and sometimes
within countries. Growth performance in the least
developed countries, the small island economies and the
economies in transition from centrally planned systems
had remained highly unsatisfactory; special efforts were
needed at national and international levels to overcome
the diverse problems confronting those economies and
to accelerate their growth. In that context he referred to
the establishment by the Commission of the Special
Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing
Countries and the Special Body on Pacific Island
Developing Countries and the first meetings of those
two special bodies early in 1993. He stressed the need
for improvements in the functioning of the Special Body
on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing
Countries.
143. He referred to the dynamic growth and
expansion of trade in the developing countries of the
ESCAP region and the important role that intraregional
and interregional trade had played in that process. He
observed, however, that participation in intraregional
trade had remained restricted to the economies in East
and South-East Asia. In many other countries,
inadequate savings, outdated technology, poor
entrepreneurial skills and infrastructural bottlenecks of
various kinds had restricted flexibility, which was
needed to garner the benefits of trade expansion in the
region. Conscious policy interventions and regionwide
cooperative efforts were essential to stimulate an
outward-oriented development strategy for the countries
that lagged behind.
144. The difficulties that the developing countries in
the ESCAP region encountered in mobilizing resources
for development and in expanding the exports of
traditional and new products to their principal markets
had made it imperative for them to strengthen regional
cooperation and expand intraregional trade. Such
cooperation would, inter alia, shelter the region's small
economies from external pressures, while serving as a
useful complement to existing safeguards for
multilateralism. Regional cooperation could give a boost
to the inflow of foreign capital and the associated
technology and expertise, with its stimulating effects on
production and exports.
34
145. The Executive Secretary observed that several
factors constrained the prospects for increasing the flow
of interregional trade and investment to the countries in
the region that had so far not been able to take
advantage of export-led growth. Coordinated regional
strategies were therefore required to stimulate efficient
use of capital, expand intraregional and interregional
markets, and encourage capital flows within the region,
thereby promoting an outward-oriented growth process.
The far-reaching domestic reform programmes being
implemented in almost all developing countries in the
ESCAP region and the movement towards more liberal
private-sector-oriented economies enhanced the scope
for increased regional economic cooperation in the
region.
146. The Executive Secretary also observed that a
disturbing feature in the region's development in recent
years had been the growing arms build-up and the
spiralling military expenditure. That had taken place
despite the recent positive trend in the region's political
climate, which had encouraged resolution or
containment of several long-standing conflicts and
disputes. He further observed that military expenditure
had outpaced growth rates of gross domestic product in
certain countries during the 1980s. Often the
consequence had been unsustainable fiscal deficits,
reduction in social sector expenditure, and a decline in
growth rates. Concluding that peace and prosperity for
the individual countries and the region must go hand in
hand, the Executive Secretary urged the Commission to
consider how it could encourage sober reflection, mutual
trust and forward-looking development.
147. He informed the Commission of the progress
that had been made in implementing the significant
decisions it had made at its forty-eighth session
regarding its reorganization and revitalization. In that
connection, he referred to the first meetings of several of
the newly established subsidiary bodies of the
Commission held during the past year, as well as of
others scheduled to be held later in 1993. He also
informed the Commission of a number of ministerial
meetings that had been held since its last session.
148. He further informed the Commission of his
efforts to reinforce the functional relationship between
the ESCAP secretariat and various United Nations
organizations and bodies with a view to taking a
coordinated approach to problem-solving and rendering
assistance to their common membership. He briefed the
Commission on the initiatives taken by the secretariat to
enlist the support and cooperation of financial
institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, the
World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as
well as the efforts to expand cooperation with several of
the subregional organizations.
149. He concluded by observing that through mutual
goodwill, support and cooperation, the opportunity
could be created and nurtured to confront the many
challenges that the ESCAP region continued to face.
Recent economic and social developments
150. The Commission reviewed recent economic and
social developments in the region, on the basis of, inter
alia, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the
Pacific 1992 (ST/ESCAP/1243/Part I and ST/ESCAP/
1243/Part II). Part one of the Survey contained a review
of recent trends in the performance and policies of the
economies of the ESCAP region. Part two comprised the
study on the theme topic of the forty-ninth session of
the Commission, "Expansion of investment and
intraregional trade as a vehicle for enhancing regional
economic cooperation and deve-lopment in Asia and the
Pacific". The Survey, together with documents
E/ESCAP/924 and E/ESCAP/925 and Corr.1, provided
background information on the evolving social and
economic developments in the region and the relevant
policy perspectives.
151. The Commission took note of the dramatic
transition the world had experienced in recent years,
with far-reaching changes in international political and
economic relations. Those changes presented the world
community with new opportunities and challenges.
While noting that the end of the cold war era had
created conditions favourable for smooth progress in
economic and social development, the Commission
expressed serious concern about the various conflicts
arising out of ethnic, religious or other considerations,
which could jeopardize regional and international peace
and stability. The Commission stressed that
international mechanisms needed to be strengthened,
and that the United Nations should play a central role to
ensure peace and stability as a prerequisite for economic
and social progress.
152. The Commission took note of several elements
in the international economic environment that
adversely affected the development prospects of the
ESCAP region. Among those were the slowing down of
world economic growth, the global scarcity of financial
resources, uncertainty concerning multilateral trading
systems and the instability of exchange rates. Those
trends urgently needed to be reversed through
internationally coordinated policy action.
153. The Commission noted with satisfaction that
despite the adverse international climate, the developing
countries of the ESCAP region had remained the most
economically dynamic in the world, with an average rate
of economic growth much higher than that achieved by
any other region. Sustained high rates of growth had
enabled many countries in the region to reduce poverty
substantially and to improve the overall quality of life of
their people. The Commission expressed concern,
however, that the beneficial impact of economic
dynamism was not distributed equitably amo ng all
countries of the region, or all sections of the populations
within those countries.
35
154. It expressed particular concern about the lack of
vitality in the region's least developed and Pacific island
economies and their inability to achieve satisfactory
rates of growth and the necessary structural
transformation. Many references were made to a variety
of structural constraints faced by those countries. The
difficulties encountered by the economies in transition
from centrally planned systems to market orientation
also received the Commission's attention. Those
disadvantaged economies must be reinvigorated and
brought into the mainstream of the region's dynamism.
The Commission urged the international community to
give adequate financial and technical assistance to
those countries to support their development efforts.
155. The Commission took note of the substantial
policy and structural reforms being carried out by most
countries of the region to achieve macroeconomic
stability, liberalizing their trade, investment and financial
regimes, ensuring a more balanced role of the private
and public sectors, and enhancing the productive
efficiency of enterprises. Such policies were expected to
stimulate investment and growth in the countries
concerned. The trend towards greater convergence of
policies and programmes in the region was also expected
to facilitate the process of economic cooperation
through intraregional trade, investment and technology
flows.
156. The Commission recognized the benefits that
the countries of the ESCAP region could derive from
expanded intraregional trade, investment and
technology flows through regional cooperation, and
urged that such cooperation be strengthened. However,
it observed that open multilateralism in trade and
investment was the most effective way to serve the
interests of all parties in the global community. In that
context the Commission stressed that the speedy and
successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round of
multilateral trade negotiations was needed to strengthen
a transparent and equitable multilateral trading system.
Regional cooperation arrangements and schemes should
be consistent with open multilateralism so as to serve as
building blocks towards the ultimate objective of global
free multilateral trade.
157. The Commission noted the concerns expressed
about the formation of large trading blocs,
encompassing the prosperous economies of North
America and Europe, traditionally the principal trading
partners of the countries of the Asian and Pacific region,
and the possibility of those blocs becoming protective
to the detriment of trading opportunities for other
countries. It was also observed that those arrangements
did not need to be so restrictive as to divert trade.
Instead, the growth-stimulating effects of freer trade
within those blocs could result in incremental trade
which all trading partners could share profitably.
158. The Commission was deeply concerned at the
prevailing social malaise affecting the region. High rates
of population growth in many parts of the region,
widespread poverty, inadequate levels of health and
nutrition, and environmental deterioration received the
Commission's closest attention.
159. While high rates of population growth and the
changing age composition of the population tended to
aggravate poverty and environmental problems, the
region's vast human resources constituted a huge
potential asset. The Commission, therefore, placed
strong emphasis on the development of human
resources as a means of stimulating economic growth
and development, as well as improving human welfare.
That, in many cases, required a reorientation of national
investment and expenditure policies and priorities, with
greater emphasis placed on social expenditure. Along
with accelerated economic growth, such a reorientation
of national policies and programmes could form a vital
component of poverty alleviation programmes in the
region, which had been a focus of the Commission's
activities. The Commission recognized the strategic
importance of demographic factors in human resources
development, as they were interrelated with employment,
education, skill and capacity development, health, and
the status and role of women.
160. Many concerns about the state of the
environment were expressed during the Commission's
deliberations. Great emphasis was placed on
environmental preservation and protection through
strengthening the planning and management
mechanisms to reflect fully the concern for the
environment and sustainability of development. In that
context, it was strongly recommended that the relevant
components of Agenda 21 should be implemented at the
national and regional levels. To enable the national
Governments to implement the relevant programmes
successfully, the Commission urged the international
community to provide adequate financial and technical
support to the developing countries of the region. It
was recommended that cooperation between
Governments should be promoted on environment and
development issues, and for dealing with environmental
problems that involved more than one country.
161. The Commission adopted resolution 49/7 on the
implementation of decisions of the General Assembly on
the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, including Agenda 21, in Asia and the
Pacific.
Expansion of investment and intraregional trade
as a vehicle for enhancing regional economic
cooperation and development in Asia and
the Pacific
162. In deliberating on the theme topic of its fortyninth
session, "Expansion of investment and
intraregional trade as a vehicle for enhancing regional
36
economic cooperation and development in Asia and the
Pacific", the Commission observed that the study of the
topic, contained in part two of the Economic and Social
Survey of Asia and the Pacific 1992, provided a useful
analysis and insights into issues relating to the
expansion of intraregional trade and investment. It
noted that several economies, particularly in East and
South-East Asia, had successfully implemented an
export-led growth strategy. The complementary nature
of the growing linkages between trade and investment
within the region, and the generally flexible production
structures and responsive policy environment were
major factors underlying the achievements of those
economies. The Commission agreed that economic
policy in the region should promote the synergetic
nexus between trade and investment, which offered
significant potential for enhancing regional economic
cooperation. It endorsed the lowering of trade barriers,
particularly non-tariff barriers, to ensure expansion of
intraregional trade. Noting the virtues of a free and
vibrant multilateral trading system, the Commission
stressed that the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade
negotiations needed to be brought to a balanced and
early conclusion. It agreed that those were the two
essential elements underlying the prospects for a global
economic recovery. Delegations from some developed
member countries assured the Commission that their
domestic policies were supportive of those objectives.
163. The Commission stated that increased financial
flows, technology transfer and greater opportunities for
market access within the region for the less developed
economies would assist in promoting an export-led
development strategy. Some delegations remarked that
the issue of enhancing the absorptive capacity in the
recipient countries was also relevant. In that regard,
several delegations confirmed their continued support of
the promotion of direct investment flows and
technology transfer to the developing countries of the
region, particularly the least developed and land-locked
countries, as well as the Pacific islands and the
disadvantaged economies in transition. They pledged
their commitment to the provision of assistance for
improving the investment climate in those economies
through the development of infrastructure and human
resources, and the strengthening of institutional support
mechanisms.
164. The Commission emphasized that, despite the
rapid rise of intraregional investment in recent years, the
distribution within the region of such flows and of the
virtuous impact of the trade- and investment-led growth
strategy, remained skewed. A wider and more balanced
dispersion was essential. The Commission suggested
that the secretariat should implement some of the
measures proposed in its theme topic study on a
priority basis in order to give practical meaning to its
policy-oriented research. In particular, it recommended
the following: strengthening of the trade information
system within the region; technical assistance and
support for the establishment of a regional investment
information and promotion service; promotion of capital
markets; facilitation of technology transfer;
development of export-oriented small and medium
enterprises through facilitation of credit opportunities,
marketing assistance and technological upgrading; and
establishment of a regional network of trade-related
research institutions. The delegations of several
developing countries stated that their Governments had
liberalized their economic policies and were
strengthening support services in order to ensure the
successful operation of an outward-oriented
development strategy.
165. The Commission noted the concerns expressed
about the emergence of trading arrangements such as
the single European market and the North American free
trade agreement, especially as those included several of
the world's most prosperous economies and major
markets. It also noted that schemes that were consistent
with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT) might not necessarily be inward-looking; rather,
freer trade within those blocs could foster growth from
which all trading countries could benefit. Some
delegations, however, expressed fears of restricted
market access and of adverse diversionary impact on
trade and investment flows for the non-participating
economies. Accordingly, the Commission endorsed the
contention of the theme topic study that the long-term
solution of regional as well as global prosperity lay in
multilateralism and the openness of economies. The
Commission recognized that open regionalism did not
contradict multilateralism, but rather complemented
growth efforts based on trade expansion. The
Commission viewed GATT-consistent subregional
cooperation as paving the way towards greater
coordination of economic policies among selected
groups of countries by establishing a sound foundation
for economic cooperation on a larger scale in the region,
and it stressed the importance of inter-subregional
cooperation.
166. The Commission emphasized that industrial
restructuring was needed to facilitate the operation of
the trade and investment nexus, especially in the least
developed countries, the Pacific islands and the
economies in transition. It pointed out that the
relocation of industries from the more developed to the
less developed countries, as a result of shifts in
comparative advantage, was a major factor in enhancing
regional economic cooperation and development.
Industrial estates, special economic zones, bonded areas
and export-processing zones, which offered a wide range
of fiscal and infrastructural facilities, were important
instruments in furthering the interdependency of
economies within the region. The Commission drew
attention to emerging trade-related concerns, such as
trade in services and the impact of environmental
regulations on trade, which were relevant in the context
of policy formulation for the expansion of investment
and intraregional trade. The relevance of trade
37
efficiency issues and of ensuring adequate quality
standards of products in the developing countries of the
region was recognized.
167. The Commission commended the work of the
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation and
urged the secretariat to ensure efficient implementation
of the action programme for regional economic
cooperation in trade and investment. The Commission
recommended that the participation of countries in
activities under the action programme should be as wide
as possible. Some delegations suggested that the
interests of participating countries in particular elements
of the action programme should be given due
consideration by the secretariat, especially in assessing
the requirements of technical assistance and advisory
services for promoting a wider and more balanced
spread of the trade and investment nexus in the region.
Restructuring and revitalization of the
United Nations in the economic
and social fields
Implementation of Commission resolution 48/2
on restructuring the conference structure of
the Commission
Implementation of Commission resolution 48/12
on restructuring and revitalization of the United
Nations in the economic and social fields: role
and functions of the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific
168. The Commission had before it documents
E/ESCAP/890 and E/ESCAP/891 and Corr.1.
169. The Commission expressed its appreciation to
the secretariat for document E/ESCAP/890, which
provided information on the progress made in the
implementation of resolution 48/2 of 23 April 1992 on
restructuring the conference structure of the
Commission. It looked forward to the report on that
matter to be submitted to the Commission at its fiftieth
session in 1994, as called for under that resolution. It
noted that in view of the importance of the matter, an
item on the follow-up to resolution 48/2 had been
recurrently placed on the agenda of the sessions of the
Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives and
Other Representatives Designated by Members of the
Commission (ACPR) since the adoption of that
resolution. It recommended that the practice should be
continued.
170. The Commission was informed of the efforts
that had been made to prepare the proposed programme
of work and priorities, 1994-1995, in accordance with
the thematic approach, and the decision of the
Commission to reduce the number of subprogrammes
from 15 to 6. In the preparation of the proposed
programme of work, the secretariat had benefited from
the advice of ACPR. The Commission welcomed the
proposed programme of work under the revised
subprogramme structure and called for the provision of
adequate resources for its implementation. The
importance of linkages among the themes and of
cooperation among subregional bodies was emphasized.
171. The Commission noted that since the adoption
of resolution 48/2, the following committees and
subsidiary bodies had held meetings: the Committee for
Regional Economic Cooperation and its Steering Group,
the Committee on Statistics, the Special Body on Least
Developed and Land-locked Developing Countries and
the Special Body on the Pacific Island Developing
Countries. The committees that had not yet met, and
additional meetings of the Committee for Regional
Economic Cooperation and its Steering Group, would be
convened later in the year.
172. The Commission commended the secretariat on
the extent of implementation of resolution 48/2 and
called for further efforts for the continued
implementation of that resolution, particularly paragraph
2, in which the Commission invited the Executive
Secretary to reorganize the secretariat so as to enhance
its capability to service the thematic intergovernmental
structure subsidiary to the Commission and implement
its revised programme of work. The Commission
expressed the hope that a restructured ESCAP
secretariat would lead to greater effectiveness in the
promotion of regional cooperation and avoidance of
overlapping service functions. It welcomed the efforts
of the Executive Secretary to strengthen cooperation
and coordination within the secretariat.
173. The Commission recalled that the Secretary-
General was carrying out an exercise for restructuring
and reorganizing the Secretariat of the United Nations
both at its Headquarters and in the field. It was likely
that the structure of the ESCAP secretariat and
procedures to be followed would be changed following
the completion of that exercise. The Commission
welcomed the information that ACPR would be informed
of future developments as they occurred.
174. The Commission noted with interest that one of
the objectives of the restructuring exercise was to
maximize the impact of the work of the United Nations in
the field of economic and social development. It
observed that the Secretary-General had emphasized
that the regional commissions were a unique asset and
could make an important contribution to the
enhancement of cooperation for development. At a time
when strengthened regional cooperation held the key to
the resolution of conflicts and to economic and social
progress in so many spheres, the potential of the
regional commis sions and their secretariats should be
better exploited for the benefit of their constituents and
the Organization as a whole.
38
175. The Commission emphasized that better
definition was needed of the functions and
responsibilities of the various entities operating in the
economic, social and related fields in the United Nations
as a whole. For optimum benefit, it urged that the
restructuring exercise be accompanied by the
introduction of more effective and relevant programmes
and the elimination of marginal ones, and that to ensure
the efficient use of resources, duplication should be
avoided.
176. The Commission reaffirmed the response it had
submitted to the General Assembly pertaining to
Assembly resolution 46/235 of 13 April 1992 on the
restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in
the economic, social and related fields as contained in
document E/ESCAP/891 and Corr.1. It noted with
appreciation that, as directed by the Commission in
resolution 48/12, the response had been prepared by
ACPR and finalized following consultations with
members and associate members of the Commission.
ESCAP members and associate members were called on
to follow up resolution 48/12 through active
participation in various efforts of the General Assembly
and its Working Group on Restructuring and
Revitalization of the United Nations in the Economic,
Social and Related Fields. It was noted that the
Commission response to General Assembly resolution
46/235 was part of an ongoing process and might require
further review. The Commission noted also that there
were possibilities for its involvement in determining the
socio-economic parameters for the peace-building
activities of the United Nations in the region and for
extending the ESCAP mandate in the area of emergency
humanitarian activities.
177. The Commission emphasized that the
restructuring exercise should, inter alia, lead to the
strengthening of the regional commissions. Owing to
their proximity to their member States, their vital role in a
number of sectoral activities and their multidisciplinary
perspectives, the regional commissions were able to
respond rapidly to each region's particular needs. It was
noted that the multidisciplinary capabilities of regional
commissions had made them the main mechanisms for
developing social and economic cooperation in their
respective regions. It expressed the view that
strengthening should be based upon the principle of
complementarity among the regional commissions,
Headquarters, and other global programmes, taking into
consideration each entity's comparative advantage. It
recognized that ESCAP had distinct advantages in
operational activities in several fields such as energy,
natural resources, remote sensing and transport.
178. It was felt that the strengthening of the regional
commissions could be accomplished through the
distribution of functions and resources, and the
delegation of commensurate authority. The
commissions should be able to maintain their capacity
for economic and social research, policy analysis and
statistics in the fields of their mandated activities and
programmes. Their authority and ability to take up
regional issues of a cross-sectoral nature should be
enhanced, and their capacity to contribute to the
preparation and the follow-up of global programmes
should be reinforced.
179. It was suggested that adequate authority
should be delegated to the commissions to discharge
their responsibilities for the coordination of regional
activities of the United Nations in cooperation with the
appropriate United Nations programmes and specialized
agencies. The executive secretaries of the regional
commissions should be the principal representatives of
the Secretary-General for economic, social and related
activities in their respective regions. It was further
suggested that ESCAP should play a leading
coordinating role in the region. Greater attention should
be directed towards enhancing the effectiveness of the
management and coordination of regional operational
activities.
180. The Commission adopted resolution 49/10 on
strengthening the role of ESCAP in the coordination of
regional operational activities.
181. Several delegations pointed out that adequate
budgetary provision was required to enable the
secretariat to carry out the strengthened functions. That
could be found through internal redeployment within the
United Nations system, including redeployment from
administrative to substantive areas of work and through
decentralization to the regional commissions of a larger
proportion of resources for operational activities,
including resources allocated in the programme budget
under section 12, the regular programme of technical
cooperation. It was suggested that the allocation of
budgetary resources to ESCAP should take into
account, inter alia, the region's share of the world's
population, its considerable economic and social
diversity and needs, and the percentage of its
population living below the poverty line. It should also
take into account the requirements for carrying out the
Commission's programme of work under the new
thematic approach.
182. The Commission expressed appreciation of the
role of ACPR, as a mechanism for communication and
inter-sessional consultation with the secretariat, in
facilitating the process of restructuring and
revitalization.
Reports on ministerial meetings and
reports of subsidiary bodies
183. The Commission had before it the reports on the
Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport and
Communications, second session; the Meeting of
Ministers of Industry and Technology; and the Fourth
Asian and Pacific Population Conference. It also had
39
before it the reports of the Committee on Statistics on its
eighth session; the Committee for Regional Economic
Cooperation on its first and second sessions; the
Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked
Developing Countries and the Special Body on Pacific
Island Developing Countries, which had met during the
period since the forty-eighth session.
Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport
and Communications, second session
184. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/892.
185. The Commission endorsed the decisions of the
Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport and
Communications at its second session, held at Bangkok
from 3 to 5 June 1992, and commended the follow-up
action taken by the secretariat since the launching of
phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific.
186. Many delegations stated that the priorities
determined by the Meeting of Ministers conformed to
those identified in their own national development plans,
thus confirming the view of the Meeting of Ministers
that the regional action programme for phase II of the
Decade had adequately reflected the prevailing needs of
the developing members and associate members of the
Commission. They reaffirmed their commitment to
participate actively in the implementation of the regional
action programme.
187. The Commission noted with appreciation that
since the launching of phase II of the Decade the
secretariat had received bilateral support for the
implementation of the regional action programme from
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the
Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.
188. The Commission was, however, deeply
concerned that the level of resources that had been
mobilized was still inadequate, particularly in view of the
delay and the proposed drastic reduction in funding
from the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). The Commis sion adopted resolution 49/2 on
resource mobilization for the implementation of the
regional action programme for phase II (1992-1996) of the
Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the
Pacific.
189. The Commission realized that the high rate of
economic growth in the region would generate further
demand for better infrastructure and more efficient and
effective transport and communications services. It
requested the secretariat to continue to accord high
priority to that field.
190. While recognizing the strong need to develop
transport and communications infrastructure and services
at the national level, the Commission emphasized the
importance of coordination and cooperation at the
subregional and regional levels so as to strengthen the
regional transport and communications network. In that
connection, the representative of Thailand cited the
example of the Mekong Friendship Bridge, which would
link Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic,
and the representative of Bangladesh mentioned Jamuna
Bridge, which was due for completion by the year 2000
and would fill in one of the main missing links in the Asian
Highway network.
191. The Commission noted the concern of the landlocked
countries, in particular with regard to the
importance of linkages with adjacent countries and the
need for efficient border-crossing facilitation measures
and transit rights agreements, as well as access to
appropriate seaports. In that connection, the
representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran offered to
share that country's experience and expertise with regard
to a study it had undertaken on the railway network that
linked southern ports in the Persian Gulf to the northern
boundary of the Islamic Republic of Iran with
Turkmenistan. The secretariat welcomed that offer as it
would be a useful input to a study, funded by the
Netherlands, that would be undertaken in the near future
to assist the countries of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan to determine the most appropriate corridors
to a seaport.
192. Noting the importance of transport linkages, the
Governments of Mongolia, the Republic of Korea and
the Russian Federation stressed that a feasibility study
needed to be made on the railway connections of the
north-eastern railways of the region and that a working
group should be established for that purpose. The
Commission noted with appreciation that the
Governments of France and the Republic of Korea had
affirmed their willingness to contribute to the study.
193. The Commission noted the emphasis placed on
the importance of maritime transport development. It
also noted that there was a need for continued
assistance from the secretariat in that area, in particular
for the Pacific island countries.
194. The Commission further noted the importance
given to the development of inland water transport by
the riverine countries of the region. The representative
of Bangladesh stated that an inland water transport
centre was needed in the region. He reminded the
Commission that the Government of Bangladesh had
offered to host such a centre.
195. The Government of India requested the
secretariat: (a) to involve India in the expert group to
study the development of the Asian Highway; (b) to
consider India as one of the sites for the proposed
corridor studies in connection with the development of
multimodal transport; and (c) to continue its assistance
in the development of inland water transport with a
focus on human resources development.
40
196. The Commission was informed of the active
involvement of national institutions in the provision of
technical cooperation among developing countries
(TCDC) assistance. The Central Road Research Institute
in New Delhi, which had been a host institute for a
UNDP/ESCAP project on the development of rural road
infrastructure, provided training and course materials to
a number of countries, as a result of which Mongolia
had developed national standards for rural roads.
Indonesia offered members of the Commission, as well
as non-members such as Mali and the Sudan, the use of
its national telecommunications education and training
facility in Bandung.
197. Recognizing the linkage between the
development of transport and communications and the
promotion of tourism, the Commission noted that
various measures to promote tourism should include
such infrastructure development. It welcomed the
statement by the representative of Japan in which he
recognized the importance of tourism in the economic
development of developing countries and said that his
country would continue to provide active assistance
and cooperation to the secretariat. The Commission
noted with appreciation that a seminar on investment
and economic cooperation in the tourism sector in
Pacific island countries would be held in Tokyo in
October 1993, with financial assistance from Japan.
198. The representatives of the International Civil
Aviation Organization, the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), the Universal Postal Union and the
Asia-Pacific Telecommunity stated that inter-agency
cooperation, which had been enhanced through the
formulation of the regional action programme, would be
continued for the implementation of the programme.
199. The representative of UNDP stated that it was
the view of his organization that the success or failure of
the Decade would depend on the interest and
commitment of the Governments of the ESCAP members
and associate members in the region and that the
international organizations, particularly UNDP, could
only facilitate that commitment. UNDP had informed the
Commission at its forty-seventh and forty-eighth
sessions that it would not be able to meet the same level
of commitments as it had in the first quinquennium of
the Decade, although UNDP was likely to remain the
single largest donor for the Decade. The organizations
concerned should actively seek other sources of
funding and co-financing.
200. The Commission expressed gratitude to the
Government of Japan for hosting the ESCAP Seminarcum-
Study Tour on Commercial Aspects of Railway
Modernization and the joint ESCAP/IMO Seminar on
Environmentally Sound Port Development and
Management and for the provision of experts on a nonreimbursable
loan basis.
201. The Commission welcomed the general support
from the Government of Japan for phase II of the
Decade. It also welcomed the offer of the Government of
Sri Lanka to host a country-level workshop on the
development of multimodal transport.
Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology
202. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/893.
203. The Commission felt that the Meeting of
Ministers of Industry and Technology, held at Tehran in
June 1992, had adequately covered in its report the major
issues of concern and had made valuable
recommendations to accelerate the pace of industrial and
technological development in the region. The
Commission was of the opinion that the Regional
Strategy and Action Plan for Industrial and
Technological Development adopted by the Meeting
was a pragmatic and useful document containing a wide
range of recommendations for policy adjustment,
institutional development and other measures for
strengthening national capacity and effectiveness in
further promoting industrial and technological
development. The Tehran Declaration on Strengthening
Regional Cooperation for Technology-led Industrialization
in Asia and the Pacific, which had been adopted
in a spirit of understanding, would foster greater
cooperation at regional and subregional levels to
facilitate and expedite the process of industrialization
and thereby help sustain the industrial dynamism of the
Asian and Pacific region.
204. The Commission felt that the report of the
Meeting of Ministers (ST/ESCAP/1209), the Regional
Strategy and Action Plan, and the Tehran Declaration,
together with the Seoul Plan of Action for Promoting
Industrial Restructuring in Asia and the Pacific which
was adopted by the Commission at its forty-eighth
session in 1992, would serve as valuable guidelines for
the formu lation of national-level action and regional
cooperation measures during the 1990s.
205. The Commission therefore adopted the Regional
Strategy and Action Plan for Industrial and Technological
Development, and the Tehran Declaration on
Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Technology-led
Industrialization in Asia and the Pacific and urged all
concerned to give due attention to the implementation of
the recommendations contained therein, in accordance
with the level as well as the objectives of industrial and
technological development in the countries concerned.
The Commission adopted resolution 49/3, the Tehran
Declaration on Strengthening Regional Cooperation for
Technology-led Industrialization in Asia and the Pacific.
206. The Commission, while expressing satisfaction
that the secretariat had already undertaken several
initiatives for the implementation of the
recommendations of the Meeting of Ministers of
Industry and Technology, directed the secretariat to
accord priority to the activities and prepare concrete
projects for the implementation of regional and
41
subregional cooperative actions, as suggested in the
Seoul Plan of Action, the report of the Meeting of
Ministers, the Regional Strategy and Action Plan, and
the Tehran Declaration. It also urged donors to provide
all possible assistance to the secretariat for that
purpose.
207. The Commission emphasized that well-balanced
and stable growth of the world economy was essential
for sustained development of the industrial sector at the
national level. Furthermore, improvement of
infrastructure, appropriate development of human
resources, provision of support services and adequate
supply of energy were critical elements for
strengthening national capacity and consolidating the
industrial development base. All those elements
therefore required urgent attention.
208. The Commission pointed out that strengthening
the private sector and enhancing its role were essential
for promoting competitiveness in manufacturing at both
domestic and international levels. While expressing
satisfaction at various reform measures, including
liberalization, decentralization, deregulation and
restructuring, the Commission emphasized that an open
trading system and multilateralism were essential for
promoting greater competitiveness and the integration
of industrial activities. It was pleased to note
specifically those activities implemented in connection
with the development of technological capabilities; the
creation of an appropriate climate conducive to foreign
direct investment and technology transfer; the
development of human resources in science and
technology, including vocational training; and the
development, transfer and application of new and
emerging technologies. However, despite the tangible
achievements of some countries in the region, most of
the countries in the region were confronted with
problems in building and using technological
capabilities, in attracting foreign direct investment and in
promoting transfer of technology, particularly with
regard to access to information on new and emerging
technologies and commercialization of the results of
research and development. Those countries also had
acute shortages of skilled technicians, as well as of
scientific and technological personnel. The Commission
therefore urged the countries of the region to strengthen
efforts to implement effectively the various economic,
industrial and technological reform measures already
adopted.
209. The Commission felt that cooperation among
the private sectors of various countries was essential to
the overall improvement of manufacturing
competitiveness and industrial efficiency. It therefore
urged the secretariat to strengthen its activities aimed at
promoting enterprise-to-enterprise cooperation, through
the organization of business promotion meetings,
exchange visits and technology fairs. The Commission
also urged the countries, and their private sectors, to
participate in the Taejon International Exposition,
scheduled to be held in the Republic of Korea from
August to November 1993.
210. The Commission noted the vital importance of
industrial technology in improving productivity,
restructuring industry and pursuing economic growth.
Regional cooperation on technological development
depended primarily on the initiatives of the private
sector, while the role of Government was limited to
promotion and facilitation. The secretariat should
strengthen activities to assist countries in adopting
appropriate industrial technologies, including advanced
materials technologies, biotechnology, automated
manufacturing systems, and process planning controls,
as well as in facilitating the flow of those and other
technologies from the most advanced developing
countries to the less developed economies.
211. The Commission felt that there were tremendous
opportunities for promoting intraregional and
interregional flows of investment in the Asian and
Pacific region. The Regional Strategy and Action Plan
for Industrial and Technological Development and the
Seoul Plan of Action contained concrete
recommendations. The Commission directed the
secretariat to accord higher priority to such activities.
212. The Commission emphasized that industrial
financing was a critical concern of the developing
countries of the region. It urged the secretariat to
undertake activities to explore innovative means of
industrial financing, including the development of an
appropriate capital market.
213. The Commission noted with concern the
constraints faced by the least developed and island
developing economies and the economies in transition
with regard to industrial and technological development.
It directed the secretariat to accord higher priority to
activities aimed at assisting those economies. While
expressing satisfaction that the secretariat was currently
implementing a project on investment promotion in the
least developed and island developing economies and
the economies in transition, the Commission strongly
felt that those groups needed particular assistance in the
following areas: developing human resources and
creating appropriate capabilities and a climate conducive
to promoting foreign direct investment and the
accompanying technology transfer; the assessment and
adoption of new and emerging technologies; research
and development; standardization and quality control;
the development of telecommunications; and the
upgrading of the technology of export-oriented small
and medium enterprises so as to increase their
competitiveness. The Commission was of the opinion
that an analysis of the experience of the newly
industrializing economies in technology-led industrial
development could be useful for the least developed and
island developing economies and the economies in
transition, and directed the secretariat to undertake
activities to that end. It urged donors to extend
increased assistance in that respect.
42
214. The Commission noted with appreciation the
secretariat's activities in industry and technology aimed
at assisting the newly independent Asian republics of
the Commonwealth of Independent States. The recent
mission of the secretariat to assess the industrial and
technological potential, to provide advisory services
and to develop a package for a technical assistance
programme to promote industrial and technological
development had been timely. The Commission urged
the secretariat to mobilize all possible resources to assist
the Asian republics, especially in the areas of
market-oriented reforms, industrial restructuring and
rehabilitation, skills promotion and investment
opportunities. Exchange visits of officials and private
entrepreneurs from those republics to the newly
industrializing economies, the Association of South-East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the developed countries
would be desirable and fruitful.
215. The level of technology of many industries in
the newly independent economies in transition appeared
to be low, causing them to have difficulty in competing
in a liberalized market economy. The economies did not
have access to technological information and had little
experience in technology transfer. The technological
capabilities that they possessed needed to be reoriented
to meet their development needs and should be geared
more to the requirements of the production sector. The
Commission, therefore, requested the secretariat to
develop special programmes for those economies in the
areas of industrial restructuring and technological
development.
216. The Commission emphasized that activities to
develop industrial and technical skills needed to be
strengthened at the national, subregional and regional
levels through regional cooperation. It called for greater
participation of the private sector in the development of
science and technology and technical and managerial
skills. Because shorter product life-cycles threatened
the competitiveness of existing products, flexible
training programmes to develop the skills required for
the adoption of new and emerging technologies were
essential. The secretariat was requested to devise
programmes to promote the development of human
resources in technology and vocational training.
217. The Commission strongly emphasized that the
development and promotion of small and medium
industries was essential and required urgent attention.
It held the view that small and medium enterprises were
important agents for industrial and technological
development in national economies, and should be
supported financially with concessionary loans in areas
of technological upgrading. Those industries required
special assistance through the provision of
technological information and technology transfer. The
Commission directed the secretariat to strengthen its
activities in those areas. It suggested that the
secretariat should undertake a study on the impact of
liberalization, deregulation and restructuring measures
on small and medium industries. It also suggested that
the secretariat should initiate a study on the regional
experience of export-oriented small and medium
industries, focusing on certain sectors, such as textiles,
leather and electronics, and should organize a regional
seminar on that subject.
218. The Commission pointed out that industrial
decentralization and the dispersal of industries to the
rural areas were essential for balanced industrial
development at the national level. Appropriate activities
should therefore be initiated at the regional level to
assist countries in achieving meaningful industrial
dispersal and rural industrialization.
219. The Commission noted with appreciation the
current efforts and offer of the Government of Japan to
assist the developing countries of the region in
developing and adopting industrial technology, based
on the concept of "techno-globalism", and in creating a
basic structure for creative research and development,
especially in the fields of energy and environmental
protection. The Commission also expressed
appreciation of the offer of the Government of the
Republic of Korea to extend cooperation and assistance
to the least developed economies and the
disadvantaged economies in transition in order to
facilitate their economic development and reform, the
offer of the Government of Pakistan to provide training
for public and private sector representatives from the
newly independent disadvantaged economies in
transition, and the offer of the Government of the
Russian Federation to share its research and
development facilities with the countries of the region to
facilitate the undertaking of joint research programmes.
220. The Commission expressed satisfaction with the
follow-up activities undertaken by the secretariat in
implementing the recommendations of the Seoul Plan of
Action on Promoting Industrial Restructuring in Asia
and the Pacific. It felt that the proposal to hold a
meeting in 1993 of the forum for sustainable industrial
development and restructuring was timely. The
Government of Malaysia agreed in principle to host the
meeting at Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 10 December 1993.
221. The Commission noted the useful work being
done by the Regional Network for Agricultural
Machinery (RNAM). However, RNAM was passing
through a critical phase of institutional financing. The
Commission urged all participating members to pay their
contributions regularly and on time. It also urged the
donors to provide sufficient funding support for the
programmed activities of the project during the fifth
phase (1992-1996), as approved by the Commission at its
forty-eighth session. The Commission was pleased to
approve the application of Viet Nam for membership of
RNAM.
43
222. The Commission expressed appreciation of the
close cooperation of UNIDO with the secretariat in the
provision of associate experts in various fields of
industry and technology and of the cooperation
extended in the preparatory activities as well as during
the Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology.
It acknowledged with appreciation and welcomed the
desire of UNIDO to intensify its cooperation with the
secretariat in implementing the priority recommendations
of the Meeting of Ministers.
223. The Commission noted with interest the various
activities undertaken by the World Assembly of Small
and Medium Enterprises (WASME) in the promotion of
small and medium industries and felt that cooperation
between the secretariat and WASME should be further
strengthened. In that respect, it noted with appreciation
the cooperation extended by WASME in the
organization of the Private Sector Symposium, held at
Tehran in June 1992. It also noted with interest the
outcome of the World Convention of Small and Medium
Enterprises, held at Beijing in March 1993, which was
jointly sponsored by the secretariat.
224. The Commission expressed its gratitude to the
Governments of China, Japan, the Netherlands and the
Republic of Korea for their generous financial
contribution to the activities in the field of industrial and
technological development, and to the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran for the generous host
facilities and other arrangements made for the Meeting
of Ministers of Industry and Technology.
Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference
225. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/894.
226. It reviewed the deliberations of the Fourth
Asian and Pacific Population Conference, held in Bali
from 19 to 27 August 1992. The Asian and Pacific
Population Conference was a decennial ministerial-level
meeting. The Fourth Conference was organized jointly
by ESCAP and the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) and was hosted by the Government of
Indonesia. The Commission also reviewed the 67
recommendations of the Bali Declaration on Population
and Sustainable Development, which had been adopted
by the Conference. The recommendations covered
issues relating to population, the environment and
development, and the need for bringing into balance
population dynamics, socio-economic development, the
use of natural resources and environmental quality. The
Declaration also made strong recommendations on
urbanization; internal and international migration; family
planning and maternal and child health; population and
human resources development; women and population;
population and poverty alleviation; mortality and
morbidity; population ageing; population data, research
and dissemination of information; and resource
mobilization. In addition to those recommendations, the
Declaration established the goals of achieving
replacement level fertility (2.2 children per woman) by
the year 2010 or sooner and reducing infant mortality to
40 per thousand live births or lower during the same
period, as well as reducing maternal mortality by half in
those countries and areas in which the level was high.
227. The Commission fully endorsed the
recommendations of the Bali Declaration and accepted
its call for the members and associate members to
implement the recommendations and strive to achieve its
targets and goals.
228. The Commission considered a number of followup
strategies proposed by the secretariat. The
strategies were arranged under four categories in the
document under review: (a) policy and programme
development; (b) population data and policy research;
(c) information and population awareness; and (d)
human resources development in the field of population.
In endorsing those strategies, the Commission noted
that it expected the secretariat to play a major role in
continuing to provide assistance to the members and
associate members in that regard.
229. The Commission noted that population policies,
strategies and goals relating to population were
increasingly intertwined with those relating to the
environment, natural resources, national development,
the alleviation of poverty, and distributive justice. Such
policies must be based on a clear understanding of the
nature, direction and extent of the interrelationship of
those factors. It acknowledged with satisfaction that the
Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference was a
step forward in establishing a common ground for
formulating future policies and programmes to address
those interrelationships.
230. The Commission commended the past efforts of
the secretariat in assisting the countries of the region in
reducing their population growth rates. However, it
noted with concern that, although some countries in the
region had succeeded in reducing population growth,
the growth rate in many countries remained high and the
population of the region was growing at the rapid rate of
1.7 per cent per annum. In order to bring population
growth down to a manageable level, there was a need to
strengthen efforts to develop comprehensive family
planning programme strategies, including community
participation and the integration of family planning
programmes with maternal and child health
programmes. It recognized the pioneering role that nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) had played in
improving the quality and quantity of family planning
services, and suggested that, keeping in view their past
performance and future potential, NGOs should play a
more active role in supporting family planning
programme activities.
44
231. The Commission noted that, while health
conditions had improved in most of the countries of the
region, there were some countries where infant and child
mortality and maternal mortality levels were considerably
higher than the regional average. The Commission
therefore urged the countries concerned to strengthen
their efforts to improve health conditions in order to
reduce further the mortality levels, especially of children
and mothers.
232. The Commission recognized the stress being
created by the migration of rural people to metropolitan
areas and the consequences for urban environments. It
urged the Governments concerned to develop better
rural infrastructure for dispersion of industry and
improved land-use patterns in order to slow down that
influx of people to urban areas. The Commission noted
that some innovative approaches, such as the
development of decentralized regional industrial centres
and parks, could influence urbanization patterns. It
suggested that the secretariat exa mine the implications
and consequences of such approaches.
233. The Commission also noted that emerging
issues, such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS), teenage/adolescent fertility, women's issues and
the ageing of the population, were becoming an urgent
concern of many Governments and there was a need to
develop policies, programmes, and information,
education and communication strategies to reach those
groups on a priority basis.
234. The Commission further noted that, in several
countries, changing population age structures resulting
from a rapid decline in fertility and an improvement in life
expectancy were causing significant increases in the
proportion of the elderly population as well as in their
absolute numbers. Therefore, it was becoming
increasingly important not only to address the welfare
and development concerns of the elderly but also to
develop appropriate policies and programmes, including
social security systems and the involvement of families,
so that the elderly could contribute productively to their
families, communities and nations.
235. The Commission emphasized that population
policies and programmes had a crucial role to play in the
enhancement of the role and status of women. It felt
that women played an equal role in the development
process and that the improvement of their status and the
extent to which they could make decisions in their
families would be crucial to population growth and the
quality of life. The Commission urged all members and
associate members to ensure that women's concerns
were addressed in all population and development
activities and programmes.
236. Regarding population data and policy research,
the Commission emphasized the importance of the
collection, analysis and dissemination of population data
and information in supporting the national development
processes. However, considerable scope remained for
improvements in the timeliness and quality of the data
and information made available for policy, planning and
programme implementation purposes.
237. The Commission emphasized that to improve
understanding of the linkages between population, the
environment and sustainable development, information
systems, databases and research capabilities in the
region needed to be established or improved. It was
suggested that more in-depth studies be undertaken in
the following areas: (a) strategies for creating awareness
of emerging issues for the purpose of developing
policies and implementing programmes; (b) the complex
and synergistic interrelations of population trends,
poverty, resource use and the environment; (c) the
dynamics of the growth of metropolitan centres and the
implications of that growth for poverty, the environment,
human development and the quality of life; (d) the
implications of ageing for policy and programme
development; (e) sociocultural and other factors that
fostered the adoption of family planning, including
identifying ways to make those programmes selfsustaining;
(f) the interrelations between the role and
status of women in the context of population and
development; and (g) other related issues, such as
AIDS.
238. While considerable progress had been made in
achieving demographic goals at the national level, in
some areas fertility, infant and child mortality and
maternal mortality remained high. In order to improve
family planning/maternal and child health (FP/MCH)
services for the population, the Commission stressed
that there should be regular monitoring of programme
performance at the local and national levels through
improved FP/MCH management information systems
and periodic demographic surveys.
239. The Commission recognized the importance of
developing national skills and capabilities through
strengthening human resources development programmes
in order to address emerging population issues
and to respond effectively to the recommendations of
the Bali Declaration. It also emphasized the need to
improve local, national and regional level capabilities in
the utilization of data and information for better
programme planning, monitoring and evaluation. The
Commission recognized the role that had been played by
the secretariat and recommended that it should continue
to undertake such activities through the continued
provision of technical assistance and the organization of
training courses to build national capabilities.
240. The Commission recognized the considerable
progress made in the development of national
population information systems. It urged the secretariat
to continue its efforts to strengthen and extend those
national programmes within the framework of the Asia-
Pacific Population Information Network (POPIN).
45
241. The Commission also recognized the importance
of TCDC in improving the exchange of information,
experience and expertise. In view of the effectiveness of
the TCDC approach, the Commission emphasized that
more effort should be made by both the secretariat and
the developing countries to implement, on a TCDC
basis, a wide range of activities covering areas such as
family planning, maternal and child health, development
of population policy, and modern methods for collecting,
analysing and disseminating information.
242. The Commission, in confirming its commitment
to the spirit of the Bali Declaration, urged the secretariat
to play an enhanced role in creating awareness of the
implications of the Bali Declaration, in periodically
monitoring its implementation and in conducting reviews
of the progress made.
243. The Commission recommended that, in the light
of the Bali Declaration, the secretariat should continue
to play an advocacy role. It requested the secretariat to
disseminate information through regular publications
and other appropriate means concerning the challenges
faced by the countries of the region in implementing the
Bali Declaration.
244. In view of the increased seriousness of
population issues on a global scale, the Commission
recognized the importance of the forthcoming
International Conference on Population and
Development, to be held at Cairo in September 1994.
The Commission endorsed the Bali Declaration on
Population and Sustainable Development, adopted by
the Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference,
which would constitute the main Asian and Pacific
regional input to the International Conference. The
Commission expressed the hope that the spirit of the Bali
Declaration would be reflected in the outcome of the
International Conference.
245. The Commission noted with concern the
redeployment of UNFPA-supported regional advisers
and the prospect of a significant reduction in
extrabudgetary resources, particularly from UNFPA, for
the Asian and Pacific regional population programme of
the secretariat. None the less, the Bali Declaration gave
the secretariat an expanded mandate to assist the
members and associate members in their implementation
of the relevant recommendations. The Commission
therefore urged UNFPA, international donors,
Governments and the United Nations to increase their
allocation of human and financial support so that the
secretariat could respond effectively in assisting the
Governments in implementing the Bali Declaration.
246. The Commission adopted resolution 49/4 on
population and sustainable development: goals and
strategies into the twenty-first century.
Committee on Statistics, eighth session
247. The Commission had before it documents
E/ESCAP/896 and Corr.1, the report of the Committee on
Statistics on its eighth session, and E/ESCAP/895 on
major issues arising from the deliberations of the
Committee on Statistics. The Commission expressed
appreciation of the documentation and endorsed the
report of the Committee, which comprised a
comprehensive summary of the issues in statistics and
government computerization facing countries in the
region. It also endorsed the draft programme of work in
statistics for the biennium 1994-1995, and noted that
owing to the limited availability of resources there was a
heightened need to set priorities.
248. The Commission commended the secretariat on
its role in promoting the use of statistics and enhancing
the statistical capabilities in the countries of the region.
The strengthening of that role, if possible by increasing
staff resources, would be beneficial to all statistical
organizations in the region. The recommendation of the
United Nations Statistical Commission that ESCAP
should continue to function as the focal point for
statistical development activities in the region had given
added importance to the Committee on Statistics. The
view was expressed that the Committee should strive for
a more coordinated approach that would minimize
duplication with other institutions undertaking statistical
development and information-gathering activities.
249. The Commission emphasized that statistics were
a vital tool for national economic and social
development planning. It noted that demands for
statistics were becoming more pressing, as data for
informed decision-making were needed in a wide range
of sectors of society. As it was a goal of many countries
to achieve economic growth with distributive justice
while paying due attention to underprivileged groups,
the provision of comprehensive data had become vital
for effective policy action and programme formulation,
as well as for monitoring the progress made.
250. The Commission observed that a number of
developing countries of the region had developed
statistical capabilities to meet many of their data
requirements; however, areas remained in which
countries needed to develop and improve their expertise.
The growing demand for data as a consequence of the
priorities assigned to the three major developmental
themes of regional economic cooperation, poverty
alleviation, and environment and sustainable
development meant that national statistical offices
would have to enhance their capabilities for developing
additional national and subnational statistics and for
improving the quality and timely availability of the data.
As more and more countries were taking an interest in
assessing the current state of the environment and the
characteristics and determinants of poverty, as well as
in monitoring the progress achieved in response to
46
policy action, greater burdens were being placed on
statisticians to make available the relevant data.
251. In the field of economic statistics, the
Commission welcomed the adoption by the United
Nations Statistical Commission of the revised United
Nations System of National Accounts (1993 SNA). It
noted that the 1993 SNA was accepted as a single
international standard for the integration of economic
statistics. It expressed appreciation of the flexibility
explicit in the Statistical Commission's recommendations
that countries should adopt SNA in accordance with
their needs and conditions. It noted with interest that
China had developed its own national accounts system,
which had been based primarily on SNA but had
retained features of MPS (System of Balances of the
National Economy) to suit its requirements. China
would improve its system further and enhance the
international comparability of its data. The Commission
welcomed the fact that the 1993 SNA had foreseen that
satellite accounts would be compiled utilizing concepts
that differed from those in the central framework.
252. Noting that the United Nations Statistical
Commission had attached great importance to the role of
the regional commissions in the implementation of the
1993 SNA, the Commission expressed appreciation of
and endorsed the proposal of the secretariat to organize,
subject to the availability of funding, a two-week
seminar in 1993 as a prelude to the implementation of the
1993 SNA. It urged the secretariat to continue to provide
support for the implementation process, including the
organization of meetings and workshops at regional,
subregional and country levels. That would help to
improve national accounts statistics, facilitate a greater
level of uniformity in data compilation, and enhance the
international comparability needed for a comparative
analysis of countries.
253. The Commission took note of the activities
undertaken by the secretariat in organizing phase VI of
the International Comparison Programme (ICP). It
expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan for
its continued provision to the secretariat of the services
of a price statistics adviser, on a non-reimbursable loan
basis, to assist ICP-participating countries in the region.
254. Noting the importance of statistics on trade in
services and of service statistics in general, the
Commission urged the secretariat to undertake activities
for their development and improvement. That was
considered especially important since services had been
included in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade
negotiations. Among other areas of statistics, the
Commission considered establishment surveys as well
as statistics on the informal sector to be important. The
secretariat was urged to mobilize resources in
anticipation of requests for assistance in those areas
from members and associate members.
255. The Commission recognized the importance of
up-to-date, reliable, complete and accurate population
data for planning sustainable development. The
Commission was informed that, owing to the absence of
extrabudgetary funding, for the first time in many years
little developmental work was being conducted by the
secretariat in the area of demographic statistics.
256. The Commission noted the importance of data
on the situation of women relative to that of men, in
particular data reflecting women's participation in and
contributions to social and economic development. The
Commission was informed of the activities of the United
Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in
some countries of the region, which aimed at
strengthening the collection, analysis and dissemination
of statistics on the situation of women relative to that of
men. Those activities included consultations among
users and producers of statistics on gender issues and
the production of a popular statistical booklet on gender
issues in each country. The Commission noted with
interest that ESCAP and UNIFEM were considering a
similar initiative, covering seven countries of the region,
in preparation for the Fourth World Conference on
Women to be held at Beijing in 1995.
257. Recognizing that there was a dearth of
systematically collected quantitative information on
poverty in most of the developing countries of the
region, the Commission felt that statistics relating to
poverty needed to be given priority attention. To
develop statistics on poverty, countries needed to focus
on defining poverty in clear-cut and reasonably
acceptable terms, taking into account factors such as the
quality of life, nutrition levels and difficulties in
satisfying basic needs. Defining the poverty line
remained a problem. The secretariat was urged to
develop a set of indicators on poverty that could be
used in the countries of the region. The Commission
emphasized that there was a need for sharing country
experience and exchanging information on the
development of poverty statistics. It expressed its
appreciation and endorsement of the secretariat's
initiatives to improve statistics relating to poverty,
including the proposed project in that area being
considered for extrabudgetary funding. It noted with
satisfaction that in 1993 the Statistical Institute for Asia
and the Pacific (SIAP) had introduced some training
courses on statistics for poverty alleviation. A number
of delegations stated that their countries were ready to
cooperate with the ESCAP secretariat in that important
field.
258. The Commission noted that the members and
associate members were increasingly recognizing the
importance of environmental protection and the need for
environmentally sound and sustainable development.
Environment statistics were indispensable for
understanding and monitoring environmental problems
in the countries and areas of the region. However, the
necessary expertise to collect and compile environmental
data was lacking in most of the developing countries of
47
the region. The Commission felt that the ongoing
secretariat activities directed towards the development
of environment statistics were therefore timely and
appropriate, and that the secretariat should play a
coordinating role in the region. It commended the
secretariat's plan to prepare an operational handbook to
facilitate the collection of environmental data at the
country level. The Commission welcomed the
information that the Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal
was planning to organize jointly with the ESCAP
secretariat a workshop on the development and
improvement of environment statistics.
259. The Commission noted the growing interest of
countries in environmental accounting. It heard with
interest that the secretariat was designing a project on
that. It was informed that work on the methodology of
environmental accounting had been initiated in some
countries of the region. The Commission noted that
China had recently organized a workshop on
environmental and resource accounting jointly with the
United Nations Statistical Division. The Commission
was informed that in the view of the United Nations
Statistical Commission the first steps taken in that area
should relate to physical accounting, leaving the more
complicated questions of monetary valuation to a later
stage.
260. The Commission noted the importance for
members and associate members of the collection of
energy statistics. It commended the recently published
United Nations manual, Energy Statistics: A Manual for
Developing Countries, which provided valuable
guidance. The Commission urged UNDP to resume
support for advisory services in energy statistics, which
had been discontinued at the end of 1991.
261. The Commission strongly endorsed the
recommendation of the Committee on Statistics that the
focus of the statistics subprogramme should remain on
the enhancement of national statistical capabilities. It
noted with appreciation the contributions made by the
regional advisory services in statistics to the
advancement of official statistical systems in the region.
Many delegations reported that their countries had
gained invaluable experience, and expressed the desire
that the delivery of regional advisory services in social,
demographic and economic statistics, including energy
statistics, should be continued and strengthened to help
the countries of the region to develop and improve their
statistical systems. The Commission noted with concern
the decline in the number of regional advisers fielded by
the secretariat.
262. Concern was expressed that some countries
might not be covered by the advisory services provided
by the newly established subregional UNFPA Country
Support Teams, whose attention would be focused
largely on UNFPA-funded projects. The Commission
recommended that ESCAP and UNFPA should work
closely together to establish an efficient, flexible system
of advisory services from which the countries of the
region could derive maximum benefit. The Commission
recalled that the Committee on Statistics would evaluate
the experience of the countries with the new
arrangements.
263. The Commission noted the observation made by
the Committee on Statistics that the national statistical
offices in the central Asian republics were facing
considerable difficulties and that they required support
from other countries and international organizations. It
was considered advantageous for those countries and
other economies in transition to seek assistance from the
secretariat, as ESCAP had no pressing operational
requirements for data in any particular field; rather, its
prime concern was to enhance national capabilities
according to the priorities determined by the countries
themselves. It was therefore felt that the secretariat
should have sufficient resources and a critical mass of
expertise to achieve that goal effectively.
264. The Commission strongly supported the
secretariat's efforts to promote government
computerization and the use of computing technology,
which were viewed as important in the production of
timely and reliable information, and hence in the
strengthening of the planning and management
capabilities of national Governments. The Commission
noted with satisfaction the willingness of a number of
countries to share their experience and expertise in
software development and computer applications. Such
cooperation should be promoted within the framework of
TCDC and other modalities of cooperation.
265. The Commission endorsed the following
important areas of work in government computerization,
as identified by the Committee on Statistics at its eighth
session:
(a) Expert group meeting to review computerization
development in the public sector;
(b) Promotion of standards and coding
systems for integration of government
information systems;
(c) Establishment of national policies and
strategies for development of government
computerization.
The Commission noted that the secretariat would require
bilateral as well as multilateral financial support to
implement those activities.
266. The Commission observed the difficulty of
retaining data processing staff in government
departments and considered that development
programmes in the field of computers should be
intensified to address that problem. Training should
cover both hardware and software for statistical
applications, including analysis, forecasting, database
management and data dissemination.
48
267. The Commission took note of the various
regular statistical publications of the secretariat. It was
mentioned that there was a need for more detailed, timely
and reliable issuance of data. The Commission recalled
the suggestion by the Committee on Statistics that
international trade statistics could be published
quarterly. Since publications could place heavy
demands on resources, periodic review was considered
necessary to ensure their continued relevance to user
needs. The Commission endorsed the secretariat's plans
to review its statistical publications.
268. With regard to responses by countries to
questionnaires from international organizations, the view
was expressed that technical assistance in terms of
appropriate computer facilities would lighten the
burden.
269. The Commission recognized that technical
cooperation among the countries of the ESCAP region
could be used to reduce disparities in statistical
capabilities through the sharing of experience and
information on new developments. TCDC had been
employed successfully in the region in a number of
statistical training programmes, such as those
concerning sampling, household survey methodologies,
and electronic data processing. To facilitate closer
scrutiny of specifications in various countries of the
region, bilateral visits had been organized for ICP
officials. The Commission recorded with satisfaction
that some delegations had stated that their countries
were willing to share experience, knowledge and training
infrastructure with regard to the development of poverty
alleviation statistics and human resources development
in household surveys and statistical computing. The
suggestion was made that study tours to developed
countries could be organized to enhance capabilities for
data utilization in developing countries.
270. The Commission noted with gratitude that, since
the forty-eighth session, the secretariat had received
bilateral donor assistance for its activities in statistics
from China, Japan, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
Multilateral assistance had been generously provided
by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNFPA,
and in connection with SIAP, by UNDP. The
Commission noted with appreciation that Australia
would continue to consider favourably the provision of
advice and assistance to developing countries in the
establishment of statistical operations and the training
of staff.
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation,
first and second sessions
271. The Commission had before it documents
E/ESCAP/897 and Corr.1, as well as E/ESCAP/898 and
Corr.1, relating to the reports of the first and second
sessions of the Committee for Regional Economic
Cooperation.
272. The Commission commended the work of the
Committee and its Steering Group. It endorsed both
reports and expressed its firm and unequivocal
commitment to regional economic cooperation. In
deliberating on the programme of action for regional
economic cooperation in trade and investment, the
Commission stressed the importance of maintaining an
open multilateral trading system and of drawing the
Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations to an
early conclusion, particularly since the region's dynamic
growth was linked to free trade. Some delegations
emphasized that there was a need for open regionalism,
and that growing interdependence would necessitate
closer cooperation in investment flows, technology
transfer and skills development. Some delegations
referred to the emerging trend towards regional trading
arrangements and suggested that the implications of
such arrangements would need to be investigated
carefully, particularly with regard to their likely adverse
diversionary impact on trade and investment in the
Asian and Pacific region. With regard to policy on the
expansion of intraregional trade and investment, some
delegations stressed the increasing importance of trade
issues relating to the implications of rules of origin, the
new legislation consequent to the single European
market, and the progress of trade liberalization. Some
delegations recognized that arrangements restricting
trade and investment flows needed to be abolished to
promote regional economic cooperation and the
effective operation of the trade-investment nexus. It was
suggested that the harmonization of laws, with respect
to intellectual property rights, for example, would be
conducive to the stimulation of intraregional trade and
investment flows.
273. The programme of action for regional economic
cooperation in trade and investment, as endorsed by the
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation at its
second session, was endorsed by the Commission. The
Commission also adopted resolution 49/1 on the
implementation of the action programme for regional
economic cooperation in trade and investment. The
action programme was perceived as a bold, pragmatic
and timely approach to the strengthening of growth in
the region through an outward-oriented development
strategy. Delegations drew attention to specific
components of the programme of action. It was agreed
that priority should be accorded, as suggested by the
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, to
studies on trade and investment flows in the region.
The Commission noted that the studies, which should
relate to policy at the macro-level, would have to analyse
disaggregated flows and identify measures to
strengthen intraregional trade and investment expansion
as a vehicle for enhancing regional economic
cooperation and development. The Commission
emphasized that priority should be given to the
requirements of the least developed and land-locked
countries, as well as to those of the Pacific islands and
the economies in transition. In particular, the
49
diversification of the economic ties, especially in trade,
of those disadvantaged groups of economies to other
parts of the region needed support through the
programme of action.
274. The Commission expressed strong support for
activities relating to the development of export-oriented
small and medium enterprises. Some delegations
suggested that t he study should include resource-based
industries and should investigate the possibility of
subregional specialization of production as a basis for
cost-efficient subcontracting of production to the small
and medium enterprises in different countries by
multinational firms. The Commission recommended that
the findings of existing studies at the national level and
by other regional institutions should be considered in
implementing the small and medium enterprises
development programme, and that regional trade fairs for
the products of small and medium enterprises should be
held at regular intervals.
275. With regard to the strengthening of the
information base, the Commission recommended that the
Regional Trade Information Network (TISNET) should
be strengthened and that the proposed regional
investment information and promotion service should be
established. The Commission agreed that a
strengthened regional database on trade, investment
and technology transfer possibilities would be of
particular benefit to the small and medium enterprises in
the region.
276. The Commission emphasized that it was
necessary to enlarge the scope of subregional
cooperation. It expressed appreciation to the secretariat
for directing attention to the possibilities for subregional
cooperation in trade and investment in North-East Asia.
It also expressed appreciation to the members
concerned for their ideas on the expansion of
cooperation in that subregion. The Commission
recognized the initiatives by the Economic Cooperation
Organization (ECO) and the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to liberalize trade within
their subregions. It also recognized that subregional
initiatives in trade should be consistent with the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The Commission
stressed the potential for the development of
infrastructure and trade and investment linkages
between subregions. It suggested that the secretariat
should initiate studies to evaluate and assist in the
identification of complementarities between subregions.
277. The Commission noted the emerging role of
trade in services in international trade and identified that
as an area in regional economic cooperation in which
the secretariat could initiate useful work for policy
planning purposes. It drew attention to the need for a
regional database on trade in services, particularly with
regard to trends in the financial services sector. The
Commission recommended that the private sector should
be involved in the implementation of specific activities
within the programme of action, especially the study on
foreign direct investment flows and the strengthening of
cooperation between the national chambers of commerce
and industry, which were the focal points in the private
sector. Trade and trade-related environmental concerns
were identified as an important area for the secretariat's
attention, particularly as environmental norms might act
as non-tariff barriers.
278. The Commission observed that the programme
of action was of a continuous nature and therefore could
not be put into a specific time-frame; moreover, the
availability of resources would be a major determining
factor of its implementation. The priority studies on
trade and investment flows would be initiated
immediately, with resources generously provided by
UNDP, while the study on small and medium enterprises
would be initiated as soon as resources became
available. It was noted that as several activities under
the programme of action had been included in the next
biennial programme of work on regional economic
cooperation, those should be in place by 1994-1995.
279. With regard to the future priority areas of work
under the programme of action, the Commission
suggested that issues relating to the development of
infrastructural facilities for trade and investment,
technology transfer, electronic data information in trade
and transport, the harmonization of customs procedures
and of quality standards at the regional level could be
taken up as resources became available. The
Commission recommended that in view of the limited
availability of resources, services that were easily
available elsewhere should not be duplicated in the
implementation of the programme of action. The
Commission noted that ongoing national initiatives,
when they related to activities under the programme of
action, could reinforce efforts at the regional level.
280. One delegation made a reference to paragraph
43 of document E/ESCAP/925, concerning the theme
topic study, which it considered relevant to the
discussions on the programme of action. The delegation
queried the validity of the secretariat's finding that the
region's developed economies (Australia, Japan and
New Zealand) were observed to be less protective than
their counterparts in Europe and the United States of
America, as a consequence of which they had
continuously restructured their industries in line with
their dynamic comparative advantage. However, two
other delegations strongly supported the observation
made by the secretariat in the study.
281. The Commission noted with appreciation that
UNDP had already made a commitment to fund, under
the fifth intercountry programme (1992-1996), some of
the activities envisaged in the programme of action. The
Commission also noted that UNDP had requested all
agencies executing its trade and investment programme
to involve regional and national institutions of
excellence in Asia and the Pacific in programme
implementation, such as in the conduct of studies and
50
research. The Commission further noted the statements
made by the representatives of the Asian Clearing
Union, the Asian Reinsurance Corporation and the
International Pepper Community on their operations.
Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked
Developing Countries
282. The Commission had before it the report of the
Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked
Developing Countries, first session, as contained in
document E/ESCAP/899. It endorsed the report, and
welcomed the establishment of the Special Body as a
significant step in directing attention to the special
problems of that group of countries and in developing
policies and programmes to accelerate the pace of their
economic and social development. It urged active
participation of all member countries, especially the least
developed countries, in the work of the Special Body.
283. The Commission reaffirmed that the least
developed countries held the primary responsibility for
the formulation and effective implementation of national
policies for their development. It welcomed the
far-reaching economic, political and social reforms under
way in many least developed countries. It recommended
that those efforts should be continued and intensified
and adequately supported by the international
community.
284. The Commission noted that the Substantial New
Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least
Developed Countries had not been able to attain its main
targets and that despite national and international
efforts on behalf of those countries, their social and
economic situation as a whole had not improved during
the 1980s. At the time the Programme of Action for the
Least Developed Countries for the 1990s was adopted
by the Second United Nations Conference on the Least
Developed Countries, held in Paris in September 1990,
there was a sense of optimism that the current decade
would add renewed stimulus to the socio-economic
progress of those countries. The progress following the
Second Conference had been less reassuring. The
uncertain global economic environment, the growing
difficulties faced by the least developed countries with
regard to exports, the high debt burden, natural
disasters, internal strife and ethnic conflict, together
with the added burden of large masses of refugees and
displaced persons in some least developed countries,
had blighted their development prospects. The slow
rate of growth of GDP in the Asian and Pacific least
developed countries provided a sharp contrast to the
dynamism displayed by many other developing
countries in the region.
285. The Commission observed that in the light of
the formidable difficulties facing the least developed
countries, there was a clear need for international
assistance to supplement their development efforts.
Thus, the unpromising outlook for overseas
development assistance (ODA) flows was a matter of
considerable concern. ODA resources played a vital role
in the development of human resources and in building
social and physical infrastructure in the least developed
countries, which in turn was essential to their domestic
resource mobilization programmes, in marshalling private
initiative to promote growth, and in attracting foreign
direct investment. Donor countries were therefore urged
to increase substantially their assistance to the least
developed countries in line with the Programme of
Action for the 1990s. It was emphasized that the special
needs of the least developed countries should be given
priority consideration in responding to competing claims
for resources in the post-cold war era.
286. The Commission noted that many least
developed countries had undertaken trade liberalization
measures as part of their economic reform programmes
to improve efficiency and macroeconomic management.
However, to be effective those measures would have to
be matched by greater access of the products of least
developed countries to the markets of their developed
and developing country trading partners. It was hoped
that the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade
negotiations would bring substantial benefits to the
least developed countries and would be completed early
and successfully.
287. The Commission was of the opinion that most
least developed countries were not fully aware of the
possibilities of the generalized system of preferences
(GSP) schemes, and were not able to exploit fully the
special treatment offered to them. Hence, that
represented an important area in which national
workshops as well as regional or subregional training
seminars for a group of least developed countries, such
as those in South Asia or in the Pacific, could be
organized, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary
funding. The secretariat was urged to expand its
activities in that field to take account of the special
needs of the least developed countries and to initiate
follow-up action, so as to enable the least developed
countries to make effective and full utilization of the
special privileges extended to them by the various GSP
schemes.
288. The Commission expressed support for
measures to enhance intraregional flows of investment
to promote the development of least developed
countries. Bridging the information gap between the
investor and the prospective recipient least developed
country was a prerequisite for attracting foreign
investment. It noted that the proposed regional
investment information and promotion service could
play a useful role in identifying investment opportunities
and partners and in encouraging an inflow of foreign
investment into the least developed countries.
51
289. The Commission noted that the establishment of
a centre for research on the least developed countries, at
Dhaka, as recommended by the Ministerial Meeting of
the Least Developed Countries, held at Dhaka in
February 1990, could also contribute to bridging the
information gap. Note was taken of the statement by the
representative of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the first session
of the Special Body on Least Developed and
Land-locked Developing Countries that, at the request
of the Government of Bangladesh, UNCTAD would
explore the possibility of providing assistance for a
feasibility study on the establishment at Dhaka of a
research centre on the least developed countries. It was
observed that a smaller research unit, possibly located in
the ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre (ESCAP/POC) in
Vanuatu or the University of the South Pacific at Suva,
would facilitate the conduct of research and the
dissemination of information on matters of special
concern to the Pacific island least developed countries.
290. The Commission recognized that environmental
deterioration was a matter of concern for the sustainable
development prospects of the least developed countries
and that there was a clear need to integrate
environmental concerns into their development process.
There was an acute shortage of expertise and know-how
on analysing the environmental impact of various
economic policies and projects, which required urgent
attention. The secretariat was urged to render technical
assistance in that vital area on a priority basis.
291. The Commission expressed strong support for
enhancing economic and technical cooperation
(ECDC/TCDC) between the least developed and other
developing countries in the region. It noted with
appreciation the various assistance programmes
implemented by the developing countries under
ECDC/TCDC arrangements and welcomed the
assurances given by those countries to expand such
assistance, particularly to the least developed countries.
It requested the secretariat to initiate appropriate
follow-up action in close cooperation with prospective
donor developing countries to explore further
opportunities for ECDC/TCDC assistance to the least
developed countries within the framework of "cluster
meetings", as envisaged in the Programme of Action for
the 1990s. An appeal was made to the developed
countries to extend generous financial assistance for
organizing "cluster meetings", while the secretariat was
urged to make further efforts to seek extrabudgetary
resources for those meetings.
292. The Commission adopted resolution 49/8 on
strengthening assistance to least developed countries.
293. The Commission endorsed the proposed
programme of work and priorities, 1994-1995, for the
least developed, land-locked and island developing
countries. The view was expressed, however, that
although the positive moves taken by the secretariat to
develop a tangible programme of work for the least
developed countries were welcomed, the programme of
work for the biennium 1994-1995 should reflect more
adequately the national priorities. Attention was drawn
to the relatively low proportion of Professional workmonths
allocated to operational activities, which were
considered more directly relevant to the most pressing
needs of the least developed countries.
294. It was noted that, as mandated by the
Commission, the next session of the Special Body was
scheduled for 1995. That was also the year in which the
secretariat was expected to conduct a major mid-term
review at the regional level of the implementation of the
Programme of Action for the 1990s, which would serve
as the regional input to the global review exercise. The
Commission endorsed the proposal that the next session
of the Special Body should be focused on the mid-term
review. It appealed to donor countries for generous
funding of activities related to the mid-term review and
called upon all member States to make special efforts to
ensure the greater effectiveness and success of the next
session of the Special Body.
Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries
295. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/900 and Corr.1. It commended the secretariat
on the speedy organization of the first session of the
Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries,
and on the documentation prepared for the
consideration of the Special Body at that session. The
Commission expressed great satisfaction at the active
participation of Pacific island countries in the
deliberations, which had been thought-provoking and
had contributed much to the successful conclusion of
the session.
296. The report of the Special Body and the
programme of work, 1994-1995, of the ESCAP secretariat
on the Pacific island developing countries were
endorsed by the Commission. The efforts by the
Executive Secretary to forge increased linkages with
regional and international financial institutions were
welcomed.
297. Environmental protection, it was emphasized,
was an important issue in the Pacific island subregion,
and the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June
1992, and Agenda 21 had raised great hope for the
promotion of sustainable development. The
Commission urged the secretariat to collaborate closely
with other international agencies in the implementation
of Agenda 21. It was reiterated that the South Pacific
Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) should play
a coordinating role in the preparation of a regional input
for the first Global Conference on the Sustainable
52
Development of Small Island Developing States, to be
convened in April 1994. In that connection, the
Commission was informed of the forthcoming regional
technical meeting to be hosted by the Government of
Vanuatu from 31 May to 5 June 1993.
298. The Commission emphasized that prudent fiscal
and financial policies were indispensable for stable
growth, and that appropriate policy adjustments and
reforms were crucial for the mobilization of both
domestic and external resources for sustained
development. With regard to foreign trade and
investment, the Commission stressed the larger benefits
to be derived from regional and subregional cooperation
and the importance of closer relations between Pacific
island countries and other developing countries,
particularly those in East and South-East Asia.
299. The Commission reaffirmed its support for the
substantive emphasis in the proposed programme of
work, and the work proposals that had been made by the
secretariat and endorsed by the Special Body. It
appealed strongly to donors for generous contributions
to implement ESCAP activities in the Pacific. That would
enable the secretariat to implement as soon as possible
the mandated work in favour of the 19 Pacific island
countries and to undertake the follow-up required to
identify other areas of work in which the many unique
problems and needs of those countries could be
addressed.
300. Many delegations summarized for the
Commission the wide range of special development
constraints confronting Pacific island countries owing to
their smallness, remoteness, fragile ecology, and
vulnerability to frequent natural disasters. Island
economies were heavily dependent on a few primary
commodity exports and had suffered in recent years from
unfavourable external trade conditions. The acute lack
of skilled human resources and infrastructural facilities
had been creating additional problems that hindered
domestic efforts to foster social and economic
development.
301. Against the backdrop of rising global and
regional demands for resources and assistance, donor
countries and agencies were urged by many delegations
to maintain and, where possible, enhance, as a matter of
priority, their assistance to the Pacific. The Commission
took note of the many areas in which technical
assistance had been provided to Pacific island countries
under various national schemes for ECDC/TCDC, and of
the announced willingness to maintain and increase
such technical assistance in the future. It was indicated
that there had been some communication difficulties
with parts of the Pacific island subregion. The
secretariat indicated its availability to facilitate such
communications on request.
302. Many delegations expressed concern at the
recent decline in ESCAP activities in the Pacific. The
long-felt need for increasing the representation of Pacific
island nationals on the Professional staff of the
secretariat was also emphasized. The secretariat gave its
assurance that it would exert its best efforts to take into
account those observations, within its various
constraints and the relevant rules and procedures of the
United Nations.
303. Appreciation was expressed for the practice of
holding an informal consultative meeting between the
Pacific island countries and the Executive Secretary and
his senior colleagues. It was indicated that such a
meeting facilitated the frank exchange of views and
should be continued.
304. The Commission conveyed its appreciation to
the Executive Secretary for the efforts made by him to
implement the spirit of Commission resolution 48/9 of 23
April 1992 on strengthening ESCAP assistance to Pacific
island countries, through a redeployment of additional
resources to ESCAP/POC. It expressed its gratitude to
the several donor countries for providing experts on a
non-reimbursable loan basis and short-term ad hoc
expertise in an effort to enhance ESCAP/POC
capabilities. However, it also emphasized the need to
strengthen ESCAP/POC on a more permanent basis.
The Commission welcomed the Executive Secretary's
announcement in the informal consultative meeting that,
given the expected decentralization of resources from
Headquarters, he aimed to increase the Professional
advisory staff to 10 by the beginning of the next year.
The secretariat was also urged to give due weight to the
allocation of resources for work on Pacific island
countries. The Commission indicated that it would
follow those prospective developments with great
interest.
305. The Commission was pleased that the ESCAP
training and orientation programme, which had proved
helpful to Pacific island countries, would be resumed in
1994, after a lapse of two years. It expressed deep
gratitude to the many donor countries that had
contributed to the Pacific Trust Fund. It noted with
appreciation several additional contributions to the
Fund and expressed hope for sustained donor support
so that the Pacific Trust Fund could eventually operate
on a self-financing basis.
306. It was emphasized by several delegations that
the next session or future sessions of the Special Body
should be convened at a location within the Pacific
island subregion. Among other things, that would
enable all participants from outside the subregion and
ESCAP staff based in Bangkok to observe directly and
better appreciate the many special development
problems facing Pacific island countries. The secretariat,
while generally welcoming that possibility, observed
that since the convening of such meetings would
involve additional costs to the secretariat, it would not
be feasible to do so without extrabudgetary support for
the proposal.
53
Selected issues in fields of activity of the
Commission and reports on its
regional institutions
307. In her opening statement, the Deputy Executive
Secretary highlighted the major issues in various fields
of activity on which the Commission's views were
sought. The attention of the Commission was drawn to
issues concerning: (a) the Agenda for Action for the
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-
2002; (b) progress in the implementation of the Social
Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region Towards
the Year 2000 and Beyond; (c) problems faced by the
transitional disadvantaged economies in the ESCAP
region; (d) economic and technical cooperation among
developing countries; (e) preparations for the Ministerial
Conference on Urbanization; and (f) preparations for the
Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on
Women in Development.
308. The Commission also considered the reports on
the following regional institutions: Asian and Pacific
Centre for Transfer of Technology, Regional
Coordination Centre for Research and Development of
Coarse Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber Crops in the
Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific, and Statistical
Institute for Asia and the Pacific.
309. The Commission reviewed the issues in the
various sectors, as reflected below.
Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002
310. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/902, annex I of which contained the
Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of
People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region,
and annex II, the Agenda for Action for the Asian and
Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002. The
Commission commended the secretariat on its effective
work in formulating the Proclamation as well as the
Agenda for Action.
311. The Commission was informed of the success of
the high-level intergovernmental Meeting to Launch the
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, held at
Beijing from 1 to 5 December 1992, at which both the
Proclamation and the Agenda for Action had been
discussed, completed and adopted. The Commission
urged all members and associate members to sign the
Proclamation at the highest levels of government. At the
same time, it adopted the Agenda for Action for the
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-
2002, for implementation by all members and associate
members. The Commission adopted resolution 49/6 on
the Proclamation and Agenda for Action for the Asian
and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002.
312. The Commission was informed of the many
national, regional and subregional activities under way,
in conformity with the Agenda for Action. Those
activities were a promising start to the Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002. A number of
Governments had already joined as signatories, at the
highest levels, to the Proclamation. Many others had
indicated their intent to do so. Recognizing that people
with disabilities were among the poorest and most
vulnerable in most communities, the Commission
stressed the moral obligation of all countries to work for
the full participation and equality of people with
disabilities in society.
313. The Commission emphasized the importance of
follow-up to Commission resolution 48/3 of 23 April 1992
on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,
1993-2002, and the implementation of the Agenda for
Action. It urged its members and associate members, in
consonance with their national priorities, to develop
national programmes of action within the framework of
the Agenda for Action. Concerning that task, particular
attention was drawn to the need to focus on the
attainment of tangible improvements in the lives of
people with disabilities. The secretariat was requested
to continue its activities in support of national action in
implementing the Agenda for Action.
314. The Commission commended the initiative of
the China Disabled Persons' Federation to promote, in
close cooperation with the Governments of ESCAP
members and non-governmental organizations in the
region, public awareness of the Decade and positive
attitudes towards people with disabilities. To that end,
the China Disabled People's Performing Arts Troupe had
already embarked on a cultural exchange programme
involving goodwill visits to countries in the region.
315. The adoption and implementation of a wide
range of national policy measures in consonance with
the Agenda for Action were referred to by various
delegations. While some Governments were formulating
regulations and establishing mechanisms to follow up
recently enacted national legislation, others had
introduced or were developing national policies in
support of people with disabilities. The establishment of
national coordination mechanisms, periodic surveys of
the situation of people with disabilities and the
registration of disabled persons for preferred access to
services were mentioned as some of the means adopted
by countries in the region to facilitate implementation of
policy.
316. The Commission noted that areas covered by
those policy measures included rehabilitation, education
and barrier-free facilities, as well as services to facilitate
communication between persons with disabilities and
government agencies. Financial support for people with
disabilities, extended in the form of increased budgetary
allocations for small enterprise development, as well as
54
livelihood, education and medical subsidies, were among
the policy measures being implemented in various
countries of the region.
317. The Commission emphasized the importance of
the promotion of employment among people with
disabilities. In that regard, the Commission welcomed
the close collaboration between ESCAP, the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) and
organizations of people with disabilities, particularly in
the convening, late in 1993, of a workshop on the role of
those organizations in the development of national
policies and programmes concerning the training and
employment of people with disabilities.
318. Several delegations referred to the interest of
their Governments in participating in regional
cooperative endeavours relating to the implementation
of the Agenda for Action. The Government of India
offered to contribute to the Decade, within the
framework of TCDC, its facilities and experience in the
following areas: (a) training of professionals in the
rehabilitation of people with visual, orthopaedic, hearing
and mental disabilities, and research and development of
service modules concerning those disabilities; (b)
appropriate technology for the production of low-cost
and high-quality assistive devices; and (c) rehabilitation
of persons with disabilities in rural areas.
319. Concern was expressed about the need for
continued attention to the prevention of avoidable
disablement. Traffic accidents, poor perinatal care of
mothers and infants, and misuse of drugs through
ignorance were common causes of disablement in the
least developed countries of the region. The
Commission urged that international assistance should
address those problems. It also urged that the highest
consideration in budgetary priorities should be given to
improving access to primary health care, community
education and appropriate immunization, in order to
prevent the avoidable disablement associated with
factors such as malnutrition and environmental hazards,
including water-related causes of disease.
320. The Commission highlighted the importance of
close cooperation between Governments and nongovernmental
organizations in addressing disability
issues. In that connection, it noted with appreciation
the contributions of the Asia-Pacific Inter-organizational
Task Force on Disability-related Concerns to the
preparation and follow-up of the Agenda for Action.
321. The Commission expressed its appreciation to
the Governments of Australia, China, Hong Kong and
the Republic of Korea for their generous financial
contributions for Decade activities. The terms of
reference of a trust fund for that purpose were being
developed by the secretariat. Gratitude was also
expressed to the Governments of China, Japan and
Sweden for their financial assistance in support of the
secretariat's activities to promote the Decade. The
Commission commended the support extended to
ESCAP by the Swedish Organisation of Handicapped
International Aid Foundation (SHIA) in the convening
of the ESCAP/SHIA Conference of Deaf People in Asia,
held at Bangkok from 9 to 12 March 1993. The
Conference, which had coincided with the beginning of
the Decade, was the first-ever United Nations
conference of deaf people.
Progress in the implementation of the Social
Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region
Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond
322. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/901 on progress in the implementation of the
Social Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region
Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond. The Commission
expressed appreciation to the secretariat for that
document and endorsed its findings and
recommendations.
323. The Commission recalled that the objectives of
the Social Development Strategy were the eradication of
absolute poverty, the realization of distributive justice
and the enhancement of popular participation. To
ensure a comprehensive and multisectoral approach to
the realization of those objectives, the Strategy
emphasized that national action programmes, with
regional support, should fulfil the following major
functions:
(a) Intra-governmental and intersectoral
coordination of social development policy, planning and
programming;
(b) Targeting of specific social issues and
disadvantaged social groups for priority attention;
(c) Training of personnel for the delivery of
social services;
(d) Design of information systems and
research programmes on social issues and on the policy
responses required;
(e) Monitoring and evaluation of programme
impact;
(f) Allocation of resources to permit effective
programme implementation.
324. The Commission reviewed a number of national
programmes and activities, under way or planned in
selected countries of the ESCAP region, whose specific
objectives were supportive of the aims and objectives of
the Strategy. It also reviewed various measures being
taken by the secretariat and other United Nations bodies
and agencies in support of the aims and objectives of
the Strategy.
325. The Commission noted that, since the adoption
of the Strategy at the Fourth Asian and Pacific
Ministerial Conference on Social Welfare and Social
Development, held at Manila from 7 to 11 October
55
1991, many ESCAP members and associate members
had taken action to bring their national social
development policies and programmes into line with the
aims and objectives of the Strategy. It was reported that
the multisectoral integrated approach called for in the
Strategy was being followed by several countries in the
formulation of their national programmes of action for
social development. The view was expressed that those
countries which had not yet adopted the multisectoral
integrated approach could expedite the introduction of
such an approach to the formulation of national action
programmes for social development by better
"marketing" of the Strategy at the national level. The
secretariat was requested to provide support measures
in that regard.
326. The Commission acknowledged that while
national policy and programme orientations were being
adjusted to accommodate the objectives, themes and
modalities of the Strategy, many national initiatives in
support of the aims and objectives of the Strategy were
already under way. Several delegations informed the
Commission of such initiatives in their countries. The
Commission welcomed those initiatives, which included
the establishment of programmes on the following:
poverty alleviation, family planning, enhancing the role
of the family, social security reform, strengthening
planning capacity and database management,
strengthening non-governmental organizations for
social welfare and development, strengthening disaster
management, consolidation of strategies to combat drug
abuse at the national and grass-roots levels,
development of community-based rehabilitation of
disabled persons, and establishment and strengthening
of national coordinating bodies for social development.
The Commission was informed that the Association of
South-East Asian Nations had decided to discuss the
Strategy at its forthcoming ministerial meeting in 1993; it
was indicated that ESCAP might be invited to present
the Strategy at that meeting.
327. The importance of regional measures in support
of the formulation and implementation of national
policies and programmes under the Strategy was
emphasized. The Commission recalled that, in
pursuance of its resolution 48/2 of 23 April 1992 on
restructuring the conference structure of the
Commission, its programme of work had been revised
along thematic lines. Under the revised programme of
work, starting with the biennium 1994-1995, social
development issues would be covered under the
thematic programme on poverty alleviation. The
Commission observed that, since poverty alleviation
was a principal objective of the Strategy, the revised
programme should be able to accommodate readily the
social development activities already under way, as well
as those contemplated for future implementation within
the framework of the Strategy.
328. The Commission felt that, among the areas of
concern covered by the Strategy, priority attention might
continue to be given to specific issues relating to health,
education, disability and ageing. It recognized, in
particular, the need for continued regional support of
national efforts in the area of health, with special
attention to the relation between poverty and drug
abuse. The relation between drug abuse and AIDS was
also referred to as an issue deserving increased regional
attention, particularly within the context of poverty
alleviation. Drawing attention to the importance of the
social and economic dimensions of health issues, the
Commission emphasized that preventive measures
against preventable diseases such as poliomyelitis and
AIDS would be far more cost-effective than curative
measures, even if curative measures were available.
329. The Commission adopted resolution 49/9 on
eradication of preventable diseases in the Asian and
Pacific region as a component of social and economic
development.
330. The Commission emphasized that there was a
continued need for the provision of regional support for
the development of national policies and programmes for
disabled persons, the elderly and other disadvantaged
and vulnerable groups. It recognized the need for
regional support for, among other national initiatives,
the development of self-help organizations, the
application of guidelines on legislation to ensure the full
participation and equality of disabled and elderly
persons, the promotion of non-handicapping
environments for disabled and elderly persons, and
assistance in the development of comprehensive
policies on lifelong preparation for old age and social
security.
331. The Commission indicated that among other
issues and activities warranting priority attention were
the following: promotion of modalities for enhanced
cooperation between NGOs and Governments;
development of policies to strengthen the role of the
family in society; enhancement of the participation of
youth in development; promotion of functional literacy,
particularly among girls and young women; provision of
advisory services on the prevention of juvenile
delinquency and youth crime; and enhancement of
coordination and collaboration with the Commission on
Human Rights.
332. The Commission recalled that, in its resolution
48/5 of 23 April 1992 on the Social Development Strategy
for the ESCAP Region Towards the Year 2000 and
Beyond, it had requested the Executive Secretary to
convene in 1994 a regional conference of senior
government officials, concerned United Nations bodies
and agencies and other relevant organizations to review
and assess the progress achieved towards attaining the
aims and objectives of the Strategy, with a view to
revising it as might be called for in the light of
experience and changing regional social conditions. It
also noted that the General Assembly, in its resolution
47/92 of 16 December 1992, had decided to convene a
56
World Summit for Social Development, to be held early
in 1995. The Commission decided, therefore, that the
regional meeting of senior officials should be renamed a
regional ministerial conference in preparation for the
World Summit for Social Development. The Commission
welcomed the offer of the Government of the Philippines
to host that ministerial conference at Manila in 1994.
333. The Commission expressed appreciation to the
Governments of Australia, China, France, Japan, the
Netherlands, the Republic of Korea and Sweden; to
UNDP, the United Nations International Drug Control
Programme (UNDCP), the United Nations Centre for
Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs (CSDHA),
and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and to Disabled
People's International, the Swedish Organization of
Handicapped International Aid Foundation and the
Christian Conference of Asia for their generous support
of ESCAP activities in social development.
Problems faced by the transitional disadvantaged
economies in the ESCAP region
334. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/904 and Corr.1.
335. The Commission expressed appreciation of the
secretariat's analysis of the major economic and social
problems confronting the disadvantaged economies in
transition in Asia and the Pacific. While the Commission
strongly supported and welcomed the commitment of
the disadvantaged economies in transition to
establishing market economies, it urged those
economies to sustain and, where appropriate, accelerate
their reforms.
336. Although there was a consensus that the basic
immediate economic problem facing the disadvantaged
economies in transition was macroeconomic
stabilization, the Commission observed that the
disadvantaged economies in transition would also have
to solve other economic problems in order to ensure a
smooth transition to a market economy, including price
and enterprise reforms. In addition, the Commission
identified several other problems confronting the
disadvantaged economies in transition. They included
the lack of a proper competitive structure, the need to
convert military facilities to civilian use and the problem
of valuing enterprise assets for privatization.
337. The Commission noted that the economic
problems facing the disadvantaged economies in
transition were compounded by the closed nature of the
trading system of those economies as well as the lack of
transport and communications links with their
market-oriented neighbours.
338. The Commission agreed that, in addition to
economic problems, the disadvantaged economies in
transition would have to deal with the social problems
that were inevitably associated with market reforms and
that might have a significant impact on the economic
sectors of the disadvantaged economies in transition.
Three major social issues that were likely to create
considerable problems for those economies were the
problems of unemployment and industrial relations, the
social safety net, and the overall social protection of
citizens in the transition to a market economy.
339. In view of the above problems, the Commission
felt that it might be desirable to consider formulating an
appropriate social policy to complement the radical
changes caused by the transition to a market economy.
In addition, the Commission considered various other
measures that should be taken by the disadvantaged
economies in transition, with appropriate assistance
from ESCAP and concerned international agencies,
within the framework of a comprehensive package of
assistance that would address the major economic and
social problems facing those economies during the
difficult period of transition, with due regard to the
unique features of particular countries.
340. The Commission requested the secretariat to
work closely with the Economic Commission for Europe
(ECE) and other United Nations bodies and agencies,
especially UNDP, the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as non-United Nations
agencies such as the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development, in formulating its activities in favour
of the disadvantaged economies in transition. The
Commission suggested that useful lessons might be
learned from the experience of eastern Europe as well as
subregional projects involving disadvantaged
economies in transition, such as the Mekong River and
the Tumen River projects. Given the disparate nature of
the disadvantaged economies in transition, the
Commission cautioned the secretariat to take the
diversity among the disadvantaged economies in
transition into consideration in formulating its broad
strategy to assist those economies. The Commission
agreed that while the disadvantaged economies in
transition deserved assistance from the international
community, they could also do a lot to help themselves,
such as improving their management structure to
improve their capacity to utilize aid more efficiently.
341. The Commission expressed appreciation for the
services and various forms of assistance that the
secretariat had given to the disadvantaged economies in
transition in their efforts to achieve a market economy.
The Commission took note of specific suggestions by
several delegations for assistance and advised the
secretariat to attend to them within the limits of the
resources available to it. The Commission expressed its
strong support for the continuation of the services
provided by the secretariat in implementing its
resolution 48/8 of 23 April 1992 on the problems faced
by the transitional disadvantaged economies in the
ESCAP region.
57
Economic and technical cooperation among
developing countries
342. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/903 and Corr.1. The document contained four
chapters covering the following: (a) impediments to
economic and technical cooperation among developing
countries; (b) strengthening the role of TCDC national
focal points; (c) promoting the catalytic role of the
secretariat in operational ECDC-TCDC activities; and (d)
the role of economic and technical cooperation among
developing countries in the ESCAP thematic programme
of work.
343. In introducing the document, the secretariat
drew the Commission's attention to the promotional and
operational TCDC activities implemented by the
secretariat in 1992 for the benefit of the developing
countries, in particular the least developed, land-locked
and island developing countries and the disadvantaged
economies in transition. Such activities were
implemented through the generous financial
contributions of the donor Governments and multilateral
funding agencies, such as UNDP and UNFPA, to the
ESCAP programme of work and, in particular, the
contributions of the Governments of China, the
Netherlands and the Republic of Korea to the ESCAP
TCDC supplementary fund.
344. The secretariat also drew attention to the need
for greater initiatives on the part of the developing
countries, in particular the least developed, land-locked
and island developing countries and the disadvantaged
economies in transition, to enhance and ensure the
success of ECDC-TCDC activities. The countries were
urged to place greater emphasis on TCDC and the use of
the TCDC modality in their socio-economic development
efforts and to provide adequate human and financial
resources for the implementation of TCDC activities.
345. The secretariat expressed its readiness to assist
in enhancing the capability and effectiveness of TCDC
national focal points through appropriate activities, as
well as to enhance its own in-house capacities to enable
it to play a more effective catalytic role, especially with
regard to supporting the operational TCDC activities of
members and associate members. The secretariat
requested other donor Governments and members and
associate members to contribute to the ESCAP TCDC
supplementary fund so as to enable the secretariat to
expand its catalytic role for the benefit of all developing
members and associate members. The least developed,
land-locked and island developing countries and the
disadvantaged economies in transition were again urged
to provide the secretariat with a list of their needs, in
order of priority and in specific areas of their interest, to
facilitate the matching of such needs with the capacities
available in other developing countries.
346. The Commission reaffirmed the usefulness and
benefits that developing countries could derive from
TCDC activities, and the contribution of TCDC to the
enhancement of South-South cooperation and to the
developing countries' efforts to achieve greater national
and collective self-reliance. It noted with satisfaction
the countries' statement of their strong and continuous
support for TCDC activities. It expressed the view that
ECDC and TCDC activities should be promoted within
the framework of the needs and characteristics of the
region. It also stated that, while the role of the
secretariat and other United Nations agencies would be
purely catalytic and supportive, the primary
responsibility for initiating, financing, implementing and
monitoring TCDC activities was with the developing
members and associate members themselves, in line with
the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and
Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing
Countries.
347. The Commission welcomed the statements made
by several delegations that they had been implementing
TCDC activities within the framework of their own
bilateral and multilateral programmes and utilizing
substantial funds from their national budgets and
bilateral sources, as well as from their UNDP country
indicative planning figures (IPFs). It noted with
satisfaction the numerous and varied operational TCDC
activities, including the matching of needs and
capacities, carried out by China, India, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of
Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand on their own initiative to
help the less developed countries and for their mutual
benefit. One delegation stated that its country had
initiated a special bilateral technical assistance
programme for the disadvantaged economies in
transition. Several delegations informed the Commission
that they would continue to finance all travel and local
costs related to TCDC activities implemented within the
framework of their bilateral programmes. The
Commission commended the secretariat on its
promotional TCDC activities and its catalytic support for
the implementation of TCDC operational activities. It
urged the secretariat to continue its efforts to implement
TCDC activities for the benefit of the least developed,
land-locked and island developing countries, in
accordance with Commission resolution 46/8 of 13 June
1990 on technical and economic cooperation among
developing countries for the least developed, landlocked
and island developing countries.
348. The Commission recognized, however, that the
lack of financial resources remained a significant
constraint for some countries in the promotion and
implementation of TCDC activities, particularly the least
developed, land-locked and island developing countries
and the disadvantaged economies in transition. It noted
that 10 per cent of the UNDP country IPFs or US$ 7.5
million, whichever was less, could be made available
58
for TCDC activities. The Commission urged developing
members and associate members to utilize such
resources, under their respective UNDP country IPFs,
whenever appropriate, in implementing their operational
TCDC activities. The Commission also urged the
secretariat to continue to expand its catalytic efforts to
assist those countries in need, particularly the least
developed, land-locked and island developing countries
and the disadvantaged economies in transition through
the utilization of the ESCAP TCDC supplementary fund.
The Commission urged the secretariat to mobilize
additional funds from, for example, regional IPFs to
promote TCDC activities.
349. The Commission recognized the vital role of
TCDC national focal points in the promotion and
implementation of TCDC activities. It noted that
inadequate capacities of TCDC national focal points
constituted a significant barrier to the utilization of the
TCDC modality in the socio-economic development
programmes and projects and in the implementation of
operational TCDC activities of the countries concerned.
It urged the developing members and associate members
to strengthen the capacities of their respective TCDC
national focal points and to exert efforts to expand the
exchange of information, experience and expertise
between and among the interested members. It stressed
the need for greater use of the secretariat as a conduit
for TCDC in the Asian and Pacific region and for closer
contact between ESCAP as the regional focal point, and
the respective national focal points. The Commission, in
that regard, noted with satisfaction the successful
outcome of the Workshop on Technical Cooperation
among Developing Countries (TCDC) National Focal
Points of Governments in Asia and the Pacific Region,
organized and funded by the UNDP Special Unit for
Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries,
and held at Colombo from 5 to 7 April 1993. The
Commission endorsed the proposal made by the
secretariat that workshops of TCDC national focal
points aimed at strengthening national capacities for the
enhancement of TCDC should be held on a regular
basis. Several delegations suggested that the secretariat
should arrange for officials of TCDC national focal
points, particularly those from the least developed, landlocked
and island developing countries and the
disadvantaged economies in transition, to undertake
study tours to exchange views and learn from the
experience of the national focal points in the more
advanced developing countries that had successful
TCDC programmes. The Commission urged the
secretariat to assist in organizing such tours.
350. The Commission supported the suggestion that
the participating countries, as well as the secretariat,
should undertake serious evaluation of each operational
TCDC activity, including the formulation of follow-up
measures based on the results of such evaluation, to
ensure and enhance the effectiveness of the TCDC
programmes and activities. The Commission noted the
suggestion that the ESCAP developing members and
associate members should decide upon practical and
realistic measures to realize the short- and long-term
common objectives of the region within the framework of
TCDC and ECDC.
351. The Commission, while recognizing that the
primary responsibility for TCDC rested with the
developing countries themselves, urged the secretariat
to enhance its catalytic role as a regional focal point for
TCDC. It suggested that the secretariat could serve as
an information centre, collecting and disseminating
information about the needs and capacities of the
developing countries, as well as making full use of the
UNDP TCDC-INRES (Information Referral System)
network. The Commission noted the suggestion that the
secretariat should provide a handbook on operational
guidelines on TCDC and information on how the focal
points could better utilize the services of ESCAP in the
implementation of TCDC activities.
352. The Commission noted with appreciation the
financial assistance and cooperation extended to
members and associate members by the UNDP Special
Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing
Countries in organizing workshops for TCDC national
focal points, and the extensive support provided by
UNDP at the country, regional and interregional levels
for TCDC activities through three sources of funds:
country IPFs, regional IPFs and the Special Programme
Resources. The Commission also noted with
appreciation the main areas of UNDP support for TCDC
activities: sensitization and information activities for the
promotion of TCDC; support for TCDC focal point
development through the organization of regional
workshops; TCDC-INRES aimed at the updating and
wider dissemination of information on developing
countries' capacities; capacities and needs matching
exercises; and intercountry workshops on TCDC for the
exchange of information, experience, expertise and
transfer of technology. The Commission noted with
satisfaction the cooperation between UNDP and the
secretariat in promoting TCDC activities in the Asian
and Pacific region.
353. The Commission also noted with appreciation
the statement of the representative of the International
Pepper Community on the Community's continuing
efforts to promote TCDC activities among its members in
close cooperation with the ESCAP secretariat.
Preparations for the Ministerial Conference
on Urbanization
354. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/905.
355. The Commission recognized that urban growth
would be the single most important social phenomenon
in the final years of the twentieth century. Policies for
urban development were closely related to those of
59
regional planning, particularly in the context of
promoting the balanced development of small and
medium-sized cities. Metropolitan areas, in particular,
required vast investments in infrastructure to secure a
reasonable quality of life and of the living environment.
For those investments, resource mobilization constituted
perhaps the most pressing challenge to Governments.
In view of the limited availability of resources, it was
essential to concentrate on critical issues and involve
the private sector, communities and families in
addressing basic shelter and urban problems, in both the
planning and the implementation stages. Efficient
management of urban centres required the promotion of
community development and self-reliance and entailed
more administrative decentralization. The Commission
expressed satisfaction that those issues were to be
addressed by the Ministerial Conference on
Urbanization, to be held from 27 October to 2 November
1993.
356. The Commission expressed satisfaction with the
preparations for the Ministerial Conference and
complimented the secretariat on the selection of the main
themes addressed in the draft report on the state of
urbanization, which would serve as the primary
background document of the Conference.
357. The Commission also expressed satisfaction
with the issues chosen for inclusion in the documents to
be submitted to the Ministers for their consideration.
Those issues included (a) urbanization trends, patterns
and impacts; (b) urban productivity; (c) responding to
the challenge of urban poverty; (d) managing the urban
environment; (e) the institutional framework for better
management of the urbanization process; and (f) urban
finance.
358. The Commission felt that the regional plan of
action had the potential for becoming a significant
document for policy initiatives at the regional level in the
period following the Ministerial Conference, particularly
as it would identify gaps where fresh initiatives were
required based on a review of ongoing and planned
programmes by the regional and international agencies.
359. The Commission endorsed the proposal to
involve the different actors in urban affairs, as national
Governments alone would not be able to deal effectively
with urbanization issues. It was of the opinion that
partnerships and cooperation with all actors needed to
be developed, including local authorities, NGOs,
community-based organizations, the private sector,
research and training institutes and the media.
360. The Commission agreed that a steering
committee could be established to ensure coordination
of the deliberations of the Preparatory Meeting of Senior
Officials and the separate meetings of representatives of
other groups. That committee, which would consist of
the bureaux of the different meetings, would meet every
evening after the day's deliberations to coordinate the
programme for the following day. The Commission
agreed that on the third day of the Preparatory Meeting
of Senior Officials, the representatives of the various
groups should join the Senior Officials in the Asian and
Pacific Urban Forum to discuss issues of common
interest and the type of cooperation and contribution
that each group could make to the common effort of
addressing urban issues. The outcome of the joint
deliberations could then be included in the report of the
Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials. The
Commission endorsed the structure of the Ministerial
Conference on Urbanization, the details of which were
provided in the document under discussion.
361. The Commission noted with interest the
initiatives under way among interested members and
associate members of ESCAP to develop a draft
declaration, which the Ministerial Conference might wish
to consider for adoption. Such a declaration, when
adopted, would have the potential for embodying the
thrust of the commitments that it was hoped would be
made at the Ministerial Conference.
362. Recognizing the need to coordinate the
activities expected as a result of the Ministerial
Conference with those already in progress, the
Commission welcomed the initiative taken by the
Executive Secretary to establish the Inter-organizational
Task Force on the Ministerial Conference on
Urbanization and its Follow-up Activities. The
Commission was of the opinion that the Task Force
should continue to function on a regular basis and
should meet at least twice a year, or as required,
following the Ministerial Conference.
363. The Commission recognized the scope for
sharing experience among local authorities and noted
with appreciation the role of ESCAP in the establishment
of the Regional Network of Local Authorities for the
Management of Human Settlements, known as
CITYNET. It expressed satisfaction with the type of
activities that CITYNET had been undertaking, many
with the support of ESCAP, and suggested that the
"healthy cities" concept promoted by the World Health
Organization (WHO) could be disseminated through
CITYNET. The Commission felt that CITYNET had the
potential for enhancing capacity-building at the national
level and, as its membership expanded, would be able to
play a significant role in implementing local-level action
programmes. It was therefore suggested that CITYNET
should encourage the formation of national-level
associations of cities. The Commission noted with
appreciation that UNDP support, as part of its overall
urban management programme, would be available to
CITYNET through ESCAP to carry on operational
activities in the fifth UNDP cycle. The Commission
noted with satisfaction the secretariat's commitment to
continuing to provide professional and other technical
assistance to CITYNET.
60
364. The Commission was pleased to note that
several Governments had taken initiatives to address
urbanization issues. The Republic of Korea, with 79.6 per
cent of its population living in urban areas, had
introduced several policy measures to promote
distributed urban development, although many problems
and challenges remained. The Commission noted with
appreciation the offer of the Republic of Korea to share
its experience with other countries of the region and to
participate actively in the Asian and Pacific Urban
Forum and other activities in research, training and
policy formulation.
365. Myanmar had experienced rapid growth not
only of the two major cities, Yangon and Mandalay, but
also of secondary cities with a population of over
100,000. To cope with the ever-increasing demand on
urban infrastructure and services, Myanmar had taken a
range of initiatives through public-private partnerships,
which had yielded favourable results.
366. Bangladesh, while remaining a largely rural
country, had experienced rapid urban growth. Urban
poverty, most visible in sprawling slums and squatter
settlements, was the most pressing problem, and a
national policy for the urban poor was being developed.
That policy would (a) provide access to shelter, work
and other basic needs; (b) promote a holistic approach
to slum improvement and poverty alleviation; (c)
establish local institutions that addressed the needs of
the poor; (d) promote the participation of the people in
the development process; and (e) allocate land for
employment-generating activities. Policy also needed to
be developed to reduce the negative effects of
urbanization on the environment.
367. A law introduced in China in 1980 to control the
size of large cities and develop small and medium-sized
cities had resulted in numerous small cities throughout
the country and a better distributed labour force. The
Commission noted with appreciation China's offer to
share its experience in that field and its interest in
participating in the urban management programme.
368. The Commission noted with appreciation the
assistance provided by the secretariat to India and Viet
Nam in the field of subnational area planning. It also
noted with appreciation that the Government of France
had made available an expert on urban planning to
support programmes in that field.
369. The Commission expressed its appreciation to
the Governments of France, Japan and the Netherlands
for their generous contributions to defray the costs of
preparing for and convening the Conference.
Preparations for the Second Asian and Pacific
Ministerial Conference on Women
in Development
370. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/907, which reviewed preparations for the
Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on
Women in Development, and document E/ESCAP/926,
containing the Seoul Statement on Empowering Women
in Politics.
371. In its consideration of document E/ESCAP/907,
the Commission noted with satisfaction the work that
was being undertaken by the secretariat in preparation
for the Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference
on Women in Development.
372. The Commission noted that in its resolution 46/6
of 13 June 1990 on the integration of women in all
aspects of development, it had requested the Executive
Secretary to convene in 1993 a regional intergovernmental
meeting to review the progress achieved in Asia
and the Pacific in implementing the Nairobi Forwardlooking
Strategies for the Advancement of Women. The
Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1990/12 of
24 May 1990, had recommended that a world conference
on women be held in 1995. That resolution was
endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution
45/129 of 14 December 1990 on the implementation of the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement
of Women. In the light of those resolutions, it was
decided that the Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial
Conference on Women in Development would be
convened in 1994.
373. Regarding the venue and dates of the Second
Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in
Development, the Commission endorsed the proposal of
the Government of Indonesia that the Conference be
convened at Jakarta from 7 to 14 June 1994. The
Commission recalled that it had endorsed at its fortyeighth
session the time-frame and agenda of the
Conference. The Conference would consist of a fiveday
meeting of senior officials and a two-day ministerial
meeting. Consideration and adoption of a plan of action
for the advancement of women in Asia and the Pacific
would be the highlight of the Conference.
374. The Commission was informed that, as part of
the preparations for the Second Asian and Pacific
Ministerial Conference on Women in Development, the
secretariat had organized the Seminar on the
Participation of Women in Politics as an Aspect of
Human Resources Development in the ESCAP Region,
held at Seoul from 18 to 20 November 1992. Over 100
ministers, members of parliament, academics and
representatives of women's organizations from the
region had participated. The Seminar had concluded
with the adoption and signing of the Seoul Statement on
Empowering Women in Politics. The Seoul Statement
aimed to raise political awareness among women and
promote their active participation as full partners in
political life in the ESCAP region. The Commission
endorsed the Statement and indicated that it should be
included in the documentation and deliberations of the
Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on
Women in Development.
61
375. The Commission was informed that in
preparation for the Ministerial Conference, ESCAP
would hold a regional symposium of NGOs in November
1993. The symposium would obtain input from NGOs for
a draft regional plan of action for the advancement of
women, to be submitted to the Ministerial Conference
for its consideration. The secretariat had initiated
consultations with NGOs of the region in an effort to
involve them fully in the preparations for and the
convening of the Conference.
376. In view of the timing of the regional NGO
symposium and the deadline for the preparation of
national reports by ESCAP members and associate
members, the Commission endorsed the proposal that an
expert group meeting be convened in January 1994 in
preparation for the Ministerial Conference. It was
suggested that the experts invited to that meeting
should be representative of the different levels of
economic and social development and the cultural norms
prevailing in the countries of the region.
377. The Commission stressed that the various
documents to be prepared by the secretariat for
consideration at the Ministerial Conference, including
the regional overview of the progress made and
obstacles encountered in the implementation of the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies, should be analytical
and should reflect the diverse situation of women in the
region. It was suggested that, given the strong inverse
relationship between the educational, employment and
other aspects of the status of women, and fertility and
mortality rates, it would be useful to undertake a detailed
analysis of the effectiveness of population policies and
programmes. One delegation cited the success of its
country in reducing the population growth rate through
progress in women's education and labour force
participation.
378. In view of the significant role of NGOs in
advancing the status of women, the Commission
emphasized the importance of involving NGOs in the
preparations for the Ministerial Conference. It was
suggested that grass-roots women's organizations, in
particular, should be involved fully in the preparations.
It was stressed that the regional NGO symposium
should be open to grass-roots organizations so that
they could contribute to the preparation of the draft
regional plan of action. It was proposed that
Governments could include representatives of NGOs in
their delegations to the Conference.
379. The Commission was informed that the
Commission on the Status of Women, at its thirtyseventh
session, held at Vienna from 17 to 26 March
1993, had adopted a resolution on the preparations for
the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for
Equality, Development and Peace. In that resolution,
Member States were urged to initiate the preparation of
national reports for submission to the regional
commissions in time to serve as a contribution to the
regional review and appraisal and to the secretariat for
the World Conference as input for the global review and
appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi Forwardlooking
Strategies. Taking the foregoing into account,
the Commission agreed that the national reports on the
status of women required as input into the
documentation for the Ministerial Conference should be
submitted to the ESCAP secretariat by November 1993.
It also agreed that the guidelines for the national reports
for the World Conference and the Ministerial
Conference should be consistent, so as to facilitate the
task of member States. The same national reports could
be used in the preparation of the documentation for both
conferences.
380. Stressing the importance of national-level
activities in preparation for the Ministerial Conference,
several delegations reported to the Commission that
they had already initiated such activities. To prepare for
both conferences, many Governments had set up
national committees consisting of representatives of
concerned ministries, NGOs, the private sector and
independent experts. One delegation informed the
Commission of its Government's plan to organize a
national seminar to appraise the implementation of the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies with a view to
providing input to the preparation of its national report.
381. The Commission urged that each ESCAP
member and associate member should establish as early
as possible a national preparatory committee for the
Ministerial Conference to carry out the review and
appraisal of implementation of the Nairobi Forwardlooking
Strategies.
382. Regarding the regional plan of action for the
advancement of women, to be considered for adoption
by the Ministerial Conference, the Commission made the
following observations:
(a) In conformity with the Nairobi Forwardlooking
Strategies, the plan of action should have the
themes of equality, development and peace as its
underlying aims;
(b) The plan should be concise and aim at
accelerating the full implementation of the Nairobi
Forward-looking Strategies;
(c) While focusing on the issues of common
concern to women of the Asian and Pacific region, the
plan should duly reflect the differences in the problems
faced by women in the various countries and areas of
the region;
(d) The plan should take into account the
needs and concerns of women in developing countries
in general and, in particular, in the least developed
countries. It should include attention to minority ethnic
and cultural groups;
(e) The plan should contain specific targets
and set out clear-cut steps and measures for realizing
them.
62
It should cover the main tasks for the second half of the
Decade to accelerate the implementation of the Nairobi
Forward-looking Strategies and the new concerns that
women might be expected to face in the twenty-first
century.
383. The view was expressed that the subject of
women in development should be considered a priority
item at the next session of the Commission so that
adequate time could be devoted to a discussion of the
draft plan of action.
384. The Commission requested the secretariat to
ensure that the draft plan of action would be made
available to all members and associate members well in
advance of the Ministerial Conference, preferably by
March 1994, so that Governments could provide their
views on the plan prior to its submission to the
Ministerial Conference.
385. The Commission emphasized the significance of
publicity for the Ministerial Conference in order to create
awareness about women's status and concerns in the
Asian and Pacific region and to promote participation in
the Conference. It was informed that the secretariat was
making preparations, in cooperation with the Department
of Public Information and United Nations bodies and
agencies, to mobilize public interest in the Conference
through the mass media. Press releases, posters,
brochures, videos and other public information material
on the Conference would be issued, if funds were
available.
386. The Commission expressed appreciation of the
generous financial support extended by the
Governments of Japan, the Netherlands, Norway and the
Republic of Korea to the secretariat's activities in respect
of women in development and to the preparations for the
Ministerial Conference. It welcomed the statements of
representatives of several United Nations bodies and
agencies offering to provide support to the secretariat
and ESCAP members and associate members in their
preparations for the Conference. The Commission
expressed appreciation to UNDP for conveying its intent
to provide financial support to ensure adequate
representation of the least developed countries at the
Ministerial Conference.
Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology
387. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/906.
388. The Commission expressed appreciation of the
work of the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of
Technology (APCTT) and its publications, which were
of great benefit to the members and associate members
of the Commission, and all the more commendable in
view of the difficult financial position that APCTT had
faced during the past year.
389. The Commission observed that the Centre had
successfully completed the project on technology
transfer and management, with particular reference to
clean technologies, funded by UNDP. The participating
countries had greatly benefited from the implementation
of the project, especially from the activities regarding the
Mechanism for Exchange of Technology Information
(METI). The Commission noted that the documents
produced under that project and the proceedings of the
UNIDO/APCTT Workshop on Environmental
Considerations and Waste Recycling for the Chemical,
Metallurgical and Engineering Industries in the Asian
and Pacific Region, held at Manila in December 1991,
had been informative and useful. Over 300 trainers in 10
countries had been trained under that project, thereby
building a base for better utilization of the technology
offers and requests generated. Based on the experience
gained, the Centre had formulated METI phase II. The
Commission strongly urged UNDP to consider funding
that phase.
390. The Commission noted with satisfaction the
progress of the activities under the project on transfer of
small-scale productive technologies and encouragement
of entrepreneurship among rural women, which covered
eight countries in the region. It noted that the project on
popularization of solar cookers had proved relevant and
useful.
391. The Commission commended APCTT on its
progress in making the Asia-Pacific Tech Monitor selfsupporting.
It noted that in planning the theme topics,
the Centre provided ample opportunity for many
countries in the region to contribute valuable technical
information to enrich the contents of the topics. It also
noted that the Centre, with financial support from the
Government of India, had launched the Value-Added
Technology Information Service (VATIS), which
included an update issued every two months in the area
of biotechnology. VATIS would cover several subjects
of immediate interest in the region. With regard to the
preparation of the updates, the Centre would welcome
requests from sponsors.
392. The Commission expressed satisfaction with
Newtechmart '92, organized by APCTT in cooperation
with China Technology Market Management and
Promotion Centre and held at Guangzhou, China, in
November 1992. The Commission expressed particular
satisfaction with the impact that Newtechmart '92 had
created, which had led to the signing of several
memoranda of understanding between the technology
exhibitors and the entrepreneurs. Such an event had
opened up opportunities for large-scale technology
transfer with China.
393. The Commission endorsed the
recommendations made by the Governing Board of the
Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology at
its seventh session, held at New Delhi in November
1992. The Commission suggested that the following
activities should be undertaken:
63
(a) In the context of legal provisions on
packaging and environmentally compatible products, a
study of technologies available and measures being
evolved in developed countries should be
commissioned, so that countries of the region could
expand their trade without difficulty;
(b) An exhibition of important technologies
developed in the region, with practical applications,
should be arranged, possibly to coincide with the next
Commission session in early 1994;
(c) The number of training programmes should
be increased in technology transfer, particularly on
cleaner technologies, small-scale industries, and the
development of entrepreneurship skills for women;
(d) Technology compendiums of immediate
relevance to the countries of the region should be
prepared, thereby enhancing the availability of
technology and the choices for those countries;
(e) Further work should be undertaken and
assistance provided to members in the areas of
technology policy and planning.
394. The Commission noted with appreciation the
offer of the Government of Germany to provide the
Centre with a Director and a sizeable programme package
for three years. However, the main responsibility for
institutional support still rested with the members and
associate members. Realizing the difficult financial
position of APCTT, the Commission urged members and
associate members to pay their regular contributions on
time at established threshold levels of US$ 15,000 for
developing countries and US$ 1,000 for least developed
countries.
395. The Commission observed that, in compliance
with its recommendation at its forty-sixth session in
1990, the secretariat was working on a programme to
establish an endowment fund for APCTT. The amount
of US$ 5 million proposed for the fund would provide a
base for the long-term institutional support of APCTT
and should supplement the regular contributions of the
members concerned. To build up the fund, some
members and associate members could consider making
yearly contributions of a reasonable amount over a
period of time. The Commission expressed appreciation
of the offer of the Government of China to give positive
consideration to participation in the endowment fund
scheme. It directed the secretariat to seek ways and
means for other public and private sector organizations,
institutions and foundations to participate in the
endowment fund.
396. The Commission noted with satisfaction that the
basic construction of the new office building for APCTT
had been completed and that the Centre would start
operating from New Delhi in July 1993. The relocation of
the Centre to New Delhi would induce members to make
enhanced contributions, on a regular basis, for the
institutional support of APCTT.
397. Several countries and donor agencies reaffirmed
their commitment to continue to provide programme
support for useful projects that reflected the needs of
the members of APCTT.
398. The Commission welcomed the close
cooperation of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity with
APCTT in some joint programmes concerning transfer of
telecommunication technologies in the region. It also
welcomed the cooperation offered by WASME in
providing technological input to the small and medium
industries in the region.
399. The Commission expressed appreciation to
UNDP and UNIDO, and the Governments of Germany,
Japan, India and the Netherlands, as well as other
donors, for their generous financial support of APCTT.
400. The Commission, in accordance with article 9 of
the Statute of APCTT, elected Bangladesh, China,
Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the
Philippines, the Republic of Korea, the Russian
Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam as
members of the Governing Board for the period 1993-
1996, in addition to India, which as host country would
continue as a memb er of the Governing Board.
Regional Coordination Centre for Research
and Development of Coarse Grains, Pulses,
Roots and Tuber Crops in the Humid
Tropics of Asia and the Pacific
401. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/908 and Corr.1, the report on the Regional
Coordination Centre for Research and Development of
Coarse Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber Crops in the
Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific (CGPRT Centre),
covering the implementation of the Centre's programme,
management, administration and financial status in 1992.
The Commission endorsed the report and expressed
satisfaction with the progress and achievements of the
Centre's activities during 1992.
402. The Commission expressed the view that
CGPRT crops and agriculture had continued to attract
interest in many developing countries of the region.
With economic growth and the resultant income
increase in the region, food consumption had changed,
thereby affecting CGPRT crops and agriculture. CGPRT
crops were grown predominantly by small farmers, often
in upland, marginal and environmentally fragile areas,
and were the main source of their income and
employment. The development of CGPRT crops was
therefore important for achieving sustainable and
equitable growth.
403. The Commission commended the achievements
of the Centre in 1992 and suggested that the Centre
should further strengthen its efforts to provide useful
information and advice, as well as to give researchers
64
and policy makers opportunities to exchange knowledge
and experience, so as to respond to the needs and
priorities of developing countries. The Commission
noted that in the course of programme implementation,
the Centre had come to establish itself as a regional
coordination centre in close collaboration with national
research systems and other partners. It commended the
Centre on its cooperation with regional and international
agricultural research and development institutes and
organizations.
404. With regard to the achievements of the research
and development activities of the Centre in 1992, the
Commission was informed that the Centre had engaged
in three projects that addressed issues faced by CGPRT
small farmers, such as diversification, the role of women,
and income and employment generation. Some
delegations expressed their interest in collaborating with
the Centre in areas such as research and development,
market development, post-harvest technology transfer,
sustainable development of upland agriculture and
agricultural diversification, with regard to CGPRT
agriculture.
405. In human resources development activities, the
Commission was informed that the Centre had organized
one workshop and one seminar in 1992, with a total of 41
participants from nine members and six agencies. In
addition, in April 1993, a seminar had been held on
upland agriculture in Asia, with the participation of some
30 senior researchers, research managers and policy
makers from different parts of the region.
406. The Commission was informed about the
publications and other information activities of the
Centre, and expressed satisfaction with the considerable
progress of both the regional and the national statistical
databases for CGPRT crops. Databases for six countries
had been completed or were close to completion. Some
delegations stated that more training activities and
databases were needed.
407. The Commission was informed that the
Governing Board, at its eleventh session, had approved
the Strategic Plan for the CGPRT Centre in the 1990s and
Beyond. The Commission noted with appreciation the
effort of finalizing the Strategic Plan and endorsed its
content, including the thematic approach, in the light of
new developments and emerging needs in regional
agriculture. The Strategic Plan should provide the
Centre with direction for its future activities and with a
new stimulus for expansion. The Commission stressed
that both financial and human resources would have to
be mobilized to put the Strategic Plan into practice.
408. The Commission was informed of the staffing
situation of the Centre. It noted the emphasis the Board
placed on strengthening the Centre's Professional staff,
and expressed appreciation to the Governments of
France, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the Republic of
Korea and Thailand, as well as to the Canadian
University Services Overseas for providing experts.
The Commission was informed that discussions were in
progress with several members regarding posting
additional experts to the Centre. Some delegations
stressed the importance of posting experts from
developing members to the Centre in order to
strengthen its professional relations with its partners.
409. The Commission acknowledged with
appreciation the generous contributions of members and
donor agencies to the Centre, including increased or
new contributions from several developing countries.
The following had provided the Centre with financial
and other assistance in 1992: Bangladesh, France,
Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, the
Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Viet Nam, UNDP, the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations and the Commission of the
European Communities. Several delegations stated that
they would consider making new or increased
contributions.
410. The Commission expressed concern about the
Centre's fragile financial base and stressed that new or
increased contributions by members and associate
members were needed to strengthen it. The Commission
noted the appeal by the Board for contributions of
institutional resources from members and associate
members at a minimum threshold level at least, or at a
higher level, according to the resources of the individual
countries. Two delegations expressed the view that the
institutional cost should be borne by participating
countries, especially beneficiary countries, on the basis
of which programme funds would be provided and
expanded. The Commission also noted the
recommendations of the Board regarding the
mobilization of the programme resources. The
Commission urged members and associate members,
particularly the developed countries, as well as donor
agencies, to increase their contributions to the Centre's
programme.
Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific
411. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/909. It endorsed the 1993 programme of
activities of SIAP as outlined in the document. It noted
with satisfaction that phase VI of the project had been
finalized and an agreement to that effect had been
signed by the concerned parties.
412. The Commission recognized the services
provided by SIAP, noting that since its establishment in
1970 it had trained over 4,800 official statisticians from
the region. It also recognized that the capability of
national statistical offices had to be continuously
improved through training. In view of the increasing
demand for statisticians in the region owing to
devolution, new policy initiatives and consequent
expansion of statistical activities, the Commission
requested SIAP to expand its programmes of training.
65
In particular it mentioned the need to train statisticians
to provide support to programmes targeted at poverty
alleviation, the protection of the environment and
gender-based planning. The Commission also
recognized the need for training courses to be
conducted on human development indicators, trade and
service statistics, establishment surveys, statistics on
the informal and unorganized sectors, energy statistics
and forecasting techniques for planning.
413. The recent adoption by the United Nations
Statistical Commission of the revised SNA brought with
it a requirement to orient and train statisticians in the
new system. The Commission recognized the need to
bring greater awareness of management practices to
senior official statisticians of national statistical offices
and welcomed the programme of workshops on
managing national statistical services in the 1990s to be
conducted by SIAP in collaboration with ESCAP.
414. The Commission emphasized the importance of
analysing and interpreting data collected in censuses
and surveys. In that regard, it expressed appreciation of
the initiative taken by the Institute in the conduct of a
new course on analysis and interpretation. It urged
SIAP to expand such training. The Commission stressed
that higher-level staff in national statistical offices
needed to develop their skills in order to analyse and
interpret data and assist in the resolution of policy
issues. The Commission recognized the need for timely
dissemination of statistical findings to users and
requested the Institute to train statisticians in the
techniques of data dissemination.
415. The Commission noted the importance of
providing training in statistical computing, including
instruction in the use of software for statistical analysis.
It also noted that training capacity in the region needed
to be developed in view of the rising demand for
statisticians. The Commission therefore requested the
Institute to expand the training of trainers, to prepare
manuals and other printed training materials and to
produce audio and video materials to support and
develop national training capability.
416. The Commission requested the Institute to make
a special effort to assist in developing the capability of
national statistical offices in least developed and landlocked
countries, and in countries with economies in
transition.
417. While noting that SIAP, with UNDP support,
had increased significantly the annual number of
country courses conducted, the Commission urged the
Institute to expand that programme, since it was costeffective
and responded well to the specific needs and
requirements of each country.
418. The Commission expressed satisfaction with the
activities of SIAP since its establishment and strongly
requested the continuation of the Institute's activities
after its sixth phase. Noting that the sixth phase would
end in March 1995, the Commission expressed the view
that SIAP should be constituted on a more permanent
basis. The parties concerned were urged to begin
consultations as soon as possible with the objective of
providing a durable institutional framework for the
Institute.
419. The Commission expressed its gratitude for the
support in cash and in kind provided to SIAP by
members and associate members. Given the urgent
need to expand the Institute's programmes, the
Commission urged those already contributing to SIAP to
increase their support, while requesting other
beneficiaries of SIAP programmes to make contributions
to the Institute.
420. The Commission expressed its gratitude to the
host country, Japan, for the support it was giving to the
Institute through financial and in-kind contributions and
through the award of training fellowships. It also
expressed gratitude to UNDP for the valuable assistance
being extended to SIAP in the sixth phase for the
statistical training component of a programme to
develop human development indicators, to be
undertaken in collaboration with ESCAP. The
Commission also expressed appreciation to the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the
continuing provision of short-term lecturers on a nonreimbursable
loan basis, and to various international
organizations for their cooperation and assistance in the
various training programmes of the Institute.
Reports of regional intergovernmental bodies
Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting
for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas
421. The Commission had before it the report of the
Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for
Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas (CCOP),
transmitted for information under a note by the
secretariat (E/ESCAP/910).
422. The Commission was informed that CCOP
activities for the past year had been expanded from the
original objectives in the exploration and assessment of
hydrocarbon and mineral resources in offshore areas.
The current focus had included among its top priorities
the assessment of the environmental implications of
global and regional changes, the promotion of
environmentally sound and sustainable development
and the management of natural resources, as well as
technology transfer and training.
423. The Commission noted that the major activities
carried out in the past year had been grouped under
three programme areas: energy, minerals and the coastal
zone. The energy sector had continued with its work on
oil and gas resource management to produce the Time66
Slice Map Series and the Play Atlas. An exploration
promotion seminar was planned to be held in Norway in
1994. Remarkable progress had been made on the heat
flow map project during the past year. The mineral
sector had concentrated its efforts on the application of
computer technology to map compilation and
interpretation of geological and geophysical data. In the
coastal zone sector, there had been several training
courses, workshops, data collection and advisory
missions related to applied geosciences and coastal
zone management organized and conducted by the
CCOP technical secretariat.
424. The Commission commented with appreciation
on the activities of CCOP. Its useful achievements had
resulted from its realistic and practical activities related
to transferring technology in the exploration of natural
gas and petroleum in member countries. The
Commission expected that CCOP would maintain the
pragmatic and realistic scope of its activities so as to
enhance the technological capacity of member countries
in the future.
425. The Commission observed that CCOP, as an
intergovernmental organization, had played an important
role in the development of geological-geophysical and
mineral exploration activities in offshore areas. It
attached great importance to those activities, particularly
in research into the sustainable development of the
energy, mineral and coastal zone sectors, in technology
transfer and training. The Commission expected that
CCOP would continue to play an important role in
regional cooperation and called upon member countries
and cooperating countries to support CCOP activities
through the provision of financial and substantive
programme support.
426. The delegation of Indonesia informed the
Commission that Indonesia had successfully hosted the
ESCAP/CCOP/LEMIGAS Seminar on Removal and
Disposal of Obsolete Offshore Installations and
Structures in the Exclusive Economic Zone and the
Continental Shelf, held at Jakarta from 25 to 28 May
1992. It had been attended by 61 participants including
resource persons and research institutions, petroleum
companies and various ESCAP and CCOP member
countries. It also announced that it would host the
thirtieth CCOP annual session, in Bali, Indonesia, from 9
to 16 November 1993.
427. The Commission noted with appreciation the
strong commitment of the CCOP member countries, the
support of its cooperating countries and the continued
close cooperation with ESCAP.
Interim Committee for Coordination of
Investigations of the Lower Mekong Basin
428. The Commission had before it the summary of
activities of the Interim Committee for Coordination of
Investigations of the Lower Mekong Basin (the Mekong
Committee) during 1992 and plans for 1993, transmitted
for information under a note by the secretariat
(E/ESCAP/911). It noted the progress achieved by the
Committee in the past year.
429. The representative of Japan urged early
resumption of the membership of Cambodia in the
Mekong cooperation framework and informed the
Commission that Japan had extended 4.17 billion yen to
Cambodia for food production and infrastructure, as well
as electricity and medical services. He reiterated the
importance of the Mekong cooperation framework and
the policy dialogue among the riparian countries to
develop the strategy in the integrated development of
the region. Japan had contributed US$ 432,000 in cash
to the Secretariat of the Interim Committee for
Coordination of Investigations of the Lower Mekong
Basin (the Mekong Secretariat) in the 1993 fiscal year.
Japan commended the ongoing efforts of UNDP towards
strengthened Mekong cooperation among riparian
countries.
430. The representative of France informed the
Commission that his country was happy with the
process of restructuring the Committee and its
Secretariat, undertaken at Kuala Lumpur in December
1992, and with the spirit of cooperation shown by the
riparian countries. He announced that France would, as
of 1993, make a contribution equal to that made in 1992
and would in future give priority to studies on transport
and agriculture.
431. The representative of the Republic of Korea
announced the support of the Republic of Korea for the
Mekong Committee, with a contribution of US$ 400,000
to the Ya -Soup multipurpose project in Viet Nam and the
provision of one agricultural expert to implement the
project.
432. The representative of the Netherlands praised
the success of the four (and eventually six) States
participating in the dialogue on regional cooperation,
which had been strongly supported by UNDP. The
Netherlands would like to see an early achievement of
the new framework for Mekong cooperation. In addition
to the ongoing projects, the Netherlands would extend
further support and was considering new projects.
433. The representative of UNDP stated that UNDP
had organized a donor consultation in December 1992,
with the attendance of the four riparian countries, which
had brought a renewal of financial commitments to the
development work programme in the lower Mekong
Basin. UNDP had been requested to facilitate an
intergovernmental dialogue to establish a future
framework of Mekong cooperation. A constructive and
creative dialogue among the four riparian countries had
begun. UNDP had recently approved a new programme
of assistance amounting to approximately US$ 3 million.
67
434. The representative of China expressed the
readiness of China to take part in the Committee's
activities as an observer.
Typhoon Committee
435. The Commission had before it the report of the
Typhoon Committee, transmitted for information under a
note by the secretariat (E/ESCAP/912).
436. It was informed that the twenty-fifth session of
the Committee had been held at Zhuhai, China, from 8 to
14 December 1992, and had been another significant step
towards closer cooperation between its members.
437. The Commission was informed that over the
previous year the Typhoon Committee had achieved
considerable progress in the meteorological,
hydrological, disaster prevention and preparedness, and
training and research components of its work. It noted
that the Committee had appealed for the allocation of
adequate manpower and other resources for work on
natural disaster reduction. The Commission urged
UNDP to reconsider and to provide funding support for
the activities of the Committee so that the Committee's
valuable work on natural disaster reduction could
continue at the same pace as in the past. The
representative of UNDP stated that, after many years,
programme support to the Committee had come to an
end. He indicated that funding support could be
provided through some country projects and new
regional activities for cooperation.
438. The representative of Japan informed the
Commission that a world conference on the International
Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction would be held in
Yokohama, Japan, in May 1994, and that Japan would
continue to support the activities of the Committee. The
representative of China announced a number of
meetings and workshops to be held in China during
1993, particularly on the meteorological component, and
stated that some funding could be made available to
support participation in those activities. The
representative of China also stated that apart from its
regular annual contribution of US$ 12,000 to the
Typhoon Committee trust fund, an amount of 200,000
yuan renminbi (Y) would be provided to support
Committee activities in China. The Commission
expressed its appreciation to China and Japan for their
continuing support of the work of the Committee and
appealed to bilateral donors for funding of project
activities and support for TCDC exchanges.
Asian and Pacific Development Centre
439. The Commission had before it the report of the
Asian and Pacific Development Centre (APDC),
transmitted for information under a note by the
secretariat (E/ESCAP/913).
440. The Director of APDC informed the Commission
that in July 1993 the Centre would complete a decade as
an intergovernmental entity, which had been made
possible by the active support of the member
Governments and donor agencies.
441. Referring to the activities of the Centre during
1992, the Director informed the Commission that 16
projects had been undertaken, 6 funded by UNDP and
10 by other donor agencies and countries. The Centre
had received US$ 750,923 for the programme activities,
of which UNDP had contributed around 37 per cent.
The major bilateral donors to the Centre were Australia,
Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, as well as the
Ford Foundation and the German Agency for Technical
Cooperation (GTZ). Projects were carried out in the
seven programme areas of APDC: energy planning,
industrial development, information technology, poverty
alleviation, public management, regional cooperation
and women in development. Some of the programmes
had achieved a high level of functional integration in
research, exchange of experience, training and
information dissemination. In addition, APDC had
issued 15 new publications.
442. An important component of the Centre's
activities was the development of elaborate network
systems; by the end of 1992, 188 institutions from 33
countries, including 10 from outside the region, had
been associated with the Centre's networks.
443. Reporting on the financial status of the Centre,
the Director informed the Commission that the funds
available for 1992 had amounted to US$ 3 million, an
increase of 22.2 per cent over 1991, mainly because of
the increase in the host Government's contribution. In
addition, the host Government, Malaysia, had provided
additional grants for upgrading the Centre's facilities.
444. The Director emphasized that APDC was a
regional institution owned and governed by its member
Governments, and its sustainability was dependent on
their continued support. Over the years, APDC had
grown substantially in programme and donor
diversification, but it still faced the constraint of finding
adequate institutional finance for the Centre. The
Director remarked that according to the APDC charter all
countries and territories within the ESCAP region were
eligible for membership of the Centre. APDC had
extended invitations to Bhutan, Macau, Mongolia,
Myanmar, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu to
participate in its activities, and the Centre was looking
forward to their positive response.
445. The delegation of China stated that there was
excellent cooperation between China and APDC.
APDC was in an important position to promote
economic cooperation in the region. It was felt that in
the light of the rapid economic growth in China, future
cooperation with APDC through the promotion of joint
activities would be very important. Among the various
68
activities of the Centre, emphasis was placed on its
training programmes, which had benefited a large
number of professionals from both governmental and
non-governmental organizations.
446. The representative of UNDP informed the
Commission that although UNDP no longer provided
any institutional support to APDC, its programme
support to the Centre would be intensified in the near
future.
Programme planning
Draft programme of work, 1994-1995
447. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/914 on the proposed programme of work and
priorities, 1994-1995, and document E/ESCAP/915 on the
follow-up of the implementation of Agenda 21 at the
regional level in relation to environment and sustainable
development.
448. The Commission noted that in drawing up the
six subprogrammes within the framework of the mediumterm
plan for the period 1992-1997, the secretariat had
taken account of the development requirements of the
region as a whole, as well as the special needs of groups
of countries such as those in transition to a market
economy, and the least developed, land-locked and
island developing countries. The Commission expressed
satisfaction with the progress made in the
implementation of the thematic approach. It noted that
the two committees and special bodies that had met
during 1993 had reviewed the proposed activities for the
biennium 1994-1995 relating to regional economic
cooperation, statistics, and the least developed, landlocked
and island developing countries. It welcomed the
incorporation of the new approach in the proposed
activities.
449. The Commission appreciated secretariat efforts
to consolidate its activities into sharply focused areas,
in particular the positive approach taken to promote
regional economic cooperation through enhanced
intraregional trade and investment. It stressed that
higher priority should be accorded to those areas, as
well as to macroeconomic policies and mineral resources
development. It agreed that although the secretariat
would continue to make the necessary adjustments in its
programme of work for a smooth transformation into a
full-fledged thematic programme, redeployment of
adequate resources from within the United Nations
system to ESCAP was essential and justified because of
the enlarged membership of the Commission and its
increased responsibilities. The Commission was
informed that the Russian Federation was a recipient of
UNDP assistance. It noted that participation of the
Russian Federation would be possible in the operational
and technical activities of ESCAP, depending on the
provisions of the relevant UNDP-funded projects
executed by ESCAP.
450. The Commission noted a request from the
Russian Federation for inclusion under subprogramme 2,
environment and sustainable development, in the
programme of work and priorities, 1994-1995, and within
the limits of the available resources, of a study on the
assessment of the economic and mineral potential of
coastal and offshore areas of North-East Asia to
promote investment and to expand intraregional trade in
mineral commodities. The secretariat was requested to
expand the geographical scope of its projects on natural
hazards mapping and monitoring systems by including
the far east of the Russian Federation. The Commission
took note of the problems of deforestation facing a
number of countries in the region. It expressed
appreciation of the secretariat's proposed activities in
that critical area.
451. The space applications programme was viewed
as playing an important role in the coordination of
national policies on space technology applications,
which would enhance socio-economic development and
regional cooperation. The Commission welcomed the
offer of the Government of China to host at Beijing in
1994 the ministerial conference on space applications, as
envisaged in the programme of work. It also welcomed
the offer by the Government of Pakistan to host the first
preparatory meeting of directors of national remote
sensing centres and programmes in 1993. The
Commission adopted resolution 49/5 on the regional
programme on space applications for development.
452. The Commission felt that human resources
needed to be developed, particularly in those countries
moving away from a centrally planned economy towards
a more dynamic market system, as well as in the least
developed, land-locked and island developing countries.
It stressed the importance of such activities as trade,
transport and communications, industrial and
technological development, agriculture and rural
development, and mineral and water resources
development.
453. The Commission expressed concern about the
extent of poverty in the ESCAP region and considered
as well-targeted and appropriate the activities proposed
under subprogramme 3 relating to poverty alleviation
through economic growth and social development. It
supported the proposed programme activities in favour
of disadvantaged groups, particularly rural women and
youth, disabled persons and the elderly. It accorded
high priority to those and a number of other activities,
particularly under subprogramme 1, regional economic
cooperation. It stressed the importance of statistics as a
fundamental element in development programmes of
countries in the region and in the intersectoral thematic
activities of ESCAP.
454. The Commission decided that output 3.1(ii)(3),
Intergovernmental meeting on the implementation of the
Social Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region
Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond (1994), should be
69
modified to Regional Ministerial Conference in
Preparation for the World Summit for Social
Development (1994). Similarly, output 3.1(4), Report on
the intergovernmental meeting on the implementation of
the Social Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region
Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond to the Commission
(1995), should be modified to Report to the Commission
on the Regional Ministerial Conference in Preparation
for the World Summit for Social Development (1995). In
addition, output 3.1(20), Report to the intergovernmental
meeting on the implementation of the Social
Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region Towards
the Year 2000 and Beyond (1994), should be modified to
Report to the Regional Ministerial Conference in
Preparation for the World Summit for Social
Development (1994).
455. The Commission adopted the proposed
programme of work and priorities, 1994-1995, as provided
in annex I to the present report.
456. The Commission stressed the importance of
effective inter-agency coordination for establishing
complementarity in the work of regional and multilateral
organizations in order to avoid unnecessary duplication.
In supporting the objectives of the proposed course of
action in the programme of work and priorities for the
biennium 1994-1995, closer cooperation, coordination
and joint programming with other United Nations
programmes and agencies were emphasized, especially
with reference to the subprogramme on environment and
sustainable development. In particular, it noted that
activities relating to the environment had been
proliferating in various programmes and projects within
the United Nations system. It was of critical importance
to ensure optimum use of the existing level of resources
and to make the maximum effort to utilize the
accumulated expertise of the regional institutions. The
Commission noted that in pursuance of its resolution
47/7 of 10 April 1991 on the integration of environment
and development in Asia and the Pacific, a feasibility
study on the financing of projects and programmes
related to the environment, including the activities of
Agenda 21 in the Asian and Pacific region, was being
carried out by ADB, and that the findings of the study
would be discussed at the ADB/ESCAP meeting on the
regional funding mechanism, scheduled to be held at
Bangkok in June 1993. It expressed the view that the
study should stress the need for efficient utilization of
the existing funding mechanism, including the Global
Environment Facility.
457. The Commission noted with satisfaction the
success of an expert group meeting on environmental
management of coastal tourism development, hosted by
the Government of Indonesia and held in Bali in March
1993, and stressed that follow-up would be needed on
the implementation of the guidelines. The Commission
noted with appreciation the offer of the Government of
Indonesia to host another meeting on sustainable
development of tourism in fragile ecosystems in line
with the implementation of Agenda 21 in the Asian and
Pacific region and requested the secretariat to develop
the project document accordingly.
458. The Commission endorsed in principle the
framework for promoting follow-up of the
implementation in Asia and the Pacific of the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992, as
outlined in document E/ESCAP/915. The Commission
recognized that ESCAP, as a regional commission, was
mandated in Agenda 21 to play a leading role in
promoting and coordinating regional activities to follow
up the Conference in Asia and the Pacific. It reaffirmed
that the spirit of global partnership created at Rio should
serve as the basis for common endeavours towards
sustainable development in the region.
459. The Commission endorsed the framework of
regional action for sustainable development as
recommended by the ESCAP/UNDP High-Level Meeting
on Environmentally Sound and Sustainable
Development in Asia and the Pacific, held at Kuala
Lumpur from 15 to 19 February 1993, and expected that it
would be properly reflected in the future programme of
work of ESCAP. It directed the secretariat to prepare a
plan of action for the implementation of Agenda 21
based on that framework, for submission to the
Commission on Sustainable Development.
460. The Commission stressed the importance of
according priority to Agenda 21 issues for
implementation in the ESCAP region. In view of
resource constraints, the Commission accorded high
priority to the development of management tools and
methodologies for integration of environment and
development; the promotion of pollution-control
technologies and methods, particularly through
technology transfer to developing countries; the
development of databases and the periodic assessment
of the state of the environment; the sustainable
development of tourism; a mutually supportive trade and
environment regime; and assessment of ways and means
to strengthen intraregional cooperation in energy
production, utilization and conservation and in remote
sensing. The Commission also gave high priority to the
interdisciplinary approach to integrated management of
water and land resources; coastal and marine
management; and management of the atmospheric
environment, including issues related to greenhouse gas
emission.
461. The Commission emphasized that the
implementation of Agenda 21 in Asia and the Pacific
should be one of the main thrusts of regional
cooperation. The Commission, in commending the
efforts of the secretariat in establishing the Regional
Network of Environment and Economic Policy Research
70
Institutions and the Regional Working Group on Marine
Environment and Oceanographic Studies, recommended
that those mechanisms should be used extensively in
the implementation of Agenda 21 activities in the ESCAP
region. The Commission suggested that the secretariat
should consult the Commission on Sustainable
Development on the format to be used in reporting to
the Economic and Social Council and to the Commission
on Sustainable Development on the implementation of
Agenda 21 and should follow the cluster of items
selected for discussion. In emphasizing uniformity in
reporting to the Commission on Sustainable
Development from the regional and national levels, the
Commission recommended that the findings and
deliberations of thematic committees and other
committees should also be appropriately included in the
secretariat's report to the Economic and Social Council
and to the Commission on Sustainable Development.
462. The Commission was informed by the
representative of UNDP that at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, UNDP
was called upon to focus on capacity-building to
implement Agenda 21. To that end, UNDP had created a
new facility named Capacity 21. UNDP was also a
managing partner of the Global Environment Facility,
funds from which were allocated in the ESCAP region for
the development of least-cost greenhouse gas emission
reduction plans, and marine pollution control. The
representative of WHO commended the secretariat on
establishing the Inter-agency Committee on
Environment and Development, which would ensure
cooperation and coordination among various agencies
and promote joint activities. The representative of the
South Asia Cooperative Environmental Programme
(SACEP) informed the Commission of the close
cooperation between the Programme and ESCAP in a
wide range of activities on environment and sustainable
development, through the Inter-agency Committee.
Appreciation was expressed regarding the continued
collaboration between ESCAP and various organizations
for the implementation of programmes of Agenda 21 in
the ESCAP region.
Review of the implementation of the programme
of work, 1992-1993, and proposed programme
changes for 1993
463. The Commission had before it documents
E/ESCAP/916, E/ESCAP/917 and Corr.1, E/ESCAP/
918/Rev.1 and E/ESCAP/919.
464. The Commission endorsed the secretariat report
on the implementation of the programme of work, 1992-
1993, as contained in document E/ESCAP/916. The
Commission noted that in compliance with the
Commission's earlier decision, the secretariat had
successfully made an analytical assessment of the
implemented activities for the biennium 1992-1993,
determining in more precise terms the rate of
implementation and resource utilization. In stressing the
importance of timely delivery of outputs to members and
associate members, the Commission commended the
secretariat for preparing, for the first time, such a concise
document, which greatly facilitated an examination of
programme performance. One delegation suggested that
the secretariat could also prepare a short report on the
implementation of the programme of work, reflecting
comparative data not only for the current year and the
previous years but also for early years.
465. In endorsing the proposed programme changes
for 1993 as presented in E/ESCAP/917 and Corr.1, the
Commission noted that several important events had
occurred and had been taken into account in proposing
the necessary adjustments in the programme of work
and priorities. They included, inter alia, the
recommendations arising from consideration of the
ESCAP programme by the Committee for Programme and
Coordination and the recommendations emanating from
the deliberations of its own subsidiary bodies and
ministerial meetings and conferences held in 1992. It
took note that the special needs of such groups as
children, the elderly and disabled persons were
recognized in the proposed programme changes. The
Commission urged the secretariat to involve nongovernmental
organizations and private sector
organizations in providing the necessary services to
enhance the support of Governments to those groups.
466. The Commission approved the tentative
calendar of meetings, 1993-1994, as contained in
document E/ESCAP/918/Rev.1. The Commission's
attention was drawn to the relatively large number of
scheduled meetings, particularly in the category of
"Other group activities" which were subject to change
according to the availability of extrabudgetary
resources. Any change arising from donors' decisions
regarding funding for those operational activities would
necessarily affect the date and the venue of the
meetings and might even cause cancellations.
467. A number of delegations expressed appreciation
for the types and variety of meetings proposed in the
calendar. It was hoped that the disadvantaged
economies in transition would be able to participate
more actively in and benefit from the large number of
meetings, seminars, training workshops and symposia
planned by the secretariat. It was noted that the special
needs of the disadvantaged economies in transition
required extension of advisory services to be provided
by the senior regional adviser, particularly in the
critically needed area of human resources development.
468. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/919. It took note of the resolutions and
decisions of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh
session in 1992 and the Economic and Social Council at
its substantive session of 1992. A number of
delegations referred to the programme implications of
those resolutions and decisions on the Commission's
71
programme of work. The delegation of Malaysia
informed the Commission that, pursuant to General
Assembly resolution 45/106 of 14 December 1990 on the
implementation of the International Plan of Action on
Ageing and related activities, Malaysia had observed in
October 1992 the International Day for the Elderly. A
National Committee had been set up to plan and
implement a programme of action ensuring the
protection of elderly people. The secretariat was
encouraged to strengthen its programme activities in
those important areas.
Technical cooperation activities of ESCAP
and announcement of intended contributions
469. The Commission had before it documents
E/ESCAP/920 and Corr. 1, and E/ESCAP/921 and Add.1.
470. The Executive Secretary informed the
Commission that the extrabudgetary resources available
to ESCAP for the implementation of its technical
cooperation activities in 1992 had amounted to US$
19.51 million, a decrease of US$ 5.75 million, or 23 per
cent, from the 1991 level. The decrease had been
basically due to the reduction in funding of ESCAP
technical cooperation projects by UNDP, from US$ 11.51
million in 1991 to US$ 5.42 million in 1992.
471. With regard to the sources of extrabudgetary
resources in 1992, the Executive Secretary informed the
Commission that the United Nations had provided US$
9.23 million, or 47.34 per cent, and bilateral donors and
developing member countries together had contributed
US$ 9.62 million, or 49.33 per cent. He expressed
appreciation to all of the donors for making such
generous and invaluable extrabudgetary contributions,
which had significantly enhanced the secretariat's
capability to render technical assistance and to
implement technical cooperation activities for the benefit
of ESCAP developing members and associate members.
472. The Executive Secretary noted that despite the
substantial increase in recent years in the demand by
members and associate members for technical
cooperation activities owing to the enlargement of the
membership of the Commission, the emergence of the
disadvantaged economies in transition, new regional
initiatives in the field of economic cooperation, and the
urgency of environmentally sound and sustainable
development, the level of extrabudgetary assistance
from bilateral donor countries and members and
associate members for activities under the approved
programme of work had decreased during the past two
years, from US$ 8.64 million in 1990 to US$ 6.98 million in
1991 and US$ 6.87 million in 1992. In appealing for
increased extrabudgetary contributions for the
approved programme of work, he also noted that the
establishment of joint cooperation funds between
ESCAP and developing members, along the lines of the
China-ESCAP Cooperation Projects and the Republic of
Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund, could significantly
enhance the implementation of many programme
activities. He expressed the hope that more developing
countries, particularly those which had experienced
rapid economic growth during the past 10 years, would
favourably consider establishing such cooperation
funds for the mutual benefit of the developing members
themselves.
473. The Executive Secretary reminded the
Commission of the financial constraints faced by the
three regional institutions, APCTT, the CGPRT Centre
and SIAP, as well as by RNAM. He expressed
appreciation to the host countries of the regional
institutions and to developing members for making
voluntary contributions for institutional support, and to
the Government of Germany for its generous offer of
substantial institutional support for APCTT. He urged
that the least developed countries consider US$ 1,000 as
a minimum contribution and that other developing
countries contribute at least US$ 15,000 to each of the
regional institutions and to RNAM. In addition,
delegations might consider providing in-kind
contributions, in particular experts on a nonreimbursable
loan basis, to those institutions.
474. The Executive Secretary expressed appreciation
of UNDP and UNFPA funding in 1992, which had
significantly contributed to the success of many
activities undertaken by ESCAP for the benefit of
members and associate members. Since the fifth
intercountry programme cycle had entered its second
year, he urged UNDP to consider expediting the
finalization of programme details as well as specific
activities, including financial outlays, that would be
implemented by ESCAP.
475. In referring to the five specific objectives in
support of the country programmes of the UNFPAsupported
programme in the Asian and Pacific region, as
contained in document E/ESCAP/921, he drew the
attention of the Commission to the need for
strengthening national capabilities in demographic
analysis and information dissemination to support
effective policy formulation and evaluation. In the
absence of funding from UNFPA for activities relating to
demographic statistics in 1992, he urged that donor
countries pay greater attention to the funding of such
regional activities. He also drew the attention of the
Commission to the implementation of the UNFPA
Country Support Team approach. That approach had
necessitated the transfer of UNFPA-funded regional
advisers based in ESCAP to the UNFPA Country
Support Teams and had affected ESCAP capability to
respond directly and readily to the demand for technical
assistance in the field of population and associated
statistical areas. Since the Country Support Teams had
not covered all members and associate members of
ESCAP, he expressed the hope that the system would be
further refined to ensure the availability of advisory
services on request to all developing members and
associate members of ESCAP and to take into account
72
the role played by ESCAP as a facilitator in the delivery
of technical assistance irrespective of the sources of
funding. Noting the likely reduced level of funding by
UNFPA for ongoing and new ESCAP project proposals
in 1993, he emphasized that funding would need to be
supplemented from other sources for the ESCAP
regional population programme and related data
collection activities.
476. The Executive Secretary informed the
Commission that the United Nations Regular Programme
of Technical Cooperation had provided for 10 regional
adviser posts for the biennium 1992-1993, 2 of which had
been located at ESCAP/POC. He also informed the
Commission that in response to Commission resolution
48/8 of 23 April 1992 on problems faced by the
transitional disadvantaged economies in the ESCAP
region, a regional adviser on macroeconomic
management and economic reform had been appointed
in December 1992 with the existing resources under the
Programme. In response to Commission resolution 48/9
of 23 April 1992 on strengthening ESCAP assistance to
the Pacific island countries, the secretariat had proposed
in the programme budget proposals for the biennium
1994-1995 the inclusion of three additional regional
advisory posts for ESCAP/POC. He noted that the
ongoing decentralization exercise at United Nations
Headquarters might benefit ESCAP through
redeployment of some interregional and other advisory
services, which, if realized, would further strengthen the
capability of ESCAP to respond to the increasing
demand of members and associate members for technical
assistance and advisory services.
477. The Executive Secretary expressed confidence
that the Governments would continue to render
unflagging support to ESCAP activities. He therefore
hoped that the results of the pledging exercise would
not only reaffirm the commitment of members and
associate members to the ideals and purposes for which
the Commission had been established, but also lead to
the narrowing of the resource gap currently faced by
ESCAP in carrying out its mandate.
478. The Commission took note of the following
comments on technical cooperation activities and
intended contributions announced for 1993.
479. Afghanistan. The representative of
Afghanistan expressed full support for the activities of
the programme of work, regional institutions and special
projects of ESCAP. He emphasized the need to
strengthen the capability of ESCAP through increased
extrabudgetary contributions, to enable ESCAP to
undertake technical cooperation activities for and render
technical assistance to developing members and
associate members, particularly the most needy
countries. He expressed great concern at the decrease in
extrabudgetary resources made available to ESCAP,
despite the substantial increase in the demand by
members and associate members for technical
cooperation activities and technical assistance as a
result of the enlargement of the membership of the
Commission, and appealed to all multilateral and bilateral
donors to contribute financial assistance. He indicated
that, despite the difficulties faced by his Government,
Afghanis tan would continue to provide support to
ESCAP at the same level as in previous years.
480. Australia. The representative of Australia
announced that his Government would contribute $A
410,000, representing an increase of more than 35 per
cent above its 1992 contribution. The fund would be
used to support new and ongoing multi-year projects
agreed to earlier with the secretariat. In addition, he
announced that other Australian Government agencies
would also contribute financial assistance for specific
activities in the field of transport and communications,
consumer protection and the Asian and Pacific Decade
of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, amounting to
approximately $A 120,000. The total extrabudgetary
contribution to be made available by Australia to ESCAP
in 1993 would thus amount to $A 530,000. He expressed
satisfaction with the mechanism of semi-annual
programme planning consultations with the secretariat,
which had contributed to improving the targeting and
impact of activities supported by his Go vernment. The
mechanism had also contributed to improving the
coordination between the divisions of the secretariat in
promoting extrabudgetary project proposals. He
reiterated his Government's support for the semi-annual
programme planning consultations mechanism and
expressed the hope that it would contribute to further
improvement in the implementation of the
extrabudgetary programme.
481. Bangladesh. The representative of Bangladesh
announced the following contributions:
US$
APCTT 7,000
CGPRT Centre 1,000
SIAP 5,000
RNAM 6,000
He indicated that the contribution to APCTT of US$
7,000 represented an increase of US$ 2,000 over the 1992
contribution. In addition, Bangladesh would contribute
US$ 15,000 to APDC.
482. Brunei Darussalam. The representative of
Brunei Darussalam announced the following
contributions:
US$
(a) SIAP 5,000
(b) Pacific Trust Fund 1,000
In addition, a contribution of US$ 10,000 would be made
to APDC.
73
483. China. The representative of China announced
the following contributions:
(a) ESCAP programme of
work for China-ESCAP
Cooperation Projects: Y 550,000
(b) ESCAP programme of
work for China-ESCAP
Cooperation Projects
(including US$ 40,000
for the ESCAP TCDC
supplementary fund and
US$ 10,000 for the
Pacific Trust Fund): US$ 120,000
(c) Regional institutions:
APCTT US$ 15,000
SIAP US$ 21,000
(d) RNAM US$ 20,000
In addition, China would contribute US$ 50,000 to CCOP,
US$ 50,000 and Y 30,000 to APDC, and US$ 12,000 and Y
200,000 to the Typhoon Committee. The total intended
contribution in 1993 would thus amount to US$ 288,000
and Y 780,000.
484. Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The
representative of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea announced that his Government would contribute
W 20,000 to the ESCAP programme of work in 1993.
485. Fiji. The representative of Fiji expressed her
Government's strong support for the concept and
objectives of ECDC-TCDC, for which her Government
had established cooperative arrangements with other
developing Pacific island countries, particularly in
training activities. She emphasized that TCDC
arrangements were considered a useful vehicle for the
transfer of technology and know-how from Asian
countries to the Pacific island countries. In that
connection, she commended the activities undertaken
by the ESCAP ECDC-TCDC services and encouraged
ESCAP to continue to accord high priority to that
important programme. She announced that her
Government would contribute US$ 2,000 to the Pacific
Trust Fund in 1993.
486. France. The representative of France
announced that his Government would continue to
provide support for ESCAP activities in the areas of
transport and communications, environment,
urbanization and human settlements, energy, and
agriculture and rural development. Under the transport
and communications sector, France would provide
support for specific activities relating to maritime
transport, in particular port management; railway
transport, in particular the study of the Trans-Asian
Railway; and air transport. In the field of environment,
France would provide an expert to assist in the
development of environmental national accounting. For
the fields of urbanization and human settlements, France
would provide expertise and support for activities within
the framework of the subnational area programme. For
the energy sector, France would provide an expert to
assist in the development of accounting in the energy
sector in the countries of the region and to formulate
recommendations for more efficient use of energy. As
regarded the agricultural and rural development sector,
France would provide expertise and support for the
establishment of a database on the different types of
pesticides for use in agriculture and would also provide
three economis ts for the CGPRT Centre. His
Government would continue to support ESCAP/POC
through the continued provision of the services of an
expert in macroeconomics. He expressed the concern of
his Government that inadequate emphasis had been
given to priority activities in the fields of energy and
sustainable agricultural development. He stated that the
implementation of environment-related projects had
been rather slow. He indicated that, bearing in mind that
there was a new administration in France and that
budgetary constraints might occur in the course of the
year, he was not in a position to make a precise pledge at
that stage. However, he would endeavour to ensure that
the total level of extrabudgetary assistance to ESCAP in
the above fields, as well as for projects of the trade
sector that were under consideration, would be at the
same level as in 1992, approximately FF 10 million.
487. India. The representative of India announced
the following intended contributions for 1993:
US$
(a) APCTT 100,000
(b) SIAP 15,000
(c) RNAM 15,000
In addition, India would also contribute Rs 100,000
annually for the printing of a publication on value-added
technology information services in biotechnology. He
noted that the 1993 intended contribution for SIAP,
amounting to US$ 15,000, represented an increase of
US$ 5,000 over the 1992 contribution, in response to the
proposal made by the Executive Secretary. In addition,
he also indicated that his Government would contribute
US$ 55,000 to APDC. He reiterated the support of his
Government for the ECDC-TCDC activities of ESCAP.
488. Indonesia. While appealing for increased
support of ESCAP activities and regional institutions
from members and other donor countries as well as
multilateral funding and financial institutions, the
representative of Indonesia announced the following
contributions:
74
(a) APCTT US$ 15,000
(b) CGPRT Centre Rp 105.7 million
(c) SIAP US$ 40,000
(d) RNAM US$ 15,000
(e) Pacific Trust Fund US$ 5,000
(f) Participation of central
Asian republics in the
Commission session US$ 5,000
In addition, Indonesia would contribute US$ 47,300 to
APDC and US$ 50,000 to CCOP.
489. Islamic Republic of Iran. The representative of
the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed his Government's
full support for the activities and the programme of work
of ESCAP and announced that his Government would
contribute US$ 15,000 for the programme of work in 1993.
490. Japan. The representative of Japan advised the
Commission that his Government would continue to
provide expert services on a non-reimbursable loan basis
through the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) and to fund fellowship programmes under SIAP.
In addition, the Government of Japan would continue to
contribute US$ 2.2 million to the Japan-ESCAP
Cooperation Fund and US$ 1.48 million to SIAP in 1993.
The total cash contribution to the Japan-ESCAP
Cooperation Fund and to SIAP in 1993 would thus
amount to US$ 3.68 million approximately. The
Government of Japan would also make in-kind
contributions to ESCAP of approximately US$ 2 million
in 1993.
491. Kiribati. The representative of Kiribati
announced that his Government would contribute US$
1,000 to SIAP and $A 2,500 to the Pacific Trust Fund.
492. Malaysia. The representative of Malaysia
announced the following contributions:
US$
(a) APCTT 10,000
(b) SIAP 10,000
(c) Pacific Trust Fund 1,000
In addition, Malaysia would contribute US$ 46,200 and
M$ 440,000 to APDC.
493. Maldives. The representative of Maldives
announced that the intended contribution of Maldives
in 1993 would be at the same level as in 1992.
494. Marshall Islands. The representative of the
Marshall Islands expressed appreciation to the ESCAP
secretariat for its assistance and cooperation in the
development efforts of the Marshall Islands. He
expressed appreciation to the donor countries for
contributing extrabudgetary funds, which had enabled
ESCAP to undertake activities for the benefit of the
needy countries of the region. He indicated that his
Government would try to maintain the same level of
support to ESCAP as in previous years.
495. Mongolia. The representative of Mongolia
announced that the intended contribution of his
Government in 1993 would be US$ 500 to SIAP.
496. Myanmar. The representative of Myanmar
announced that the intended contribution of his
Government to the ESCAP programme of work for 1993
would be US$ 2,000, as in 1992. He also announced that
the intended contribution of his Government to the
CGPRT Centre for 1993 would be announced to the
secretariat at a later date.
497. Nepal. The representative of Nepal announced
the following contributions:
US$
(a) ESCAP programme of work 2,492
(b) APCTT 600
(c) CGPRT Centre 500
(d) SIAP 500
He noted that the intended contribution to APCTT for
1993, amounting to US$ 600, represented an increase of
US$ 100 over its 1992 contribution. In addition, Nepal
would consider increasing its intended contribution to
APDC in 1993 over its contribution in 1992, which had
been US$ 1,500.
498. Netherlands. The representative of the
Netherlands announced that his Government would
make cash contributions to ESCAP in 1993 of f. 3 million,
equivalent to approximately US$ 1.7 million. He
indicated that the contribution would be used to finance
projects to assist developing members and associate
members of ESCAP in dealing with priority issues in the
area of economic and social development. He further
indicated that all projects to be financed should take into
consideration the impact of the implementation on
poverty alleviation, on women and development, as well
as their effect on the environment. He hoped to finalize
the programming of Netherlands assistance for 1993 with
ESCAP soon. He observed that the secretariat should
give more emphasis to the level of participation of the
countries involved in projects and should ensure that
they were more involved in project formulation. He
hoped that the secretariat would make more use of
expertise from within the region and encourage the
application of the TCDC concept. He urged that
participating developing countries, as a reflection of
their commitments to those regional institutions, should
make up a greater share of the financial contributions
towards institutional support costs of regional
institutions in order to enhance their financial viability.
He reiterated the full support of his Government for the
programme of work of ESCAP.
75
499. Pakistan. The representative of Pakistan
announced the following contributions, subject to
parliamentary approval:
US$
(a) APCTT 5,000
(b) SIAP 8,000
(c) RNAM 12,000
In addition, Pakistan would contribute US$ 30,000 to
APDC.
500. Papua New Guinea. The representative of
Papua New Guinea announced that his Government
would contribute US$ 10,339 to the Pacific Trust Fund in
1993. He also indicated that the contribution had
already been presented to the secretariat during the
session.
501. Philippines. The representative of the
Philippines indicated that appropriations for 1993 for
ESCAP and other related institutions had already been
made by his Government but would still require final
consideration. He announced that his Government
would inform the secretariat of its contribution for 1993
as soon as the appropriations had been finalized.
502. Republic of Korea. The representative of the
Republic of Korea announced the following intended
cash contributions:
US$
(a) Republic of Korea-ESCAP
Cooperation Fund 400,000
(b) APCTT 10,000
(c) CGPRT Centre 15,000
(d) SIAP 20,000
(e) RNAM 20,000
(f) Participation of disadvantaged
economies in transition
in meetings of ESCAP 10,000
He also announced that his Government would continue
to provide the services of seven experts on a nonreimbursable
loan basis, six of whom would be assigned
to the ESCAP secretariat and one to the CGPRT Centre.
His Government would also provide a new expert on a
non-reimbursable loan basis to ESCAP/POC in 1993. He
indicated that his Government's contribution to APDC
and CCOP would be announced later at their general
conferences.
503. Russian Federation. The representative of the
Russian Federation stated that his Government was
considering renewing the practice of holding seminars in
the Russian Federation for ESCAP members and
associate members and offering scholarships, through
ESCAP, to national nominees from ESCAP members
and associate members for study in universities in the
Russian Federation. He noted with satisfaction the
recent efforts of countries of the North-East Asian
subregion in promoting cooperation in trade,
investment, transport, the environment, the
implementation of market-oriented reforms and the joint
exploration of natural resources. He stressed the
important role of ESCAP in promoting cooperation in the
subregion. He called upon the secretariat to seek the
views of ESCAP members and associate members, as
well as of relevant United Nations bodies, programmes
and specialized agencies on ways and means of
enhancing economic cooperation in that subregion. He
encouraged the secretariat to devote part of its
economic and social survey for Asia and the Pacific to
the analysis of opportunities of enhancing economic
cooperation in the North-East Asian subregion, as well
as to other issues faced by the countries of the
subregion.
504. Singapore. The representative of Singapore
announced that Singapore would contribute US$ 5,000
to SIAP in 1993.
505. Solomon Islands. The representative of
Solomon Islands indicated that his Government would
communicate its confirmed contribution for 1993 to the
secretariat at a later date. He also indicated that his
Government would try to maintain its intended
contributions in 1993 at the same level as in 1992, which
had been US$ 1,000 to ESCAP/POC and US$ 1,000 to the
Pacific Trust Fund.
506. Sri Lanka. The representative of Sri Lanka
announced the following contributions for 1993:
US$
(a) APCTT 5,000
(b) CGPRT Centre 10,000
(c) SIAP 5,000
In addition, Sri Lanka would contribute US$ 27,500 to
APDC.
507. Thailand. The representative of Thailand
announced the following contributions:
US$
(a) APCTT 15,000
(b) CGPRT Centre 15,000
(c) SIAP 13,000
(d) RNAM 15,000
(e) Pacific Trust Fund 1,000
(f) Fund for participation of the
disadvantaged economies in
transition and Mongolia in
ESCAP meetings 2,000
76
He noted that his Government's intended contribution to
SIAP in 1993 represented an increase of US$ 3,000 over
its 1992 contribution. In addition, he announced that
Thailand would contribute US$ 40,000 to APDC, US$
30,000 to CCOP and US$ 12,000 to the Typhoon
Committee in 1993.
508. Tonga. The representative of Tonga announced
that her Government would communicate its intended
contribution to the secretariat at a later date.
509. Vanuatu. The representative of Vanuatu
announced that the intended contribution of Vanuatu in
1993 would be at the same level as in 1992, which had
been US$ 1,000 for the Pacific Trust Fund.
510. Viet Nam. The representative of Viet Nam
announced that his Government would communicate its
level of contribution in 1993 to the secretariat at a later
date.
511. Macau. The representative of Macau
announced that her Government would contribute US$
15,000 to SIAP.
512. New Caledonia. The representative of New
Caledonia announced that her Government would
communicate its intended contribution in 1993 to the
secretariat at a later date.
513. Germany. In reiterating the continued support
of the Government of Germany to ESCAP through the
funding of specific technical cooperation in selected
priority areas of the ESCAP programme of work, the
representative of Germany emphasized the importance
that his Government attached to intensifying and
extending direct links with ESCAP. He informed the
Commission that the development assistance programme
to ESCAP in 1992 had amounted to DM 4.5 million,
concentrated mainly in the agreed priority areas of
cooperation: the extension of the regional transport
network, the promotion of industrial development and
trade, and the improvement of agricultural production by
means of specific extension measures in the areas of
fertilizer marketing and distribution. He indicated that
the development assistance programme to ESCAP would
continue to be concentrated in the three agreed areas of
cooperation within the scope of extrabudgetary
resources. In addition, his Government would provide
DM 2.5 million to finance one German expert as Director
of APCTT for a period of up to three years. He hoped
that the new Director would be able to take up his
assignment with the Centre during the course of 1993.
514. United Nations Development Programme.
The representative of UNDP reiterated the full support
of UNDP to ESCAP and announced that almost all
UNDP-ESCAP cooperation programmes, notably: (a)
CITYNET and urbanization; (b) remote sensing; (c)
energy and environment; (d) trade and investment; (e)
SIAP; and (f) transport and communications, had been
approved and would be finalized expeditiously in the
very near future.
515. The total pledges of contributions for 1993 made
by 26 members and associate members and one observer
State amounted to approximately US$ 13.29 million, and
comprised US$ 8.11 million in cash and an estimate of
US$ 5.18 million in kind.
516. The Commission noted that the total pledges
did not include either the possible contributions from
other members and donors that had made no
announcement of intended contributions at the current
session, or the value of several unquantified
contributions pledged. In addition, extrabudgetary
resources to be received from UNDP, UNFPA, other
agencies of the United Nations system and other
intergovernmental organizations for ESCAP-executed
projects were not reflected in the total pledges.
517. The Commission noted that several developing
countries as well as least developed countries had
enhanced their contributions to the three regional
institutions and RNAM. Nevertheless, a deficit would
remain in meeting institutional costs. In that connection,
the Commission noted with appreciation the offer by
Germany to finance the post of Director of APCTT for a
period of three years beginning in 1993, and to cover
other support costs.
518. The Commission noted with appreciation that in
pursuance of the appeal made by the Executive
Secretary during the forty-eighth session of the
Commission, several developing countries, in addition to
the donor countries, had announced their intended
contributions in order to finance the participation of
representatives of the disadvantaged economies in
transition in the annual sessions of the Commission,
including the current session. It also noted that many
more countries had announced their contributions to the
Pacific Trust Fund.
519. The Executive Secretary, thanking the donors,
members and associate members for announcing their
intended contributions to the ESCAP programme of
work, regional institutions and special regional projects,
took note of the Commission's emphasis on greater
involvement of participating countries in the formulation
of extrabudgetary-funded projects, as well as on the
level of participation of developing member countries in
the activities of the Commission. In his concluding
remarks, the Executive Secretary took note of the interest
of members and associate members in subregional
projects. He informed the Commission that, in addition
to UNDP funding for subregional activities, ESCAP had
also been engaged in subregional activities, for example
in North-East Asia, for which the funding had been
provided by the Republic of Korea-ESCAP Cooperation
Fund.
77
Activities of the Advisory Committee of
Permanent Representatives and Other
Representatives Designated by
Members of the Commission
520. The Commission had before it and endorsed the
report of the Advisory Committee of Permanent
Representatives and Other Representatives Designated
by Members of the Commission as contained in
documents E/ESCAP/922 and E/ESCAP/922/Add.1. It
expressed appreciation of the report. The representative
of Nepal had served as the rapporteur of the Advisory
Committee.
521. Since the forty-eighth session of the
Commission, ACPR had held 11 regular sessions and 1
informal meeting, at which it had discussed the
following: the outcome of the forty-eighth session of the
Commission; the progress in the implementation of
resolutions and other decisions of the Commission at
that session; the preparations for the forty-ninth session
of the Commission, including its theme topic, the
tentative date, timetable and provisional and annotated
provisional agendas; the contents of the revised
thematic subprogramme in the light of the
recommendations of the expert consultation on the
thematic reorientation of the work of ESCAP and the
proposed draft programme of work and priorities, 1994-
1995; the draft proposed programme changes of the
programme of work and priorities, 1992-1993; the
tentative calendar of meetings, April 1993-March 1994;
the implementation of the programme of work of the
substantive divisions of ESCAP; the programme support
services of the secretariat; the report on the
implementation of the programme of work, 1992-1993; the
preparations for and review of the Meeting of Ministers
Responsible for Transport and Communications, the
Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology, the
first session of the Committee for Regional Economic
Cooperation and the first meeting of its Steering Group,
the eighth session of the Committee on Statistics, the
Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference, the
Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked
Developing Countries, and the Special Body on Pacific
Island Developing Countries; the preparations for the
second session of the Committee for Regional Economic
Cooperation; the report of ACPR to the Commission; the
follow-up to Commission resolution 48/12 on
restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in
the economic and social fields _ the role and functions
of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific; and the finalization of the response of the
Commission to General Assembly resolution 46/235 of 13
April 1992. A special report by ACPR on the
implementation of resolution 48/12 (E/ESCAP/891 and
Corr.1) was submitted to the Commission under agenda
item 5 on restructuring and revitalization of the United
Nations in the economic and social fields.
522. The Commission expressed its appreciation of
the activities carried out by ACPR under its enhanced
terms of reference as adopted by the Commission at its
forty-eighth session. In particular, it appreciated the
efforts of ACPR to monitor the progress made in the
implementation of the resolutions and decisions of the
Commission, especially Commission resolution 48/2 of
23 April 1992 on restructuring the conference structure
of the Commission, and its deliberations on the
programme of work of ESCAP. The Commission called
on ACPR to continue to include in its work plan the
follow-up to Commission resolution 48/2.
523. The Commission commended ACPR on
successfully implementing Commission resolution 48/12.
It noted with appreciation the contribution made by the
ACPR open-ended working group to the preparation of
the Commission response to General Assembly
resolution 46/235. The Commission urged ACPR to keep
abreast of developments in the restructuring and
revitalization of the United Nations.
524. The Commission noted with satisfaction the
increasingly cooperative and productive relationship
between ACPR and the secretariat and expressed
appreciation of the secretariat support of the Committee.
The constructive interaction between the Committee and
the secretariat had made ACPR a more viable and useful
body. A number of suggestions put forward by ACPR
had been implemented by the secretariat.
525. The Commission stressed the role played by
ACPR as a channel of communication between member
Governments and the secretariat and as a mechanism for
inter-sessional consultations between them and for
facilitating consensus on a number of issues. It was
expected that, in the light of new mandates expected to
be devolved to the regional commissions in the
restructuring of the United Nations, the role of ACPR
would gain increased importance.
526. The Commission noted suggestions that had
been made concerning the following: the monitoring by
ACPR of the implementation of the thematic approach
adopted by the Commission at its forty-eighth session,
including the thematic programme of work; the
consideration by ACPR of proposed draft resolutions
prior to the convening of annual sessions of the
Commission whenever possible; and the scheduling of
meetings of ACPR. Noting that a sizeable number of
members and associate members were not yet
represented on the Committee, the Commission called for
their increased participation in the deliberations of the
Committee in view of its increased importance and
enhanced role.
527. The Deputy Executive Secretary affirmed that
the secretariat looked forward to the continued
contribution of the Committee. The work of the
Committee would be particularly important in the
forthcoming months in view of the current efforts at
revitalization and restructuring of the United Nations,
which would have a strong impact on the work of
the Commission. The secretariat was pleased with the
78
increased representation on ACPR, particularly that of
the Pacific island countries.
Date, venue and any other subject pertaining
to the fiftieth session of the Commission
528. The Commission had before it document
E/ESCAP/923. It accepted with appreciation the
generous invitation of the Government of India to hold
the fiftieth session of the Commission at New Delhi
during the period February to April 1994. The Executive
Secretary, after consultation with the host Government
and the Chairperson, would determine the exact dates of
the session and inform the members and associate
members accordingly.
529. The representative of India emphasized the
significance of the Commission as a forum for the
promotion of regional cooperation and development.
The importance attached by the Government of India to
the work of ESCAP had motivated it to invite the
Commission to hold its next session at New Delhi.
530. In noting the generous offer of the Government
of India to host the fiftieth session of the Commission,
the secretariat explained that the approval of the
Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly
was necessary before the Commission could accept the
offer. A host country agreement would have to be
signed by ESCAP and the host country. The secretariat
pointed out that the provisions of the agreement were
drawn up under the guidance of the Legal Counsel of
the United Nations, in accordance with the guidelines
laid down by the General Assembly in its resolutions
and decisions. The provisions of the host country
agreement had been standardized by the United Nations
Office of Legal Affairs. An important provision of the
agreement was that all the representatives of ESCAP
members and associate members, and of other States
Members of the United Nations, were required to be
provided unimpeded entry and exit from the host
country. Intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental
organizations and individuals invited by
ESCAP, as well as officers of the secretariat who would
service the session, would also have similar rights. The
host country agreement would spell out those rights in
respect of all participants and persons performing
functions in connection with the session. They should
enjoy the privileges and immunities, and facilities and
courtesies necessary for the independent exercise of
their functions. Moreover, any and all additional costs
for holding the Commission session in a place other than
its headquarters would have to be borne fully by the
host country. Detailed estimates of the additional cost
to the Government would be made available by the
ESCAP secretariat to the Government of India.
531. The Government of India agreed to bear all
responsibility for hosting the fiftieth session, including
the additional administrative, logistical and financial
expenditure involved in holding the session away from
the headquarters of the Commission and to fulfil the
obligations under the standard agreement between the
United Nations and the host Government. The
secretariat would extend its full cooperation in holding
the fiftieth session at New Delhi.
Theme topic for the fiftieth session of the
Commission
532. The Commission considered the choice of a
theme topic for its next session. Several suggestions
were put forward by representatives of member
Governments in the course of discussions, following
which the Plenary decided to request the Chairperson of
the Informal Working Group on Draft Resolutions to
conduct informal consultations on the matter. On
completion of the informal consultations, the results
were conveyed through the Chairperson of the
Commission to the Plenary for its approval.
533. The Commission observed that a major
impediment to economic growth that was emerging or
intensifying in most developing countries of the region
was the deficiency in infrastructure (power supply,
telecommunications; and transport, including roads,
rural roads, railways and ports). It stressed that if that
problem could be solved trade and investment would be
stimulated and regional economic cooperation
enhanced. The Commission, accordingly, decided that
the theme topic for the fiftieth session of the
Commission should be "Infrastructure development as
key to economic growth and regional economic
cooperation". The Commission directed that in its study
on the theme topic the secretariat should, inter alia,
focus on an assessment of the magnitude of the
deficiency in the physical infrastructure facilities in the
developing countries, as well as in the disadvantaged
economies in transition of the region, on the resources
required for addressing that deficiency and on the
measures needed to attract private investment, both
domestic and foreign, for establishing infrastructure
facilities. The successful experience of countries in the
region in attracting private investment in infrastructure
development facilities, as well as the policies needed for
efficient management of infrastructure facilities, should
also be utilized. In the promotion of increased
investment for infrastructure building, the sustainability
of development should be taken into account. The
study should also focus on areas in which regional
cooperation could facilitate the establishment of
infrastructure facilities.
Adoption of the report of the Commission
534. At its 750th meeting on 29 April 1993, the
Commission adopted the draft report.
79
Chapter IV
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION
AT ITS FORTY-NINTH SESSION
49/1. Implementation of the action programme
for regional economic cooperation in
trade and investment1
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Recalling its resolution 48/1 of 23 April 1992 on
the declaration on enhancing regional economic
cooperation, known as the Beijing Declaration on
Regional Economic Cooperation, in which it urged
strongly that promotion of intraregional trade and
investment should receive high priority in economic
cooperation in Asia and the Pacific and in the
Commission's deliberations,
Recalling also its resolution 48/2 of 23 April
1992 on restructuring the conference structure of the
Commission, by which it established the Committee for
Regional Economic Cooperation and its high-level
Steering Group,
Noting the sustained growth and expansion of
trade in the ESCAP region as a whole, but also
recognizing the potential for the further expansion of
trade for the benefit of all the developing economies in
the region, especially the least developed, land-locked
and Pacific island economies as well as the
disadvantaged economies in transition,
Taking into account the need for the
establishment of a strong regional economy in Asia and
the Pacific, with growing interlinkages in trade and
investment among ESCAP members and associate
members in order to enable the region to retain its
resilience into the next century, which will require
policies that foster closer economic ties based on
expanding interdependence within the region,
Recognizing that notwithstanding such cooperative
endeavours within the region, the successful
conclusion of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade
negotiations and an open world trading system must still
underpin the regionwide pursuit of outward-oriented
development strategies,
Emphasizing the relevance of the recommendations
emerging from the deliberations on the theme
topic of the forty-ninth session of the Commission,
"Expansion of investment and intraregional trade as a
vehicle for enhancing regional economic cooperation
and development in Asia and the Pacific", as a step
towards achieving a more balanced and sustained
development of the region,
________
1 See paras. 167, 273-279 and 281 above.
Focusing on the action programme for regional
economic cooperation in trade and investment as
endorsed by the Committee for Regional Economic
Cooperation at its second session and further endorsed
by the Commission at the present session,
Realizing the importance of effective utilization
of all available resources, as well as of avoiding
duplication of effort for the creation of a better
environment for the promotion of regional economic
cooperation and development,
Acknowledging the funding support of the
United Nations Development Programme under its fifth
intercountry programme for the efficient implementation
of the action programme,
1. Calls upon the Executive Secretary to
accord priority, subject to the availability of financial
resources, to the activities of the secretariat in the
implementation of the action programme for regional
economic cooperation in trade and investment,
particularly in the following areas:
(a) Review and analysis of regional trade
patterns;
(b) Strengthening of the Regional Trade
Information Network;
(c) Networking of trade-related research
institutions;
(d) Enhancement of national capabilities in
quality control;
(e) Sectoral foreign direct investment inflows
and analysis of foreign direct investment
policies;
(f) Establishment of a regional investment
information and promotion service;
(g) Development of export-oriented small and
medium enterprises;
(h) Environmental issues related to trade and
investment;
(i) Assistance in specific sectors to
disadvantaged economies in transition;
(j) Integration of the central Asian economies
into the region;
(k) Inter-subregional cooperation in trade and
investment;
2. Calls upon all members and associate
members to support and participate actively in the
implementation of the action programme;
80
3. Invites the Asian Development Bank, the
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and
interested United Nations agencies and organizations,
as well as bilateral donor countries and the members and
associate members of the Commission, to collaborate
actively with the secretariat in its efforts to implement
the action programme;
4. Requests the Executive Secretary to report
annually on the progress in the implementation of the
action programme, beginning with the fiftieth session of
the Commission.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
49/2. Resource mobilization for the implementation
of the regional action programme for
phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport
and Communications Decade for Asia
and the Pacific2
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Recalling its resolution 236 (XL) of 27 April 1984
on the proclamation of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, 1985-
1994, Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/78 of
27 July 1984, in which the Council endorsed resolution
236 (XL), and General Assembly resolution 39/227 of 18
December 1984, in which the Assembly proclaimed a
Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the
Pacific,
Recalling Commission resolution 47/10 of 10
April 1991 on phase II of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, 1985-
1994, in which the Commission decided that the
programmes for the Decade should be redesigned and
the period of the second quinquennium modified to
1992-1996, and in which it urged the United Nations
Development Programme to provide funds for
developing the regional action programme,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council
resolution 1991/75 of 26 July 1991, in which the Council
endorsed Commission resolution 47/10, and General
Assembly decision 46/453 of 20 December 1991 by
which the Assembly endorsed Council resolution
1991/75,
Recalling further the Declaration of Ministers
Responsible for Transport and Communications:
Launching of Phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific of
________
2 See para. 188 above.
5 June 1992, in which the Governments of the ESCAP
region endorsed the regional action programme,
Reaffirming the agreement of the Meeting of
Ministers Responsible for Transport and Communications,
held at Bangkok in June 1992, that the issue of
resource mobilization for the implementation of the
regional action programme was of equal importance with
the formulation of a sound programme, and that the
success of the implementation of the programme, and
therefore of the Decade, would depend heavily on
assistance from donors,
Noting the statement of the representative of the
United Nations Development Programme at the first
meeting of the Inter-agency Steering Committee
on Phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, held at
Geneva in December 1992, that US$ 12 million had been
allocated for the regional action programme under the
Programme's theme of economic reform and, therefore,
there was no possibility of additional funding from the
intercountry indicative planning figure, and noting that
the Governing Council of the United Nations
Development Programme will review the regional
indicative planning figure at the mid-term review exercise
in 1994,
Deeply concerned at the drastic decrease in the
level of funds allocated by the United Nations
Development Programme for the fifth cycle, which is 75
per cent less than the approximately US$ 48 million
allocated for the fourth cycle (1987-1991) including US$
6 million from the Special Programme Resources to eight
United Nations organizations and specialized agencies
for the implementation of projects related to transport
and communications in Asia and the Pacific,
Noting with appreciation the cooperation and
support of the United Nations Development Programme
in the preparation of the regional action programme for
phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific,
nevertheless stresses that the regional action
programme cannot be implemented effectively and
efficiently without adequate funds, particularly from the
United Nations Development Programme,
Reaffirming the high priority that the
Commission gives to phase II (1992-1996) of the
Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the
Pacific,
Recommends to the Economic and Social Council
the adoption of the draft resolution annexed to the
present resolution.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
81
Annex
DRAFT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
RESOLUTION ON RESOURCE MOBILIZATION FOR
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGIONAL
ACTION PROGRAMME FOR
PHASE II (1992-1996) OF THE TRANSPORT
AND COMMUNICATIONS DECADE
FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
"The Economic and Social Council,
"Recommends to the General Assembly the adoption
of the following draft resolution:
"The General Assembly,
"Noting resolution 49/2 of 29 April 1993 of the
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific on resource mobilization for the
implementation of the regional action programme for
phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific,
"Recalling General Assembly
resolution 39/227 of 18 December 1984, by which the
Assembly proclaimed a Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific
during the period 1985-1994, and Economic and
Social Council resolution 1984/78 of 27 July 1984 on
the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia
and the Pacific, 1985-1994,
"Recalling also Economic and Social
Council resolution 1991/75 of 26 July 1991, in which
the Council urged all appropriate organizations,
particularly the United Nations Development
Programme, to contribute effectively to the
formulation and implementation of a regional action
programme for the second quinquennium of the
Decade, and General Assembly decision 46/453 of 20
December 1991, by which the Assembly endorsed
Council resolution 1991/75,
"Reaffirming the importance of phase II (1992-
1996) of the Transport and Communications Decade
for Asia and the Pacific,
"Concerned that the regional action programme
may not be able to be implemented effectively and
efficiently without adequate funds, particularly from
the United Nations Development Programme, and
noting the decision of the Governing Council of the
United Nations Development Programme in this
regard,
"1. Requests the United Nations Development
Programme, in the light of General Assembly
decision 46/453 of 20 December 1991 on phase II of
the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia
and the Pacific, 1985-1994, to reconsider its decision
regarding the level of funding to be provided for the
implementation of the regional action programme so
as to enable phase II (1992-1996) of the Decade to
have greater impact;
"2. Requests bilateral donors to take note of
General Assembly decision 46/453, so as to ensure
that the programme approved by the Meeting of
Ministers Responsible for Transport and Communications,
held at Bangkok in June 1992, will be
implemented effectively;
"3. Invites all Governments in a position to do
so to contribute to the implementation of the
programme approved by the Meeting of Ministers;
"4. Requests the Secretary-General to report on
the action taken to the General Assembly at its fortyeighth
session."
49/3. Tehran Declaration on Strengthening
Regional Cooperation for Technologyled
Industrialization in Asia and
the Pacific3
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution
47/153 of 18 December 1992 on industrial development
cooperation, as well as Assembly resolution 47/171 of 22
December 1992 on privatization in the context of
economic restructuring, economic growth and
sustainable development, in which the Assembly
welcomed the activities being undertaken by relevant
organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations
system in supporting national efforts aimed at
increasing economic efficiency, growth and sustainable
development,
Bearing in mind also General Assembly
resolution 45/206 of 21 December 1990 on the
implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least
Developed Countries for the 1990s,
Recalling the Vienna Programme of Action on
Science and Technology for Development, adopted by
the United Nations Conference on Science and
Technology for Development in 1979, and resolution
GC.3/Res. 18 of 23 November 1989 on the Special
Programme for the Industrial Development of Asia and
the Pacific, adopted by the Third General Conference
of the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization,
Recalling its resolution 235 (XL) of 27 April 1984
on the Tokyo Programme on Technology for
Development in Asia and the Pacific,
Recalling also its resolution 47/2 of 10 April
1991 on the Seoul Plan of Action for Promoting
Industrial Restructuring in Asia and the Pacific and its
adoption of the Seoul Plan of Action at its forty-eighth
session in April 1992,
________
3 See para. 205 above.
82
Recalling further its resolution 48/1 of 23 April
1992 on the declaration on enhancing regional economic
cooperation, known as the Beijing Declaration on
Regional Economic Cooperation,
Recognizing the urgent need to spread the
development momentum to all countries of the region,
especially the least developed, land-locked and island
developing countries and the disadvantaged economies
in transition,
Realizing that the growing integration of the
world economy has led to a situation wherein factors
exogenous to national economies are increasingly
important, and that enhanced regional and global
cooperation is called for,
Recognizing also that the overall dynamic
performance of the region can be further strengthened
through increased regional and subregional cooperation
and by the integration into the world economy of the
region's least developed and island developing
economies and disadvantaged economies in transition
through increased trade, investment and national
capacity-building,
Welcoming the greater emphasis on the adoption
of policies and measures in promoting the role of the
private sector in industrial development and
technological progress,
Welcoming also the important initiatives taken to
organize the first Private Sector Symposium, held at
Tehran on 26 June 1992, in conjunction with the Meeting
of Ministers of Industry and Technology and to
incorporate the recommendations of the Symposium in
the Tehran Declaration on Strengthening Regional
Cooperation for Technology-led Industrialization in Asia
and the Pacific, as well as in the Regional Strategy and
Action Plan for Industrial and Technological
Development,
1. Takes note of the recommendations of the
Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology, held
at Tehran on 28 and 29 June 1992, and the Tehran
Declaration on Strengthening Regional Cooperation for
Technology-led Industrialization in Asia and the Pacific,
adopted by the Meeting of Ministers;
2. Endorses the Regional Strategy and Action
Plan for Industrial and Technological Development, also
adopted by the Meeting of Ministers;
3. Calls for the early implementation of the
recommendations of the Meeting of Ministers of
Industry and Technology, the Tehran Declaration, and
the Regional Strategy and Action Plan;
4. Welcomes the offer of the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran to upgrade the existing
national centre, namely the Institute for Research in
Planning and Development, Tehran, to provide regional
and subregional facilities, and in that context, requests
the Executive Secretary to examine the legal, financial
and other implications and modalities and report to the
Commission at its fiftieth session;
5. Invites all United Nations bodies and
specialized agencies concerned, as well as regional and
subregional intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations, multilateral funding agencies, bilateral aid
agencies and donor Governments, to provide technical
and financial support for the implementation of the
Tehran Declaration and the Regional Strategy and
Action Plan;
6. Calls upon the Executive Secretary to
mobilize resources for the implementation of the
recommendations of the Meeting of Ministers of
Industry and Technology, the Tehran Declaration, and
the Regional Strategy and Action Plan, and to report on
the progress in implementing those recommendations to
the Commission at its fifty-first and subsequent
sessions;
7. Requests the Executive Secretary to
convene in 1996 a regional conference of senior officials,
representatives of concerned United Nations bodies and
agencies and other relevant organizations, and the
private sector, in order to review and assess the
progress achieved in the implementation of the
recommendations of the Meeting of Ministers of
Industry and Technology, the Tehran Declaration, and
the Regional Strategy and Action Plan, and to report
thereon to the Commission at its fifty-third session, to
be held in 1997.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
49/4. Population and sustainable development:
goals and strategies into the twenty-first
century4
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Recalling its resolution 48/4 of 23 April 1992 on
the Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference,
1992, in which it recalled its decision to organize the
Conference as a ministerial meeting jointly with the
United Nations Population Fund in order to review the
changes in the population situation that had occurred
during the 1980s and highlight the perspectives of
population policies and programmes during the 1990s in
countries and areas of Asia and the Pacific,
Recognizing that integration of population
factors in the socio-economic development process is
crucial and that the alleviation of poverty is fundamental
to the achievement of sustainable development,
________
4 See paras. 225-246 above.
83
Mindful of the substantial progress achieved by
members and associate members in responding to the
Asia-Pacific Call for Action on Population and
Development adopted by the Third Asian and Pacific
Population Conference, held at Colombo in 1982, and the
role played by the secretariat and donors, particularly
the United Nations Population Fund, in its
implementation,
Taking note of the importance of the
International Conference on Population and
Development to be held at Cairo in 1994,
1. Welcomes the adoption by the Fourth Asian
and Pacific Population Conference, held in Bali,
Indonesia, in August 1992, of the Bali Declaration on
Population and Sustainable Development, and endorses
the recommendations of that Declaration;
2. Urges all members and associate members
to take early and effective action to implement the Bali
Declaration through the provision of adequate financial
and human resources;
3. Also urges all members, associate members
and the Executive Secretary to make every effort to
incorporate population, environment and development
concerns in their inputs to the forthcoming International
Conference on Population and Development;
4. Calls upon donor countries and funding
agencies, in particular the United Nations Population
Fund, United Nations bodies and specialized agencies,
intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental
organizations, to provide substantive and financial
support for the implementation of the Bali Declaration;
5. Requests the Executive Secretary, as head
of the main centre within the United Nations system for
the general economic and social development of the
Asian and Pacific region:
(a) To assist the members and associate
members in the implementation of the Bali Declaration by
initiating appropriate activities, and to review and
appraise their progress;
(b) To cooperate with members and
associate members in implementing the Bali Declaration,
and, in the light of the declining financial and human
resources devoted to the Asian and Pacific regional
population programme, to seek to mobilize resources for
this purpose;
(c) To continue to play an advocacy role
in the planning and implementation of population
programmes in the ESCAP region, and even more
vigorously in the light of the Bali Declaration;
(d) To disseminate information through
regular publications and other appropriate means
concerning the implementation of the Bali Declaration
and the challenges faced by countries in the region in its
implementation;
(e) To report to the Commission at
periodic intervals on the progress made;
(f) To organize a meeting of senior
planners and policy makers to incorporate concretely the
recommendations of the Bali Declaration within the
regional document for the International Conference on
Population and Development;
6. Invites the Executive Secretary, in
transmitting the present resolution to the Economic and
Social Council, to request that it be brought to the
attention of the General Assembly.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
49/5. Regional programme on space applications
for development5
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Realizing the current global concern regarding
natural resources depletion and environmental
degradation, as expressed overwhelmingly at the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992,
Recognizing that the implementation of Agenda
21 calls for an understanding of the interdependence of
environment and development, and the interaction of
various components of the Earth environment
system,
Agreeing that the advancement of space science
and technology, and its applications, have been of
immense benefit to natural resources management,
environmental monitoring and sustainable development
planning,
Convinced that Earth space information
technology, particularly remote sensing and related
geographic information system technology, owing to its
multidisciplinary nature and holistic power to gather and
analyse synoptic, dynamic and authentic data, is the
most appropriate tool for providing the integrated
information required in decision-making for optimum
management of natural resources and the environment,
and for development planning,
Noting that several countries in the Asian and
Pacific region had experienced a significant development
of space applications activities in the past decade,
Further noting that there is an increasing
demand for Earth space information technology
applications for sustainable development in the region,
________
5 See para. 451 above.
84
Realizing that international cooperation and
coordination on space applications, in consultation and
collaboration with the Committee on the Peaceful Uses
of Outer Space, the United Nations Development
Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations and other agencies of the United
Nations system are essential complements to individual
national efforts to enable the different members and
associate members of the Commission to share their
experience and expertise,
Recalling, inter alia, its resolution 48/1 of 23
April 1992 on the declaration on enhancing regional
economic cooperation, by which it urged strongly that
promotion of greater cooperation in science and
technology and in the development of infrastructure
should receive high priority in economic cooperation
in Asia and the Pacific and in the Commission's
deliberations,
Further recalling its resolution 47/8 of 10 April
1991 on regional cooperation and coordination in remote
sensing and geographic information systems, by which
it decided to continue to promote and strengthen
regional cooperation and collaboration in the area of
satellite technology applications for sustainable natural
resources development and environmental management,
Reiterating its views expressed at the fortyeighth
session of the Commission, held at Beijing in
1992, that to ensure coordinated development of space
remote sensing applications in the region and to sustain
such activities, a space applications programme should
be initiated by the members and associate members of
the Commission,
Reaffirming its opinion, expressed also at the
forty-eighth session of the Commission, that to initiate a
regional space applications programme, a senior officials
meeting should be held to explore mechanisms and to
make the necessary preparations for a ministerial-level
meeting to launch the programme,
Acknowledging the generous offer made by the
Government of China to host the ministerial-level
meeting together with the senior officials meeting in the
second half of 1994,
1. Urges the secretariat to continue its efforts
to promote the sharing of experience between the
members and associate members of the Commission in
order to achieve sustainable development, at each
country's initiative, through the integration of Earth
space information technology applications with the
management of natural resources and the environment
and with development planning;
2. Decides that a ministerial-level meeting on
space applications for development will be held at
Beijing on 23 and 24 September 1994 to launch a regional
space applications programme for development;
3. Agrees that a senior officials meeting
should be held from 19 to 22 September 1994,
immediately before the ministerial-level meeting, under
the same host facility arrangements, to complete
proposals for a regional space applications programme
for development and to submit their recommendations to
the ministerial-level meeting for consideration;
4. Urges all members and associate members
of the Commission to participate actively in the senior
officials meeting and the ministerial-level meeting and to
cooperate closely in completing the regional space
applications programme for development in Asia and the
Pacific;
5. Requests the Executive Secretary:
(a) To mobilize resources for preparatory
activities leading to the ministerial-level meeting;
(b) To intensify the interdivisional efforts
to strengthen the capacity of the secretariat, subject to
the availability of budgetary resources, for preparation
of the ministerial-level meeting;
(c) To request regional financial
institutions, such as the Asian Development Bank, to
sponsor jointly the ministerial-level meeting and to
cooperate financially in the follow-up of the decisions
and recommendations adopted at that meeting;
(d) To request the United Nations
Development Programme and the Global Environment
Facility to cooperate in the holding of the ministeriallevel
meeting and in its follow-up in the context of their
action plan;
(e) To report to the Commission at its
fiftieth session on the progress in the preparations for
the ministerial-level meeting.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
49/6. Proclamation and Agenda for Action for
the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons, 1993-20026
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Noting with concern that people with disabilities
are among the poorest and most vulnerable members of
most communities in the Asian and Pacific region and
that special measures are required to ensure their full
participation and equality in society,
Recalling the Manila Declaration on a Social
Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region Towards
the Year 2000 and Beyond, and Commission resolution
48/5 of 23 April 1992, in which the Commission endorsed
the Strategy,
________
6 See paras. 310-321 above.
85
Reaffirming the need for priority to be assigned
to the region's disadvantaged and vulnerable social
groups, including persons with disabilities, as stated in
the Social Development Strategy,
Recalling Commission resolution 48/3 of 23
April 1992 on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons, 1993-2002, endorsed by the Economic and
Social Council in its decision 1992/289 of 31 July 1992,
Recalling also the successful intergovernmental
Meeting to Launch the Asian and Pacific Decade of
Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, held at Beijing from 1 to 5
December 1992, hosted by the Government of China
through the China Disabled Persons' Federation, and
supported by the Government of Japan,
Noting with appreciation the Proclamation on
the Full Participation and Equality of People with
Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region, which was
adopted at that Meeting,
Welcoming the signing of the Proclamation by
heads of State and Government and senior government
officials of a number of ESCAP members and associate
members,
Also welcoming the establishment of a trust
fund for the Decade, subsequent to the adoption of
Commission resolution 48/3, with generous
contributions from the Governments of Australia, China,
Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea,
1. Urges all members and associate members
of the Commission to stress their commitment to the full
participation and equality of people with disabilities in
the Asian and Pacific region by joining as signatories to
the Proclamation at the highest levels of government;
2. Adopts the Agenda for Action for the Asian
and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002;
3. Requests all members and associate
members to support national implementation of the
Agenda for Action through public awareness activities,
appropriate policies and other measures, and the
allocation of resources;
4. Invites all Governments, donor agencies
and the private sector to contribute to the trust fund for
the Decade to ensure the successful implementation of
the Agenda for Action;
5. Also invites the United Nations
Development Programme, the United Nations Children's
Fund and other concerned United Nations bodies and
agencies, in close cooperation with ESCAP, to
strengthen their support for the building of national
capabilities for effective implementation of the Agenda
for Action;
6. Requests the Executive Secretary:
(a) To give special attention, in
collaboration with all concerned United Nations bodies
and agencies and non-governmental organizations, to
the development of regional activities in support of the
implementation of the Agenda for Action for the full
participation and equality of people with disabilities in
the Asian and Pacific region;
(b) To include an item on the progress in
implementing the Agenda for Action, incorporating
information on the signatories to the Proclamation, on
the agenda for the regional ministerial-level meeting to
be convened in 1994 in preparation for the World
Summit for Social Development to be held in 1995.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
49/7. Implementation of decisions of the General
Assembly on the United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development,
including Agenda 21, in Asia and
the Pacific7
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 47/190 of
22 December 1992 on the report of the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, and
recalling, in particular, the Rio Declaration on
Environment and Development and Agenda 21 as
adopted at that Conference on 14 June 1992,
Welcoming General Assembly resolution 47/191
of 22 December 1992 on the institutional arrangements to
follow up the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development, in which the Assembly,
inter alia, requested the Economic and Social Council to
set up a Commission on Sustainable Development to
follow up the Conference, and noting, in particular, the
request of the General Assembly to the regional
commissions, contained in paragraph 27 of resolution
47/191, to examine the relevant provisions of chapter 38
of Agenda 21 at their next sessions and submit reports
on their specific plans to implement Agenda 21,
Recalling also Commission resolution 47/7 of 10
April 1991 on the integration of environment and
development in Asia and the Pacific, in which it
endorsed the Regional Strategy on Environmentally
Sound and Sustainable Development and supported the
establis hment of an inter-agency committee on
environment and development,
Taking note of General Assembly resolution
47/188 of 22 December 1992 on the establishment of an
intergovernmental negotiating committee for the
elaboration of an international convention to combat
desertification in those countries experiencing serious
drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa,
________
7 See paras. 160-161 above.
86
Bearing in mind that the Asian and Pacific
region, comprising more than half of the world's
population within approximately one fourth of the land
area, has had remarkable economic growth in recent
years, which has led to rapid depletion of natural
resources and to serious environmental problems that
call for urgent remedial attention,
Welcoming the recent steps taken by the
countries of North-East Asia under the auspices of
ESCAP to enhance cooperation in environmental
protection in that subregion,
Welcoming also the efforts of States Members of
the United Nations and the Secretary-General aimed at
revitalization and restructuring of the United Nations
system,
Recognizing that the regional economic
commissions, as appropriate, should play a leading role
in coordinating regional and subregional activities by
sectoral and other United Nations bodies and assist
countries in achieving sustainable development, as
recommended in paragraph 38.30 of Agenda 21,
Also recognizing the leading role of the
Commission on Sustainable Development for the overall
coordination of activities at the global, regional and
national levels for the implementation of Agenda 21,
Welcoming further the cooperation and
coordination among United Nations bodies and
agencies and non-governmental organizations on
environmental issues through mechanisms such as the
Inter-agency Committee on Environment and
Development in Asia and the Pacific, the Interagency
Task Force on Water for Asia and the Pacific, and the
Interagency Committee on Integrated Rural
Development for Asia and the Pacific,
Noting with satisfaction the development of a
framework of regional action for sustainable
development as recommended by the ESCAP/UNDP
High-level Meeting on Environmentally Sound and
Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, held at
Kuala Lumpur from 15 to 19 February 1993,
1. Requests the Executive Secretary to
articulate further the regional dimensions of Agenda 21,
taking into consideration the desire in the Asian and
Pacific region, as expressed in the Regional Strategy on
Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development,
to intensify efforts at national, subregional and regional
levels to integrate environmental concerns into
development planning and processes, to protect and
improve the environmental quality, and to implement
appropriate natural resource development and
management policies and practices;
2. Requests the General Assembly to reinforce
the technical capability of the ESCAP secretariat to
enable it to play a leading role within the United Nations
system in coordinating regional and subregional
activities for the implementation of Agenda 21;
3. Recommends that regional preparatory work
on the formulation of an international convention on
desertification be undertaken as appropriate, and
requests the members and associate members of the
Commission to undertake concerted efforts to provide
their input for this purpose;
4. Requests the Executive Secretary: (a) to
explore with Governments the assistance that ESCAP
should be able to provide in order for them to implement
the relevant components of Agenda 21 at the national,
subregional and regional levels; (b) to identify areas for
cooperation among Governments on environment and
development issues; and (c) to seek the cooperation and
involvement of subregional organizations and nongovernmental
organizations, as appropriate, taking into
account the existing arrangements in furthering the
implementation of Agenda 21;
5. Requests the Executive Secretary to urge
potential donors to allocate on a priority basis an
equitable share of extrabudgetary resources to the
ESCAP secretariat for implementation of projects and
programmes in support of Agenda 21, and also to seek
funding support from the Global Environment Facility for
this purpose;
6. Requests the Executive Secretary to
convene a ministerial-level conference on environment
and development in 1995 to discuss the state of
environment and development, the implementation of
the Ministerial Declaration on Environmentally Sound
and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific,
and the Regional Strategy on Environmentally Sound
and Sustainable Development, as well as Agenda 21 and
other outcomes of the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development, and to provide further
guidance on the measures for their implementation;
7. Requests the Executive Secretary to submit
to the Commission at its fiftieth session his report on
specific plans to implement Agenda 21.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
49/8. Strengthening assistance to least developed
countries8
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Recalling its resolution 47/4 of 10 April 1991 on
the implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Least Developed Countries for the 1990s, in which the
Commission stressed that successful implementation of
the Programme of Action would depend on shared
responsibility and strengthened partnership for the
growth and development of the least developed
countries,
________
8 See paras. 291-292 above.
87
Recalling also General Assembly resolutions
45/206 of 21 December 1990 and 46/156 of
19 December 1991 on the implementation of the
Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries
for the 1990s,
Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution
S-18/3 of 1 May 1990, by which the Assembly adopted
the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation,
in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and
Development of the Developing Countries, which stated,
inter alia, that it would be essential to stem the
increasing marginalization of the least developed
countries and to reactivate their growth and
development through comprehensive national action
and international support measures,
Reaffirming the International Development
Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development
Decade, adopted by the General Assembly in its
resolution 45/199, in which the States Members of the
United Nations stressed, inter alia, the need for full
implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least
Developed Countries for the 1990s,
Noting the establishment, by Commission
resolution 48/2 of 23 April 1992 on restructuring the
conference structure of the Commission, of the Special
Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing
Countries to help accelerate the pace of development in
the least developed and land-locked developing
countries within the context of the Programme of Action
for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s,
Emphasizing the broad range of development
issues confronting the least developed countries in the
ESCAP region,
Recognizing the need for the region's economic
dynamism to be more widespread and for the fruits of
economic progress to be shared among all countries in
the region, especially the least developed countries,
Recognizing also the new opportunities for
expanding trade, technology and investment flows
among the Asian and Pacific economies in the post-cold
war era, particularly to meet the special needs of the
least developed countries,
Deeply concerned about the continuing
deterioration in the social, economic and ecological
situation of the least developed countries in the region,
1. Reaffirms that the least developed countries
have the primary responsibility for their development
based on appropriate domestic policies;
2. Deeply appreciates the concerns expressed
by member countries for the special needs of the least
developed countries within the context of the
Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries
for the 1990s;
3. Deeply appreciates also the assistance
provided by the developing countries in the region to
the least developed countries under their economic and
technical cooperation arrangements, and their stated
intention to expand such assistance;
4. Calls upon all member Governments and
international and multilateral organizations to continue
to pay special attention to the special problems of the
least developed countries and to render adequate
assistance in support of the development efforts of the
least developed countries in implementing the
Programme of Action for the 1990s;
5. Urges the ESCAP secretariat to strengthen
its programmes to focus better on meeting the priority
needs and concerns of the least developed countries in
the region;
6. Invites all members and associate members
to participate actively and to extend generous assistance
in the preparations for the mid-term review at the
regional level of the implementation of the Programme of
Action for the 1990s, to be undertaken by the Special
Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing
Countries early in 1995;
7. Deeply appreciates the generous offer by
the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development at the first session of the Special Body on
Least Developed and Land-locked Developing Countries
to explore the possibility of providing the necessary
assistance to the Government of Bangladesh in carrying
out the feasibility study for the establishment at Dhaka
of a centre for research on the least developed
countries;
8. Requests the Executive Secretary to report
to the Commission at its fiftieth session on the
implementation of the present resolution.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
49/9. Eradication of preventable diseases in the
Asian and Pacific region as a component
of social and economic development9
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Recalling the Manila Declaration on a Social
Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region Towards
the Year 2000 and Beyond, and Commission resolution
48/5 of 23 April 1992, in which the Commission endorsed
the Strategy annexed to that Declaration,
________
9 See paras. 328-329 above.
88
Recalling also General Assembly resolution
47/40 of 1 December 1992 and Economic and Social
Council resolution 1992/33 of 30 July 1992 on prevention
and control of acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS),
Bearing in mind that public health is an
essential component of sustainable economic and social
development,
Recognizing that investments in preventing
disease and illness can yield substantial economic
benefits in the form of increased productivity and
reduced outlays for treating preventable diseases,
Recalling the success of the international
community in eradicating smallpox,
Concerned that poliomyelitis, which is
preventable through a relatively inexpensive oral
vaccine or inoculation and has been effectively
eradicated in the Western hemisphere, is still prevalent
in parts of the Asian and Pacific region,
Noting also that the spread of AIDS, which is
becoming increasingly prevalent, is largely preventable
through changes in behaviour,
Convinced that successful eradication or control
of these and other preventable diseases will require
commitment and support from all sectors of society,
including social, economic, political, health and
education officials, and non-governmental
organizations,
Endorsing the ongoing efforts of the World
Health Organization, the United Nations Children's
Fund, the United Nations Development Programme and
other international organizations, as well as national
Governments and non-governmental organizations, to
eradicate or substantially reduce preventable diseases in
the region,
1. Urges members and associate members to
take all necessary measures to achieve the goal set by
the World Health Organization of eradicating
poliomyelitis in the region by the year 2000, or earlier;
2. Also urges members and associate members
to take coordinated action to control the spread, taking
place through different means, of AIDS and other
sexually transmitted diseases by, inter alia, providing
health information and education and promoting
responsible behaviour;
3. Encourages members and associate
members to take further measures to prevent disease and
illness, such as promoting nutrition and hygiene,
discouraging unhealthful activities such as tobacco
consumption and alcohol abuse, and fighting drug
abuse;
4. Calls on members and associate members,
international organizations and non-governmental
organizations to give high priority to preventive health
care in their economic and social development plans, in
the context of the Social Development Strategy for the
ESCAP Region Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond;
5. Urges the World Health Organization to
strengthen further its efforts and collaborative activities
with the members and associate members of the
Commission in the eradication of preventable diseases in
the region, and invites the Organization to present a
paper on the situation at the 1994 regional ministerial
conference in preparation for the World Summit for
Social Development to be held early in 1995;
6. Requests the Executive Secretary to work in
close association with the World Health Organization to
facilitate the presentation of such a report.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
49/10. Strengthening the role of ESCAP in the
coordination of regional operational
activities10
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 45/264 of
13 May 1991 on the restructuring and revitalization of
the United Nations in the economic, social and related
fields, and section IV of the annex to General Assembly
resolution 46/235 of 13 April 1992, in which it was stated
that the regional commissions, particularly those located
in developing countries, should also be strengthened in
terms of their activities and participation in operational
activities of the United Nations system,
Recalling also General Assembly resolution
32/197 of 20 December 1977 on the restructuring of the
economic and social sectors of the United Nations
system and section IV of the annex to that resolution, in
which the regional commissions were directed to
exercise team leadership and responsibility for
coordination and cooperation at the regional level,
Taking note of the work being done by the
States Members of the United Nations and the
Secretary-General on the restructuring and revitalization
of the United Nations system in the economic, social
and related fields,
Taking note also of the ongoing discussions in
the General Assembly on reforming the structure of the
Economic and Social Council and of the initiatives of the
Secretary-General on reorganizing the United Nations
Secretariat,
Reaffirming that in the restructuring and
revitalization of the United Nations system in the
economic, social and related fields it is indispensable to
include provisions for strengthening the regional
commissions of the Economic and Social Council to meet
effectively the needs for development in their respective
regions,
________
10 See para. 180 above.
89
Recalling its resolutions 48/2 of 23 April 1992 on
restructuring the conference structure of the
Commission, and 48/12 of 23 April 1992 on restruc-turing
and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic
and social fields: role and functions of the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific,
Referring to the Commission's response to
General Assembly resolution 46/235, which was
prepared by the Advisory Committee of Permanent
Representatives and Other Representatives Designated
by Members of the Commission, as requested by the
Commission in its resolution 48/12, and in which it was
recommended that the Assembly should consider the
desirability of, inter alia, the following:
"Improved coordination and Secretariatwide
coherence by reinforcing the activities of
the regional commissions aimed at mutually
supporting the activities of the specialized
agencies of the United Nations system in their
respective regions through, inter alia,
intensifying joint activities, programming
exercises and coordinating meetings;
". . .
"Mandating ESCAP as the primary
executing agency for regional and subregional
programmes, within the United Nations system,
so as to centralize coordination tasks and reduce
costs. Regional commissions have been
designated as the lead coordinators of interagency
functions and regional activities, and as
the main general economic and social
development centres within the United Nations
system for their respective regions for
coordination at the regional and subregional
levels. This mandate should not prevent the
regional commissions from inviting other United
Nations funding agencies to function as team
leaders for specific programmes, when
appropriate;",
Stressing the accumulated experience of ESCAP
in the development of policy formulation and its
associated technical cooperation programmes as well as
regional operational activities as a means of providing
further impetus to the development of members and
associate members of the Commission,
Stressing also that there is an urgent need for
coordination of the regional and subregional operational
activities of the United Nations organizations,
programmes and funds as well as those of the
specialized agencies at the regional level,
1. Calls upon all parties involved in the
Economic and Social Council reform process to take
appropriate measures to enhance the efficiency and
effectiveness of the United Nations system at the
regional level, through a fully coordinated approach to
fulfilling the needs of the members and associate
members of the Commission;
2. Urges that in the coordination of
operational activities among the United Nations
organizations, programmes and funds as well as those of
the specialized agencies, the role of ESCAP should be
strengthened at the regional level, taking into account
the comparative advantages that the regional
commissions enjoy in such areas as informationgathering,
monitoring economic developments and
promoting cooperation with and among their member
Governments, including the provision of technical
cooperation;
3. Requests the Executive Secretary, in
consultation with the United Nations organizations,
programmes and funds, as well as those agencies
engaged in operational activities in the ESCAP region, to
continue to follow closely the ongoing reforms in the
United Nations and to submit to the Commission at its
fiftieth session a report on the ways and means of
implementation at the regional level of the relevant
decisions that will have been taken by the General
Assembly or the developments in that regard;
4. Decides to include the question of
strengthening the coordination of the regional
operational activities on the agenda for its fiftieth and
subsequent sessions at periodic intervals.
750th meeting
29 April 1993
90
Annex I
PROGRAMME OF WORK AND PRIORITIES, 1994-1995
Programme: 31. Regional cooperation for development in Asia and the Pacific
CONTENTS
Subprogrammes Page
1. Regional economic cooperation ............................................................................................................................. 91
2. Environment and sustainable development.......................................................................................................... 95
3. Poverty alleviation through economic growth and social development.......................................................... 101
4. Transport and communications............................................................................................................................. 106
5. Statistics .................................................................................................................................................................... 109
6. Least developed, land-locked and island developing countries ....................................................................... 111
Appendix........................................................................................................................................................................... 114
91
Subprogramme 1. Regional economic cooperation
Orientation:
1. The programmed activities will focus on the ongoing structural changes and policy reforms in the
economies which are likely to further strengthen trade, investment and technology linkages in the region. The
immediate goals of the envisaged activities are to develop an appropriate policy environment and to create and
strengthen institutional capacities and skills at the regional, subregional and national levels, to enable countries
to exploit more fully the increasing opportunities for intraregional trade and investment. The work programme
includes a convergent and concerted set of research and operational activities which will address key issues,
such as macroeconomic policies, restructuring, market access and trade promotion, trade in services, technology
development and transfer, investment flows, joint ventures and development finance, and cooperation among
subregional groups.
2. Diversity in economic performance persists across countries and subregions in the Asian and Pacific
region. The impressive growth of the newly industrializing economies (NIEs), the members of the Association of
South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China has been due to strong export performance, fuelled by
investments and industrial restructuring. Recently, a number of South Asian and Indo-Chinese countries have
initiated policy reforms, including liberalization of foreign trade and investment, deregulation of the financial
sector and privatization.
3. It is important that the dynamism of the NIEs and the South-East Asian economies be transmitted to the
rest of the Asian and Pacific economies. The currency realignments resulting from the Plaza accord in 1985 have
stimulated this process and boosted intraregional trade. On the investment side, the sharp appreciation of the
Japanese yen has accelerated the process of economic restructuring in Japan, benefiting mainly the NIEs. Over
time the NIEs have in turn been compelled by currency appreciation and high labour costs to invest in
South-East Asia and China. In this process "growth triangles" have emerged to exploit more fully the
complementarities within a limited geographical area on the basis of comparative advantage.
4. In order to maintain their international competitiveness, the NIEs will have to continue the process of
economic restructuring, with greater emphasis on technology and skill-intensive industries. Consequently,
foreign direct investment flows from the NIEs to the rest of Asia are likely to increase. The South-East Asian
countries will also become increasingly selective about the types of industries in which they wish to encourage
investments, and a progressive shift to more technology- and capital-intensive industries will take place. In this
process, increased trade, investment and technology linkages will develop between the more advanced
developing countries and the South Asian and Indo-Chinese countries. The Asian republics of the former Soviet
Union have also initiated policy reform, and are seeking to foster closer economic ties with the other countries of
the region. These countries, along with other former centrally planned economies in the region, will strive to
accelerate the process of reform, thereby facilitating the internationalization of their economies and integration
into the mainstream of the region's economic growth and dynamism.
Resource requirements
Work-months (Professional) Extrabudgetary funds
Regular budget Extrabudgetary a (Thousands of
Current Proposed Total Percentage Proposed Percentage US dollars) Percenta
ge
683 120 803 27 96 17.4 4 111 17.4
a Indicating allocation of proposed work-months from non-reimbursable loan (NRL) experts.
Activities:
1.1Parliamentary services
(i) Parliamentary documentation:
(1) Reports to the Commission on the progress of the subprogramme (1994, 1995)
(2) Reports of the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation to the Commission (1994, 1995)
92
Regional economic cooperation (continued)
(3) Reports to the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation (1994, 1995)
(4) Reports to the Steering Group of the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation (1994, 1995)
(ii) Substantive services:
(1) Annual sessions of the Commission (1994, 1995)
(2) Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation (1994, 1995)
(3) Steering Group of the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation (biannual 1994, 1995)
(4) Commodities cooperative arrangements in silk, jute, tropical timber and coffee (1994, 1995)
(5) Standing Committee of the Bangkok Agreement (1994)
(6) Intergovernmental meeting on the development of a regional investment information and promotion
service for Asia and the Pacific (1994)
1.2Published materials
(i) Recurrent publications:
(1) Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific (1994, 1995)
(2) Economic Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(3) Development Papers (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(4) Regional Trade and Investment Review (1995)
(5) TISNET Trade Information Sheet (23 in 1994, 23 in 1995)
(6) Prices of Selected Asia/Pacific Products (12 in 1994, 12 in 1995)
(7) Directory of Trade Promotion/Development Organizations of Developing Countries and Areas in
Asia and the Pacific, sixth edition (1995)
(8) Industrial Development News for Asia and the Pacific (1994, 1995)
(9) Small Industry Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific (1994, 1995)
(10) Trade Information Source Databank: Annual Cumulative Index (1994, 1995)
(11) Fertilizer Trade Information Services (12 in 1994, 12 in 1995)
(ii) Non-recurrent publications:
(1) Economic development issues (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995):
(a) Modelling and simulation of regional and subregional interlinked macroeconomic systems, with
trade, investment and technology transfer as strategic variables
(b) Macroeconomic management issues and economic reforms in the region's developing
economies, especially Pacific island and least developed economies, economies in transition
and other disadvantaged economies, within the framework of a changing global and regional
economic environment
(c) Promotion of intra- and inter-subregional economic cooperation
(d) Evolving patterns of complementarities and interdependence in the region in such areas as
trade, finance, capital, investment and labour flows, technological progress and enhancing
assistance to the region's disadvantaged economies in these areas
93
Regional economic cooperation (continued)
(2) Trade and development finance issues (4 in 1994, 3 in 1995):
(a) Trade and investment complementarities for joint ventures
(b) Linkages between Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the rest of the region
(c) Short-term impact of the single European market on Asian and Pacific economies
(d) Impact of the North American free trade agreement (NAFTA) on the Asian and Pacific region
(e) Trade profiles
(f) Guidebook on a selected exportable product of the region
(3) Industrial and technological development:
(a) Promotion of inter- and intra-regional investment flows (1994)
(b) Promotion of intra-industry investment and technology for manufacturing diversification and
competitiveness (1994, 1995)
(c) Regional cooperation measures for skills development to promote technology-led
industrialization (1994, 1995)
(d) Feasibility study for the establishment of a forum for promoting sustainable industrial and
technological development (1994)
(e) Technological transaction patterns for enhancing regional cooperation (1995)
(f) Capabilities for acquisition and use of selected technologies (1994, 1995)
(g) Feasibility study on the establishment of a regional advisory centre for science and technology
(1995)
(h) Directory of selected research and development (R and D) institutions (1994)
(iii) Technical material:
(1) Provision of ad hoc technical information in response to requests from public and private sector
organizations (1994, 1995)
1.3Ad hoc expert groups and related work
(1) Enhancement of technology flows from advanced developing countries to least developed countries
(1994)
(2) Promoting regional economic cooperation for industrial and technological skills development,
including requirements for adopting new and emerging technologies (1994)
(3) Standardization, quality control and related issues leading to the expansion of intraregional trade
(1994)
(4) Inter-subregional cooperation in trade and investment (1995)
(5) Development issues and policies (1994, 1995)
1.4Operational activities
(i) Advisory services:
(1) Macroeconomic policy coordination in the region; assistance to countries undergoing the process
of transition to a market economy, least developed countries and geographically disadvantaged
countries in the area of macroeconomic and trade policy issues; modelling and simulation of regional
and subregional interlinked macroeconomic systems; promoting intra- and inter-subregional
economic cooperation
94
Regional economic cooperation (continued)
(2) Identification of trade comp lementarities within the newly independent Asian republics and between
these republics and the rest of the region; expansion of intraregional trade; export promotion
techniques and procedures and other trade promotion activities; regional databases for the Regional
Trade Information Network (TISNET); human resources development on export promotion
techniques and procedures; strengthening of training and research institutions; international and
regional trade fairs and exhibitions; trade facilitation measures including standardization and quality
control; development of a regional investment and promotion service for Asia and the Pacific
(3) Policy/strategy reorientation and institution-building for industrial development and restructuring,
intraregional investment and joint ventures; strengthening capabilities for indigenous technological
development and technology transfer, including new and emerging technology and promotion of
environmentally sound technology; technical consultancy services; standardization and quality
control; technology management and support for the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Transfer of
Technology (APCTT)
(ii) Group training, seminars, workshops:
(1) Modelling and simulation of regional and subregional interlinked macroeconomic systems;
macroeconomic management and economic reforms; the evolving patterns of complementarities and
interdependence in the region
(2) Intra- and inter-subregional economic cooperation in trade; intraregional trade expansion policies;
impact of the single European market and NAFTA on Asian and Pacific economies; tariff and
non-tariff barriers in agricultural commodities and manufactures trade, including environmental
issues; enhancement of regional monetary cooperation; policy initiatives in the areas of
standardization, quality control and other related issues; TISNET and special trading arrangements;
technological developments and physical distribution techniques for expansion of trade
(3) Trade policy and export promotion for economies in transition and Pacific island economies;
trade/transit facilities for land-locked countries; regional network of national research institutions for
trade-related research; trade in services; promotion of exports of developing countries through trade
fairs; development of a database for a regional investment and promotion service; regional
investment complementarities
(4) Development and improvement of agro- and allied industries, including agricultural machinery; skills
development, including entrepreneurship for small and medium industries; private sector
development; women's participation in industry; generation, transfer, adoption and use of
conventional and new and emerging technologies; forum for sustainable industrial and
technological development and restructuring; intraregional investment and technology flows for
strengthening capabilities in areas such as technical consultancy, standardization and quality
control and technology management; technology blending for development of small and medium
industries
1.5Coordination, harmonization and liaison
(1) Coordination with relevant bodies of the United Nations system and other systems and other
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations/institutions at the global, regional and
subregional levels
95
Subprogramme 2. Environment and sustainable development
Orientation:
1. The immediate purpose of the programmed activities is to mitigate environmental problems and promote
sustainable development, and integrate environmental considerations into the economic development planning
process and development activities.
2. The guiding principles for development and the aim of environment and sustainable development are to
maintain and conserve ecosystems and the biosphere in its diversity, to utilize renewable resources in a manner
that does not exceed their renewal rate, to reduce and prevent environmental pollution and the generation of
waste, which may adversely affect environmental and human health, and to exploit non-renewable resources in a
manner that maximizes efficiency in resource use, taking into account the needs of future generations.
3. Some national economies are severely affected by frequently occurring natural disasters, the effects of
which are amplified owing to population pressure and environmental degradation, requiring concerted action for
mitigation and reduction of natural hazards, especially during the International Decade for Natural Disaster
Reduction.
4. Activities are designed to address the following problems in managing natural resources: land, water,
minerals, oceans, the sub-surface, the atmosphere and other non-living resources. The development and use of
these resources are essential to sustain mankind. Natural resources development and management will face
increasing challenges in the 1990s in the face of indiscriminate exploitation, rapid population growth and the
resultant ever-increasing pressure on the environment. Activities are directed towards developing integrated
management of natural resources based on recognition of natural resources as an essential and integral part of
the ecosystem, as an element of social well-being and as an economic commodity. Long-term sustainability of
resources and the ability to meet the future demands of growing populations require appropriate policies,
development and management practices to avoid economic and physical depletion and degradation of air, water,
land and mineral resources.
5. Energy is indispensable in economic development, but its development and use contribute to
environmental degradation. Therefore, energy development and management is an international issue requiring
specific attention. The environmental concern about energy can be considered at global, regional, subregional
and national or local levels. The perception of global energy resource constraints (such as oil crises) has now
given way to the perception of impending constraints associated with global warming. The focus of the
programme activities will be on the need to limit, and indeed reduce, the demand for fossil fuels by pursuing
policies aimed at decreasing energy intensity, fuel substitution and fuel switching. At regional and subregional
levels the focus will be on acid rain, while at national or local levels the main concerns pertain to air pollution in
urban centres and the impact of power plant projects.
6. Advanced information technologies, including computer and remote sensing applications, the
geographic information systems (GIS), geochemical/geophysical methods and modern cartographic techniques,
combined with the traditional data-gathering methods, are essential tools for natural resources management and
environmental monitoring that should be exploited to facilitate the development planning process.
7. Activities envisaged for the biennium 1994-1995 will therefore focus on (a) policies and plans for
sustainable development; (b) environment and development; (c) natural resources development and
management; (d) energy development and management; (e) natural disaster reduction; and (f) coordination,
harmonization and liaison with other agencies, institutions and regional organizations.
Resource requirements
Work-months (Professional) Extrabudgetary funds
Regular budget Extrabudgetary a (Thousands of
Current Proposed Total Percentage Proposed Percentage US dollars) Percentage
651.5 48 699.5 23 96 17.4 7 909 33.5
a Indicating allocation of proposed work-months from non-reimbursable loan (NRL) experts.
96
Environment and sustainable development (continued)
Activities:
2.1Parliamentary services
(i) Parliamentary documentation:
(1) Reports to the Commission on the progress of the subprogramme (1994, 1995)
(2) Reports of the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to the Commission (1994,
1995)
Reports to the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development
(3) Selected issues in relation to implementation of the Regional Strategy on Environmentally Sound
and Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, and the Ministerial Declaration on Environmentally
Sound and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific
(4) Regional cooperation on transboundary environmental problems
(5) Global environmental issues
(6) Promotion of regional cooperation on environment matters, including desertification, marine
environment, environment and development, and environmental awareness
(7) Integration of remote sensing with GIS for natural resource management, environmental monitoring
and sustainable development in the region
(8) Progress in implementation of the recommendations and resolutions of the ministerial meeting on
space applications to the environment and sustainable development
(9) Integrated water resources development and management
(10) The role of geosciences in sustainable development: resource development issues and infrastructure
policies
(11) Protection of water resources, water quality and aquatic ecosystems
(12) Progress of the subregional coastal zone management programmes of the Committee for the
Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas (CCOP), the South
Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation
(IOMAC)
(13) Status report on regional practice in the exploitation of waste as a resource
(14) Energy scene and trends, including integration of environment in energy policy and planning
(15) Sectoral energy demand trends, the potential for inter-fuel substitution and energy conservation,
and the status of demand-side management in Asia
(16) Prospects for enhancing energy efficiency in the Asian and Pacific region
(17) Operational efficiency improvements including demand-side management of Asian and Pacific
electric power utilities
(18) Review of recent natural disasters and natural disaster reduction efforts in the region
Other reports, to:
(19) Ministerial-level meeting on launching the regional space applications programme (1994)
(20) Ministerial-level conference on environment and development (1995)
(ii) Substantive services:
(1) Commission sessions (1994, 1995)
(2) Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (1994, 1995)
97
Environment and sustainable development (continued)
(3) Ministerial-level meeting on launching the regional space applications programme (1994)
(4) Ministerial-level conference on environment and development (1995)
(5) Inter-Agency Committee on Environment and Development
(6) Other committees and special bodies subsidiary to the Commission
(7) Meeting of the Working Party of Senior Geologists
2.2Published materials
(i) Recurrent publications:
(1) Remote Sensing Newsletter (4 in 1994, 4 in 1995)
(2) Asian-Pacific Remote Sensing Journal (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(3) ESCAP Environment Newsletter (4 in 1994, 4 in 1995)
(4) Environment News Briefing - A selection from the region's press (12 in 1994, 12 in 1995)
(5) Agro-chemicals News in Brief (6 in 1994, 6 in 1995)
(6) RISS: Regional Information Support Service on agro-chemicals (13 in 1994, 13 in 1995)
(7) Calendar of Meetings on Agro-chemicals (4 in 1994, 4 in 1995)
(8) Water Resources Journal (4 in 1994, 4 in 1995)
(9) Confluence (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(10) Water Resources Series (1994, 1995)
(11) ESCAP Energy News (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(12) Energy Resources Development Series (1995)
(13) Electric Power in Asia and the Pacific (1994)
(14) Atlas of Mineral Resources (1994, 1995)
(ii)Non-recurrent publications:
(1) Policies and plans for environment and sustainable development:
(a) Environment and economics: tools and methodologies for sustainable development (1994,
1995)
(b) Environmentally sound and healthy cities in Asia (1994)
(c) Report on the state of the environment and development (1995)
(d) Population and environment dynamics, poverty and the quality of life (1995)
(2) Environment and development (3 in 1994, 3 in 1995):
(a) Sustainable agricultural development strategies
(b) Supply, marketing, distribution and safe use of fertilizer
(c) Clean technologies: options for sustainable development
(d) Environmental impact of air pollution on urban/industrial centres
98
Environment and sustainable development (continued)
(3) Natural resources development and management (4 in 1994, 5 in 1995):
(a) Water resources of member countries and demands by user sectors - phase III
(b) GIS/LIS (land information system) and remote sensing in land-use planning and desertification
and soil erosion mapping
(c) Earth space information application to agriculture/fisheries resource management
(d) Resource assessment, development and management
(e) Geology for land-use planning and environmental management
(f) Technological advances in treating wastes as resources
(g) Marine environment and non-living marine resources development
(h) Mineral concentrations and hydrocarbon accumulations
(4) Energy development and management (1 in 1994, 2 in 1995):
(a) Energy efficiency guidebook for the Asian and Pacific region
(b) New and renewable sources of energy supply and environmental management
(c) Environmental management for power systems
(5) Natural disaster reduction:
(a) Seismic and volcanic monitoring systems (1994)
(6) Manuals, guidelines and rosters relating to environment and sustainable development
(5 in 1994, 4 in 1995):
(a) Environmental impact assessment guidelines to be utilized in fertilizer, pesticide and soil testing
(b) Manual for agricultural extension agents on environmental issues related to fertilization
(c) Manual on the environmentally sound management of national parks and reserves
(d) Guidelines on the participatory approach to urban environmental management
(e) Operational aspects of Agenda 21
(f) Guidelines on water and sustainable development
(g) Roster of regional experts and institutions on conservation and efficient utilization of energy
(h) Guidelines for storm surge mapping
(7) Proceedings of meetings relating to environment and sustainable development (2 in 1994, 3 in
1995):
(a) Regional information service
(b) Socio-economic implications of global environmental issues in Asia and the Pacific
(c) Tropical ecosystem management
(d) Remote sensing and GIS for land and marine applications in the South Pacific
(e) Protection of water resources, water quality and aquatic ecosystems
(iii) Technical material:
(1) Illustrated pesticide safety guide, translated or reprinted into local languages
(2) Update on the sectoral energy demand database and analysis of the energy situation in Asia
(3) Update of energy planning software
99
Environment and sustainable development (continued)
2.3Ad hoc expert groups and related work
(1) Analysis of linkages between population factors and sustainable development
(2) Protection of water resources, water quality and aquatic ecosystems
(3) Energy resiliency and integration of environmental policy in energy development and management
2.4Operational activities
(i) Advisory services:
(1) Implementation of Agenda 21, including management of critical ecosystems; Asia-Pacific Forum of
Environmental Journalists; environment and sustainable development, and safe management of
fertilizer and pesticides; agrochemicals and the environment under the FADINAP (ESCAP/
FAO/UNIDO Fertilizer Advisory, Development and Information Network for Asia and the
Pacific)/ARSAP (agricultural requisites scheme for Asia and the Pacific) network of advisory and
information systems; population, environment and sustainable development; urban environment
management; building up technological capabilities for application of environmentally sound
technologies for industrial restructuring
(2) Mineral resource assessment and development; water resources supply and demand assessment;
environmental geology and geology for land-use planning; mineral economics, legislation and
investment promotion; remote sensing and GIS, with emphasis on institution-building; reducing the
impact of droughts, drought early warning systems, water-related natural disaster reduction
(3) Energy development, conservation and management policy, environmental impact and risk
assessment; energy resource options and technologies; new and renewable sources in energy
mixes; rural energy supply; electricity demand management
(ii) Group training, seminars and workshops:
(1) Sustainable agricultural development for least developed countries; environmentally sound
development and management in the area of fertilizers and pesticides; national parks and reserves;
healthy cities; industrial and urban development in coastal areas; implementation of Agenda 21;
waste management audit and technology; assessment and dissemination of environmentally sound
technology; population and environment dynamics, poverty and the quality of life
(2) Energy audit techniques; energy resource options and technologies; new and renewable sources of
energy with emphasis on rural energy supply; electricity demand management
(3) GIS/LIS and remote sensing for land-use planning; desertification/soil erosion mapping; tropical
ecosystem management; regional information service; monitoring, mapping and sampling techniques
for resource assessment; remote sensing/GIS integration for resource management; mineral resource
economics, legislation and development; integrated water resources development and management;
women's role in the provision, management and safeguarding of water; water and sustainable
development; the use of underground space for confinement of wastes; integrated marine policies;
mineral resource assessment and development techniques; geological factors of land-use planning
and resource accounting; storm surge mapping and cyclonic storm hydrology; drought early
warning systems
2.5Coordination, harmonization and liaison
(1) Economic and Social Council Committee on Natural Resources, Typhoon Committee, Panel on
Tropical Cyclones, Interim Committee for Coordination of Investigations of the Lower Mekong
Basin, CCOP, SOPAC, IOMAC and Southeast Asia Tin Research and Development Centre
(SEATRADC), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Development and the United
Nations Revolving Fund for Natural Resources Exploitation (RFNRE) (in the fields of geology and
minerals); the United Nations Outer Space Affairs Division, the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United
Nations Department of Development Support and Management Services (on space applications,
through the annual Inter-agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities); Interagency Task Force on
Water for Asia and the Pacific, ACC (Administrative Committee on Coordination) Intersecretariat
Group for Water, Steering Committee for Water Supply and Sanitation, Steering Committee for
Natural Disaster Reduction; UNESCO/IGCP (International Geological Correlation Programme),
UNESCO/IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), Division for Ocean Affairs and the
Law of the Sea of the Office for Legal Affairs, and other United Nations, govern-mental and
intergovernmental organizations and their bodies on matters related to natural resources
100
Environment and sustainable development (continued)
(2) South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment
(ASOEN) and South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP); Regional Network of
Research and Training Institutions on Desertification Control; Regional Network of Environment
and Economic Policy Research Institutes on Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development;
Regional Working Group on Marine Environment and Oceanographic Studies; Commission on
Sustainable Development; Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists; Inter-agency Committee
on Environment and Development
(3) Economic and Social Council Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and Energy for
Development, and regional working groups in various energy subsectors; United Nations
Department of Development Support and Management Services, FAO, World Bank, International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO);
Asian Development Bank (ADB), APEC, Asian and Pacific Development Centre (APDC), ASEAN,
East-West Center (EWC), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), World Energy Council (WEC) and other
governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and their bodies on matters
related to energy
101
Subprogramme 3. Poverty alleviation through economic growth and social development
Orientation:
1. The programmed activities will focus on (a) growth strategies and structural reforms, (b) human
resources development, (c) women in development, (d) social policy, social services and social security,
(e) population issues including rural-urban migration, (f) agricultural and rural development, and (g) human
settlements and urbanization, with special emphasis on the problems of disadvantaged and vulnerable
population groups, all with a view to improving opportunities for all sections of society. Particular attention will
be directed towards promotion of cooperation between Governments, non-governmental organizations and the
private sector in dealing with the following key issues: (i) fulfilment of basic needs; (ii) provision of essential
services, including health care, family welfare services, education, water supply and sanitation and housing; (iii)
employment generation; (iv) technological progress and the minimization of adverse effects of technology on the
poor; and (v) interrelationships between poverty and the environment.
2. Poverty remains and is likely to continue at high levels in the ESCAP region in the 1990s despite the
impressive economic growth that has been taking place. Rapid economic growth, by itself, does not guarantee
the elimination or significant reduction of poverty. A holistic approach to economic and social development,
with poverty alleviation as its major focus, is therefore needed in the region.
3. Economic growth must continue, and it must accelerate, especially where growth rates are relatively low.
The content of growth can be improved by reorienting the economy's production structure in ways that favour
the growth of income of the poverty groups, and by redirecting investment to improve the productivity of the
poor.
4. Poverty as an economic phenomenon is identifiable in terms of lack of income and consumption
opportunities. However, it is as much a social phenomenon, often entrenched in the inequitable features of
traditional social structures, institutions, attitudes and values, and further exacerbated by high population
growth and density. In addition to economic deprivation, poverty is characterized by deprivation of essential
social services and of opportunities to participate in development. Social development issues in their various
dimensions will be vigorously addressed and comprehensive efforts will be directed towards poverty alleviation.
Development policies and strategies will be promoted to ensure that the social aims and aspirations of the
people, particularly the poor, are given commensurate attention along with the pursuit of economic growth
objectives.
5. In this context, the distributive impact of economic growth and social development trends will be
analysed, particularly the extent and manner in which poverty is alleviated in that process. Similarly, policies and
strategies will be reviewed and reformulated to find ways of making them more effective for promoting equity and
alleviating poverty.
Resource requirements
Work-months (Professional) Extrabudgetary funds
Regular budget Extrabudgetary a (Thousands of
Current Proposed Total Percentage Proposed Percentage US dollars) Percentage
602 48 650 22 144 26.1 5 534 23.5
a Indicating allocation of proposed work-months from non-reimbursable loan (NRL) experts.
Activities:
3.1Parliamentary services
(i) Parliamentary documentation:
(1) Reports to the Commission on the progress of the subprogramme (1994, 1995)
(2) Report to the Committee on Poverty Alleviation through Economic Growth and Social Development
(1994, 1995)
102
Poverty alleviation through economic growth and social development (continued)
(3) Report to the Commission on the Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in
Development (1995)
(4) Report to the Commission on the Regional Ministerial Conference in Preparation for the World
Summit for Social Development (1995)
Reports to the Committee on Poverty Alleviation through Economic Growth and Social
Development, on:
(5) Poverty conditions and poverty alleviation policies and programmes in the region, within the context
of national development strategies and macroeconomic policies (1994)
(6) Factors giving rise to poverty (1995)
(7) Major economic trends, activities and policies and their impact on employment, income distribution,
poverty and the environment (1994, 1995)
(8) Progress in the implementation of resolutions 274 (XLIV) and 48/6 concerning the Jakarta Plan of
Action on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP Region (1995)
(9) Implementation of resolution 48/3 on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002
(1995)
(10) Population issues relating to poverty alleviation strategies, policies and programmes (1994, 1995)
(11) Issues relating to agricultural and rural development (1994, 1995)
(12) Human settlements and urbanization issues, including implementation of the Global Strategy for
Shelter to the Year 2000 in response to ESCAP resolution 268 (XLIV) (1994)
(13) Implementation of the regional action plan on urbanization (1995)
(14) Issues in the field of human resources development (1994)
(15) Issues in the field of social policy, social services and social security (1994)
(16) Issues concerning women in development (1994, 1995)
(17) Selected successful experience in the introduction and utilization of science and technology in rural
areas (1994)
Other reports, to:
(18) Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in Development (1994)
(19) International Conference on Population and Development (1994)
(20) Report to the Regional Ministerial Conference in Preparation for the World Summit for Social
Development (1994)
(ii) Substantive services:
(1) Commission sessions (1994, 1995)
(2) Committee on Poverty Alleviation through Economic Growth and Social Development (1994, 1995)
(3) Regional Ministerial Conference in Preparation for the World Summit for Social Development (1994)
(4) Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in Development (1994)
3.2Published materials
(i) Recurrent publications:
(1) Social Development Newsletter (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(2) Women-in-Development Newsletter (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
103
Poverty alleviation through economic growth and social development (continued)
(3) Asia-Pacific Population Journal (4 in 1994, 4 in 1995)
(4) Population Headliners (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(5) Demographic Data Sheet (1994, 1995)
(6) Newsletter on Poverty Alleviation Initiatives (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(ii) Non-recurrent publications:
(1) Human resources development:
(a) Jakarta Plan of Action on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP Region, rev. ed.
(1995)
(b) Fiscal Incentives to Support the Growth and Viability of NGOs in Support of Human
Resources Development (1994)
(2) Social policy, social services and social security:
(a) The Role of NGOs in the Implementation of the Social Development Strategy for the ESCAP
Region Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond (1995)
(b) Community-based Approaches to Drug Abuse Demand Reduction (1994)
(c) Legislation on Equal Opportunities and the Full Participation in Development of Disabled
Persons (1994)
(3) Women in development:
(a) Asian and Pacific Plan of Action for the Advancement of the Status of Women (1995)
(4) Population and migration:
(a) Changing Family Structure and Its Implications for Poverty Alleviation (1995)
(b) Trends in Urbanization with Special Reference to Rural-Urban Migration (1995)
(c) Fertility and Family Planning, including the Development and Strengthening of
Management Information Systems (1995)
(5) Growth Strategies and Structural Reform (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995):
(a) Regional information base on poverty issues
(b) Causes, characteristics and consequences of poverty
(c) Impact of structural reforms on the poor
(d) Role of the informal service sector in poverty alleviation
(6) Agriculture and Rural Development Series (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995):
(a) Compendium of inter-agency work programmes on rural development
(b) Impact of target-group oriented policies and institutional support programmes on rural poverty
alleviation, rural industrialization and employment creation
(c) Communication strategies for rural poverty alleviation
(d) Successful experience in the introduction and utilization of science and technology in rural
areas
(7) Human settlements and urbanization:
(a) Innovative infrastructure and service delivery in low-income settlements (1995)
(b) Review of current research in urban issues (1994)
(c) Impact of innovative settlements-based poverty alleviation programmes (1995)
104
Poverty alleviation through economic growth and social development (continued)
(8) Manuals, guidelines and annotated bibliography series:
(a) Guidelines for National Programmes of Action in the Implementation of the Social
Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond (1995)
(b) Training Manual for the Development of Community-based Approaches to Drug Abuse
Demand Reduction (1994)
(c) Guidelines for the Promotion of Non-handicapping Physical Environments for Disabled
Persons (1995)
(d) Guidelines on the Development of Comprehensive National Policies on Ageing (1995)
(e) Annotated Bibliography on Policy and Programme Issues in the Field of Ageing (1995)
(f) Manuals on Population Information Networking and Database Development (1994, 1995)
(g) Guidelines for the Activities of National and Local Urban Forums (1995)
(iii) Technical materials:
(1) Training material on the role of the private sector in human resources development (1994)
(2) Database on drug abuse demand reduction (1994, 1995)
(3) Translations of Establishing and Strengthening Self-help Organizations of Disabled Persons into
five national languages, and into English Braille (1995)
(4) Regional database on women in development (1995)
(5) Asia-Pacific POPIN (Population Information Network) databank
3.3Ad hoc expert groups and related preparatory work
(1) Review and revision of the Jakarta Plan of Action on Human Resources Development in the ESCAP
Region (1994)
(2) Linkages between population and poverty (1994)
(3) Regional preparations for the World Summit for Social Development (1994)
(4) Regional preparations for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) (1995)
3.4Operational activities
(i) Advisory services:
(1) Formulation of macroeconomic national policies for poverty alleviation; human resources
development planning and programming; the Social Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region
Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond; Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002;
youth crime prevention and the treatment of young offenders; the Asian and Pacific plan of action
for the advancement of the status of women; national women's information centres
(2) Implementation of the Bali Declaration on Population and Sustainable Development; population
information centres and networks within the framework of POPIN
(3) Urbanization and sub-national area planning; the Regional Network of Local Authorities for the
Management of Human Settlements (CITYNET), in promotion of non-governmental organization/
city cooperation; programmes on settlements-based poverty alleviation
(ii) Group training, seminars and workshops:
(1) Development of a comprehensive information base on poverty issues; the causes, characteristics
and consequences of poverty; national development strategies and their impact on the poor; the
role of the informal service sector in poverty alleviation
105
Poverty alleviation through economic growth and social development (continued)
(2) ESCAP Network of National Focal Points for Human Resources Development; the role of the private
sector in human resources development; government-non-governmental organization cooperation in
the planning and delivery of basic services to the poor; participation of women in politics as an
aspect of human resources development; critical social issues in poverty alleviation; implementation
of the Social Development Strategy for the ESCAP Region Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond;
implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002; alleviation of
poverty among women; establishment and strengthening of national women's information centres;
implementation of the Asian and Pacific plan of action for the advancement of the status of women
(1995)
(3) Demographic analysis, demographic estimates and projections; Asia-Pacific POPIN network; target
group-oriented policies and programmes for rural development
(4) Impact of market reforms and price liberalization on agricultural and rural development; rural
industrialization and communication strategies for rural poverty alleviation and employment
creation; institutional support programmes for rural poverty alleviation; introduction, utilization and
assessment of conventional and new technologies in rural areas
(5) Infrastructure and services in low-income settlements; sub-national area planning in the urbanization
process; regional urban forum and regional network of human settlements research and training
institutes on the alleviation of urban poverty, and settlements-based poverty alleviation programmes
3.5Coordination, harmonization and liaison
United Nations bodies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, ACC Task Force on
Rural Development and other intergovernmental organizations; Inter-agency Committee on
Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific; Inter-organizational Task Force on the
Ministerial Conference on Urbanization and its follow-up activities
3.6Informational materials and services
(1) Information kit for the Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in Development
(1994, 1995)
(2) Exhibits for the Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in Development (1995)
106
Subprogramme 4. Transport and communications
Orientation:
1. The programmed activities are designed for (a) identification of the problems of transport,
communications and tourism in the region and the working out of feasible solutions; (b) coordination of
transport, communications and tourism-related activities undertaken in the region by international and
intergovernmental organizations; (c) strengthening of interregional cooperation, in particular with the Economic
and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) region; and (d) technical assistance to developing member
and associate member Governments at subregional and regional levels in the areas identified as high priorities by
the Commission and the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport and Communications, which are
reflected in the new regional action programme for phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and Communications
Decade for Asia and the Pacific.
2. Currently there are great differences in the development status of the transport and communications
sectors of the developing members and associate members of the ESCAP region. These are due, mainly, to the
complexities of geography and location, especially in the least developed, archipelagic and land-locked
countries; differing levels of economic development; and development perspectives and policy orientations.
Common problems include insufficient investment and maintenance, management difficulties, lack of integrated
planning and coordination among different modes of transport, the slow pace of technological development,
human resources development needs, outdated legislative and commercial frameworks, lack of data and
information, and low private sector involvement.
Resource requirements
Work-months (Professional) Extrabudgetary funds
Regular budget Extrabudgetary a (Thousands of
Current Proposed Total Percentage Proposed Percentage US dollars) Percentage
421 421 14 168 30.4 4 032.5 17.1
a Indicating allocation of proposed work-months from non-reimbursable loan (NRL) experts.
Activities:
4.1Parliamentary services
(i) Parliamentary documentation:
Report to the Economic and Social Council
(1) Phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific (1994)
Reports to the Commission
(2) Reports to the Commission on the progress of the subprogramme (1994, 1995)
(3) Report to the Commission on the Committee on Transport and Communications (1994)
Reports to the Committee on Transport and Communications
(4) Factors affecting the growth and development of transport and communications infrastructure and
services in the ESCAP region (1995)
(5) Development of land transport linkages and facilitation measures (1995)
(6) Implementation of the regional action programme for phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific (1995)
(7) Development and perspective of waterborne transport (1995)
(8) Tourism development
107
Transport and communications (continued)
Other reports:
(9) Report to the Inter-governmental Meeting on Phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific (1994)
(ii) Substantive services:
(1) Commission sessions (1994, 1995)
(2) Committee on Transport and Communications (1995)
(3) Inter-governmental Meeting on Phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and Communications Decade
for Asia and the Pacific (1994)
4.2Published materials
(i) Recurrent publications:
(1) Review of Developments in Transport, Communications and Tourism (1995)
(2) Transport and Communications Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific (1994, 1995)
(3) Decade News (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(4) ESCAP Tourism Review (1 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
(5) ESCAP Tourism Newsletter (1994, 1995)
(ii) Non-recurrent publications:
(1) Transport and Communications:
(a) Development of multimodal transport (1994)
(b) Manpower resources in the shipping industry (1995)
(c) Road safety in the region (1994)
(d) Railway break-of-gauge problems (1995)
(e) Prospects for container shipping and port development (1994)
(f) Development of the freight forwarding industry (1995)
(g) Development of urban transport (1995)
(h) Improving the management/operation of inland water transport (1995)
(i) Transport financial/economic planning models: inland water transport module (1994)
(j) Commercialization of transport business undertakings (1994)
(k) Computerized asset management system (ports) (1994)
(l) Upgrading of dredging (1995)
(m) Land transport linkages development in the newly independent Asian republics (1994)
(n) Asian Highway Network development (1994)
(2) Tourism Development (1 in 1994, 2 in 1995):
(a) Promotion of tourism with emphasis on policy issues to maximize its socio-economic benefits
(b) Policy issues for expansion of tourism, strengthening of regional cooperation and promotion of
intraregional tourism
(c) Tourism development in the Mekong River area
108
Transport and communications (continued)
(3) Map:
(a) Asian Highway Map, rev. ed. (1994)
(iii) Technical materials:
(1) Database for maritime policy planning models (1994-1995)
(2) Provision of information in response to ad hoc requests from public and private sector organizations
(1994-1995)
(3) Database and information system on the regional action programme (1994-1995)
(4) Transport financial/economic planning models (1994-1995)
4.3Ad hoc expert groups and related work
(1) Road standards and rail route requirements (1995)
4.4Operational activities
(i) Advisory services:
(1) Institutional development; transport and communications operations; multimodal transport and
logistics; commercialization of transport and communications operations; the environment, safety
and health in transport
(2) Strengthening of national capabilities in the expansion of tourism
(ii) Group training, seminars and workshops:
(1) Institutional development; transport and communications operations; human resources
development; multimodal transport and logistics; commercialization of transport and
communications operations; the environment, safety and health in transport
(2) Strengthening of national capabilities in the expansion of tourism
4.5Coordination, harmonization and liaison
(1) Coordination with member Governments; coordination through the organization of inter-agency
meetings and consultations with concerned United Nations bodies and specialized agencies on
phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific;
coordination, harmonization and liaison with the subregional organizations and other
intergovernmental organizations
(2) Interregional coordination with ESCWA for phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and
Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific; liaison with the other regional commissions for the
development of an interregional transport and communications project
(3) World Tourism Organization (WTO)
4.6Information materials and services
(1) Exhibit for the Committee on Transport and Communications (1995)
109
Subprogramme 5. Statistics
Orientation:
1. The programmed activities will assist members and associate members and groups of countries in
developing and improving their capability to identify, collect, process, analyse and utilize the data needed for the
formulation, monitoring and evaluation of development plans and policies. The subprogramme will improve the
availability of data on the region and its constituent countries through the gathering of demographic, social,
economic and other statistics from members and associate members, and through the maintenance of these
statistics in a form suitable for retrieval and dissemination through various means. It will foster the utilization of
modern information technology in the public sector in order to strengthen the ability at both central and
subnational levels to plan and manage economic and social development. In the implementation of the
subprogramme, due consideration will be given to the priority statistical needs of the work programmes relating
to regional economic cooperation, the environment and sustainable development, and poverty alleviation
through economic growth and social development.
Resource requirements
Work-months (Professional) Extrabudgetary funds
Regular budget Extrabudgetary a (Thousands of
Current Proposed Total Percentage Proposed Percentage US dollars) Percentage
195 24 219 7 24 4.3 1 048 4.4
a Indicating allocation of proposed work-months from non-reimbursable loan (NRL) experts.
Activities:
5.1Parliamentary services
(i) Parliamentary documentation:
(1) Reports to the Commission on the progress of the subprogramme (1994, 1995)
(2) Report of the Committee on Statistics to the Commission (1995)
(3) Report to the Committee on Statistics (1994)
(4) Reports to other intergovernmental committees and bodies subsidiary to the Commission (1994,
1995)
(ii) Substantive services:
(1) Commission sessions (1994, 1995)
(2) Committee on Statistics (1994)
(3) Intergovernmental committees and bodies subsidiary to the Commission (1994, 1995)
5.2Published materials
(i) Recurrent publications:
(1) Sample Surveys in the ESCAP Region (1994, 1995)
(2) Statistical Newsletter (4 in 1994, 4 in 1995)
(3) Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific (1994, 1995)
(4) Foreign Trade Statistics of Asia and the Pacific (1994, 1995)
(5) Statistical Indicators for Asia and the Pacific (4 in 1994, 4 in 1995)
(6) Asia-Pacific in Figures (1994, 1995)
(7) Government Computerization Newsletter (2 in 1994, 2 in 1995)
110
Statistics (continued)
(ii) Non-recurrent publications:
(1) Statistical development (1994, 1995):
(a) Social and economic statistics
(b) Environmental accounting
(2) Guidelines for the collection of environment data (1995)
(iii) Technical material:
(1) Compilation and dissemination of data on social indicators (1994-1995)
(2) Processing of data received from countries on national average prices and on expenditure
(International Comparison Programme) (1994-1995)
(3) Development of statistical databases: continuation of work on a network of compatible general and
sectoral/thematic-specific numerical databases within the secretariat, as part of a United Nations
information network (1994-1995)
(4) Provision of ad hoc statistical information services and special data compilations: responses to
requests for statistical information from users outside and within the secretariat, particularly in
support of thematic analyses and studies, including data on investment flows (1994-1995)
5.3Ad hoc expert groups and related work
(1) Working Group of Statistical Experts (1995)
(2) Working Group of Experts on Government Computerization (1995)
5.4Operational activities
(i) Advisory services:
Organizational and institutional issues affecting national statistical services; utilization of existing
data on poverty; planning, conduct, processing and analysis of population censuses and surveys;
conduct of surveys on social and human development concerns; implementation of the revised
System of National Accounts (SNA); implementation of phase VI of the International Comparison
Programme in the ESCAP region; various aspects of economic statistics and sample surveys,
including for economies in transition; environment and energy statistics; and the design and
development of government information systems
(ii) Group training, seminars, workshops:
Improved management and organization of national statistical services; workshop on methodologies
of poverty measurement; meetings on civil registration and vital statistics, GIS, and demographic
surveys; selected aspects of human development indicators; technical meetings on the development
of statistics on quality of life, children and women; subregional workshops on the implementation of
the revised SNA; workshop to review data inputs for phase VI of the International Comparison
Programme in the ESCAP region; training workshop on trade statistics processing packages;
regional seminars on environment statistics and environmental accounting; training workshops on
the design and development of government information systems, including the promotion of
computer literacy and appropriate office automation in the public sector
(iii) Field project:
Technical and substantive support to the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP)
5.5Coordination, harmonization and liaison
With other United Nations bodies and specialized agencies; intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations
111
Subprogramme 6. Least developed, land-locked and island developing countries
Orientation:
1. The programmed activities are designed to meet the specific needs of two categories of developing
economies in the ESCAP region: (a) the least developed and land-locked countries, which face special difficulties
in their economic and social development, and (b) the island countries, which, as a group, have been growing at
the slowest rate among ESCAP developing subregions. Through the programmed activities, these economies
will be assisted in joining the mainstream of economic dynamism in the ESCAP region by addressing their special
problems so that they will be able to forge closer cooperative relations among themselves and with the rest of the
ESCAP region. Activities designed for this purpose are to sensitize these economies to the experiences and
lessons from the more dynamic countries of the region.
2. The region has 13 least developed countries, 11 land-locked countries and 20 island developing
countries. The groups of countries identified under the subprogramme overlap considerably. Of the region's 13
least developed countries, 4 are land-locked and 5 are island countries. The countries that are undergoing the
process of transition to a market economy also include a number of land-locked countries, including the newly
independent Asian republics, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Mongolia.
3. The least developed and land-locked countries suffer in varying degrees from structural weaknesses
and unfavourable geographic locations, as well as physical and institutional constraints. They present a special
and challenging case of the general problems of development faced by other developing countries of the region.
They share a number of characteristics, such as relatively narrow and inflexible resource bases, with the major
part of their workforces engaged in subsistence agriculture. Many have large populations and high population
densities. These, coupled with high rates of population growth, tend to aggravate rural poverty and contribute
to severe environmental degradation, among other adverse consequences.
4. The land-locked countries of the ESCAP region are confronted with particular problems of transit and
transport. They depend on the surface transport and transit facilities and services in neighbouring countries,
involving additional freight costs, time and risks in the conduct of their external trade. The land-locked countries
and the countries in transition to a market economy have an urgent need to acquire access to routes through the
construction of road, rail, and air links quickly and in a cost-effective manner.
5. Among the major constraints to growth in the island countries are small domestic markets, the lack of
diversity in resources (both natural endowments and human resources), heavy dependence on imports,
diseconomies of scale in the provision of infrastructural services, and the high concentration of exports on a few
commodities, which increases trade vulnerability.
6. As noted above, the development problems of these disadvantaged economies are wide-ranging and
numerous. The proposed activities for the biennium 1994-1995 focus on the provision of technical assistance,
which is important in complementing the efforts of these countries in their overall socio-economic development
programmes. Additional activities are envisaged under ESCAP thematic and other subprogrammes, within the
limitations of resources and the capacity of the secretariat, which give high priority to the needs of these
countries in their overall approach to programming. In setting priorities, one of the criteria in designing the
overall programme of work has been to ensure that the programmed activities/technical assistance projects are
relevant to the needs of the weakest countries of the region. This subprogramme contains only those activities
which are limited to these groups of countries.
Resource requirements
Work-months (Professional) Extrabudgetary funds
Regular budget Extrabudgetary a (Thousands of
Current Proposed Total Percentage Proposed Percentage US dollars) Percentage
135.5 72 207.5 7 24 4.3 972.5 4.1
a Indicating allocation of proposed work-months from non-reimbursable loan (NRL) experts.
112
Least developed, land-locked and island developing countries (continued)
Activities:
6.1Parliamentary services
(i) Parliamentary documentation:
(1) Reports to the Commission on the progress of the subprogramme (1994, 1995)
(2) Reports to the Commission of the Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing
Countries (1995)
(3) Reports to the Commission of the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries (1994, 1995)
(4) Reports to the Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing Countries (1995)
(5) Reports to the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries (1994, 1995)
(ii) Substantive services:
(1) Commission sessions (1994, 1995)
(2) Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing Countries (1995)
(3) Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries (1994, 1995)
6.2Published materials
(i) Non-recurrent publications:
(a) Development issues concerning the disadvantaged economies: economic and financial reforms for
sustainable development of the least developed countries (1994)
(b) Policy modelling in selected least developed countries: issues, techniques and applications (1994)
(c) Regional cooperation in support of the economic and social development of the least developed
countries (1994)
(d) Review, monitoring and assistance in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least
Developed Countries for the 1990s (1995)
(e) Island developing countries: major issues and implications for macroeconomic and sectoral
development policy and planning associated with greater economic and technical cooperation for
development, especially with East and South-East Asia (1995)
(f) Island developing countries: the potential and modalities for closer subregional and/or regional
cooperation in trade and investment (1994)
(g) Transport planning development for land-locked countries (1995)
(ii) Technical materials:
(1) Preparation of a quantitative macroeconomic framework (model) for policy design/evaluation in the
least developed countries (1994-1995)
(2) Database on inter-island shipping (1994-1995)
6.4Operational activities
(i) Advisory services:
Strengthening economic cooperation between least developed countries and other developing
countries; integrating population factors into development and policy planning; island developing
countries: selected aspects of development policy management and reforms of development policy
and planning
113
Least developed, land-locked and island developing countries (continued)
(ii) Group training, seminars and workshops:
Country-level training courses on the preparation of a quantitative macroeconomic framework
(model) for policy design/evaluation in the least developed countries; mid-term review of progress in
the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s;
national workshops and a regional seminar on improving the access of women to formal credit and
financial institutions in the least developed countries; regional cooperation in support of the
economic and social development of least developed countries; economic stabilization, liberalization
and deregulation in Pacific island economies; small ship management/operation between island
developing countries
6.5Coordination, harmonization and liaison
With UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), in the review and
implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s; with
other United Nations agencies, multilateral institutions, and regional and subregional organizations
and programmes
114
Appendix
Proposed regional advisers requested under section 7 of the Secretary-General's
proposed programme budget for the biennium 1994-1995
______________________________________________________________________________________
Description Proposed for 1994-1995
______________________________________________________________________________________
Development Issues and Policies 1
(transitional disadvantaged economies)
Development Issues and Policies (UNDATa-ESCAP/POC,b Port Vila) 2
Environment 3
Human Settlements 1
Industrial Development 1
International Trade 4
Shipping and Ports (Transport and Communications) 1
Natural Resources 5
Population 1
Social Development (including women in development) 3
Statistics 2
Transport and Communications 1
Energy 3
______________________________________________________________________________________
a United Nations Development Advisory Team for the Pacific.
b ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre.
115
Annex II
STATEMENT OF PROGRAMME BUDGET IMPLICATIONS OF ACTIONS
AND PROPOSALS OF THE COMMISSION
None of the resolutions adopted at the forty-ninth session of the Commission have financial implications for
the regular budget of the United Nations.
116
Annex III
MEETINGS OF SUBSIDIARY BODIES HELD DURING
THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW
Document symbol
Subsidiary body and officers Session
of reporta
Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Second session E/ESCAP/TAC/MMTC(2)/Rep.
Transport and Communications Bangkok
3-5 June 1992
Chairman: Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram
(Bangladesh)
Vice-Chairman: Inatoa Tebania
(Kiribati)
Mohammad Saeedi Kia
(Islamic Republic of Iran)
Rapporteur: Barry Vellnagel
(Australia)
Meeting of Ministers of Industry Tehran E/ESCAP/893
and Technology 28-29 June 1992
Chairman: M. Reza Nemat-Zadeh
(Islamic Republic of Iran)
Vice-Chairman: Samed Sh. Sadyghov
(Azerbaijan)
A.M. Zahiruddin Khan
(Bangladesh)
Lyonpo Om Pradhan
(Bhutan)
Yao Zhenyan
(China)
Li Za Bang
(Democratic People's
Republic of Korea)
P.J. Kurien
(India)
Hartarto
(Indonesia)
Noboru Hatakeyama
(Japan)
Remuera Tateraka
(Kiribati)
Sheikh Rashid Ahmad
(Pakistan)
__________
a Copies of reports that are not available through normal distribution channels at United Nations Headquarters or at
Geneva may be obtained from the Regional Commissions New York Office at United Nations Headquarters.
117
Document symbol
Subsidiary body and officers Session
of reporta
Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology (continued)
Vice-Chairman: Shin Kook Hwan
(continued) (Republic of Korea)
H.B. Wanninayake
(Sri Lanka)
M. Abalakov
(Turkmenistan)
Dang Huu
(Viet Nam)
Rapporteur: Luke Rokovada
(Fiji)
Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference Fourth session ST/ESCAP/1198
Bali, Indonesia
19-27 August 1992
Chairman: M. Alwi Dahlan
(Indonesia)
Vice-Chairman: Mahbub Ahmad
(Pakistan)
Shigemi Kono
(Japan)
Fuimaono Poloma Etevati
(Samoa)
Rapporteur: Raj Abdul Karim
(Malaysia)
Committee on Statistics Eighth session E/ESCAP/896
Bangkok
16-20 November 1992
Chairman: Dato Khoo Teik Huat
(Malaysia)
Vice-Chairman: V. Anandan
(India)
S.V. Balekiwai
(Fiji)
Rapporteur: John Cornish
(Australia)
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation First session E/ESCAP/897
Bangkok
19, 22 October-
2 November 1992
Chairman: A.N. Ram
(India)
Vice-Chairman: Li Shichun
(China)
Rapporteur: Moezdan Razak
(Indonesia)
118
Document symbol
Subsidiary body and officers Session
of reporta
Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation Second session E/ESCAP/898
Bangkok
19-20 April 1993
Chairman: Wang Baoliu
(China)
Vice-Chairman: Ma Theresa P. Lazaro
(Philippines)
Wonil Cho
(Republic of Korea)
T. Ietaake
(Kiribati)
Rapporteur: Hamid Nazari Tajabadi
(Islamic Republic of Iran)
Special Body on Least Developed and First session E/ESCAP/899
Land-locked Developing Countries Bangkok
22-24 February 1993
Chairman: Lava Kumar Devacota
(Nepal)
Vice-Chairman: Kenji Shimizu
(Japan)
Ntiua Tetinaniku
(Kiribati)
Rapporteur: Noumea Simi
(Samoa)
Special Body on Pacific Island First session E/ESCAP/900
Developing Countries Bangkok
25-27 February 1993
Chairman: J. Cecil Cocker
(Tonga)
Vice-Chairman: Noumea Simi
(Samoa)
Sumathee Srisuchart
(Thailand)
Rapporteur: Ntiua Tetinaniku
(Kiribati)
119
Annex IV
PUBLICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION
A. Sales publications
United Nations
Title publication
sales number
Atlas of Mineral Resources of the ESCAP Region E.92.II.F.7
Volume 8, Bhutan
Development Papers
No. 12, Challenges and Opportunities of Restructuring the Developing ESCAP E.92.II.F.11
Economies in the 1990s, with Special Reference to Regional Economic
Cooperation
No. 13, The Control and Management of Government Expenditure: Issues and E.93.II.F.5
Experience in Asian Countries
Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 1992 E.93.II.F.6
Economic Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific E.93.II.F.2
Vol. XLII, No. 1/2, June/December 1991
Forecasting, Preparedness and Other Operational Measures for Water-related E.92.II.F.6
Natural Disaster Reduction in Asia and the Pacific
(Water Resources Series No. 69)
Groundwater Quality and Monitoring in Asia and the Pacific E.92.II.F.8
(Water Resources Series No. 70)
Statistical Indicators for Asia and the Pacific
Vol. XXII, No. 2, June 1992 E.92.II.F.9
Vol. XXII, No. 3, September 1992 E.92.II.F.12
Vol. XXII, No. 4, December 1992 E.93.II.F.4
Vol. XXIII, No. 1, March 1993 E.93.II.F.7
Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific, 1992 E/F.93.II.F.1
Towards an Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development of Water E.93.II.F.3
Resources in Asia and the Pacific
(Water Resources Series No. 71)
Transport and Communications Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific E.92.II.F.10
No. 62
120
B. Documents submitted to the Commission
Symbol Title Agenda item
E/ESCAP/890 Restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic and social
fields: implementation of Commission resolution 48/2 on restructuring the
conference structure of the Commission
5 (a)
E/ESCAP/891
and Corr.1
Report on the implementation of Commission resolution 48/12 5 (b)
E/ESCAP/892 Reports on ministerial meetings and reports of subsidiary bodies: report on the
Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport and Communications, second
session, and follow-up action taken by the secretariat
6 (a)
E/ESCAP/893 Report on the Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology, Tehran, 28 and
29 June 1992, including the Tehran Declaration on Strengthening Regional
Cooperation for Technology-led Industrialization in Asia and the Pacific and the
Regional Strategy and Action Plan for Industrial and Technological
Development
6 (b)
E/ESCAP/894 Population and sustainable development: strategies for follow-up of the
recommendations of the Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference
6 (c)
E/ESCAP/895 Major issues arising from the deliberations of the Committee on Statistics 6 (d)
E/ESCAP/896
and Corr.1
Report of the Committee on Statistics on its eighth session 6 (d)
E/ESCAP/897
and Corr.1
Report of the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, first session
6 (e)
E/ESCAP/898
and Corr.1
Report of the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, second session
6 (e)
E/ESCAP/899 Report of the Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing
Countries, first session
6 (f)
E/ESCAP/900
and Corr.1
Report of the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries, first session 6 (g)
E/ESCAP/901 Selected issues in fields of activity of the Commission and reports on its regional
institutions: progress in the implementation of the Social Development Strategy
for the ESCAP Region Towards the Year 2000 and Beyond
7 (b)
E/ESCAP/902 Selected issues in fields of activity of the Commission and reports on its regional
institutions: Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade
of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002
7 (a)
E/ESCAP/903
and Corr.1
Selected issues in fields of activity of the Commission and reports on its regional
institutions: economic and technical cooperation among developing countries
7 (d)
E/ESCAP/904
and Corr.1
Selected issues in fields of activity of the Commission and reports on its regional
institutions: problems faced by the transitional disadvantaged economies in the
ESCAP region
7 (c)
E/ESCAP/905 Selected issues in fields of activity of the Commission and reports on its regional
institutions: preparations for the Ministerial Conference on Urbanization
7 (e)
121
Symbol Title Agenda item
E/ESCAP/906 Report on the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology 7 (g)
E/ESCAP/907 Selected issues in fields of activity of the Commission and reports on its regional
institutions: preparations for the Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference
on Women in Development
7 (f)
E/ESCAP/908
and Corr.1
Report on the Regional Coordination Centre for Research and Development of
Coarse Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber Crops in the Humid Tropics of Asia and
the Pacific
7 (h)
E/ESCAP/909 Report on the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific 7 (i)
E/ESCAP/910 Report of the Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral
Resources in Asian Offshore Areas
8
E/ESCAP/911 Summary of activities of the Interim Committee for Coordination of Investigations
of the Lower Mekong Basin during 1992 and plans for 1993
8
E/ESCAP/912 Report of the Typhoon Committee 8
E/ESCAP/913 Report of the Asian and Pacific Development Centre 8
E/ESCAP/914 Proposed programme of work and priorities, 1994-1995 9 (a)
E/ESCAP/915 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development: follow-up in Asia
and the Pacific
9 (a)
E/ESCAP/916 Report on the implementation of the programme of work, 1992-1993 9 (b)
E/ESCAP/917
and Corr.1
Proposed programme changes for 1993 9 (b)
E/ESCAP/918/
Rev.1
Tentative calendar of meetings, April 1993-March 1994 9 (a) and (b)
E/ESCAP/919 Resolutions and decisions bearing on the work of the Commission adopted by
the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council
9 (b)
E/ESCAP/920
and Corr.1
Technical cooperation activities of ESCAP and announcement of intended
contributions
10
E/ESCAP/921
and Add.1
Technical cooperation activities in Asia and the Pacific in 1992: information
papers presented by the United Nations Development Programme, the United
Nations Department of Economic and Social Development and the United Nations
Population Fund
10
E/ESCAP/922
and Add.1
Report of the Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives and Other
Representatives Designated by Members of the Commission
11
E/ESCAP/923 Date, venue and any other subject pertaining to the fiftieth session of the
Commission
12
E/ESCAP/924 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 1992: summary of part one 4
E/ESCAP/925
and Corr.1
Expansion of investment and intraregional trade as a vehicle for enhancing
regional economic cooperation and development in Asia and the Pacific
4
E/ESCAP/926 Seoul Statement on Empowering Women in Politics 7 (f)
122
Annex V
TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION
FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
As adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its
fourth session, amended by the Council at
subsequent sessions, and revised in consequence
of various General Assembly resolutions.
The Economic and Social Council,
Having considered General Assembly resolution
46(I) of 11 December 1946, in which the General
Assembly "recommends that, in order to give effective
aid to the countries devastated by war, the Economic
and Social Council, at its next session, give prompt and
favourable consideration to the establishment of ... an
Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East",
Having noted the report of the Working Group
for Asia and the Far East of the Temporary Sub-
Commission on Economic Reconstruction of Devastated
Areas,
Establishes an Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific with terms of reference as
follows:
1. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific, acting within the framework of the
policies of the United Nations and subject to the general
supervision of the Council, shall, provided that the
Commission takes no action in respect of any country
without the agreement of the Government of that
country:
(a) Initiate and participate in measures for
facilitating concerted action for the economic
reconstruction and development of Asia and the Pacific,
for raising the level of economic activity in Asia and the
Pacific and for maintaining and strengthening the
economic relations of these areas both among
themselves and with other countries of the world;
(b) Make or sponsor such investigations and
studies of economic and technological problems and
developments within territories of Asia and the Pacific
as the Commission deems appropriate;
(c) Undertake or sponsor the collection,
evaluation and dissemination of such economic,
technological and statistical information as the
Commission deems appropriate;
(d) Perform such advisory services, within the
available resources of its secretariat, as the countries of
the region may desire, provided that such services do
not overlap with those rendered by the specialized
agencies or the United Nations Technical Assistance
Administration;
(e) Assist the Economic and Social Council, at its
request, in discharging its functions within the region in
connection with any economic problems, including
problems in the field of technical assistance;
(f) In carrying out the above functions, deal, as
appropriate, with the social aspects of economic
development and the interrelationship of the economic
and social factors.
2. The territories of Asia and the Pacific referred
to in paragraph 1 shall include Afghanistan, Australia,
Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, China, the Cook Islands, Fiji, French
Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran
(Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Korea,
Kyrgyzstan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic,
Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue,
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa,
Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan,
Thailand, Tonga, the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and
Viet Nam.
3. The members of the Commission shall consist
of Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei
Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's
Republic of Korea, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Iran
(Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kiribati, the Lao People's
Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall
Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia,
Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the
Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Samoa,
Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga,
Tuvalu, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Vanuatu
and Viet Nam, provided that any State in the area which
may hereafter become a Member of the United Nations
shall be thereupon admitted as a member of the
Commission.
4. The associate members shall include the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong,
Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, the Republic of Palau and
the Territory of American Samoa.
5. Any territory, part or group of territories within
the geographical scope of the Commission as defined in
paragraph 2 may, on presentation of its appli-cation to
the Commission by the member responsible for the
international relations of such territory, part or group of
territories, be admitted by the Commission as an
associate member of the Commission. If it has become
responsible for its own international relations, such
territory, part or group of territories may be admitted as
an associate member of the Commission on itself
presenting its application to the Commission.
123
6. Representatives of associate members shall be
entitled to participate without vote in all meetings of the
Commission, whether sitting as Commission or as
Committee of the Whole.
7. Representatives of associate members shall be
eligible to be appointed as members of any committee, or
other subordinate body, which may be set up by the
Commission and shall be eligible to vote and hold office
in such body.
8. The Commission is empowered to make
recommendations on any matters within its competence
directly to the Governments of members or associate
members concerned, Governments admitted in
consultative capacity, and the specialized agencies
concerned. The Commission shall submit for the
Council's prior consideration any of its proposals of
activities that would have important effects on the
economy of the world as a whole.
9. The Commission shall invite any Member of the
United Nations not a member of the Commission to
participate in a consultative capacity in its consideration
of any matter of particular concern to that non-member.
10. The Commission shall invite representatives of
specialized agencies and may invite representatives of
any intergovernmental organizations to participate in a
consultative capacity in its consideration of any matter
of particular concern to that agency or organization
following the practice of the Economic and Social
Council.
11. The Commission shall make arrangements for
consultation with non-governmental organizations
which have been granted consultative status by the
Economic
and Social Council, in accordance with the principles
approved by the Council for this purpose and contained
in Council resolution 1296 (XLIV).
12. The Commission shall take measures to ensure
that the necessary liaison is maintained with other
organs of the United Nations and with the specialized
agencies. The Commission shall establish appropriate
liaison and cooperation with other regional economic
commissions in accordance with the resolutions and
directives of the Economic and Social Council and the
General Assembly.
13. The Commission may, after discussion with any
specialized agency functioning in the same general field,
and with the approval of the Council, establish such
subsidiary bodies as it deems appropriate, for facilitating
the carrying out of its responsibilities.
14. The Commission shall adopt its own rules of
procedure, including the method of selecting its
Chairman.
15. The Commission shall submit to the Council a
full report on its activities and plans, including those of
any subsidiary bodies, once a year.
16. The administrative budget of the Commission
shall be financed from the funds of the United Nations.
17. The Secretary-General of the United Nations
shall appoint the staff of the Commission, which shall
form part of the Secretariat of the United Nations.
18. The headquarters of the Commission shall be
located at Bangkok, Thailand.
19. The Council shall, from time to time, make
special reviews of the work of the Commission.
124
Annex VI
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION
FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
As drawn up at the first session, confirmed and adopted
at the second session, and amended at subsequent
sessions of the Commission.
Chapter I
SESSIONS
Rule 1
The following principles shall apply as regards
date and place for the sessions of the Commission:
(a) The Commission shall at each session
recommend the date and place for its next session
subject to the approval of the Council and in
consultation with the Secretary-General. Sessions of the
Commission shall also be held within forty-five days of
the communication to the Executive Secretary of a
request to that effect by the Economic and Social
Council, and, in that case, the Secretary-General shall
establish the place of such sessions in consultation with
the Chairman of the Commission;
(b) In special cases the date and place of the
session may be altered by the Secretary-General in
consultation with the Chairman of the Commission and
the Council's Interim Committee on Programme of
Conferences. At the request of the majority of the
members of the Commission, the Secretary-General, in
consultation with the Chairman of the Commission and
the Council's Interim Committee on Programme of
Conferences, may also alter the date and place of the
session;
(c) Sessions shall ordinarily be held at the office
of the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific. The
Commission may recommend holding a particular
session elsewhere.
Rule 2
The Executive Secretary shall, at least forty-two
days before the commencement of a session, distribute a
notice of the opening date of the session, together with
three copies of the provisional agenda and of the basic
documents relating to each item appearing on the
provisional agenda. Distribution shall be similar to that
under rule 49.
Rule 3
The Commission shall invite any Member of the
United Nations not a member of the Commission to
participate in a consultative capacity in its consideration
of any matter of particular concern to that Member.
Chapter II
AGENDA
Rule 4
The provisional agenda for each session shall be
drawn up by the Exe cutive Secretary in consultation
with the Chairman.
Rule 5
The provisional agenda for any session shall
include:
(a) Items arising from previous sessions of the
Commission;
(b) Items proposed by the Economic and Social
Council;
(c) Items proposed by any member or associate
member of the Commission;
(d) Items proposed by a specialized agency in
accordance with the agreements of relationship
concluded between the United Nations and such
agencies;
(e) Items proposed by non-governmental organizations
in category I, subject to the provisions of rule 6;
(f) Any other items which the Chairman or the
Executive Secretary sees fit to include.
Rule 6
Non-governmental organizations in category I may
propose items on matters within their competence for the
provisional agenda of the Commission, subject to the
following conditions:
(a) An organization which intends to propose
such an item shall inform the Executive Secretary at least
sixty-three days before the commencement of the
session, and before formally proposing an item shall
give due consideration to any comments he may make;
(b) The proposal shall be formally submitted with
the relevant basic documentation not less than
forty-nine days before the commencement of the
session. The item shall be included in the agenda of the
Commission if it is adopted by a two-thirds majority of
those present and voting.
125
Rule 7
The first item upon the provisional agenda for each
session shall be the adoption of the agenda.
Rule 8
The Commission may amend the agenda at any
time.
Chapter III
REPRESENTATION AND CREDENTIALS
Rule 9
Each member shall be represented on the
Commission by an accredited representative.
Rule 10
A representative may be accompanied to the
sessions of the Commission by alternate representatives
and advisers and, when absent, he may be
replaced by an alternate representative.
Rule 11
The credentials of each representative appointed
to the Commission, together with a designation of
alternate representatives, shall be submitted to the
Executive Secretary without delay.
Rule 12
The Chairman and the two Vice-Chairmen shall
examine the credentials and report upon them to the
Commission.
Chapter IV
OFFICERS
Rule 13
The Commission shall, at its first meeting of each
year, elect from among its representatives a Chairman
and two Vice-Chairmen, designated as First and Second
Vice-Chairmen, who shall hold office until their
successors are elected. They shall be eligible for
re-election.
Rule 14
If the Chairman is absent from a meeting, or any
part thereof, the Vice-Chairman designated by the
Chairman shall preside.
Rule 15
If the Chairman ceases to represent a member of
the Commission, or is so incapacitated that he can no
longer hold office, the First Vice-Chairman shall become
Chairman for the unexpired portion of the term. If the
First Vice-Chairman also ceases to represent a member of
the Commission, or is so incapacitated that he can no
longer hold office, the Second Vice-Chairman shall
become Chairman for the unexpired portion of the term.
Rule 16
The Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman shall have
the same powers and duties as the Chairman.
Rule 17
The Chairman, or the Vice-Chairman acting as
Chairman, shall participate in the meetings of the
Commission as such, and not as the representative of
the member by whom he was accredited. The
Commission shall admit an alternate representative to
represent that member in the meetings of the
Commission and to exercise its right to vote.
Chapter V
SECRETARIAT
Rule 18
The Executive Secretary shall act in that capacity at
all meetings of the Commission and of its
subcommissions, other subsidiary bodies and
committees. He may appoint another member of the staff
to take his place at any meeting.
Rule 19
The Executive Secretary or his representative may
at any meeting make either oral or written statements
concerning any question under consideration.
Rule 20
The Executive Secretary shall direct the staff
provided by the Secretary-General and required by the
Commission, its subcommissions, and any other
subsidiary bodies and committees.
Rule 21
The Executive Secretary shall be responsible for
the necessary arrangements being made for meetings.
Rule 22
The Executive Secretary in carrying out his
functions shall act on behalf of the Secretary-General.
Rule 23
Before new proposals which involve expenditure
from United Nations funds are approved by the
126
Commission, the Executive Secretary shall prepare and
circulate to members an estimate of that part of the cost
involved in the proposals which could not be met out of
the resources available to the secretariat. It shall be the
duty of the Chairman to draw the attention of members
to this estimate, and invite discussion on it before the
proposals are approved.
Chapter VI
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Rule 24
A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum.
Rule 25
In addition to exercising the powers conferred
upon him elsewhere by these rules, the Chairman shall
declare the opening and closing of each meeting of the
Commission, shall direct the discussion, ensure the
observance of these rules, and shall accord the right to
speak, put questions to the vote, and announce
decisions. The Chairman may also call a speaker to
order if his remarks are not relevant to the subject under
discussion.
Rule 26
During the discussion of any matter, a
representative may raise a point of order. In this case,
the Chairman shall immediately state his ruling. If it is
challenged, the Chairman shall forthwith submit his
ruling to the Commission for decision, and it shall stand
unless overruled.
Rule 27
During the discussion of any matter, a
representative may move the adjournment of the debate.
Any such motion shall have priority. In addition to the
proposer of the motion, one representative shall be
allowed to speak in favour of, and one representative
against, the motion.
Rule 28
A representative may at any time move the closure
of the debate whether or not any other representative
has signified his wish to speak. Not more than two
representatives may be granted permission to speak
against the closure.
Rule 29
The Chairman shall take the sense of the
Commission on a motion for closure. If the Commission
is in favour of the closure, the Chairman shall declare the
debate closed.
Rule 30
The Commission may limit the time allowed to each
speaker.
Rule 31
Draft resolutions, and substantial amendments or
motions, shall be introduced in writing and handed to
the Executive Secretary, who shall circulate copies to the
representatives at least twenty-four hours before they
are discussed and voted upon, unless the Commission
decides otherwise.
Rule 32
Upon the request of any member, any motion and
amendment thereto made by any speaker shall be given
to the Chairman in writing and shall be read by him
before any further speaker is called upon and also
immediately before a vote is taken on such motion or
amendment. The Chairman may direct that any motion
or amendment be circulated to the members present
before a vote is taken.
This rule shall not apply to formal motions such as
one for closure or adjournment.
Rule 33
Principal motions and resolutions shall be put to
the vote in the order of their submission unless the
Commission decides otherwise.
Rule 34
When an amendment revises, adds to or deletes
from a proposal, the amendment shall be put to the vote
first, and, if it is adopted, the amended proposal shall
then be put to the vote.
Rule 35
If two or more amendments are moved to a
proposal, the Commission shall vote first on the
amendment furthest removed in substance from the
original proposal; then, if necessary, on the amendment
next furthest removed; and so on, until all the
amendments have been put to the vote.
Rule 36
The Commission may, at the request of a
representative, decide to put a motion or resolution to
the vote in parts. If this is done, the text resulting from
the series of votes shall be put to the vote as a whole.
Chapter VII
VOTING
Rule 37
Each member of the Commission shall have one
vote.
127
Rule 38
Except for the provision of rule 6(b), decisions of
the Commission shall be made by a majority of the
members present and voting.
Rule 39
The Commission shall take no action in respect of
any country without the agreement of the Government
of that country.
Rule 40
The Commission shall normally vote by a show of
hands. If any representative requests a roll-call, a
roll-call shall be taken in the English alphabetical order
of the names of the members.
Rule 41
All elections shall be decided by secret ballot.
Rule 42
If a vote is equally divided upon matters other than
elections, a second vote shall be taken at the next
meeting. If this vote also results in equality, the
proposal shall be regarded as rejected.
Rule 43
After the voting has commenced, no representative
shall interrupt voting except on a point of order in
connection with the actual conduct of the voting. Brief
statements by members consisting solely of
explanations of their votes may be permitted by the
Chairman, if he deems it necessary, before the voting
has commenced or after the voting has been completed.
Chapter VIII
LANGUAGES
Rule 44
Chinese, English, French and Russian shall be the
working languages of the Commission.
Rule 45
Speeches made in one of the working languages
shall be interpreted into the other working languages.
Chapter IX
RECORDS
Rule 46
Summary records of the meetings of the
Commission shall be kept by the secretariat. They shall
be sent as soon as possible to the representatives of
members and to the representatives of any other
government agency or organization which participated
in the meeting concerned. Such representatives shall
inform the secretariat, not later than seventy-two hours
after the circulation of any summary record, of any
changes they wish to have made. Any disagreement
concerning such changes shall be referred to the
Chairman, whose decision shall be final.
Rule 47
The corrected version of the summary records of
public meetings shall be distributed as soon as possible
in accordance with the usual practice of the United
Nations. This shall include distribution to nongovernmental
organizations in categories I and II and
those on the Roster, and on appropriate occasions to
consultative members.
Rule 48
The corrected version of the summary records of
private meetings shall be distributed as soon as possible
to the members of the Commission, to any consultative
member participating in the meeting concerned, and to
the specialized agencies. They shall be distributed to all
the Members of the United Nations if and when the
Commission so decides.
Rule 49
As soon as possible, the text of all reports,
resolutions, recommendations and other formal
decisions made by the Commission, its subcommissions
or other subsidiary bodies and its committees shall be
communicated to the members of the Commission, to the
consultative members concerned, to all other Members
of the United Nations, to the specialized agencies, and
to the non-governmental organizations in categories I
and II and those on the Roster.
Chapter X
PUBLICITY OF MEETINGS
Rule 50
The meetings of the Commission shall ordinarily be
held in public. The Commission may decide that a
particular meeting or meetings shall be held in private.
Chapter XI
CONSULTATIONS WITH SPECIALIZED
AGENCIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL
ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
Rule 51
1. Where an item proposed for the provisional
agenda for a session contains a proposal for new
activities to be undertaken by the United Nations
relating to matters which are of direct concern to one or
128
more specialized agencies or the International Atomic
Energy Agency, the Executive Secretary shall enter into
consultation with the agency or agencies concerned and
report to the Commission on the means of achieving
coordinated use of the resources of the respective
agencies.
2. Where a proposal put forward in the course of a
meeting for new activities to be undertaken by the
United Nations relates to matters which are of direct
concern to one or more specialized agencies or the
International Atomic Energy Agency, the Executive
Secretary shall, after such consultation as may be
possible with the representatives at the meeting of the
other agency or agencies concerned, draw the attention
of the meeting to these implications of the proposal.
3. Before deciding on proposals referred to above,
the Commission shall satisfy itself that adequate
consultations have taken place with the agencies
concerned.
Chapter XII
RELATIONS WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS
Rule 52
Non-governmental organizations in categories I
and II may designate authorized representatives to sit as
observers at public meetings of the Commission.
Organizations on the Roster may have representatives
present at such meetings which are concerned with
matters within their field of competence.
Rule 53
Written statements relevant to the work of the
Commission or its subsidiary bodies may be submitted
by organizations in categories I and II on subjects for
which these organizations have a special competence.
Such statements shall be circulated by the Executive
Secretary to the members and associate members of the
Commission except those statements which have
become obsolete - e.g. those dealing with matters
already disposed of, and those which have already been
circulated in some other form to members and associate
members of the Commission or its subsidiary bodies.
Rule 54
The following conditions shall be observed
regarding the submission and circulation of such written
statements:
(a) The written statement shall be submitted in
one of the official languages;
(b) It shall be submitted in sufficient time for
appropriate consultation to take place between the
Executive Secretary and the organization before
circulation;
(c) The organization shall give due consideration
to any comments which the Executive Secretary may
make in the course of such consultation before
transmitting the statement in final form;
(d) A written statement submitted by an organization
in category I will be circulated in full if it does not
exceed 2,000 words. Where a statement is in excess of
2,000 words, the organization shall submit a summary,
which will be circulated, or shall supply sufficient copies
of the full text in the working languages for distribution.
A statement will also be circulated in full, however, upon
the specific request of the Commission or of one of its
subsidiary bodies;
(e) A written statement submitted by an
organization in category II will be circulated in full if it
does not exceed 1,500 words. Where a statement is in
excess of 1,500 words, the organization shall submit a
summary, which will be circulated, or shall supply
sufficient copies of the full text in the working languages
for distribution. A statement will also be circulated in
full, however, upon the specific request of the
Commission or other subsidiary bodies;
(f) The Executive Secretary in consultation with
the Chairman or the Commission itself may invite
organizations on the Roster to submit written
statements. The provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), (c)
and (e) above shall apply to such statements;
(g) A written statement or summary, as the case
may be, will be circulated by the Executive Secretary in
the working languages and, upon the request of a
member or associate member of the Commission, in any
of the official languages.
Rule 55
(a) The Commission and its subsidiary bodies
may consult with organizations in category I or II either
directly or through a committee or committees
established for the purpose. In all cases, such
consultations may be arranged on the request of the
organization;
(b) On the recommendation of the Executive
Secretary and at the request of the Commission or one of
its subsidiary bodies, organizations on the Roster may
also be heard by the Commission or its subsidiary
bodies.
Rule 56
Subject to rule 23 the Commission may recommend
that a non-governmental organization which has special
competence in a particular field should undertake
specific studies or investigations or prepare specific
papers for the Commission. The limitations of rule 54(d)
and (e) shall not apply in this case.
129
Chapter XIII
SUBCOMMISSIONS, OTHER SUBSIDIARY
BODIES AND COMMITTEES
Rule 57
After discussion with any specialized agency
functioning in the same field, and with the approval of
the Economic and Social Council, the Commission may
establish such continually acting subcommissions or
other subsidiary bodies as it deems necessary for the
performance of its functions and shall define the powers
and composition of each of them. Such autonomy as
may be necessary for the effective discharge of the
technical responsibilities laid upon them may be
delegated to them.
Rule 58
The Commission may establish such committees
and subcommittees as it deems necessary to assist it in
carrying out its tasks.
Rule 59
Subcommissions or other subsidiary bodies and
committees, subcommittees and working parties shall
adopt their own rules of procedure unless otherwise
decided by the Commission.
Chapter XIV
REPORTS
Rule 60
The Commission shall, once a year, submit to the
Economic and Social Council a full report on its activities
and plans, including those of any subsidiary bodies.
Chapter XV
AMENDMENTS AND SUSPENSIONS
Rule 61
Any of these rules of procedure may be amended
or suspended by the Commission, provided that the
proposed amendments or suspensions do not attempt to
set aside the terms of reference laid down by the
Economic and Social Council.