CONFERENCE ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, WITH MINISTERIAL SEGMENT, TO BE HELD IN NEW DELHI FROM 23 TO 29 OCTOBER
Press Release
ESCAP/257
CONFERENCE ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, WITH MINISTERIAL SEGMENT, TO BE HELD IN NEW DELHI FROM 23 TO 29 OCTOBER
19961002 BANGKOK, 1 October (UN Information Service) -- An action plan on infrastructure development in Asia and the Pacific is among the documents expected to be adopted by the Conference on Infrastructure, to be held in New Delhi, from 23 to 29 October, which is being organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).Ministers from 51 member States and nine associate members of ESCAP are expected to adopt a declaration and launch an action plan on infrastructure development at the Conference, which will be divided into two segments: a meeting of senior officials, which will take place from 23 to 26 October; and a ministerial segment, from 28 to 29 October.
In a departure from previous practice at ESCAP meetings, the ministerial segment will be jointly inaugurated on 28 October with a private-sector organized event called "World Infrastructure Forum -- Asia 1996", which will continue on 30 and 31 October.
A key policy issue to be addressed at the Conference is the creation of a favourable climate for private-sector participation in the development process. According to ESCAP estimates, between 1993 and 2000 approximately $1,500 billion would be required for infrastructure development in the Asia- Pacific region. Out of that required amount, $500 billion has already been made available. Consequently, the financial gap for new infrastructure development projects amounts to around $1,000 billion, without taking into account massive sums required for rehabilitation works.
Discussions at the Conference will focus on policy and planning framework of countries, at the macroeconomic and sectoral levels, with special attention to improving the delivery of infrastructure services. The partnership between the public and private sectors will be examined to identify means of encouraging private- sector involvement in financing, management, operations and risk-sharing. Participants will also discuss ways to harmonize road and rail transport in order to enhance international and bilateral trade, transport and tourism.
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In addition, the role of infrastructure development in bringing the rural and urban poor into the mainstream of national economic and social development will be examined, as will measures to reduce the adverse impact of infrastructure development on the environment.
A highlight of the Conference will be the launching of the Asia Infrastructure Development Alliance (AIDA), a tripartite alliance among governments, the private sector and multilateral and intergovernmental organizations that was conceived at the "World Infrastructure Forum -- Asia 1994", held in Jakarta. The principal objective of AIDA is to foster greater understanding among its members of the need to enhance investment in infrastructure development in the region. The Conference will also review progress made in phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, which was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1984.
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