MINISTERIAL MEETING TO FOCUS ON IMPACT OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC CHANGES ON INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION
Press Release
REC/19
MINISTERIAL MEETING TO FOCUS ON IMPACT OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC CHANGES ON INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION
19980218 (Reissued as received.)BANGKOK, 17 February (United Nations Information Services) -- The impact of recent economic changes on the industrial and technological development in the Asia-Pacific region is among the issues to be discussed at the Meeting of Ministers of Industry and Technology, to be held from 19 to 24 February at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The Meeting is being organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
High-level officials, including Ministers from over 21 countries, are expected to discuss ways to expand the existing economic space through regional and subregional cooperation. High on the agenda will be the need for national governments to restructure their industries along internationally competitive lines.
The first segment of the Meeting of Ministers is the Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials, from 19 to 21 February. The Prime Minister of Thailand, Chuan Leekpai, will open the Ministerial segment of the Meeting on Monday, 23 February.
Other issues on the agenda are industrial and technological restructuring, development and promotion of industrial complementarities and international competitiveness, promotion of investment-related technology transfer, privatization and private sector development in strengthening industries and technologies, and developing skills for improved technology.
At the conclusion of the Meeting, the Ministers are expected to adopt a declaration with a set of recommendations providing guidelines for national policy orientation to meet the challenges for sustaining industrial and technological dynamism in countries of the region. A regional plan of action calling for various economic cooperation measures in order to accelerate industrial and technological development in the region is also expected to be adopted.
- 2 - Press Release REC/19 18 February 1998
Symposium and Exhibition
On Saturday, 21 February, a Private Sector Symposium with the theme "Private Sector's Role in Promoting Inter-related Investment and Technology Flows in Asia and the Pacific" will be organized to enable the private sector to interact with policy makers.
An Industrial and Technological Exhibition with the theme "Environmentally Sustainable Industrial and Technological Development in Asia and the Pacific" will be on display throughout the Meeting from 19 to 24 February.
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