Regional commission organizes first asia-pacific business forum

(Reissued as received.)

BANGKOK, 20 April (UN Information Service) -- The first ever Asia-Pacific Business Forum will be held from 24 to 26 April 2004 at the Shanghai International Conference Centre.  Organized by the Bangkok-based United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the Government of China, the event is part of ESCAP's sixtieth Commission session to be held in Shanghai from 22 to 28 April 2004.

Approximately 300 business executives and 50 representatives from ministries in China and a number of other countries in the region are expected to attend.

Guest speakers include the Rt. Hon. Jenny Shipley, former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Mr. Park Yong Sung, President-elect of the International Chamber of Commerce; Hon. Clive Brown, Minister for State Development, Government of Western Australia; Mr. Tim Chen, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft; Mr. Henry Chow, Chairman and CEO of IBM Greater China Group; and Mr. Steven Schneider, Chairman and CEO of General Electric Company in China.

The Forum seeks to promote an exchange of views between public and private sector participants on regional trade and investment opportunities.  Participants are expected to deliberate on current global and regional economic policy issues and their implications for the business sector.  It also aims to provide a platform for networking and forming partnerships on an Asia-Pacific-wide basis.

The programme hosts three panel discussion sessions covering topics ranging from financial development and cooperation in the region, the impact of multilateral trade agreements on emerging regional trade opportunities, the role of foreign direct investment in stimulating business opportunities, as well as new business opportunities in China after its entry into the World Trade Organization.

Business leaders will also have the opportunity to participate in the discussion of the high-level Visionary Meeting for Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the role of Asia and the Pacific towards the year 2020, one of the highlights of the Commission session.

The Asia-Pacific Business Forum is part of ESCAP's ongoing efforts to promote trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region through regional cooperation.  Organized by ESCAP's Trade and Investment Division, the Asia-Pacific Business Forum forms part of its work to promote investment and enterprise development in the region.

For further information, please contact:  Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division, ESCAP, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand; tel: (2) 288 1902, fax: (2) 288 1026; e-mail:  ratnayaker@un.org

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