UN Forecasts Strong Rebound for Asia-Pacific Exports in 2010

A new United Nations report finds that exports from the Asia-Pacific region could rebound strongly in 2010 and makes a strong case for enhanced intraregional trade to reduce poverty.

The report looks at such questions as the validity of the trade-led development model in Asia-Pacific, whether China can lift the region out of recession, and what lessons has the crisis revealed to make development more inclusive and sustainable in the years ahead. It also examines how regional integration contributes to development, and whether private enterprise should continue to pursue “business-as-usual.”

The report is ESCAP’s first annual publication dealing with trade and investment, and looks at the role of trade and investment in addressing the most critical issues, challenges and risks facing the Asia-Pacific region – as the global economic crisis slowly draws to an end – and explores the opportunities for Asian businesses provided by global value chains.

The report notes that gains from facilitating trade, including the introduction of “paperless trading systems” could far surpass those of trade liberalization, and explores how trade can play a bigger role in development by making it inclusive and sustainable. For that purpose, the report identifies the changing determinants of business competitiveness.

The Report is the main background document for ESCAP’s Committee on Trade and Investment, which will hold its first session from 4 to 6 November in Bangkok. Keynote speakers include Kasit Piromya, Foreign Minister of Thailand, and Kiat Sittheeamorn, President, Thailand Trade Representative. The Committee meeting is also part of a string of high-level events organized by ESCAP during the First Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Week, to be held from 2 to 6 November, and includes the Asia-Pacific Trade Economists’ Conference and the OECD/ESCAP Conference on Corporate Responsibility.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Marc Proksch

ESCAP Trade and Investment Division

Tel: +(66-2) 288-1680

Email: proksch.unescap@un.org

Ms. Thawadi Pachariyangkun

UN/ESCAP Information Services

Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861

Email: pachariyangkun.unescap@un.org

via ESCAP Press Release: UN Forecasts Strong Rebound for Asia-Pacific Exports in 2010.