The 80th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is convening this week at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.
Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the Commission brings together 53 member States and 9 associate members from across Asia and the Pacific to discuss region-wide cooperative actions on leveraging digital innovation for accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Fiji is represented at the 80th Commission Session by Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, Ambassador of Fiji to Indonesia and Permanent Representative to ESCAP, Mr. Amena Yauvoli, Director Multilateral Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Ms. Keleni Seruvatu, and Second Secretary at the Fiji Embassy to Indonesia Ms. Vasiti Cirikiyasawa.
Asst. Minister Qereqeretabua, on behalf of Fiji, was elected Vice Chair to the 80th Commission Session. The Session is chaired by Ms. Battsetseg Batmunkh, Foreign Minister of Mongolia.
Fiji is participating in the plenary session, responding to the theme of the Commission Session, and in the session on the Special Body on Least Developed, Landlocked Developing and Small Island Developing States, and providing sub-regional perspectives on the theme. Bilateral discussions are also scheduled with various development partners attending the Commission Session.
The Asia and the Pacific region is uniquely placed to leverage digital technologies and solution (finance, technical expertise, and asset capabilities etc.) to overcome sustainable development challenges. As a hub for digitally driven innovation and pioneering technologies, the region can leverage existing digital innovations, build on their successes and bolster collective efforts on digital innovation and sustainable development.
ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. ESCAP reports to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the outcomes of Commission Sessions are tabled at the ECOSOC High Level Forum in New York, for further consideration.
The Commission Meeting ends on Friday 26th April, 2024.
