– Pursuing Shared Prosperity in an Era of Turbulence and High Commodity Prices –

Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific is the flagship publication of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which is based in Bangkok and is the regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat. It provides policy options for governments to overcome these challenges and maintain the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.

The Asia-Pacific region continues to face a deeply challenging external environment. The V-shaped recovery from the depths of the 2008-09 global financial crisis in 2010 proved to be short-lived, as the world economy entered a second stage of the crisis in 2011, continued uncertain economic outlook of the US economy and due to the Eurozone debt crisis. Notwithstanding this slowdown, growth in Asia and the Pacific remains substantially better than in any other region continuing as an anchor of stability and growth pole for the world economy.

The 2012 edition of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific: Pursuing Shared Prosperity in an Era of Turbulence and High Commodity Prices, analyses the short and medium-term challenges for the region and the outlook for the year ahead. A persistent concern for the region highlighted in the Survey is the challenge presented by commodity price volatility, in particular the trend of rising commodity prices. High prices and persistent volatility are likely to become the new normal of the global economy. This commodity boom presents risks and opportunities for both commodity exporters and importers in the region.

In Tokyo, on behalf of ESCAP, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) will organize a briefing on Tuesday 10 May starting at 14:00. At the briefing, Ms. Margarita Guerrero, Director, UN Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), and Ms. Nobuko Kajiura, Economic Affairs Officer, Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division, UN-ESCAP, will present a summary. The briefing will be given in Japanese and English, and the report (English) and the summary (English) will be available at the briefing.

Date/Times: 14:00-15:30 Thursday 10 May (Registration starts at 13:30 on the 2nd floor.)
Venue: Reception Hall, the 2nd floor of UNU HQ building
Briefers:
– Ms. Margarita Guerrero, Director, United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP)
– Ms. Nobuko Kajiura, Economic Affairs Officer, Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Language:Japanese and English (No interpretation will be provided.)
Capacity/Fee: 60 people / Free of charge (The number of hard copies of the report is limited.)
Inquiries: United Nations Information Centre (Tel: 03-5467-4451)
Registration: Please let us know of your attendance by Wednesday, 9 May by sending an email to event@untokyo.jpwith your name, affiliation, and contact information including phone number and e-mail address.
*The registration is on a first-come-first-served basis. We will contact you only when the requests for application exceed the capacity of the seats. Admission ticket will not be issued.

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