Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Regional cooperation vital to sustainable growth
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 07/05/2018
» Asia and the Pacific remains the engine of the global economy. It continues to power trade, investment and jobs the world over. Two thirds of the region's economies grew faster in 2017 than the previous year and the trend is expected to continue in 2018.
Pyeongchang winter games herald peace, prosperity
Oped, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 09/02/2018
» All eyes are on the 23rd Olympic Winter Games and 12th Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. Top athletes will carry their national flags in an opening ceremony which has come to epitomise the international community. Sports fans worldwide eagerly await the Olympics, and this time there is cause for cautious optimism that sport diplomacy may lower tensions on the Korean Peninsula itself. Leaders, diplomats and citizens from the world over will witness North and South Korean athletes walking side by side. For this, there could be few better places than Pyeongchang, which means peace (Pyeong) and prosperity (Chang): goals integral to the mission of the United Nations and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Plan for energy transition is crucial
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 18/01/2017
» The Asia-Pacific region is at a turning point in its energy trajectory. The energy solutions that have fuelled growth in the region over the past few decades are no longer compatible with the sustainable development aspirations of our nations and their people. In transitioning to a new era of sustainable energy, policymakers across the region face complex decisions. Supplies must be secure and affordable, and they must fill the energy access gap which leaves half a billion people across the region without access to electricity.
Asia-Pacific's road to sustainability
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 08/12/2016
» Transport is a key contributor to economic growth, prosperity and to societal well-being.
An opportunity to raise productivity
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 30/11/2016
» Against the backdrop of a sluggish global economy, lacklustre trade growth, and uncertainty in major economies, countries of the Asia-Pacific region continued to push ahead at an estimated 4.9% in 2016.
Closing the ICT gap across Asia
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 03/10/2016
» Advances in information and communication technology have been instrumental in shaping and leading socioeconomic transformations across Asia and the Pacific. One key to this transformation is the technology bundled around the "Internet of Things" (IoT), which enables billions of devices and appliances to connect over the internet for more accurate, real time data collection and analysis on an unparalleled scale.
Eyeing a sustainable future for Asia
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 28/04/2016
» The Asia-Pacific region's successful achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development needs to be driven by broad-based productivity gains and the rebalancing of economies towards domestic and regional demand. This is the main message of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2016, published by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Such a strategy will not only underpin the revival of robust and resilient economic growth, but also improve the quality of growth by making it more inclusive and sustainable.
An enduring solution in Asia-Pacific
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 04/12/2015
» Global leaders are gathered in Paris for the COP21 climate summit. Given the Asia-Pacific's size and its contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, its voice and commitment are critical to achieving a comprehensive agreement on climate change.
Asia-Pacific celebrates 70 years of growth, security
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 24/10/2015
» On this day, 70 years ago, the Charter of the United Nations came into force — hope, rising from the ashes of World War II. For seven decades the UN has driven multilateralism for peace, security, development and human dignity — in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. Although far from perfect, no other organisation has done more to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and to promote social progress and better standards of life” for all.
Older people have role in society
News, Shamshad Akhtar, Published on 01/10/2015
» Just a few decades ago, the population of the Asia-Pacific region was dominated by the young. Now, as birth rates have dropped and life expectancies improved, the population is ageing. Twelve per cent of our people in the region are already over the age of 60. By 2050, this figure will rise to one-quarter of the whole population. Never before have countries aged as rapidly. It took France 115 years and Sweden 85 years to become aged societies, but for Vietnam and Thailand, it will take only 20-22 years. The region risks getting old before it gets rich. So how do we address this crisis of a rapidly ageing population in our region?