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Presentation. Pilot project for use of e-CIM/SMGS consignment note along selected TRACECA routes. Eighteenth session of the SPECA Working Group on Trade
No full textItem 4: Digitilization of supply chain data exchange in the Trans-Caspian Corrido
Decisions. Eighteenth Session of the SPECA Governing Council
No full textThe Governing Council of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) will hold its 18th session on 23 November 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan, the SPECA participating States (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) will discuss the outcomes of 2023 SPECA Economic Forum and adopt its conclusions and recommendations
Trade in goods and services outlook in Asia and the Pacific 2023/2024
No full textMerchandise goods trade
• Faced with a continued shift towards spending in services, high living costs, a restrictive policy environment and geopolitical uncertainty, merchandise trade is forecasted to decline in 2023. Globally, real exports and imports are expected to contract by 1.0% and 1.7%, respectively, while in Asia and the Pacific (excluding the Russian Federation) the slowdown will be more acute, with estimated declines of 3.5% and 2.2%, respectively. Nominally, merchandise trade in Asia and the Pacific in 2023 is projected to total US 18.8 trillion.
• In 2024, regional merchandise trade is expected to pick-up moderately. Supported by developing Asia-Pacific, regional real exports and imports (excluding the Russian Federation) are forecasted to expand by 3.2% and 3.4%, respectively. Nominally, these figures are expected to be 6.2% and 5.8%, respectively, marking a return to a mild price increase.
• Price fluctuations in Asia and the Pacific are largely mirroring the inverse of last year’s inflationary trends. With the correction of key commodities prices, such as oil, gas, metals and agricultural fertilizers, most economies that a saw steep, commodity-fueled, export or import price increase in 2022 are looking at the opposite dynamic in 2023.
• Owing to the region’s slower trade growth, the Asia-Pacific region’s share of global nominal exports and imports in 2023 is expected to recede slightly to 38.7% and 36.3%, respectively. Moreover, the region’s historic trade surplus is expected to almost halve to US$0.37 trillion in 2023.
• In line with Asia and the Pacific aggregate regional figures, subregional real trade performances in 2023 are expected to be mostly negative. Indeed, South and South-West Asia is the only subregion predicted to post export growth in 2023. A weak demand for key exports and a commodity trade slowdown is translating into generalized export contractions across all other sub-regions. Import-wise, North and Central Asia will be the only subregion posting positive results, recovering from the previous year’s significant drop.
Commercial services trade
• Contrary to merchandise trade, nominal commercial services trade is expected to expand robustly throughout 2023, supported by the recovery of the Travel sector and robust trade performances in Other commercial services, Other business services, and ICT services. In line with this scenario, in 2023, global commercial services exports and imports are expected to expand by 7.7% and 8.2%, respectively, while in Asia and the Pacific, growth will be stronger at 8.8% and 9.7%, respectively.
• In 2024, service’s growth momentum is expected to slow, with regional exports and imports growth forecasted to grow at 7.1% and 4.9%, respectively. This growth is foreseen to continue to be supported by the recovering Travel sector, as well as by merchandise trade associated services, such as Other business services and Other commercial services. The normalization of the Transport’s sector performance and the ICT sector’s resilient growth will also help the region’s growth. Nevertheless, significant downside risks remain on the horizon. Namely, the looming possibility of a global recession, the risk of a poor economic performance in China, and increased geopolitical tensions are likely to continue pressuring demand for services downwards.
• Among subregions, North and Central Asia is the only subregion expected to post negative services exports results, owing to the worsening contraction of exports felt in the Russian Federation. The Pacific is expected to post the highest services export expansion, with expansions also expected for all South-East Asian and South and South-West Asian economies. East and North-East Asia services exports are expected to grow only marginally. Import-wise, subregional trends have deviated considerably from the patterns discussed above. Indeed, East and North-East Asia is projected to post the strongest services imports performance of all, followed by North and Central Asia. South-East Asia and South and South-West Asia will once again perform positively and in tandem, but the Pacific subregion will be recording only marginal imports growth.Commercial services trade.</p
Reducing the need to burn : how applying sustainable agricultural mechanization in Cambodia can improve air quality
Get PDF This brief highlights the results and recommendations from a pilot on agricultural machinery-based solutions to address burning of straw residue in Indonesia which leads to air pollution and other adverse consequences. The pilot was part of a project jointly implemented during 2021-2023 by ESCAP’s Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) and Environment and Development Division (EDD) in three countries in South and Southeast Asia with financial support from the China-ESCAP Cooperation Programme. The brief is part of a series of four briefs. This Brief on integrated straw management in Cambodia analyzes the results of CSAM’s pilot project in Takeo Province, including findings from local surveys about farming practices and the promotion of agricultural mechanization-based solutions to incentivize sustainably using straw residue as a resource. The pilot was implemented during 2021-2023 as part of a wider project titled ‘Enabling Sustainable and Climate-smart Agriculture in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Nepal Through Mechanisation Solutions for Integrated Management of Straw Residue and Air Pollution Monitoring’ with financial support from the ChinaESCAP Cooperation Programme (CECP) and in partnership with Swisscontact and the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Government of Cambodia. Financial support from the China-ESCAP Cooperation ProgrammeI. INTRODUCTION 3 II. PROJECT BACKGROUND 4 A. THE CSAM REGIONAL INITIATIVE ON INTEGRATED STRAW MANAGEMENT 4 B. IDENTIFYING KEY AREAS FOR INTERVENTIONS 6 C. PILOT ON INTEGRATED STRAW MANAGEMENT IN CAMBODIA 6 III. CAMBODIA: AGRICULTURE AND AIR POLLUTION 6 A. STUDY AREA: TAKÉO PROVINCE, CAMBODIA 6 IV. CASE STUDY: IMPLEMENTATION OF MACHINERY IN TAKEO 8 A. IDENTIFYING THE CURRENT FARMING STATUS AT THE PILOT SITES 8 B. INCEPTION WORKSHOP 9 C. FIELD TRIALS OF AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTATION 9 1. STRAW BALER 9 2. DIRECT SEED DRILL 9 D. AWARENESS BUILDING AND DEMONSTRATION SESSIONS 10 V. KEY RESULTS OF PILOT PROJECT IN CAMBODIA 10 VI. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 11 A. STRENGTHEN MEASURES TO MONITOR AIR QUALITY AND AGRICULTURAL 11 BURNING B. SUPPORT TESTING AND DEMONSTRATION OF MACHINERY IN THE FIELD 11 C. PROMOTE CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE 11 D. ENSURE GENDER MAINSTREAMING 11 VII. REFERENCES
Increasing the impact of Voluntary National Reviews : the role of South-South and Triangular Cooperation
Get PDFESCAP’s VNR twinning programme is a unique initiative that strengthens South-South and triangular cooperation in the Voluntary National Review (VNR) process. By connecting and supporting two or more countries that are reviewing their progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by preparing a VNR, the twinning programme promotes peer learning and exchange of good practices. VNRs play a critical role in mobilising countries to take concrete action on the SDGs. Progress on the 2030 Agenda requires new levels of leadership, partnership, and knowledge. As countries present their second, third or even fourth reviews, the role of peer-learning and South-South and triangular cooperation is even more important. Eleven countries have joined the twinning programme so far, and evidence is emerging that the initiative is not only strengthening the VNR process but is also improving SDG practices and implementation
Assessment of the eighth session of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction
Get PDFThe survey indicates a generally positive perception of the meeting, with average scores ranging from 3.82 to 4.41 out of 5 across various aspects. Highest scores were observed for the reflection of current trends/issues, enhancement of knowledge on early warning systems, promotion of regional cooperation, and timely organization of the meeting.However, comments were received on room for improvement in the discussion of gender-related issues, facilitator engagement, quality of documents and presentations, and the technical quality of the online platform.</p
SDG progress and transformative Pathways : perspectives from the five regions
Get PDFThe five United Nations regional commissions have prepared selected country profiles on “SDG Progress and Transformative Pathways” to support discussions among member States, various United Nations entities, and other development partners during the SDG Summit on 18-19 September 2023. The following key messages reflect shared global progress as well as region-specific challenges and policy considerations.The five United Nations regional commissions have prepared selected country profiles on “SDG Progress and Transformative Pathways” to support discussions among member States, various United Nations entities, and other development partners during the SDG Summit on 18-19 September 2023. The following key messages reflect shared global progress as well as region-specific challenges and policy considerations.</p
SDG 9 : Industry, innovation and infrastructure
No full textThe challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and building back better highlight the importance of a long-term strategy for industrialization, innovation, digitalization and the creation of resilient infrastructure. This strategy is vital to achieving all 2030 Agenda Goals. Economies with a diversified industrial sector and strong infrastructure better weathered the economic impacts of COVID-19 and recovered faster than other economies.The effects of the pandemic were highly heterogeneous across sectors, firms and workers, both globally and in Asia and the Pacific. The most vulnerable were small and medium enterprises, sectors highly integrated into global or regional value chains, and firms and workers in the informal economy. Women, youth and low-skilled workers suffered the most severe losses.Although economic activity in the region has quickly recovered, reaching its highest growth rate since 2010 in 2021, recovery remains incomplete and uneven, impacting progress towards SDG 9. Except for significant advances in two targets (9.a and 9.c), other areas are lagging. Countries in Asia and the Pacific must implement actions to accelerate progress on these targets, particularly those relating to manufacturing employment, transition to higher-technology industrial sectors and research and development (R&D) activity (9.2, 9.5, 9.b). Better and more disaggregated data are also needed to guide and monitor policies to improve infrastructure, promote innovation and enhance green and inclusive industrialization.</p
A comprehensive public transport and mass transit plan for Kathmandu valley
Get PDFSeveral studies were conducted over two decades in the Kathmandu Valley to improve the urban public transport system. Still, the improvement in the public transport system is far from meeting the mobility needs of the residents. There is a requirement for immediate action to develop sustainable public transport and mass transit system by adopting recommendations of past plans and policies to improve the public transport system. This report reviews the urban transport plans and policies and studies carried out in the past and make recommendations for the improvement in the public transport system in the Kathmandu Valley. It provides short-, mid-, and long-term recommendations based on the literature review and stakeholder consultation.</p
Tracking E-Resilience in China, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, India and Sri Lanka
No full textThis working paper on e-resilience readiness in a few selected economies in East and North-East Asia (ENEA) and in South Asia (SA) analyses the current situation to ensure that information and communications technology infrastructure is resilient and can effectively support disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. The dataset for the countries used for this policy brief is publicly available online on the website of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in the form of a Power Bi dashboard that includes the pilot country profiles and policy recommendations. </p