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Results of the assessment of virtual Seventy-sixth session of the Commission, 21 May 2020
No full textGraduation of Bhutan from the group of least developed countries : potential implication and policy imperatives
Get PDFDespite confronted with such unfavourable conditions as mountainous topography and being landlocked and susceptible to natural disasters, Bhutan has demonstrated a strong track record in sustaining economic growth and reducing poverty over the past two decades or so. Its progress in other socio-economic indicators as reflected in its success in achieving many of the 2000-15 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets is also worth noting. It is unique in approaching development by valuing collective happiness as the goal of governance. Bhutan successfully met the least development countries (LDCs) graduation criteria in two United Nations triennial reviews of 2015 and 2018 and is set to graduate from the group of LDCs in 2023. The transition involves loss of certain trade preferences and other international support measures. However, as the significance of these benefits has been quite limited for Bhutan, LDC graduation should not be a major cause for concern. While most LDC-specific privileges are related to international trade, Bhutan’s overwhelming dependence on trade with India is governed through a bilateral trade agreement insulted from LDC status. Overseas development assistance is important for Bhutan although its significance in the economy has fallen. Graduation should not have much implication for development financing as development partners do not use LDC status as an important factor in deciding about aid allocation. For Bhutan, dealing with general development challenges should remain important policy priorities. It has embraced a proactive policy stance for graduation by combining its eighth five-year development plan, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Gross National Happiness (GNH) indicators. Bhutan has huge potential for developing supply-side capacities and generate employment opportunities through further development of such sectors as tourism, agribusiness, ICT and hydropower. Major impediments for exerting dynamism in these sectors include lack of investment, infrastructure deficit, and poor connectivity. Diversification of economic activities is a challenge for which one priority attention should be on developing the private sector.I. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 2 II. Bhutan’s Socio-economic development and LDC Graduation........................................... 3 2.1 Socio-economic progress.............................................................................................. 3 2.2 Bhutan’s path to LDC graduation ............................................................................... 13 III. Potential Implications of LDC Graduation ....................................................................... 15 3.1 Preference erosion in international trade .................................................................... 16 3.2 WTO issues for Bhutan............................................................................................... 24 IV. Ways forward for Bhutan.................................................................................................. 30 4.1 Staying Focused on Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).................. 30 4.2 Proactive engagements with trade partners................................................................. 33 4.3 Dealing with general development challenges ........................................................... 35 5.4 Developing a vibrant private sector............................................................................ 40 5.5 Attracting FDI............................................................................................................. 42 5.6 Taking advantage of LDC graduation issues to look for better market access opportunities through using the ports of neighbouring countries............................... 44 V. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 45 References..................................................................................................................................... 4
Integrated management of straw residue in the Asia-Pacific region
Get PDFBurning of straw residue is a common practice in many countries of the Asia-Pacific region. In recent times, this practice has drawn the attention of policymakers and the public due to its adverse effects on the environment, including air pollution which impacts the life of millions of people across countries and contributes to climate change as well as loss of fertility of agricultural land. Appropriate agricultural machinery can help farmers adopt sustainable and integrated management of straw residue including its use as fertilizer, cattle feed, bioenergy, substrate for growing mushrooms and industry material.
In order to promote integrated straw management through sustainable agricultural mechanization in member States, it is recommended that awareness raising about the adverse effects of residue burning and the economic benefits accruing from more sustainable approaches should be prioritized. Moreover, support should be provided to farmers towards initial investments for the adoption of the required machinery and equipment while tailoring the solutions to match local conditions.</p
Outcome report : Third ASEAN Inclusive Business Summit : inclusive business partnerships to address challenges ahead
Get PDFInclusive Businesses (IB) provide goods, services, and livelihoods on a commercially viable basis, to people living at the base of the economic pyramid (BoP) making them part of the value chain of companies as suppliers, distributors, retailers, or customers. The IB agenda was introduced in ASEAN in 2017 through a call by the ASEAN Leaders for greater emphasis on creating an enabling environment for Inclusive Businesses. The ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME) took the lead in promoting IB in ASEAN, and since 2018 has collaborated with the Inclusive Business Action Network (iBAN), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in efforts to help ASEAN Member States build capacity and develop a better understanding of the IB concept and IB approaches among policy makers and businesses, and thus encourage more inclusive businesses to emerge and scale up
Raising the level of ambition on carbon pricing in Asia and Pacific
Get PDFClimate change is a fundamental threat to development; significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are needed to avert a climate crisis. While no single instrument will achieve this goal, there is broad agreement that carbon pricing is an integral part of climate action. This policy brief shows that carbon tax and emissions trading system are gaining momentum across the world, including in Asia and the Pacific, but current rates are too low to shift behaviour, capital and technology towards low-carbon development. While recognizing the need to raise ambition, governments are naturally concerned about the potential impacts of carbon pricing on industries, jobs and low-income households. This policy brief discusses ways to alleviate the concerns, including through effective use of carbon pricing revenues and regional cooperation
Accelerating SDG7 achievement in the time of Covid-19 : policy briefs in support of the high-level political forum 2020
No full textInvesting in decarbonized energy solutions with universal energy access can create jobs, make economies more competitive and steer the world towards a more resilient and sustainable future. To recover better, healthier and stronger, governments can put clean energy technologies at the heart of their postCOVID-19 economic recovery plans, with enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions as the guide.
This third compilation of SDG 7 Policy Briefs, has been prepared to inform critically important discussions at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2020
Covid-19 and its impact on railway sector in Asia and the Pacific: transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics
Get PDFThe present policy brief explores challenges and opportunities for sustainable railway transport connectivity in the times of COVID-19 pandemic. The resilience shown by railway transport during the pandemic gives an opportunity to railways of the region to turn this crisis and period of uncertainty into an opportunity by undertaking measures to increase the comparative advantages of railway transport enhancing sustainability of transport networks.
Digitalizing and decarbonizing railways, harmonizing operational requirements and regulatory formalities, integrating with other modes of transport, bundling of freight, and partnering with other stakeholders are key areas of opportunities for railways post pandemic to enhance their competitiveness. Pandemic has given further momentum to digitalization of railway transport even in countries with relatively low level of digital services and has encouraged innovative solutions such as establishment of green lanes for medicine products.
The railways of the region now need to build on these initiatives incorporating them into national railway strategies. The policy brief also notes that over long run the geography of rail freight flows in ESCAP region and beyond, as well as the market in general might undergo substantive changes post-pandemic due to disruptions in supply and value chains and possible relocation of production. Therefore, railways of the region need to revisit national railway plans/ strategies/investments/business models incorporating likely impacts of the pandemic and prepare themselves better to deal with eventualities.
The policy brief ends by underlining the pre-eminent role of ESCAP in supporting member railways in fostering sustainable railway transport connectivity in the region primarily through the Working Group established under the intergovernmental agreement on Trans-Asian Railway network. The Working Group is a pre-eminent regional platform for railways of the region to address challenges and harness opportunities
ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness : 2018-2019 annual report
Get PDFThe 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami resulted in widespread loss of human life and livelihoods, severe damage to infrastructure and ecosystems and large economic costs. Following this disaster, there was a strong recognition across the Asia-Pacific region of the need to undertake a coordinated, long-term effort to mitigate the impact of natural disasters through effective preparedness and prevention measures, including the establishment and further strengthening of early warning systems.
The ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness was established in 2005 following a US$ 10 million contribution from the Royal Thai Government. The Fund is part of the overall United Nations effort to strengthen resilience across the Asia-Pacific region. It contributes to the
narrowing of capacity gaps and supports the development of an integrated, regional early warning system comprised of a network of collaborative centres. In 2011, the scope of the Fund was expanded to also cover disaster and climate preparedness, while retaining a focus on end-to-end early warning for
coastal hazards.
ESCAP is entrusted with managing and administering the Fund and draws on
its mandate as the commission for Asia and the Pacific to promote regional
cooperation and integration for effective disaster risk reduction.
In accordance with the Fund’s Terms and Conditions, this Annual Report
provides an overview of the results of the Fund in 2018 and 2019. It also
describes the financial status of the Fund and the activities carried out by the Secretariat