United Nations to honour disability rights champions on eve of new regional decade
UN ESCAP and the Government of the Republic of Korea will confer the “Asia-Pacific Disability Rights Champions Award” on ten outstanding individuals on 1 November during a high-level intergovernmental meeting in Incheon, Republic of Korea, to launch a new decade-long regional initiative for a more disability-inclusive society. [19 October 2012]

Regional cooperation key to closing development and infrastructure gaps in South and South-West Asia, says United Nations
Enhanced subregional cooperation can reduce the wide development and infrastructure gaps in South and South-West Asia, stimulating growth that is more inclusive, sustainable and resilient to economic shocks and natural disasters, UN told a high-level policymakers’ forum. [18 October 2012]

Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2012 – Need for a new business paradigm for inclusive and sustainable development
As the world continues to face economic turmoil, especially in the developed countries, regional economic integration, supported by robust South-South cooperation, has become even more important to reduce dependencies and diversify economies, according to Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP in her opening address to the Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF) 2012, which opened in Kuala Lumpur today. [15 October 2012]

Asia-Pacific business forum to harness regional integration for equitable and sustainable growth
Asia-Pacific business leaders and government policymakers, international aid and development agencies as well as civil society representatives will meet in the Malaysian capital next week to discuss how they can harness regional economic integration to promote economic growth that is equitable and sustainable. [12 October 2012]

Asia-Pacific countries discuss ways to make transport a key pillar of post-2015 development agenda
Representatives of over 23 Asia-Pacific governments began a three-day meeting here today to discuss cooperation in building an efficient and sustainable regional transport and logistics network to drive growth while improving access for all to economic opportunities and social services. [10 October 2012]