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Asia pacific business forum concludes in Dhaka with emphasis on regional integration

Xinhua, February 10, 2017 Adjust font size:

The two-day Asia-Pacific Business Forum concluded Thursday in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka with the call for regional countries to build further integration in achieving sustainable development.

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh ( ICC-Bangladesh) jointly organized the event in Dhaka in association with Bangladesh's Ministry of Commerce.

ICC-Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman said this is the first time that Asia-Pacific Business Forum was held in Dhaka with the theme of regional integration to achieve sustainable development, in line with United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs are aimed at lifting millions of people out of poverty and driving economic growth..

Organizers say sharing experience on how other countries have implemented millennium development goals and how the expertise could be used in implementing SDGs were among other reasons behind setting the theme.

Rahman said the forum paved the way for regional public-private dialogue on the role and needs of business in achieving inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.

In the backdrop of Brexit and new US administration's inward-looking trade policies, the event was very important. A number of plenary sessions including role of business in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, building a resilient and low-carbon future and supporting trade and transport facilities for regional integration were held at the forum.

In the plenary sessions experts discussed the changing United States policy including scrapping of Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, and how regional integration can be made under the changing trade and investment scenario.

Some 400 delegates, including members of the governments, civil society and business community from 15 countries and regions including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives took part in the event. Endit