United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP or ESCAP), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region. It was established in 1947 (then as the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East) to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. The name was changed to the current in 1974. It is one of five regional commissions under the administrative direction of United Nations headquarters. The ESCAP has 53 member States and nine Associate members, and reports to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). As well as countries in Asia and the Pacific, it includes France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. The ESCAP is headed by Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer of Singapore. Ms. Heyzer is the first woman to head ESCAP, which is the biggest of the UN's five regional commissions, both in terms of population served and area covered.

Fifty-three countries are members of ESCAP, and there are nine countries which are associate members. ESCAP's regional focus is managing globalization through programs in environmentally sustainable development, trade, and human rights.

Member States

• Afghanistan
• Armenia
• Australia
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Brunei Darussalam
• Cambodia
• China, People's Republic of
• Fiji
• France
• Georgia
• India
• Indonesia
• Islamic Republic of Iran
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kiribati
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
• Republic of Korea (South Korea)
• Kyrgyzstan
• Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Nauru
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Russian Federation
• Samoa
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• Sri Lanka
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Tuvalu
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• United States of America
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vietnam

Associate members

• American Samoa
• Cook Islands
• French Polynesia
• Guam
• Hong Kong, China
• Macau, China
• New Caledonia
• Niue
• Northern Mariana Islands

Locations

• United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand (headquarters)

See also

• United Nations System
• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
• Trans-Asian Railway Network Agreement

References