? 31 August 2020 ? 13:00– 15:00 (Bangkok Time)
Webinar
The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent emergency measures, such as lockdowns and travel restrictions, have put public health systems under severe stress and caused hundreds of millions around the world to lose their livelihoods. The economic consequences have been unprecedented, with most economies in the region expecting a contraction in GDP along with a rise in poverty and inequality.
To respond to the crisis, on 28 May 2020, the United Nations Secretary-General, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Prime Minister of Jamaica convened world leaders, heads of international organizations and representatives from the private sector and civil society to launch a large-scale, coordinated and comprehensive multilateral response to the COVID-19 emergency. Member States from the Asia-Pacific region have been participating actively in these Discussion Groups, and the ESCAP secretariat, along with several other UN entities and international organizations, have been providing technical assistance to them.
This Regional Conversation will share insights on the proposed policy options that are most suitable for the region’s economies. It will revolve on the following questions:
- What is the situation of fiscal space, debt sustainability, and foreign exchange liquidity in Asia Pacific economies? Which national, regional, and global initiatives should countries support to address these issues?
- What key policies can be implemented to build back better the region’s economies? Which policies are most urgently needed in the region and how they can be prioritized?
- How can regional cooperation support resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economic recovery?
Original source: UNESCAP
