The Fifth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

The Fifth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development is scheduled to be held at the UN Secretariat between 28th March to 30th March 2018. H.E. Dr. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Minister for Interior and Minister of Planning and Development of Pakistan is expected to deliver the opening speech of APFSD. ESCAP convenes the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) on a yearly basis, as a unique regional platform for dialogue between ESCAP member states and other stakeholders on the implementation, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

There will be a side event on 30th March discussing the role of ICT in promoting resilience across the Sustainable Development Goals. Members of the ICT community from UN Sister agencies as well as partners will be showcasing their work for the purpose of knowledge sharing.

From economic transformation in the 4th industrial revolution, to changing the way people interact with each other in society, the impact of tools of the 4th Industrial revolution is significant. With the advent of artificial intelligence and related technologies, space application technologies, automation, robotics and biotechnology, the world is moving at a very fast pace. As such, cross sectoral synergies need to be discussed. This session will link a diverse array of ICT for development activities to the themes of the Fifth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. This meeting will focus on key questions such as identifying ways in which cross-sectoral collaboration can be fostered, as well as how collaboration among and between countries can be enhanced. As a result, the lessons learned can be applied to help enhance resilience and societal transformation in a way which is equitable and sustainable.