UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
In terms of area covered and people served UNESCAP, which is located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the largest of the UN's five Regional Commissions. It comprises 51 member and 9 associate member countries representing over 60 per cent of the world's population, or 3.5 billion people. While other Regional Commissions operate side by side with active regional groupings such as the Organisation of African Unity or the Organisation of American States, ESCAP is the only inter-governmental forum covering the entire Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP is also an additional channel for North-South dialogue because of the membership of five non-regional developed countries, i.e., France, the Netherlands, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States.
ESCAP's main aim is to promote economic activity and social progress in the developing countries of the Asia and Pacific region. With its vast reservoir of experts in various disciplines, ESCAP works as a think tank, problem solver and catalyst for long-term social and economic development of the region.
ESCAP’s seven divisions: Population and Rural and Urban Development; Development Research and Policy Analysis; Environment and Natural Resources Development; Statistics; International Trade and Industry; Transport, Communications, Tourism and Infrastructure Development and; Social Development, have been active throughout the region during 2000. Much of the research undertaken by the commission is regional in scope as are conferences and seminars, although these are often based in Bangkok. Regional activities have benefited Thailand through her participation and through adopting best practices, identified at the regional level, to be incorporated in national level activities.