PM to visit Thailand next week

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to attend the eightieth session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which is scheduled to take place from April 22 to 26 at the United Nations Confe-rence Centre in Bangkok.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to depart for Bangkok, Thailand on April 24. She will be accompanied by Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, PMs Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Posts,
Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu," a senior official from the Foreign Ministry stated.

The official also mentioned that discussions are currently underway to incorporate a bilateral component into the visit, which may result in the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents.

The theme of this years ESCAP session is "Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific." Heads of states, government leaders, ministers from across Asia and the Pacific, and other key stakeholders will convene to discuss how digital innovation can inclusively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across various sectors.

The session aims to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on harnessing digital innovation to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Participants will have the opportunity to identify ways to fully realize the transformative potential of digital innovations and explore pathways to enhance their contribution to sustainable development, as stated by the organizers in a release.

A digital innovation fair will be held concurrently, offering a platform to engage with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders. The fair will showcase digital innovations that are already making strides towards achieving the SDGs across the region.

Asia and the Pacific are uniquely positioned to leverage digital technologies to address sustainable development challenges. The region is already recognized as a vibrant hub for digitally-driven innovation, propelled by groundbreaking technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Finance, GovTech, and the Internet of Things. However, to further stimulate innovation and utilize digital advancements to bolster the collective effort required to achieve the SDGs, a strategic plan is essential.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to return home on April 27 following the conclusion of the ESCAP session.