On 17 July 2013, H.E. Dr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presided over the Opening Ceremony of the first Working Group Meeting on Enhanced Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Regional Connectivity.

Highlighting Asia as one of the world’s largest manufacturing hubs, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs called on participants to develop a fully integrated transport network to promote intra-and inter-regional trade as well as regional development. He suggested that studies and work done by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) be actualized through increased infrastructure investment.

The Working Group Meeting reviewed work done so far by international organizations, regional and sub-regional groupings to assess the current status of infrastructure networks.  The Meeting also reviewed hardware and software connectivity, including missing links, and the need to accelerate implementation of the internationally concluded agreements. The next step would be to submit the outcomes to the 12th ACD Ministerial Meeting on    25 November 2013 in Manama, the Kingdom of Bahrain. 

Further work may include identification of ACD flagship connectivity projects, funding modalities, capacity building and technical assistance.

The Working Group Meeting on Enhanced ACD Regional Connectivity was attended by representatives of the 32 ACD Member States, ADB, ESCAP and ESCWA, as well as Turkey, ACD’s latest candidate for membership.