The Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand will host the High Level Forum on Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Regional Connectivity on 4 September 2014 at Centara Grand at Central World, Bangkok.  Around 100 participants from 33 ACD Member States as well as representatives from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)    and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are expected to attend the High Level Forum.

The High Level Forum will be a platform for discussion to formulate policy recommendations and identify ways to enhance regional connectivity in Asia.  Priority will be given to projects that have high potential to boost trade and investment activities as well as facilitate greater economic integration, i.e., institutional connectivity, telecommunication, energy, food security and financial connectivity.  Agreements on trade and investment facilitation, an ACD Power Grid and an ACD SIM Card are among the projects that Thailand will propose to the High Level Forum.  

Outcomes of the High Level Forum will be incorporated into a Road Map for ACD Regional Connectivity. The Road Map will then be submitted to ACD Leaders for endorsement at the 2nd ACD Summit to be hosted by Thailand towards the end of 2015.

Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) was inaugurated in 2002 under Thailand’s initiative to be Asia’s first continent-wide policy forum.  Its key principle is to consolidate Asia’s strengths and fortify Asia’s competitiveness by maximizing the diversity and rich resources in Asia.  Currently, the ACD has 33 Member States from every sub-region of the Asian continent.

Since the inauguration of the ACD, Thailand continues to play a leading role in the Forum.  Issues that are high on Thailand’s agenda include regional connectivity, energy security and food security.