ICC Asia-Pacific conference begins Tuesday

A three-day international conference will begin in Dhaka on Tuesday to explore a new financial landscape for Asia and the Pacific.

President Md Abdul Hamid will inaugurate the event at InterContinental Hotel Dhaka, according to the organisers.

In "The Asia-Pacific Conference on Financing for Inclusive and Sustainable Development", the Asia-Pacific region's private sector leaders will focus on their sector's participation in efforts to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Around 100 representatives from 30 countries including the US, the UK, Japan, France, Canada, India, Malaysia, Australia and Singapore will take part in the conference.

Also, about 400 delegates comprising business leaders, bankers and experts from Bangladesh will join the event.

There will be discussions titled "Inclusive Financing for SDGs in Asia-Pacific", "ICC's Role in Responding to Emerging Global Challenges for Sustainable Growth", "Regional Workshop on Scaling up Climate Finance: The Urgencies to Increase Public and Private Sources for Climate-resilient Development", "Inclusive and Sustainable Finance and the Risks and Opportunities for the Banking Sector", "Innovative Finance to Achieve Inclusive and Sustainable Business and Investment", "Capital Market Development, Blended Finance and FinTech", "Scale up Climate Finance: The Urgencies to Increase Public and Private Sources for Climate-resilient Development", "Building Financial Inclusivity: MSMEs Access to Finance through Technology and Innovation", and "Financial Implications for SDGs in the Context of LDCs Graduation".

In the conference, the private sector leaders of the Asia-Pacific will discuss the ways of financing SDGs for the region.

They will also focus on investment and expansion of international development cooperation.

Finance Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Prime Minister's Adviser on Private Industry and Investment Affairs Salman F Rahman will attend the inaugural session as special guests.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his predecessor Ban Ki-Moon will also join the inaugural session through video conferencing.

Dr Armida Salsia Alisjahbana, undersecretary general of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap); Bandula Gunawardena, Sri Lanka's Minister for Information and Communications Technology and Innovations, Nivard Cabraal, senior economic adviser to the Sri Lankan prime minister, Riyaz Mansoor, deputy minister for the Planning and Infrastructure in the Maldives, Professor Dr Puspa Raj Kadel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission in Nepal; Laim Kimleng, undersecretary of state (vice minister) for the Industry and Handicraft of Cambodia; and Bun Chanthy, vice-minister for the commerce of Cambodia and Dasho Penjore, Governor, Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan will participate in the conference.

The conference will conclude on Thursday with an outcome declaration.

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Bangladesh) will organise the conference in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Asian Development Bank and the London Institute of Banking and Finance.

Financial Institutions Division of the finance ministry of Bangladesh is the patron of the conference.