The 82nd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) was held from 20 to 24 April 2026 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The session was guided by the theme “Leaving no one behind: advancing a society for all ages in Asia and the Pacific” and brought together ministers, senior officials, and other stakeholders from member states across the region.
The region is home to more than 60 per cent of the world’s population, with over 500 million people now aged 65 and above. Discussions throughout the week covered labour market reform, social protection, women’s economic empowerment, care systems, and policies for healthy ageing.
The opening of the session featured a keynote address by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul. The session was chaired by the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, who read out a written message from the President of Azerbaijan. ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana led the proceedings. The session was originally planned to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, but was relocated to Bangkok.
At the close of the session, member states adopted the Baku-Bangkok Declaration on Promoting Social Development for Advancing Societies of All Ages in Asia and the Pacific. The declaration sets out an agenda to expand decent work, strengthen universal social protection systems, increase investment in care systems, advance digital inclusion and lifelong learning, and harness the opportunities of the silver economy. Speaking on the outcome, the executive secretary described the declaration as a strong framework reflecting the region’s collective commitment to inclusive and age-responsive social development.
Member States agreed to establish an Asian and Pacific Digital Solutions Centre for Sustainable Development in Kazakhstan, supported a transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy, and adopted a resolution to strengthen regional transport and logistics systems. Shanghai, China, was selected to host the 83rd session in April 2027.
India’s Participation
Shri Amit Verma, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, led the Indian delegation at the 82nd session as the Head of Delegation. He delivered India’s country statement at the opening session under the agenda item “Opportunities and solutions for a sustainable future”. The statement underlined that sustainability is an existential imperative for India and highlighted the Government of India’s work on food security, women’s empowerment, climate action, financial inclusion, artificial intelligence, and digital public infrastructure as evidence of India’s commitment to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
On the sidelines, the Head of Delegation held a bilateral meeting with the ESCAP Executive Secretary to discuss deepening cooperation in trade analysis and technology transfers. The Department of Commerce, the Embassy of India in Bangkok, the ESCAP Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, and the ESCAP Sustainable Business Network jointly organised a side event on accelerating a shift towards a circular economy in the Asia-Pacific region. India was also among the co-sponsors of the Bangladesh-led bioeconomy resolution.
