Dr. Niyaz leads Maldives delegation at 80th ESCAP

The Maldives delegation at the 80th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) will be lead by Dr. Hussain Niyaaz, the Secretary, Economic and Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry confirmed this on Monday, adding the session will be held from April 22nd to 26th, 2024 at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand.

The theme for this year's ESCAP is "Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific". The event is expected to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Niyaaz in his remarks highlighted the development agenda of the Maldives government, which stems from innovation, sustainability and inclusivity. He added the agenda includes plans of establishing smart and resilient urban centers across the Maldives, the 'Ras Male' Eco-City project, the prioritization of e-government platforms, and the utilization of artificial intelligence across various services.

In addition to leading the Maldives delegation at the 80th ESCAP, the Economic Cooperation Secretary will also participate in a session entitled "Accelerating Ocean-Based Climate Action" at the sidelines of the event, which the Maldives is co-hosting with Indonesia, Fiji and France.

Dr. Niyaaz is accompanied by Aishath Shiruma Ahmed, the First Secretary; Aishath Shahula, First Secretary; and Siyana Shiyam, the Second Secretary at the Maldives Embassy in Thailand.