A two-day Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF) begins in the city on February 8 to provide the best platform for regional public-private dialogue on the role and needs of business in achieving inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.President M Abdul Hamid is expected to inaugurate the two-day flagship regional business event on February 8 at the Sonargaon Hotel in the city, said a press release.ICCB, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Dhaka are jointly organising the forum. The forum will be held under the patronage of the Commerce Ministry.The theme of the 2017 forum is “Regional Integration to Achieve Sustainable Development”.Delegations from different countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, and organisations including the International Chamber of Commerce, UNESCAP, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Asian Development Bank will take part in the event.The APBF will hold its substantive sessions liked to the theme of “Promoting Trade and Investment for the Successful Implementation of SDGs” on the following topics: Resilience: Role of Business in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaption; New Energy Realities: Building a Resilient and Low-carbon Future and Supporting Trade and Transport Facilities for Regional Integration.The APBF consists of 53 member states, nine associate members, ESCAP secretariat, ESCAP Business Advisory Council (EBAC) and Sustainable Business Network (ESBN).Its mission is to provide the best platform for regional public-private sector dialogue on the role and needs of business in achieving inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.Established in 2004 in Shanghai, the APBF has helped form a pan-Asian multi-stakeholder network, with hosting business forum in various locations, such as Almaty, Bangkok, Colombo, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Kunming.Source: BSS