STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY MS JUDITH HO, DELEGATE TO THE 77TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 138: SEISMIC MITIGATION RETROFIT AND LIFE-CYCLE REPLACEMENTS PROJECT AT THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC PREMISES IN BANGKOK, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE, MAIN PART OF THE 77th SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 15 NOVEMBER 2022

Thank you, Mr Chair.

1 I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Agenda 138: Programme Budget for 2023, in relation to the seismic mitigation retrofit and life-cycle replacements project at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) premises in Bangkok. ASEAN aligns itself with the statement made by Pakistan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2 ASEAN thanks Mr Yacine Hamzaoui, Chief of Section for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on this matter. We also thank Mr Patrick Chuasoto, Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for the Committee’s related report.

Mr Chair,

3 ESCAP is the largest of the United Nations Regional Commissions. These Commissions enable the regional implementation of internationally agreed development goals. ESCAP has provided economic and social development-related technical assistance and capacity-building to the 53 Member States and nine Associate Countries of the Asia Pacific region. ASEAN supports ESCAP, and the leadership of Executive Secretary Professor Armida Alisjahbana. We greatly appreciate the continued efforts of Thailand, as the host country, in facilitating the work of ESCAP. However, to ensure that this important work continues, ESCAP’s premises must be made safe, suitable, and accessible.

4 To ensure the project’s timely completion within budget, ASEAN stresses the importance of good governance, effective oversight, transparency, and accountability. We are pleased to note from the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) report that extensive value engineering produced significant savings of $10.9 million in reduced contract prices without compromising scope nor quality. In addition, the use of on-site swing space has not only defrayed costs, but allowed ESCAP staff to embrace agile and innovative ways of working. We encourage the project team to keep up such innovative efforts. We note the efforts of ESCAP towards managing risks to the project and encourage that relevant risk mitigation measures are adopted and implemented in a timely manner.

5 ASEAN also commends ESCAP’s environmental management strategies. We are pleased to note that ESCAP achieved a projected reduction of 27 per cent in annual energy consumption – above its 16 to 18 per cent target. We further commend ESCAP’s continued commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

6 ASEAN also reiterates that special attention should be paid to the incorporation of local knowledge, materials, technology, and in-house capacity. We welcome efforts by ESCAP to engage with the Host Country, including through tapping on the local engineering expertise of a UN Volunteer graduate student, and using a local design firm to supplement the lead firm for a more cost-efficient solution. Beyond cost-savings, these engagements have allowed ESCAP to benefit from local expertise, while allowing locals to gain valuable experience on a major UN capital project.

Mr Chair,

7 ASEAN welcomes the assurances of the Secretary-General that works are currently progressing well, with construction still estimated to be completed in 2023 within the overall approved maximum cost. We welcome the various measures undertaken by the Secretary-General to mitigate delays, including the close cooperation with the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority to develop a robust COVID-19 response plan that allowed the timely start of main construction works in end-2021.

8 Besides ESCAP, ASEAN supports the implementation of capital projects of the UN Regional Commissions. We strongly support other projects such as for the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, and Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago. ASEAN will follow all discussions on these items closely and stands ready to engage in constructive deliberations.

9 Thank you.

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