On 1 October 2013, ESCWA Chief Economist and Director of the Economic Development and Globalization Division (EDGD) Abdallah Al Dardari held a press conference at the UN House, Beirut, to launch the "Survey of Economic and Social Developments in the Arab Region 2012-2013". The Survey is an annual report prepared by ESCWA. Also participating in the conference was Lebanese Minister of Economy Nicolas Nahhas.

Under the auspices of President Ali Abdallah Saleh, and the theme of "Financing for Development in the ESCWA region", the 25th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, (UN-ESCWA), opened today at the level of senior officials at the Movenpick Hotel – Sana'a. The Ministerial segment is set to be inaugurated on Wednesday 28 May 2008.

Speaking at a press conference to launch a pioneering study on the “Status of Arab Women 2005: History of Women Movements in the Arab World” today, UNESCWA Executive Secretary Mervat Tallawy said the road ahead was still long and fraught with difficulty for Arab women. She hoped for a consolidation of the national social efforts in all their aspects as well as international efforts to propel women to continue their path. Tallawy stressed the inaccuracy of saying Arab women are backward as this places the responsibility on them for a backward society.

The Seventh Session of UNESCWA Committee on Transport convened today at the UN House, Beirut, under the auspices of Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport Mohammed Safadi.