This meeting will be held in accordance with the ETC Statute to give guidance to the Centre on its work program for 2019 based on the outcome of the 30^th ministerial session and key regional technological priorities that relate to its work, as well as to identify countries’ priorities and challenges in harnessing national capabilities in science, technology, and innovation in the implementation of the sustainable development goals.
The specific objectives of the meeting are:

• Discuss the translation of the outcome of ESCWA ministerial session (including Beirut Consensus and the outcome of the high level three round tables) into priority areas that could be included in ETC work program for 2019.
• Deliberate on technology priorities and needs of member countries that fall within ETC strategic objectives and areas of intervention.

Beirut, 31 August 2018 (Communication and Information Unit)-- The circumstances of persons with disabilities living in institutions in the Arab region and the urgency of ensuring their access to adequate support and services was the focus of a recent expert meeting organised by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
 

The paper applies the governance discussion to regional STI policy planning, a subset of economic development policy that is of concern to the Arab region