ESCWA and Berytech Technology and Health launched on 19 September the Digital Arabic Content (DAC) Competition in Lebanon for 2013, which is open for participation until 31 October 2013. A workshop was held in Beirut to launch the competition, and raise awareness on the importance of DAC for the Arab region and the opportunities it offers. It was attended by experts from the academic domain, the private sector, interested investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Two important activities will be held at the down town Beirut-based ESCWA on Friday, the 25th of October 2013: the Water, Food and Energy Nexus Conference co-organized with the Rafik Hariri Foundation, and the launch of the Inventory of Shared Water Resources in Western Asia organized on the sideline of the United Nations Day (24 October) celebrations.

The Global Trade Facilitation Conference 2013, organized by the five UN Regional Commissions just concluded in Bangkok, Thailand, calling on all countries to continue their efforts to cut red tape and simplify trade procedures in order to achieve more sustainable and inclusive development. The conference was organized during the Third Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Week held by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and is part of the ‘Joint UN Regional Commissions Approach to Trade Facilitation’.

This year’s ceremony on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29 November) will be marked by the participation of Lebanese and Palestinian Prime Ministers Rami Al-Hamdallah and Najib Mikati.