Bangkok | December 4, 2014

Renewable energy for the Pacific Islands was bolstered this week with the signing of a new Trust Fund Agreement between the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Republic of Kazakhstan, that included a voluntary contribution to ESCAP of US$ 200,000.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar acknowledged the strengthened partnership and welcomed the new trust fund agreement in support of renewable energy in the Pacific Islands.

The Capacity Development Trust Fund Agreement between ESCAP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan will support development of biogas-based renewable energy solutions in the Pacific Islands, following initial discussions between ESCAP and the Government of Kazakhstan at the Third International Conference for Small Island Developing States, in Samoa, in September 2014.

Food, water and energy security are key priorities for the election campaign of Kazakhstan in the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council 2017-18 biennium, noted H.E. Mr. Marat Yessenbayev, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Bangkok during the ceremony.

The project will focus on the installation and rollout of sanitation and energy systems in ten small island developing states (SIDS), which include: Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Tonga. This is based on successful experiences and lessons from existing biogas approaches in the Pacific.

The Republic of Kazakhstan is an important partner and emerging donor of ESCAP, providing its support to technical cooperation work in areas of environment, energy and financing for sustainable development, and through hosting ESCAPs Subregional Office for North and Central Asia in Almaty.

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ESCAP, Kazakhstan Partner to Strengthen Renewable Energy in the Pacific Islands