Fast-tracking the SDGs: Driving Asia-Pacific transformations is the theme report of the Asia-Pacific SDG partnership for 2020 (With technical updates to country classification) Reflecting on the theme of the7th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, it informs regional and global dialogue on sustainable development as well as national an

The unprecedented socio-economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic calls for unparalleled multi-sectoral responses.

The international statistics community has continued to work together, in partnership with national statistical offices and systems around the world, to ensure that the best quality data and statistics are available to support decision making during and after the current crisis.

Governments in the Asia-Pacific region are taking administrative and policy actions to cope with COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse impacts. Most countries and territories have adopted travel restrictions and social distancing policies to slow the spread of the disease.

As of early May 2020, there are more than 3.5 million infected cases and 247 thousand dead of COVID-19 in the world. The world has spared no effort to contain COVID 19 since its initial emergence from the epicenter since last December in 2019.

The ocean and its resources are the lifelines of Asia and the Pacific. As a resource for the economy, livelihoods and identity for coastal communities, the condition of the ocean is inextricably linked to the pathways of sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.

In 2019 and the early months of 2020, global trade faced two major albeit very different shocks, namely the United States-China trade war and the cascading response of the countries around the world to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The collapse of tourism resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will have a profound impact on the Asia-Pacific small island developing States because of their high reliance on tourism rents. The pandemic will disproportionally influence the lives and well-being of the poorest and the most vulnerable, including workers in the informal sector.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are key to the economies of various countries. Their numbers and contribution towards employment is well documented and there is acceptance amongst policy makers that these enterprises are critical for economic development.

The COVID-19 crisis has caused untold disruption to lives and economies. As the current patterns of globalization are being questioned, the regional level will become vital in dealing with crossborder problems.

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