The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It was established in order to increase economic activity in Asia and the Far East, as well as to foster economic relations between the region and other areas of the world.

The commission is composed of 53 Member States and nine Associate members, mostly from the Asia and Pacific regions. In addition to countries in Asia and the Pacific, the commission’s members includes France, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The region covered by the commission is home to 4.1 billion people, or two-thirds of the world’s population, making ESCAP the most comprehensive of the United Nations’ five regional commissions.

The Commission was established in 1947 in Shanghai as the United Nations Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) to assist post-war economic reconstruction and development in Asia and the Far East. In 1949, it moved to Bangkok, Thailand, which remains its headquarters. On 1 August 1974, the Commission was renamed Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta has observer status at the United Nations ESCAP and as such the Embassy in Thailand is invited to all intergovernmental meetings. H.E. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand Dr Michael Mann is Permanent Observer, while Counsellor Dr Jean-Pierre A. Verbiest is deputy Permanent Observer.