24 May 2012: The 5th Astana Economic Forum (AEF) addressed the theme “Global Economic Transformation: Challenges and Perspectives of Development.” A message to the Forum from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need for world leaders to take action at the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) to address global issues, including food security, energy security, water scarcity and the need for decent jobs.

The 5th Astana Economic Forum convened in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 22-24 May 2012, under the auspices of the Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists and the Government of Kazakhstan.

The Global Energy-Ecological Forum took place concurrently with the AEF to address development of renewable energy, with a special AEF panel convening on energy-ecological initiatives of Kazakhstan. Other AEF Panels included: models of strategic planning for the transition to a sustainable economy; public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the sphere of investments – key factor of sustainable development of tourism industry in Kazakhstan; new mechanisms of partnership for sustainable development; and decent work and global trends in employment. [UN Press Release] [AEF Website]