On May 19, 2015, the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) was invited to the UNESCAP roundtable discussion on disaster resilience entitled “Making the Sendai Framework work for Business”. The roundtable discussion took place at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand.

Representing A-PAD, Chairperson Faisal Djalal attended the meeting. He reports that “One of the main issues discussed during the roundtable was how to make businesses more resilient to disaster risks and to do so in such a way that can also contribute to strengthening the resilience of society at large.” The roundtable discussion also aimed at coordinating the business sector’s aspirations that can help shape a sustainable development agenda for Asia Pacific and recommendations for governments to determine the best enabling environment for building business resilience.

More than 30 participants participated in the roundtable from the UN ESCAP Business advisory council, APEC Business Advisory Council, ASEAN Business Advisory Council, Greater Mekong Subregion Business Forum, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, private sector representatives and International NGOs among others.

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center and R3ADY Asia Pacific each facilitated sessions on resilient businesses and the business community’s perspective on the Sendai Framework for DRR. In the final session, Faisal Djalal put forward A-PAD recommendations and said “Many studies and assessments have been made but now is the time to take real action.” He went on to encourage the forum to have a common regional strategy with regards to an integrated joint action plan for business resilience in Asia Pacific. A-PAD was also given the opportunity to introduce the alliance by showing an introduction video.