It was estimated that 400 million disabled persons live in Asia Pacific.
 Over 60 participants, including senior officials from 10 Asean countries, representatives of the business sector and disabled people’s organisations explored ways in which business development plans and employment practices could become more inclusive, recognising that persons with disabilities are
generally an untapped consumer market.
 “Many of the 400 million or so persons with disabilities in the region live in rural and isolated areas in conditions of abject poverty, encountering deep and persistent barriers”, noted Nanda Krairiksh, Director, Social Development Division of ESCAP. “Viewing them as contributors to our
region’s economic dynamism, as entrepreneurs, employees or an emerging market segment enhances everyone’s prospects for prosperity”, she said.
 The meeting unanimously adopted the Bangkok Statement on South-to-South
Cooperation on Disability [link] which urges “leadership development of persons with disabilities”, “promotion of community inclusive and gender-sensitive development” and “promotion of socially inclusive business development” as strategic priorities for the next regional decade on
disability.
 Initiated in 2003, the Second Asia-Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons will conclude in 2012.  The Bangkok Statement recommended that Governments of Asia and the Pacific should proclaim a new regional decade on disability starting from 2013.
 “Today, the vision, mission, goals and strategies pertaining to our work on disability and for the benefit of persons with disabilities are all becoming clearer,” noted Akiie Ninomiya, Executive Director, APCD, at the closing session.