This report, published in the late 1970s, is an introductory and explanatory overview of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Designed as a public information resource, it outlines ESCAP’s origins, mandate, and evolving role as the regional arm of the United Nations for Asia and the Pacific. The report explains the Commission’s structure, including its intergovernmental forums and Secretariat, and highlights its core areas of work: poverty alleviation, rural development, trade and transport infrastructure, technology transfer, and social development programmes. It emphasizes ESCAP’s impact on regional cooperation through initiatives such as the Asian Highway, Trans-Asian Railway, commodity agreements, and population and welfare training programmes. By documenting these activities, the report illustrates how ESCAP fosters economic integration, supports capacity-building, and addresses shared challenges across one of the world’s most diverse and populous regions.