After the failure of the Proposed Economic Commission for the Middle East in 1947, an Economic Commission for Western Asia was formed in 1973. Egypt and Palestine joined the original member countries in 1977. Israel is not a member.

Source: Serge Nédélec with Blandine Destremau, ESCWA (1974-1999): Twenty-five Years of Service to the Region’s Development ([n.p.], United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, 1999), 25, 37-38.