Jan 26, Colombo: Sri Lanka plans to host the Better Air Quality (BAQ) conference, Asia's leading event on air quality, in 2014.

A proposal to proceed with the planning to host the biennial conference put forward by the Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has been approved by the Cabinet.

The BAQ conference is the leading event on air quality in Asia, covering transport, energy, industry and climate change, with a particular emphasis on government policies and measures.

The conference, organized by the Clean Air Asia in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, provides a platform for leading experts, policy and decision makers together to network, learn and share experiences on air quality management and discuss sustainable transport, energy, industry, clean fuels and vehicles, air quality and climate change.

Sri Lanka expects to attract more than 500 dignitaries, resource persons, observers and participants for the event.

BAQ-2012 was held in Hong Kong in December with the participation of over 700 attendees from over 30 countries.