Representatives of 40 countries gathered in Phnom Penh on May 11 for the official opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN 2017.

The event took place in the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, his counterparts from Laos Thongloun Sisoulith; and Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and President of the Philippines Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

In an opening remarks, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his warm welcome to all the participants saying Cambodia is extremely honoured to be a host of this World Economic Forum on ASEAN, under the theme: ‘Youth, Technology and Growth: Securing ASEAN’s Digital and Demographic Dividends’.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith shared his points of view on opportunities and challenges Lao PDR and other ASEAN members are facing and their preparation for challenges over years to come.

“ASEAN member countries must stop favouring domestic companies in the interest of region-wide development and integration, and called for region-wide removal of roaming charges,” Mr. Jamaludin Ibrahim, Managing Director, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Axiata Group Berhad, was quoted as saying by Cambodian news agency AKP.

He said that policy-makers in each country must reconsider regulation of spectrum, industry structure, incentives, funding, human capital formation and so on.

For his part, Mr. John Rice, Vice-chairman of GE, said that ASEAN has made a success out of a model where borders are points of connection and not barriers to trade, although more work is needed in levelling the playing field for the free flow of capital, including human capital, as well as finance.

He pointed out that as the region enters the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it must also prepare its young population for the future.

“Every job is going to change. ASEAN must train people to be ready to be flexible, adaptable, and ready for lifelong learning, ready to change as the nature of work and jobs change,” he said.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL

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