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Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will open India Economic Summit- The summit is hosted by the World Economic Forum in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry
- More than 700 participants from 45 countries will take part in the summit from 4 to 6 November
- Inclusive growth, competitiveness, health and infrastructure are the focus of the summit
New Delhi, India, 3 November 2014 – The World Economic Forum, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is hosting the India Economic Summit in New Delhi this week on 4-6 November.
Under the theme, Redefining Public-Private Cooperation for a New Beginning, the summit convenes against a backdrop of significant economic growth and progress in reducing poverty in most parts of India, but also persistent inequality. The programme is built on three pillars: Boosting Global Competitiveness; Launching a Domestic Systems Reset; and Scaling Local and Social Innovation. More than 700 leaders from business, government, civil society and academia from 45 countries will take part.
“India’s progress depends fundamentally on the ability of its leaders to take the bold decisions necessary to transform the country’s economy and society. By bringing together leaders from politics, business and across society, we hope the summit will offer an environment where such decisions can be catalysed, and where commitment and creativity can be drawn on to build a future fit for all Indians,” said Viraj Mehta, Director, Head of India and South Asia, World Economic Forum.
“The meeting comes as the new government completes six months in office,” said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director-General, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). “Business leaders are keen to engage with the government and see how it plans to restart the investment cycle, revive demand and convert the first signs of revival into a full-fledged recovery.”
Led by Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, key public figures from India who will participate are: Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping; Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy; Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Human Resource Development; Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; and Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. They will be addressing thematic sessions on the most pressing issues for the country and the administration, such as infrastructure, energy, skills and education, and telecommunications.
Heads of state/government and international public figures who will participate include: Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire; Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; Shimon Peres, President of Israel (2007-2014); Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Vice-President of Ghana;William Danvers, Deputy Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and Rajiv Shah, Administrator, US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Co-Chairs of the summit are: Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director, HT Media, India; James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, United Arab Emirates; Yorihiko Kojima, Chairman of the Board, Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan; Anand Mahindra, Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, India; and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Documentary Filmmaker, SOC Films, Pakistan.
The World Economic Forum is an international institution committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation in the spirit of global citizenship. It engages with business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is independent, impartial and not tied to any interests. It cooperates closely with all leading international organizations (www.weforum.org).
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]]>- Greater regional integration, a single visa and across-the-board standards in the tourism sector are expected to boost trade in ASEAN by 10%-20%
- Myanmar says it is committed to boosting intra-regional trade with a common visa for ASEAN nationals to be made available in 2014
- The travel and tourism sector offers a transitioning Myanmar an important opportunity to create jobs and boost employability, but needs to formulate its branding and sustainability strategies
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 7 June 2013 – Home to places of stunning natural beauty, unique historical sites and rich cultural traditions, East Asia has long piqued the interest of travellers. Now, with tourism ministers ready to facilitate the ease of travel within the region, its draw cards are set to ignite the imagination of travellers even more.
Tourism ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) say they are committed to implementing tourism standards for the region and a common regional visa to ease travel and boost tourism sector growth by up to 20%.
“We are trying to promote ASEAN as a destination by including two to three stops in one package,” Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, told World Economic Forum participants in Myanmar today. “We also want to make a common ASEAN visa, see greater mobility of people and have open skies,” she said.
The Indonesian minister said that with greater integration and standardization, the region’s tourism sector is expected to grow 10%-20% over the coming years.
This week, ASEAN ministers signed a letter of intent on Smart Tourism that is targeting the introduction of electronic visas and engaging third parties to make travel processes more efficient. In the near future, travellers in ASEAN will be able to apply for a common ASEAN visa, perhaps with the cost of the visa included in their airline tickets.
Myanmar has also expressed support for a regional and intra-regional trade shift, this week committing to allowing all ASEAN nationals to visit the country without a prior visa by as early as next year.
Across the region, the tourism and travel sector directly provides jobs for more than 9 million people and generates 5% of ASEAN’s GDP. In the midst of an economic metamorphosis, the tourism sector is playing an important role in boosting Myanmar’s urban and rural economies.
“Last year Myanmar received 1.06 million visitors. This year, we have been receiving visitors with a growth of 40%, but we want to get more,” noted Htay Aung, Union Minister of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar.
But rather than race to accommodate an influx of visitors, Htay Aung said he is setting his sights on establishing a sustainable tourism market. “We are in the age of infancy and are not educated in tourism. That’s why the first thing I did was draft the responsible tourism policy,” he explained, “We intend to use tourism to help Myanmar people get a better life.”
Discussing a recent initiative to establish a sustainable coral farm in the Philippines, Ramon R. Jimenez Jr, Secretary of Tourism of the Philippines, noted that ASEAN’s reputation for generous hospitality does not automatically translate into successful tourism.
“If you begin with inclusiveness you end with it. With all our great history of hospitality, we must create jobs and opportunities and very boldly and loudly say this is not going to destroy our islands and natural beauty,” he said.
Anthony F. Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia, Malaysia, a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum on East Asia, said that Myanmar must consider how it wants to market its unique destinations, pointing out that, with the availability of low-cost travel, young people are the drivers of growth in ASEAN’s tourism sector.
“Myanmar has a wonderful product and it’s good to have a product,” said Fernandes, “but they have to tell the world.”
Over 1,000 participants from 55 countries are taking part in the World Economic Forum on East Asia, held for the first time in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The meeting welcomes over 100 public figures representing 15 countries, including heads of state or government from Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. More than 550 business leaders, over 60 Global Growth Companies and nearly 300 young leaders from the Forum’s Young Global Leaders and Global Shapers communities, together with other members of civil society, academia and media are convening to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Myanmar and East Asia today.
The Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum on East Asia are: Helen E. Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York; Anthony F. Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia, Malaysia; Yorihiko Kojima, Chairman of the Board, Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan; Indra Nooyi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo, USA;Subramanian Ramadorai, Vice-Chairman, Tata Consultancy Services, India; and John Rice,Vice-Chairman, GE, Hong Kong SAR.
Sky Net is the host broadcaster of the 2013 World Economic Forum on East Asia.
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Myanmar’s opposition leader reiterates resolve to run for president in 2015- Union Minister Soe Thane described Myanmar’s journey to democracy as “irreversible”
- The government and Aung San Suu Kyi were urged to ensure inclusiveness and protection of minority rights
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 6 June 2013 – “I want to run for president and I’m quite frank about it,” said Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD); Member of Parliament from Kawhmu Constituency, Myanmar. “But for me to be eligible for the post of the presidency, the constitution will have to be amended.”
The opposition leader was speaking in a televised session at the World Economic Forum on East Asia today in Nay Pyi Taw. Soe Thane, Union Minister, Office of the President of Myanmar, was also on the panel. He is often described as the minister whose thinking is closest to that of Myanmar’s President Thein Sein.
Soe Thane said that amending the constitution is always possible, although Aung San Suu Kyi described the document passed in 2008 as “the most difficult constitution in the world to amend.” Soe Thane stressed that the political and economic changes in Myanmar are “irreversible”, but asked for more patience from the people of Myanmar and the international community. The process started only in 2010. “We need time to loosen, to untie the rope [that had bound the country] for 60 years,” he said.
Asked about protection for Myanmar’s minorities, including the Rohingya Muslims who have recently suffered attacks by elements from the majority community, Soe Thane said the issue is complex and should be discussed by a commission. But he said the government is committed to protecting the security of all citizens.
Responding to criticism that she has not done enough for the Rohingyas, Aung San Suu Kyi said, “At the moment, nobody is very satisfied with me because I do not take sides … I have not been silent. It’s just that [the critics] are not hearing what they want to hear from me.”
She reiterated her position that the rule of law must prevail, and that means investigating whether the people accorded citizenship under the 1982 citizenship law have indeed been granted citizenship. She also called for a re-examination of the law to ensure it complies with international norms.
The wide-ranging debate touched on many aspects of what is happening in Myanmar politically, socially and economically, including the issue of political prisoners, holding accountable those who misruled the country and committed illegal acts, and ensuring that the fruits of reform are shared with everyone, particularly the 70% of the population who live in the countryside.
Despite the problems, the overwhelming majority of the 400 or so participants in the session indicated they are optimistic about where the country is headed.
Over 1,000 participants from 55 countries are taking part in the World Economic Forum on East Asia, held for the first time in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The meeting welcomes over 100 public figures representing 15 countries, including heads of state or government from Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. More than 550 business leaders, over 60 Global Growth Companies and nearly 300 young leaders from the Forum’s Young Global Leaders and Global Shapers communities, together with other members of civil society, academia and media are convening to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Myanmar and East Asia today.
The Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum on East Asia are: Helen E. Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York; Anthony F. Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia, Malaysia; Yorihiko Kojima, Chairman of the Board, Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan; Indra Nooyi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo, USA;Subramanian Ramadorai, Vice-Chairman, Tata Consultancy Services, India; and John Rice,Vice-Chairman, GE, Hong Kong SAR.
Sky Net is the host broadcaster of the 2013 World Economic Forum on East Asia.
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Young Global Leaders programme tackling child malnutrition will be rolled out in primary schools in Myanmar, followed by South-East Asia- Table For Two encourages people in the developed world to eat healthily while paying for children’s school meals in developing economies
- Over 300 YGLs from across the world are in Myanmar with the World Economic Forum on East Asia
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 6 June 2013 – The Young Global Leaders (YGLs), a community of the World Economic Forum, today announced that a programme that tackles child malnutrition will expand into South-East Asia, starting with Myanmar. Table For Two (TFT) is a Japan-based non-profit initiative created by YGLs in 2007. It confronts the contrasting epidemics of obesity and hunger by encouraging people in the developed world to eat healthily while paying for children’s school meals in developing economies.
Since it was founded, TFT has served 20 million meals to school-age children in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. It is now supporting meal programmes and sustainable school gardens at primary schools in Myanmar in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Children in Myanmar will be the first TFT beneficiaries before the programme is rolled out elsewhere in South-East Asia. The project will provide a long-term, sustainable source of nutrition for children in Myanmar by funding the development of fruit and vegetable gardens at schools. Across the region, economic disparities and rising food prices are putting pressure on families living in poverty. TFT aims to encourage an economy of self-sufficiency at the “base of the pyramid”.
TFT has more than 600 corporate and organizational partners taking part on the funding side, spanning 12 countries across Asia, North America and Europe. The mechanism is simple: every time someone eats a healthy TFT meal at a participating restaurant or company cafeteria, a percentage is donated to fund a school meal in a developing country. The TFT model has been applied to vending machines (through snacks and drinks), coffee, healthy drinks and retail products. In Japan, a smartphone application calculates calories and nutritional content from a simple photograph of a meal.
Daniel Goldstein, Founding Member and Director, Table For Two International, said: “In Myanmar, access to adequate and nutritionally balanced food is a major challenge for the poor. Close to 3 million people are considered food-poor, according to the World Food Programme, and the prevalence of stunting among children under five is 35%, indicative of malnutrition. This is an integrated approach for a problem facing much of Asia and we are surrounded by people who can implement it right away – health experts to draw up menus, business leaders to offer it to large companies, and the aid workers who are on the ground and know how best to spend the money.”
David Aikman, Senior Director and Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders, said: “The Forum of Young Global Leaders is the voice of an optimistic future and an energetic catalyst for change. Table For Two is one the community’s most successful task forces, and we are very encouraged to see it in South-East Asia, a region where 10% of the population – some 65 million – are undernourished, according to the FAO.”
Over 900 participants from 55 countries are taking part in the World Economic Forum on East Asia, held for the first time in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The meeting welcomes over 100 public figures representing 15 countries, including the heads of state or government of Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. More than 550 business leaders, over 60 Global Growth Companies and nearly 300 young leaders from the Young Global Leaders and Global Shapers communities, together with other members of civil society, academia and media are convening to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Myanmar and East Asia today.
The Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum on East Asia are: Helen E. Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York; Anthony F. Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia, Malaysia; Yorihiko Kojima, Chairman of the Board, Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan; Indra Nooyi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo, USA;Subramanian Ramadorai, Vice-Chairman, Tata Consultancy Services, India; and John Rice,Vice-Chairman, GE, Hong Kong SAR.
Sky Net is the host broadcaster of the 2013 World Economic Forum on East Asia.
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