ASEAN young business executives take center stage at business confab
The youths in 10 member states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), cited as a strong emerging force in shaping the socioeconomic destiny of the region within a quarter of a century and beyond, will take center stage early this week in a series of ASEAN business conferences being held in the Philippines.
The Philippines is this year’s chairman of the ASEAN.
This is the backdrop of the holding of the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Carnival, slated this Tuesday, September 5, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez.
The event will also serve as a platform for the official launching of the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association. With the combined youth population of the 10-member state ASEAN reaching 116 million, enterprising young people are an emerging force in driving economic growth in the region, according to DTI statistics.
“Young entrepreneurs in the ASEAN are well-positioned to utilize and promote new technologies to drive future economic growth and job creation in a rapidly changing global economic and social environment,” said Secretary Lopez.
He noted that young people’s contribution to trade and business is becoming significant to national and regional development, as more young people are closely engaged in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines ad ASEAN member countries.
The ASEAN has thus introduced new programs that will bring together this promising breed marked by “youthful energy and business know-how can help transform industries across the entire ASEAN region,” according to the organizers. The DTI-led Carnival is organized by the ASEAN Committee on Business and Investment Promotion.
“We believe that these entrepreneurs with their youthful energy, they can drive great impact in their businesses and therefore help provide and open more job opportunities,” Secretary Lopez said.
With the success of 1st ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Carnival in Kuala Lumpur in 2016, AYEC pushes forward its commitment in reaching out to more young business people across the region and create opportunities for business and networking.
The ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association will be formally launched now that the ASEAN Community celebrates 50 years from foundation under the hosting of the Philippines this year.
Young entrepreneurs aged between 18-25 can attend the summit, where they will have opportunities to network and participate in dialogues with other young business people across the ASEAN and other partners, such as China, India, Australia, and the USA.
“As a platform for the business owners, students, aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, and other stake holders, The AYE Carnival will give the delegates an avenue to connect, interact, build relationships and network with regional linkages,” Secretary Lopez pointed out.