Preparations for World Economic Forum on ASEAN reviewed

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R), head of the organising committee for WEF ASEAN 2018, and WEF President Borge Brende at press conference on June 27

After hearing reports presented by the Sub-committees and the Secretariat, Son, who is also head of the organising committee, spoke highly of their recent efforts, saying that during WEF President Borge Brende’s working visit to Vietnam from June 26-28, the two sides reached specific results and basically agreed upon important matters related to the organisation work.

Son stressed that the preparations for WEF ASEAN 2018 is entering the final stage and urged the sub-committees and members of the organising committee to make greater efforts so that the event will be held successfully in terms of all aspects such as security, health care, content, reception, communications, culture and accommodation.

The deputy minister asked the sub-committee for content to complete the detailed agenda for WEF ASEAN 2018 in line with the theme “Resilience and Innovation” of ASEAN Year 2018 and create opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to participate in the conference and enhance links with leading WEF member firms.

He also requested the Secretariat and other sub-committees to well prepare facilities, step up communications about WEF ASEAN 2018, promote the hosting role of Vietnam and ensure absolute security and safety for the conference.

WEF ASEAN 2018 is scheduled to take place in Hanoi from Sept. 11-13, focusing on the theme “ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. It will be one of the WEF’s biggest and most important events in the region.

The conference will bring together leaders of ASEAN and regional nations, representatives of international organisations, policymakers, experts, scholars, and business leaders in the region and the world.

Participants are expected to discuss challenges and opportunities offered by the fourth industrial revolution for ASEAN states, thereby putting forth ideas, policies and measures to encourage the entrepreneurship, foster the dynamic, innovative development and improve the competitiveness of the bloc’s member nations.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The WEF was established in 1971 as a non-profit foundation and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.