At the Athenee Crystal Hall, 3rd floor, The Athenee Hotel, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit, stating that he was very pleased to attend the Summit CEO of APEC with all of you today. As the APEC CEO Summit, it is one of the largest business gatherings in the region. The return of the meeting in a face-to-face format is seen as a positive sign for the Asia-Pacific region and the fact that everyone is coming to the meeting in a very warm manner today reflects that Our region is back on track after years of stagnation. This return is an opportunity for us to restore our connection. restore the relationship and continue the cooperation between them gloriously
As the world becomes connected again in the post-Covid era Thailand is driving APEC cooperation on challenging issues. and have a vision of new trade and investment issues transition to fast digital The need for supply chain links and travel a global sustainability agenda considering today’s extremely dynamic economy. These issues are reflected in this year’s APEC theme: OPEN.CONNECT.BALANCE.
under this main topic APEC’s key issues are guided by BCG’s economic concept as a national agenda and Thailand has adopted it as a strategy to recover from the impact of COVID-19 and as a master plan for development. and long-term growth that is balanced, sustainable and inclusive The BCG economy combines the concept of the bioeconomy. circular economy and the green economy together by taking advantage of technology and new developments Creating value, increasing efficiency in the use of resources, cost-effectiveness and promoting environmental sustainability.
Bioeconomy is about technology-driven production. and innovation to add value to products that come from bio-based resources and raw materials that are never depleted The circular economy focuses on the system of production and consumption of goods. and rehabilitation services with planning and design A system that focuses on reducing waste and pollution in the meantime Try to reuse raw materials to the maximum. Finally, the green economy promotes responsible behaviour. and sustainable economic models that create profit along with environmental and social sustainability.
The above three economic methods are not new. But what makes BCG’s economic concept different is Recognizing that the various challenges we face are interrelated. and overlap, so our solution should not be modular. For this reason, the economy of BCG is important. and push for a holistic combination of these three economic methods to achieve multiple outcomes. Not a bad result On the road to development towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth The private sector plays a very important role. I would like to take this opportunity to thank ABAC for their cooperation in driving the key issues of hosting Thailand’s APEC. collaboration with the private sector It is an important part of the APEC process. and I pay attention to the point of view and support from the business sector in maintaining cooperation in different areas There are three issues that I believe the government and the business sector can cooperate in a strong way as follows
First, Sustainability Today, we face unprecedented environmental challenges. we have seen frequent storms and droughts AND more severe global temperatures and rising sea levels. worsening air quality and loss of biodiversity. which all affect our well-being We need to take steps to ensure sustainable growth for the long-term prosperity of the region.
To drive balanced and inclusive growth, we have made sustainability a top priority for APEC this year. And we are committed to bringing the BCG economy to drive growth. a durable long-term economy Along with the comprehensive promotion of environmental sustainability Along with finding the right way for the business to remain profitable.
I strongly believe that We can all work together to protect the environment. and developing more sustainable ways of doing business. strong collaboration and commitment from all sectors Public-private partnerships in particular are key to building a sustainable and inclusive future We must change our actions today in order to have a better future.
We can work together to take advantage of the strong biodiversity. through innovation and technology Making the most of valuable resources to achieve The aim is to achieve zero waste in the production process. most important Business can focus on environmental sustainability using outdated biotechnology in agricultural and industrial production. these things too This is in line with the concept of responsible business operations. and approaches that consider the environment, society and governance or ESG that the private sector around the world is currently very important to.
Transitioning to a sustainable economy is not easy and has to be done in a comprehensive manner. We are creating a business environment that is conducive to the private sector. to promote waste and emissions reduction, greener trade and investment. including innovation supporting the transition to a low carbon economy together with developing human resources
At the same time, sustainable funding is very important to our work. The APEC finance ministers meeting last October emphasized the importance of this, so that the private sector can play a key role in the development of a sustainable market-based financial system. Financial instruments and new technologies to promote the flow of capital to a sustainable economy. We will continue to work to create a financial ecosystem that is conducive to both the public and private sectors. And the private sector can achieve sustainability goals.
about the path towards sustainability in Thailand We are transitioning to clean energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. The transition to the electric vehicle industry and related ecosystem development. In this regard, Thailand aims to become one of the world’s largest EV production centers in the near future. We are ready to cooperate financially. and academic as well as sharing knowledge, spreading technology and developing capabilities with each of you in all aspects to achieve this great goal
A second point of comprehensive growth We must ensure that we do not leave anyone behind in our development path This is in line with the concept of the BCG economy, which drives us to look beyond just maximizing profit . And turn to focus on doing business that is balanced, inclusive and sustainable. This growth must benefit all sectors in our region, it is the government’s duty. that must enable everyone to benefit from economic growth and doing business by improving necessary skills expanding employment opportunities and creating an environment that is conducive to doing business
APEC is pushing for structural reforms and necessary measures to stimulate Finance for quality investments and remove obstacles to doing business or amending internal regulations to foster a business and investment climate, help small and medium businesses and groups whose economic potential is not unlocked again; This will promote responsible business operations. and favorable to access digital technology funding sources and other supporting factors
We have to take care of our MSMEs, who account for over 98% of all businesses in the region and 40-60% of GDP in most APEC economies. Our MSMEs are competitive. and create innovation as well as promote market access and more sources of finance
In addition, women and young people play an important role in driving economic activities. In particular, promoting sustainable and inclusive growth, together with gender considerations in policy making. We will push women empowerment. and encourage genuine participation in the economy. for the youth who are our future We had to listen to their voices a few days ago. He received the Youth Representative Statement from the APEC Youth Representative Conference Group. One of the key issues is Speeding up the transition to sustainability and protecting the world for future generations
third point Going Digital The digital economy is a new dimension of career building. and growth in our region Therefore, APEC has made digital transformation one of the key issues this year. An effective digital transformation will create huge opportunities for businesses in and outside the region The future of the region depends on us working together . to take advantage of the potential of digital transformation This will be an important economic catalyst as we recover from the effects of the pandemic and will contribute to the development of the region in the long term.
This year we have laid the foundation for the region to undertake structural reforms in line with the current situation. Driving work that promotes the transition to digital trade and connectivity and accelerating the implementation of the APEC Internet And digital economy plans, however, there are still many things we need to do. We will continue to work with the private sector to bridge the digital divide. is creating awareness developing competence and promoting digital skills In order to increase the capacity of the workforce in the digital age, in Thailand, we are adapting to keep up with the rapid developments in the digital sector. and implement the necessary structural reforms. for rapid digital transformation The digital economy currently accounts for around 14 percent of Thailand’s GDP, Thailand has one of the best internet networks in the world, with home internet speeds in the top five in the world . according to the world internet speed ranking with this factor Thailand sees that the digital business sector will account for 30% of Thailand’s GDP by 2030.
Thailand is eager to cooperate with you. and welcomes investment and more skilled and senior workers in the digital industry sector. we promote digital industry through tax incentives and not tax with an emphasis on developing digital infrastructure software and businesses that promote the development of the digital ecosystem to attract foreigners who have The ability to work more in Thailand not long ago We have launched a type from a visa program. 10 year long term resident with benefits especially for digital savvy
In addition, Thailand has established an industrial promotion zone. And Digital Innovation or EECD is a new domain of digital innovation. which is part of the EEC project and is the digital and innovation hub of the region, where investors and digital innovators can partner and support the growth of an ecosystem of innovative and virtual learning programs. All honorable persons
What I said above is a direction that Thailand believes This is the way the region and the world must step Even if we sustainably recover from the impact of COVID-19 and grow in the long term in a balanced, sustainable and inclusive manner.
Therefore, in order to integrate all the goal drivers mentioned above Thailand then proposes to the APEC leaders to approve the Bangkok goals. on the BCG economy at the end of this week This document will guide APEC towards its sustainability goals. Set goals to support efforts to tackle climate change. driving trade and sustainable investments, pushing for environmental conservation and improving the efficient use of resources to reduce waste to zero.
Its success will depend on the support of the private sector. A strong partnership between government and business is essential to help our region move forward. and grow into a sustainable, inclusive and balanced Future together, leaving no one behind. and while the government can take different measures to move towards effective structural reforms that will create an ecosystem conducive to economic growth but in the end it all depends on the determination, resilience and creativity of the private sector to drive economic prosperity in APEC on.
It was a pleasure to be able to share our thoughts about our region this morning. and emphasizes that we must work together to continue the partnership and realize our aspirations in the most concrete way in the future
Read proof…. Siwrne Sirawong
