Asean 100 Forum opens in Manila
DEBBIE TOO
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
EXECUTIVES from regional business giants, intellectuals and youths will converge in Manila today for theAsean 100 Forum to discuss how close the regional grouping is to becoming “One Asean” and ways torealise this vision.
Organised by the Asia Inc Forum, the event focuses on the theme that is thought to be an “important question in order to help Asean businesses and leaders advance further”.
Dato Paduka Timothy Ong, chairman of the Asia Inc Forum and the Asean 100 Forum covener said: “Some people will say we are close, some will say we are not close, but no one will say we are already there. So how close are we and what do we need to do to get to ‘One Asean’?”
“Asean’s prosperity has been built on openness to trade and investments,” said Sandiaga Uno, president of Saratoga Capital and a participant in the Asean 100 Forum. Uno will be participating in an open forum discussion alongside AirAsia’s Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala from the Philippines regarding Asean’s prospects and possibilities in a turbulent world.
“I am expecting this year’s Asean 100 Leadership Forum, will not only generate brilliant ideas and perspectives, but also leads us to positive concrete results,” Uno said.
“Asean has become one of the world’s vital economic centres as wealth, trade and investments increasingly flow through, to and from Asia; but we are yet to realise the full potential of this regional alliance in boosting the overall performance of the global economy,” said Basil Ong, an invited participant from the World Presidents Organization.
The Asean 100 Leadership Forum, which was first started in 2003, has grown from strength to strength in terms of its Asean 100 network as well as the topics that have come out from it.
Ong said that what many participants feel is the most important element that makes this forum a success is it brings together the region’s emerging young thought leaders, fully equipped with both international and domestic experience, knowledge and networks.
The Brunei Times