Vietnam to host World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018

Thứ Sáu, 12/05/2017, 22:02
Prime Minister Phuc attended on May 12 the closing session of the 26th World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and a handover ceremony to Vietnam as the host of the next forum in 2018.

In his speech, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told representatives from 21 world leading companies that they have the will to succeed in Vietnam.

“Vietnam is not only a market of 93 million people but also a market of ASEAN. We have signed 12 new-generation Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and are negotiating 4 more deals to expand our market," he said.

The government leader said that Vietnam is improving its business and investment environment and pledges to protect intellectual property rights and investors’ rights to assets.

At the meeting, WEF Managing Director Philipp Roesler described the Mekong River region, including Vietnam, as a dynamic area with young population and urged enterprises to invest in the region and create more jobs for young people. 

Participating entrepreneurs recognized Vietnam’s high determination and efforts to reform and improve the business investment environment as well as the Government’s support for the foreign business community.

The same day, PM Phuc attended a talk on Vietnam held by the WEF and Vinacapital, during which he said Vietnam strives to realize the average growth target of 6.5-7% from now to 2020.

The country will go ahead with the improvement of the market economy institutions and strongly encourage the development of the private economic sector to become an important driving force in the domestic economy, he said.

He reassured the resolve to build a development-facilitating government, restructure the economy and reform the country’s growth model.

Phuc also delivered a speech at a discussion on investing in smart infrastructure, underlining its importance to development, economic connectivity, and building the ASEAN Economic Community. 

He said developing a modern, uniform infrastructure is one of the 3 strategic breakthroughs to restructure the economy and reform the growth model in Vietnam, adding that the country needs to mobilize US$480 billion for infrastructure development, primarily from the private sector.

In the evening, PM Phuc and his delegation returned to Vietnam, concluding his attendance of the 26th World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Cambodia. 

VOV