The youths in 10 member states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, 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 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 tomorrow, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, according to Trade 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 statistics of the Department of Trade and Industry.
“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 Lopez.
He noted that young people’s contribution to trade and business was becoming significant to national and regional development, as more young people were closely engaged in small and medium enterprises in the Philippines and Asean member countries.
The Asean, thus, introduced new programs that will bring together the promising breed marked by “youthful energy and business know-how that can help transform industries across the entire Asean region,” according o the organizers. The DTI-led even 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 open more job opportunities,” Lopez said.