Thailand PM to Open World Economic Forum on East Asia

Bangkok (Thailand) – 29 May 2012 – Over 630 participants from 50 countries will meet at the World Economic Forum on East Asia taking place for the first time in Thailand. The meeting in Bangkok will welcome over 50 public figures representing 20 countries, including the heads of state or government of Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. More than 450 business leaders, over 60 Global Growth Companies, 33 Young Global Leaders and 14 Social Entrepreneurs together with other members of civil society and academia will convene to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing East Asia today.

“This year’s meeting is an exceptional opportunity not only for leaders from East Asia, but also from outside the region, as the ASEAN countries are a major evolving geopolitical and geo-economic pillar of the global economy,” said Sushant Palakurthi Rao, Senior Director and Head of Asia at the World Economic Forum. “Our meeting is taking place at a time of tremendous economic and political transformation. Therefore, enhancing connectivity in the region will be critical to the region’s future growth.”

The Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra and other heads of state or government from the region will take part in the gathering:Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam; Thongsing Thammavong, Prime Minister of Laos and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia.

“On Thailand’s part, we are pleased to host the World Economic Forum on East Asia, which will not only be a great opportunity to showcase Thailand’s progress in the economic and political sphere, but will also be a good chance for government and business leaders from around the world to discuss how to increase bilateral and regional cooperation,” said Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Thailand. “The message that will emanate from the event will underscore East Asia’s preeminent role in enhancing global economic growth and development, as well as the role that the region has and can play in addressing the challenges facing the region and the world at large.”

The 21st East Asia meeting will also bring together key international public figures such as: Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD); Member of Parliament of Kawhmu Constituent, Myanmar; Susan M. Collins, Senator from Maine (Republican), USA; Márcio Favilla Lucca de Paula, Executive Director, Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Madrid; Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism of Australia; Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director-General, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Sweden; Gloria Guevara Manzo, Secretary of Tourism of Mexico; Tatsuo Hirano, Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for Comprehensive Review of Measures in Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan; Idris Jala, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia; Pascal Lamy, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva; Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia; Rajat M. Nag, Managing Director-General, Asian Development Bank, Manila; Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva; Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), Jakarta; Cesar V. Purisima, Secretary of Finance of the Philippines; Naoyuki Shinohara, Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC; and Kim Sung-han, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea.

Top-level government representatives from Thailand at the meeting include: Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Chumpol Silapa-Archa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism; Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Anudith Nakornthap, Minister of Information and Communication Technology; and Arak Chonlatanon, Minister of Energy.

The Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum on East Asia are: Pailin Chuchottaworn, President and Chief Executive Officer, PTT Public Company, Thailand; Helene Gayle, President and Chief Executive Officer, CARE USA, USA; Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman, Jumeirah Group, United Arab Emirates; Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GDF SUEZ, France; Malvinder M. Singh, Executive Chairman, Fortis Healthcare, India; and Masami Yamamoto, President and Representative Director, Fujitsu, Japan.

Official Video at http://youtu.be/wc6oOYbzPoo

Media Contact:
Fon Mathuros
Director, Communications Department
Tel.: +66 9 0678 3436
E-mail: fma@weforum.org