- Excellencies, Leaders of ASEAN and Partner Countries;
- Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Once again, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Excellencies, Leaders of ASEAN and Partner Countries for meaningful interventions and remarks, reflecting strong will and commitment, in the journey forward together, in unlocking women’s entrepreneurship in ASEAN in accordance with our theme today.
Acknowledging the need to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment is a very important step forward. In this spirit, I am very pleased and optimistically encouraged to see that we have a common vision and stance, in continuing to promote gender equality and empower and support women as a key value for the development of ASEAN Community as a whole, especially in the context of sustainable, inclusive and resilient regional economic recovery after the COVID-19 crisis.
- Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
As women are at the heart of families and communities, “If women are strong, so are our ASEAN family and community”. In this sense, promoting women’s entrepreneurship is an essential task, that can provide and increase opportunities for women to participate in economic activities, in order to improve their livelihoods and their families’, as well as participate in the development and socio-economic integration of our ASEAN region.
In order for women to participate in socio-economic activities fully and comprehensively, strengthening women’s economic capacity and empowerment is crucial and indispensable. Therefore, the governments of all ASEAN countries have the obligation to ensure that women have equal access to education, skills training, ownership in financial management, rights to participate in decision-making processes and leadership, so that they have full opportunities in socio-economic, commercial, as well as political aspects.
I firmly believe that today’s 2nd ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit will continue to be a platform to inspire and motivate women in the ASEAN region. I would like to encourage ASEAN to continue to hold this Summit in years to come, as testaments to the commitment of the leaders of the ASEAN countries in the cause of achieving gender equality in the countries and region. In particular, I strongly believe that the Declaration on “Building a More Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Future: Unlocking Women’s Entrepreneurship in ASEAN”, which we have discussed today, will be supported and approved at the upcoming 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in November 2022.
Finally, I would like to wish Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen and all Distinguished Guests the four Buddha blessings, namely Longevity, Nobility, Health and Strength. I would like to announce the Closing of the 2nd ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit 2022 from now on.
Thank You!
