This is a report of the proceedings of - Asian Strategy & Leadership ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

28Session ThreeTHE ASIA THINK TANK DIALOGUE REPORTRebuilding Confidence, Restoring LivelihoodsWhat Next? – Programmes for ActionL-R: Dr. Chap Sotharith; Mr. Michael Switow; Dr. Thomas TangDr. Chap SotharithFormer Executive Director/ Senior Researcher,Cambodian Institute for Cooperation & PeaceDr. Sotharith shared his concerns on thefinancial crisis and its impact on Cambodia.He argued that the poor would remain pooras they were punished by the vicious cycleof poverty. They had no access to information andwere deprived of rights. Loans provided for them wereoften coupled with extortionate interest rates. Againstthe backdrop of the current financial crisis, Mr. Soharithpointed out that:• Cambodia was in a good position to protect itselfbecause of the small size of its economy• Banking was not yet mature as Cambodia did nothave international links, with its savings comingfrom local money, hence its exposure to the globalfinancial sector was very limited• The agriculture sector was still thriving and remainedthe number one contributor to the economy• Cambodia was not yet dependent on externaltrade.‘The poor will remain poor asthey are punished by the viciouscycle of poverty. They haveno access to education andinformation and are deprived ofrights’Dr. Chap SotharithNevertheless, he said, the need to help the rural poorout of poverty was particularly relevant in times ofeconomic crisis. Employment and job creation weremeans of ensuring that the local domestic economyremained active. Social safety nets were also importantas people often succumbed to issues related to thehealthcare system and education. He urged theacceleration of reforms such as land reforms, publicservice delivery, the reduction of corruption, increasedaccountability and transparency, and judicial andlegal reforms. Trade liberalisation was also one of thekey tasks to be looked at by Cambodia, to guardagainst protectionist measures.
THE ASIA THINK TANK DIALOGUE REPORTRebuilding Confidence, Restoring Livelihoods Session Three 29What Next? – Programmes for ActionDr. Thomas TangExecutive Director, Global Institute for Tomorrow (GIFT),Hong Kong.Dr. Tang took the debate on social venturesfurther. These ventures were similar toSocial Enterprises, he said. SEs started off asenterprises with a mission to bring benefit tosociety. Where they ‘fail’ is the lack of business skills andmanagement systems necessary to drive the enterpriseforward. Healthcare and education for example, wereimportant but systems were needed to ensure delivery.Funds were required to maintain these enterprises. Inrespect of the SE, there was now a changing mindsetas a result of the move towards Corporate SocialResponsibility. Although private money was required forsocial ventures, projections, profit making, cash flow,returns etc, were looked at as investments, he said. Hecited the example of renewable energy which wascurrently big business as climate change had takencentre-stage in the global agenda. Westerners werelooking at where they could invest in renewable energy,especially in Asian countries. He predicted that in time,people will look at forests as good investments.In regards to the digital divide, he ventured thatinfrastructure was a major issue, but there were alsoother factors to be looked into closely to derive simplesolutions to simple problems. Empowering villagers withthe right technologies and the right skills would helpthem attain competency and subsequently reduce thedigital divide.Mr. Michael SwitowCo-Founder, ONE (SINGAPORE) / Founder,SUPERSEED, Singapore.Mr. Switow suggested the need for botha macro and micro view as there werecross-cutting issues. These were issuesthat could be taken to G20, and wereamong the five top-line demands:• Debt: There was more money going out thancoming into countries. Indonesia spent 25-40 percent of every dollar earned on debt repayment• Aid: The quality of aid needed to be improved• Trade: In rich countries there is talk about freetrade but it is never about fair trade• Gender equity: Women make up 70 per cent ofthe world’s poor• Transparency and accountability: People havea right to know how the money is spent andtransparency was expected for both donor andrecipient.In a reference to migrant labour policies, Mr. Switowcalled for greater regulation by the authorities as ithas become a form of business taking people fromthe rural areas to the cities in promise of a better job.He called for the formation of unions and for workerrights to be observed to ensure that no individual ismanipulated.
Page 5 and 6: THE ASIA THINK TANK DIALOGUE REPORT
Page 9: THE ASIA THINK TANK DIALOGUE REPORT
Page 40 and 41: 40Participants’ ProfilesTHE ASIA
Page 50 and 51: 50ProgrammeTHE ASIA THINK TANK DIAL
Page 52: 52OrganisersTHE ASIA THINK TANK DIA

This is a report of the proceedings of - Asian Strategy & Leadership ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?