Bangkok--30 Apr--Asian Institute of Technology
Former Prime Minister of Thailand, Hon. Abhisit Vejjajiva delivered a speech during the plenary session at the conference “Changing Asia- Changing Governance: Governance Academy” held on 25 April 2012 in Bangkok. The event was organized by GIZ’s (German Society for International Cooperation) Sector Network Governance Asia General Meeting 2012, in partnership with Asian Institute of Technology Extension.
The former prime minister, who is also the leader of opposition and the head of the Democrat Party, shared his experience about ASEAN and the significance of connectivity, governance and government, increasing demands of infrastructure, management of urban growth, environmental protection, along with the need to harmonize rules and regulation to foster trade.
Mr. Michael Schuman, of the magazine “Time”, who was a guest speaker at the event, highlighted examples of dealing with governance issues, particularly in China. He narrated how exports had stimulated growth in the region, and the role played by private business houses in generating jobs. According to him, pragmatism prevailed over ideology, and quoted an interview he had conducted with Singapore’s leader Lee Kwan Yew to highlight this. Mentioning stories of Asian triumph, he remarked that free enterprise and free trade do not always help the United States in its trade policy.
The Governance Asia initiative of GIZ is a regional professional network that enables GIZ experts to share information and experience in the field of governance and democracy. It covers partner countries in South Asia, South-East and East Asia. This sector network aims at assuring and improving the effectiveness and quality of GIZ’s cooperation in Asia. The conference was attended by more than 120 GIZ experts from all across Asia.
Photo caption: Hon. Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Prime Minister of Thailand.