PH Ambassador Attends ASEAN+3 Conference on Social Enterprises

Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon (fifth from right) at the opening ceremony presided over by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya (center), with Thai Minister of Social Development and Human Security General Anantaporn Kanjanarat (seventh from left), ESCAP Deputy Executive Secretary Hongjoo Hahm (sixth from left), and other ASEAN diplomats based in Thailand. (Bangkok PE photo)

BANGKOK 22 March 2019 – Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon attended the opening ceremony of the ASEAN+3 Conference on Social Enterprises held at Swissotel in Bangkok, Thailand on 06 March 2019.

The conference theme was “Advancing Social Enterprises for Realization of SDGs in ASEAN,” which is in line with the theme of Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship, “Enhancing Partnership for Sustainability”.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya presided over the opening ceremony. Also present during the event are Thai Minister of Social Development and Human Security General Anantaporn Kanjanarat, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (ESCAP) Deputy Executive Secretary Hongjoo Hahm, and other ASEAN diplomats based in Thailand.

The speakers at the opening ceremony recognized the important role of social enterprises, which improves the living conditions of people in the ASEAN region as well as furnishes the needs of government, the business sector and civil society.

ESCAP Deputy Executive Secretary Hahm shared that 69 percent of social enterprises in ASEAN are women-led. He likewise mentioned that the Philippines has enacted a law that governs the establishment of social enterprises.

The Philippine delegation to the conference were composed of Ms. Ma. Victoria Oliveras from the Department of Trade and Industry, and representatives from the private sector. END

For more information, visit www.bangkokpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinThailand/.