PHNOM PENH, Oct 13 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, said yesterday that, women entrepreneurs have played and will continue to play a significant role, in helping boost economic growth of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
Addressing the second ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit in Phnom Penh, which was held in a hybrid format, Hun Sen said, women entrepreneurs are a key driving force for sustainable and resilient socio-economic recovery and development towards building a common future and prosperity.
He said ASEAN is a region with high economic potential and rapid development, mainly thanks to the active participation of women.
“The economies of ASEAN depend heavily on micro-, small- and medium-enterprises (MSMEs), led by women,” Hun Sen said.
“Within the ASEAN framework, at present and in the future, women will continue to play a significant role, especially in recovering and boosting sustainable, inclusive and resilient ASEAN economic growth,” he added.
Hun Sen, whose country is the rotating chair of ASEAN for 2022, said, in Cambodia, MSMEs, account for 98 percent of the total number of enterprises, contributed around 58 percent to the national economy, and created around 73 percent of total jobs.
“Women establish and manage approximately 61 percent of the total number of MSMEs,” he said. “The government of Cambodia has identified and promoted women as the backbone of national socio-economic development, by increasing investment in gender equality and promoting the role of women in development across sectors, and at all levels.”– NNN-AKP
