APEC Ministers in Kuala Lumpur to Boost Digital Economies

Issued by the APEC Telecommunications and Information Ministerial Meeting

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 31 March 2015 – Telecommunications and Information Ministers from the 21 APEC members are finalizing a new five-year plan for maximizing the potential of the internet to unlock next generation growth across Asia-Pacific economies and improve the lives of the three billion people of the region.

Rounding out the details of the plan, to direct industry policy in APEC through 2020, is the focal point of a two-day meeting of Ministers in Kuala Lumpur that concludes on Tuesday. Emphasis is on boosting digital infrastructure, network access for consumers and the secure, value-creating application of new information and communications technologies. Recommendations from private sector representatives are being considered in crafting the plan.

“Governments in the Asia-Pacific hold the means to unlock the potential of the digital economy which is still largely unrealised,” said Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Malaysia’s Minister of Communications and Multimedia and Chair of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Ministerial Meeting. He pointed to the need for regulatory and governance reforms that keep pace with new technological breakthroughs.

“Our industry does not wait for policymakers and regulators to say ‘yes’ before they innovate,” Shabery explained. “We must be dynamic in the way we work to support industry innovation, and to promote this innovation towards meaningful and appropriate application and adoption by other sectors.”

APEC members are the world’s largest producers and consumers of information and communications technology. Ministers are intent on creating a policy environment that promotes the use of the internet and tools such as smart phones, global positioning systems and ‘big data’ and ‘open data’ to drive entrepreneurship and small business participation in cross-border trade, bolstering employment, wages and living standards.

“In this region, we have seen how ICT has created excellent conditions for commercial innovation, action and new wealth,” Shabery noted. “However, old business models are now under threat from models emerging from the digital economy. Established businesses are witnessing reduced investments and jobs.”

“Pushing for high broadband penetration rates is no longer sufficient and should be about more than access to the internet for socializing reasons alone,” he added. “We need to enhance strategies to allow Asia-Pacific economies and the people of the region to tap into the commercial opportunities that can be gained through the use of broadband. This can only happen through consistent and sufficient investment in the ICT sector.”

Policy measures for enhancing the security of ICT networks and infrastructure are also on the table.

“We must continue to create a positive and trusted cyber environment where the flow of data and confidentiality of transactions is protected,” Shabery exhorted. “Due to the scale of cyber threats and attacks which have surfaced in recent times, we have been made painfully aware that security of the cyber environment must be an on-going and holistic process that guarantees connectivity and protects communication.”

Ways to safeguard against shocks caused by natural disasters and to apply ICT to support the social and economic welfare of youth, the elderly and disabled are additional points of attention.

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For further details, or to arrange possible media interviews with APEC officials, please contact: 

David Hendrickson +65 9137 3886 at drh@apec.org

Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at mc@apec.org

More on APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found on www.apec.org. You can also follow APEC on Twitter and join us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

This news release can also be viewed on the APEC website:
http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2015/0331_TELMIN_opening.aspx

18-19 March 2015 , ADB Asian Development Bank, Manila , Philippines is the official host of the Forum on Promoting Remittances for Development Finance. It is opened by the ADB top honcho Mr. Takehiko Nakao, President , Asian Development Bank , with an inspiring key note speech of Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala , Chairman and CEO , Ayala Corporation.

The first of the forum tackles pressing issues on Remittances for Development Finance as catalyst for an inclusive and resilient economies for ADB members perhaps in the global economic hemisphere.

Sessions ranging from : Remittances as a Driver for Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction, Remittances and Household Investments, Remittances and Access to Finance - Conducive Policies and Business Environment , Remittances Innovations and Digital Finance.

The most upbeat among the 1st day sessions of the forum , is the topics on " remittance innovations and digital finance for which promises a more potent , bright solutions to the current pressing social economic inclusiveness that has more elusive, perhaps disperse in equitably , by reasons of technological divide , gender gap , insufficient regulatory framework that contained potential economic growth for each certain type of country.

"technology is very foundation , for which a certain nation could achieve economic inclusiveness through the remittances if only one aware and equip on how to utilized the immense promises of this innovations", the ending statement of " Susheela Venkataraman, Principal Director , Office of Information System and Technology , ADB.

Miss Andria Thomas, Associate Partner, Dalberg Global Development Advisors on her presentation regarding " remittance innovations and digital finance ", articulately expounded the practicability of the digital solutions , especially the mobile remittances banking since most of the populace in the Asian region have more access with the said mobile technology, it is pertinent that remittance could be harnessed using this mobile tech solutions ,which is more speedier, real time , efficient and less cost.

Considering the ' destruptive tech challenges " that may cause potential harm to the economic landscape , to the financial systems that speaker considered the idea , a gray area that needs more to be considered . Since her presentation , revolves on the great potential of the mobile remittance solutions her impending challenges that some how affects the remittance finances to cascade down in the level of economic ecology where every one can connect and benefit , is " adoption with the new idea that mobile remittance is the new norms today, given with the right ,inter operability policies from the regulators the technology could be of great help pushing the idea of inclusive and resilient economy. Thus , Miss Andria Thomas said, to attained the momentum, sustaining the full acceptance and usage of the mobile banking there must a need of vibrant mobile economic digital sphere , cultivating the community of SME's , private user to adopt the new technology.Hence, Miss Andria Thomas expertly said, that for a more mobile banking to avoid dormancy of accounts , and be a model of best practices adoptable to all the regions of the world, she said " there must a need to " partnership modality", for each segments actors of the mobile banking eco-sphere from the business to business model, from business to retail, from vendor to business . Each segments of customers is essential for the total health being of the mobile banking technology to come into full maturity.

The classic success of story using the mobile banking technology in harnessing remittance to become a fuel for a dynamic , inclusive, and resilient economy is the retail banking operation of BRAC Bank Ltd., Bangladesh , presented by Mr. Firoz Ahmed Khan, head of the Retail Banking of the said bank.

Essentially , each bank is created to conduit a funds from peoples' money ,then lend to customers individual , sme's , institutional for the capital to circulate and be engine of economic growth. Using the accumulated remittances which comes by volume , is a promising business . However, not all banks are created for the same purpose especially in serving the very retail, un banks, some sector like woman who have not enough business orientation because it would entail the banks into a more acute uncertainty of paying back . Exposing hard earned money of the OFW - through remittances is the paramount concern for each banker. And so with the needs to circulate exposure of capital opportunity to every one.

The Bangladesh bank were able to justify all these concerns , weighing what is more consciously equitable , win win solutions for each camp , the bank as a conduit of funds, the OFW as investors and potential source of capital, and users of funds the business community itself.

In Bangladesh , every one is winner. That is they are the model of the small capital remittances using the mobile technology plaftform.

Noted Filipino personality who attended the Forum is Miss Imelda Nicolas , the presidential office chair on Overseas Commission .

Henry Estipona
Philippines
www.on-linexpress.blogspot.com

Mr. Carlos Chan Speech Opening Ceremony Shandong Art Exhibit
"Cultural China- Artworks of  8 Famous Calligraphers and Painters from Shandong , China ", March 18 2015 , 10:00 A.M., Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Corner , Buendia Avenues, Makati ,Philippines.

Senate President and Mrs. Franklin Drilon

China Ambassador to the Philippines, Hon. Zhao Jianhua
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chairperson Helen Dee
Shandong Overseas Chinese Affairs Office Deputy Director Tian Xiyong
Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry , Inc., President Alfonso Siy
Distinguised exhibitors ,artists, and connoisseurs of art
Distinguised guests, ladies and gentlemen

A Pleasant good morning to all!!

I am absolutely delighted to be here at the Yuchengco Museum this morning to witness another chapter in the rich tapestry of connections that is woven between the Philippines and China.

In recent years, Philippines- China relationships has been growing. Cooperation and exchanges in political , economic and trade and cultural fields have been expanded and deepened with fruitful achievements .

Culture is the bridge linking with the hearts of the people , leading to enhanced mutual understanding , and deepening friendship and cooperation. This exhibit is part and parcel of such cultural exchanges.

Today , the Chinese art exhibit, " Cultural China-Artworks of 8 Famous Calligraphers and Painters from Shandong , China", will serve as a window to know more about Chinese culture , thereby enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the Philippines and China.

I want to say thank you to Yuchengco Museum for hosting this exhibit. I also want to thank everyone here this morning for coming to this opening ceremony. I trust and believe , that you will enjoy this exhibit, and through this , get  a better appreciation and understanding of Chinese culture.

I wish the artists every success in the exhibit and for the future.

It is my pleasure to declare this exhibit open.

Works of Chinese artists, calligraphers shown in Manila exhibit

About a hundred works of Chinese calligraphers and painters from Shandong province have been shown in Manila for three days exhibit .

Mr. Carlos Chan, chairman emeritus of Liwayway Marketing Corporation , maker of the famous Oishi snack food products, organized the exhibit titled " Cultural China- Artworks of 8 famous calligraphers and painters from Shandong , China".

Mr. Chan organized the exhibit along with the Shandong Overseas Exchange Association and the Shandong Overseas Exchange Association and the Shandong Overseas Calligraphy and Painting Institute .

Mr. Chan , who is also the President's special envoy to China, said the exhibit hopes to add to the cultural exchange between two countries.

"We hope that these artworks would add to the Filipino's awareness of the Chinese culture ," Mr. Chan said.

These artworks are exhibited at the Yuchengco Museum in RCBC Plaza in Makati from March 18 until March 20.

The Participating Chinese artists and calligraphers include Qiu Zhenliang, honorary president of the Shandong Cultural Industry Vocational College , Han Wei, professor af the Institute of Fine Arts of the Shandong Normal Universty, Wu Yougfu, professor at the Shandong University of Arts and Design , Xu Kang, of the Shandong Art Museum , Wu Jianjun, deputy secretary -general of the Shandong Artists Association , Wang Pande ,creative director of the Shandong Academy of Painting, Dong Haiquan, director of Oil Painting and Watercolor Painting Workshop at the Shandong Academy of Painting , and Wang Yijun , vice president of the Shandong Carved Porcelain Cultural Studies Association.

Nature is the prevalent theme in most of the art pieces including Xu Kang's Spring in the World, Spring Breeze, Fragrance of a flower , and Spring Scenery , Wu Yungfu;s Bamboo , Summer Lotus Flower , and Bamboo Brings Safety ; Qui Zhenliang's Listen to the Rain in Banana Forest , The purple air comes from the East, Purple Rattan, and Red Orchid; Wu Jianjun's Cliff , Early Spring and Warm Winter ; Han Wei's Mist and Ripples , Clear Day in Autumn , and Delicate and Charming Flower Blossoms ; Wang Pande's Pick Lotus Flower Seeds, Automn in Meng Mountain, Golden Autumn and Top of the Mountain ; and Dong Haiquan's Summer ,Spring , Autumn and Winter.

The Philippines has had relations with China's Shandong province as early as the 1400s.

A Filipino chieftain , Sulu Sultan Paduka Batara was buried in Dezhou City in Shandong when he died during a friendly expedition in 1417. The tomb of the Filipino sultan is a protected historical and cultural site as declared by China's State Council.

Liwayway's Oishi is a famous snack food brand in China, now with  15 factories all over China following the Filipino company's entry into the Chinese market in the early 1990s.