Designing gender responsive policy and placing women leadership and contribution at the heart of the recovery efforts is needed to ensure Southeast Asia's recovery is inclusive, participants heard at the recently held Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS).
During a panel discussion titled, "Women Driving Sustainable Transformation in ASEAN," Cambodia Minister of Women’s Affairs Ing Kantha Phavi said nothing less than a transformative approach is necessary to build a sustainable inclusive and prosperous future for the region. She noted that designing gender responsive policies is vital.
The other panelists meanwhile recommended practical solutions to bridge the gender divide threatening to hold back the region's growth.
The session was organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.
Speakers
- Moderator: Sonomi Tanaka, Country Director, Lao PDR Resident Mission, ADB
- Opening Remarks: Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General, Southeast Asia Department, ADB
- Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Cambodia
- Von Leong, Cofounder and General Partner, Purpose Venture Capital
- Priyanka Chetry, CEO, Grocerdel
- Denica Flesch, Founder and CEO, SukkhaCitta
- Vanny Narita, Senior Officer, Science and Technology Division, ASEAN Secretariat
- Giulia Ajmone Marsan, Director, Strategy and Partnership, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia
SEADS 2022, "Sustainable Solutions for Southeast Asia's Recovery," was held on 16–17 March.
