49th Workshop Meeting of Heads of NPOs
21–23 October 2008, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Welcome Address
by Mr. Yea Bunna
APO Alternate Director for Cambodia
Director of the National Productivity Center of Cambodia
His Excellency Ith Praing, Interim Minister, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy,
Secretary-General Shigeo Takenaka, Asian Productivity Organization (APO),
Distinguished delegates and guests, advisers, and ladies and gentlemen:
First of all, I would like to express my respectful gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Ith Praing for kindly supporting the National Productivity Center of Cambodia (NPCC) in hosting this 49th Workshop Meeting of Heads of NPOs and especially for spending precious time to grace this opening ceremony.
It is also my great honor to bid a very warm, cordial welcome to all the distinguished delegates, advisers, and observers to my country and our province of cultural tourism, Siem Reap. With the strong support of the APO Secretariat, it is a great honor and privilege for Cambodia to host the 49th Workshop Meeting of Heads of NPOs for the first time since joining the APO. On this auspicious occasion, I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all for taking part in this important meeting.
Cambodia has achieved steady economic growth in recent years due to the policies of the Royal Government, which give priority to reforms in all sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, agroindustry, foreign direct investment, SMEs, tourism, and infrastructure development. With APO membership, Cambodia expects to be able to improve the competitiveness of local industries based knowledge from and experience sharing on successful best practices by other APO member countries.
The NPCC, under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, plays a key role in promoting the awareness of productivity and quality development and linking the private sector to the Royal Government and the APO. With the support of the APO as well as other international organizations, critical knowledge and information have been disseminated, especially among SMEs and local businesses. Allow me to express my sincere appreciation for the considerable contributions to socioeconomic development and achievements of the APO under the brilliant leadership of Secretary-General Takenaka.
I would like to express our genuine appreciation and thanks to the APO and its member countries for all the strong support and encouragement to Cambodia. Once again, on behalf of my colleagues, I warmly welcome you and look forward to serving all of you so that you can have fruitful deliberations and a pleasant stay in Siem Reap, our main cultural tourism city in Cambodia, the Kingdom of Wonder. Thank you very much.
