13 Quotes from Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the APEC CEO Summit 2024
Like many economies in the world, Thailand is experiencing a demographic shift. More than 20 percent of the population is over 60 years old and its projected that it will soon become a super-aged society. At her keynote address at the 2024 APEC CEO Summit, H.E. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, stressed the importance of supporting the older generation and called for further empowering the aging workforce to continue contributing to society and the economy. She noted that APEC should leverage innovation and digital technologies to support resilient and inclusive healthcare systems across the region.
1. “The theme of aging, health and innovation speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities that all our economies faces.”
2. “It is clear that an aged population shrinks that work fast and consequently decrease productivity, but perhaps not our creativity.”
3. “When Thailand hosted APEC in 2003 our region was faced with SARS, a public health emergency that largely impacted trade and business mobility, threatening our growth and livelihood. The health task force was formed in response to the situation. The task force has since transformed into the Health Working Group under the APEC work stream. Its mandate now covers a wider range of issues, including building a sustainable, resilient and inclusive health system.”
4. “We must not leave behind the older generation who have worked hard to bring us where we are today.”
5. “We must ensure support for all people of all generations to live with dignity and with purpose, to live well and to learn from each other.”
6. “As the percentage of the older persons rises, along with care and wellness economy, APEC can play a vocal role to ensure their inclusion in the formal economy to support the current global demographic shift.”
7. “Discussions on the age of retirement, flexible work conditions for the elderly, equitable and accessible infrastructure and public transportation will be key.”
8. “APEC should also continue to leverage innovation and digital technologies in healthcare, in supporting resilient and inclusive systems across our region.”
9. “This issue we are discussing involves a wide range of stakeholders. We are not in this alone. To address this important issue, we need a whole-of-society approach, cooperation among the public sector, the private sector and civil society.”
10. “The private sector plays a crucial role in advancing health care, which will support the ageingd population to live well and longer.”
11. “We need to further empower our aging workforce, so that they can continue to contribute to society and the economy, as well as advancing development and passing on wisdom from current to the next generations.”
12. “I encourage APEC Business Advisory Council, ABAC, to have further discussions on how to promote an employment initiative for an aging workforce, including through reskilling and upskilling.”
13. “Our healthcare priority has shifted from treatment to prevention, the available knowledge related to health, food science, biotechnology and health innovation has been an instrument in guiding us to take better care of our health and wellness. Therefore, we have been able to minimize the chance of serious illness, I think we should build upon this idea and encourage people to take better care of themselves.”