Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

My warmest greetings to you all!

I am very pleased and honored to join you this morning, to participate in the opening of this Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering 0rganizations. I am glad to see all of you here - specially the members of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations.

Welcome to Cambodia!

This is another historic day for the Kingdom of Cambodia. We are honored to host, for the very first time, the Conference of the AFEO. We consider this another step in the ongoing process of Cambodia's full integration into the region and the world. This conference emphasizes Cambodia’s rapidly developing capacity to host and participate in global and international conferences and relationships. We are glad to see that the Cambodian Council of Ministers and the Engineering Institution of Cambodia have jointly organized this conference. I congratulate and thank them for their efforts.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In this conference, you will discuss a very challenging theme: “Engineering for the Alleviation of Poverty in ASEAN Countries”. The alleviation of poverty is one of mankind’s oldest concerns, yet this topic is also among the most current and universal question of our times and is discussed at national, regional and global levels.

The recent meeting of Heads of Governments of both rich and poor countries in Mexico signifies the close and universal attention being paid to the reduction of the gap in the living standards of rich and poor countries. In addition, as we speak, the World Conference on Sustainable Development is beginning in Johannesburg. I am told that as many as 4,000 delegates will be at the Conference, and there they will discuss poverty alleviation.

Poverty alleviation has of course a special significance for us here in Cambodia. You may be aware of the catastrophes that befell Cambodia over the past three decades. The nation and people of Cambodia were destroyed in the 1970s. In the 1980s, we were in darkness, completely isolated from our neighbors and the world. It has only been in the last decade that the Kingdom of Cambodia has begun to open up. And, in just the last three years, we have come to fully enjoy peace. As it has been said, there can be no development without peace. This new era of peace is the renewed opportunity for the country to envision and embark on long-term development, toward a future of stability, peace, national unity, and hopefully prosperity for all.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has placed the poverty reduction at the core of our national development agenda-enshrined in the Socio-Economic Development Plan. The SEDP is comprehensive, and guides our development activities in all the sectors of the economy.

Fortunately - and with a lot of hard work, we have achieved good progress on many fronts. We are currently conducting administrative reform through decentralization and deconcentration of power to the local authorities. This will improve general public services and strengthen good governance. The first ever elections at the commune level were held last year. There have also been successes in the priority sectors of agriculture, rural development, education, and health.

Since 1998, the Royal Government of Cambodia, under the firm leadership of Prime Minister Samdech HUN SEN, adopted the “Triangle Strategy.” as its political platform and development thrust. The strategy envisages a wide-ranging, long-term reform agenda that gradually but steadily integrates the economy of Cambodia into the region and the world. The main objective of the strategy is to achieve high economic growth and equitably distribute the fruits of that growth among all members of society.

As a consequence of implementing its development plans and triangle strategy, Cambodia has achieved some victories.

One way of measuring how much Cambodia has achieved is by means of the Human Development Index (HDI) as announced in the UNDP’s Human Development Report 2002 just last July this year. In 1990, Cambodia was ranked LAST and grouped among countries in "low human development" status.

Today Cambodia ranks 130^th out of 173 nations and has been upgraded to the “medium human development” category of nations!

Each year, over the past twelve years, the HDI ranking of Cambodia has improved. Compared to 1999, Cambodia has moved up two (2) slots. Compared to 1990, Cambodia has moved up in rankings by five (5) steps.

Indeed, Cambodia has made major, significant steps forward in its difficult struggle for development. To continue this struggle and ensure progress, Cambodia will need a clear, coherent vision of its development strategy and program medium and long term.

Just last month the Prime Minister, Samdech Hun Sen launched the Second Socio-Economic Plan2001-2005 for Cambodia. This is the principal document that will guide us in our efforts to achieve further, faster, sustainable growth and poverty alleviation for all Cambodians.

Even with our achievements and the new Socio-Economic Development Plan, we need to be assured that Cambodia is on the correct path toward sustainable growth and poverty alleviation. We are hoping that your discussions at this conference, particularly with the participation of your members from Cambodia, will help us to explore ways to enhance our poverty alleviation efforts.

Professor Meas Sokhom, the Chair of the Conference, indicated earlier in his speech that your focus on the theme of poverty alleviation would enable the identification of options through which the engineering profession can contribute to poverty reduction. I agree that the sharing of relevant experiences among engineers will, indeed, help lead eventually to the overall improvement of our world. The simple fact is that infrastructure investment is crucial to the rapid development of countries such as Cambodia. Thus, Engineers who practice their crafts with dedication, responsibility, and professionalism will certainly be key players.

May I add that I am supportive of the existence and active operation of organizations such as the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations. These bodies enable all professions and all peoples to accelerate the process of integration and unity. This is simply consistent with the unfolding of globalization that is now remaking our nations and peoples, touching and changing one and all.

In November 2002, Cambodia will host, for the first time, the 8^th ASEAN Summit. Certainly, the outcomes of this conference will be included in the deliberations of the e ASEAN Summit.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to end these remarks by emphasizing it again that the discussions and dialogue at this conference will be very significant for the Cambodia, and also for ASEAN as the Heads of State and Government meet in Phnom Penh in November. Therefore, let us take the agenda to heart and provide comprehensive and constructive recommendations on how the engineering profession can help reduce poverty and support national development.

I thank you all for your participation. Together let us thank the Council of Ministers, the ECI, the AFEO and all the staff for their hard work in successfully organizing this important conference.

I wish you all fruitful discussions and a wonderful and memorable stay in Cambodia!

Thank you!

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