Inaugural Conference

 of the

 Economic Institute of Cambodia

(EIC)

Conference Theme

 EIC Research Programme on Cambodia's Accession to WTO

Public Launch of the Institute and its Publication

 

 

Venue

Cambodiana Hotel, Phnom Penh
 
  Date
29 October 2003

 

 

Conference Proceedings

 

7:45 - 8:15       Registration 

8:15 – 10:00     Public Launch of the Economic Institute of Cambodia, EIC

Facilitator:                Mr. Robert P. Hagemann

                                                           IMF Representative Cambodia.

 

Welcome Address:      Mr. Sok Hach

Director of EIC  

    Keynote Address:       The Role of EIC in Policy Developmen

                                                            Ms. Nancy Hopkins
                                                            Representative of The Asia Foundation Cambodia

 

Keynote Address:       Informing Economic Policy Through Research

                                                        Ms. Lisa Chiles

                                                   Mission Director of USAID Cambodia

 

Launch:                       Conceptualisation of the Economic Institute of Cambodia, EIC

                                                        Mr. Sok Hach

                                                   Director of EIC

10:00-10:20     Coffee Break

10:20-11:00     Topic: Cambodia's Accession to WTO: Opportunities and Challenges?

 

            Facilitator:                 Ms. Kesaranniya Pech

                                                           Journalist, Radio Free Asia

 

What implications does accession to WTO bring to Cambodia?

Presenter:                  EIC Research Team

 Panel Discussion:

What Cambodia has promised and how the government plans to meet the promises.

                        Panel Presenter:            Mr. Sok Sopheak

                                                Director of ASEAN & International Department

                                    Ministry of Commerce

 

Will Cambodia really benefit from entering the WTO?

            Panel Presenter            Mr. Francis Perez

                        Acting Country Manager for OGB, Oxfam

 

Is Cambodia well resourced to take on the opportunities as well as face the challenges?

                        Panel Presenter            H.E. Chea Peng Chheang

                                                            President of the Finance and Banking Commission

                                                           Senate

11:00 - 12:00   Discussions

 

12:00 - 13:45   Lunch

            Facilitator:                  Ms. Kesaranniya Pech

                                                             Journalist, Radio Free Asia

Special Guest Speaker: Non-Economist Views on Globalisation

                                                             Ambassador Charles A. Ray
                                                             Embassy of the United States of America, Cambodia                                                      

13:45 - 14:30   Topic: The future of Cambodia's Garment Industry after 2005

 

Facilitator:                  Mr. Ouk Kim Seng

                                     Journalist

Presenter:                    An overview of Cambodia’s garment    industry: Current and Future Economic Implications

             Mr. Michael R. Keller

             Economic and Commercial Officer

             US Embassy Cambodia

     Panel Discussion:

 

                        Will Cambodia’s garment industry survive after the 2005 elimination of quota restriction?

            Panel Presenter              Mr. Ray Chew

                                          Secretary General of GMAC

                        How to promote the labour right after the 2005 elimination of quota restriction

                     Panel Presenter              Mr. Seng Phally

                                                           Executive Director of Cambodian Labour Organization

14:30 – 15:20   Discussions

15:20  - 15:40  Coffee Break

15:40  - 16:30  Topic: Social Implications of Cambodia's Accession to WTO

     Facilitator:                   Mr. Sek Barisoth

              Journalism Trainer

     Presenter:                     Surveys on WTO accession with the poor and business people in Phnom Penh.

                                           Mr. Kim Phalla

                                           Researcher of Economic Institute of Cambodia

     Panel Discussion:

                        For social development: Improving institutions to match economic challenges

               Panel Presenter:              H.E. Dr. Ing Kanthaphavi

                                                          Secretary of State for Women and Veteran Affairs

 

     Achieving equity and social justice: The ethical implications on work and business.

               Panel Presenter:              H.E. Mr. Kem Sokha

                                                  Director of Cambodia Center for Human Right

16:30 –17:15    Discussions

17:15 - 17:30   Closing Remarks           Mr. Sok Hach

                                                             Director of EIC