Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung Sang Suu Kyi arrives at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga, north of Manila on Saturday, November 11, 2017, ahead of the 31st Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. AFP PHOTO

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Countries must continue to pursue reforms that will empower women as it is vital for them to develop their human capital, according to Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

“The empowerment of women toward economic and social development can be significant not only in my country but throughout our region and throughout the world,” she said during the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Business and Investment Summit 2017 held in Parañaque City on Sunday.

 

Suu Kyi added that by recognizing this potential, countries must create an integrated environment where women can unleash their economic power.

“Actually, empowering women is a form of human capital development,” she said.

Suu Kyi added that there is a growing recognition that the well-being of a nation is not only a function of its wealth and natural resources but also of the knowledge and skills of its people.

She said the experience of newly industrialized countries such as South Korea and Singapore shows that increase in knowledge and skills bring about better economic outcomes both for individuals and nations.

“The quality of human resources of a country certainly has a bearing on its economic development. Human capital is therefore a key to social and economic development of countries,” Suu Kyi added.

She said developing human capital can be done through education and training, adding that education has an important role to play in the development of human capital.

Suu Kyi urged countries to rethink the goal behind their strategies for women empowerment and human capital development.

“Are we thinking only in material terms? That power is economic power and capital is economic capital? What is development about? Is it simply to develop our countries materially or to develop our people to be better human beings?” she said.

“Perhaps it is time we think about these things because Myanmar, as a young democracy struggling with many challenges, has become very aware of the need to develop people as human beings and not just economic powerhouses,” Suu Kyi added. MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

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