BFA 2016 To Highlight Entrepreneurship And Innovation

By Samantha Tan Chiew Ting BEIJING, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- This year's Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) will focus on new economic challenges in Asia and emerging economies, with highlights on promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. BFA secretary-general Zhou Wenzhong said this year's forum themed, "Asia's New Future: New Dynamics and New Vision", will be held from March 22-25 in Boao, a coastal town in China's southern island province of Hainan. "Asia and emerging economies have found themselves in completely different internal and external environments, which challenge their innovation-driven development endeavors and governance models. "How Asian economies steer their economic restructuring, strengthen regional economic connectivity and cooperation, and improve infrastructure investments and technological innovation capabilities, will attract international attention and dominate discussion at the conference," he told a media briefing on the annual forum's preparations here. Zhou said the Boao Forum will also discuss how to inject new vitality into and foster new sources of growth for the world economy after being impacted by the global financial crisis. "Many countries have been struggling with issues such as high unemployment, strained finances and overcapacity, which in turn constrains consumption and investment, thus weakening the global trade momentum," he added. He said the forum this time will cover a wide range of issues, including macroeconomics, politics, entrepreneurship, innovation, internet plus, social welfare, culture, sports, religion and civilisation. -- BERNAMA