SINGAPORE, 28 MAY 2026 — The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and AVPN today announced the establishment of the ASEAN CSR Working Group, a regional platform aimed at mobilising corporate philanthropy, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and broader corporate capital in support of ASEAN's sustainable development priorities.

The Working Group will function as a rotating annual platform aligned with ASEAN Chairmanship priorities — institutionalising corporate social investment as a consistent and strategically integrated component of ASEAN's regional agenda. AVPN, Asia's largest network of social investors with over 700 members across 43 markets, will serve as Secretariat.

Addressing a Regional Gap

Despite Southeast Asia's economic dynamism, corporate social investment across the region remains fragmented. Definitions of CSR vary across markets, cross-border coordination is limited, and current approaches have yet to fully leverage the scale of capital available from the private sector. The region is home to over 70 million MSMEs — more than 97% of all businesses — yet many face structural barriers to growth, including limited access to mentorship, markets, and financing.

The ASEAN CSR Working Group is designed to address these gaps by creating a trusted, high-level platform for regional policy dialogue, strategic collaboration, and coordinated capital deployment among business leaders, philanthropic organisations, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem partners.

From Dialogue to Action

Beyond convenings and knowledge exchange, the Working Group will connect corporate capital directly to ASEAN-BAC's existing initiatives and legacy projects. One example is the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) in the Philippines, which integrates the local Chairmanship priority and serves as a model for how corporate philanthropy can be channelled into concrete, on-the-ground impact.

"By establishing this Working Group, ASEAN-BAC is strengthening regional collaboration through more connected ecosystem engagement and multi-stakeholder dialogue. We are creating a regional platform to ensure that corporate capital isn't just deployed, but is supportive of ASEAN's broader sustainable development priorities and regional collaboration efforts. We are not just launching a group; we are encouraging stronger regional collaboration and more strategic approaches to corporate social investment across ASEAN." — Rifki Weno, Executive Director, ASEAN-BAC

"This collaboration reflects a critical shift from fragmented efforts to a more coordinated, regional approach to corporate social investment. By linking ASEAN's institutional leadership with AVPN's ecosystem of capital providers, we can help unlock catalytic capital at scale and position Southeast Asia as a leading hub for corporate-driven impact. ASEAN is one of the fastest-growing markets globally, and its corporate leaders have a real opportunity to shape the future of sustainability and philanthropy through collective regional action." — Achal Agarwal, Chair, AVPN

"As Secretariat to the ASEAN CSR Working Group, AVPN brings the strength of our regional network to connect corporate leaders, investors and philanthropies, and advance regional dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning across ASEAN. We are seeing growing momentum among corporates to move beyond traditional CSR towards more intentional and impact-driven social investment. Together with ASEAN-BAC, we aim to build long-term regional collaboration and enable more strategic deployment of capital to support the region's sustainable and inclusive growth." — Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO, AVPN

Key Milestones in 2026

The ASEAN CSR Working Group will convene high-level dialogues at two flagship events:

• Official launch at the AVPN Global Conference 2026, India — 25 to 27 August 2026, positioning ASEAN as a leading voice in corporate social investment on the global stage

• ASEAN CSR Leadership Dialogue at the AVPN Southeast Asia Summit 2026, convened as a side event ahead of the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit (ABIS) in November 2026, focused on ecosystem collaboration and cross-sector partnership opportunities

About ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC)

The ASEAN Business Advisory Council is the official apex private sector body mandated by ASEAN leaders to provide strategic business insights and policy recommendations that support regional economic integration and sustainable growth. Established in 2003, ASEAN-BAC serves as a platform connecting governments, businesses, and stakeholders across Southeast Asia to strengthen trade, investment, digital transformation, sustainability, and inclusive development. The council also champions MSME development, innovation, and public-private partnerships to enhance regional connectivity and economic opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

About AVPN

AVPN is the largest network of social investors in Asia, comprising over 700 diverse members across 43 markets. Our mission is to increase the flow and effectiveness of financial, human, and intellectual capital in Asia by enabling members to channel resources towards impact. As an ecosystem builder, AVPN enables its members to connect, learn, act, and lead social impact efforts across key pillars while improving the effectiveness of deployed capital, bringing local field needs, regional expertise, and policy insights to the forefront. For more information about AVPN and our work, please visit our website and read our latest Annual Review 2024-25