MAKATI: August 15, 2017—The ASEAN Business Advisory Council recently concluded its hosting of the regional deliberations for the ASEAN Business Awards at the Dusit Thani Hotel. The judges coursed through 224 applications from across the ASEAN region to come up with the final list of 16 winners in the categories of SME Excellence Awards (Growth, CSR, Innovation and Employment), Priority Integration Sectors Excellence Awards (Fisheries, Electronics, E-ASEAN ICT, Textiles, Logistics, Wood-based, Rubber, Agri-food, Healthcare, Tourism, Automotive, and Retail), Special Awards (Eco Green, Friends of Asean), Women Entrepreneur Award, Young Entrepreneur Award, and the two new categories of Legacy and Inclusive Business.

The official judges committee were composed of business leaders and enablers in their respective home countries. They esteemed judges are Soon Loo (CEO, Brunei Economic Development Board), Kuy Vat (CEO, VTRUST Group), Dr. Agus Purwadianto (Professor Universitas Indonesia), Phosy Chanming, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D (Deputy Director of Research and Academic Service Office, National University of Laos), Prof. Datuk Marimuthu (President, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association), Dr. Aung Thura (Executive Committee Member and Secretary, UMFCCI; Founder & CEO, Thura Swiss), Tay Woon Teck (Managing Director, Risk Advisory, RSM), Dr. Suthad Setboonsarng (Independent Director), Dr. Pham Thi Thu Hang (Secretary General, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and the Philippines Committee Chair Marife Zamora (Chairperson, Convergys, Philippines; President, MAP).

The decided upon winners of the prestigious ASEAN Business Awards will officially be awarded on September 6, 2017 at the Solaire Casino and Resort which will be attended by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, other top government officials and the ASEAN Economic Ministers.