Source: The Nation Thailand
Source: The Nation Thailand
Applications for outstanding regional enterprises are open for this year’s ASEAN Business Awards (ABA).
Brunei’s ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) – the country’s private sector representative to ASEAN – will be organising ABA this year as part of the Sultanate’s ASEAN chairmanship.
The ceremonial awarding will take place virtually on November 10. Each year has seen ABA award multiple winners from different countries in most categories.
ABA will feature eight main categories: Priority Integration Sectors, SME Excellence, Women Entrepreneur, Young Entrepreneur, Friends of ASEAN, Inclusive Business, Skills Development and Brunei Special Award: Emerging Social Enterprise.
The deadline for application is October 14, with the exception of the Inclusive Business award which must be submitted to Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) by September 13. Application forms and further details are available on Brunei ASEAN-BAC website.
Date of Release: 7 September 2021
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof in a pre-recorded speech at the ASEAN-UK Digital Innovation Partnership Symposium yesterday shared on the importance of digital technologies towards building resilience, recovery and sustainability from the impacts of COVID-19.
Digital transformation is now immersing deeply in all economic sectors and activities, therefore there is a need to set priorities, amongst others, in the upgrading of infrastructure, improving access, promoting digital technologies adoption and enhancing human capital development to ensure preparedness for digital transformation and innovation, he said.
The virtual symposium saw the minister’s pre-recorded speech delivered alongside Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, United Kingdom (UK) Caroline Dinenage MP.
Themed ‘Great partnerships are committed to boosting trade and investment,’ the symposium was officiated with opening remarks from Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific Natalie Black CBE and ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi.
The symposium – a collaboration between the UK government, UK-ASEAN Business Council, ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Business Advisory Council – focussed on ASEAN-UK collaboration to support digital innovation.
Read the full story here
ASEAN businesses who have helped resolve the problems faced by the underprivileged are invited to apply for the ASEAN Inclusive Business (IB) Award.
The IB Award is one of the eight categories under this year’s ASEAN Business Awards (ABA), which is being organised by Brunei’s ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) as part of the Sultanate’s ASEAN chairmanship.
The ceremonial awarding will take place virtually on November 10. Each year has seen ABA award multiple winners from different countries in most categories.
The IB Award recognises profitable businesses models have helped provide goods, services or livelihood to the lowest income people in society, defined by the World Bank as those within the base of the economic pyramid (BoP), earning less than US$ 8.44 a day.
Date of Release: 7 September 2021
The Republic can seize opportunities in financial technology (fintech) to be the bridge between the Asean region and Africa, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan on Tuesday (Aug 24).
The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) allows for key trading opportunities within the continent, and also on a regional and global basis, said Mr Tan.
The trade agreement, which came into effect on Jan 1 this year, has created the largest free trade area in the world based on the number of countries it unites.
Fifty-four out of 55 African Union nations, with a combined gross domestic product of US$3 trillion (S$4 trillion), come under the pact which allows access to commodities, goods, and services across the continent.
Mr Tan said: "It's not just the free trade area that is exciting, it is also the potential. What do you do with the free trade area, and how do you connect it to Asean through Singapore?"
He was speaking virtually on the topic of economic resilience on Tuesday, at the sixth edition of the Africa Singapore Business Forum organised by Enterprise Singapore.
Mr Tan cited the Afro-Asia FinTech festival, which was part of the Singapore FinTech festival last year.
"I think there's an opportunity for us to grow this fintech growth corridor through Singapore and Kenya, towards Asean," said Mr Tan, who is also Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth.
"Africa has a strength in fintech, and the opportunity set for fintech is just increasing. It's something that Asean can learn, but also there's a lot of interchangeability, because e-payment is huge in Asean and you're basically banking the 'unbanked'."
Mr Tan highlighted some challenges both Asean and Africa are facing, with the first being the Covid-19 pandemic.
A second challenge is on anti-globalisation. "We've seen a little bit more protectionism, great power rivalry and more fragmentation... This headwind is pretty strong at the moment."
But there are also some bright spots, such as in technology - which helps countries to leapfrog infrastructure constraints - and regionalism, with free trade agreements presenting opportunities and facilitating investment.
The AfCFTA agreement will help to regionalise the area - something that Asean has experienced, he said, while acknowledging that Africa is much bigger than Asean.
"It helps to then facilitate the transfer, sale and trading of goods and services, (and) the lowering trade of barriers and regulations so that they don't form an impediment," said Mr Tan.
He noted that it is also important for countries in Africa's free trade area to look into opportunities to connect with other regions.
"Because then it opens up a whole plethora of opportunities... what we've learnt in Asean is that it benefits Asean member states if we step out of Asean as well, because then we are also punching above our size.
"And I think that if the African continent free trade area could also consider doing that, I think the opportunities will be quite limitless."
Source: The Straits Times (Singapore)
Date: 24 August 2021