ASEAN RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS FORUM

27-28 August, Singapore.

The ASEAN CSR Network and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) organized a business forum, “Towards an inclusive, resilient and sustainable ASEAN: The role of responsible and inclusive business”. Agreeing that responsible business ensures that human rights, environmental and ethical concerns are integrated in business operations, some 200 representatives from the UNDP, UNODC, ASEAN organizations, Chambers of commerce and industry, CSOs and the private sector however recognize that there are numerous challenges ahead, in particular for MSMEs. Companies still tend to engage in immediate profits over long term benefits, and often lack the motivation, the resources and know-how to act responsibly. Solutions and practical case were discussed. The ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN), dedicated to help MSMEs, was officially launched. The forum was followed by the coordination meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Business Integrity, which goal was to develop its 2018-2019 Action Plan, as well the next morning by the Business Integrity workshop of Transparency International’s ASEAN chapters (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam).

Representatives of Business Integrity Departments from TI’s chapters in ASEAN