NEWS RELEASE
A DECADE OF IMPACT: ENTERPRISE ASIA CONFERS ASIA RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISE AWARDS TO 81 RECIPIENTS
23 September 2020
A total of 81 projects and business leaders across Asia were selected as recipients of the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2020 (AREA), which was an increase of 27% from last year. Widely regarded as the gold standard for CSR and sustainability practice, this year’s award ceremony was organized virtually due to the unprecedented global healthcare crisis. A diversity of industries and leading organizations from all over the region received the AREA, demonstrating a continued dedication to responsible business practices despite the pandemic.
Organized by Enterprise Asia, the leading non-governmental organization for responsible entrepreneurship in Asia, the AREA aims to recognize and honor Asian businesses and leaders for championing sustainable and socially responsible business practices. The award categories are Social Empowerment, Investment in People, Health Promotion, Green Leadership, Corporate Governance, Circular Economy Leadership and Responsible Business Leadership. Through the award ceremony, this unique opportunity has provided over 600 attendees to interconnect and celebrate virtually.
According to Richard Tsang, Enterprise Asia’s newly elected president, “the pandemic has forced us to revisit our values and to focus on balancing economic, social and environmental progress as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Leveraging this moment of crisis, it is important for us to turn the recovery into a real opportunity to do things right for the future.”
Mr Tsang added, "to date, the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards has seen over 600 successful corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects being highlighted, with millions of communities uplifted and billions of lives touched and saved. The success of these efforts is perhaps best measured in the number of lives touched and saved, communities uplifted, tears of joy shed, and how the future of our children, and their children, are secured. There’s really no better recognition for having contributed to making the world a better place, than the satisfaction of witnessing the difference one has made.”
This year, over 200 submissions across 19 countries were received from organizations across Asia. AREA judges, led by Dr Eugen Chien, former Minister of Environment of the Republic of Taipei, sieved through the submission over a three-month judging period.
According to Dr Chien, "the panel of judges were impressed by the quality and diversity of submissions this year and had the challenging task of evaluating and determining this year's finalists. The winners are determined not just by their efforts and results, but also by such criteria as effective delineation, nexus to the community, identification of needs, measurability, effectiveness of implementation, ability to reach the target audience, impact, leadership involvement, institutionalization and continuity."
With a total of 15 propelling CSR projects and 2 Responsible Business Leaders from Thailand, the nation is South East Asia’s biggest winner. Notable Thai winners are IRPC Public Company Limited with their project “Smile Farm: Sustainable Agriculture for Disabilities”, the project aids disabled farmers in increasing income and better quality life; Bangchak Corporation Plc’s “Rak Pan Sook Project: A Solution to Plastic Waste Issue” project is a public awareness and sustainability project supporting the recycling of used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and used lubricant containers and turning them into usable products; Bangchak Corporations Plc’s President & CEO, Chaiwat Kovavisarach has also honored the Responsible Business Leader award where he expanded beyond the Company’s refinery business to develop clean energy technological innovations, expanding green innovation domestically and internationally; Siam Piwat Company Limited’s project, “Siam Piwat Eco Projects” were developed from its core strategy, “The Future of Sustainability in Retail” which implements best practices and guidelines to protect and conserve the environment in all areas where the company operates in. Chadatip Chutrakul CEO from Siam Piwat Company Limited also was recognized as a Responsible Business Leader as she fosters social responsibility activities in three areas, the People, the Communities and Society and the Environment which has brought benefits to society at large that become self-propagating as a part of the property’s business model.
Further distinguished Thai winners are Boonrawd Trading Co., Ltd. with Return Heart to Home - Restoring Mother's Heart; Doi Kham Food Products Co., Ltd. with 9 Tam Roy Doi Kham Charity Run 2018; King Power International Co., Ltd. with King Power Thai Power; Metropolitan Electricity Authority with Lively Workplace, Better Service; Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) Doing Good With Good Governance Heart and Metropolitan Waterworks Authority’s Watershed Forest Preservation; Provincial Electricity Authority with Scrap Woods for Wealth; PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited with The Forest Restoration for Eco-Learning at Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park Project (Bang Kachao); PTT Public Company Limited with Community Biogas System From Swine Farming Project; Royal Cliff Hotels Group with Green Multiples @ Royal Cliff Project; S Hotels and Resorts Public Company Limited with Sustainable Hospitality with an Edutainment Approach; Sisaran Group Co., Ltd with Bang Saray Development Programme and Thai Life Insurance Public Company Limited with Thai Life Insurance - Opportunity for Better Life.
The most coveted CSR event in the region - AREA 2020 are supported by official PR partner Two Way Public Relations, supporting organizations - Circular Economy Club, CSRone Taiwan, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia, National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (N.I.E.L) Cambodia, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) Japan, Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy and Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development.
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Media Contact
Ms Nerissa NgEnterprise Asia(60) 3 7803 0312
About Enterprise Asia
Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation and courage for the future generation. Please visit for more information.
About Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA)
The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards program recognizes and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship in the categories of Green Leadership, Investment in People, Health Promotion, Social Empowerment, Corporate Governance, Circular Economy Leadership and Responsible Business Leadership. For more information, visit: .