Go for the opportunity and promise of the AEC

“The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) offers a historic opportunity for companies, whether SMEs or big corporations, to expand and achieve greater success. The market of 620 million is the third largest in the world which Malaysian companies must not miss out,” said Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Chairman of ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia, at the ASEAN Business Awards Malaysia (ABAM) 2016 gala dinner.

“While there are risks in venturing out, the rewards are far greater as the AEC integration process gathers pace. Companies receiving their awards tonight recognise this and have already made their ASEAN mark. There can only be more to come,” added Tan Sri Munir.

ABAM is held annually to recognise national sector champions that have contributed to the national economy by expanding into the ASEAN region. National level award recipients will be automatically nominated for the 9th ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) in Laos in September this year, competing on the regional stage against the best in nine other ASEAN countries. The ABA is the only business awards event in the official ASEAN calendar of activities.

Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak

The gala dinner for ABAM 2016 was graced by YAB Dato Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, with YB Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry, also attending. The Prime Minister presented the awards to the 19 recipients of ABAM 2016.

The recipients of the 7^th ABAM were:

1. ASEAN Excellence Award – Malaysia

CIMB

2. ASEAN Excellence Award – International

FRASER & NEAVE HOLDINGS BERHAD

3. Entrepreneur of the Year Award

YBHG. TAN SRI DATO’ SRI LEONG HOY KUM

4. Industry Excellence Award – Agro-Based

BATU KAWAN BERHAD

5. Industry Excellence Award – Automotive

WESTSTAR AUTO SDN BHD

6. Industry Excellence Award – Aviation

AIRASIA BERHAD

7. Industry Excellence Award – Digital Media

SKY BLUE MEDIA SDN BHD

8. Industry Excellence Award – E-Commerce

DAGANG NET TECHNOLOGIES SDN BHD

9. Industry Excellence Award – Rubber-Based

TOP GLOVE CORPORATION BERHAD

10. Industry Excellence Award – Healthcare

HOVID BERHAD

11. Industry Excellence Award – ICT

SILVERLAKE AXIS

12. Industry Excellence Award – Logistics

WESTPORTS MALAYSIA SDN BHD

13. Industry Excellence Award – Oil & Gas

SAPURAKENCANA PETROLEUM BERHAD

14. Industry Excellence Award – Retail

VALIRAM GROUP

15. Industry Excellence Award – Tourism

GENTING MALAYSIA BERHAD

16. SME Excellence Award – Growth

WIDE TROPISM TRADING SDN BHD

17. SME Excellence Award – Innovation

BUILDERS BIOMASS SDN BHD

18. SME Excellence Award – Employment

NATURAL HEALTH FARM MARKETING (M) SDN BHD

19. SME Excellence Award – Corporate Social Responsibility

GLOBAL TOP TECHNOLOGIES (M) SDN BHD (GTC)

The Chairman of ASEAN-BAC Malaysia offered his heartiest congratulations to the award recipients. “I hope more and more Malaysian companies will grow with the ASEAN region and it will get increasingly difficult to pick the winners in the coming years,” added Tan Sri Munir.

YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry Malaysia, Tan Sri Munir Majid, Chairman of ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia and the ASEAN Business Awards Malaysia 2016 winners.

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ABOUT ASEAN-BAC MALAYSIA

The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia Chapter is an integral participant in the regional ASEAN-BAC with regular participation at all Council Meetings and Consultation with the leaders. Over the course of the 13 years that the ASEAN-BAC Malaysia Chapter has been in operation, various recommendations, feedback and input have been provided during the consultation with the ASEAN Economic Ministers and ASEAN Heads of State at the regular ASEAN Consultation and Business Summits. At the same time, various studies on the national and regional economic climate have been conducted to substantiate the recommendations, some of which have already been incorporated into the guidelines of the overall ASEAN Economic Community Agenda.

Moving forward, ASEAN-BAC as a collective endeavour to venture into more operative initiatives such as business matchmakings and promotional activities between the private sector businesses within the region, with particular emphasis on SMEs, the main economic driver of the region. Every national council is responsible for the implementation of these initiatives at national level with collaboration, support and connectivity with the various other national councils.

The initiatives are set in accordance with the guidelines and timeline of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), with its formation year in 2015 and hosted by Malaysia.