Spotlight on ASEAN’s Largest Enterprises And Their Sustainability Journey in the Digital Age
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 June 2022 – The 3 winning entries of the inaugural ASEAN Tech for Environmental, Social, Governance Awards have been announced. The awards, hosted by AIBP and supported by Oracle, will be presented to the winners at the 2022 AIBP ASEAN Innovation Retreat to be held in Singapore on 4 July 2022.
In recent years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) have become a key aspect for business resilience and sustainable development in ASEAN.
As digitalisation takes centre stage as a key economic driver for ASEAN, there is increasing focus on how technology will support the sustainability agenda. A survey of enterprises in the region also found that the top 3 UNSDGs that ASEAN Enterprises believe will benefit most from technology are
- GOAL #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- GOAL #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- GOAL #7: Affordable and Clean Energy
These goals were addressed by the winning entries (in alphabetical order) of the 2022 ASEAN Tech for ESG Awards:
Aboitiz Equity Ventures: Accelerating pathways towards Sustainability through Data Science and AI
Aboitiz Equity Ventures (Philippines) drives operational eco(efficiency) and financial inclusion to balance the interests of people, planet and profit by leveraging frontier technologies within their business units. Leveraging Aboitiz Data Innovation’s data science and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, UnionBank was able to promote financial inclusion, while Aboitiz Power and Republic cement managed to optimise resources and minimise wastage with AI & machine learning.
“We said, “Let’s have that entity and capability that knows data”, and actually (show) that sustainability, eco-friendliness and profit are not oxymorons, these goals can be achieved concurrently.”
– Dr. David R. Hardoon, Chief Data & Innovation Officer, Aboitiz Group
Globe Telecom: Using #Tech4Good and creating a #GlobeofGood
Globe Telecom (Philippines) makes use of predictive data analysis and machine learning technology to pre-empt effects of extreme weather conditions and natural disasters for the community. Through its Digital Thumbprint Programme(DTP), the company educates the public and promotes safe digital citizenry. In addition, the telecommunications provider supports donations to 13 partner humanitarian organisations with rewards points and money through its digital platform, Globe Rewards.
“Aside from just looking at it from an inclusivity perspective, there’s always a social, economic and environmental impact that technology can do”
– Apple Evangelista, Head, Sustainability & Social Responsibility, Globe Telecom Inc.
IOI Corporation Berhad: Strengthening & Enhancing Social Practices Through Digital Transformation
IOI Corporation Berhad embarked on a digital transformation journey to drive social inclusion and operational efficiency. Their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system enables wage monitoring that ensures prompt and fair wage disbursement, prevention of working hours manipulation, and easy access to headcount status. E-wallet system, Merchantrade, was also implemented for online salary disbursement to eliminate wage pilfering.
“With technology, our opportunities are endless. It actually helps our workers, gives women empowerment, allows children to be able to be educated. We can continue with that by improving connectivity, building capacity, and making sure that social inclusion is about everybody, not just those who are (fortunately) exposed to digital transformation.”
– Dr. Surina Ismail, Group Head of Sustainability, IOI Corporation Berhad
The awards were judged by the following esteemed panel of judges:
- Han Chung Heng, Senior Vice President, Systems and Alliances & Channels, JAPAC, Oracle
- Irza Suprapto, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, Industry Platform
- Milag San Jose- Ballesteros, Global South Diversity Lead, Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
- Ozzeir Khan, Director, Digital Innovation & Architecture Division, ADB & Principal IT Specialist for Technology Innovation, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
“It’s great that we’re putting a bigger spotlight on sustainability across Southeast Asia, as seen by all the finalists. The role of technology in achieving our sustainability goals cannot be denied. In fact, Oracle’s recent ‘No Planet B’ study revealed that 66% of people in Asia Pacific believe bots will succeed where humans have failed with corporate sustainability. The 9 projects by the finalists is a promising signal that we are on the right path to create a world where man and machine can co-exist to positively impact businesses, communities and the planet.”
– Han Chung Heng, Senior Vice President, Systems and Alliances & Channels, JAPAC, Oracle
A compilation of all winning nominations, along with a survey of ASEAN stakeholders on their sentiments around the UNSDGs and their organisation’s priorities is available. For any queries, please contact Valerie Tan, Sustainability Program Lead, via email at [email protected]
About the ASEAN Tech for Environmental, Social, Governance Awards
The ASEAN Tech for Environmental, Social, Governance Awards is held with the key objective of recognising organisations who have embarked on ESG projects, utilising digital tools and innovative technologies, with proven impact and results in their sustainability and ESG efforts. For additional information on the Award, please visit 
https://iotbusiness-platform.com/award/.
About AIBP
AIBP serves as an avenue for public and private organisations in Southeast Asia to access and exchange information about growth and innovation. With a current network of over 30,000 stakeholders in Southeast Asia, AIBP continues to develop ecosystems by engaging in activities which create value-adding information for our stakeholders seeking to make transformative impacts within their organisations. For additional information about AIBP, please visit https://iotbusiness-platform.com/.
#AIBP
Services
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Stakeholder mapping, analysis, engagement and communication needs to be detailed to avoid business losses or even worse, a crisis. How can you do this effectively to prevent failure? ...
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
Data-driven business decisions have never been as crucial, especially in this era. MGBF leverages off, technology, experience and market presence to aid businesses in making accurate decisions. ...
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
MGBF provides comprehensive strategic advice and results-focused solutions to solve clients' problems in business-government relations so they can focus on their core business. ...
BUSINESS & BROADER MARKET ACCESS
A critical business challenge is meeting the right decision-makers and potential buyers through the best channel and platform. How will you improve your business competency? ...
Upcoming Events
SECURITY CONCERNS IN CRITICAL VALUE CHAINS
The threat matrix has evolved to include information warfare, cyberspace incursions, big data and behavioural communications. Business leaders need to be aware of these threats to survive. What are you doing as a key stakeholder?
CHARTING THE FUTURE OF DATA RESILIENCE
Companies can now live or die based on their ability to generate and manage data. Effectively managing existential challenges is the opportunity that business leaders need to grasp for a sustainable future. Calling for speakers!
ADDRESSING WEAPONISED INFORMATION IN THE MEDIA
Corporations and their leadership often face weaponised information attacks in the media. Understanding these advanced business threats is crucial. Recently completed. View proceedings online.
DIGITAL RESILIENCE IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR
Special session: Cyberwarfare Waged on the Corporate Sector - Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine Crisis. Corporations are in a digital arms race that many don't realise. How does this relate to your organisation?
MGBF In The News
More than 1,100 years ago, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was developing the mathematical formulas that we know today as algorithms which now have become so intertwined with the business fortunes of global media giants and the very fabric of geopolitics. A series of recent high level international reports have revealed […]
KSK Land has been recognised by the Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) for its role in attracting high net-worth individuals to Malaysia post-pandemic. The first challenge in investor attraction is “selling” the country. In the context of Asia, Malaysia is competing with some very established investment destinations. The second […]
Malaysia, in particular Kuala Lumpur, continues to position itself as a regional centre to do business, educate a family and enjoy a global lifestyle. One company, KSK Land, has taken the lead in positioning itself and the city of Kuala Lumpur as a property investment destination for the global citizen […]
The upcoming budget represents an opportunity to build resilience in the critical sectors that will form the backbone of the country’s future-facing economic ambitions. This however needs to be achieved in the context of managing the community sectors most impacted by COVID-19 over the past two years. The Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) […]
KUALA LUMPUR, 6 July 2022 – As the global economy continues to deal with unprecedented levels of disruption caused by the pandemic and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the convergence of energy security and food security issues has become a front-of-mind issue faced by policy makers and consumers alike. […]
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2022 — Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) ties up with scoutAsia to ensure that businesses are equipped with deeper regional insights. The past two years has seen a massive shift in the way businesses are conducted with digitisation, digitalisation and automation continuously being adopted to improve […]
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 May 2022 – The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF)’s exclusive roundtable on ‘Security Concerns in Critical Value Chains’ was held in a hybrid setting yesterday at the Eastin Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The guest of honour was Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz, former minister of […]
The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) has released a report following the roundtable on ‘Digital Resilience in the Corporate Sector’, which was recently held in Kuala Lumpur. In attendance as guest of honour was Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin. The report recommended several critical development […]
Trade and investment delegations will trickle back over the next few months, but the second half of the year should see considerable return of business travellers. It was learnt that over 50 per cent of international business chambers and industry associations surveyed will consider sending exploratory teams to Malaysia during […]
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 March 2022 – The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF)’s exclusive roundtable on ‘Digital Resilience in the Corporate Sector’ was held in a hybrid setting yesterday at the Element by Westin Kuala Lumpur. The discussion focused on what business leaders need to understand, to ensure business resilience and […]
The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF)’s exclusive roundtable on ‘Addressing Weaponised Information in the Media’ was held in a hybrid setting today at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur. The discussion focused on addressing one of the most relevant threats to businesses in the digital economy – cyber threats causing physical and […]
The current floods that have impacted various parts of the country have given rise to an extensive commentary on the response cycles of various stakeholders. It has in turn led to continued crisis communications and statements in the media by agencies and ministries alike. This binary approach to the discussion […]
The formation of a special Cabinet committee to develop strategic measures to safeguard the economy amid the Covid-19 outbreak shows the Malaysian government is serious about creating a balance between the continued safety of the general population and the survival of the economy. In the global context, as many countries […]
Innovation, coupled with a radical departure from contemporary thinking, is required with a possible reality of a prolonged crisis becoming the new reality that people and companies must function through. Malaysia Global Business Forum founding chairman Nordin Abdullah said innovation and resilience from all stakeholders will be required to shape […]
The recent announcement that a committee jointly chaired by senior ministers in charge of security and economy clusters respectively demonstrates that the Malaysian government is serious about creating a balance between continued safety of the general population and the survival of the economy. In the global context, as many countries […]
Innovation, coupled with a radical departure from contemporary thinking, is required with a possible reality of a prolonged crisis becoming the new reality that people and companies must function through. Malaysia Global Business Forum founding chairman Nordin Abdullah said innovation and resilience from all stakeholders will be required to […]
