ASEAN CSR Network: October 2017 Newsletter

Promoting and enabling
responsible business conduct in ASEAN

​
​ACN prepares for years ahead at
​Strategy Meeting

​​​​​
​
 

​​​The ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) conducted an internal planning meeting to develop strategic objectives for the years 2018-2022.

Read more here.
​

• ​ACN introduces new Secretariat staff members
• ASEAN CSR Fellowship 2017 wraps up
• ​ACN supports the Manila Tripartite Joint Statement Towards Strengthening Social Partnership
• ACN presents at JETRO-IDE Seminar
• ​Small Grants Fund update

​Report on
Financial Inclusion of MSMEs launched at
ASEAN Inclusive Business Summit 2017

​​
The ASEAN CSR Network unveiled its comprehensive report on financial inclusion for MSMEs, titled "Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in the ASEAN Economic Community." It was presented to the public by the CEO of ACN, Mr. Thomas Thomas, at the ASEAN Inclusive Business Summit 2017, held at the Marriot Hotel in Manila, on 6 September 2017.
 

Read more here.

​RWI Course on
Business and Human Rights

​
 

​ACN worked successfully with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) on human rights training for corporates in Southeast Asia.
 

Read more here.

​

​ACN at the 2017 SID Conference
​on Sustainability

​​
The ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) participated at the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) Conference 2017, "The Sustainability Imperative" last September 12, 2017 at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.

ACN's CEO, Mr. Thomas Thomas, was a panelist of one of the breakout sessions, which focused on the theme "Governance: How Is It Connected to Sustainability?"
​

Read more here.

• ​ACN’s CEO at the World Forum for a Responsible Economy in Lille, France
• Talk at the Copenhagen Business School
• MOU with Transparency International inked​​
• ACN Keynote Speech at the the ASETUC Regional Workshop
• Meeting with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Partnership with ICC Malaysia & FMM for a seminar on business integrity​

​

OXFAM produced a short film featuring the story of a Filipino banana farmer in Mindanao, Philippines. It talks about the struggles of a farmer and the unfair exclusive deal he entered with a Japanese corporation that has left him buried in debt and unable to grow the business. The video presents a good example of how unfair business practices can adversely affect lives.
​

Watch the video here.

​

The WWF released the 2017 Palm Oil Buyers’ Score Card for Malaysia in Singapore, which aims to increase transparency in the palm oil industry of South East Asia. The Score Card includes an assessment of the buying and sourcing of palm oil by local retailers, manufacturers, and food-related companies.
 

Read the full report here.
​

ASEAN continues to stride forward with its regional integration efforts with a view to narrowing the development gap and delivering more benefits to more people. A factsheet has been done up and it highlights the progress of the three ASEAN Community pillars and priorities as the grouping celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017.