From left: Mr Thomas Thomas, CEO of ACN; Dr Aladdin D. Rillo, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community; Ms Yanti Triwadiantini, Chair of ACN; Ms Lynda Lim, Programme Director of ACN

On 16 July 2018, the ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) paid a courtesy call on newly-appointed Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community, Dr Aladdin D. Rillo in Jakarta, Indonesia. This meeting discussed the framework of strategic partnership on institutionalising Responsible Business in the ASEAN Economic Pillar, to contribute to the achievement of the ASEAN Economic Community 2025 Blueprint.

The ASEAN 2025 Vision and Blueprints recognise the importance of the role of the private sector in realising the ASEAN Community Building goals. Responsible Business or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is identified a key measures across all three Community Pillars – Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural – to achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable development in ASEAN.

Indeed, responsible business ensures that human rights, environmental and ethical concerns are integrated in business operations. It can also offer companies new pathways for growth, a competitive advantage by enhancing organisational reputation, and provide a license to operate.

Inclusive business is part of responsible business. It recognises people’s core humanity, and treats them with dignity and respect, and as agents of their own development. 

Responsible and inclusive business will create business opportunities for low-income people as owners of MSMEs, small suppliers, distributors, customers or workers, and will ensure that operations are respectful of the environment, of peoples’ rights and will operate lawfully and with integrity.

In support of the push towards responsible and inclusive business in ASEAN, ACN, together with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, is organising the ASEAN Responsible Business Forum to bring together key stakeholders from governments, ASEAN bodies, the private sector and civil society to identify practical strategies and good practices, and to collectively work to advance and mainstream responsible and inclusive business across the three pillars of ASEAN.

For more information on the ASEAN Responsible Business Forum which will be held in Singapore from 27 to 28 August 2018, please click here.