As an implementing partner, ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) attended the High-Level Launch of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Project “Promoting a Fair Business Environment in ASEAN” on 23 August 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Spearheaded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office under its new Prosperity Fund, the project aims to foster inclusive growth, prevent corruption, and promote sustainable business practices in ASEAN, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The project will operate on four key pillars, namely government and private sector partnerships, transparency in public procurement and infrastructure, private sector engagement, and corruption prevention and redress mechanisms. As an implementing partner for the project, ACN will be responsible for the outputs related to business integrity and collective action. 

Mr Thomas Thomas, CEO of ACN, was invited to speak on a panel discussion at the Launch entitled, “Doing Business Responsibly to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: How Can We Go Beyond Minimum Standards?” He highlighted the key trends in responsible business conduct in ASEAN and presented some findings from a recently concluded study on Corporate Disclosure on Business Integrity in ASEAN.

The event concluded with a reception at the British Embassy in Bangkok, hosted by H.E. Mr Brian Davidson, British Ambassador to Thailand.

ACN was also invited to attend the post-launch event on 24 August, where representatives of the UNDP country offices, as well as potential implementing partners for the project, presented their country workplans. Following that, ACN observed the first project board meeting, which went deeper into the discussion of the country workplans, monitoring and evaluation framework, and budget for the project.