'Next Generation' of CSR in ASEAN must include businesses addressing core issue of human rights, corruption

	Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia - 5 February 2015 "The private sector and business  community in the region through corporate social responsibility have been and will be able to contribute to the process of building and strengthening the ASEAN Community,"  said the ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh at the ASEAN Next-Gen Corporate Social Responsibility Forum held in Nusa Dua, Bali.
ASEAN Secretary-General, Le Luong Minh, "The inclusive, sustained, and equitable economic growth envisioned by ASEAN by 2015 and beyond can only be mainifested if the ASEAN people remains central in this processe.."

This is "especially in the areas of human developoment, social welfare and protection, promotion of social justice and rights, ensuring environmental sustainability", the ASEAN Secretary-General said.. Focussed on finding "breakthroughs for inclusive and sustainable growth in ASEAN post-2015", the Forum was held in Bali, Indonesia from 3 - 7 February, with Secretary-General Le Luong Minh and Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Puan Maharani, as guests of honour.
Addressing around 250 delegates, key stakeholders from public and private sectors, the Secretary-General was emphasising the vital role of the business sector to help achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable development in the region.  He reiterated the need to fulfill the provisions in ASEAN's Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint to ensure that CSR is in the corporate agenda within the region. Puan Maharani spoke on the the importance of partnerships between government and businesses in solving problems, especially at the community level.  Indonesia have made CSR mandatory by law. "The potential budget from CSR is predicted to give significant contributions to social developments," said the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.
The Forum was organised by the ASEAN CSR Network in partnership with the Government of Canada through its Embassy in Jakarta, the ASEAN Foundation and the Government of Sweden through its Embassy in Bangkok.  Key support was received from the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund, the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK FCO) Prosperity Fund, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and platinum sponsor, Intel.	Puan Maharani, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, at the opening of the ASEAN Next-Gen Forum, reiterated that thereis massive potential for CSR budget from private and state companies that can be utilised to strengthen the government actions on poverty alleviation and social development.

To read full text of Secretary-General Le Luong Minh's speech click here.

To read full text of Puan Maharani's speech click here.

For any inquiries, please email to info@asean-csr-network.org