The ASEAN Responsible Business Forum was held from 27 to 28 August 2018 in Singapore. This flagship event of the ASEAN CSR Network aims to enhance understanding of the role of responsible and inclusive business in creating an inclusive, resilient and sustainable ASEAN community.
Download the summary report of the event here.
Top ASEAN listed companies show improvement in the 2018 Business Integrity Disclosure in ASEAN study
A joint study on Corporate Disclosure on Business Integrity in ASEAN by the ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) found that corporate disclosure of anti-corruption practices by top ASEAN listed companies has improved over the last two years.
However, there are still concerns over a lack of safeguards and practices regarding external relationships with agents and suppliers dealing with the organisations.
The study looked at the 50 largest companies by market capitalisation in each of the five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – and assessed their level of public disclosure related to their anti-corruption efforts. The results were compared to a baseline study that was conducted 2016.
Access the full report below.
The Regional Strategy on CSR and Human Rights in ASEAN was drafted by ASEAN CSR Network, with inputs from two regional meetings in Singapore (Nov 2016) and Bangkok (June 2017). The document is based on internationally-accepted standards, particularly the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), recognising the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving business and human rights in the region. The role of states, businesses, trade unions, civil society organisations and national human rights institutions are stated, in accordance with the 3 pillars of the UNGPs. ACN is working with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and other partners to see the Strategy adopted and implemented across ASEAN.
Together with our partners, ACN has published a comprehensive directory of Financing and Technical Support Options for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in ASEAN. It provides a comprehensive overview of available financing tools – from traditional finance, such as bank loans, to alternative finance such as crowdfunding and social investing – as well as available technical support such as accelerators and incubators. Significant effort has gone into detailing the options available in all 10 ASEAN Member States. For ASEAN to achieve prosperity for all, efforts must be focused on uplifting the (M)SME sector, accounting for between 88.8% and 99.9% of the total establishments in ASEAN and between 51.7% and 97.2% of total employment.
This directory was a result of a collaboration with our partners - ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), Oxfam and AVPN.
The directory can be found here.
It is also part of a larger research report, entitled 'Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in the ASEAN Economic Community'. The year-long research sheds light on the challenges MSMEs in ASEAN face and presents holistic policy recommendations to further MSME development and realise an inclusive and sustainable ASEAN. The full report can be found here.
