Duterte rallies Asean businessmen to support MSMEs

President Duterte graced Wednesday night the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Business Awards 2017, rallying members of the region to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to be included in the supply system to help spur development in their respective countries and the entire ASEAN.

In his speech at the awarding ceremony at the Solaire Resort and Casino Hotel, Duterte cited the need to support businesses for regional growth.

“We have undertaken initiatives to enable a globally competitive business environment,” added Duterte, current chairman of the ASEAN which is also celebrating its 50th founding anniversary this year.

In his opening remarks, presidential consultant for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion called on all awardees to embrace the supply chain. At the same time, he urged banks to lend funds to struggling entrepreneurs to boost the economic development in their respective countries.

Concepcion is also chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council.

For the priority integration sector-excellence awards, the awardees were Kok Khun Won, DeClout Limited (Singapore), E-ASEAN winner; Paul Rodriguez, Asian Marine Transport Corp., logistics winner; Pedro Delantar Jr, Nature’s Legacy Eximport Inc. (Philippines), wood-based winner; Kuang Sia Lim, Kossan Rubber Industries BHD (Malaysia), rubber winner; Olivia Limpe-Aw, Destileria Limtuaco & Co. (Philippines), Agri-Food winner; Vidjongtius, Pt Kalbe Farm Tbk (Indonesia), healthcare winner; and Tony Fernandes, Air Asia (Malaysia), tourism winner.

Under the SME excellence awards category, the awardees were Nasha Jungkankul, Kunna Groceries Co. Ltd. (Thailand)—growth winner; Cecilio Pedro, Lamoiyan Corporation (Philippines), CSR winner; Jasudasen Thambynathan, ZICO Holdings Inc. (Singapore), employment winner; and Khin Maung Lwin, FAME Pharmaceuticals Industry Company (Myanmar), innovation winner.

Dennis Uy, of Udenna Corp. (Philippines), was declared Young Entrepreneur of the Year while Sirina Sisombat-Hervy (Sinouk Coffee (LAOPDR) was awarded as Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.

Teodoro Ferrer, Erikagen, Inc (Generika – Philippines) got the Inclusive Business Award.

For the Legacy Awards, the recipients were John Gokongwei, Jr (JG Summit Holdings Inc (Philippines); Rattana Prathoumvan, EDL Generation Public Co. (Laos); Aung Ko Win, KBZ Group (Myanmar); Wee Cho Yaw, United Overseas Bank (Singapore); Haji Musa Bin HJ Adnin, Adinin Group of Companies (Brunei); Dr. (H.C.( Sudhamek Aws, GarudaFood (Indonesia); Goh Peng Coi, Silverlake Axis Limited (Malaysia); Sakchai Unchittikul (Srichengmai Industry Company (Thailand) and Le Thu Thuy, BRG Group and SeABank (Vietnam).