VP Ma’ruf Amin Invites ASEAN Stakeholders to Collaborate in Strengthening Food Security
Vice President Ma’ruf Amin opens the 2023 ASEAN Business Awards in Jakarta, Monday (09/04). (Photo by: Media Center for the 2023 ASEAN Summit/Prasetia Fauzani/pras)
Amid complex and increasingly challenging global situation, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin called on stakeholders in ASEAN region to strengthen collaboration in producing solutions to crucial issues, including climate change, economic fluctuations, and social change that will affect ASEAN countries and the region.
“Regarding climate issue, it has exacerbated the threat of food security. I invite all stakeholders in ASEAN to pay more attention to cooperation in strengthening food security, because our region is not immune from this problem,” he said during the 2023 ASEAN Business Awards and Gala Dinner, in Jakarta, Monday (09/04).
The ASEAN, he added, must respond to these increasingly complex external challenges by strengthening the unity and affirming commitment to implement principles of the ASEAN Charters, particularly the principle of safeguarding ASEAN’s centrality.
“ASEAN’s unity and centrality are the main power to establish peace, stability, and growth in the region. I would like to reiterate that ASEAN is important for its 660 million populations, as well as for the Indo-Pacific region, and the rest of the world,” he said.
Ma’ruf went on to say that he is optimistic that ASEAN, with its unity and centrality, can be an engine of a sustainable economic growth that will benefit the people.
“We want to affirm ASEAN as an engine for global economic growth that is sustainable and respects environmental sustainability [principles] in order to achieve a prosperous future while still maintaining the sustainability of the planet Earth and humanity,” he stated.
He underscored the fact that ASEAN’s economy is able to grow above global average amid global economic slowdown. He also expressed hope that ASEAN leaders can have a joint commitment to maintain regional economic growth and make ASEAN the epicentrum of growth.
“The world today is surrounded by the issue of economic inequality. Thus, an agenda for economic democracy must become the main consensus achieved by ASEAN’s political and business leaders. It includes the effort to synergize objective of economic growth and equity in one whole development package, one of which is by providing full affirmation to MSME actors,” he said.
On that occasion, he also sent his congratulations to the recipients and nominees of the ASEAN Business Awards 2023.
“On behalf of the Government of Indonesia, I appreciate your hard work and dedication to boost economy in the region,” he concluded.
For the record, the 2023 ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) is an international-level event that seeks and recognizes ASEAN business enterprises and individuals who prioritize innovative solutions, sustainability, and inclusiveness in ASEAN region. The event which this year adopted a theme “Uniting Visions, Powering Growth” gave awards to major enterprises and Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in 10 categories. In addition, the 2023 ABA also conferred individual awards.
Recipients of the ASEAN Business Awards 2023 for Enterprise (Large Corporations and MSMEs) Awards are as follows:
- Digital Innovation
Aboitiz Data Innovation (the Philippines)
City Development Joint Stock Commercial (Vietnam) - The Best CX
Loca Company Limited (Laos)
PT Eastpay Debit Indonesia Koe (Indonesia) - Net-Zero Leader
Agrabah Ventures (the Philippines)
Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd (Singapore) - Plastic Waste Circularity
PT Amandina Bumi Nusantara (Indonesia)
PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk (Indonesia) - Sustainable Crop Production
Cambodian Standard Development & Supply Co. Ltd (Cambodia)
Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (the Philippines) - Tech for Sustainable Agriculture
Eden Agritech (Thailand)
eFishery (Indonesia) - Health Innovation
Speco (Singapore)
Health Management International (Singapore) - Corporate Health Achievement
Orange and Bronze Softwares Labs Inc (the Philippines)
BAAO Parish Multipurpose Cooperative (the Philippines) - Export Growth
Bella Interiors Company Limited (Myanmar)
P. Intertrade Company Limited (Thailand) - Innovative Investment
Bintang Capital Partners (Malaysia)
Funding Societies | Modalku Group (Indonesia)
Here are the recipients of the ASEAN Business Awards 2023 for Individual Awards:
- Youth
Kyaw Thu Htet (Myanmar)
Suebsit Sarntisart (Thailand) - Women
Khin Chaw Su Win (Myanmar)
La Hieu Hue (Vietnam) - Friends of ASEAN
Dino Patti Djalal (Indonesia)
Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii (Brunei Darussalam)
(BPMI of Vice-Presidential Secretariat/UN) (RAS/MUR)
