Eight Malaysian enterprises and entrepreneurs were honoured at the recent ASEAN Business Awards 2020 (ABA 2020) — the region’s premier business awards hosted during the annual ASEAN Business Investment Summit (ABIS).

This year’s ASEAN Business Investment Summit, held in conjunction with the 37th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, was themed ‘Digital ASEAN: Sustainable and Inclusive’ — and aptly so, given the digitalisation of this year’s summit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaysia nevertheless shone during the virtually-delivered ASEAN Business Awards, with eight Malaysian businesses honoured in seven categories.

Priority Integration Sectors (Healthcare):

• Chemopharm Sdn Bhd

SME Excellence (Innovation):

• Airestec Innovations Sdn Bhd
• Health4U Solutions Sdn Bhd (BookDoc)

Combating COVID-19:

• Brickfields Asia College

Young Entrepreneur:

• Mr. Lee Yen Ming (PolicyStreet)

Inclusive Business:

• The Holstein Milk Company Sdn Bhd

Women Entrepreneur:

• Ms. Shahnas Oli Mohamed (Natural Wellness Group of Companies)

Family Business:

• Jebsen & Jessen Group

Among the winners were BAC Education Group, who won this year’s special Combating COVID-19 award for their efforts in tackling the adverse impact of the pandemic in Malaysia. Notable efforts included raising over RM136,500 for various causes, and providing a complimentary digital platform to help re-skill and up-skill Malaysians.

Mr. Raja Singham, Managing Director of BAC Education Group & Council Member of ASEAN-BAC Malaysia reiterated that organisations would need to quickly build new competencies, adapt and continually innovate.

The award recognises BAC’s efforts of giving back to the society through education, nation building and employment, healthcare, welfare, special needs and children.

The ASEAN Business Awards was held on 13 November 2020 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The awards were hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VCCI) and BRG Group, with strategic partner Deloitte Vietnam.

Malaysia was represented on this year’s ABA judging panel by none other than Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Marimuthu Nadason, who represents us for the sixth time on the panel.

This year’s ABA was graced by Vietnam’s First Deputy Prime Minister H. E. Truong Hoa Binh, who commended ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and ABA 2020 chairperson Madame Nguyen Thi Nga for a job well done. His Excellency also urged ASEAN businesses to embrace the digital revolution to bring greater prosperity to and promote greater sustainability within the region

The ASEAN Business and Investment Summit is Southeast Asia’s premier annual forum that convenes government, business, and thought leaders at the ASEAN Summit.

This year’s ABIS focused on the importance of the fourth industrial revolution in stimulating growth, trade, and investment in ASEAN to both mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as tackle the many other challenges facing the region.

The 37th ASEAN Summit, hosted under Vietnam’s chairmanship, was held on 12 November 2020 under the theme ‘Cohesive and Responsive’. The summit was hosted in Hanoi but delivered primarily via videoconference.