(19 August 2014. Pasay City, Philippines) A total of 56 companies are vying for the first ASEAN Business Awards Philippines. About 66% of the companies belong to SMEs while 34% are from large businesses. 

According to Teresita Sy-Coson, Philippine representative to the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and Vice-Chairperson of SM Investments Corporation, "We are quite pleased with the participation of companies in the first ever ASEAN Business Awards Philippines. It is our hope that the awards will serve to inspire and motivate more Filipino businesses to participate and become key players in the broader regional market, as well as strengthen the Philippines' overall competitiveness in the ASEAN Economic Community.

The ASEAN Business Awards Philippines aim to recognize outstanding small and large Philippine enterprises who promote competitiveness of local entrepreneurs and their ability to explore and harness the opportunities that the AEC offers. This is the flagship program for 2014 of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines (ASEAN-BAC Philippines) to  drive visibility, awareness and adoption of the foundation principles put together on the AEC by 2015 and beyond.

The ASEAN BAC Philippines is the  country's representative to the  ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC),  the regional platform created by ASEAN Leaders to provide private business sector feedback and guidance to boost ASEAN's efforts towards economic integration and identify priority areas for considerations by the ASEAN Leaders.

This year, the ASEAN Business Awards Philippines will take on the theme "Enhancing Regional Competitiveness through National Cooperation." The categories include Large Businesses for Innovation, Corporate Excellence and ASEAN Centricity; and Small and Medium Enterprises for SME, Young Entrepreneurs and Women Leaders.

For more details about the awards, please visit www.aseanbac.ph or email the ASEAN Business Awards Philippines secretariat at abasecretariat@aseanbac.ph.

About ASEAN-BAC Philippines

The ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines (ASEAN BAC Philippines) is the local representative of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC), the official ASEAN linkage tasked to provide private sector feedback and guidance to boost ASEAN's efforts towards economic integration and identify priority areas for considerations by the ASEAN Leaders.

Tel.No.: 857-0100 loc. 1039

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