SM INVESTMENTS CORPORATION The search is under way for the best Philippine companies that will go on to compete in this year's ASEAN Business Awards.
Nominations will be accepted by the Philippine secretariat of the ASEAN Business Council starting July 1, 2015. Deadline for all entries is August 7.
The contest is open to large corporations, as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
They will be judged in 18 categories including 12 relating to ASEAN integration.
These are fisheries, electronics, e-ASEAN, textiles, wood craft, rubber production, agriculture, logistics, healthcare, tourism, information, communications and technology, and aviation.
The categories for the SME Excellence Awards pertain to growth, employment, corporate social responsibility, innovation, youth and women.
"We are working towards strengthening SMEs in our country. They are the backbone of our economy." said PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, who heads ASEAN BAC Philippines.
"SMEs account for anywhere between 50 percent and 85 percent of domestic employment and contribute between 30 percent and 53 percent of gross domestic product, as well as 19 percent to 31 percent of our exports," he said.
"I am delighted that we continue to recognize the efforts of these SMEs and of medium and large corporations in the ASEAN BAC Business Awards."
A seven-member panel will pick the winners for the SME Excellence Awards and these will be announced in late October 2015.
Industry associations can nominate entries in the industry category.
The winners will qualify for the finals to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November.
The contest is part of the activities to mark ASEAN integration which brings the bloc's 10 economies closer together.
ASEAN is made up of the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
SM Investments Corporation vice chair Teresita Sy Coson said Philippine companies did well in the regional finals last year, proving their entrepreneurial spirit and readiness to compete.
"We look forward to more representation for our country in the new award categories," she said.
Jay Yuvallos, President of Interior Basics and member ASEAN BAC Philippines said, "Given appropriate stewardship, Filipino SMEs with their language abilities, cultural adaptation, mobility, tech savviness and entrepreneurial spirit can forge ahead and harness the opportunities that the ASEAN economic integration offers."
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Contact:
Marie Therese E Necio
Vice President - Corporate Communications / Investor Relations
SM Investments Corporation
(M) +63 917 506 2281
Ramon R. Isberto
PLDT Spokesperson
Tel. No.: +63 2 5113101
Fax No.: +63 2 5113100
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