With the mission of promoting partnership relationship between public and private areas in order to form a common ASEAN economic community, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) has become an important bridge for regional enterprises and governments. To celebrate the 40th founding anniversary of the ASEAN (May 8, 1967-2007), many practical activities of ASEAN economic communities will be carried out this year.
The 13th ASEAN Summit will be opened in Singapore in November 2007, according to information from the 23rd ASEAN BAC meeting held in Hanoi on March 28-29, 2007. On this occasion, ASEAN BAC will also organise an annual ASEAN-BIS Summit, which is a forum for the public and private sectors to cooperate to introduce favourable measures to promote ASEAN economic initiatives. ASEAN-BIS Summit is the fifth event ASEAN BAC rotationally holds in its member countries.
Especially, the ASEAN BIS 2007 will present ASEAN Business Award (ABA) for the first time to recognise and honour achievements that the companies in ASEAN member countries have contributed to the regional economic integration process. This initiative was initiated by ASEAN BAC with the objective of bringing regional businesses to new highs to obtain bigger achievements in trade and investment. Mr Dao Duy Khuong, Chairman of ASEAN BAC Vietnam, said this initiative was originated from the demand of the ASEAN business community, in which Vietnam is an integral part.
The basic criteria of ABA are candidates are in ASEAN bloc, attain a lot of achievements in the past time, are potential businesses, and actively invest in ASEAN bloc. The awards will go to two forms of businesses: one is upcoming multinational firms and another is small and medium enterprises. “This award will be launched in Singapore on April 16 to determine awarding criteria. Many Vietnamese companies will compete for this award,” Khuong emphasised.
Besides, to recognise regional efforts in transforming the region into a common market and a consistent production block, ASEAN leaders assign ASEAN BAC to carry out ASEAN pioneer project scheme (APPS) project to improve the ASEAN business environment. Most successful companies will be developed into multinational groups, which will advertise “Made-in-ASEAN” products and services, and associate ASEAN economies. ASEAN BAC is now considering three APPS projects, namely ASEAN Green Lane, ASEAN Alternative Energy Source and ASEAN Franchising.
As for Vietnam side, Mr Doan Duy Khuong said ASEAN BAC Vietnam will focus on four fields this year, namely information, consulting, training and construction of projects to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese companies in integrating into ASEAN economies. At the same time, ASEAN BAC Vietnam also concentrates on building its website in order to provide sufficient business and investment information in Vietnam to ASEAN business communities. It also opens business seminars and forums for enterprises to meet and promote trade.
According to the analyses of ASEAN BAC chairmen, ASEAN BAC made great efforts in building and consolidating business confidence. Strong economic backgrounds, powerful economic transformations, infrastructure and business support policies heightened the position of ASEAN on the globe and helped ASEAN become a common market, which promises valuable opportunities.
Lan Anh
Vietnamese
