MACAU, China, June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- A total of 52 projects across Asia were selected as recipients of this year's Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (AREA) by Enterprise Asia. The Awards, often dubbed the Nobel Prize for Sustainability also recognized four business leaders for their roles in promoting CSR practices within their organizations and across their industries. 

Over 300 submissions from 28 countries were received from companies across Asia, with judges led by former Minister of Environment of Taiwan, Dr Eugene Chien, sieving through the submission over a two-months judging period. Besides being able to demonstrate the design and execution of sound and effective CSR programs, nominees are required to demonstrate the extent that CSR practices have been institutionalized within their organizations and the measurable impact of their programs to people, community and environment.

"We are glad to celebrate this award as part of our commitment in investment in people and social empowerment programs contributing to the development of Indonesia," said Rohan Hafas, SVP – Corporate Secretary of PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) in reference to their programs Mandiri Young Technopreneur Program and Mandiri Sahabatku.

Dato' William Ng, president of Enterprise Asia said, "the quality of this year's submission is outstanding. It was a truly monumental task to decide on the best, as every submission was of very high quality – demonstrating the expertise and capability of the region's CSR practitioners. This is a far cry from when we first started giving out the awards in the year 2009. Much thought has been given to impact and measurability, as a result of increased reporting requirements."

Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, chairman of Enterprise Asia, and former Minister of Human Resources and founding chairman of Sustainable Energy Development Authority of Malaysia, presented the Awards trophy and certificate to recipients.

Dr Fong said, "today, we highlight the efforts by businesses to promote sustainable corporate practices and an ethical and compassionate business culture. More than ever, we now see the urgency to institutionalize responsible entrepreneurship as a mean to protect our market share, shareholder's value, and the sustainability of our businesses."

The four business leaders named as recipients of the AREA Responsible Business Leadership Award are Batara Sianturi, Dato' Michael Tio, Paul Norman Janelle and Seah Kian Peng.

"This achievement represents not only a recognition but also an encouragement to continue and improve Sampoerna's CSR programs, and we are pleased to have won two prestigious AREA Awards. We hope that this achievement will also inspire other businesses to play their own role of promoting positive changes in their communities", shared Paul Norman Janelle, President Director of PT HM Sampoerna.

CSR is embedded into the operations of these companies. Yodphod Wongrukmit, Senior EVP of The Bangchak Petroleum PLC said the company creates shared value for Thai farmers, strengthen communities and Thai society through its Cooperative Service Stations.

For Universal Harvester, Inc. Dr. Milagros O. How believes that "CSR is vital in our human relations and customer care. We invest in human progress by providing the greatest gift of HOPE."

Dato' Michael Tio of PKT Logistics Hub said, "CSR is not about how you spend your profits, instead it's about how responsible you make your profits."

Full List of Recipients of the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards 2015

Responsible Business Leadership

Batara Sianturi, CEO, Citi Indonesia

Dato' Michael Tio, CEO, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd

Paul Norman Janelle, President, PT HM Sampoerna

Seah Kian Peng, CEO, NTUC FairPrice Co-operative Limited

Social Empowerment

A.S. Watson Group (HK), A.S. Watson Global Volunteer Day

Cepatwawasan Group, Cepatwawasan Humana Education Resource Centre

Ceylon Tobacco Company, Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme

Expolanka Holdings, Venture Engine

FrieslandCampina (HK) Milk Tea Day 2014

Hayleys Agriculture Holdings, Seaweed Innovation Project

IRPC PLC, From Bench to Community

Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor, Entrepreneurship Development Program

Lamina Films, Lamina's "Dream" Educational Project

New World Development Company, The New World Springboard

Permodalan Nasional Berhad Unit Trust Week

Port Authority Of Thailand, Determination of the Princess Mother & Giving Love and Warmth to the underprivileged Children Project

PT Bank Mandiri (Persero), Mandir Sahabatku

PT HM Sampoerna, Empowering Tobacco Farmers Community through Community Learning Group

S&P Syndicate PLC, S&P Kitchen For Kids

Thai Life Insurance PLC, Thai Good Stories

The Bangchak Petroleum PLC, Cooperative Service Station

The Shell Company Of Thailand Limited, Shell Thailand CNS Terminal Fire Water Pipeline Replacement Project

Toshiba Information Equipment (Phils.), Building a Nation Trough Quality Education

Trans-Asia Oil And Energy Development Corporation, Harnessing Energy Literacy for Planet Earth

Universal Harvester, Inc., BACK-TO-FARM Project

WNS Cares Foundation, WNS Cares Foundation Computer Literacy Project, India

Investment in People

AP Honda Co., Ltd, Safety Thailand

Mah Sing Group, Mah Sing's Investment in People

Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, MWA Plumber for People Project

PKT Logistics Group, Build A Company That's Everybody's Dream

PT Bank Mandiri, Mandiri Young Technopreneur Program

PT Trakindo Utama, The Trakindo Education Cooperative Program

Shah Cement Industries, Amar Nirmaney Ami - Building My Home, Bangladesh

Health Promotion

A.S. Watson Group (Philippines), Watsons Generics: Improving Lives of the Filipinos One Pill at a Time

Billion Hearts Beating Foundation, Billion Hearts Beating: For a Heart-Healthy India, India

DLF Foundation, AAROGYAM – Comprehensive Healthcare, India

PT Combiphar, COMBI HOPE Health Living Education

PT Indosiar Visual Mandiri, Peduli Kasih

Sampath Bank, "Hope for a Life"- Endowment of Neuro Navigation System

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Takeda-Plan Healthcare Access Program

Green Leadership

Ampol Food Processing, Reduce Waste by using 3 Rs

ArthaLand Corporation, We Are ArthaLand: We Are Green

British American Tobacco Bangladesh, Probaho (Water Filtration Project), Bangladesh

Hang Lung Properties, "Hang Lung Green LEEDers Program"

KPMG, Rainforest-to-Reef

Lafarge Republic Group, Beyond the National Greening Program

Land Bank of The Philippines, Environmental Due Diligence Financed Projects

PARKnSHOP, PARKnSHOP Energy Saving Program

PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad, ecoCare and ecoCare Environmental Education Centre

PTT Global Chemical PLC, Bio-Agri

Ricoh Malaysia, Much About Mangrove

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, RCBC Green ATM Project

Selangor Dredging Berhad, River Rehabilitation Program

SPCG PLC, SPCG 36 Solar Farms

SME CSR

Muang Thai Life Assurance PLC, Muang Thai Life Assurance Community Development Volunteer Camp

Puritas, Sath Diyawara

Media Contact: Naina Bajaj, Enterprise Asia, +60378030312, n.bajaj@enterpriseasia.org

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SOURCE Enterprise Asia