ASEAN Business Awards 2020 officially announced

Doan Duy Khuong, chairman of ASEAN BAC 2020, Nguyen Thi Nga, chairwoman of ABA 2020 (centre), and Ha Thi Thu Thanh, chairperson of Deloitte Vietnam, signing a Partnership Agreement for ASEAN Business Awards 2020

The ABA 2020 awards will honour businesses in the ASEAN, serving as a great motivation for them to continue promoting creativity and discover new development directions to match post-pandemic economic conditions.

This is the second time Vietnam holds ABA and Nguyen Thi Nga chairs the award. Previously, in 2010, chairwoman Nga made tremendous contributions to the success and reputation of this award.

At a meeting between the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) and the leaders of the bloc’s countries within the framework of the 36^th ASEAN Summit, Nguyen Thi Nga reported to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of the ASEAN that ABA 2020 will honour the bloc’s businesses for their outstanding contribution to the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic region-wide.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Thi Nga said: “Featuring the tremendous negative impacts of COVID-19, 2020 is a special year for global businesses in general and ASEAN businesses in particular. However, this is also the time the best enterprises show their bravery and spirit to overcome difficulties as they not only ensure the sustainable development of their enterprises but also contribute to the prevention of the pandemic."

“Therefore, ABA 2020 has a special stature, held in a special context to champion exceptional businesses across the region,” Nga noted.

The award, granted annually, is not only an opportunity for all businesses in the region to be honoured for demonstrating their important position in the ASEAN economy. At the same time, it is also an opportunity for the global business community to better understand the solidarity and strength of ASEAN businesses, thereby promoting regional trade, investment, and economic integration.

The ASEAN Business Awards 2020 will begin to receive applications from August

Dr Doan Duy Khuong, chairman of the ASEAN BAC 2020, indicated that ABA has always had an extremely important meaning in the activities of the ASEAN BAC.

The significance of ABA 2020 is even more special as ASEAN businesses need to unite and share to not only overcome difficulties but also to take advantage of opportunities that have opened up as the pandemic is contained.

Aiming to build a prestigious award and to raise the standards of the business community in the region, Deloitte Vietnam Co., Ltd. has been selected as a strategic partner to accompany ABA 2020.

With the experience and capacity of one of the four leading auditing companies in the world, with customer and market understanding and a wide network of activities covering the ASEAN region, Deloitte Vietnam will bring fairness and transparency to the ABA 2020.

In addition, some award categories at the ABA 2020 are also accompanied by other prestigious international organisations such as the Skills Development Award, which will have GIZ (the Development Cooperation Agency of the German government) as a professional partner.

The ABA 2020 award system will be divided into nine categories refining the ABA awards of previous years and developing new award categories in accordance with the current socio-economic situation of the region, including Priority Integration Sectors; SME Excellence; Young Entrepreneur; Woman Entrepreneur; Family Business; Skills Development; Friends of ASEAN; Inclusive Business; and Combating COVID-19.

Sharing about the award categories at ABA 2020, Ha Thi Thu Thanh, chairperson of Deloitte Vietnam said, “Deloitte Vietnam is honoured to be trusted as a strategic partner for ABA 2020. During 30 years of development in the Vietnamese market, with experience working with local businesses as well as a network that works closely with Deloitte members in the region, we understand the markets and businesses of each country.”

According to Thanh, the award criteria suit the current business situation so that the judging panel can choose businesses that deserve this extremely prestigious award. At the same time, via creating positive effects for the community over 175 years, through the award Deloitte wishes to support and promote the development of the ASEAN business community.

Also during the event, the awards website at www.ABA2020.vn will contain all updated information, while all queries can be answered by the Organising Committee via email: info@aba2020.vn.

ABA 2020 is expected to receive applications at the beginning of August and registration time for enterprises in the region will last until September, after which the Organising Committee will conduct the judging and the jury (including experts, academics, and leading economists representing the 10 ASEAN countries) will be invited to discuss and make a final decision on the winners.

The ABA Awards event is scheduled to be held in November in Hanoi, accompanied by the 37^th ASEAN Summit and attended by the leaders of the government of Vietnam and other countries in the region.