Uniting Business: Sustainability in ASEAN, 2 June 2022

Uniting Business: Sustainability in ASEAN
Thursday, 2 June 2022 | 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM (GMT+7)
Virtual and Live at ESCAP Hall, UN Conference Centre, The United Nations Building Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand

Organized by the United Nations Global Compact in collaboration with Global Compact Local Networks Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, Uniting Business: Sustainability in ASEAN (UBL ASEAN) is a one-day forum that will bring together local and global leaders from business, civil society, Government, Global Compact Local Networks and the United Nations to inform, inspire and catalyze local and regional solutions for advancing policies that not only drive economic growth but accelerate progress towards the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement in the ASEAN region.

Co-partnered with the UN Country Team (UNCT) Thailand and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), this in-person event will be led by Global Compact Network Thailand as the Host country. UBL ASEAN is also recognized as the in-person part of the 2022 Leaders Summit – UN Global Compact’s annual flagship event which will once again virtually convene more than 10,000 leaders from business, government, civil society and the United Nations who will come together to take stock of the state of the world, address gaps in progress, drive business ambition on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and highlight cooperative and actionable solutions. With this event, we hope to underscore how the ASEAN region has been a torch-bearer in the wider Asia-Pacific region in ‘building back better, together,’ in a COVID-post world. 

Objectives

• Contribute to building a platform and network of leaders that are committed to driving ambition and action on the SDGs
• Underscore how the ASEAN region has been a torch-bearer in the wider Asia-Pacific region in ‘building back better, together,’ in a COVID-post world
• Convene key stakeholders to take stock of progress in achieving the SSDGs so far, address the gaps in knowledge, resources and funding
• Identify opportunities of engagement and meaningful partnerships on the SDGs

Time/Date: Thursday, 2 June, 2022 from 10 am to 3.30 pm, Bangkok

Venue: In-Person at the UN ESCAP and Virtual through livestream. 

Participants:  leaders and representatives from the private sector, government, UN, civil society and other international organizations from the ASEAN region

Opening Plenary

Uniting Business: Sustainability in ASEAN

The Plenary will set the scene for the UBL ASEAN. It will highlight the interconnectedness of the ASEAN region and its potential for growth and innovation to become the torchbearers for sustainable development in the larger APAC region. In this session, we will hear from high-level UN and business leaders on how the ASEAN region can be a game changer in Uniting Business for Sustainability.

Master of Ceremonies: Nuttapong Namsirikul

Opening Remarks:

• H.E. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

Welcome Remarks:

• Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO, UN Global Compact

High-level Keynote Remarks:

• Noppadol Dej-Udom, Chief Sustainability Officer, Charoen Pokphand Group, Secretary General, Global Compact Network Thailand
• Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, Secretary-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Thailand
• Lee George Lam, Chair of the ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN)

SDG Ambition: Mobilizing Ambitious Corporate Actions Towards the Global Goals

Despite progress made in many areas, we are not on track to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In fact, the UN Global Compact Progress Report 2020 reveals that only 39% of companies surveyed believe they have targets that are ambitious enough to meet the SDGs by 2030 — and less than a third think their industry is moving fast enough to deliver priority SDGs. A report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) states that on its current trajectory, Asia Pacific will not achieve any of the 17 SDGs by its 2030 target. For more than half of the SDGs, progress has stagnated or is heading in the wrong direction. There are however bright spots for ASEAN as it leads other subregions in quality education (SDG 4), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) and industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), nevertheless many targets within these goals will not be achieved if the pace of development is not accelerated, notably for renewable energy (7.2). While we continue to face numerous challenges related to the COVID-19 crisis, we also have a unique opportunity to develop post-pandemic business strategies that fully integrate the SDGs and help build more inclusive and sustainable societies. Private sectors play an important role in achieving the SDGs. With strong corporate commitment, right tools and guidance and a drive to emerge as a strong, resilient region post the pandemic, the ASEAN region has adopted a regional outlook towards meaningful partnerships and collaboration to achieve the SDGs.

This panel discussion will convene business leaders across ASEAN regions who will discuss the importance and value of setting and integrating ambitious goals across operations and supply chains for businesses and the principle-based approach to achieving the SDGs. The discussants will share examples of the ambitious goals they are setting and the enabling instruments to drive the successful implementation.

Moderator: Sue Allchurch, Chief of Outreach and Engagement, UN Global Compact

Panelists

• Elim Sritaba, Chief Sustainability Officer, APP Sinar Mas
• Gloyta Nathalang, Executive Vice President, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited
• Azzahraa Annuar, Director of Group Risk & Compliance, Edotco Group Sdn Bhd
• Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited

ASEAN SMEs: In the Driving Seat for Transformational Change towards  Sustainable Development

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) represent 90% of the business and more than 50% of the employment worldwide. They also contribute to up to 40% of GDP in emerging economies. ASEAN region is no exception with SMEs being recognized as integral to the growth of the region’s economy. Any discourse on achieving the SDGs in the ASEAN region needs to take into account the vast network of supply chains comprising SMEs within the region.

SMEs have the opportunity and the capacity to contribute to sustainable development and at the same time receive the benefit of unlocking the business opportunities ushered in by the SDDGs. The possibility of entering new regional markets, accessing subsidies based on sustainable performance, joining sustainable supply chain networks of large companies, and staying ahead of the curve on increased investor scrutiny around ESG performance are a few examples of these business opportunities. For SME resilience and economic recovery in a post COVID world, sustainability needs to be at the core of their operations. By providing them the right set of tools, training and opportunities to enhance their sustainability practices, and by utilizing their inherent agility and adaptability, SMEs can be leveraged as a strong driver of sustainable development.

In this session, speakers from select SMEs in the ASEAN region will discuss how integrating sustainability in their operations and improving ESG performance is unlocking market opportunities for them. They will also share examples of how they have enhanced their sustainability practices by interacting with the Ten Principles and the SDG framework. Global Compact Networks will also share their upcoming programmes and projects that are aimed towards meaningfully engaging SMEs in achieving the SDGs and raising the bar on ESG performance of the SMEs.

Keynote: YBhg. Dato’ Suriani binti Dato’ Ahmad, ACCMSME Chair/Secretary General Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC), Malaysia

Moderator: Faroze Nadar, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei

Panelists

• Gabriel Tan, Chief Executive Officer, GUAVA Amenities Pte Ltd
• Victoria (Vickie) A. Tan, Group Head of Risk Management and Sustainability of Ayala, Board Chair, Global Compact Network Philippines
• Piyachart Isarabhakdee, Chief Executive Officer, BRANDi and Companies
• Admen Hassan, Head, SME Academy, Center for Entrepreneur Development and Research (CEDAR)

Fireside Chat Series  

Series 1: Climate & Biodiversity

Climate and Biodiversity emergencies are not distinct but are two aspects of one crisis and that it is therefore important that these crises are addressed in an integrated manner. From setting Net Zero targets to preserving the ecosystem that we live in, the private sector has demonstrated its growing commitment to the Paris Agreement and the climate crisis. This fireside chat will delve deeper into how the private sector is approaching the issues of climate change and biodiversity preservation.

Moderator: Natalie Phaholyothin, Chief Executive Officer, WWF Thailand

Panelists

• Peerapong Krinchai, Executive Vice President, Corporate Engineering, CPF Thailand
• Albert Oung, Chair of ESBN Task Force on Green Economy; Founder & President, World Green Organization and Chairman, Hong Kong Myanmar Chamber of Commerce

Series 2: Social Sustainability

From gender equality in boardrooms, to equal pay to women, to paying living wages and providing healthcare facilities to the workers, the private sector is stepping up its investment and commitment to social sustainability issues like never before in this post-COVID world – giving the human face to global markets that the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan dreamt about while founding the UN Global Compact in 2000. This fireside chat will seek to explore how the private sector is fulfilling its social contract – moving beyond philanthropy and charity and in fact investing in social sustainability to create thriving communities and ecosystems. 

Moderator: Josephine Satyono, Executive Director, Global Compact Network Indonesia

Panelists

• Lucas Kurniawan, President Director, PT Austindo Nusantara Jaya, Tbk
• Jeevan Rajoo, Country Head, TCS Malaysia
• Lexi Roland Rompas, President Director, PT Transkon Jaya, Tbk

Closing Keynote

Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand

Vote of Thanks

Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth, Executive Director, Global Compact Network Thailand