The Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2024 Regional Edition proudly celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit, honoring a new elite of industry leaders spearheading inclusive entrepreneurship across Asia. Set in Bangkok, Thailand, this year’s awards highlighted leading business leaders and enterprises who have championed inclusivity, broken barriers for underrepresented groups, and created pathways for individuals from diverse backgrounds to thrive in the business world. The awards was graced by H.E. Datuk Jojie Samuel, Ambassador of Malaysia to Thailand, and Chotima Iemsawasdikul, Director-General of Department of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand.
Organized annually in 16 markets by regional NGO Enterprise Asia, the Awards presents Asia’s largest award networking platform. Since 2007, the Awards has been organized all over the region with past recipients comprising Taiwan’s Douglas Tong Hsu, Hong Kong’s Francis Lui and Lawrence Ho, TTC Vietnam’s Dang Van Thanh, Thailand’s Supaluck Umpujh, Cuckoo Malaysia’s Hoe Kian Choon, Indonesia’s Hary Tanoesoedibjo and Mochtar Riady, India’s Adi Godrej, and the Philippines’ Dennis Anthony Uy.
The award recipients were selected from over 150 nominees through a rigorous evaluation process by a jury of prominent judges across four categories: Master Entrepreneur, Inspirational Brand, Fast Enterprise, and Corporate Excellence.
Richard Tsang, President of Enterprise Asia, stated in his welcome speech, “As leaders, we bear the profound responsibility to nurture and expand this ecosystem. By fostering diversity and inclusion, we not only drive economic growth but ensure that our progress lifts all members of society. Together, we are building a future where success is shared, progress is inclusive, and Asia’s economic potential is fully realized.”
Among the notable awardees are Thailand’s Kamonpop Veerapala, President of Government Housing Bank (G H Bank), and Gil G. Chua, Group Chairman and CEO of DDB Group Philippines, whose leadership transcends traditional business achievements as they actively cultivate cultures of inclusion within their organizations and beyond, setting a powerful example for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Further outstanding awardees include Indonesia’s PT INTENS under the Fast Enterprise category, Thailand’s Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) under the Inspirational Brand category, and Thailand’s Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited along with Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) under the Corporate Excellence category.
Prior to the APEA 2024 Regional Edition, the Asia Economic Forum (AEF) 2024 was held in the day. The forum convened over 300 C-suite-level executives, business leaders, and policymakers from 19 countries. Themed “Empowering Asia Through Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystems,” the forum provided a regional platform for leading thought leaders to delve into the intricacies of entrepreneurship ecosystems, serving as a catalyst to propel Asia’s economic trajectory forward. Through comprehensive discussions, the forum dissected barriers while spotlighting the manifold advantages inherent in fostering inclusive entrepreneurship. The forum was graced by Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Minister of Commerce of Thailand.
Enterprise Asia’s President Richard Tsang expressed at the forum’s opening that “An inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem is not merely about leveling the playing field; it is about ensuring that every individual, regardless of background, gender, or circumstance, has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the growth and prosperity of our region. It is about breaking down the walls that divide us and building bridges that connect us — bridges that lead to innovation, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.”
The forum featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Dr. Chatchai Thnarudee, Board of Directors at Digital Government Development Agency, MCOT Public Company Limited, Jaymart Insurance Public Company Limited; Jatupron Pimngern, Head of Strategic Foresight & Financial Innovation at DeeMoney and FinTech and Payment Innovation Expert; Kultida Leenabanchong, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Communications Strategy Lead at Roche; Narusan Dhanvarjor, CEO of InnoSpace (Thailand); Rashmi Sharma, Sr. Director at Coca Cola, Leadership & Wellbeing Expert, and TEDx Speaker; Ratinan Wongwatcharanon, VP of Head of Investor Relations at Thai Credit Bank Public Company Limited; Lt. General Sudhir Sharma, Chairman of MitKat Advisory Services and Advisor to Enterprise Asia; Surasit Sachdev, CEO of Hungry Hub and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Sasin School of Management.
The AEF 2024 and APEA 2024 Regional Edition are supported by the Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce, Malaysian Alliance of Corporate Directors, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Malaysian-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Myanmar Business Executives Association, and Singapore-Thai Chamber Of Commerce. The AEF 2024 is also supported by Business Networking Club Malaysia and Malaysia Chambers Jakarta.
PR Newswire is the Official News Release Distributor, and Bangkok Post, BusinessWorld, Dailywire.asia, Hong Kong Economic Times, and SME Magazine are the media partners for the AEF 2024 and APEA 2024 Regional Edition.
AWARD RECIPIENT LIST OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2024
REGIONAL EDITION
MASTER ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY
WINNER NAME
COMPANY NAME
INDUSTRY
COUNTRY
DATUK IR. N. PURUSHOTHAMAN NAIR
FOUNDER & CEO
AFRIMA CONSULTING ENGINEER SDN BHD
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES
MALAYSIA
DATO’ SRI MOHD ISMAIL NORBAT
FOUNDER & CEO
AGENSI PEKERJAAN UKHWAH SDN BHD
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES
MALAYSIA
DR. KULWIPAPAT JATURAPISANUKUL
CEO
BLS MEDICAL CENTER
BEAUTY & PERSONAL CARE
THAILAND
GIL G. CHUA
GROUP CHAIRMAN & CEO
DDB GROUP PHILIPPINES
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES
PHILIPPINES
KAMONPOP VEERAPALA
PRESIDENT
GOVERNMENT HOUSING BANK (G H BANK)
FINANCIAL SERVICES
THAILAND
SIVANESSAN S/O KITNASAMY
DIRECTOR
GRIFFIN PROTECTION INTEGRATED SECURITY PTE LTD
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES
SINGAPORE
KASEMSAN SUJIWARODOM
CEO
KIJCHAROEN ENGINEERING ELECTRIC PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
MANUFACTURING
THAILAND
GAURAV RUNGTA
MANAGING DIRECTOR
MĀN STRUCTURALS PVT. LTD.
MANUFACTURING
INDIA
JAMES RICHARD AMATAVIVADHANA
CEO
MC GROUP PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
RETAIL
THAILAND
WILAS CHALOEYSAT
GOVERNOR
METROPOLITAN ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY
ENERGY
THAILAND
SARA LAMSAM
CEO
MUANG THAI LIFE ASSURANCE PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
FINANCIAL SERVICES
THAILAND
TEO JIN LEE
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
ODE CONSULTING PTE LTD
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES
SINGAPORE
KAJONSIT SINGSANSERN
CEO
SIAMESE ASSET PCL
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
THAILAND
FAST ENTERPRISE CATEGORY
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
COUNTRY
ARIESCOPE EL MEJOR TRADING PTE LTD
TRADING & WHOLESALING
SINGAPORE
HYLIFE DEVELOPMENTS CO., LTD.
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
THAILAND
PT INTENS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & ICT
INDONESIA
INSPIRATIONAL BRAND CATEGORY
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
COUNTRY
ASIA PACIFIC COSMETICS CORPORATION LIMITED.
PERSONAL CARE
THAILAND
BANGCHAK CORPORATION PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
OIL & GAS
THAILAND
BANGSAR HEIGHTS PAVILION SDN. BHD.
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
MALAYSIA
KRUNGTHAI BANK PCL
FINANCIAL SERVICES
THAILAND
PROVINCIAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY (PEA)
ENERGY
THAILAND
SIAMESE ASSET PCL
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
THAILAND
THAILANDPOST CO., LTD.
TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS
THAILAND
CORPORATE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
COUNTRY
BANGKOK CHAIN HOSPITAL PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY
THAILAND
BANPU PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
MINING & ENERGY
THAILAND
CENTRAL RETAIL CORPORATION PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
RETAIL
THAILAND
DDB GROUP PHILIPPINES
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES
PHILIPPINES
DON MUANG TOLLWAY PUBLIC CO.,LTD.
TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS
THAILAND
GOVERNMENT HOUSING BANK (G H BANK)
FINANCIAL SERVICES
THAILAND
GRIFFIN PROTECTION INTEGRATED SECURITY PTE LTD
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES
SINGAPORE
KRUNGTHAI BANK PCL
FINANCIAL SERVICES
THAILAND
METROPOLITAN ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY
ENERGY
THAILAND
MUANG THAI LIFE ASSURANCE PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
FINANCIAL SERVICES
THAILAND
NAMWIWAT MEDICAL CORPORATION PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY
THAILAND
S&J INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISES PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY
THAILAND
SIAMESE ASSET PCL
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
THAILAND
THAILANDPOST CO., LTD.
TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS
THAILAND
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