Vietnam Officially Assumes ASEAN BAC Chairmanship 2020

The 83rd Meeting of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC), held at the BRG Legend Hill Golf Resort, marked the handover of the ASEAN BAC Chairmanship from Thailand to Vietnam.

The ASEAN BAC is chaired by Dr. Doan Duy Khuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), along with two members of ASEAN BAC Vietnam Council - Madam Nguyen Thi Nga, President of BRG Group, Chairwoman of the ASEAN Business Awards (ABA 2020); and Mr. Pham Dinh Doan, President of Phu Thai Group, and Chairman of ASEAN Digital Startup Heritage Project.

This is the first meeting of the Council in 2020, the year Vietnam holds the ASEAN Chairmanship, with a focus on discussing ASEAN's ideas, actions and priorities to enhance cooperation in the region, further promote trade and investment, and boost regional economic integration.

Dr. Doan Duy Khuong said that the main theme of ASEAN BAC 2020 is “Digital ASEAN for sustainable development”, following the theme of ASEAN BAC 2019 “Empowering ASEAN 4.0”, emphasizing impacts of the digital age, linking economic development with social development: sustainability and inclusivity. The theme also represents the pioneering of the business community: innovation, creativity, sense of responsibility for the sustainable development of the region.”

This theme is also in line with the theme of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, “Cohesive and Responsive”, in which the concept of “cohesive” illustrates the need to strengthen ASEAN unity, increasing linkage and connectivity, raising ASEAN's community sense and identity, strengthening partnership with global communities, and improving the working performance of the ASEAN apparatus while the concept “responsive” emphasizes the importance of promoting the activeness, creativity and adaptability to opportunities and challenges raised by rapid changes in regional and global situations. At the same time, the chosen topic is also consistent with some goals of the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025: Digital transformation and sustainable development.

Addressing the event, Madam Nguyen Thi Nga said, “This year's theme of ASEAN BAC is topical and consistent with regional and global economic situations of 4^th industrial revolution. I believe, ASEAN BAC’s actions will bring information on new development directions and ways toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution to businesses.”

In addition, BRG Group, a member of ASEAN BAC Vietnam, will organize the ASEAN Business Awards (ABA 2020), which honors ASEAN businesses with outstanding contributions to the region's economic development. The award ceremony is expected to be incorporated into the Gala Dinner on the sidelines of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ASEAN BIS 2020) - the assembly of senior ASEAN leaders and about 1,000 businesses from ASEAN countries and dialogue partners as well from around the world.

Mr. Pham Dinh Doan said, “The main focus of the ASEAN BAC theme is supporting and preparing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the main drivers of economic development of ASEAN countries, to ready to respond to opportunities and challenges that come from the digital age and the rapid change of the business environment to grow more strongly and more sustainably.”

Supporting MSMEs in digital transformation will also provide equal opportunities for vulnerable groups such as women, young entrepreneurs and the poor, put people at the center, promote innovation and inclusive growth and leave no one behind. These are also the goals of the ASEAN Digital Startup Heritage Project led by ASEAN BAC 2020.