Asean calls on businesses to partner in sustainable development

Asean calls on businesses to partner in sustainable development

More than 700 business operators, government officials, media personnel and other participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday for the 4th Asean Sustainable Development Symposium.

The conference sought to encourage the creation of networks to realise sustainability throughout the entire process of business.

Asean Secretary General Mr Le Luong Minh was the main speaker at the event.

The symposium was organised by the Siam Cement Group (SCG). The Group was named by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) as the world's top sustainable development model in the construction materials industry for the fourth year running.

President and Chief Executive Officer of SCG, Mr Kan Trakulhoon, said the symposium hoped to establish a tangible knowledge-based platform for everybody, including governments, the private sector and financial institutions from stock exchanges, chambers of commerce, industrial federations, commercial banks and affiliations of business federations, for further business expansion in Asean.

“It is evident that the world population is set to increase to more than 9,000 million people within the next 35 years, whereas natural resources have become ever so limited. Over 200 business leaders around the world had unanimously agreed in the ‘Vision 2050' that it is mandatory for business to make a balance between the human economy and natural resources,” Mr Kan said.

“It is also necessary that we create a better society to live in. Sustainable development is then not merely a choice, but a ‘Must Have Agenda' for all businesses that requires thorough planning and tangible scheming so that we can maintain our business growth and at the same time sustain our limited natural resources and make a good balanced living.”

In its Sustainable Development vision for the period until 2050, SCG hopes that all businesses and governments will help each other to create innovations that will ensure success in sustainability within Asean, while the media could also help to publicise the Sustainable Development project so that everyone has an understanding of what is required to achieve this vision, Mr Kan said.

Through its achievements and recognition for its leadership in the construction materials industry by the DJSI, SCG has helped to share its knowledge on information, technology and lessons learnt in the more than 100 years since its foundation. The Group has helped other business sectors to benefit society, the environment and all stakeholders, he added.

Also speaking at the symposium, Mr Le Luong Minh said “Asean commits to ensure green development such as green air, water, and cities. In addition, we engage to promote sustainable development.”

Chairman of SCG's Sustainable Development Committee, Mr Roongrote Rangsiyopash, said SCG had its own sustainable master plan which emphasised the Group's internal operations before reaching out to the entire production process from the supply chain to end users.

“We take care to make sure that our procurement is safe for the environment by establishing a ‘green supply chain' standard to ensure our partners' safety and sustainability measures. In addition, we train our logistics partners in proper discipline in the skills development school, while taking care of society through many of our community projects,” he said.

SCG was founded in 1913 through an initiative of His Majesty King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). Over the past 100 years, SCG has developed alongside Thailand, overcoming obstacles and crisis. It has also helped lift the Thai people's quality of life through the concept of sustainable development.

SCG comprises three business units in the fields of chemicals, paper and cement-building materials.

Asean media from Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam were invited by SCG to cover the symposium and make field trips to its cement factory in Lampang province in the north of Thailand. The plant is considered to be a model of sustainability development in business operation.

vientiane times