JAKARTA, 05 September 2023 – Indonesian President Joko Widodo bestowed the ASEAN Prize trophy to two recipients at the opening ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit earlier today. The ceremony was witnessed by ASEAN Leaders, Jakarta based diplomatic corps, and invited guests.
ASEAN officially awarded the ASEAN Prize 2023 to Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, a regional advocate on women’s socio-economic empowerment from Viet Nam, in recognition of her efforts to further women’s economic inclusion through business. Also receiving his award is last year’s ASEAN Prize recipient, Bruneian youth advocate and community leader Haji Muhammad Iqbal Fakhri bin Haji Damit, who was cited for his initiatives in humanitarian relief which have inspired greater participation of the youth. Last year’s awarding ceremony was held online due to pandemic restrictions.
In his congratulatory remarks, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn acknowledged the recipients’ service and dedication to the region as pivotal ingredients to the ASEAN integration journey. Dr Kao said that “ASEAN deeply values the impactful services undertaken by the Recipient of ASEAN Prize 2022, Mr Iqbal Damit, and the 2023 Recipient, Madam Nguyen Minh. Their contributions have significantly helped the elevation of a greater awareness of ASEAN and its identity. The ASEAN Prize stands as a tribute to outstanding contributions and services to the region by these exemplary citizens of ASEAN.”
Nguyen Minh has led various key regional initiatives and policy advisory for the region’s business ecosystem consistent with her aspiration to achieve a sustainable economy and an inclusive community. Her determination to promote women’s socio-economic empowerment has been demonstrated by several initiatives and efforts in connecting women entrepreneur communities across the region and in establishing a strong foundation for regional partnership and cooperation among pioneering women leaders in the business sector. As a founder of the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN) in 2014, Nguyen Minh has become a pioneering force behind the promotion of regional cooperation and integration. Through AWEN, she has successfully organised an entrepreneurial community within the region, thereby facilitating the seamless exchange of knowledge, fostering business collaboration, and championing the elevation of standards among ASEAN Member States. She is also the Founder and current Chair of a separate women-owned enterprise in Viet Nam known as WeLead.
Upon receiving the ASEAN Prize 2023, Nguyen Minh, expressed, “I am deeply honored and grateful to have been chosen as the Recipient of ASEAN Prize 2023. This reward extends beyond the recognition of my work but also serves as a testament to the collective effort of Viet Nam, AWEN, and all my partners. This honour further fuels my commitment to propel AWEN and WeLead’s mission forward, fostering women’s economic empowerment throughout Viet Nam and ASEAN. It reminds us that when we uplift others, we inspire a ripple effect of positive change, creating a brighter future for women and our communities.”
Meanwhile, Iqbal Damit has been instrumental in humanitarian relief initiatives for affected populations. As the founder of the Brunei Darussalam-based non-profit organisationHand4Hand, Iqbal Damit advocates for volunteerism among the youth to support the delivery of humanitarian assistance and emergency responses in the region and beyond.
Iqbal Damit said “I am immensely grateful for the ASEAN Prize. Special thanks to the Government of His Majesty Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the continuous support. I would like to dedicate this award to all the volunteers in ASEAN and around the world, especially in Brunei Darussalam, who have dedicated a humongous part of their life, time and energy to make the world a better place for everyone. May God bless all of us and give us persistence and strength to keep on doing all this humanitarian and charity work.”
Lim Hock Chuan, Head of Programmes at Temasek Foundation, said “Congratulations to Mr Iqbal Damit and Madam Nguyen Minh for being the ASEAN Prize 2022 and 2023 Recipients. They are an inspiration for us to step up to take care of the needs of our communities, no matter how daunting the endeavour. We look forward to their continuing efforts which will help us build a more people-centred, inclusive, and resilient ASEAN.”
At the same time, Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Founder & Trustee of Yayasan Hasanah, also extended her warm congratulations to the ASEAN Prize Recipients of 2022 and 2023. “The strides achieved by ASEAN Prize laureates in advancing social inclusion deeply resonate with our mission at Yayasan Hasanah to foster an inclusive and progressive Malaysian society. Collaborating with like-minded partners, much like these inspiring winners, we are committed to empowering marginalised communities. A key tenet of our conviction is that tangible progress thrives when all sectors of society are equipped with crucial resources and empowered. Yet, it’s the ASEAN Prize winners who truly shine. Their
dedication to driving social inclusion exemplifies our shared values. Their work underscores that progress flourishes through empowerment, touching all segments of society. We are honoured to continue supporting the ASEAN Prize—a platform that rightfully acknowledges these exceptional individuals, the everyday heroes actively shaping our collective future”, she added. Administered by the ASEAN Secretariat and supported by the Temasek Foundation of Singapore and Yayasan Hasanah of Malaysia, the ASEAN Prize is an annual regional premier award meant to honour ASEAN’s individuals or organisations who have made outstanding contributions and significant efforts to foster the region’s community building process. The recipients will each receive the ASEAN Prize trophy and a monetary award of US$20,000
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