Date: June 10th from 6:00 PM-7.30 PM BKK (12:00 PM-1.30 PM BST/7:00 AM-8.30 AM EDT)
Even before the pandemic, one of the highest risks for multinationals operating in emerging and developing markets was third party corruption risk: under foreign bribery legislation such as the UK Bribery Act or the United States FCPA, companies are liable for the behavior of their complex and varied supply chain network of distributors, agents, joint ventures and suppliers. Recent domestic legislation in ASEAN countries, such as the Anti-Corruption Revised Law (2019) in Vietnam and the Malaysian Corporate Liability Act (2020) which came into force on 1st June, poses new challenges for local companies caught between the new regulatory environment and the reality on the ground.
As ASEAN markets begin to come out of the health crisis and try to recover from the severe economic downturn, the SMEs that make up these global supply chains are likely to be even more exposed to corruption. They face a dilemma where backsliding on anti-corruption will threaten these companies’ and their economies’ place in global supply chains just at the time that new foreign investors, demanding the highest standards of governance, are likely to materialize.
Under the “new normal”, what are the practical measures that multinational companies and investors, business associations, consultants, educators and NGOs can take to support the ASEAN economies and their companies to maintain and enhance their global competitiveness by raising their ethical standards, while at the same time rebuilding their markets and recovering their profitability?
Please join the UNDP’s Promoting a Fair Business Environment in ASEAN Project (FairBiz)* and the Center for International Private Enterprise for a discussion and Q&A as experts from the region share their vision and insights for the future rebuilding of these economies.
John Bray is a Director at the Singapore office of Control Risks, the international risk consultancy. His particular areas of expertise include anti-corruption strategies for the private sector and business and human rights. Originally from the UK, he has lived and worked in India and Japan as well as Singapore, and currently works on assignments across South and South-east Asia.
Aira Azhari is the Research Manager of the Democracy and Governance Unit of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She provides political analysis for IDEAS and various audiences including diplomats, private sector, and media outlets including the BBC (World News and Radio), Astro Awani, Bernama, Channel News Asia, Radio Televisyen Malaysia, Lite FM and BFM on matters relating to Malaysian politics, economics and governance.
Vu Tu Thanh is the Deputy Regional Managing Director and Chief Country Representative – Vietnam with the US-ASEAN Business Council based in Hanoi. Since he took up this position in 2007, he has been advising the world’s leading multinational companies on business strategies in Vietnam and helping them engage directly with key decision-makers in both the government and private sectors.
This event, introduced by Brook Horowitz, Business Integrity Advisor and Senior Consultant to the UNDP FairBiz project, is jointly organized by CIPE’s Anti-Corruption & Governance Center and UNDP’s FairBiz Integrity Hub. The webinar will provide ample time for audience participation, so please come prepared to ask questions.
*FairBiz gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the UK Government’s Prosperity Fund – ASEAN Economic Reform Programme