Bangkok--18 Mar--Enterprise Asia
Fourteen entrepreneurs and business leaders from Thailand were honoured as winners of the prestigious Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2016 at the glittering gala dinner at the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, Thailand. Over 300 attendees were present at the by-invitation only event, comprising of industry leaders, leading entrepreneurs, dignitaries and the who's who of the business world, including, Mr. Apisak Tantivorawong, Minister of Finance, Thailand, Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Chairman to Enterprise Asia, Lt General Sudhir Sharma, Advisor to Enterprise Asia, Thailand & Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand, and Dato' William Ng, President of Enterprise Asia.
The Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) is a distinguished regional recognition platform structured by Enterprise Asia, the region's foremost association and think-tank for entrepreneurship. The Awards are presented to a handful of entrepreneurs across Asia Pacific each year, with annual award ceremonies held in over twelve countries.
The APEA is often compared to the Olympics for its stringent entry criteria and highly-competitive judging parameters. Nominations of the APEA itself is by invitation, either through past or current awardees, a supporting trade association or the organizing committee of Enterprise Asia. Nominees are then subjected to a series of rigorous tests, which includes financial verification by an appointed audit firm and a compulsory physical-site audit and interview, culminating with a confidential balloting process by Enterprise Asia's organizing committee.
Awardees are expected to be torchbearers of entrepreneurship and business leaders in their respective countries, while adhering to strict standards of personal and business ethics.
"We can say with certainty that the recipients of the APEA are like no other. Not only do they have to prove their entrepreneurial skills and experience in one of the toughest contests in the world, they also subject themselves to a pledge to uphold the highest standards of entrepreneurship, which includes allegiance to the two founding pillars of Enterprise Asia, namely Investment in People and Responsible Entrepreneurship", says Mr Ng, President of Enterprise Asia.
The final fourteen were announced by Enterprise Asia at the awards ceremony in the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit. Among the recipients were Ms. Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, WHA Corporation Public Company Limited, who received the 'Woman Entrepreneur of the Year' award, and Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat, CEO Agrifood Company Limited who received the 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year' award and both who were proud to receive 'Special Category' awards at the ceremony.
"I am honored to accept this award. It is an important impetus for me to make WHA a truly global company with an influential presence in the AEC", said Ms. Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Group CEO of WHA Corporation PCL.
For its fourth year in Thailand, the APEA has recognized the business leaders of the region as the drivers and backbone of its economy. The recipients in Thailand were selected from among 80 shortlisted candidates, ranging from talented young entrepreneurs to experienced industrialists. It is through this recognition platform that Enterprise Asia hopes to continue to encourage and stimulate economic growth throughout the region.
Mr Ng explained, "The APEA is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship. Beyond recognizing the efforts of these entrepreneurs, we hope to encourage them to continue taking their businesses to the next level, and in the process, provide more job opportunities to the people in the region and help to drive the economy forward."
The fourteen truly deserving individuals were awarded under the Special, Outstanding and Most Promising Categories of the Awards, representing various industries and focus areas.
RECIPIENT LIST OF ASIA PACIFIC ENTREPRNEURSHIP AWARDS 2016 THAILAND
Special Category – Woman Entrepeneur of the Year
Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, Group CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, WHA Corporation PCL
Special Category – Young Entrepeneur of the Year
Pita Limjaroenrat, Managing Director, CEO Agrifood Company Limited
Outstanding Category
Sopacha Dhumrongpiyawut,Chief Executive Officer, Gunkul Engineering Public Company Limited
Kreingkrai Kanjanapokin, Founder and Co-CEO, Index Creative Village Public Company Limited
Peerapong Jaroon-Ek, Chief Executive Officer, Origin Property Public Company Limited
Kessara Thanyalakpark, Ph.D., Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SENA Development Public Company Limited
Atikom Terbsiri, Chief Executive Officer and President, Thai Oil Public Company Limited
Chaiwat Kovavisarach, President, The Bangchak Petroleum Public Company Limited
Most Promising Category
Amorn Sapthaweekul, Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Energy Absolute Public Company Limited
Tanarat Pasawongse, Chief Executive Officer, Hua Seng Heng Commoditas Company Limited
Dr. Watson Ariyaphuttarat, Founder & Industry Pioneer Chief Industrial Ecologist, KEEEN Limited
Chatchawe Vatanasuk, Chairman of Executive Board, T.A.C Consumer PCL
Chanchai Phansopha, President, The Platinum Group PLC
Proudputh Liptapanlop, Executive Director, Vana Hua Hin Co., Ltd