Bangkok--11 Sep--Hill & Knowlton Winner of inaugural regional DHL Young Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (YES) Awards lauded for work in helping Pakistani women fight poverty DHL, the world’s leading express and logistics company, today announced that Ms Aysha Saifuddin of Pakistan is the leading social entrepreneur among five Asia Pacific countries participating in the inaugural DHL Young Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (YES) Awards. Ms Saifuddin, aged 35, emerged as the overall regional winner following rounds of deliberation by the Awards’ International Council — a panel of renowned public personalities associated with social entrepreneurship, public policy and international relations — for her leading work in championing gender equality and empowerment in Pakistan. Since founding the Kaarvan Crafts Foundation in 2003, Ms Saifuddin has helped to improve the lives of thousands of women entrepreneurs from low-income communities by providing them with market access and retail know-how for their products. In equipping the women with management training, business skills and employment opportunities, Kaarvan Crafts Foundation has successfully empowered these women to make general household decisions more independently, while helping them to supplement their household income by nearly 30 percent. The Foundation aims to double its outreach to 5000 women entrepreneurs by 2010. She was one of the five outstanding individuals — including Ms Pinky Sikder, Mr. Illac Angelo Diaz, Ms Areena Ng and Ms Kritaya Sreesunpagit — who were earlier named as the national-level winners of the DHL YES Awards representing Bangladesh, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand respectively. These five social entrepreneurs were awarded the accolade for their excellent business initiatives to foster social change in line with one or more of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Aysha Saifuddin received a cash prize of US$10,000, as well as the regional trophy, at an award ceremony in Singapore, which was attended by dignitaries and representatives from NGOs. The other finalists each received US$5,000. Ms Erna Witoelar, UN Special Ambassador for the MDGs in Asia and the Pacific, said, “The five social entrepreneurs, who are individuals of high-calibre, are shining examples of how an individual’s hard work can help benefit communities through innovative ideas. Everyone has a goal to play in helping societies achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The corporate world, in particular, plays a vital catalytic role in driving and sustaining the momentum to bring about substantial change. Gestures of recognition like the DHL YES Awards will help drive social entrepreneurship in this region.” DHL firmly believes that social entrepreneurs can play an instrumental role in finding innovative solutions to social problems and removing barriers to growth. While social entrepreneurship is a prevalent concept in Europe and North America, it is still a nascent development in Asia Pacific. Only Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore are among the top-20 ranked countries/regions on the Responsible Competitiveness Index . Through the YES Awards, DHL hopes to promote the fledging movement in the region. “Through their meaningful work, the five finalists have made significant contributions to their societies. They make excellent role models for anyone who wishes to pursue a social cause, and profiling their work would help boost awareness about social entrepreneurship in Asia Pacific,” said Dan McHugh, Acting CEO, DHL Express — Asia Pacific. “By initiating the YES Awards, DHL hopes to provide an annual platform for young entrepreneurs to share their innovative ideas to improve the people’s lives in their societies. With the success of the inaugural awards, we hope to encourage even more participation from young business leaders next year.” The DHL YES Awards is part of DHL’s community investment program, which also includes disaster management and supporting future generations. Globally, DHL has a partnership with UNICEF supporting their worldwide fight to reduce child mortality through long-term logistical and financial assistance. DHL is also supporting the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the area of disaster management. DHL is a signatory to the UN Global Compact Principles, and supports the UN Millennium Campaign. About DHL DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source. DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and anin-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. More than 300,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations. DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of more than ?60 billion in 2006. For the latest news and happenings about DHL in Asia Pacific, please visit http://press.ap.dhl.com About DHL YES Awards The DHL Young Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (YES) Awards is an awards program that seeks to recognize and promote young social entrepreneurs in Asia (aged between 18 and 40) working towards the UN Millennium Goals. In its augural year, 2007, the Awards will take place in five countries in the Asia Pacific region — Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The Awards has a comprehensive award structure comprising independent International Council, National Jury and Screening Organization, which will evaluate the social entrepreneurs according to elements pertaining to leadership, innovation, social impact, the potential to expand and replicate their work elsewhere, the sustainability of the initiative and overcoming challenges. The regional YES Award was decided by a five-member International Council comprising: Ms Erna Witoelar, UN Special Ambassador for the MDGs in Asia and the Pacific; Mr John Elkington, Co-founder of SustainAbility; Ms Jane Wei-Skillern, Associate Professor of Harvard Business School; Mr Hugh Stephens, Senior Vice President International Relations and Public Policy (Asia Pacific) of Time Warner Inc; and Ms Solita Monsod, Former Minister of Economic Planning of the Philippines About the UN Millennium Campaign The UN Millennium Campaign was established by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2002. The Millennium Campaign supports citizens’ efforts around the world to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Millennium Development Goals, formally adopted by 189 countries in the year 2000 are a set of eight specific goals which commit rich and poor countries to work together to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, ensure all boys and girls complete primary school, promote gender equality, improve the health of mothers and children, reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, protect the environment, and create a global partnership for development by ensuring rich countries give more and better aid, debt relief and trade opportunities to poorer countries. For more information, please visit the http://www.millenniumcampaign.org Display of registered company names and registration numbers according to Section 144(1A) of the Singapore Companies Act: DHL Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd - Reg no.: 197700524Z DHL Exel Supply Chain (Singapore) Pte Ltd — Reg no.: 199805868N DHL Global Forwarding (Singapore) Pte Ltd - Reg no.: 197000723M DHL Global Forwarding Management (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd - Reg no.: 199408226H Press contacts: DHL Express International (Thailand) Ltd. Ms. Piyalak P. or Ms. Passarin L. Tel: 0-2345-5602 or 5608 Fax: 0-2285-5732 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Hill & Knowlton Thailand Ms. Dutduan J. or Ms. Phenphan P. Tel: 0-2627-3501 ext 114 or 112Fax: 0-2627-3510 Email: [email protected]@th.hillandknowlton.com