PART 3---THE 8th ASEAN OUTSTANDING BUSINESS AWARD CEREMONY AT GENTING CONVENTION CENTRE WAS BIG SUCCESS

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

**************************************
PHOTOS BY CANON M10
**************************************

GRACING 100 AWARDS WITH ASEAN’S LEADERS & ENTREPRENUERS IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 50^TH ANNIVERSARY OF ASEAN

In its eighth year, the ASEAN Outstanding Business Awards (AOBA) has been held yearly to give recognition to ASEAN market leaders and brands for their achievements and accomplishments such as their commitment to the community, ethical behaviour and environmental sustainability.

Organised by the ASEAN Retail-Chains Franchise Federation (ARFF), the objective of the award is to recognise the achievements in Asian business sector, to honour and encourage top entrepreneurs and leaders, to develop new leaders and to serve as catalyst of growth for country’s economic drivers. The awards hope to inspire current and budding entrepreneurs to continue their efforts in bringing their enterprises soar onto new heights.

Popular & notable award recipients of this year’s AOBA includes Ir. Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooren Bin Madros (MATRADE), Dato’ Goh Cheah Yak (Gintell (M) Sdn. Bhd.), Mrs Nor Zila Binti Aminuddin (Ella), Mrs Siti Roziana Binti Zin (Ziana Zain), Mr Ken Phua (Bentley Music Sdn Bhd), Dato’ Tony Looi Chee Hong (Digital Business Platform Sdn Bhd) and Mr Ted Wong (NPI Network Sdn Bhd).

Since its establishment, ARFF which is under the auspices of ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) has played a vital role in providing a platform for businesses to connect and network with their peers from different parts of the ASEAN region. Through the ARFF ASEAN Chapters, the organisation connects 10 ASEAN countries plus 6 countries inclusive of China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand -including 200 business members in Malaysia.

ASEAN country members aspire to triple the region’s average real per capita GDP to more than $9,000 by 2030 — from about $3,000 in 2010. Since its inception in 1967, the ASEAN economy has a combined GDP of $2.4 trillion, and is the 3^rd fastest growing major Asian economy after China and India.

Present at the awards was YBhg Tan Sri Dato' Sri Datuk Richard Koh, President of the ARFF and Founder & Managing Director of Only World Group Holdings Berhad.

Tan Sri Dato' Sri Datuk Richard Koh said ARFF aims to make ASEAN a hotspot for business opportunities by harnessing the collective strength of all countries in ASEAN. “With a population of more than 600 million and a nominal GDP of $2.4 trillion, ASEAN is fast becoming a major economic force in Asia and a driver of global growth and increasingly becoming a destination for investment.”

“We are grateful that we have the full backing from the Government, who continuously support ARFF with various international trade exhibitions, training needs and funding as well as lifelong learning and training for our members for the Minimum Wage training fund from HRDF. We are fortunate to have the support of many industry players as well as the community at large.”

Mr Benjamin Ee, Vice President of ARFF and the Organising Chairman of AOBA, said the retail and franchise industry is a huge contributor to the ASEAN economy. Therefore, ARFF is here to serve as a platform to further stimulate the economy by inciting growth of the retail-chain & franchise sectors as well as to promote cross learning and economic opportunities for all its members across the ASEAN region.

“We are growing stronger as a business community and adapting with the times as we transition into digitalisation. The retail and franchise industry would be able to tap onto the global market with a strong consumer demand through digitalisation such as mobile wallet users and online marketplace,” said Benjamin.

###

About ASEAN Retail-Chains Franchise Federation (ARFF)

The inception of ASEAN Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation (ARFF) was formalized at the formation dinner launched the Honourable Minister of International Trade & Industries of Malaysia on 24 May 2008 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. ASEAN Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation (ARFF) is designated under tourism category. 

It was initiated to serve as a platform to stimulate the economy by inciting growth of retail-chain & franchise sectors and promote cross learning & economic opportunities across the ASEAN region and beyond.

DATO MIKE LOH OF SNIPS SALON AND SCCA AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE

ZIANA ZAIN IS ONE OF MALAYSIA'S FINEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL SINGERS

ZIANA ZAIN WON ASEAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR!

CONGRATS!

PHOTO TIME AT LOBBY

INSIDE GENTING CONVENTION CENTRE

MAIN TABLE

ELLA THE ROCKER NOW WEARS TUDUNG

ELLA WON ASEAN LEADING PERFORMANCE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

THE MOST GLAMOROUS AND SEXIEST WINNER WAS ELVIRA PINEDA FROM MANILA 

ELVIRA OR ELVIE PINEDA WON INTERNATIONAL LEADING BRAND IN COSMETIC/SKINCARE DISTRIBUTION AWARD

ELVIE IS SO OUTSTANDING!

ELVIE PINEDA IS SUPER GLAMSLAM MUM AND GRANDMUM!

GETTING READY FOR GROUP PHOTO!

SEE HOW ELVIE PINEDA STOOD OUT FROM THE OTHER LADIES! SHE IS SO STUNNING 

VIPS WALKING BACK TO MAIN TABLE AFTER STANDING SO LONG ON STAGE BUT WAIT...WHAT HAPPENED TO DATIN SRI VIVIAN CHAI'S AWARD? GOD ALMIGHTY, DON'T TELL ME THEY FORGOT AND LEFT HER OUT! ALSO ELLA AND ZIANA ZAIN! 

ELVIE PINEDA'S DAUGHTER AND 18 YR OLD GRAND DAUGHTER TAKING HER PHOTOS

ELVIE PINEDA LOOKS LIKE GREEK GODDESS

BUT WHERE IS MY DARLING DATIN SRI VIVIAN CHAI WHO WON ASEAN MOST RECOGNISED BRAND IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE! OMIGOD THEY LEFT HER OUT! WHAT A FAUX PAS! SO THE POOR VIPS HAD TO RETURN BACK ON STAGE FOR DATIN SRI VIVIAN CHAI OF JOM SDN BHD TO WALK ON STAGE TO RECEIVE HER AWARD! WHAT A DRAMATIC ENDING

SO FINALLY HER NAME DATIN SRI VIVIAN CHAI WAS CALLED OUT! 

THERE! ALL SORTED AND RECTIFIED!

ELLA WAS ALSO CALLED TO RECEIVE HER ASEAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR AWARD

ZIANA ZAIN WAS ALSO CALLED TO RECEIVE HER ASEAN BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD 

FINALLY EVERY AWARDEE WAS ON STAGE FOR GROUP PHOTOS!