On Friday, May 12, the Aboitiz Group extended its commitment to supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as it joined the “Business Round Table: Strengthening Good Governance in the Supply Chain.” Representing the Group on the panel discussion was Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) Chief Sustainability and Reputation Officer Ginggay Hontiveros. The roundtable was organized by the Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP), the Basel Institute of Governance, and the Asia Institute of Management (AIM) Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr. Center for Social Responsibility.
The gathering explored the vital role of corporate governance, business integrity, and their profound linkages with sustainability in the context of supply chain management. The panel focused on key challenges faced by larger companies when entering new markets or new business partners. They also deliberated on ways in which companies can foster an enabling environment for MSMEs within their supply chain, as well as highlighting the support needed by MSMEs to elevate their standards of integrity and promote fair business practices.
The Aboitiz Group has been at the forefront of the GCNP Prosperity Pillar, an initiative that focuses on MSME recovery and resilience in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. As Aboitiz undergoes its Great Transformation to become the Philippines’ first Techglomerate, its innovative growth strategy has provided a wealth of experiences and insights for enterprises large and small to take in.
The discussion was held through a hybrid set-up at the Aboitiz Tech Space, the first smart caseroom and largest audio-visual caseroom of AIM. The state-of-the-art learning environment was built with part of the Aboitiz 100th Anniversary Commitment Fund to AIM. The space reflects the technology-driven innovative spirit of the Aboitiz Group’s Great Transformation.
Opening the event was GCNP Chair Vickie Tan, Basel Institute on Governance Private Sector Head Vanessa Hans, and AIM Washington SyCip Graduate School of Finance Head Dr. Felipe O. Calderon.
For the panel, joining Hontiveros of the Aboitiz Group, was AIM Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr. Center for Corporate Responsibility Executive Director Dr. Dynah A. Basuil, PLDT-Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel De Dios, Morination Agricultural Productions President Sharon Jean Gulmatico, and Bayo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anna Lagon.
The speakers championed sustainability and embodied the spirit of integrity, leading the charge toward creating an environment of good governance and accountability from the top down. The impact spreads beyond the business community to the people they serve.
