\u201cIs Asia up to the challenge?\u201d This is the theme of the Asia Summit on Social Entrepreneurship. Seventy four delegates from 17 countries in Asia attended the event in Bangkok, Thailand on March 1-2, 2012. As the fastest growing region in the world, the summit aims to examine the potential for social innovation and how social entrepreneurship can be raised to an even higher level.<\/p>\n
Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak, Chair of Social Entrepreneurship Institute in Thailand delivered the keynote speech to open the summit. In his speech he stressed the importance of social entrepreneurship in contributing to the development of Asia as a region. I-genius\u2019s CEO and summit organizer, Mr. Tommy Hutchinson presented the asia wide survey results on social entrepreneurship. He highlighted that social enterprises in Asia have a positive outlook since they generally expect higher sales, create employment and improve impact in the coming years.<\/p>\n
The summit provided a platform to surface and respond to seven challenges. Mr. Romy Cathyadi, director of Provisi Education in Indonesia, facilitated the first challenge which identified the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of Social Entrpreneurship in Asia. In brief, the strengths include a strong demand for social enterprise products and services; a few countries, such as South Korea, Singapore and Thailand, recognized social enterprises as agents for social development. The weaknesses include lack of management skills, limited market understanding and limited finance. Increasing interest from the government, civil society and the consumers to support social enterprises is the most pronounced identified opportunity. Lastly, threats include lack of regulatory framework; competition from traditional businesses; and varying definitions of social entrepreneurship hinders collaboration, policy creation and access to resources.<\/p>\n
Sunit Shrestha, director of\u00a0 Change Fusion in Thailand and Vincent Rapisura, CEO of SEDPI Group of Social Enterprises facilitated the second challenge: Customers First. The session stressed the importance of market orientation to sustain social enterprises and making sure that institutional capacity is developed to provide the preferences of the market. Vincent Rapisura stressed that, \u201cthere is no such thing as competition in social entrepreneurship.\u201d He explained that social enterprises offering the same products and services have the same vision or mission towards social development and therefore should collaborate to achieve each others vision or mission. \u201cIn a world where poverty is high and the environment is compromised, competition in social entrepreneurship should be transformed to collaboration,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Yuan Gu, founder and CEO of Aha Social Innovation Center, drew from the participants the third challenge on skills and know-how. His session highlighted the need for continuous innovation to provide products and services to the market.<\/p>\n
The fourth challenge on finance and investment was presented through active participation. Mr. Edwin Salonga, Chairperson of SEDPI Group of Social Enterprises, and Vincent Rapisura teamed up to facilitate the session. They shared myths and facts in resource mobilization as well as shared their actual experience in raising capital that grew their social enterprise from a mere USD 500 company to an almost USD 3 million company in seven years. Mr. Alan Johnson, a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust fellow wrote, \u201cBrilliant! Great fun!\u201d in his evaluation of the session.<\/p>\n
Penny Low, President and Founder of Social Innovation Park in Singapore, stressed the important role of the government as enabler and as an entrepreneur in supporting social enterprises. She presented the fifth challenge on designing a legal and regulatory framework for governments. Ed Rebusch director of the Centre for Social Enterprise of Thammasat Business School in Thiland tacked the sixth challenge on developing networks, partnerships and engaging stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of the entrepreneur as the \u201cmiddle person\u201d in bridging the gaps of seemingly polar ideas, actors or events. HOP \u2013 Happy, Optimistic and Personal was the main message of Kristine Oustrup, CEO of Qi Global in Singapore. She delivered the seventh challenge on good communications.<\/p>\n
The summit also presented actual social enterprises from China, Philippines and Thailand. Huang Ke of China presented her social enterprise in transforming building roofs in Shanghai to green gardens. Orapin Sinamonvech of Thailand showcased Kokoboard Company as a producer of furniture and construction boards from rice husks, peanut shells, coco fiber and other indigenous materials. Roberto Crisostomo of the Philippines presented how his social enterprise on Cocoa farming could benefit farmers. All of the cases presented were winners of competitions on social entrepreneurship that the British Council organized.<\/p>\n