Kuala Lumpur, 17 July 2008 - The Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2008 (APEA2008) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on 23 July at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

The regional awards are organized by Enterprise Asia, a regional non-governmental organization promoting entrepreneurship and corporate responsibility. Malaysia is the first leg of the awards, which will be held in 15 other countries throughout the region. The awards recognise business leaders for outstanding entrepreneurship, responsible entrepreneurship and their investment in people.

In Malaysia, Enterprise Asia partners with Cycle and Carriage Bintang to honour Malaysia’s top entrepreneurs.

According to William Ng, President of Enterprise Asia, APEA2008 is the most prestigious awards for entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific. “Winners have to undergo a very rigorous nomination and judging process, spanning 4 months and involving over 20 on-ground audit and verification officials”, he said.

“It’s like the World Cup qualifying rounds – nominees have to demonstrate that they are the very best in their industries to win the Awards and represent their country in the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Forum in Hangzhou next year”.

Daniel Tan, General Manager of Cycle and Carriage Bintang agrees that APEA2008 is good for entrepreneurship in Malaysia. “In the current economic climate, it is essential that we continue to develop our entrepreneurial talents as a mean to distinct ourselves from global dynamics”, said Tan.

I believe we must embrace and not shy away from the world at large so that we can compete and be amongst the champions out there, as Cycle and Carriage has done for the last 109 years. We know the amount of efforts it takes to maintain one’s status at the pinnacle of excellence. As such, it gives us great pleasure to associate ourselves with the prestigious Awards”

Last year, winners of APEA in Malaysia included Public Bank’s Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow, Alliance Bank’s Datuk Bridget Lai and Mydin’s Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin. Recipients will join their counterparts in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, China, India and ten other countries in Hangzhou in 2009 for the largest forum on entrepreneurship in the region.