02 October 2014 - The Philippines was among the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) member countries given recognition for assisting small businesses adopt environmentally friendly business practices at the opening of an ASEM-affiliated center focusing on eco-innovation in Seoul on September 17.
First Secretary and Philippine Consul General Iric C. Arribas represented the Philippine Embassy at the ceremony establishing the ASEM Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Eco-Innovation Center (ASEIC) as a Seoul-based foundation at the COEX Convention Center in the Korean capital’s Gangnam district.
“Through the ASEIC’s international cooperation of providing eco-friendly information and supporting eco-innovation for the SMEs in 49 ASEM Member States, we aim to accelerate eco-innovation and share successful results. With this, ASEIC will play a pivotal role in leading the accompanied growth in Asia and Europe,” said ASEIC Chairman Sung Myung Gi.
The event brought together representatives from the ASEM Member States, related international and Korean organizations, and companies.The Philippines was invited to attend the event in view of its membership in ASEM and its active engagement with ASEIC.
ASEIC helps small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries in achieving greener practices in their businesses by advisory services and knowledge-sharing for environmental policies and eco-innovation in technology.
In June 2013, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PCAPI) partnered with Ecowise Inc., a Korean environmental consulting company accredited by ASEIC, to conduct a series of eco-innovation workshops for SMEs in Cavite and Laguna focusing on the transfer of knowledge on the reduction of environmental pollutants, energy management, waste management, and water management.
ASEIC was initially founded in 2011 based on the endorsement of the 8th ASEM Summit in order to meet the need of establishing an organization to support SMEs of ASEM member countries to efficiently deal with environmental issues and climate change and to promote green growth consistent with the Rio +20 and Millennium Development Goals. END