On 9 March 2026 in Jakarta, business leaders from across Southeast Asia launched the ASEAN Responsible Business Collective, a regional platform designed to help companies navigate emerging global standards on supply chains, human rights, and environmental practices. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Government of Japan, the platform brings together companies, industry associations, and diplomatic representatives to strengthen competitiveness and preparedness in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. ASEAN, now the world’s fifth-largest economy with a combined GDP exceeding USD 4 trillion, plays a central role in global production networks across sectors including electronics, palm oil, garments, minerals, and digital services.
New due diligence and transparency requirements in key markets such as the European Union and Japan are reshaping how companies demonstrate accountability. For export-driven economies like Indonesia, which has recorded over USD 200 billion in exports in recent years, compliance with these standards is increasingly linked to continued market access. Sara Ferrer Olivella, UNDP Resident Representative in Indonesia, emphasized that businesses must rapidly adapt to changing expectations, and that the ASEAN Responsible Business Collective provides a practical forum to move from commitment to implementation.
The Collective differs from traditional policy forums by focusing on operational challenges such as supply chain traceability, grievance mechanisms, and corporate governance. The launch event brought together stakeholders from Global Compact Networks in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, and Indonesian industry groups across manufacturing, agriculture, digital services, extractives, finance, and infrastructure.
A key highlight of the event was UNDP’s research study, Human Rights vs. Competitiveness — A False Dilemma?, which examined 235 global companies in high-risk sectors. The study found that stronger human rights practices do not harm financial performance; instead, companies with robust human rights policies were more efficient in converting assets into profit. These findings challenge the assumption that responsible business undermines competitiveness, showing that respecting human rights can enhance operational efficiency and long-term resilience.
H.E. Kazuo Chujo, Deputy Head of the Mission of Japan to ASEAN, highlighted the importance of the initiative, noting that robust and trusted supply chains are essential for economic resilience and sustainability in the region. The launch of the ASEAN Responsible Business Collective represents a coordinated regional effort to support companies in meeting global standards while safeguarding growth, credibility, and competitiveness in international markets.
