Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2026 Regional Edition Forges Legacies with Trailblazers Across Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia's most distinguished business leaders and high-performing enterprises took center stage at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2026 Regional Edition, recognized for forging enduring legacies of excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth. Organized by Enterprise Asia, the prestigious awards ceremony was held on 15 July 2026 at InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Under the theme "Forging Legacy: Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring Tomorrow", the Awards celebrated outstanding enterprises and visionary leaders whose achievements have created lasting impact across their industries and communities. The Awards paid tribute to industry leaders that exemplify excellence, resilience, foresight, and sustainable growth, whose commitment to innovation, responsible business practices, and long-term value creation continues to inspire future generations and contribute to Asia's economic advancement.

More than 100 nominations from across the region underwent a rigorous judging process conducted by a distinguished panel of experts. Nominees were assessed based on leadership excellence, business performance, innovation, sustainability, governance, and overall impact. Following extensive deliberations, exceptional winners were selected across five award categories: Master Entrepreneur, Inspirational Brand, Fast Enterprise, Corporate Excellence, and the newly introduced Corporate Integrity and Governance Excellence Award, which recognizes organizations demonstrating exemplary governance, ethical leadership, transparency, and effective risk management.

Since 2007, the Awards has been organized throughout the region, recognizing exceptional business leaders and enterprises that have made significant contributions to entrepreneurship and economic development. Past recipients include Mr. Kwek Leng Beng of Hong Leong Group Singapore, Thailand's Supaluck Umpujh of The Mall Group, China's Xu RongMao of Shimao Group, Indonesia's Hary Tanoesoedibjo of MNC Group, India's Adi Godrej of Godrej Group, the Philippines' Manuel Villar of Vista Land, and Hoe Kian Choon of Cuckoo Malaysia.

During his welcome address, President of Enterprise Asia Richard Tsang emphasized that in today's rapidly changing environment, enterprises must go beyond adaptation and actively shape the future through innovation, collaboration, and bold leadership. He highlighted that those who embrace transformation with purpose will be best positioned to drive sustainable growth and create lasting impact.

This year's distinguished awardees comprise inspiring leaders under the Master Entrepreneur category such as Datuk David Chong Kok Wei, CEO of Chong Kia Hoi Realty Sdn Bhd, and Na Chin Teong, Managing Director of Koike (M) Sdn Bhd, recognized for steering their organizations to greater heights through vision, resilience, and entrepreneurial excellence.

Awardees under the Inspirational Brand category include Thailand's Electricity Generating Authority Of Thailand (EGAT) and Malaysia's Metrocity. Rising enterprises such as Wellous Indonesia and OneAssist Consumer Solutions Private Limited of India took home the Fast Enterprise Award, while industry leaders including Malaysia's Sunway Medical Centre Penang were celebrated under the Corporate Excellence category, and the inaugural Corporate Integrity and Governance Excellence Award was presented to exemplary organizations such as Singapore's Kaplan Higher Education Academy and Arvato Systems Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Prior to the APEA 2026 Regional Edition, the Asia Economic Forum (AEF) 2026 convened business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts from across the region to explore the forces shaping Asia's next phase of economic growth.

Held under the theme "Accelerating Transformation: Pioneering Asia's Next Economic Chapter", the Forum convened international policymakers and industry leaders to explore strategies for navigating an increasingly complex global landscape shaped by rapid technological advancement, shifting workforce dynamics, and evolving sustainability expectations.

Tan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, Chairman of Enterprise Asia, set the tone for the Forum by highlighting key shifts reshaping Asia's economic landscape, from trade volatility and technological disruption to rising sustainability demands. He noted that AI and digital innovation are accelerating industry change, stressing that future growth will be driven by enterprises that adapt quickly, collaborate, and lead with bold strategies.

The Forum featured distinguished speakers from the public and private sectors, including Jarod Ho, Head of Sustainability at Pos Malaysia and Paul Puspanathan, Global Supply Chain Controller & Global SC Finance Shared Service Leader at Baker Hughes. Alongside other industry leaders, they shared valuable insights on emerging trends, disruptive technologies, sustainable growth strategies, and the leadership required to shape Asia's next chapter of economic transformation.

The AEF 2026 and APEA 2026 Regional Edition are supported by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia, CCI France Malaysia, Consortium of Indian Industries in Malaysia (CIIM), EUROCHAM Malaysia, and Myanmar Business Executives Association (MBE), with PR Newswire serving as the Official News Release Distribution Partner and Dailywire.asia as the Media Partner. RKT & Associates PLT is the Official Assurance Partner for the APEA 2026 Regional Edition.

AWARD RECIPIENT LIST OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ENTERPRISE AWARDS (APEA) 2026 REGIONAL EDITION

MASTER ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY
NAME	COMPANY	INDUSTRY	COUNTRY/ MARKET
DATUK DAVID CHONG KOK WEI CEO	CHONG KIA HOI REALTY SDN BHD	PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT	MALAYSIA
TEOH HIN HENG MANAGING PARTNER	I CONSULTANCY	PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES	MALAYSIA
NA CHIN TEONG MANAGING DIRECTOR	KOIKE (M) SDN BHD	AUTOMOTIVE	MALAYSIA
SERAWA ANAK BUDOL GENERAL MANAGER	MIRI PORT AUTHORITY	TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS	MALAYSIA
GRAHAME ASTON OWNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR	PPC MOULDING SERVICES (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD	MANUFACTURING	MALAYSIA
EDDY CHONG	R-TECH GLOBAL (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD	ENGINEERING	MALAYSIA
JEFF CHEAH	SENI JAYA CORPORATION BERHAD	MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT	MALAYSIA

MASTER ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY

NAME

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

COUNTRY/ MARKET

DATUK DAVID CHONG KOK WEI

CEO

CHONG KIA HOI REALTY SDN BHD

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

MALAYSIA

TEOH HIN HENG

MANAGING PARTNER

I CONSULTANCY

PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES

MALAYSIA

NA CHIN TEONG

MANAGING DIRECTOR

KOIKE (M) SDN BHD

AUTOMOTIVE

MALAYSIA

SERAWA ANAK BUDOL

GENERAL MANAGER

MIRI PORT AUTHORITY

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

MALAYSIA

GRAHAME ASTON

OWNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

PPC MOULDING SERVICES (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD

MANUFACTURING

MALAYSIA

EDDY CHONG

R-TECH GLOBAL (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD

ENGINEERING

MALAYSIA

JEFF CHEAH

SENI JAYA CORPORATION BERHAD

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

MALAYSIA

 

FAST ENTERPRISE CATEGORY
COMPANY	INDUSTRY	COUNTRY/ MARKET
AGROZ GROUP SDN BHD	AGRICULTURE	MALAYSIA
ANGSANA TUNAS SDN. BHD.	CONSTRUCTION	MALAYSIA
GOLD KEY FNB SDN BHD	FOOD & BEVERAGE	MALAYSIA
I CONSULTANCY	PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES	MALAYSIA
KOIKE (M) SDN BHD	AUTOMOTIVE	MALAYSIA
ONEASSIST CONSUMER SOLUTIONS PVT LTD	PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES	INDIA
PPC MOULDING SERVICES (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD	MANUFACTURING	MALAYSIA
SENI JAYA CORPORATION BERHAD	MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT	MALAYSIA
TRANS INTERNATIONAL LOGISTIKS SDN. BHD.	TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS	MALAYSIA
WELLOUS INDONESIA	WELLNESS	INDONESIA

FAST ENTERPRISE CATEGORY

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

COUNTRY/ MARKET

AGROZ GROUP SDN BHD

AGRICULTURE

MALAYSIA

ANGSANA TUNAS SDN. BHD.

CONSTRUCTION

MALAYSIA

GOLD KEY FNB SDN BHD

FOOD & BEVERAGE

MALAYSIA

I CONSULTANCY

PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES

MALAYSIA

KOIKE (M) SDN BHD

AUTOMOTIVE

MALAYSIA

ONEASSIST CONSUMER SOLUTIONS PVT LTD

PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES

INDIA

PPC MOULDING SERVICES (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD

MANUFACTURING

MALAYSIA

SENI JAYA CORPORATION BERHAD

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

MALAYSIA

TRANS INTERNATIONAL LOGISTIKS SDN. BHD.

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

MALAYSIA

WELLOUS INDONESIA

WELLNESS

INDONESIA

 

INSPIRATIONAL BRAND CATEGORY
COMPANY	INDUSTRY	COUNTRY/ MARKET
ELECTRICITY GENERATING AUTHORITY OF THAILAND (EGAT)	ENERGY	THAILAND
METROCITY	PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT	MALAYSIA
SUNWAY MEDICAL CENTRE PENANG	HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY	MALAYSIA

INSPIRATIONAL BRAND CATEGORY

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

COUNTRY/ MARKET

ELECTRICITY GENERATING AUTHORITY OF THAILAND (EGAT)

ENERGY

THAILAND

METROCITY

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

MALAYSIA

SUNWAY MEDICAL CENTRE PENANG

HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY

MALAYSIA

 

CORPORATE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY
COMPANY	INDUSTRY	COUNTRY/ MARKET
BHAVIK ENTERPRISES LTD	TRADING & WHOLESALING	INDIA
CHONG KIA HOI REALTY SDN BHD	PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT	MALAYSIA
ELECTRICITY GENERATING AUTHORITY OF THAILAND (EGAT)	ENERGY	THAILAND
KNOWLES ELECTRONICS (M) SDN BHD	MANUFACTURING	MALAYSIA
PPC MOULDING SERVICES (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD	MANUFACTURING	MALAYSIA
SUNWAY MEDICAL CENTRE PENANG	HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY	MALAYSIA
TREC HOLDINGS SDN BHD	REAL ESTATE	MALAYSIA

CORPORATE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

COUNTRY/ MARKET

BHAVIK ENTERPRISES LTD

TRADING & WHOLESALING

INDIA

CHONG KIA HOI REALTY SDN BHD

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

MALAYSIA

ELECTRICITY GENERATING AUTHORITY OF THAILAND (EGAT)

ENERGY

THAILAND

KNOWLES ELECTRONICS (M) SDN BHD

MANUFACTURING

MALAYSIA

PPC MOULDING SERVICES (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD

MANUFACTURING

MALAYSIA

SUNWAY MEDICAL CENTRE PENANG

HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY

MALAYSIA

TREC HOLDINGS SDN BHD

REAL ESTATE

MALAYSIA

 

CORPORATE INTEGRITY AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY
COMPANY	INDUSTRY	COUNTRY/ MARKET
ARVATO SYSTEMS MALAYSIA SDN BHD	TELECOMMUNICATIONS & ICT	MALAYSIA
EURO HOLDINGS BERHAD	FURNITURE	MALAYSIA
KAPLAN HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMY	EDUCATION & TRAINING	SINGAPORE

CORPORATE INTEGRITY AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

COUNTRY/ MARKET

ARVATO SYSTEMS MALAYSIA SDN BHD

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & ICT

MALAYSIA

EURO HOLDINGS BERHAD

FURNITURE

MALAYSIA

KAPLAN HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMY

EDUCATION & TRAINING

SINGAPORE

 

About Asia Economic Forum (AEF)
Launched in 2012, the Asia Economic Forum serves as an open platform for thought leaders, policymakers, and C-level executives to unite and shape regional initiatives to improve the well-being of communities. Please visit https://economicforum.asia/ for more information.

About Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards
Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards is the region's most prestigious award for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation, and sustainable leadership. The Award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices, and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups together leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation-only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 16 countries/ regions and markets all over Asia. For further information, please visit www.apea.asia.

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Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2026 Regional Edition Forges Legacies with Trailblazers Across Asia

AUSTIN, Texas, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Saronic today announced it has selected Brownsville, Texas as the future home of Port Alpha, its next-generation shipyard designed to help restore American maritime strength and significantly expand the nation's shipbuilding capacity.

The announcement marks a major milestone in Saronic's mission to restore U.S. shipbuilding capacity at scale. First introduced as a vision for the future of maritime manufacturing, Port Alpha now moves from concept to reality through a planned investment of more than $3 billion that aims to establish one of the most advanced shipyards in the world, built for software-defined shipbuilding and autonomous maritime systems.

The project is expected to generate more than $160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5 billion for the State of Texas, while creating up to 10,000 direct jobs. This makes Port Alpha one of the largest economic development projects in modern Texas history. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, with Port Alpha expected to open for operations in 2028.

The timing is pivotal. In one of his first actions in office, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Restoring America's Maritime Dominance, followed by federal initiatives such as the SHIPS for America Act and the Maritime Action Plan that call for a generational rebuild of the American shipbuilding industry. These efforts recognize that economic security and national security are inseparable, and that restoring U.S. shipbuilding capacity is essential to both. Port Alpha will expand domestic production capacity and strengthen the nation's ability to meet commercial and defense requirements while closing the widening shipbuilding gap with foreign adversaries.

"America's maritime future depends on our ability to build again," said Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic. "Port Alpha is our commitment to that mission. Built from the ground up to deliver ships at a speed and scale not seen since World War II, this investment is about more than constructing a shipyard. It is about rebuilding the industrial capacity, workforce, and manufacturing advantage required to ensure American maritime leadership for decades to come. The state of Texas and city of Brownsville give us the foundation to turn that vision into reality."

Following a year-long nationwide search evaluating sites across the East, West, and Gulf Coasts, Brownsville was selected after a rigorous review of workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, land scale, logistics, and expansion potential. Initially situated on 835 acres at the Port of Brownsville, with the opportunity to expand to nearly 4,400 acres, Port Alpha will encompass a shipyard and manufacturing facility capable of producing vessels up to 850-ft. Future site expansion could support the production of vessels over 1,200 ft. The site provides hundreds of acres of waterfront access, deepwater channel connectivity, multimodal logistics infrastructure, and room for long-term expansion—everything required to anchor a next-generation shipbuilding hub.

"Today marks history with the announcement of the most advanced shipyard in the entire world," said Governor Abbott. "When this shipyard gets fully built out, there will be about 10,000 employees. Saronic is going to be providing about $750 million in annual paychecks to Texans. That's game-changing for the population of Texas. As Governor, I'm proud that Saronic calls Texas home."

Over the next decade, Port Alpha is expected to create up to 10,000 high-quality direct jobs spanning skilled trades such as welding and machining to advanced roles in robotics, software engineering, and naval architecture. The project aligns with national calls to rebuild the maritime workforce pipeline, creating new opportunities for skilled workers at the intersection of shipbuilding and advanced technology. Saronic will collaborate with the State of Texas, Cameron County, and local educational institutions – from regional technical colleges to leading State universities and institutions – to develop workforce training and apprenticeship programs designed to sustain long-term industrial growth and position South Texas as a center of excellence for advanced maritime manufacturing.

Port Alpha builds on Saronic's expanding shipbuilding footprint. In early 2025, the company acquired a shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, where it is investing $300 million to add 300,000 square feet of production capacity. That facility will continue producing Saronic's 180-foot Marauder autonomous vessel, which was designed and launched in less than one year. Together, these facilities represent a multi-billion-dollar private capital commitment to restoring American shipbuilding capacity, advancing autonomous maritime systems, and strengthening the nation's industrial resilience.

More than a shipyard, Port Alpha represents a new model for American shipbuilding—combining advanced manufacturing, software-defined production, and autonomy at unprecedented scale. To sustain that edge, Saronic is forging strategic partnerships with leading manufacturers, emerging shipbuilding technology providers, and premier suppliers, ensuring that the latest capabilities continuously strengthen and inform Port Alpha's production architecture alongside Saronics' in-house expertise. In doing so, Port Alpha embodies the transformation envisioned in national maritime strategy, one that leverages technology to strengthen deterrence, resilience, and operational flexibility. As construction advances, Saronic will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to establish the industrial foundation required for the next generation of maritime power in America.

Contact: press@saronic.com

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Saronic to Build Port Alpha, America's Next Generation Shipyard, in Brownsville, Texas