Max Myanmar Group: Best ESG Transparency Myanmar 2015

Established in 1993, the Max Myanmar Group started out in business importing machinery, equipment, and commercial vehicles from Japan. The conglomerate, now a key corporate player underpinning economic progress in Myanmar (formerly Burma), is active in the energy, trading, agriculture, construction, infrastructure, hotel development, and manufacturing sectors.

Management has focused on good governance since the group’s earliest days. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been audited since 2014. The group’s transparency has consistently found to be exemplary. Last year, the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business – an initiative of the Danish Institute of Human Rights and other NGOs – ranked Max Myanmar second amongst the nation’s businesses in terms of transparency and CSR – one notch up from the rank claimed last year.

In granting its award, the CFI.co judging panel confirms the progress made – and improved upon – by the company. Max Myanmar Founder and Executive Chairman U Zaw Zaw, a seasoned and highly accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist, and chairman of the country’s national football federation for the past ten years, considers the values of transparency and corporate social responsibility as the twin priorities of the group.

Max Myanmar abhors gender discrimination in the workforce; is a crusader against corruption; and has an effective whistle-blower policy in place that encourages employees to freely express any concerns. The group is guided by international best practices in all its operations and processes.

The Ayeyarwady Foundation constitutes the philanthropic arm of Max Myanmar. It has reached out to help the victims of flooding and works to assist people affected by natural disasters and war. The foundation donates generously to both educational and medical programmes with a particularly focus on facilitating the plight of disadvantaged young people and communities in remote areas of the country.

The CFI.co judging panel is delighted to name the Max Myanmar Group as winner of the 2015 Best ESG Transparency Myanmar Award.