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February 23, 2018

March 7: Launch Event for ASEAN Social Enterprise Structuring Guide

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British Council, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Tilleke & Gibbins, United Nations ESCAP

In partnership with the British Council, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, and United Nations ESCAP, Tilleke & Gibbins is proud to announce the launch of the ASEAN Social Enterprise Structuring Guide, a practical new guide for social entrepreneurs to the legal structures available to them for establishing a social enterprise in Southeast Asia.

The role of social enterprises—financially self-sustaining organizations that use commercial techniques for societal benefit—has grown substantially over the last two decades, and these organizations have become a major contributor to sustainable socioeconomic growth in the region. Despite this, there are almost no dedicated legal structures available to them, and potential social entrepreneurs often have to navigate a complex range of incorporation options before they are able to start operations.

The guide aims to alleviate that problem by setting out in detail the advantages and disadvantages of each available structure in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, and the regulatory and compliance obligations which come with each option.

The launch event will include a dynamic panel conversation on the opportunities and challenges for social entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia, including an overview of the social enterprise ecosystems, recent legal changes, and work being done to encourage legal reform. 

The guide will be launched at an event at Tilleke & Gibbins’ Auditorium in Bangkok, on Wednesday March 7, 2018, from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm. Attendance is free and refreshments will be available.

The guide will be made available online, free of charge, after the launch event. For more information, and to register your attendance at the event, please visit the Thomson Reuters Foundation website. 

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