In a significant ceremony held as part of the 57th ASEAN Day celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, ASEAN Secretariat and Maybank unveiled the inaugural Maybank Social Impact Report (SIR) 2023 and presented the ASEAN-Maybank Scholarships (AMS) to seven deserving students from across the region.

Themed on "Purpose Driven Social Impact Across ASEAN", the SIR showcases banking and beyond banking social initiatives by Maybank and Maybank Foundation that have positively impacted its stakeholders and communities it serves across ASEAN. The SIR is also the first of its kind published by a financial institution in this region, aligned with global and Maybank Group's sustainability agenda, and its impact objectives designed to address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

AMS is the first scholarship programme between the ASEAN Secretariat with Maybank Foundation, the first financial institution to be accorded an ASEAN accredited entity, and marks its sixth year of involvement with the secretariat. Launched in 2021, the AMS were awarded to seven students from Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam this year; making a total number of 15 AMS scholars to date.

The unveiling of the SIR and the AMS scholarship presentation was graced by H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General, ASEAN, and Tan Sri Dato' Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Chairman, Maybank & Maybank Foundation, alongside Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Maybank, and Izlyn Ramli, Chief Executive Officer, Maybank Foundation. The event was also attended by the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR).

L-R : Izlyn Ramli, CEO of Maybank Foundation; H.E Ambassador Bovonethat Douang Chak, Permanent Representative of Lao PDR to ASEAN and Chairman of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN; Tan Sri Dato' Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Chairman of Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation; H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General, ASEAN, H.E Ambassador Sarah Al Bakri Devadason, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN and Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer Maybank at the unveiling of the inaugural Maybank Social Impact Report (SIR) 2023 at the ASEAN-Maybank Scholarships (AMS) presentation in Jakarta Indonesia.

Addressing the attendees, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn remarked, "I would like to congratulate the Maybank Group for this successful initiative in investing into the education and development of ASEAN youth. As the Secretary-General of ASEAN, I see the merits of this scholarship and the important role it plays in advancing and realising the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2021 – 2025, notably to sustain and strengthen ASEAN capacity in higher education harmonisation through strategies, mechanisms, and scholarship provision."

"I would also like to see more ASEAN Entities, like Maybank Foundation, to continue to work with the ASEAN Secretariat in bringing ASEAN closer to the people with their impactful involvement and participations. Everyone has a role to play in the ASEAN Community building process, with their ideas, thoughts, views and contributions," added H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.

Tan Sri Dato' Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani said that it was an honour to introduce Maybank's first Social Impact Report at the ASEAN Day this year, and expressed gratitude to continue the collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat to finalise this year's scholarship intake.

"The SIR covers financial inclusion and empowerment initiatives with intended and realised outcomes for the communities we serve. With an in-depth focus on our purpose driven banking and beyond banking social programmes, the SIR also showcases the journey of our beneficiaries growing from strength to strength while providing an overview of Maybank's strategies and commitments in creating value and meaningful social impact for all our stakeholders, anchored on the three pillars of Empowering Education, Community Empowerment and Environmental Diversity. Through our banking initiatives, we have disbursed RM33.76 billion in financing to close to 700,000 individuals and over 108,000 Small Medium Enterprises (SME), and uplifted 1.56 million lives across ASEAN via our ongoing 89 beyond banking initiatives with the communities, run across the Maybank Group with Maybank Foundation as the primary social impact arm."

"AMS is one such key programme under Maybank Foundation, and we remain committed to investing in the potential of our youth and equipping them with the tools they need to thrive. Through the scholarship programme, we continue to nurture new talents and build a network of future leaders that are capable to contribute positively to advance ASEAN's development," added Tan Sri Zamzamzairani.

The AMS provides an opportunity for talented ASEAN youth to pursue higher education at prestigious ASEAN universities listed under the ASEAN University Network (AUN). This initiative, developed in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat and Maybank Foundation, is designed to nurture future leaders and promote regional integration in line with the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025.

This year's recipients, selected from a competitive pool of 2,001 applicants, were recognised for their outstanding academic achievements, leadership qualities, resilience, and dedication to community service and ASEAN development. The 2024 AMS recipients are:

Tan Sri Dato' Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani, Chairman of Maybank Group & Maybank Foundation (center in green) and H.E Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General, ASEAN (center in blazer) flanked by Permanent Representatives of the respective countries to ASEAN, senior Maybank officials and the recipients of the Asean-Maybank Scholarships (AMS) (front row).

Tan Sri Zamzamzairani also emphasised, "Maybank is in a unique position to enable sustainable economic and socio-economic growth across ASEAN. We are privileged to play our part in driving meaningful developments, witnessing first-hand the positive multiplier impact that financial inclusion has in addressing the diverse needs of the underserved and unserved, aligned to our mission of Humanising Financial Services."

"Maybank also continues to value its strategic collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat and the importance of shaping a generation of youth that is well-equipped with strong fundamentals via education and AMS. This is a necessity as we grow stronger as a region, ensuring a brighter future for all."

Maybank's Social Impact Report can be viewed at .

About ASEAN Secretariat

The ASEAN Secretariat is the central coordinating body of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Its primary role is to facilitate cooperation and integration among ASEAN member states. The ASEAN Secretariat works closely with partner organizations, governments, and stakeholders to advance regional cooperation and foster economic, political, and social progress in the region.

About Maybank

Maybank is among Asia's leading financial groups and Southeast Asia's fourth largest bank by asset with close to 44,000 employees worldwide. The Group has an international network of some 2,600 offices in 18 countries including all 10 ASEAN countries and also present in international financial centres such as London, New York, Hong Kong and Dubai. With a purpose to Humanise Financial Services and guided by its M25+ strategy, Maybank provides any array of value-based solutions established on sustainable and ethical principles to meet its customers evolving needs. These extensive range of products and services, include consumer and corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. ()

About Maybank Foundation

Maybank Foundation is the social impact arm of the Maybank Group, which seeks to positively impact communities in markets that Maybank operates. The Foundation's programmes are focused on 3 key pillars which are Empowering Education, Community Empowerment and Environmental Diversity. Over the past six years, Maybank Foundation has evolved into a prominent regional social impact organisation, furthering Maybank's mission to Humanise Financial Services. Since 2014, the Foundation has positively impacted over 460,000 lives, earning ASEAN accreditation and reaffirming Maybank's commitment to sustainable, positive and measurable impact across the region.