Page 5 - THE SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL
P. 5
June 2017
Dear Members, case, and would expect also in yours—as an intimate and power-
ful motivator to effect change in the world.
On May 16th I was honored to be presented the 2017 Oslo Busi-
ness for Peace Award by three winners of the Nobel Peace and Second, I observe that we have all deviated from the status quo
Economics at the Oslo City Hall. As stated by Per Saxegaard, the in our efforts to construct a future in which we want to live.
Founder of the Oslo Business for Peace Foundation, this Award We have pursued unorthodox paths to pioneer new models for
is the highest recognition a global businessperson can receive. mindful economic growth.
The actual selection had taken place behind closed doors in Lon- Over the course of my career I have consistently sought out op-
don on February 9th, where the independent Award Committee portunities deemed by others to be commercially unviable or not
of Nobel Laureates in Peace and Economics decided the 2017 sufficiently lucrative in which to attempt these innovations. I
winners from a pool of nominees from over 40 countries put for- have been rewarded for these ventures not only by material suc-
ward by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the United cess but also by the success of the indigenous communities that
Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the International have become my partners. My legacy in business will be long-
Chamber of Commerce (ICC). term sources of sustainable revenue for the local communities in
which I have undertaken development projects.
I am happy to share my acceptance speech with you:
I expect that you will have similar stories to share with me, and
I am driven by a hope and need to improve my life so that my eagerly anticipate hearing them. I have yet more road to walk
children will know a life more peaceful and full of opportunity ahead of me. New opportunities await in which I will apply the
than I had. I am unaware of a purpose more universal or more lessons I will surely learn from each and every one of you.
uplifting than this, and believe that it is one shared by women
and men around the world. To me this recognition represents our responsibility to those less
fortunate in the world. To me it is nothing less than a moral im-
I truly believe each and every one of us, whether in business, perative made tangible. I hope you feel the same way.
government, academia, or otherwise, can advance the agenda of
peace and prosperity by ensuring that people impacted by our Harley Seyedin
decisions are never short of the means to see their children grow President
up better educated, healthier and more hopeful than they did. The American Chamber of Commerce in South China
Vice Chairman
Fellow Honorees, I have read your collective accomplishments The Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce
and I must say that I am truly humbled to be included among
your ranks. In particular, two themes stand out in my mind.
First, we were all born to humble, non-western families of mod-
est means but have used that humility to our advantage—in my
3
Dear Members, case, and would expect also in yours—as an intimate and power-
ful motivator to effect change in the world.
On May 16th I was honored to be presented the 2017 Oslo Busi-
ness for Peace Award by three winners of the Nobel Peace and Second, I observe that we have all deviated from the status quo
Economics at the Oslo City Hall. As stated by Per Saxegaard, the in our efforts to construct a future in which we want to live.
Founder of the Oslo Business for Peace Foundation, this Award We have pursued unorthodox paths to pioneer new models for
is the highest recognition a global businessperson can receive. mindful economic growth.
The actual selection had taken place behind closed doors in Lon- Over the course of my career I have consistently sought out op-
don on February 9th, where the independent Award Committee portunities deemed by others to be commercially unviable or not
of Nobel Laureates in Peace and Economics decided the 2017 sufficiently lucrative in which to attempt these innovations. I
winners from a pool of nominees from over 40 countries put for- have been rewarded for these ventures not only by material suc-
ward by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the United cess but also by the success of the indigenous communities that
Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the International have become my partners. My legacy in business will be long-
Chamber of Commerce (ICC). term sources of sustainable revenue for the local communities in
which I have undertaken development projects.
I am happy to share my acceptance speech with you:
I expect that you will have similar stories to share with me, and
I am driven by a hope and need to improve my life so that my eagerly anticipate hearing them. I have yet more road to walk
children will know a life more peaceful and full of opportunity ahead of me. New opportunities await in which I will apply the
than I had. I am unaware of a purpose more universal or more lessons I will surely learn from each and every one of you.
uplifting than this, and believe that it is one shared by women
and men around the world. To me this recognition represents our responsibility to those less
fortunate in the world. To me it is nothing less than a moral im-
I truly believe each and every one of us, whether in business, perative made tangible. I hope you feel the same way.
government, academia, or otherwise, can advance the agenda of
peace and prosperity by ensuring that people impacted by our Harley Seyedin
decisions are never short of the means to see their children grow President
up better educated, healthier and more hopeful than they did. The American Chamber of Commerce in South China
Vice Chairman
Fellow Honorees, I have read your collective accomplishments The Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce
and I must say that I am truly humbled to be included among
your ranks. In particular, two themes stand out in my mind.
First, we were all born to humble, non-western families of mod-
est means but have used that humility to our advantage—in my
3
